GOVERNANCE BOARD
LaKendra McNair is an experienced banking professional, thought leader, diversity and inclusion advocate, and curator of equitable engagement in the community. LaKendra is committed to being a change agent for bridging the gaps of “access to information, advocacy, social capital” in diverse, underrepresented, and economically evolving sustainable communities. LaKendra is a thought leader in corporate social governance, intersectional talent development, and consumer experience-led transformation.
LaKendra is enthusiastic about building communities of practice with community stakeholders to scale, activate, and sustain equitable community-centric ecosystems. LaKendra has over 25 years of retail, business, government banking, and marketing activation experience in the banking industry. LaKendra is currently Senior Vice President, Head of Climate Resilient Communities at M&T Bank with a focus on understanding the bank communities’ climate risks, opportunities and needs; while partnering with stakeholders across the enterprise to address these issues through our products, services, and support.
LaKendra has led and transformed many DEI employee resource groups across the bank. LaKendra has served on numerous boards and committees across the metropolitan area; and is currently Co-Chair of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the DC Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking DC REACh Initiative Credit Counseling and Repair Workstream. LaKendra is a facilitator and curator of community conversations on social economic disparities, diverse business empowerment, and inclusionary community activation.
LaKendra is enthusiastic about building communities of practice with community stakeholders to scale, activate, and sustain equitable community-centric ecosystems. LaKendra has over 25 years of retail, business, government banking, and marketing activation experience in the banking industry. LaKendra is currently Senior Vice President, Head of Climate Resilient Communities at M&T Bank with a focus on understanding the bank communities’ climate risks, opportunities and needs; while partnering with stakeholders across the enterprise to address these issues through our products, services, and support.
LaKendra has led and transformed many DEI employee resource groups across the bank. LaKendra has served on numerous boards and committees across the metropolitan area; and is currently Co-Chair of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the DC Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking DC REACh Initiative Credit Counseling and Repair Workstream. LaKendra is a facilitator and curator of community conversations on social economic disparities, diverse business empowerment, and inclusionary community activation.
Edward Fultz is an entertainment and media attorney from the country of Panama and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, he is a mid-level associate at Reed Smith LLP in the Washington, D.C. office. His practice involves all aspects of advertising, marketing, promotions, and brand protection. He monetizes talent, ideas, brands, and businesses in relation to sports, music, movies, video games, and influencers. He completed his undergraduate education at Morehouse College and Juris Doctorate at Howard University School of Law.
Outside the firm, Edward is a DJ (DJ Esq.) for a variety of professional events. He is the President of FAITH (Fathers Are In The Home), a 501(c)(3) non-profit chess organization dedicated to mentoring and instructing K-12 and young adults on the game of chess and how it relates to life (https://faithchess.org/). Edward is the co-founder of The Hierarchy Global LLC, an organization that curates luxury networking experiences for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and network across all fields and disciplines. Lastly, Edward is a passionate Co-Host for The Common Nomad podcast discussing the nuances and social dynamics of friendships (https://www.thecommonnomad.co/).
Aisha Bond is an attorney, strategist, and executive leader with more than two decades of experience advancing economic development, public-private partnerships, and community-centered initiatives at the intersection of business, culture, and place. Throughout her career, she has combined her background in law, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership to build cross-sector collaborations that strengthen local economies and create opportunities for businesses, artists, and communities.
Aisha currently serves as Senior Director of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment for the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (DowntownDC BID), where she leads efforts to position Downtown Washington as a vibrant, world-class cultural destination. She works in partnership with artists, cultural institutions, entertainment venues, government agencies, developers, and business leaders to strengthen the creative economy through strategic programming, placemaking, policy development, and collaborative partnerships. Her work focuses on leveraging arts and culture as catalysts for economic growth, tourism, neighborhood vitality, and inclusive community engagement.
Previously, Aisha served as President and CEO of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, where she championed policies and initiatives that expanded opportunities for Black-owned businesses throughout the Washington metropolitan region. During her tenure, she led regional advocacy efforts, cultivated strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors, launched executive leadership initiatives for high-growth entrepreneurs, and helped advance equitable economic development through coalition building, workforce development, international trade opportunities, and increased access to capital.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Aisha served as Executive Director of North Capitol Main Street, where she partnered with government agencies, residents, and business owners to drive commercial corridor revitalization, support small business growth, and promote community-based economic development along the North Capitol Street corridor in Washington, DC. Earlier in her career, she founded and operated NanBon, a wholesale and retail dessert company, gaining firsthand experience as a small business entrepreneur.
