Alumni Achievement Award
Sue Daugherty, RDN, LDN ‘95
CEO,
MANNA
Alumni Achievement Award
Sue Daugherty, RDN, LDN ‘95
CEO
MANNA
Sue, a 1995 graduate from Community College of Philadelphia, joined MANNA in 1999 as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). At MANNA, Sue has held several positions prior to being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2012. Sue garnered national recognition in June 2013 when she co-authored a key study, “Examining Health Care Costs Among MANNA Clients and a Comparison Group” published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. This research study examined the health care cost savings associated with MANNA’s model and has ongoing impact on nutrition policy nationwide.
Sue has presented MANNA’s work at conferences and meetings across the country. She has also testified in front of the United States Congress.
Sue is an Advisory Board member of the national Food Is Medicine Coalition and served as co-vice-chair from 2019-2022. In 2019 Sue was invited to join the Food Lab Accelerator at Google as a product owner for Food Is Medicine. Other accolades include, the 2015 Jefferson College of Population Health Education Hero Award, Comcast’s Newsmakers selection, the Cancer Treatment Center’s America Caregiver Women of the Week Award, and Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders Award. In May 2022 Sue was the Keynote Speaker for the graduating ceremony for Jefferson College of Health Professionals and she received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Thomas Jefferson University.
Community Hero Award
Rodney and Erika McLeod
Founders,
Change Our Future
Community Hero Award
Rodney and Erika McLeod
Founders
Change Our Future
Rodney McLeod, a native of Hyattsville, Maryland, is a distinguished NFL player known for his exceptional on-field performance and impactful community service. A standout football player at DeMatha Catholic High School, Rodney earned a scholarship to the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. His commitment to success extends beyond the football field, with a focus on making a positive difference off the field.
Together with his wife, Erika McLeod, Rodney established the Change Our Future Foundation in 2020. Committed to improving the lives of local youth, the foundation spearheads various education and enrichment initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles and empower young individuals to become agents of change globally. The McLeods also host an annual free Youth Football Camp at DeMatha, emphasizing football fundamentals and life skill development in Rodney’s hometown of Hyattsville, Maryland.
In addition to his philanthropic efforts, Rodney McLeod has actively participated in initiatives such as the Philadelphia Eagles social justice committee, the “End Philly Gun Violence” campaign, and the St. Louis Rams Salvation Army “Tree of Lights” campaign. He is a distinguished recipient of the NFLPA Alan Page Community (APC) Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an NFL player for exemplary community service in their team, city, and hometown.
Erika McLeod, a graduate of the University of Virginia, brings a unique professional background in clinical health and patient advocacy to the McLeod power duo. Despite facing a life-altering brain injury after graduation, Erika’s resilience and determination have been inspirational. She is a passionate advocate for change in underserved communities, working towards equality in access to healthcare and education.
Erika’s commitment to community empowerment led to the creation of the I “AM” Youth Leadership Summit in Philadelphia, targeting 10th and 11th-grade students. This summit bridges the gap between academics and personal development, empowering today’s youth to step confidently into leadership roles. Her charismatic approach, natural leadership qualities, and dedication to health, education, and advocacy inspire individuals across all walks of life.
Together, Rodney and Erika McLeod embody a powerful force for positive change, using their influence to uplift communities and empower the next generation through education, advocacy, and awareness.
Corporate Leadership Award
Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, CFA
President,
Citizens Mid-Atlantic Region
Corporate Leadership Award
Dan K. Fitzpatrick
President
Citizens Bank
Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, CFA, is President of Citizens Mid-Atlantic Region and a corporate finance executive with more than 30 years of experience. Dan Fitzpatrick is a native of Northeast Philadelphia and is a former chairman of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on its Executive Committee. Fitzpatrick is also a member of the Board of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development in Pittsburgh and the Senator John Heinz History Center. Fitzpatrick serves as Chairman of Philadelphia Works, Inc., Philadelphia’s workforce development corporation. Fitzpatrick earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from LaSalle University and an MBA from Drexel University. He is a CPA and a Chartered Financial Analyst. Dan and his wife Beth live in Philadelphia and have four adult children.
Legacy Award
Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, MGA, FAAN
President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Vice President of Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross
Legacy Award
Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, MGA, FAAN
President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Vice President of Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross
Lorina Marshall-Blake is the president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (the Foundation), a charitable, private foundation founded in 2011, and also the vice president of community affairs at Independence Blue Cross (Independence).
In her role with the Foundation, she leads strategic, programmatic, and operational efforts to fulfill the Foundation’s mission to lead sustainable solutions that improve the health and wellness of the community. Under her leadership, the Foundation has established itself as a collaborator, innovator, and thought leader in addressing emerging health needs in southeastern Pennsylvania.
