ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM & CELEBRATION
ADVANCING OUR ADVANCING OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC GROWTH
FEBRUARY 22, 2023
ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ADVANCINGOUR ADVANCINGOUR ECONOMICGROWTH ECONOMICGROWTH
Mistress of Ceremonies
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Dawn Tyler Lee
Pastor Michael Young
Lisa Evans
Penalty Remission Coordinator
Franklin County Treasurer's Office
Black National Anthem
Adria Shahid
Minister Norman Virgil Whiteside
Remarks
Honoree Recognition
Kenneth N. Wilson County Administrator
Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Brian Winston Director of Retention Services
Hugh Cade
Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives
Interlude
Keynote
Awards
Interlude
Remarks
Benediction
Adria Shahid
Minister Norman Virgil Whiteside
Stephen Hightower Hightowers Petroleum
Dawn Tyler Lee
Adria Shahid
Minister Norman Virgil Whiteside
Cheryl Brooks Sullivan
Franklin County Treasurer
Pastor Michael Young
ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ADVANCINGOUR ADVANCINGOUR ECONOMICGROWTH ECONOMICGROWTH
Pastor Michael serves as the Lead Pastor of City of Grace Church in Columbus. His ministry has been featured on the Trinity Broadcast Network, The Word Network and various other media outlets.
Lisa Evans has worked in the Franklin County Treasurer's Office since 1985 and currently serves as Penalty Remission Coordinator. She is a graduate of Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Adria Shahid developed an ear for music by listening to and singing with her parents. Her debut “Waarrioress of Love” represents both her personal struggles and the common struggles we share in this life.
Minister Norman Whiteside has provided advice to help many people embrace the essence of hope without relying on unrealistic expectations. As a musician, he has earned three Grammy nominations.
Pastor Michael Young Lisa Evans Adria Shahid Norman Virgil WhitesideLift ev’ry voice and sing, Til earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on ’til victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Til now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land.
Dawn Tyler Lee is a change agent, strategist, relationship builder, thought partner, problem solver and the founder of Forrest Street Consulting.
Prior to starting her business, Ms Tyler Lee served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for External Affairs for Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, serving as the highest ranking African American appointed official in the administration. During her tenure, she coordinated the city’s efforts in community engagement, diversity, inclusion, education and health.
Ms. Tyler Lee holds a master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy with a specialization in housing and community development from the University of Delaware. She has also successfully completed the Young Americans Leadership Program at the Harvard Business School.
Franklin County Treasurer Cheryl Brooks Sullivan was elected by the citizens of Franklin County in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. She is the first African American to serve as Franklin County Treasurer and the first African American woman to serve in any Franklin County Office.
Ms. Brooks Sullivan was born in Columbus, Ohio and spent her early childhood in England as her father served in the United States Air Force as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. She and her family returned stateside when she was 6 years old; she attended high school at Eastmoor and Marion Franklin in Columbus City Schools and college at The Ohio State University and Franklin University
Since 1980, she has been involved in the management, administration, appraisal and sale of real estate in Central Ohio. She also is an avid community volunteer, public servant and veteran, having served in the Central Intelligence Division of the U.S. Army Security Agency. She completed her military assignment in 1977.
As Franklin County Treasurer, Ms Brooks Sullivan has prioritized new initiatives and partnerships Her goal has been to expand and modernize the technological tools available to taxpayers, to streamline the processes of the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office, and to identify and support populations at risk of losing their homes
As part of her duties, Treasurer Brooks Sullivan serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation and as Chair of the Franklin County Budget Commission and the Franklin County Investment Advisory Committee
As an avid community volunteer, Treasurer Brooks Sullivan serves as a Trustee of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Vice Chair of the Community of Caring Development Foundation and as a Board member for Ohio Legal Help She also is affiliated with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Ohio Chapter and the Columbus, Ohio Chapter of the NAACP
She is the proud mother of two daughters and a grandmother of four
Kenneth N. Wilson was appointed to the position of Franklin County Administrator in January 2015. As County Administrator, the highest unelected post in county government, Mr. Wilson leads 14 county agencies with more than 1,400 employees and oversees the county’s annual $1.99 billion budgeting process for 35 agencies to ensure Franklin County remains one of the finest, best-governed counties in the nation. Mr. Wilson was hired in 2005 as Director for the county’s Office of Management and Budget. In 2010, Mr. Wilson was elevated to the role of Deputy County Administrator for Resource Management, overseeing several agencies including Job and Family Services, the county’s largest social service agency.