Aisha began her legal career advising businesses and nonprofit organizations on business development, tax and estate planning, and international development initiatives. She maintained a solo legal practice and served as Of Counsel on business matters while also acting as Legal Adviser to PerWil Management Resources LLC, where she helped oversee USAID-funded management development programs in Benin and Mali.
Having lived on three continents, Aisha considers herself a global citizen with a deep appreciation for the role that culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship play in shaping thriving communities. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College, completed a postgraduate fellowship with the Japanese Center for International Exchange in Tokyo, Japan, and received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center with a concentration in International Business Law and Dispute Resolution.
A native Washingtonian, Aisha remains deeply committed to civic leadership and community engagement. She has served as a Trustee of Georgetown Day School, a member of the National Women’s Business Council, and the DC Commission for Women. She currently serves as a trustee for Leadership Greater Washington and The FH Faunteroy Center & Resilience Incubator. She is widely recognized for her ability to convene diverse stakeholders, build strategic partnerships, and develop innovative solutions that advance economic opportunity through arts, culture, business, and community development.
Aisha currently serves as Senior Director of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment for the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (DowntownDC BID), where she leads efforts to position Downtown Washington as a vibrant, world-class cultural destination. She works in partnership with artists, cultural institutions, entertainment venues, government agencies, developers, and business leaders to strengthen the creative economy through strategic programming, placemaking, policy development, and collaborative partnerships. Her work focuses on leveraging arts and culture as catalysts for economic growth, tourism, neighborhood vitality, and inclusive community engagement.
Previously, Aisha served as President and CEO of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, where she championed policies and initiatives that expanded opportunities for Black-owned businesses throughout the Washington metropolitan region. During her tenure, she led regional advocacy efforts, cultivated strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors, launched executive leadership initiatives for high-growth entrepreneurs, and helped advance equitable economic development through coalition building, workforce development, international trade opportunities, and increased access to capital.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Aisha served as Executive Director of North Capitol Main Street, where she partnered with government agencies, residents, and business owners to drive commercial corridor revitalization, support small business growth, and promote community-based economic development along the North Capitol Street corridor in Washington, DC. Earlier in her career, she founded and operated NanBon, a wholesale and retail dessert company, gaining firsthand experience as a small business entrepreneur.
Aisha began her legal career advising businesses and nonprofit organizations on business development, tax and estate planning, and international development initiatives. She maintained a solo legal practice and served as Of Counsel on business matters while also acting as Legal Adviser to PerWil Management Resources LLC, where she helped oversee USAID-funded management development programs in Benin and Mali.
Having lived on three continents, Aisha considers herself a global citizen with a deep appreciation for the role that culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship play in shaping thriving communities. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College, completed a postgraduate fellowship with the Japanese Center for International Exchange in Tokyo, Japan, and received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center with a concentration in International Business Law and Dispute Resolution.
A native Washingtonian, Aisha remains deeply committed to civic leadership and community engagement. She has served as a Trustee of Georgetown Day School, a member of the National Women’s Business Council, and the DC Commission for Women. She currently serves as a trustee for Leadership Greater Washington and The FH Faunteroy Center & Resilience Incubator. She is widely recognized for her ability to convene diverse stakeholders, build strategic partnerships, and develop innovative solutions that advance economic opportunity through arts, culture, business, and community development.
ADVISORY BOARD
Warner H. Session, Treasurer, is the founder of the Session Law Firm, which offers its clients legal, government relations, and business consulting services in such matters as corporate transactions, government procurement, small business development, regulatory compliance and real estate. Mr. Session is former Counsel to the House Government Activities and Transportation Subcommittee where he handled aviation, procurement and telecommunications issues. He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA) and Georgetown University Law Center (JD), and is admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Session is an appointee of the Mayor of the District of Columbia and Co-Chair of the Business Administration Committee and serves on the Dulles Corridor, Executive and Governance, Finance, Nominations, and Strategic Development Committees.