As the vice president of community affairs, Marshall-Blake develops and manages relationships with community partners to advance Independence’s social mission efforts.
Marshall-Blake is passionate about giving back to the community. She is involved with more than 30 professional and civic organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the United Negro College Fund, and is the former president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter. She is also an associate minister at the Vine Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
Currently, she also serves on more than 25 non-profit boards and committees including the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association — Corporate Responsibility Committee, The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia’s Paradigm Award & Scholarship Committee, the Urban Affairs Coalition, and the Urban League of Philadelphia. Marshall-Blake also serves on Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions Executive Advisory Council and Rutgers School of Nursing — Camden Dean’s Leadership Circle. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice.
Lifetime Service Award
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller
Lifetime Service Award
ENON TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church has been led by the Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller since July of 1994. Enon Tabernacle, the oldest African American Baptist Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, has been a beacon light in the community for 147 years. Under Rev. Dr. Waller’s dynamic leadership, the church has experienced exponential spiritual and numerical growth. Enon Tabernacle strives to be “a place where people encounter God.”
Rev. Dr. Waller leads Enon in meeting the needs of its congregants, the Philadelphia community, the nation, and the African diaspora through more than ninety culturally relevant ministries. Enon Tabernacle has been a leading church in addressing the issues faced in our region and beyond. The church has engaged in highlighting educational, health and economic disparities in the African American community, deepening civic engagement, understanding and accountability, unapologetically protecting and actively engaging youth through athletics, joining the fight to eradicate human trafficking. In addition, Enon blesses many with its award-winning music ministry.
Rev. Dr. Waller speaks truth to power through his preaching, teaching, and exemplary leadership skills. When presented with a need, the gifted visionary Rev. Dr. Waller leads Enon Tabernacle in finding a solution that meets the need and blesses all involved. God uses Rev. Dr. Waller’s love for humanity to transform lives with The Gospel Message. Rev. Dr. Waller’s partner in marriage and ministry is Ellyn Jo Waller, Ed.D. Together they have two accomplished adult daughters, Eryka Lynn Waller and Elynn Morgan Johnson; son-in-law Corey M. Johnson; and a beautiful granddaughter, Kori Lynn Johnson.
Corporate Leadership Award
Jasmine E. Sessoms
Corporate Leadership Award
JASMINE E. SESSOMS
Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Hilco Redevelopment Partners
Jasmine Sessoms is a civic, philanthropic and political leader in the City of Philadelphia. She is a lifelong Philadelphian with a true passion for the City. Ms. Sessoms currently serves as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP); in this role Ms. Sessoms oversees community and government outreach efforts and serves as a key liaison to constituent groups throughout the City of Philadelphia. She uses her deep understanding of the community to build trust and foster collaboration between HRP and the residents, groups and institutions it seeks to work with over the long-term. Early in her tenure at HRP, Ms. Sessoms worked with the City and the School District of Philadelphia to create the innovative Career Connected Learning Program, which will shape the face of the workforce in Philadelphia for years to come. Ms. Sessoms also oversees HRP’s philanthropic efforts through the Hilco Helps initiatives, which established the Hilco Helps Scholarship at Community College of Philadelphia and during the 2020 holiday season donated over $1 million of in-kind items to Philadelphians in need.
Before joining Hilco Redevelopment Partners, Ms. Sessoms served as the Government & Community Relations Officer for Community College of Philadelphia, where she advocated tirelessly for the College on the Local, State and Federal level. As the Managing Executive Director of The Fund for Philadelphia, where she oversaw $17 million of grants and awards to deliver on the goals of the Mayor of Philadelphia’s philanthropic priorities. She served in this role under Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Mayor James F. Kenney. She also served in Mayor John F. Street’s administration overseeing the Public Engagement Office.
In 2014, Ms. Sessoms founded the nonprofit organization She Can Win with the mission to train and invest in women (specifically women of color) to run for office. To date, She Can Win has trained over 900 women throughout the country. Most recently, She Can Win hosted a roundtable discussion in partnership with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia. Ms. Sessoms also founded a political consultant firm in 2015, J&S Strategies. Since its founding, J&S Strategies has raised over $14 million dollars in political contributions for candidates, causes, and political action committees. Some notable clients are: Governor Tom Wolf, Mayor James Kenney, The Black Economic Alliance, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Emily’s List, Minority House Whip Representative Jordan A. Harris, Minority House Leader Representative Joanna McClinton, and Congressman Dwight Evans.
