p: 305.322.7555
Supporting HBCU/MSI students, faculty, staff and residents of surrounding communities
WHO WE ARE
Our story began in 2010.
The HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (CDAC) was developed to help bring stakeholders together such as HBCU's, MSI's (minority-serving institutions), CDCs (Community Development Corporations), and the Community Economic Development Industry. By connecting these organizations, HBCU CDAC helps build long-term economic opportunities for the HBCU/MSI students, small businesses near the campuses, and the broader surrounding community.
Our organization tackles programs like financial education, green energy, opportunity zone funding, and helping small businesses thrive in financially underdeveloped corridors around HBCUs and MSIs. But we need the support of individuals, corporations, government agencies, and foundations to continue this vital work.
CDAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Larry K. Salley
Chairman
Larry Salley is a consultant and community economic development practitioner with over 30 years of experience developing and managing grant-funded community-based projects. Mr. Salley served as Executive Director of the Benedict-Allen Community Development Corporation in Columbia, South Carolina, for 22 years. During his tenure, he had responsibility for developing programs and managing grants in excess of $14 million. He has directed seven workforce development initiatives, four affordable housing programs, and three small business development projects.
Mr. Salley’s previous experience includes managing a micro-loan fund providing capital to small businesses in a seven-county service area. He also directed Benedict College's Business Development Center, managing programs and providing technical assistance to business owners while recruiting commercial enterprises to underserved communities. In addition, Mr. Salley served as Executive Director of a statewide arts agency for four years and was responsible for managing a mini-grants program and has also served as an advisor and grant reviewer for several federal, state, and local agencies. Mr. Salley holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, and Business Administration.
Contact:
p: 803.705.4682
m: 803.600.3484
e: larry.Salley@Benedict.edu
Cynthia Beaulieu
Vice Chair
Cynthia Beaulieu is the Director of the Small Business Development and Management Institute (SBDMI) at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO). Through her office, Ms. Beaulieu is responsible for providing high-quality technical assistance to support small and emerging businesses in the greater New Orleans Community and the surrounding parishes. She has served as Director of the Small Business Development and Management Institute for over eight years and has worked with small businesses in the community for the past 30 years.
Ms. Beaulieu also successfully managed non-profit organizations and served in management positions with several Fortune 500 companies. Also, she hosted and produced a cable access television show that highlighted women business owners' accomplishments in the community. She most recently was the host and producer of a local weekly radio show on WBOK, 1230 AM, “SUNO Small Business Incubator Network.” Ms. Beaulieu holds a B.S. Degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from Xavier University in New Orleans.
Contact:
p: 504.286.5032
m: 504.914.7330
e: cbeaulieu@suno.edu
Morris Autry
Secretary
Morris Autry is the Director of the Community Development Program at Elizabeth City State University. He has more than 25 years’ experience directly managing housing and community development projects and providing technical assistance to communities across the state of North Carolina. In his current position, he oversees community projects involving housing rehabilitation, housing counseling, homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention, financial literacy, neighborhood computer centers, and technical assistance to community-based organizations. While in this capacity, Mr. Autry has secured over $7 million in community development grants for the University to benefit northeastern N.C. residents.
Mr. Autry is a certified housing counselor and was responsible for guiding his organization through the HUD-approved housing counseling agency process. Morris is a graduate of an HBCU - North Carolina Central University - from which he holds a B.A. in Public Administration. Also, Mr. Autry holds a master's degree in Urban Planning with a concentration in Housing and Community Development from the University of Michigan.
Contact:
p: 252.340.5321
e: morrisautry@yahoo.com
Ilene Kennerly
Treasurer
Ilene Kennerly is the co-founder of Spiritlove Ministries International, LLC, a non-profit 501C3 whose mission is to provide programs and services to underserved communities in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. Their focus is on community and economic development through community empowerment.
Previously, Ms. Kennerly was the Director of the Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Center at the University of the Virgin Islands. She is now leveraging her higher education experience to address challenges that exist in inner-city and underserved Detroit communities.
Ms. Kennerly holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Farleigh-Dickinson University, an MS Degree from New York University, a Master Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University, a Business Continuity certificate, and a certificate in Leadership from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Millennium Institute. Ms. Kennerly has also received numerous awards and honors, including being featured on the cover of Black Enterprise Magazine.
