AL PIERCE
Over 30 years of executive experience in importing, distributing, marketing and selling products B2B. Designed nearly 2 dozen patents and trademarks for use in the sporting goods industry and team sports business. Began visiting and importing products from China in the '80s for distribution throughout the US. Placed many products on the shelves of the largest retailers in the US and on the best sports teams for several decades including NFL, NBA, MLB, Olympic and Collegiate teams.
Experience includes: Import-Export; Manufacturing, Purchasing, Designing, Product Development, Patents, Patent Applications-potential values and uses, Logistics; Warehousing; Distribution, Marketing, Advertising, Sales, Establishing and Managing Sales Teams, Contract Negotiations, Licensed Products, Celebrity Endorsements, Budgeting, Forecasting and overseeing all fiscal responsibilities for a company.
THERESA R. WILLIAMS-HARRISON
Theresa R. Williams-Harrison is a technology entrepreneur with extensive experience in technology business start-up and acceleration success. Theresa has over 30 years in DoD and Intel communities experience as a senior manager. She has held executive management, organizational management, business development, program management, transition management, and technical management positions.
Theresa's natural leadership ability has been demonstrated by a long history of building effective coalitions within her community. She is currently involved with the TheresaHarrisonGroup Foundation, President; BB&T Advisory Board; Frostburg State University Alumni Board; Department of Social Services Board; • Frederick County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; R U Gonna Help Me? Board; Pay It Forward Board and Athletes For Vets Foundation.
SEAN JAMES
As a former professional athlete, and now as an experienced Business Manager, Sean has the unique ability to counsel clients to maximize their financial opportunities as athletes and entertainers. Sean's intimate knowledge of the transition from collegiate sports to the professional arena, as well as keen insights on the lifestyle and responsibilities of a professional athlete, provides clients with extraordinary resources and the prestige of a strong financial institution that also fosters a "boutique environment" focusing on the individual. A leader and natural philanthropist Sean James sits on the board of a number of non-profit organizations while working with communities around the world.
MICHAEL HINES
Mike Hines a multifaceted senior executive with deep experience in Mobile, Internet and Software industries. Mike has over 25 years of strategy, corporate development, sales, marketing, Mobile Apps, SaaS, Digital Media, Mobile Gaming, Online and Mobile Advertising, Social Media, and Adtech. Mike also substantial fundraising, corporate development, and M&A background. A tenacious appetite for growth, being a coach, mentor and team player.
Geoff Pope
Detroit native, Geoff Pope is currently a Senior Vice President at a global professional services firm. He specializes in providing insurance, risk management, and human capital solutions for organizations of all sizes. His focus and expertise include intellectual property, life sciences, and complex mergers & acquisitions. Geoff is considered an industry leader with more than 10 years of experience. His professional work has been published in several journals, including a white paper regarding the impact of interest rate hikes on large real estate risk, capital expenditures, and their subsequent impact on long-term valuations and insurance premiums. He’s also been interviewed and asked to speak on several panels regarding intellectual property, cannabis risk, and mentorship for young professionals.
Prior to his current career, Geoff played 4 seasons in the NFL, capped by winning a Super Bowl Championship as a rookie with the New York Giants. Thrust into immediate action, he played a pivotal role in their historic playoff run. He went on to play two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and one season with the Philadelphia Eagles before suffering a career-ending injury.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University, and a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia Business School. During his time at Columbia, he built an entrepreneurship curriculum for incarcerated individuals preparing to reenter society. That curriculum is currently being taught by Columbia students at several New York state facilities. Upon graduating, he was recognized as a top global graduate by Poets & Quants.
Geoff has sat on several nonprofit boards, including the National Epilepsy Foundation, where he was a member of the Executive Committee, Chaired the Audit Committee, and led a national initiative. He continues to support his community in a number of ways and is involved in several entrepreneurship endeavors.