Ms. Sessoms has been recognized both nationally and locally as a political leader. She has been recognized as Philadelphia Business Journal 40 Under 40 Business Leaders (the first for a consultant firm), PA City & State 40 Under 40 Political Leaders, KWY’s GameChanger, Philadelphia Magazine Women Trailblazer, Google’s Women to Watch, and Philadelphia Style’s Most Stylish Philadelphians to name a few.
Ms. Sessoms graduated from Morgan State University and holds a master’s degree in organizational development and leadership from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also serves on a multitude of boards and commissions: Governor Tom Wolf’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, Chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Mayoral Appointee for Philadelphia Works, PA Voices advocacy chair, Philadelphia250, and The Mann Music Center.
Community Hero Award
Ryan N. Boyer
Business Manager
Laborers’ District Council of Metropolitan Area
of Philadelphia & Vicinity and
Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council
Community Hero Award
RYAN N. BOYER
Business Manager
Laborers District Council of Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity
Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council
Ryan N. Boyer is the Business Manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, a consortium of more than 50 labor unions in Philadelphia’s building and construction trades.
Since August 2008, Mr. Boyer has served as Business Manager of the Laborers District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity, the parent body of three local unions with over 6,000 members. In this capacity, he negotiates contracts, oversees contract compliance, and is a Trustee of the union’s pension, training, and health and welfare funds to ensure that all member unions comply with the rules and regulations that govern their existence.
Mr. Boyer previously served as President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, a constituency group under the AFL-CIO dedicated to ensuring diversity and inclusion are priorities within the union movement. The organization is also committed to mentoring and training young minorities to assume leadership roles in their respective unions. In July 2015, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Mr. Boyer as Chair of the 16-member Board of Commissioners that oversees operations of the bi-state Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) where he served until 2021. The DRPA serves as a major economic driver for the region, facilitating commerce and transporting workers between Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia.
From October 1993 to October of 1994, Mr. Boyer served as Co-Founder of BRIJTS, Inc., a real estate investment company that focused on rehabbing and selling residential properties to rejuvenate and beautify neighborhoods across Philadelphia. In March 1995, Mr. Boyer joined Laborers’ Local 332 as a journeyman laborer, and, in 2000, he rose to the position of assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer. From July 2003 to August 2008, Mr. Boyer served as Secretary-Treasurer of Local 332, a union of almost 3,000 members, where he oversaw an annual budget of over $2 million and negotiated labor contracts on behalf of his membership.
Mr. Boyer was selected by Governor Wolf and approved by the Pennsylvania State Legislature to serve on the Council of Trustees for Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the nation’s oldest historically Black college. Soon after his appointment, he was named Chair by the members of the Council.
Mr. Boyer serves on the Board of Directors for FS Investments – Credit Real Estate Income Trust. He also served on several other boards and commissions including the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (Philly Works), the Philadelphia Jobs Commission, and the City of Philadelphia Tax Review Board.
Alumni Achievement Award
Gunter Pfau
Founder and CEO
Stuzo
Alumni Achievement Award
GUNTER PFAU
Founder and CEO Stuzo
Gunter Pfau is the founder and CEO of Stuzo, a software and e-commerce company. Mr. Pfau founded Stuzo in 2007 as a social applications company. Recognizing the opportunity and potential business impact, Facebook was an early client, along with Google and Mastercard, that engaged Stuzo for Digital Product Innovation Services.
Mr. Pfau, who is legally blind, earned his Associate in Arts degree in Business at Community College of Philadelphia in 2002, before continuing his education at Temple University. While a student at Community College of Philadelphia, he used the services of the Center on Disability. He credits his professors and the staff at the Center with giving him an increased level of confidence. In late 2021, Mr. Pfau donated $100,000 to the Center, to be used to purchase equipment, reward students for their achievements, and to train faculty on creative inclusive practices.
His lack of eyesight is a daily reminder how everyone is different and that there is great strength in people’s differences. At Stuzo, teams are organized for team chemistry, collaborating to leverage each other’s strengths while supporting each other in the areas that are harder for one team member than they are for another. This supportive environment carries over into managing the care of 100 colleagues living in Ukraine. While headquartered in Philadelphia, Mr. Pfau relocated all Ukrainian employees for their safety. As a child refugee from Romania, he understands their circumstances.