Contact:
p: 340.693.1101
m: 313 405 4465
e: igarner@uvi.edu
Carol Davis
Executive Director
Carol Davis is an attorney, a business mentor and real estate developer who has collaborated with local, state, and federal partners to access $10 million in investment for impactful community economic development in East Winston-Salem. Davis is on a mission for equity and social justice that will increase affordable housing, entrepreneurial and job opportunities, and sustainable businesses. Under her leadership, the Simon Green Atkins Community Development Corporation (Atkins CDC) obtains federal, state and local grants, builds homes for first-time homebuyers, provides technical assistance to entrepreneurs-in-residence, has facilitated three master plans, helps volunteers sustain a community garden (10 years), and opened Forsyth County’s first shared-use kitchen.
Contact:
p: 336-734-6915
E. Genice Debow
Director
E. Genice Debow is a Financial Analyst with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with the goal of helping children realize their potential and build their futures. She is based in Greensboro, NC. With over 18 years of financial experience, Ms. Debow has successfully led business improvements and cost reductions across teams in governmental, manufacturing, IT, retail, and non-profit industries. During her tenure, she has been responsible for developing and managing budgets in excess of $240 million.
Ms. Debow holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and an MA Degree in Higher Education from West Virginia University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and the National Association of Professional Women. Her “why” is her two children, Morgan and Ryan and ensuring that they and all youth of color have access to all educational and financial opportunities.
Contact:
p: 703.864.7155
Karen P. Moore
Director
Karen Moore has over thirty years of experience in the areas of governmental relations and public policy development, with a particular focus on economic development and cultural asset development. During her career Ms. Moore directly obtained funding for a $40 million revolving loan fund, $25 million for targeted urban economic development, and $3 million for Empowerment Zone funding which had been withdrawn under a previous administration. In addition, as consultant to a leading regional cultural institution, she led the effort to re-institute $15.5 in dormant public funding, which will now be used to establish the first Civil Rights Museum in South Florida.
As a university executive Ms. Moore managed the legislative agenda for Florida International University and secured state funding for academic programs and capital development projects. As a public administrator, she served as a county commission Chief of Staff, Executive Director of the Urban Task Force public policy office and Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Empowerment Zone. Currently, as chief public policy advisor at New Synergies Consulting , she has developed strategic plans for quasi—governmental districts and various non-profit and cultural organizations, served as co-principle investigator on the digital archive project for a leading regional cultural asset ( the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park), coordinated programming with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and designed graphic and digital products which have been used to drive tourism to local African American cultural sites.
Ms. Moore is a member of the Association of African American Museums and the National Oral History Association. She is a graduate of the New York School of Law, (Associate Editor of the Law Review for Social Change), and Spelman College, (Major: Political Science / Minor: Philosophy). As Principal of New Synergies Consulting, Inc. her mission is to preserve the civic voice of marginalized communities and advocate for public policy which serves the public good.
Contact:
p: 305.632.5302
Maurice P. Brazier
Director
Maurice Brazier is a small business executive with over 20 years of experience in small business management, development, and finance. Mr. Brazier is the co-founder of Liberty Academy, Inc., and currently serves as its Principal and Chief Operations Officer. His responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization, and managing relationships with clients, vendors, and regulatory authorities. Under the leadership of Mr. Brazier, in 2015, Liberty Academy was named the Program of the Year in Miami-Dade County by The Children’s Trust.
Prior to co-founding Liberty Academy, Mr. Brazier served as a Senior Area Manager for the U.S. Small Business Administration. In that role, Mr. Brazier was responsible for managing all aspects of SBA small business outreach operations to include federal funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery.
Upon graduating from Norfolk State University, Mr. Brazier worked as an analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense, where he worked of projects that required that he maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
Contact:
p: 305.696.8100
CDAC LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ron Butler
CEO
Ron Butler has served as the CEO of the HBCU CDAC since 2010. As CEO, he is responsible for leading a coalition of HBCUs and MSIs working on community development programs around their campuses. Mr. Butler's work includes advocating for resources, including corporate sponsorships, developing and implementing program initiatives, and providing technical assistance and other support for redevelopment opportunities.
Mr. Butler has over 35 years of experience as a community economic development professional. He was an executive director of the 79th Street Corridor Neighborhood Initiative in Miami, Florida, and an acting Principal at The NYMIA Group, which provides technical assistance and training to community initiatives in housing, community development, human services, economic and small business development. Mr. Butler has also worked as a consultant and subject matter expert and trainer with colleges and universities since 2002 and has worked on international community development projects since 1998. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Delaware, a Master in Public Policy and Administration from The University of Illinois, and numerous Training Certificates in Community Development. Mr. Butler also serves on several private and public boards.
