Speakers

Kenston Griffin

Mr. Kenston J. Griffin is one of the nation's most sought-out keynote speakers, a best-selling author and a top performing trainer and coach. Mr. Griffin is nationally/internationally known throughout corporations, educational systems and nonprofit organizations for his award-winning addresses that are not only life changing, but transformational. Mr. Griffin and the Dream Team's partial client list includes: National Basketball Association (NBA), Bank of America, First Charter Bank, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Belk, Lowe's, AXA-Equitable, Hartford Insurance, Novant Health, YMCA of the USA, Federal, State and Local Government, U.S. District Court, 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities from the east coast to the west coast, National Education Association (NEA), and over 50 Public and Charter Schools across the nation.

Mr. Griffin is a native of Statesville, NC, and currently resides in Charlotte, NC. His educational background includes Social Work and Psychology. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Livingstone College and his Master's Degree, in just one year, from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Griffin is the Founder and CEO of Dream Builders Communication, Inc. (DBC), which consults internationally. DBC provides training and development in the areas of: Professional/Organization Development, Academic Enhancement/Retention, Diversity and Inclusion, Supply Chain and Demand, Board Development and Peak Performance Coaching. Finally, Mr. Griffin and Dream Builders Communication, Inc.'s aim is to educate across the globe by raising one's awareness and belief system in every field of human endeavor. Upon doing so, Mr. Griffin realizes and knows that for you, "IF BETTER IS POSSIBLE...GOOD IS NO LONGER AN OPTION."

Reginald Bean

Reginald Bean, Director of Multicultural Marketing with Coca-Cola bottling. In his role, Reginald is responsible for the development and implementation of marketing programs that promote and sustain cultural awareness, inclusion, equity and respect within the African American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American cultures.

Reginald began his career with Coca-Cola Consolidated in 1999, when he joined the company in territory sales. He held several positions within Coca Cola including Strategic Planning Analyst, Director of Finance-Operations and Director of Sales Analytics. Prior to joining Coca-Cola Consolidated, Reginald served his country in the US Army for 7 years where he participated in several international desert and urban training missions.

Reginald holds a Bachelor in Operations Management from DeVry University. Reginald enthusiastically serves his community holding several Board of Directors positions including The Urban League of Central Carolinas, The Police Activities League (PAL) and the National Academy of Finance. Reginald is a published author of the book UNFINISHED-40 Lessons on Purpose, Self and Becoming a Man; where he inspires young men to discover themselves while positively impacting their families and communities. Reginald shares life's journey with his wife Shavonda and daughter Arden. He enjoys numerous physical activities including reading and riding his motorcycle.

Dr. Nkrumah Lewis

Dr. Nkrumah Lewis is an author, entrepreneur, social activist and advocate for stigmatized populations. He is simply driven to compel people to be successful. His pursuit of excellence is endless, and he often cites that his goal in life is to "leave a legacy that refutes the notion of impossibility." NKrumah Lewis grew up as an abused child, while also witnessing the domestic battery of his mother on a frequent basis, became homeless as he turned age 17, and eventually joined a neighborhood gang. After being consumed with the violent lifestyle he had chosen, and believing his death was eminent, he attempted to seek refuge in the military, only to be stationed at a base with a former member of his former gang. They found themselves in an altercation where they were fired upon, and foolishly returned fire. Believing that they may have fatalistically retaliated, they returned to their base, and would be charged weeks later with weapons charges and ultimately murder. Ironically, there had been a homicide one street over on the same night as their altercation, but the two would not find out of the error, until they had failed polygraph tests and spent over two years behind bars answering for charges in other municipalities from previous misdeeds. It was then that Lewis, armed now with the hope of beginning anew, applied to college from behind bars. He would then go on to complete his undergraduate degree in a period of two and a half years with his infant son in tow.

Dr. Lewis is a native of Durham, N.C. and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro ('96), where he completed his bachelor of arts in sociology, North Carolina A&T State University ('99), where he received a master of science in adult education and lastly, Virginia Tech ('05) where he became only the second African American ever, and the first in twenty years to attain a Ph.D. in sociology, concentrating in the areas of race and crime. He is a Dr. King "Building the Dream Award" recipient, serves on Institutional Research Boards at both UNC Greensboro and Wake Forest University, and is a mentor for the Real Men Teach Program and Program Evaluator for the University of North Carolina's Minority Male Mentoring Program, in addition to receiving numerous other accolades, honors and appointments. He founded a 501(c)(3) organization, the Renaissance and Empowerment Project, Inc. in Greensboro where he rehabilitated, not only physically dilapidated houses, but the lives of 103 men that had previously been incarcerated or had gang affiliation. In doing so, he was recognized by Movers and Shakers for his entrepreneurial endeavors. Most recently he released his autobiographical sketch, entitled, Becoming A Butterfly: From Prison to Ph.D. and was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Simon Green Atkins Community Development Corporation.