Mr. Pfau is recognized as an accomplished entrepreneur, thought leader, and a trusted business advisor in Digital Products and Platforms. His passion for innovation that transforms how enterprises successfully engage consumers across digital channels has made Stuzo a leader in mobile applications and has led to the development of its open commerce platform and wallet steering products and solutions within the convenience and fuel retail industry. Stuzo currently counts leading companies such as Chevron, Murphy USA, Delek US, and Marathon Petroleum as clients. Under Mr. Pfau’s leadership, and with his focus on team chemistry, Stuzo continues to be a highly differentiated and rapidly growing private equity owned verticalized SaaS business.
Mr. Pfau enjoys cooking and sharing a good meal with friends, helping others, spending time with his wife traveling, and tending to the gardens and the various animals at their farm estate.
2022 Honorees
Community Hero Award
Kenneth and Faatimah Gamble
Co-founders
Universal Companies
Commun0ity Hero Award
KENNETH & FAATIMAH GAMBLE
Co-founders, Universal Companies
Kenneth Gamble is widely known for having written, produced, recorded, and published more than 3,000 songs performed by artists such as The Jackson Five, Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle, and many others. Along with partner Leon Huff, he co-founded several record companies, including Philadelphia International Records.
The Grammy Award winning songwriting and production duo Gamble and Huff have won nearly every major musical award in the U.S. including being inducted into the National Academy of Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Disco Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They also won Europe’s most prestigious Ivor Novello Award. Their catalog has secured 80 #1 Hits; 200+ Top #100 Hits; 175 Gold/Platinum Albums; #1 R&B Publisher Worldwide; #8 Pop Publisher Worldwide; and one of Gamble and Huff’s records is reportedly played every 13 minutes worldwide.
Mr. Gamble has founded or helped to build numerous organizations that had a sole purpose of helping uplift and empower the African-American community, including the African American Foundation, The Universal Community of Truth, the South Philadelphia Ministries Task Force, The Philadelphia Music Foundation, and Universal Companies, which he co-founded with his wife Faatimah Gamble.
Faatimah Gamble’s acumen for business began early as a student at Bok Vocational School in South Philadelphia. She continued her education at Temple University and later became certified as a Protocol and Etiquette Consultant from the International School of Protocol in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Gamble developed character building and social etiquette programs which she has implemented with hundreds of adolescents over the last 30 years, encouraging self-esteem among urban youth.
Currently, Mrs. Gamble joins radio personality, Mimi Brown of WDAS, Philly’s R&B and Classic Soul radio station, to deliver health centered messages and words of wisdom through haiku poetry to the Philadelphia region. Mrs. Gamble is a published poet who has earned numerous awards and has been recognized by city and state officials for her dedication to health and wellness. In 2013, she was recognized by Philadelphia City Council for her commitment to helping impoverished communities and families across the nation, and by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for her charitable and community achievements. She’s also been named one of Philadelphia Tribune’s Most Influential African American Leaders.
In the past two decades since Mr. and Mrs. Gamble founded Universal, it has improved the quality of life for thousands of children and families residing in historically disenfranchised communities. To date, Universal has been the conduit for more than $1.5 billion of real estate development and investment and currently educates more than 4,500 students in ten public charter schools (K-12). The company is also one of the largest African-American led businesses in Philadelphia, employing nearly 650 professionals.
Since the inception, more than 25,000 individuals have benefited from the programs, workshops and events implemented by Universal’s wellness program, The Wellness of You, led by Mrs. Gamble. In addition to the Celebrate Wellness Expo and the Annual Wellness Breakfast for Men, it also includes an annual children’s wellness health fair for nearly 3,000 students and their families. The Wellness of You program implements character building/self-esteem training programs for adolescents, known respectively as The Pearls of Wisdom and From Boys to Men.
Alumni Achievement Award
Alfred T. Samura, MD
Cardiology Fellow
Cooper University Health Care
Alumni Achievement Award
ALFRED T. SAMURA, MD
Cardiology Fellow, Cooper University Health Care
Born in Sierra Leone, Dr. Samura was impressed by the work of military doctors during the civil war while growing up there, sparking his interest in the medical field. His decision to become a doctor was cemented after his father had to undergo emergency surgery that saved his life.
In 2004, Dr. Samura moved to the United States on his own. Over the next six years, while working as a nurse’s aide, and later a nurse, to support himself and his family, he pursued his undergraduate degree at Community College of Philadelphia and then the University of Pennsylvania.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Samura went on to study at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2017 he began his residency at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) where he served a diverse patient population with varying pathologies. He focused his research interest on health care disparities. After his training at UTHealth, Dr. Samura came back to the Philadelphia area as a cardiology fellow at Cooper University Health Care. Dr. Samura is interested in pursuing interventional cardiology subspecialty training.
Throughout his training, Dr. Samura continues to be a mentor to underrepresented minorities and hopes to influence the next generation of physicians.
