The James Beard Awards recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity. Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries. The 2022 season is the first Awards since an audit of James Beard Foundation policies and procedures established a Code of Ethics and an… Show more The James Beard Awards recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity. Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries. The 2022 season is the first Awards since an audit of James Beard Foundation policies and procedures established a Code of Ethics and an independent review process conducted by a volunteer Ethics Committee. The James Beard Foundation celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive. Established over 30 years ago, the Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives. It is committed to supporting a resilient and flourishing industry that honors its diverse communities. Show less

Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival is the largest gathering of whistleblowers and advocates on Capitol Hill. The summit is unique because it combines legislative advocacy, public policy discussions with community and social events, including book signings and a film festival. Traditionally, a Senate Luncheon celebrating National Whistleblower Day is the capstone event during the summit. Over time we expanded the summit to include a TEDx Salon and film festival focused on whistleblowing and… Show more Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival is the largest gathering of whistleblowers and advocates on Capitol Hill. The summit is unique because it combines legislative advocacy, public policy discussions with community and social events, including book signings and a film festival. Traditionally, a Senate Luncheon celebrating National Whistleblower Day is the capstone event during the summit. Over time we expanded the summit to include a TEDx Salon and film festival focused on whistleblowing and the first amendment. In 2019, the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival was recognized as a "Best Festival" for innovation in Arts, Film & Culture from FestForums (Santa Barbra). The "Best of the Fests" is an award ceremony recognizing North America's leading festivals in the following categories: Arts, Film & Culture; Food & Beverages and Music. Show less

Michael McCray is a seasoned advertising executive with nearly fifteen years of progressive experience in marketing. He learned the business by conducting focus groups, special event management, new business development and account services at Advantage Communications, Inc. (ACI). Advantage is a pioneering multi-cultural advertising agency in Arkansas. McCray managed local, regional and national accounts like Hope Credit Union and General Motors. McCray received a Davey Silver Award for the… Show more Michael McCray is a seasoned advertising executive with nearly fifteen years of progressive experience in marketing. He learned the business by conducting focus groups, special event management, new business development and account services at Advantage Communications, Inc. (ACI). Advantage is a pioneering multi-cultural advertising agency in Arkansas. McCray managed local, regional and national accounts like Hope Credit Union and General Motors. McCray received a Davey Silver Award for the Hope Credit Union "Better Banking-Better Lives" advertising campaign In 2018. Advantage Communications, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Firm that specializes in diverse, multi-cultural and targeted marketing. As a strategic and disciplined thinker, I provided excellent creative briefs and assisted in providing the overall direction and execution of each advertising campaign. Show less

The Design Group is Arkansas’s leading multi-cultural, Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Firm.McCray was a brand manager for The Design Group. His portfolio included marketing higher education, tourism, hospitality and small business brands such as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Saracen Casino Resort and Mays, Byrd and O'Guinn Law Firm and the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission. McCray was responsible for managing client relationships, tracking and monitoring… Show more The Design Group is Arkansas’s leading multi-cultural, Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Firm.McCray was a brand manager for The Design Group. His portfolio included marketing higher education, tourism, hospitality and small business brands such as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Saracen Casino Resort and Mays, Byrd and O'Guinn Law Firm and the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission. McCray was responsible for managing client relationships, tracking and monitoring project progress, developing project work plans, and coordinating the design, production and writing marketing materials with the goal to grow brands and push the agency towards industry leadership in marketing performance and community service. Show less

The Dillard-Winecoff is a development company which acquired the Historic Winecoff Hotel an Atlanta Historic Landmark and plans to redevelop it into a 140,000 SF Luxury Boutique Hotel & Transit Oriented Development. Located on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, the Winecoff has a $22 Million development budget and $400M Community Economic Development Impact. Dillard-Winecoff accomplishments include:• Structured Mayor approved $1.4 million in TAD Funding. • Structured $3 Million… Show more The Dillard-Winecoff is a development company which acquired the Historic Winecoff Hotel an Atlanta Historic Landmark and plans to redevelop it into a 140,000 SF Luxury Boutique Hotel & Transit Oriented Development. Located on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, the Winecoff has a $22 Million development budget and $400M Community Economic Development Impact. Dillard-Winecoff accomplishments include:• Structured Mayor approved $1.4 million in TAD Funding. • Structured $3 Million Historic Tax Credit Syndication. • Negotiated Intergovernmental Agreement to Obtain 8,000 SF of Air Rights from Metropolitan Atlanta Rail Transportation Authority (MARTA). • Attracted Management Group and negotiated management contract terms. • Developed budgets, structured RFP’s, interviewed and hired General Contractor and MEP contractors. Additionally, Dillard-Winecoff principals also assisted the Brown Foundation and Monroe Neighborhood Association during the Grand Opening of the National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas to encourage comprehensive community development in the neighborhood around the Historic Site commemorating the landmark civil rights case of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. Show less

