Charles E. Lewis, Jr.
Chairman, Board of Directors

Charles obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil Engineering at Auburn University.  Charles obtained a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.  Charles is also registered professional engineer in the states of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. 

As an intern through INROADS Inc., an international organization poised "To place Talented Minority Youth in Business and Industry and prepare them for Corporate and Community Leadership", Charles worked with Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors throughout college.  Upon graduation, Mr. Lewis accepted a position with the Southern Company, the parent company for Alabama Power, Georgia Power, etc.. Charles' professional experience includes leading civil engineering design for over $1 billion in environmental projects for Southern Company.  Mr. Lewis is currently a construction lead responsible for daily management of contracts that exceed $30 million. 

In addition to numerous professional activities, Charles is active in various community organizations.  Mr. Lewis has been actively involved in organizations such as the Future Engineers of America, NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hands-on-Birmingham, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and United Way of Central Alabama, CATALYST of Birmingham. Charles is also a founding member and former chairman of the Birmingham Change Fund, an organization of young African Americans that collectively pools their time, talent and treasure to create positive change in Birmingham. Currently, Charles is the board chairman for the Community Investment Network, a non profit that supports community investment by way of giving circles like the Birmingham Change Fund nationwide.

Michelle Arrington
Treasurer, Board of Directors

Michelle has been a senior pharmaceutical sales representative with GlaxoSmithKline in Atlanta, Georgia since 2004. She has received numerous accolades for outstanding sales performance, highlighting her excellence on a regional and national level. Michelle’s past work experience utilize her strong management, marketing and customer service skills with companies such as BellSouth and the Georgia Power Company.

She has been committed to the community through her leadership of The Summit at Cascade Home Owners Association, member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, member of the Chautauqua Circle and Treasurer for the Board of Directors for the Community Investment Network.

She earned a B.S. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from Georgia State University.

LaDawn Sullivan
Secretary, Board of Directors

LaDawn is the Program Officer for The Denver Foundation’s Strengthening Neighborhoods Program.  LaDawn joined The Denver Foundation in 1997.  She previously served in key staff positions within the Hunt Alternatives Fund, a private foundation, and Governor Roy Romer’s Administration in the office of Policy and Initiatives.  She currently serves as Chair of the Pipeline (supporting emerging leaders of color) Sub-committee of The Denver Foundation’s Inclusiveness Program, Board Chair of Shadow Theatre Company Advisory Board, and is Immediate Past Chair of Colorado Blacks in Philanthropy, a local chapter of the Association of Black Foundation Executives. 

She recently joined the Denver Chapter of Links, Inc. - a national women’s organization promoting friendship and service to community. She serves in various capacities in her community and has worked on campaigns that promote literacy and efforts that encourage the preservation of African American history and culture in Denver.  She has also served as Youth Director of her church for over 10 years. She is the mother of two sons - Dallas, 14 and Darius, 10.  In her off hours, LaDawn is an accomplished singer and has appeared in theatre productions, and other music venues.  She enjoys reading and bargain hunting.

Kenny Ashe
Member, Board of Directors

Kenny Ashe, philanthropist and social entrepreneur, has been training men, women, and youth to be leaders in the marketplace for several years.  As a nonprofit and business consultant, he has used his business leadership skills that he initially developed at this alma mater, Florida A&M University, and ultimately sharpened in the corporate arena, to make an impact in the nonprofit/philanthropic sector.  As a board member of several community economic development and faith-based organizations, he has also invested resources to improve the lives of families in economically disadvantaged communities.  Kenny as the Vice Chair of Progress Investment Associates, commercial developer for the nation’s first African American owned shopping center located in Philadelphia, has a long history of corporate social responsibility and civic engagement. In addition, he was responsible for the marketing, community relations, and rebranding of the property redevelopment during a recent $22M renovation. Kenny’s personal mandate to improve the lives of people in communities was influenced by the late Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan, who bequeathed a legacy of self-help, global corporate social responsibility, and community investment.

Barron Damon
Member, Board of Directors

Barron J. Damon is a graduate of the University of South Carolina in Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Psychology and a Masters degree in Business Management.  He also completed post graduate work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in Business and Public Health. 

Mr. Damon started his professional career at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia Inc. where he served as Vice-President of Operations.  Prior to his relocation to North Carolina Mr. Damon owned and operated Lotus Consulting, LLC for three years.  Some of his clients included the U.S. Department of Education, the University of South Carolina, Department of Labor, Department of Social Services, Communities and Schools, Department of Health and Environmental Control, as well as several non-profits, churches, and colleges.

Valaida Fullwood
Member, Board of Directors

Valaida is a native North Carolinian and graduate of UNC Chapel Hill. For over a decade, Valaida has worked as a creative consultant, writer and project manager, mainly in education, the arts, civic engagement and philanthropy. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, she managed international economic development projects for major corporations, living and working overseas.

Valaida is a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina and enjoys being involved in the community on multiple fronts, including serving on the boards of the African American Community Foundation, Charlotte ViewPoint, Community Investment Network, Northwest Corridor Community Development Corporation and Wesley Heights Neighborhood Association. She is also a founding member of New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP-Charlotte) - a giving circle, giving back.

Mark Lewis
Member, Board of Directors

Mark is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in accounting. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1991 while working at Price Waterhouse. He left Price Waterhouse LLP after 8 years and joined Ernst &Young LLP where he worked for over five years reaching the level of Senior Manager. Mr. Lewis joined the board of the POISE Foundation in 1996 as its Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Investment committee. He resigned from the Board in 2002 to become the second President and CEO of POISE Foundation. Mr. Lewis also serves on the board of directors of the August Wilson Center, Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise, Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management Advisory Board, and is Chair of The Heinz Endowments African American Male Initiative Advisory Board.  Mark is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh XXII.  He also serves as an Elder and Trustee of Deliverance Baptist Church of Wilkinsburg.   Mr. Lewis is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Lyord Watson
Member, Board of Directors

Acknowledged as punctual, methodical, dependable, and ethical leader, Lyord Watson Jr. is a preacher and a philanthropist, who is family and community oriented.

A native of Brewton, AL, he graduated from Samford University in 2001 with a degree in business management.  After graduating, he worked for State Farm Insurance Company for six years.  He accepted his calling to preach in 2006 and preached his initial sermon at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.  In 2007, he left State Farm, enrolled at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.  Currently, he is the Church Mobilization Intern at Mission Birmingham, and anticipates graduating in December 2010 with a Master’s of Divinity Degree.

Lyord is an associate minister at Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church, in Birmingham, AL.  He is a founding member of the Birmingham Change Fund and currently serves as Chairman.  In 2009, he was recognized for his leadership as a "National Philanthropy Day VIP" by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Lyord resides in Birmingham, AL with his wife Katrina.