He is married to Hawa Samura; his best friend for nearly 18 years.
Corporate Leadership Award
Michael Forman
Chairman and CEO
FS Investments
Corporate Leadership Award
MICHAEL FORMAN
Chairman & CEO, FS Investments
Michael Forman is the Chairman and CEO of FS Investments, an alternative investments asset manager. Michael founded FS in 2007 after a successful career as both a corporate and securities lawyer and a serial entrepreneur. The firm is an outgrowth of Michael’s simple vision: help investors access alternative sources of income, growth and diversification formerly available to only large institutions and the wealthiest individuals.
Over the last 13 years, FS Investments has grown from a small, innovative start-up to an organization that manages nearly $25 billion in assets and a growing suite of solutions designed to help financial advisors, individuals and institutions achieve a variety of financial goals. With five offices and over 350 employees, the firm has been recognized as an industry leader. FS Investments was named one of “Philly’s Coolest Companies” by Philadelphia Magazine in 2015 and one of Greater Philadelphia’s Healthiest Employers by the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2019.
A native of northern New Jersey, Michael attended the University of Rhode Island. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Political Science and he went on to earn a JD from Rutgers Law School. In 2013, Michael was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Greater Philadelphia.
Michael lives in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia with his wife and three daughters who, as a family, created a foundation that devotes resources to civic and charitable organizations supporting education, the arts, childhood nutrition, women’s rights and animal welfare. In 2021, Michael cofounded the Forman Arts Initiative (FAI) with his wife, Jennifer Rice. FAI is a platform to connect and support artists and cultural organizations in Philadelphia through programming, exhibition commissions, financial support and advocacy.
Michael’s commitment to the Philadelphia region extends to board service at several institutions, including Drexel University, the Center City District Foundation and the Barnes Foundation. He also serves as the Founding Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Equity Alliance. His civic leadership has garnered recognition by the community and his peers, including the 2019 Americanism Award from the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia as well as a special honor from Mural Arts Philadelphia in 2017 for his dedication to the city’s public art initiatives. In 2019, Mr. Forman cofounded Fitler Club, a diverse and civically engaged private lifestyle club located in Center City, Philadelphia.
2021 Honoree
Lifetime Service Award
Daniel J. Hilferty
Former President and CEO
Independence Health Group
Lifetime Service Award
DANIEL J. HILFERTY
Former President and CEO, Independence Health Group
From 2010 until the end of 2020, Daniel J. Hilferty served as the president and chief executive officer of Independence Health Group (Independence), parent of Independence Blue Cross, one of the nation’s leading health insurers.
During his tenure, the company nearly tripled in size by expanding through its affiliates to serve 8 million people nationwide and built business collaborations with world-renowned institutions.
Mr. Hilferty is a sought-after speaker on leadership, transforming health care, and the role of technology and big data, and has appeared on numerous national media. He is among a select group of nonpartisan health care leaders called upon by government leaders for advice on health care reform.
Mr. Hilferty is a member of the boards of directors for Essential Utilities, Inc. and FS Investment Corporation III. He recently served as the board chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the immediate past chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. In 2015, he served as cochair on the executive leadership cabinet of the World Meeting of Families which brought Pope Francis to Philadelphia.
2020 Honorees
Community Hero Award
Sara Lomax-Reese
President and CEO
WURD Radio
Community Hero Award
SARA LOMAX-REESE
Former President and CEO, WURD Radio
Sara Lomax-Reese is the President and CEO of WURD Radio, LLC, Pennsylvania’s only African-American owned talk radio station. She transformed WURD Radio from a legacy talk radio station to a multimedia communications company providing cutting-edge, original programming on-air, online and through community events. In 2017, Sara led the expansion of 900AM-WURD to the FM dial.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Sara has written for many publications, including The Philadelphia Inquirer and Essence Magazine, as well as contributed to a book of essays, “Our Black Sons Matter.”
Sara also served as an adjunct professor at Oglethorpe University, and she taught a collaborative course at the University of Pennsylvania. Sara completed the Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership program in 2018, and this year she will attend the Media Transformation Challenge at Harvard Kennedy School.
Sara has received numerous awards, and was most recently named one of the “100 Most Influential Philadelphians” by Philadelphia Magazine. She sits on a variety of boards and has participated on the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadcast Diversity and Development Working Group of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment. Sara is also co-founder of Philadelphia’s People of Color meditation group, and is the proud mother of three boys.