Contact:
p: 305.322.7555
m: 917.972.5435 e: HBCUCoalition@gmail.com
Henry Golatt
Chief of Strategy and Partnerships
In his current role with HBCU, Mr. Golatt helps executive leadership communicate and execute on the strategic vision sanctioned by the Board of Directors. He also serves as a senior organizational representative and voice at national and regional conferences and assists in developing and drafting funding proposals to ensure organizational growth. Mr. Golatt has also held many senior leadership positions in other organizations, including leading efforts within the Economic Development Division for the City of Columbus and acting as an executive director at the Economic Research and Development Center at the University of Arkansas.
Mr. Golatt has won numerous honors and awards, such as the Delta Entrepreneurship Network Fellow, Booker T. Washington Economic Development Award from Tuskegee University Arkansas, District Director Partnership Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration, among others. He also sits on several boards and is an active member of numerous professional committees. Mr. Golatt graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.S. in Accounting.
Contact:
m: (888) 328-7470 ext. 201
Sharon Kent
Program Director of Our Money Matters Initiative
Sharon Kent is the program director for Our Money Matters, an HBCU Community Development Action Coalition program. Reporting to the CEO, Kent is responsible for the successful oversight of the program to include the design and management of the Our Money Matters online platform, managing all public relations of the program, and cultivating relationships with significant partners/investors.
Before Our Money Matters, Kent spent the last 17 years with NeighborWorks America in various capacities. Kent’s most recent role was Senior Manager, Curriculum and Training. She was responsible for developing and delivering the community engagement, neighborhood and community revitalization, small business lending, and community and economic development tracks taught nationally. Before that role, Kent was the regional operations manager for the southern region of NeighborWorks America, where she was responsible for managing grants and the operational management of the region.
Before joining NeighborWorks America, Kent had a career in sales that spanned over 20 years in the information technology field for major defense contractors in the Washington, DC metro area.
Kent volunteers with Kids Hope USA, Embrace Grace, and as an area manager for the Gwinnett County Board of Elections.
Kent currently resides in the Atlanta area with her husband.
Contact:
m: (404) 455-1318
p: (888) 867-1878 x101
Karen Soares
Program Director of Clean Energy Initiative
Karen is an accomplished Chairperson, CEO, CIO, visionary, and aspiring author. She has over 20 years of experience in renewable energy practices, leadership, strategy, communications, technology, and project management. Karen holds several certificates from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute and was named a Top 50 Entrepreneur by Business Leader Magazine. Karen’s background of working within both public and private organizations combined with her in-depth knowledge of clean energy will enable her to significantly increase CEI’s impact for all stakeholders.
Contact:
p: (888) 328-7470 ext. 202
e: ksoares@hbcucleanenergy.org
Temple Jackson
Director of External Communications
Temple Jackson is the Director of External Communications for HBCU CDAC. Reporting to the CEO, Ms. Jackson leads the communications programs with the responsibility of brand strategies for HBCU CDAC, Clean Energy Initiative, and Our Money Matters and serves as the spokesperson for the organization.
In her previous role with HBCU CDAC, Ms. Jackson served as the Program Manager for Our Money Matters Initiative where she is known for driving brand growth, business development pipeline and maximizing operational excellence.
Before joining HBCU CDAC, Ms. Jackson served 10 years in the higher education sector working in various capacities including admissions, financial aid management, research, community outreach. Coupled with her higher education experience, Ms. Jackson has 8 years in marketing with McDonald’s Corporation, Emory University and the National Institutes of Health.
Contact:
p: (888) 328-7470 ext. 204
Paula Carr
Executive Assistant
Paula joined HBCU CDAC in July 2021 as the executive assistant to the CEO. Since joining CDAC ,Paula has used her experience to initiate and implement strategies that are improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
Paula has over 25 years of experience as an executive assistant and office administrator. She worked on Capitol Hill for the Secretary of the Senate, with CEOs of major for-profit companies and non-profits supporting CEOs and senior executives.
Contact:
p: (888) 328-7470 ext. 202
Victoria Bateman
Operations Coordinator
Victoria joined HBCU CDAC’s Our Money Matters team in March2021, where she was responsible for various administrative duties including travel coordination, securing and managing collateral for events, and addressing social media and IT-related issues. Currently, she is the operations coordinator for our new CAO division. Victoria brings over 20 years of experience in operations and senior administration management in the corporate and nonprofit sectors.
Contact:
p: (888) 328-7470 ext. 202
To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.
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– Rosa Parks