Administrator of Community Development Initiatives KAPFCU is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a NCUA designated Low Income Credit Union. KAPFCU provides share deposits, secured and unsecured lending, small business training and financial literacy related youth development to Low-Income and African-Americans, Hispanics and Women across the country. KAPFCU has an asset base of approximately $1 Million and currently offers financial services to its members in 35… Show more Administrator of Community Development Initiatives KAPFCU is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a NCUA designated Low Income Credit Union. KAPFCU provides share deposits, secured and unsecured lending, small business training and financial literacy related youth development to Low-Income and African-Americans, Hispanics and Women across the country. KAPFCU has an asset base of approximately $1 Million and currently offers financial services to its members in 35 states across the country. As CDFI Administrator I completed the following grant applications and certifications:• U.S. Treasury Bank Enterprise Award Partnership• U.S. Treasury FA/TA Grant Application• NCUA Low Income DesignationKAPFCU operated with an all-voluntary board and associated management team fromed an innovative “virtual platform”. KAPFCU was an innovative case and the first credit union NCUA approved to operate in this manner. Consequently, KAPFCU was the NCUA pilot project that allowed small and emerging credit unions to begin operations from a lower cost basis – via Internet based delivery platforms. Show less

MEDC is a Faith-Based Community Development Organization affiliated with T.D. Jakes Ministries with a $2 Million annual operating budget. Project Manager for Project 2000 which is a 400+ acre Master Planned Mixed-use Development, contemplating affordable and market rate housing, senior independent and assisted living complex, K-12 private school, performing arts center, community center, commercial and retail development, hotel and conference center and inter-modal transit… Show more MEDC is a Faith-Based Community Development Organization affiliated with T.D. Jakes Ministries with a $2 Million annual operating budget. Project Manager for Project 2000 which is a 400+ acre Master Planned Mixed-use Development, contemplating affordable and market rate housing, senior independent and assisted living complex, K-12 private school, performing arts center, community center, commercial and retail development, hotel and conference center and inter-modal transit development.Provided oversight of development process and coordinated pre-development activities with Development Team utilizing comprehensive development strategies including, Special Improvement Districts both Public and Business Improvement Districts and Tax Increment Finance Strategies.• Drafted project business plans, developed pro formas, development agreements and Federal grant applications.• Identified operational inefficiencies that resulted in funding anomalies costing MEDC up to $3 Million.• Conducted extensive Due Diligence on project site control issues and concerns and was responsible for a $300,000 pre-development budget.• Recommended development partners, consultants, architects and urban planners.• Recommended funding strategies, and operational/organizational changes to stabilize MEDC and facilitate continuous funding opportunities and core support for MEDC.Recommended key Community Development related strategic alliances, including UrbanAmerica, National Congress for Community Economic Development, the Dallas Enterprise Community, Day Star Development, Wells Fargo Bank Community Development Corporation. Show less

The EZ/EC Foundation Consortium represents over 80 communities, regional and national foundations in their support of the Federal Empowerment Initiative. The Consortium lends technical assistance and support to the EZ/EC sites, provides non-traditional methods for documenting the Initiative and seeks to foster more collaborative philanthropy. Represented the Foundation Consortium on national working groups and issue related topics including; • White House Y2K Taskforce, Philanthropy… Show more The EZ/EC Foundation Consortium represents over 80 communities, regional and national foundations in their support of the Federal Empowerment Initiative. The Consortium lends technical assistance and support to the EZ/EC sites, provides non-traditional methods for documenting the Initiative and seeks to foster more collaborative philanthropy. Represented the Foundation Consortium on national working groups and issue related topics including; • White House Y2K Taskforce, Philanthropy and Non-profit Organizations• Community Reinvestment Activism• Rural Development IssuesRepresented the Foundation Consortium on various national policy committees sponsored by the National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED) including;• Public Policy Committee• Rural Development Committee• EZ/EC Committee Show less

The Presidential Empowerment Initiative, a $2 billion community development appropriation, is the largest most comprehensive economic development program in history whose fundamental emphasis is based on a public, private and non-profit partnership at the grass roots level.Systems Administrator & Webmaster Managed an interagency team that pioneered Internet World Wide Web services throughout the Department (USDA) and Rural Development Mission Area. Provided basic hardware… Show more The Presidential Empowerment Initiative, a $2 billion community development appropriation, is the largest most comprehensive economic development program in history whose fundamental emphasis is based on a public, private and non-profit partnership at the grass roots level.Systems Administrator & Webmaster Managed an interagency team that pioneered Internet World Wide Web services throughout the Department (USDA) and Rural Development Mission Area. Provided basic hardware support on National office LAN and in the field for participating communities. Conducted on-site Internet installation and training to over 30 communities.Managed the development, installation and configuration of the RECD and EZ/EC World Wide Web sites into exemplary sites within USDA. The RECD site was demonstrated at the President's rural conference in Illinois. Vice President Gore inaugurated the EZ/EC site, with pleasure, in July 1995, and conducted a virtual reality tour of the White House at annual Empowerment Conferences. Designed, constructed and maintained large scale Internet Web sites 800 MB and up. These sites consisted of gopher archives, FTP capability, SMPT Mail, full motion video, IRC Chat, IP video conferencing via the MBONE, and electronic commerce with public/private key encryption. The sites also featured databased dynamically generated HTML pages delivered via the World Wide Web.Community Development Specialist / Desk Officer • Participated in the strategic planning process of two Presidential Initiatives (EZ/EC and AmeriCorps).• Held 1st line approval responsibility for real estate development projects from $2 to $10 million as Desk Office for Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. • Analyzed grant applications for community development projects up to $40 million. • Congressional Liaison for EZ/EC Initiative and three dozen congressional districts. • Designed comprehensive community development curriculum and delivered national training sessions. Show less