Alumni Achievement Award
Tuesday Gordon
Manager and Buyer
Joan Shepp
Alumni Achievement Award
TUESDAY GORDON
Manager and Buyer, Joan Shepp
Tuesday Gordon is one of the most influential fashion professionals in Philadelphia and on the east coast. After nearly four decades, Tuesday is at the forefront of the industry and many of the city’s most stylish people turn to her when it comes to fashion.
Her career began with positions at The Limited, Joan and David, and Toby Lerner. For the past 20 years, she has held dual roles as buyer and manager at Joan Shepp, a Philadelphia institution. She was also the stylist for the television program “You Bet Your Life.” An avid traveler, her trips around the globe have enhanced her unique fashion sense.
Nineteen years ago, Tuesday founded “Celebrating Women of Substance and Style,” an annual Black History Month event to honor black women who make a difference. It has grown into a highly anticipated event with a portion of ticket sales donated to charity. Tuesday has also raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims, and is a volunteer for Planned Parenthood and the Women’s Medical Fund. She also volunteered for President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s campaigns, and has been a speaker and mentor at Moore College and Drexel University
Corporate Leadership Award
Comcast NBCUniversal
Corporate Leadership Award
COMCAST NBCUniversal
Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. In addition, the Xfinity brand provides wireless, security and automation services. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks; the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks; television production operations; television station groups; Universal Pictures; and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights.
2019 Honorees
Community Hero Award
Malcolm Jenkins
Safety
Philadelphia Eagles
Community Hero Award
MALCOLM JENKINS
Safety, Philadelphia Eagles
As a true student of the game, a dynamic playmaker from the safety position, and a tireless philanthropist in the community, Malcolm Jenkins is a pillar in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room and in the communities in which he has lived, worked and played, including his home state of New Jersey, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Football
Jenkins earned a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, and as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints in 2010 after being originally selected by the Saints with the 14th-overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Malcolm joined the Eagles in 2014 and lauded Pro Bowl honors with the Eagles in 2015, 2017 and most recently, in 2018. As a team Captain, his impact on the field has garnered multiple awards, including team leader for most solo tackles (2017), his fourth NFC Defensive Player of the Week award (2016), in his 100th career start, became and remains the only player in Eagles history to register three consecutive seasons with an INT-TD, and this past season was one of only three NFL players on the field for all of his team’s defensive snaps the entire season. At Ohio State University, Jenkins was a team captain and consensus All-America selection as a senior in 2008, and was honored with the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back.
Business
Jenkins has fully immersed himself in the world of fashion. In 2017, Jenkins launched Damari Saville, a collection of custom clothing including ready-to-wear and made-to-measure men’s suits. Damari Saville has its storefront location in the heart of Philadelphia in Washington Square.
Philanthropy
In November 2017, Jenkins was announced as the Eagles nomination for the Walter Payton Man of The Year award for excellence on and off the field. Previously known as the NFL Man of the Year Award, the award was renamed in 1999 after deceased Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (having been the 1977 recipient himself), to honor his legacy as a humanitarian. Each year, a winner is selected from 32 nominees from the 32 different teams. Earlier that year in February 2017, Jenkins was announced as the recipient of the NFLPA’s Byron “Whizzer” White Award for his outstanding charitable efforts off the field. As the winner, Jenkins received $100,000 for The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation. Byron “Whizzer” White led the NFL in rushing yards in 1938 and 1940 and later served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1962-93.
Jenkins earned the Jesse Owens Influential Athlete Award by the Ohio State Alumni Association in 2012. This award acknowledges “an African-American alumnus and former student-athlete who exemplifies great character and talent, demonstrates exceptional professional success and continues to reflect the highest qualities of a consummate athlete and humanitarian.”
In an effort to enhance the lives of youth in underserved communities, Jenkins launched The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation in 2010, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity with a mission to effectuate positive change in the lives of youth by providing resources, innovative opportunities, and experiences that will help them succeed in life and become contributing members of their communities. The foundation is currently serving in four different states: NJ, OH, LA, and PA with a programming emphasis on education, health and wellness, life skills curriculum and scholarships. In 2016, Jenkins brought his commitment to making a positive and lasting impact in the lives of youth and communities in Philadelphia with the Foundation’s educational Summer S.T.E.A.M. program.
Jenkins is also very engaged in social issues. In February 2017, he co-founded the Players Coalition with retired NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin to organize a large group of NFL players’ fight for racial and social equality. They have prioritized their work into three areas of focus, including: criminal justice reform, police/community relations and education/economic advancement for low-income communities, primarily communities of color. In August 2017, Jenkins and Boldin asked the league for support and the NFL responded with a major commitment to marketing, government relations assistance and financial resources. With Jenkins leadership, the Players Coalition has a clear action plan to address systemic issues plaguing our country. NFL owners such as Jeff Lurie, Stephen Ross, Jimmy Haslam, Robert Kraft, and Arthur Blank among others have now joined players to educate themselves and get involved.