Prior to joining the county team, Mr Wilson was Director of Policy for the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Ohio University and a B A from James Madison College at Michigan State University, where he majored in Public Affairs, Metropolitan Studies and Business.
Stephen “Steve” Hightower founded Hightowers Petroleum Co in 1982, continuing a family legacy of entrepreneurism that began in 1957 with the establishment of the family’s cornerstone business He started helping the family cleaning business as a child, going with his father to clean buildings and learning the value of hard work From those humble beginnings and through persistence, drive and determination, Steve methodically began to grow his wholesale fuel distribution business into an energy solutions enterprise that today is recognized throughout North America for its customer service, integrity, creative fuel distribution model and expert handling of complex upstream and downstream issues
After two years in business, Mr Hightower only had one employee, an accountant The company didn’t grow as quickly as predicted, but Hightower was ecstatic when he saw the first $100
With 85 employees and annual sales of 140 million gallons of oil, his company now buys oil products from refineries and delivers them to corporate customers such as FedEx and GM all throughout the country
ut North America for its customer service, integrity, innovative gasoline distribution model, and skilled handling of complicated upstream and downstream challenges. Hightower attributes his success to his father, who he claims gave him some advice.
“As long as you’re honest, don’t attempt to outsmart anyone, and do the right thing, you’ll be successful. And I believe it is the best counsel I’ve ever received, and the finest counsel I can give to anyone else,” he said.
Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation
CF Bank
Columbus
Metropolitan Housing Authority
NAR
First Fridays
Forrest Street Consulting
Keys 2 Black Wealth
ONIONomics
Minority Business Development Division
IMPACT Community Action
Columbus Urban League
Michael Jones
Quentin McCorvy
Sunny Martin
The Honorable Vernon Sykes is currently serving his second term in the Ohio Senate, where he represents Akron and other Summit County communities in the 28th District. He serves as the Parliamentarian of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and he previously served on the Akron City Council and in the Ohio House of Representatives. During his time in the Legislature, Senator Sykes has fought for redistricting reform, expanded access to early childhood education, affordable higher education, child abuse prevention and an end to housing discrimination against people with disabilities.
He has been honored as the Public Elected Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers, the Champion for Working Families & Civil Rights by the Ohio AFL-CIO, Legislative Champion of the Year by the Ohio Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Association of Elections Officials, Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and its Council of Smaller Enterprises, and Progressive Hero by the Ohio Democratic Party in 2020.
Senator Sykes has passed along his experience in public service to students as a Professor of Political Science and Director of the Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues at Kent State University. He completed his own undergraduate studies at Ohio University, where received his B.B.A. in Management and Organizational Behavior. From there, Sykes attended Wright State University and Harvard University, where he earned a Master of Social and Applied Economics and a Master of Public Administration, respectively. All of which lead to the achievement of Dr. Sykes earning a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Akron. In December 2020, he obtained Professor Emeritus standing at Kent State University.
Sykes is married to Barbara Sykes, president and CEO of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. They have two daughters, Stancy and Emilia, and two grandchildren, Hugh and Hope.
