I'm a Cultural Economist, strategist, consultant and national speaker. Commongroundconversations.com: Common Ground Conversations on Race in America is a B2B unique educational training for companies, institutions, organizations and government agencies. CGC grew out of the success of a workshop my wife and I produced: How to Talk to Kids About Race in America. We equip and empower participants in our trademarked Conversations Journey process to be well-informed empathetic societal change agents through the power of common ground knowledge, understanding and conversations. We offer a variety of engagement options to companies, community groups, schools at all levels, churches and professional associations.

As VP of New Economies at Bitwise Industries, I worked with a talented team responsible for expanding the Bitwise model of building economic mobility pathways to target cities. The Bitwise model is an ecosystem (versus disconnected programs) that connected underestimated populations to high-wage jobs in the tech economy. We developed local partnerships with major stakeholders in the public and private sectors, established a capital stack to support operations and developed under-performing commercial properties in underestimated areas to house comprehensive operations: paid tech apprenticeships, co-working spaces, co-located entrepreneurs and small businesses, wraparound services (childcare, transportation, mentoring and success coaching), community event spaces, and tech solutions (Salesforce, Docusign and Digital Product Development) for corporations, anchor institutions and government entities.

As Chief Strategist at the NIIC, I work alongside co-founders, board members and a council of advisors in development of the nation's first assembly of extraordinary societal change agents dedicated to the prioritized improvement of economic productivity among America's Most Vulnerable Populations (MVP). Our focus in on increasing GDP by increasing capable tech-based talent in workforce and entrepreneurial pipelines to bolster US global competitiveness through strategic and programmatic impact of MVP at the local and regional levels. I help develop strategies for the NIIC that align with local, regional, state and federal competitiveness priorities lead to measurable impact and sustainable outcomes in targeted growth stage industries of America's Innovation Economy. This includes developing support for increasing capacity of HBCUs, entrepreneurial ecosystems, K-12 STEM/STEAM pipeline development and overall improved quality of life for communities of color and the overall local regions wherein they are located.

ScaleUp Partners LLC is a nationally networked consultancy leading the nation in the advocacy and practice of Inclusive Competitiveness strategies, plans and regional impact.ScaleUp is focused on three priorities:1. Changing the nation’s economic narrative2.Cultivating a national movement around Inclusive Competitiveness: an economic vision, strategy and framework designed to develop economic infrastructure that connects economically disconnected populations with local innovation ecosystems and empowers underrepresented populations to compete in a globally competitive innovation economy. 3. Assist policymakers, educators, investors, philanthropists, business leaders and entrepreneurs in connecting disconnected communities of influence with access to resources through collaboration around a shared economic vision.I have 20 years of experience as an award-winning journalist and six years experience in the production of high-impact gatherings of leaders and stakeholders across a broad spectrum of the innovation economy: from educators to industry CEOS, policymakers, philanthropists, equity and impact investors, entrepreneurs, community and economic development planners. As co-founder of ScaleUp Partners, I worked directly with the architect of Inclusive Competitiveness in producing the nation’s first statewide policy report in Ohio, unanimously adopted by the Ohio Board of Regents in 2014. ScaleUp originated and produced the first Gathering of Angels, a two-day high-impact event that resulted in successful collaborations, scalable enterprises and investments in minority tech entrepreneurs. ScaleUp today assists regions in coalition-building and development of new economic strategies that empower underrepresented populations to improve performance in local innovation ecosystems and contribute to bolstering regional competitiveness. Our work spans multiple states, including Mississippi, Georgia, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California and Washington,

I lead a team of nationally networked higher education, entrepreneurship and economic development experts helping regions increase regional competitiveness by incorporating Inclusive Competitiveness strategies that empower underrepresented populations to improve their overall productivity and compete in a tech-based innovation economy.

Huffington Post, Governing Institute, Oregon Business magazine, contributor to numerous media across the nation.

Saving America's Black Boys National Campaign addresses a 21st century economic imperative. The SABB National Campaign is an online messaging platform and offline series of catalytic summits that form collaboration among leaders and influencers of the nation's most disconnected and distressed youth. The SABB Campaign seeks to inform leadership about opportunities inherent in the 21st century innovation economy and catalyze the creation of an active Pipeline2Productivity inclusive framework that connects disconnected communities to regional innovation ecosystems, job growth and tech entrepreneurship.

Helped build America21 from a conversation into a brand and budding national economic movement.

ScaleUp America is the new name of The America21 Project. Our goals are threefold:1. Change the economic narrative across urban and rural communities to align with 21st century economic paradigms.2. Promote Inclusive Competitiveness as a national economic imperative and vision.3. Connect economically disconnected communities to local innovation ecosystems.Note: Most disconnected communities do not understand what their local innovation ecosystem is nor how to connect to it. Thus, the need for priority goal No. 1: Changing the economic narrative. The America 21 Project, formerly Black Innovation and Competitiveness Initiative, is a national voice of expertise on the challenges and opportunities facing Urban America in the 21st century Innovation Economy. We focus on developing an entrepreneurial and risk capital ecosystem designed to generate exponential economic productivity in urban America and competitiveness in the national and global Innovation Economy. We focus on a full pipeline to productivity infrastructure that includes: STEM education, High-growth entrepreneurship and Access to investment capital.

The America21 Project is a Think and Do Tank that is introducing a new economic narrative to Urban America that has remained disconnected from the job growth and wealth creating processes of the 21st century Innovation Economy.

Selected by then-CEO Andrew Langhoff, to lead online experiments for Dow Jones Local Media Group. Resigned in August 2009 after successful launch of award-winning new Website (ONPA 2009) and receipt of several state publishing awards. Award First Place for "Best Online Community Engagement" (May 2010) by Society of Professional Journalists.

Responsible for:Bridging and managing print and online operationsManaging online contentAnalying/growing web site trafficCreating, implementing online visionEditorial writer Opinion page editor Assign stories, train reportersManage design/photo departmentsCoordinate story packages for both print and online Expand story packages for web to include photo galleries and multimedia