His multiple trips to Capitol Hill, the numerous speeches he’s given, and his visits to police departments and correctional facilities are a true testament to Malcolm’s commitment and desire to use his platform to have a positive lasting effect on the communities that have supported him.
Alumni Achievement Award
Hayward L. Bell
Chief Diversity Officer
Raytheon (Retired)
Alumni Achievement Award
HAYWARD L. BELL
Chief Diversity Officer, Raytheon (Retired)
Hayward Bell is retired Chief Diversity Officer of Raytheon Company. He was appointed to this position in 2005 and served until 2016. Raytheon Company with sales of $25 billion is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil and cyber security markets worldwide, employing 63,000 people.
Mr. Bell began his career as a project accountant with Turner Construction Company While attending college at night, he received his Associates degree from Community College of Philadelphia. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree with high honors in Accounting from Rutgers University.
Upon graduation from Rutgers Mr. Bell joined Air Products and Chemicals (a $10 billion industrial gas and specialty chemical company, headquartered in Allentown PA) as a junior financial analyst. During which time he completed his MBA also at night at Lehigh University. In his 30 year career at Air Products he was promoted ten times and served in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility from Financial Analysis Manager, Global Manager of Policies and Practices, Chemicals Group Assistant Controller and Finance Director and CFO for Air Products Canada located in Toronto Canada. Among his many substantial achievements at the company Mr. Bell established an in-house (CMA) Certified Management Accounting development program for the controllership organization leading to external recognition of Air Products in the Wall Street Journal. In 1998, at the request of the then CEO Harold Wagner, Mr. Bell was appointed Global Director of Diversity to help shift the culture of the company. Mr. Bell received public recognition from the Air Products CEO for his company-wide contributions in the area of diversity and inclusion. While at Raytheon Mr. Bell was recognized as an industry leader and innovator in the practice of diversity and inclusion. The Black Enterprise magazine recognized him for “outstanding business achievement” as one of the top executives in diversity. Mr. Bell also received the coveted Raytheon CEO award for leading multi-day diversity summits for hundreds of senior company leaders.
Mr. Bell has been active as a contributor and leader in a number of professional and community organizations.
- Board member of the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) the largest organization of management accountants in the world, where he served as Chair of the Ethics Committee
- Member of the Board of Regents of the ICMA (Institute of Certified Management Accountants). Mr. Bell is a CMA.
- Board member and President of the Valley Youth House, at the time the 3 rd largest organization in PA dealing with run-a-way and troubled teenagers.
- Member of FEI (Financial Executive Institute) Canada and U.S.
- Mentor in Lehigh Valley’s Communities and School program where his at-risk 8 th grade mentee is now a successful 30-year-old college graduate with a family.
- Member and past Chair of The Conference Board Global Diversity Council of 200+ corporate Chief Diversity Officers.
- Member of ICA (Inclusion Allies Collation) focused on improving equity and inclusion in corporations, institutions and the society.
- NTL Certified Diversity Practitioner
- Mentor in Community College of Philadelphia CME (Center for Male Engagement) program.
A fun-fact: Mr. Bell was one of Ebony magazine’s bi-centennial bachelors featured in the June 1976 issue.
Corporate Leadership Award
Julie Coker Graham
CEO
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
Corporate Leadership Award
JULIE COKER GRAHAM
CEO, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
Julie Coker Graham is the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) where she oversees the organization’s efforts to promote and sell Philadelphia as a top destination for meetings, conventions, overseas travelers and group tour visitors. As President & CEO, Coker Graham oversaw the PHLCVB’s role in the 2017 NFL Draft and the 2016 Democratic National Convention, which together had a combined economic impact of $325 million for Philadelphia.
Previously, Coker Graham served as the PHLCVB’s Executive Vice President of Convention Sales and managed a staff of 25 sales and services professionals responsible for selling the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia’s hotel package to customers across the country. Coker Graham joined the PHLCVB after serving as General Manager for the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, where she oversaw all operational aspects of the 350-room hotel.
A 21-year Hyatt veteran, she began her career there in 1989 as a corporate management trainee at Hyatt Regency Columbus. Throughout her more than two decades with Hyatt, she rose through the ranks in a variety of positions, including assistant front office manager, front office manager, hotel assistant manager, assistant executive housekeeper and general manager.