With over 38 years of experience in the IT industry, Dwight Smith is the Chairman & CEO of Sophisticated Systems Inc., which provides businesses with a comprehensive set of information technology solutions With a staff of about 85 technology professionals, Sophisticated Systems was named as one of Inc Magazine’s 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the country
The company has a philosophy that giving back to the community is not an option but an absolute requirement In 1998, Smith established a non-profit foundation, TBTG (Thanks Be to God) to provide assistance to children in the community and around the world
In 2015, two additional donor-advised funds were also established: The Rubye Irene Smith Youth Initiative Donor Advised Fund to support efforts in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio, and My Special Word, an organization that helps youth develop their best selves by internalizing their own special word
Smith resides in New Albany with his wife, Renee.
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Lead Organizer for the People’s Justice Project, Tammy has made a lifelong commitment to criminal justice reforms and has been an active member of the PJP team since 2015. THE PEOPLE’S JUSTICE PROJECT (PJP) BUILDS THE POWER OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY STATE VIOLENCE, MASS CRIMINALIZATION, AND INCARCERATION BY CENTERING COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
Tammy’s personal mission is to be a voice for her community by advocating for criminal justice accountability and issues important to community members and their families. She has played meaningful roles on various oversight and selection committees Tammy’s work is rooted in restorative practices, real relationship, and is grounding force for PJP She has worked on various county advisory boards and task forces as well The Ohio State University’s Youth Violence Prevention Advisory board and Community safety Institute
Tammy also received the 2017 YWCA Women of Achievement award and has published several books
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Jeff Gilliam is a corporate entrepreneur having over 25 years of global finance experience with Nationwide Insurance and JP Morgan Chase and 20-plus years of real-life entrepreneurial experience in event production, business consulting, entertainment, and logistics He is the founder and president of GADP, which runs and operates First Fridays Columbus and several small businesses. These businesses range from medical waste management to one of the largest Black Tie affairs in the country. His philosophy is “if a man/woman has done it before, any person can do it again given the right set of circumstances - most limits are placed on people by people who don’t have the power to do so ”
Over the last two decades, through the First Fridays' platform, Jeff and his team have collaborated, supported, and empowered hundreds of performing and visual artists, along with numerous small businesses, especially in the culinary space Currently, these communities are being supported by two of the largest and most creative events in the Midwest: The Color of Summer and Excellence Black Tie Gala, held annually at the Columbus Museum of Art and COSI, respectively.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science from Youngstown State University and a Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and resides in Blacklick, Ohio, with his daughter Kennedy
ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ADVANCINGOUR ADVANCINGOUR ECONOMICGROWTH ECONOMICGROWTH
Organized a Black Money School chaired by late Rev Phale Hale, Commencement delivered by thenSenator Ben Espy
Recruited along with Pharmacist Waldo Tyler, to coach the leadership of the Huntington National Bank to create an alternate credit ranking criteria because until 1963 Black people did not generally have access to credit
Developed, co-wrote and testified for legislation to provide Black people access to pension funds and investment money as Chairman of the Columbus Economic Development Committee, 1980-82
Participated in organizing the first Minority Contractors Association that provided them with training and construction contract financing.
Negotiated the first multi-million-dollar commitment for Black Contractors on a Downtown Columbus commercial high-rise project.
ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ADVANCINGOUR ADVANCINGOUR ECONOMICGROWTH ECONOMICGROWTH
Brandy Nikole Avery is a social entrepreneur and successful business owner with over 15 years of professional experience in business development, financial counseling, wealth education, and corporate and non-profit management Brandy currently serves as a Licensed Financial Adviser, and Co-CEO of Keys to Black Wealth, a multi-media and edutainment Enterprise that focuses on closing the racial wealth gap, by helping people build, sustain, and transfer generational wealth
Her commitment to financial freedom for all came through personal experiences Surviving poverty, homelessness, and conquering her own financial challenges has motivated her to provide financial education and impact the lives of thousands of individuals locally and nationally.
Brandy is a graduated of Wittenberg University, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a mentor to adults, and new entrepreneurs across the nation. She enjoys traveling with family and friends, learning about herbs and alternative healthcare, working out, trying gourmet teas, and reading as a mode of relaxation.
