What is B-Force Accelerator?

Alexandria Gamble-Davis has worked in the mental health field for over ten years. She is passionate about serving as a change servant and advocates for individuals who are underserved. She enjoys improving the community by advocating and confronting social justice. Her company’s (Milestone) policy, is to improve the quality of life for individuals.

Antione’s new mission is to streamline and develop cooperation between faith-based networks, veteran organizations, and Black businesses and nonprofits. His vision is to provide a foundation of faith and community service relationships to foster community transformation and equitable systems. He volunteers 60 to 80 hours a week, 7days a week with numerous organizations and as well as his own nonprofit, Veteran’s HomeFront, and his consulting agency, Triple S Consulting LLC, and his Scorp Black Systemic Equity Project Inc. Antione is recognized as a strategic adviser on the issues of homelessness, community engagement, and black community wealth building. He is also an Advisory board member for the Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation, a member of the NAACP, a member of the Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Urban League, president of United Ways of South Hampton Roads Project Inclusion Alumni Association and recently named the Virginia State Director for Minorities For Medical Marijuana Inc. 

As a young man, Antione could have bought into the gang life and drug culture, instead, he has chosen to be a civic leader, an advocate, and a man of values built on knowledge, fatherhood, and faith with his daughter by his side regardless of distance. He is a true trailblazer; a results-driven leader who is dedicated to restructuring and rebuilding of the communities in which he lives and those that surround him.

Jazmin C. Mullen-Allen, Esq. is the CEO and Founder of Brand Better with Jaz, LLC, and Owner and Principal Attorney of JMA LAW, PLC. As a native of Delaware, and daughter to philanthropists Dr. Julius and Natasha Mullen, Jazmin has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Her passions include empowering women, fostering inclusion and unity, and helping people and brands discover their voice and powerfully communicate their story. She is also the Executive Director of King’s Daughters’ Connect, Inc., which helps women and girls discover their purpose by providing them opportunities to serve. Additionally, she graduated from Regent University School of Law in August 2020 and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in April 2021 as a licensed attorney. 

As seen on FOX 26 Houston, WRAL Raleigh, and Hamptons Road Show, Seven Principles CEO Chas Sampson is an Iraq War veteran and the founder of several companies. Monikered after the seven Army values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage), Seven Principles empowers veterans transitioning out of the military by assisting with the VA claims process, appeal cases, entrepreneurship, and more.

Before founding Seven Principles, Chas served as a Decision Officer/VA Rater at the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. He then went on to serve at the Pentagon as an Employee and Labor Relations executive at the United States Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. This experience inspired him to advocate for his fellow veterans and prepare them to reenter society with maximized VA benefits and a career plan. As a decision officer, he had denied numerous applications due to minor mistakes that could have been avoided if the applicant had benefited from an expert’s guidance.

Chas served in the United States Army from 2006-2011. Following the Army, he received an Associate of Arts in Business/Managerial Economics from Pierce College of Fort Steilacoom, a Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology from Washington State University Pullman, and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Finance from Argosy University Washington, D.C. After graduating, he worked with members of Congress to promote initiatives for Veterans for Smart Power. Finally, he currently serves as board chairman for the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, a 502(c)(3) nonprofit that works to improve early childhood education, health, and family support.

Clarence earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at NSU and a Master of Science in Accounting from ODU. His expertise includes providing financial and tax strategies to Business Startups, Home Based Businesses, and MLM Businesses. He also provides financial management strategies for Real Estate Professionals, music professionals, and entertainment firms. Clarence also holds the following professional designations which include CPA (Certified Public Accountant), EA (Enrolled Agent), CTRS (Certified Tax Resolution Specialist), CMA (Certified Management Accountant), CFM (Certified Financial Manager), and CIA (Certified Internal Auditor).

Deonna Lindsay-Lewis is the owner of BrandSmash Studio: a company on a mission to help limited edition creatives and niche businesses build black sheep brands. The approach; helping companies spin the elements that make them undeniable into 100-proof brands that are unforgettable and sellable from the very start. Her signature program, The Black Sheep Brand Plan, helps brands to reimagine the ways they show up and make money in an increasingly online world-from creative naming while building irresistible services or sponsorships to logos and websites that start all of the right conversations. With 13 years of marketing and branding experience, Deonna has worked with hundreds of small businesses, nonprofits, and corporations- helping them to lean into what makes them one-of-a-kind in order to build brands and campaigns that people care deeply about and fall in love with.

