WHAT WE DO
MEMBERSHIP
OUR FOUNDERS
Sharon Murphy
President
Partner, McConnell & Jones LLP/McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy LLP
- Partner in the largest African American-owned CPA firm in the U.S.
- Co-leads the firm’s Consulting practice and heads the firm’s Education practice
- Serves a national clientele in both the public and private sectors in industry areas that include government, education, entertainment, finance, public utilities, and telecommunications
- Areas of specialization include administration management support, organizational development, business process improvement and implementation assistance
- Clark Atlanta University – MBA, Finance
- Indiana University – BA, Communications
- Volunteerism – Unity Bank Board of Directors; Ensemble Theatre - Board of Directors; Unity Bank - Board of Directors; American Leadership Forum - Former Board Chair; Women’s Home - Board of Directors; Houston Arts Alliance - Board of Directors; The Links, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Life Member
Argentina M. James
VP, Policy
President & CEO, HillDay Public Relations
- Provides executive leadership and oversight to a fast-growing public relations firm that develops and implements strategies that incorporate marketing and advertising campaigns, corporate and brand identity programs, and stakeholder engagement that drive extraordinary results
- Excellent community relationships, fundraising skills, and political savvy which have transformed community organizations
- Texas Southern University – MA, Speech Communications
- Texas Southern University – BA, Journalism
- Volunteerism – The Ensemble Theatre; Houston Branch of NAACP; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; The Links, Incorporated; Young Women’s Preparatory Academy
Diedra Fontaine
VP, Programs
Director, Alumni Relations, University of Houston College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- 30 years experience in Sales, Fundraising, Community Affairs and Auditing
- Doctoral Candidate in Ethical Leadership Social Justice at St. Thomas University, Houston
- Texas Southern University – MBA
- University of North Texas – BA, Business Computer Information Systems
- Volunteerism – The Ensemble Theatre Board Member; Dress for Success Houston, Holocaust Museum, Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter; Houston (TX) Chapter of The Links, Inc.; Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Houston Chapter; Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church - Deaconess; Women's Guild, and Together for Good Ministries
Dr. Janice Beal
VP, Membership
President/CEO, Beal Consulting Associates
- Serves as an expert mental health clinician, treating the emotional needs of children and adolescents. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Beal has published articles on teen pregnancy, self-esteem, violence and African American issues and presented research at more than 75 national and international conferences
- Contracted as a mental health expert for the Steve Fund where she serves as the program director for “Well Being In Color” a peer mental health educational program, and support groups for students of color. This program is unique and will reach over six hundred students in Houston and New York City
- Recently, served as a member of the Mayor of Houston’s task force for special needs and a consultant for Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee on youth mental health and domestic violence for COVID-19 victims
- University of Texas – Postdoctoral education — School of Public Health and California School of Professional Psychology — Health Care Administration Certification
- Texas Southern University – Ed.D. in Guidance and Counseling/ Psychology
- Texas Southern University – MA in Clinical Psychology
- University of St. Thomas – BA in Psychology
- Volunteerism – Board Chair Texans YWCA; YWCA-Houston Board President; Depelchin Children's Center Board The Links, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Melanie Miles
Secretary
Melanie Miles, Esquire
- 25-year Board Certified Family Law Attorney and Real Estate Development Professional
- Law practice focuses on complex family law litigation, including custody and divorces
- Real development estate experience focuses on preserving the integrity of Houston neighborhoods, revitalizing communities, and enhancing economic development
- Howard University – BS in Computer Information Systems
- South Texas College of Law - Juris Doctor Law degree
- Volunteerism - Chair of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission where she oversees the disciplinary appeals of Sheriff’s officers and employees; Board of Directors of the Houston Texans YWCA; Member of the MacGregor Area Blue Triangle Garden Club; Member of the Southwest Democrats; City of Houston Higher Education Board; City of Houston Industrial Development Board; Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum; Member of the Port City Links, Inc.; Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Duni Hebron
Treasurer
CEO, The Emerald Group and Partner, Strategic Turn Around Team
- Distinguished corporate executive and business owner with extensive executive leadership experience within the services, human resources, marketing, business development and management, strategic planning and real estate industries
- Serves as a partner and co-founder of Strategic Turn Around Team (STAT), a turnaround healthcare company, which manages health facilities in the areas of finance and administration, marketing, business development, compliance regulation and governmental relations
- Partnered to form Al Hadir, LLC, an international firm that works with foreign countries on securing U.S. funding for various in-country projects. The company has worked on developing major agricultural projects in the Republic of Nigeria
- Baker College – BBA, Business Administration and Management
- Volunteerism – Unity Church of Christianity Board of Directors; UNICEF; Sisters of Sierra Leone and Saving Lives Through Alternate Options; Former board of directors with The Ensemble Theater and Julia C. Hester House
Jarmese Morris
Financial Secretary
Healthcare Administrator, Former Small Business Owner and Business Operations Manager
- Currently she is continuing her career in health care administration as the administrator of a 200 bed Medicare/Medicaid Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facility
- As an entrepreneur, she was co-owner and officer of several nursing homes totaling a capacity of up to 336 patient beds, a mortgage company and a building company. She is most proud of the 44 years that her family business owned and operated long term care facilities
- Honored as recipient of 3 Gubernatorial Appointments including the Boards of The Statewide Health Coordinating Council and 2 terms to the Texas Board of Licensure for Nursing Home Administrators
- Second African-American to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Texas Health Care Association
- Served as Adjunct Instructor at Texas Southern University in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Texas Southern University – College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Volunteerism – President of the Missouri (City) TX Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Associate Member of the Houston Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and a founding member of the Black Women of Greater Houston PAC. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., past member of Bayou City Club, Top Ladies of Distinction, and Twelve Days of Christmas
