CHANDRA R. THOMAS – FOUNDER

Chandra R. Thomas is an award-winning journalist and recipient of a 2010 Kiplinger Public Affairs Journalism Fellowship at The Ohio State University. The former staff writer for Atlanta Magazine was named Journalist of the Year for 2007 by Region III of the National Association of Black Journalists for a body of work she produced, including a feature story about Hurricane Katrina victims in Atlanta and the first in-depth account of the controversial Genarlow Wilson case, which helped contribute to a change in Georgia law prior to his release. The same year she was named Print Journalist of the Year by the Atlanta Press Club. In 2009 she won a Mental Health America feature writing award for work completed as part of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship Program. Her freelance work has appeared in Essence, Ebony, People, Newsweek and Upscale magazines. The proud New Orleans native and Clark Atlanta University graduate has served as an associate producer for Fox 5′sGood Day Atlanta program. When she’s not coordinating TalkBLACK, which she co-founded in December of 2003, she enjoys traveling, mentoring students and debating with co-founder emeritus Godfrey Fuji Noe.

JABARI BUTLER

Jabari Butler has a passion for equipping and empowering people to pursue their God-given dreams and goals. He is an entrepreneur with successful businesses across a number of industries.Always on the forefront of technology, Butler delivers technology solutionsincluding software development, support, networking services and enterprise consulting to a variety of companies. Butler has a wide range of experience including work with Fortune 500 companies, government entities, non-profit sector and academic institutions. Aside from having volunteered with the City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office for Community Technology several years ago, a most notable accomplishment came during the time he spent in Iowa. During a brief summer at the University of Iowa, he was a part of the #1 ground vehicle simulation team in the world at the time, working on a virtual environment project known as the Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS) as a NASA Ronald E. McNair scholar. Butler has also been an integral part of project teams whose contributions in the field are published in Bill Gates’ book: Business @ the Speed of Thought.Butler holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Morehouse College and a Masters of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center. He was recently awarded the honor of being selected as one of the 2009 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He is also active in civic leadership in the areas of public speaking, public health awareness and business skills training. He has earned the Advanced Toastmaster-Silver and Competent Leader titles with Toastmasters International and was Coca-Cola’s 310 North Toastmasters President and Vice President of Education for several terms. A native of Oakland, CA, Butler currently resides in Atlanta, GA and serves as a Minister at the Ray of Hope Christian Church, where the Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale is the Senior Pastor and currently serves on Georgia’s Regional Board of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Butler is also a consultant for the Institute for Faith-Health Leadership as well as the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care at Tuskegee.

MATTHEW GARDNER

Matthew Gardner is a tax accountant whose day job employs these talents at AT&T. Throughout his professional life he has successfully worked inside and outside of corporate America and academia to ensure that he promotes practices that uplift the business community. He has sought to amplify all that is of integrity within the not-always-so-ethical world of accounting and finance. Most importantly, he has been blessed to be the father of three beautiful children who find new antics every day to keep him perpetually happy. When he’s not occupied with being a dad, he enjoys reading and debating subjects in the areas of business and macroeconomics!

AILEEN HARRIS

Aileen Harris is a native of Buffalo, New York and currently works in communications for a non-profit association. Previously, Aileen published the online news website GoDeKalb.com and received an innovative concepts in business award for the site from the DeKalb County Economic Development Department in 2006. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Aileen spent several years as a journalist covering local government and community affairs. She continues to spread the word about local events and news via Twitter at twitter.com/aileenonthego. Aileen also serves as secretary on the board of the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with a degree in Communications.

MISCHANDRA SMITH

Dynamic, driven, organized and creative all aptly describe Mischandra Smith. The CEO of Epiphany Public Relations has a career that spans an array of industries including entertainment, sports, education, technology and politics. Her professional experience includes work with AOL, Warner Bros. Television, Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Obama for America, Black Entertainment Television, America’s Got Talent, Denver Nuggets Greg Buckner, Atlanta Falcons Jimmy Farris, So So Def Records and Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations. She is the former Executive Personal Assistant to Major League Baseball player Gary Sheffield and Gospel singer Deleon Richards-Sheffield. She earned her degree in Marketing from Georgia State University. Mischandra is the founder of PRProsUnite.com, a national network of seasoned public relations professionals. Her personal interests include politics, travel, investigative forensics television shows, intellectually insightful comedians like Bill Maher and Chris Rock and outdoor activities. Mischandra is a self described “gadget guru” who enjoys technology and gadgets. Her guilty pleasure is red velvet cupcakes from TheUltimateCupcake.com. The ”Best in Atlanta,” she says. Click to view: Career Highlights