Dr. Dionne Gibbs, RN, BS, MSN, Ph.D. (affectionately known as Dr. D) is the owner and operator of Shades of Life, LLC where she offers life coaching and consulting to women. Dr. Gibbs is the founder of the Hampton Roads Health Symposium, Shades of Life Medical Training Institute, and the author of The Shades of Life that Revealed the She in Me. She is a Life Coach with almost 30 years of experience in the healthcare field working as a nurse: educating, coaching, supporting, and developing individuals into the leaders of tomorrow. She is a skilled practitioner in the cutting-edge field of adult education, career development, curriculum design, and teaching a diverse group of learners. Her background includes working in higher education leadership as a dean of nursing and a regional dean of nursing along with expertise in strategic planning, change and conflict management, effective communication, and talent development. Today, Dr. Gibbs has a global and professional pursuit of educating, elevating, and empowering her clients of all ages to help them reach their highest potential in their personal and professional life.

James A. Young is the Vice President and Director of Tax and Accounting Services at CLP Financial Group. Through the business James and his team provide financial planning, assessment management, and insurance planning services to the public. Shortly after his time in the Navy, James enrolled in school earning his degree from Norfolk State University, and then went on to Old Dominion University, earning his Master of Business and Master of Accountancy. James has over 20 years of experience in public accounting and is a United States Navy veteran.

Jarvis Gray is a seasoned entrepreneur, business coach, and keynote speaker. As the founder of two companies, Jarvis knows all about the highs that come with launching, building, and growing successful businesses. From establishing solid business foundations, effectively generating leads, converting prospects to clients, and delivering at the highest possible levels … Jarvis has been there, done that, and has the scars (and client results) to prove it! 

Jarvis has published/co-published two books on business and process management, including “The Business Revenue Playbook: How to Uncover $50K in Your Business in 45 Minutes Without Spending a Dime”, and “Ten Secrets: A Healthcare Quality Improvement Handbook”. Widely respected for his knowledge and views on strategy implementation, business development, and process improvement across the healthcare industry, he is the creator and host of “The Healthcare QualityCast” which is a unique podcast series serving as the hub for thought leaders across the industry. 

For the past 15+ years, Jarvis’ focus has centered on serving the healthcare and small business markets, where he has built The Quality Coaching Co. into a premier business coaching and consulting agency. Jarvis is passionate about the people aspects of business strategy and improvement; and has spent much of the last ten years traveling the country learning from, teaching on, and researching best practice organizations on the aspects of achieving world-class performance; and how executives perceive business, strategy, and operational excellence. In this capacity, Jarvis has coached hundreds of professionals and has been fortunate to interview and interact with numerous CEOs, business owners, and entrepreneurs.

Karen Hills Pruden is a Senior Certified Human Resources Executive with over 20 years of experience in Operations, Human Resources, and Organizational Leadership. Dr. Pruden is a multi-preneur who works as the Chief Human Resource Officer/Assistant Vice President for a Virginia University and the Founder/CEO of Pruden Global Business Solutions Consulting. Dr. Pruden is extremely service-oriented with a combination of intuitive and analytical abilities. Dr. Pruden is astute in identifying areas of improvement, with a vision to develop and implement successful organizational strategic action plans. Dr. Pruden consistently demonstrates exceptional knowledge and sound decision-making abilities in the following areas:

• Talent Acquisition, Talent Development & Talent Retention Strategies
• Human Resources Management
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Employee Relations
• Root Cause Analysis
• Operations Management
• Organizational Structure and Design
• Labor Relations/Collective Bargaining
• Workforce Planning
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Career Counseling

Driven from a strong passion to serve the people in her community, Kendra Robinson formed businesses to do just that. In 2008 she began a nonprofit called the Community Outreach Coalition providing youth development activities for underprivileged youth and children with developmental disabilities.

Kendra has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Norfolk State University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Kendra is currently enrolled in Liberty University to pursue her Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management.

Kendra was recently hired as an Adjunct Professor for North Central University. She teaches management courses to undergraduate students and nonprofit administration to graduate-level students. She enjoys using her experience to provide real-world and applicable learning for her students.

She is also the author of the self-help book “The Healthy Boss.” It is her desire to help leaders worldwide take care of the six forms of health in order to become a “Healthy Boss.”

Kendra looks for the needs and finds a way to make a call to action. Over the years she has developed partnerships with various community agencies, businesses, and city officials to assist in meeting these needs. Her desire is to expand her reach all over the United States.

