Board Members

Marc is the Region Vice President at Pepco Holdings Company, where he manages public policy and stakeholder relations with D.C. government officials, community leaders, and business, consumer and nonprofit organizations. A 1999 graduate of the University of the District of Columbia, and 2002 graduate of the Howard University School of Law, Marc practiced law initially in the federal and local government, serving as Senior Counsel and Communications Director to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and later as Counsel to the Committee on Government Operations for the Council of the District of Columbia. Marc is admitted to practice law in D.C., Maryland and New York. He serves as a board member of the Greater Washington Urban League, Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School and After School All-Stars DC as well as Chairs the Board of Step Afrika! Marc is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is a life member of the University of the District of Columbia Alumni Association.

Brady is a Senior Consultant at Berry Dunn – Assurance, Tax and Consulting. Previously, Brady worked as the Chief Information Officer for the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health from 2016 to 2018. Prior to that, he worked for more than 15 years with DC’s Child and Family Services Agency, serving in several roles within the IT department. Brady has a BA in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and a MS in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Ran is the Senior Director, Head of Multifamily Marketing for Freddie Mac. He is an accomplished business leader with expertise in marketing for large, complex B2B enterprises. With complementary experience in information technology and strategy consulting, Ran specializes in transforming marketing organizations by selectively applying the latest methods, technologies and insightful analytics to create value—and driving cultural change to sharpen brand. Prior to joining Freddie Mac in 2003, he worked for Accenture, Fannie Mae and CGI. Ran graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic University with a BS in Computer and Systems Engineering and a Master of Engineering. He also holds an MBA from University of Pennsylvania’s The Wharton School.

Lamont is the Senior Manager for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs Affairs for Pepco. He most recently served as Director of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of Community Affairs. Lamont was responsible for ensuring the needs of D.C. residents were met and that resident trust and engagement with D.C. Government increased. Lamont managed and advised on the intersectional needs of building community by leading 13 constituent and community offices, and 12 boards and commissions. Prior to the Bowser Administration, Lamont served as Director of Constituent Services and Community Outreach for At-Large D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds. He was responsible for external community engagement and connecting residents to services offered by D.C. Government agencies. An Arkansan native, Lamont earned his Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and holds a Master’s in Community Development from Delta State University. Lamont is a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Ann is the retired Superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Museum. She had a 25-year career with the National Park Service that also included her positions as Superintendent of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana and Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Park and Russell Cave National Monument in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. A D.C. native, she also worked for the D.C. Department of Recreation for nine years. Ann took a civilian assignment with the U.S. Air Force in the Far East during the Vietnam conflict. She is the recipient of the Freedom Foundation Award and the Department of Interior Superior Performance Award. She retired in 1996 and has since been active in the D.C. arts and nonprofit scene, as an active board member of both Step Afrika! and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Ann also serves on the Board of the U.S. Park Police Foundation.

Dy is a Nonprofit Executive and Connector, who received an MSA in Organizational Development from Trinity University and BBA in Marketing from Howard University. Her background is embedded in a commitment to civic engagement, philanthropy, celebrating the arts and encouraging purposeful travel. She currently serves on Krewe of Pyros, Coalition for the Homeless, Step Afrika! and Walker’s Legacy Board of Directors and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi. Dy originally hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and continues to keep strong ties with that community.

Beverly is an experienced Board Member with a demonstrated history of working in the performing arts industry. As a Board Member, she brings a depth of experience in nonprofit organizations, public speaking, trials, civil litigation and corporate governance. She is a currently on the Boards of Step Afrika! and the University of the District of Columbia. From 1992 to 2011, Beverly worked for Washington Gas in various roles including Vice President and General Counsel. Before joining Washington Gas, she was a Division Head in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia for 10 years. She received a BA in American Civilization from Brown University and a JD from the George Washington School of Law.

John is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of J Hill Group, a professional services practice that helps clients improve their management operations. Prior to starting his consulting practice, from 2004 to 2012, John served as CEO of Federal City Council, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the Nation’s Capital. He serves as a Trustee of Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a publicly traded REIT. Previously, John served as a member of the audit committees of various public companies, including Highland Hospitality Inc., and various private entities, including Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also serves as President on the DC Public Library Board of Trustees, as Treasurer on the Shakespeare Theatre Company Board of Trustees, and as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Minority AIDS Council. John received a BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland, passed the CPA exam and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1977.

Patricia is actively involved in the D.C. arts and nonprofit arena. She currently serves on the Boards of Step Afrika!, CityDance and Washington Performing Arts. She and her husband, Lloyd Howell, have supported programs and events at St. Albans School, Sitar Arts Center, N Street Village, among others.