Brittany Eddy is the President of the Women's Council of Realtors’ Columbus network She has served as a Chair and Co-Chair for the Residential Standard Forms committee of Columbus Realtors, is a Major Investor for CORPAC, and is a Director for the Columbus Realtors Board She was recognized in 2018 as one of Columbus Young Professionals’ 52 People to Know in Central Ohio Brittany is an alumna of Ohio Dominican University, a volunteer with the YWCA of Central Ohio and a member of WELD (Women for Economic and Leadership Development) She also served as the Ohio Realtors’ State Political Coordinator for House District 26 is a recent graduate of the Ohio Realtors Leadership Academy and L E A D Ohio
ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ADVANCINGOUR ADVANCINGOUR ECONOMICGROWTH ECONOMICGROWTH
Leah Evans oversees the financing, development, and implementation of Homeport’s neighborhood revitalization initiatives, including new construction and rehabilitation of for-sale single-family housing projects, owner-occupied rehabilitation projects, and community beautification and improvement projects
Prior to joining Homeport, she worked for the City of Gahanna as Economic Development Manager and then Deputy Director of Planning & Development, as well as the Ohio Department of Development (now the Ohio Development Services Agency)
Evans received her Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Geography and her Master’s Degree in City & Regional Planning from The Ohio State University.
ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT: ADVANCINGOUR ADVANCINGOUR ECONOMICGROWTH ECONOMICGROWTH
Stephanie Hightower, the first female President & CEO of the Columbus Urban League, is a tireless advocate for social justice and racial equity. Under her leadership, the league touches nearly 40,000 people a year with economic mobility initiatives, and it transformed an abandoned building into an economic hub in Columbus' King Lincoln District. Under her leadership, the CUL offers career assistance, financial education and empowerment, and business assistance.
During the pandemic, Hightower has connected with 4,000 Black businesses and 9,000 families. She revised delivery systems, redeployed her team to work remotely and focused on recovery issues. She has called for reforms in policing, eviction and benefits for those financially damaged by Covid-19.
A former president of USA Track & Field, four-time U S Champion at 100-meter hurdles and five-time U S Indoor Champion at 60-meter hurdles, Hightower serves as a leader in the U S Track & Field Association, chairs the World Athletics Gender Leadership Task Force and is a member of WA Human Rights Working Group
She also serves on the boards of Celebrate One and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Perry Jeffries III, CRPC, CPFA Your CFO and Consulting Specialist is the President of Diamond Equity Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisory and Business Consulting firm located in Columbus, OH, with clients across the country. As a fractional CFO, Perry consults 6-7 Figure Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses in cash management, profitability, debt reduction, retirement, and tax planning.
In addition, Perry has also earned the credential of becoming a Certified Profit First Professional. Perry’s trademarked brand is The Entrepreneur’s CFO ™ A former schoolteacher and personal trainer, Perry has dedicated his life to helping others. In addition to his Financial Credentials, Perry is also a certified John Maxwell Speaker and Coach in Leadership. Perry attended Central-Hower High School in Akron, OH. Perry was previously featured on Fox 28 Columbus OH
Currently, Lark serves as President and CEO for the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, a business that provides financing to developers of affordable housing The loan portfolio includes construction loans, traditional single property loans and structured financing and bond transactions. She is also Fund Manager for the organization’s $100M Housing Action Fund. Previously, she served as General Counsel and Board Secretary for the organization.
Prior to joining the Affordable Housing Trust, Lark was a partner with a 500-member/partner law firm with an eight-state footprint She focused her practice on advising businesses and individuals, in the core areas of corporate and business law, financing, commercial real estate, and tax planning She also counseled clients regarding entity selection, formation and governance; capitalization and financing, including private equity
Lark is a member of the American Law Institute; a CPA (inactive) and has a B S B A in accounting and a law degree from The Ohio State University and an LL M in taxation from the University of Florida College of Law She resides with her family in Columbus, Ohio
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Mr. Martin has always defined his primary life mission as making a positive difference to enhance, uplift, and economically empower communities towards entrepreneurship.