Lilly Mbinglo is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and the founder and CEO of The ARK NPS, an accounting firm that offers Startup, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Tax, and Management Consulting to businesses, nonprofits, churches, and individuals. The ARK NPS currently has offices in Virginia, Houston, Chicago, and Atlanta.

Lilly enjoys using her knowledge and skills to empower organizations with strategies that ensure their financial structures align with their short and long-term goals. She also loves helping people minimize their tax liability, so they can direct their resources towards investments that will build generational wealth.

Lilly Mbinglo describes herself as a fun-loving CPA with a heart for PEOPLE, a desire to SERVE, and a passion for LEADERSHIP. Lilly is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Regent University with an end-goal to change the world by transforming the hearts and minds of leaders, one at a time.

Lilly’s motto is God first, people next, and then money and things.

Armed with more than a decade of experience brokering multimillion-dollar contracts on behalf of the federal government, Founder and CEO of Clear Advantage, Ramone Pierce, is using the knowledge he has gained to help small businesses secure government contracts. Mr. Pierce has a formidable track record working for entities such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He uses his expertise and experience to walk you through the steps of pitching, preparing the proper documents, and negotiating contracts.

Mr. Pierce is a Virginia native that is a big proponent of economic advancement in historically marginalized communities and helping small business owners reach their financial goals. As the chief consultant and Levell III DAWIA certified contract specialist, he understands the complexities of securing government contracts and exactly what fellow contract specialists are looking for when they read your proposals.

Mr. Pierce holds both an MBA and a B.S. in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. His professional affiliations include the National Contract Management (NCMA), the Urban League of Hampton Roads, and the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Hampton Roads.

Rebecca Richardson is a native of Hampton Roads and is passionate about science and community service. She is currently a graduate student and teaching assistant at Old Dominion University completing doctoral studies in chemistry. She has served in several facets of academia including adjunct chemistry professor for Norfolk State University, supplemental instructor for Tidewater Community College, and has provided private and volunteer tutoring services for high-school and collegiate level students for over a decade. In 2014 she helped establish the Fight Hunger, Feed Hope Feed the People initiative to assist families struggling with food insecurity in Hampton Roads and surrounding areas. She believes that serving one’s community is a privilege and has enjoyed volunteering with organizations such as Kempsville Presbyterian Church’s Clothing ministry providing resources to families in crisis, Operation Inasmuch (OIAM) an annual Portsmouth Baptist Association sponsored community outreach initiative, local food banks, community gardens, and the Portsmouth Humane Society.

Hello there, my name is Shekita Jackson!

I am a Wife, Mother of Four Daughters, Business Strategist/Leadership Coach, Owner of a Medical Company, Owner of Revel Belles Beauty, Ordained Christian Minister, Partner of a Christian Broadcasting Network, and Founder of the Care For Me Youth Initiatives. I teach business owners and career professionals how to “Get Up and Lead” their business, ministry, community, and their personal legacy. I am a Doctoral student in Business Strategic Leadership, and I am a new author of “Do You See Me Trying to Breathe: A Faith-Based Journey From The Imprisonment of Anxiety and Panic Attacks”.

William joined Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in 1995 as a Navy Contracting Intern under the Outstanding Scholar Program after graduating from Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV. In 2000, William was selected to be the Contracting Officer for NAVSEA’s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) Contracts Branch, with direct responsibility over the management and administration of the Navy’s UARC contracts valued at the time over $3.8 billion. In 2002, William was selected to become the Contracting Officer for the Undersea Weapons Program Office. There he managed a portfolio of over 30 active major weapon system contracts. In 2004, William was selected to be the Assistant Commander for Contracts/Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) at Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), Quantico, VA.

In 2009, at age 39, William was selected into the Senior Executive Service (SES) as the Director of the Procurement Oversight and Support within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security, Headquarters. In July 2010, William was selected to be the Director, Office of Acquisition Management/Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In February 2013, William accepted an assignment in Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), the largest ICE operational program, as the Assistant Director for Operations Support.

William is a decorated United States Navy veteran (1988-1993), a David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award winner (2008) and the recipient of the Navy/Marine Corps Meritorious Civil Service medal (2009). In August 2016, William retired from the federal government with over 26 years of public service. In 2019, William founded THINK Acquisition – an independent acquisition consulting, training and development firm focused on increasing the individual effectiveness, preparation, and competitiveness of all participants in the federal government leadership, acquisition, and procurement arena.