PASTOR HERBERT LUSK II
Before coming to Greater Exodus, Pastor Lusk had played professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1970’s. Being called by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Lusk took early retirement from the Eagles and went to seminary. Even though he was a celebrity professional football player, the Holy Spirit chose Pastor Lusk to work among the poor. When he accepted the pastorate at Greater Exodus, the church had eroded in its finances and its membership.
By 1982, Greater Exodus only had about seventeen members, infrastructure damage of over $400,000, utility bills of over $32,000, and was on the brink of bankruptcy. The immediate surrounding neighborhood of the church was drug and crime infested, and the poverty rate was one of the highest in the country. Many in the pastoral circle, including Pastor Lusk’s father, thought he should think twice about abandoning notoriety and fortune in professional football to accept leadership in such a challenging environment.
During Pastor Lusk’s tenure at Greater Exodus, the church has grown from 17 active members to over 2,000 while thousands of others in need have benefited from the work the Lord is doing through the ministries of Greater Exodus and People for People, Inc. both locally and in Africa.
VERNON ATTLES
Vernon Attles Attended T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria , VA. Lettering in track and Field and playing High School football for the famous Coach Boone football program based on the movie, “Remember The Titans”. Attles sent himself to college at Eastern Michigan University.
A few years after college, Vernon Attles founded Graphic Objectives, Inc. As an NYC Sales Rep for a Maryland based print manufacturer, during his time Vernon Attles expanded an 18 million dollar company to over 22 million by adding 4.6 million in new business in less than four years. From there Mr. Attles moved on to sell capital equipment for digital printing. Since then Mr. Attles has founded several small businesses: Attles & Associates, Sponsorplex and most recently Press Emporium, Inc. Over the years Mr. Attles has managed and directed printing services for companies such as; Schlumberger Limited, Kaplan Education, Practising Law Institute, Global Hue Advertising, Cipriani Worldwide, Socialista Dubai, Taylor James Advertising, University of Michigan, Timbuk2, Maimonides Medical Center, Yale University Press, and Gateway Conference Centre in Namibia.
HEATHER MICHAELS
For over 25 years, Heather Michaels has covered many incredibly inspirational stories. Heather Michaels has been a TV broadcast personality, producing a significant amount of sports and entertainment programming and telling legendary stories through the eyes of the most famous entertainment and sports stars in history. Heather was one of the first female personalities to break the barrier in the world of sports and entertainment journalism and has an incredibly insightful way of telling a story. Having been a pioneer in this industry, Michaels is an established presence in broadcasting and only gets involved in worthwhile projects that strike a chord with her. Michaels’ talent for telling the story in an even handed and compassionate manner has helped to shed light on extremely controversial topics.
NOEL LOWE
Noel Lowe, president and founder of FutureNET, Inc., a leading provider of information technology services in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Noel Lowe has over 26 years’ experience in the Information Technology (IT) industry. Noel launched the company in the 1990s providing customized Information Technology solutions for businesses across a broad spectrum of industries.
FutureNET, Inc. provide services to a diverse list of clients that includes the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia International Airport, IBM, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, SEPTA and small to mid-size businesses.
Selected as one of Philadelphia's 100 Fastest Growing Small Businesses by the Wharton Small Business Development Center, today, FutureNET, Inc. provides application and web development programming services, project lead and application training, among its many IT services.
​
He is a former board member of Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE and Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee council-at-large promoting procurement opportunities for minority business enterprises. He is an executive member of The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
JAMAL A. HAKIM
Jamal Hakim a veteran entertainment and marketing executive with over 20 years of
proven success in fast-paced environments. His experience
includes working in creative industries with a primary focus in the music
business, talent management, experiential marketing, live event
production. An expert in influence
marketing and trend forecasting.
Jamal's ability to speak
to wider audiences, resulted in a career of successfully producing and transacting a wide scope of business opportunities with Nike, Under Armour, the NFL Alumni, Hot 97, Live Nation, CAA, Def Jam and more.