C. Sunny Martin is a nationally acclaimed multicultural marketing and publishing expert who has selfpublished 65 books and built one of the largest multimillion dollar minority publishing firms in America.
He has attracted a multitude of Fortune 500 firms that have retained his skills for their multicultural marketing outreach and engagement for reaching minority audiences coast-to-coast Additionally, he has personally negotiated well over $40 million in sponsorship underwriting for signature events reaching underserved audiences in numerous markets
Martin has produced several primetime television specials on diversity and inclusion, and African American History that were underwritten by corporate sponsors Additionally, he has hosted events at some of our nation's most notable venues like Churchill Downs, Staples Center, and the Apollo Theater
He is a much sought-after speaker at conventions, colleges, podcasts, and radio brodcasts
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jordan has nearly 35 years of experience in the financial industry He is an Air Force Veteran and began his banking career at the Comptroller of the Currency, and then spent more than 14 years at Huntington National Bank
In 1998, Jordan joined Fifth Third as President of Fifth Third Securities, Inc. In that role, he was responsible for management and distribution of investment products and services in all Fifth Third markets. Five years later, he was elevated to the position of Senior Vice President and Manager of Fifth Third Investment Advisors for the bank’s Cincinnati affiliate, where his group was responsible for managing $6 billion in Private Client accounts, $4 billion in Institutional Client accounts, and $3.5 billion in Brokerage accounts. He was named Regional President of Fifth Third Central Ohio in 2007 and retired from that position in 2019.
Jordan has received numerous awards for his community and business leadership and was recently inducted in the Central Ohio Junior Achievement Hall of Fame
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She is skilled in strategic organizational development and capacity-building; economic development; diversity and equity program management for over $13 billion budgetary impact and influence; government relations Award-wining creative DEI professional with an MPA focused in Economic Development/Urban Policy from John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University
She elevates solutions using an appreciative, collaborative approach
Keena Smith is an experienced visionary executive with a demonstrated track record of catalyzing systems change in the public sector
A multi-dimensional social entrepreneur, Adam Troy is noted as a transformational leader with broad based experience in the areas of real estate and community development. To those arenas and beyond he brings a unique blend of expertise to align government and private sector interest with that of community residents’ and non-profit organizations toward the improvement of resident wellbeing and overall quality of life. To the arena of Urban Development, Adam Troy, brings his expertise with profitable real estate projects involving multiple partnerships among corporations, government, faith-based entities and community groups. To date, he has played a primary or secondary role in over $100 million in development projects throughout the Midwest.
Most recently, Adam’s executive leadership experience was tapped to serve as Senior Vice President for the Robert Louis Group (RLG), a full service commercial real estate firm focused on representing the facility management and capital needs of small to middle market companies, Government Agencies, Healthcare, Higher Education, Non-profits and investors across the county Prior to RLG, Adam’s operational leadership experience was tapped to serve as the Public Lighting Authority’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the City of Detroit Public Lighting Modernization Plan---a rebound from 40% of streetlights broken to new 65,000 energy-efficient LED lights Adam worked together with an executive team that led and provided oversight for the design, building and financing of the total reconstruction and relighting of Detroit---securing and guiding the strategic deployment of $185-million in bonds meant an additional 10,000 lights were able to be installed beyond the initial lighting modernization plan Under his leadership watch staffing grew from an initial 8 employees to 30-plus professionals whereby more than 30,000 lights were installed within a record nine month period, placing the modernization plan nearly one-year ahead of completion schedule. As COO, Adam had executive responsibility for overseeing multiple platforms including: construction & engineering, community engagement, continuous improvement, public relations and customer service.
373 South High Street, 17th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-525-3438
treasurer.franklincountyohio.gov
@TreasurerCBS
TREASURER'S OFFICE NUMBERS
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 614-525-3438
DELINQUENT TAX: 614-525-3431
RETENTION SERVICES: 614-525-7592