Kymber is the Regional Director for the Maryland/D.C. region for Keller Williams Realty International and President of Sales for The Menkiti Group. Kymber directs growth for 19 Market Center offices and is the first African American woman to hold as high a position in the company. Washingtonian Magazine named Kymber a Top Real Estate Agent multiple years. In 2015, she was recognized by Washington SmartCEO as a 2015 Brava award winner for distinguished achievement as a member of Greater Washington’s top women business leaders. Kymber is a charter member and Board Chair of the CPMG Foundation, which supports housing, education and entrepreneurship needs in the D.C. area. Kymber is also a founding member of the Board for DC WISE, (Women in Solidarity for Empowerment). Kymber holds two Master’s degrees in Social Work, and Law and Social Policy from Bryn Mawr College. 

Christopher has more than 20 years of management and industry experience as an organizational effectiveness professional and is currently a Director in KPMG’s Transformation Delivery Practice. Throughout his career, he has been an avid supporter of creative, cultural, and community organizations. He has provided strategic consulting and financial support to Jazz at Lincoln Center (NYC), The Laundromat Project (former Board member), the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA (Board member), and The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (Advisor). Christopher also served on the cultural institution investment review team at the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone in Harlem. Christopher is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Business School and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. A native Washingtonian, he currently resides in 16th Street Heights.

Troy Patterson is a real estate agent with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. He came to Washington in 1987, when he was stationed in the U.S. Coast Guard. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and American University, which led to extensive work fundraising in the nonprofit sector. He raised funds for Studio Theatre, Georgetown University, The National Building Museum and The National Association of Home Builders. Troy continues this work through his support of such organizations as The Victory Fund, The Human Rights Campaign, Step Afrika!, The Young Playwrights Theatre and the United Methodist Church. His diverse career in non-profit fundraising and management led to a love of real estate, which he has been successfully practicing for the last 14 years.

David is the Sr. Manager, Merger & Acquisition (M&A) Integration Strategy within the Information Technology & Data Analytics division at The Boeing Company. In this role, he leverages relationships with corporate development, enterprise functions, and IT to lead the strategy development in support of deal planning, due-diligence, and integration for targeted merger and acquisition activity. He joined The Boeing Company in 2007 after working in the automotive industry. While at Boeing, David has worked in various roles including Chief of Staff to the Vice President of BDS IT Business Partners, Project Management, Program Management, Finance, Category Strategy and Sourcing, and Supplier Management. He holds multiple academic degrees including a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and Master’s degrees in Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, and Project Management. Active in community service, David serves on the Board of Directors for Wearable Tech Ventures, The Life Enrichment Group, Whine & Cheese, and Step Afrika! David is also passionate about STEM education and increasing the number of minorities in technology fields. He serves as an active corporate representative for the Black Engineer of the Year Awards as well as the National Society of Black Engineers.

Janel serves as the Chief Operating Officer and the strategic planning advisor to the CEO of Digidoc d.b.a. Public Sector Solutions Group (PS2G). PS2G is a world-class technical consulting firm that solves the government’s problems through software implementations, professional services, and staffing. Janel is a 2019 recipient of the Leadership Award from Women in Technology (WIT). Having a passion for mentorship, she enjoys guest lecturing for her Alma Mater, Howard University’s School of Business. She also shares the company’s philanthropic and investment vision, creating mentorship programs for girls and local schools to provide STEM support. Janel holds a board seat with Women Energy Network (WEN). She has been a Metropolitan Baptist Church member for over two decades, serving in the music ministry. Janel graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Howard University and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A mom of two, she currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband Lindsey and their dog, Bison.

Conrad is a Partner and Head of Odgers Berndtson’s U.S. Corporate and Government Affairs Practice in Washington. His portfolio of search work includes advising clients on government affairs, corporate communications/public affairs, economic development, trade association CEO and leadership roles. Prior to joining Odgers Berndtson, he was a Principal at Korn Ferry and a key member of the firm’s Government Affairs Practice. Before this, he was with Goldman Sachs, where he was a member of the campus and diversity recruiting teams. He began his career as a staffer on Capitol Hill. Conrad has a degree in political science from Howard University.

Latrena is the Executive Director of the St. Elizabeth’s East Redevelopment for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), which assists the Mayor in the coordination, planning, supervision, and execution of economic development efforts in the District of Columbia to create and preserve affordable housing, creating jobs, and increasing tax revenue. Before working with the DMPED, Latrena served as the Chief of Staff for the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Department of General Services (DGS). Latrena holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She serves as the secretary of the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) DC Alumni Council and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

A native Washingtonian, Kym is a 1982 graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts as a Theater major and a 1986 graduate of the George Washington University, where she completed a degree in Business Information Systems. In 1988, Kym graduated from Atlanta University with an MBA in Information Systems and Finance. Kym and her husband, Steve, founded Family Choice Healthcare in 1998 – a home healthcare company that has assisted the elderly and disabled for more than 23 years in Maryland, D.C., Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. With over 500 employees and 600 clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, Kym currently serves as the Vice President – Marketing and Strategic Solutions for the Lanham, MD-based home care agency. Kym is a charter member of the National Harbor Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. Initiated into the Mu Delta chapter at the George Washington University, Kym has been a loyal member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for 36 years. She has held numerous offices, chaired various committees (local and regional), and has countless hours of community service from her undergraduate and graduate tenures.