Coker Graham serves on a number of boards, including the Executive Committees for U.S. Travel Association and Destinations International. In January of 2018, she began her tenure as co-chair for U.S. Travel’s Meetings Mean Business Coalition and began serving as the Secretary-Treasurer for International Association of Exhibitions and Events Executive Committee (IAEE). In Philadelphia, she is a board member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Independence Visitor Center Corporation, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Center City District (and the CCD Foundation) and the Global Philadelphia Association. She is also on the Philadelphia International Airport Advisory Committee and the Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Committee, and she co-chairs the Mayor’s Shared Spaces Initiative to combat homelessness. In 2016, Coker Graham served as the chair of Mayor Jim Kenney’s transition team for the Democratic National Convention.
In addition, Coker Graham is a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Links, Incorporated. She was the 2017 United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Ball Honoree for Civic Leadership, and was named one of the Network Journal’s 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business. She also received the Cradle of Liberty Good Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council and was the recipient of the 2011 John Wanamaker Award (Individual Award) given by the YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity.
Coker Graham is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, where she received a bachelor of science in Hospitality Management and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
2018 Honorees
Community Hero Award
Ron Davis
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Parx Casino
Community Hero Award
RON DAVIS
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Parx Casino
Ronald W. Davis is the director of Diversity and Community Affairs at for Parx Casino – the number one casino in Philadelphia with a reputation as one of the region’s most generous donors. Mr. Davis and Parx Casino have provided support to the College’s Center for Male Engagement to help fund the Strong Lives, Strong Futures, Strong Men Scholarship, which provides tuition, fees and books to qualified students. He has contributed to many community-based organizations, such as Livengrin Foundation, Delaware Valley Crime Commission, Network of Victim Assistance, Washington Council Boy Scouts, American Red Cross, and United Way. He is also a trustee of Mother Bethel AME Church and a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Mr. Davis has also distinguished himself as a former professional athlete in the National Football League.
Corporate Leadership Award
Independence Blue Cross
Corporate Leadership Award
INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS
Serving more than 8.5 million people in 24 states and Washington, D.C., including 2.5 million in the region, Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance company in the Philadelphia region. The mission of Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is to enhance the health and well-being of the people and communities they serve. Social responsibility and community involvement are part of the IBC social mission, which is fostered through sponsorships and philanthropic efforts. IBC has partnered with many community organizations in the City such as Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Academies, The Philadelphia Youth Network, and Life Science Career Alliance. IBC also prides itself for a community outreach program called The Blue Crew that connects employees, their families, and retirees with varied volunteer service projects. IBC is proud to support its neighbors as hundreds of IBC employees dedicate thousands of hours to enhance the wellbeing of the community.
Alumni Achievement Award
Luis Torrado
President
Torrado Construction Company, Inc.
Alumni Achievement Award
LUIS TORRADO
President, Torrado Construction Company, Inc.
Luis E. Torrado is the founder and CEO of Torrado Construction, a privately held general construction firm. Established in 1995, Torrado Construction prides itself as a specialist in commercial construction, renovations and rehabilitations, concrete, removal services, and painting services. Mr. Torrado was recognized as a Rising Contractor in Construction in Today Magazine because of his exceptional skills. Mr. Torrado, a native of North Philadelphia, is committed to supporting his minority community and neighborhood, and he continues to hire employees from the Port Richmond neighborhood. Torrado Construction supports local charities by participating regularly in community projects.
Alumni Achievement Award
RoseAnn Rosenthal
President
Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Alumni Achievement Award
ROSEANN ROSENTHAL
President, Ben Franklin Technology Partners
RoseAnn B. Rosenthal is President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP). Praised by regional, national and international leaders as a pioneer of public- private partnerships and an invaluable resource for innovation-focused investment and growth in Greater Philadelphia, Rosenthal has over 45 years of experience in economic development, business investment, and regional planning. BFTP has contributed greatly to Pennsylvania’s economy and has produced a total of 20,200 jobs in the Commonwealth between 2007 through 2011 that otherwise would not have existed. The Commonwealth has received $358 million in additional state tax receipts as a direct result of BFTP investments in client firms. Since 1989, BFTP has boosted the state’s economy by more than $23.5 billion.
2016 Black & Gold Honorees
Napoleon Garcia
Community Hero Award
Rev. Dr. John Dawkins
Corporate Leadership Award
Jerome Mitchell, Class of 1980
Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award
2017 Black & Gold Honorees
Terri Matthews
Community Hero Award
Romy Diaz
Corporate Leadership Award
Michael W. Banks, Class of 2011
Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award