BJ Chester-Tamayo
BJ Chester-Tamayo grew up in Meridian, MS. With her parents H.S. & Alcenia Chester. She grew up in a home filled with love and a lot of family bonding over many meals. After High School, she moved to Memphis with her military husband whom she later divorced. As a single mother, with a one son, she went back to school and graduated. BJ received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in May 1996 from LeMoyne-Owen College.
Ashley Armstrong
Ashley Hardesty Armstrong is a 34 year old resident of Winston Salem, North Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Textile Management and Brand Management in 2013 from North Carolina State University, in Raleigh NC.
Virginia Hardesty
Virginia is a graduate of East Carteret High School in Beaufort, North Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics Education from North Carolina A&T State University in 1979. She graduated third in her class and first in the Mathematics Department. In her collegiate years she served as Teacher's Assistant, Math Tutor, President of Alpha Chi Mathematics Honor Society, and played Volleyball.
Debra Freeman
Debra Freeman is an award-winning podcaster and writer with a focus on Black foodways throughout America, particularly in Virginia and the greater South. She is host and creator of Setting the Table, which was named podcast of the year by IACP in 2023. She is the food editor for Style Weekly in Richmond, Virginia, and the executive producer and host of the upcoming documentary Finding Edna Lewis.
Adrian Lipscombe
Adrian Lipscombe, a proud native Texan, embarked on her career in city planning upon earning her Masters in Architecture from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She made a significant impact working with the private sector and municipal governments in Austin and San Antonio on community-focused projects.
Jackie Killings
Jackie is co-founder of K & M Technologies – a technology and innovation scouting firm that connects entrepreneurs and start-ups with established corporations. She is also the founder and President of Khensani Business Advisors – an organizational management and training firm that helps organizations unlock their potential and be better versions of themselves.
Karen Blouin-Clay
Karen Blouin-Clay, an award-winning strategic communications leader, is known for guiding executives to develop their unique voice, fostering deeper connections with stakeholders. Currently serving as the National Director of Executive Communications for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Karen crafts compelling narratives as chief speechwriter for the CEO.
Deborah VanTrece
Chef Deborah VanTrece is one of the South’s most high-profile culinary personalities. In addition to penning the best-selling Twisted Soul Cookbook, running two award-winning restaurants, a catering company and curating the menu for American Express Atlanta Centurion Lounge, she has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation, The Michelin Guide and Yelp’s Best New Restaurants… all in the last year alone.
Anela Malik
Anela Malik is the founder of Feed The Malik, a food blog, digital marketing, and advocacy business that focuses on telling complex, diverse stories through food.
Adrian Miller
Adrian received an A.B in International Relations from Stanford University in 1991, and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1995. From 1999 to 2001, Adrian served as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton with his Initiative for One America – the first free-standing office in the White House to address issues of racial, religious and ethnic reconciliation.