As of today, Dr. Lewis attempts to involve himself in cases of injustice and wrongful incarceration, also with local agencies that target the reduction of child and domestic abuse, as well as working as a consultant to organizations, communities and governmental officials who truly desire to actuate gang prevention and intervention.

Dr. Calvin Mackie

A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Mackie graduated from high school with low SAT scores requiring him to undertake special remedial classes before he was admitted to Morehouse College. He completed his degree in Mathematics, graduating Magna Cum Laude and a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. He was simultaneously awarded a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he subsequently earned his Master and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

Mackie has won numerous awards including, in a White House ceremony, the 2003 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, in 2002 the Black Engineer of the Year Award for College Level Educator, the 2002 New Orleans Data News Weekly Trailblazer Award, and the Pi Tau Sigma/ASME Excellence in Teaching Award in Mechanical Engineering for 2000 and 2002. Always harboring a passion for engineering, Mackie was awarded a patent on a device to retrofit luggage stowbins on 737 and 757 Boeing commercial airliners.

In 2008, Dr. Mackie was accepted into the inaugural class of Fellows in the Effective Leadership Program at Duke University and the College of Business of Southern University (Baton Rouge). The program focuses on the theory and personal application of transformative leadership principles and the premise that effective leadership is a product of the disciplined application of universal moral principles to leadership thought and behaviors. The fellows study under the tutelage of James A. Joseph, former United States Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa (1996-2000). Among other things, Mackie participated in a leadership retreat in Cape Town, South Africa, and experienced a yearlong personal executive coaching and training through public policy advocacy planning projects.

Mackie is currently a partner in Golden Leaf Energy and Mackie continues in his role as Managing Partner of Channel ZerO Group LLC, an educational and motivational consulting company he co-founded in 1992. He has presented to numerous civic and educational institutions, government entities, professional associations, and businesses of every size and industrial focus. Through his travels and online mentoring presence, Mackie reaches millions of students and professionals annually.

Dr. Jeffrey Smith

Dr. Jeffrey A. Smith is an educator, administrator and minister with a strong record of leadership and accomplishments in higher education. He currently resides in West End, North Carolina. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Spring, North Carolina. He earned his Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary) in Atlanta, Georgia and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC.

Dr. Smith is currently the Vice President of Student Affairs at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. He serves on the University's Administrative Cabinet and had direct management supervision of the following departments: Career Services, Counseling, Campus police, Disability Services, Health Center, Judicial Affairs, Religious Life, Residence Life, Student Activities and Student Development and Enrollment Management areas such as Admissions and Financial Aid.

Smith previously held a number of senior positions at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina over the course of nearly ten years. While there, he managed a fiftyKperson staff, over $3 million in unrestricted funds, and supervised over $1 million dollars in government and private grants each year. Dr. Smith also served on the President's Executive Cabinet.

From 2004 until June 2008, Dr. Smith served as vice president of student affairs at Johnson C. Smith, overseeing admissions, career planning, counseling and testing, campus police, health center, religious life, residence life, student activities, student support services, and upward bound. Smith successfully led the division through the reaccreditation process of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Student Affairs Division received no recommendations and received confirmation for continued work until the next reaccreditation process.

Dr. Smith is committed to lifelong learning and the pursuit of excellence in higher education. He has successfully completed numerous advanced training and professional development programs including the Institute for Effective Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; Summer Leadership Institute at the Harvard Divinity School; New York University's Faculty Resource Network; Harvard Institute for Admissions; and Eden Theological Seminary.

Most recently, Dr. Smith was one of 35 higher education professionals selected to participate in the American Council on Education's conference, Advancing to the Presidency. He is a member of many professional organizations such as the National Association of Student Personnel Administration, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

He is married to Mildred Smith a math and science teacher, and has three sons, Michael, Jamar, and Jared.

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL. A leading progressive Christian activist and cultural critic, Dr. Moss is a Jazz influenced Pastor with a Hip Hop vibe. He is committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ rooted in love and justice and is inspired by the works of Zora Neale Hurston, August Wilson, and Howard Thurman. His creative biblebased messages have inspired young and old alike. His intergenerational preaching gift has made Dr. Moss a popular speaker on college campuses, at conferences and churches across the globe.

Dr. Moss authored Redemption in a Red Light District, co-authored The Gospel Re-Mix; How to Reach the Hip-Hop Generation and with his father the Rev Dr. Otis Moss Jr., coauthored, Preach! The Power and Purpose Behind Our Praise. His sermons, articles, and poetry have appeared in publications and blog sites such as Urban Cusp, The Root, Power in the Pulpit II: America's Most Effective Preachers, Joy To The World: Sermons From America's Pulpit, Sound The Trumpet: Messages of Hope for Black Men, The Audacity of Faith: Christian Leaders Reflect on the Election of Barack Obama, Sojourners Magazine and The African American Pulpit Journal. His book of sermons, The Gospel According to the Wiz: And Other Sermons from Cinema, will be released in December 2014.

A native of Cleveland, OH, Dr. Moss is an honors graduate of Morehouse College, YaleDivinity School, and has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.