Kebharu Smith is the Director of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU), an international team of lawyers, investigators, and analysts whose mission is to disrupt and dismantle counterfeit organizations by targeting them through external enforcement efforts. Before joining CCU, Kebharu served as Senior Corporate Counsel with the DOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). Before that role, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and Assistant District Attorney (ADA) in Houston. Kebharu is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., an alumnus of Thurgood Marshall School of Law (at Texas Southern University), and a member of the National Bar Association and the National Black Prosecutor’s Association. Kebharu and his wife, Mignon Smith, enjoy traveling, sailing, original art, and theatre and serve as Ambassadors for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture.

Melanie Trottman is a Senior Vice President and Chief Editorial Consultant in the Washington, D.C. office of global communications firm Edelman. She joined in 2017 after two decades as a journalist with The Wall Street Journal covering topics and industries such as workplace regulation and aviation/travel. At Edelman, Melanie leads the Editorial arm of the Washington office’s Editorial and Media Strategies team, which is a group of former print and broadcast journalists and other media experts who help shape storytelling and media strategy for clients. As part of her role, she helps build and run multi-channel Newsrooms for industry-leading brands, including leading streams of content creation for their websites. Melanie—who while a journalist wrote hundreds of stories, conducted countless interviews, and appeared as a guest on NPR, PBS and elsewhere—also conducts executive media trainings, storytelling and writing workshops, and helps shape and drive coverage of client research reports and surveys. A St. Louis native, Melanie is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, IL. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., an ardent storyteller, and a lifelong lover of the arts.

Glenn Eric Singleton has devoted over thirty years to constructing racial equity worldwide and developing leaders to do the same. Author, thought leader, and strategist, he is the creator of Courageous Conversation™ a protocol and framework for sustained, deepened dialogue, and Beyond Diversity™, the curriculum that has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to use it. Glenn is the Founder and President of Pacific Educational Group, Inc. (PEG), an agency that guides leadership development in education, government, corporation, law enforcement, and community organizing. He is the award-winning author of Courageous Conversations About Race; A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools, Third Edition; and MORE Courageous Conversations About Race. Glenn has trained law enforcement leaders with the U.S. Embassy in Western Australia and established the Courageous Conversation South Pacific Institute and the Courageous Conversation Aotearoa Foundation, both located in Auckland, New Zealand. For eight years, he served as an adjunct professor of educational leadership at San Jose State University. Glenn has been a guest lecturer at Harvard University and has instructed faculty, students and administrators at the University of Minnesota, New York University School of Medicine, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University, Glenn is Board President of the Courageous Conversation Global Foundation and the Founder and National Advisory Board Member of the Foundation for a College Education of East Palo Alto, CA. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and 100 Black Men. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Jeffery D. Kennerly works for Morgan Stanley in Tysons Corner, VA. For more than a decade, Jeffery has held leadership roles in advising business clients, managing various aspects of their operations as well as risk management consultation on behalf of industry leading corporations.  He began his career with Deloitte, where he focused on managing financial statement audits for publicly held companies. His exposure to the “Big 4” public accounting firm gave him a wide range of experience in different industries and built a solid understanding of financial risk management. Jeffery continued his financial advisory career with Yale University and Pitney Bowes, Inc. In addition to his advisory roles, he also founded a tax preparation and advisory practice firm. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Jeffery was a Director with Management Resources at Robert Half International. He worked directly with corporate leadership to analyze projects, source consultants for execution, provide on-going external project management, and close-out oversight.

Brandon Todd has served as Director of Corporate Public Policy for Washington Gas (WGL) since January 2021. In this role, Brandon leads WGL’s government affairs and public policy group and works in close collaboration with senior leadership to support the development and management of public policy positions. He previously served six years on the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 4 and served as Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Government Operations. Brandon is an experienced community leader and advocates with an expertise in political management, public policy, and government affairs. He has more than 13 years of experience leading change in the D.C. Government. As Councilmember, Brandon held regional leadership roles as Chair of the Large Cities Council of the National League of Cities and Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee. He currently serves on the DC Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee, Board of Directors of the Prince George’s County MD Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG) and Leadership Greater Washington. Brandon holds a BS in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Bowie State University and an MBA with a concentration on Organizational Development from Trinity Washington University.

Natasha Watkins received a B.B.A. in Finance from Howard University, an M.B.A from Marymount University and an M.S.W from Catholic University. Natasha Watkins has been a management consultant for over 25 years working with both commercial and government clients. Mrs. Watkins also has a company, Your Life Onward, that allows her to work with 1:1 with clients to achieve their best personally, mentally and emotionally. Natasha and her family live in Chevy Chase, DC. She is an active member of the Washington DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc and the Washington DC Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. She also serves on the Selection Committee for the Williams-Franklin Scholarship Foundation.