Belinda Everette
Director
President & CEO, Evan Mackenzie Consulting LLC
- Provides proven strategies and solutions for investment in sustainable, climate resilient housing, home ownership, and economic opportunities that drive social equity and deliver superior financial returns
- Served in executive roles at Citibank, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America spearheading innovative, award-winning programs to expand banking services that focus on housing access, preservation, and equity in underserved BIPOC communities. Her collaborations with national organizations have fostered holistic programs that help communities create decent, safe, and sanitary housing with wrap-around services in transportation, education, health care, and social well-being
- University of Central Oklahoma – BA, Journalism
- Volunteerism – NAACP Houston Chapter Housing Advocacy Chair; NAACP National Housing Committee Advocate; Senator Barack Obama Diversity Project for Congressional Staff; Habitat for Humanity Partner’s Council
Adfanie Smith Gray
Director
BAD-DAB Inc., Chief Executive Officer
- As a result of sound strategic planning and keen business acumen, The Spot Lounge and Bar led the state of Texas in sales per square foot for three consecutive years
- Responsible for managing payroll, balancing and analyzing budgets, and forecasting economic trends to sustain the business's competitive advantage within the industry
- Recently finalized the closing of a shopping center development on the Emancipation Street corridor, which opened in spring 2021
- Recent graduate of the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program
- Nonprofit and governmental professional experience includes Director of Fund Development and Public Relations at the Girl Scouts of South Texas, Business Consultant for the Harris County Department of Education, and Budget Analyst at NASA (Lockheed-Martin)
- Texas Woman's University – MBA
- Sam Houston University – BBA, Accounting
- Volunteerism – Greater Pearland Area (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (former Chapter President); Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Jack and Jill of America; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Tiko Reynolds-Hausman
Director
Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations, Precinct 2 - Commissioner Adrian Garcia
- Oversees the operations of Precinct 2’s parks, community centers, workforce, and economic devolvement, and nonprofit and acts as the Commissioner’s liaison for major Harris County community initiatives
- Led the Precinct 2 administrative arm of the operation, overseeing budget and finance, human resources, workforce development, economic development, risk management, safety, information technology
- Track record of demonstrated leadership in coordinating cooperation amongst local and federal government agencies, local corporations, advocacy groups and chambers of commerce
- Volunteerism – Serves as the Board Chair for the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce; Vice President of Membership for the League of Women Voters Houston; Appointed by the president of the Houston Independent School District to serve as their appointed Board Director on the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, TIRZ3 Board, Position 6, Trustee at Large; Higher Heights of America; and Walker’s Legacy
Kimberly Slaughter
Director
SYSTRA USA, Chief Executive Officer
- Provides expert planning, design, architecture, engineering, and program and construction management solutions to rail and transit agencies throughout the United States
- Contributes to cities and regions transit plans by creating, improving, and modernizing transportation and infrastructure systems, while furthering sustainable development
- Prior to joining SYSTRA, Kimberly was the national rail and transit market sector leader at HNTB and before that was vice president/ central region transit market director at HDR
- Early career positions included Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County where she held several positions, including senior vice president of service design and development and associate vice president of planning
- University of Texas in Austin – MS, Community and Regional Planning
- University of Texas in Austin – BA, Government-Pre-Law
- Volunteerism – Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity; Mineta Transportation Institute; Appointed to head the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) subcommittee for the Mobility Restoration & Recovery Task Force; APTA Board of Directors and Business Members Board of Governors, Business Council of the African American Mayors Association, Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), and the March of Dimes. Served on Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s transportation transition team; Member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Tené Thomas
Director
Partner, McConnell & Jones LLP
- Partner in the largest African American-owned CPA firm in the U.S.
- Certified Public Accountant
- Leads the firm’s Tax Practice with more than 20 years of technical experience in tax compliance, planning, business management, and accounting services
- Serves a myriad of industries including sports and entertainment, professional services, health care, real estate, manufacturing, and investment advisory services
- Provides diverse and comprehensive tax services to notable small businesses, mid-size companies, and high net worth individuals that promote long-term business success
- California Polytechnic University – BS, Business Administration
- Volunteerism – Former Treasurer and Finance Chair for the National Kidney Foundation of Southeast Texas; Leadership Houston; Jack and Jill of America; Former weekly business contributor on CNN’s 650AM talk radio program “The Price of Business,” and periodic expert contributor in several articles for Accounting Today
Janice Weaver
Director
Director of Community Relations, City of Houston
- Possesses a vast amount of community outreach experience and is heavily involved in making a difference in the City of Houston, Harris County, and state of Texas political arena
- Plans and participates in City of Houston (and beyond) community meetings with citizens to keep them informed of City services and changes
- Networks with social service agencies, communities, faith-based organizations, and businesses to promote cooperation, creative initiatives and involvement with the city
- Develops community outreach projects to support and advocate City/ community initiatives
- Houston Community College
- Volunteerism – United Way, Aldine Youth Center, St. Monica Youth Sports Ministry, Acres Home Youth Association, Grove Community Outreach, For His Glory Ministries, Fr. Alphonsus Kidney Foundation, NAACP, LCLAA, A. Phillip Randolph Organization, LULAC Board Member for Houston Area Community Services (HACS), Gospel Music Heritage Committee, Precinct Judge #0698, Telephone Pioneers and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston
- President/CEO One Body Networking Donate Blood – Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center - Donor Code JW13