Named one of the “Power 100” by Ebony Magazine in its 2011 list of the 100 most influential African Americans, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. is the President & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the only national organization representing nearly 300,000 students attending this country’s 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). With approximately 80% of all HBCU students attending TMCF member-schools, Mr. Taylor leads an organization responsible for providing this country a robust and diverse pipeline of talented workers and future leaders.

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Named one of the “40 Under 40” by Connect Magazine in its 2013 class of influential leaders in the meeting planning/marketing industry, Jamaal O. Bailey has become a role model for all of those who work at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). Joining TMCF as Director of Conferences and Special Events in January 2008, his team approach and dedication to the organization’s mission and vision earned him the promotion to Vice President of Marketing in June 2011. As TMCF’s Vice President of Marketing, he is responsible for managing and driving the TMCF brand and effectively integrating messaging as well as services to all of the organization’s constituents.

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Brad Gebert is the Chief Information Officer at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund where he is responsible for the overall technical guidance of the business. Having built a successful career in the for-profit information technology field, Brad brings an impressive track record to TMCF having co-founded RushmoreDrive.com, a subsidiary of IAC, with President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. and run the technology group for GetSmart, an emerging business under the IAC/LendingTree umbrella. Applying his for-profit experience to TMCF, Brad has been able to greatly cut technology expenses while allowing everyone to be more productive.

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Kathy Harris is the Chief of Staff at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. In this role, Ms. Harris is responsible for overseeing five (5) key areas: Board Relations & Recruitment, Legal, Human Resources (Employer/Employee Relations, Record Keeping & Employment), Member Institutions Relations and Alumni Affairs/Relations. Prior to joining TMCF, Ms. Harris worked as an attorney in a private practice in Tampa, Florida.

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Velma Hart, is a proven and respected nonprofit financial professional who has worked for a wide variety of nonprofit organizations over her career in several capacities. However, her passion and home is in the area of finance, which she considers to be the heart and soul of business. With over 20 years of nonprofit experience, Velma is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization and nationally known public speaker.

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Misha Lesley brings more than 17 years experience in the education field. She has developed curricula in both the secondary and higher education fields related to college retention and graduation. In 2004, Misha led the planning of an urban early college high school designed to prepare first-generation students for college. Misha joined TMCF in 2009 and currently leads the TMCF Programs teams in fulfillment of performance deliverables for corporate and government grants including more than $2.1 million (FY 2011-2012) for programs related to the readiness, access, and retention of public HBCU students.

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M. Scott Lilly is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Campus Relations for Thurgood Marshall College Fund. In this role, Mr. Lilly is responsible for developing and implementing sourcing strategies that lead to the development of a diverse pool of candidates who meet the hiring protocols of TMCF’s corporate and government partners. He understands the science and practice of leadership development and professional coaching, and has been certified by Personnel Decisions Incorporated (PDI) as an Executive Feedback Facilitator.

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