Thomas Penny is President of Donohoe Hospitality, one of the Washington, DC Region’s largest and most experienced hotel management companies. In this capacity, Penny is responsible for growth, innovation and advancing a supportive and inclusive company culture that encourages upward mobility, while celebrating its team members for achieving best-in-class results. With direct responsibility for 16 hotels, $220M in revenue and close to 900 associates, Penny is laser-focused on growing the business and creating opportunities for team members to ascend to the highest levels of the company. Penny is a leading voice for diversity at the ownership and executive levels of the hotel industry. He stresses the need for the boardroom to mirror the break room. Through promoting deserving leaders within the company and attracting new talent, Penny has built a dynamic team committed to operational excellence through entrepreneurship, collaboration, adaptability, empathy, creativity and innovation. Over the course of Penny’s 27-year career with Donohoe, he has been an inspiring leader and figure in the hospitality industry and company. As he advanced through the ranks, Penny has held leadership roles across multiple verticals at Donohoe hotels.
Penny presently serves on numerous industry, education and non-profit boards including the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), Hotel Association of Washington, DC (HAWDC), Livingstone College, Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University, National Academy Foundation (NAF), DC Public Ed Fund, Raise DC, DC Workforce Investment Council (WIC), Visit Baltimore, Baltimore Workforce Investment Council (WIC) and is the co-chair for DC Central Kitchen’s “Bringing the Kitchen Home” Campaign. Penny is an avid reader of history and leadership books. He cherishes time with his family and enjoys spending time near the water.
Penny presently serves on numerous industry, education and non-profit boards including the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), Hotel Association of Washington, DC (HAWDC), Livingstone College, Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University, National Academy Foundation (NAF), DC Public Ed Fund, Raise DC, DC Workforce Investment Council (WIC), Visit Baltimore, Baltimore Workforce Investment Council (WIC) and is the co-chair for DC Central Kitchen’s “Bringing the Kitchen Home” Campaign. Penny is an avid reader of history and leadership books. He cherishes time with his family and enjoys spending time near the water.
Anthony L. Wash “Tony”, Founder, is a proud 3rd generation Washingtonian, whose life’s story is a testament to the power of when talent, creative intellect and passion met. In the early 90’s Tony started a two-person business that has grown into an DC Legacy CBE enterprise of thirty-five employees with more than 25years of excellence.
Beyond electrical contracting, Tony has expanded his reach and influence as a developer/general contractor after watching the city change but leaving the people of the communities behind. Next to his business successes, Tony, remains firmly embedded and committed to the community that nurtured and supported him through his growth as a business and community leader.
Some of his most noteworthy community contributions and projects include sponsoring 40 seniors to President’s Obama’s inaugural brunch; development of the award winning 70-Unit mix-use 100% affordable building at 4800 NHB Ave NE, Founder of the Faunteroy Center & Resilience Incubator; volunteering as the “Leadership Coach’ at Wilson and Dunbar HS; support of youth organizations and athletics in DC and bringing holiday cheer to those in public housing through gifts and monetary contributions; furthermore, he was the first and is a premier sponsor of DC’s classic Goodman League Basketball Tournament.
BOARD EMERITUS
Pastor Donald L. Isaac, Sr., Member, Rev. Isaac is currently the Pastor of the S.E. Tabernacle Baptist Church (SETBC).) Rev. Isaac was called, licensed and ordained at SETBC which was founded by his great grandfather 90 years ago and where his uncle Rev. W.W. Flood served as Pastor for over 50 years. We For the past 20+ years Rev. Isaac has served as the Co-founder and Senior Advisor at the East of the River Clergy, Police, Community Partnership, Inc (ERCPCP) a community based effort that is designed to prevent violence and empower youth and their families. Rev. Isaac has been appointed by several Mayors’ serving as the Director of the Mayor’s Office for Religious Affairs, a member of the Mayor’s Interfaith Council, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) and as Executive Director for the Corrections Information Council (CIC.) In addition he has served on numerous Boards and is currently on the Board of Jubille Housing. Rev. Isaac is a native Washingtonian, who resided in Ward 7 for more than 30 years and currently resides in Ward 6 in the house where he grew
David Wilmot, Member, is an attorney, businessman, lobbyist and activist. He’s an expert in local government, corporate and commercial real estate development, and promotion of minority and small businesses. He came to New York at 17 from St. Martin. He joined the military, choosing the United States Air Force for the educational benefits. David went through the Air Force’s Bootstrap program and graduated from the University of Arkansas. David didn’t experience segregation until moving to
Arkansas. While there, however, he became one of the first African American’s to attend University of Arkansas at Little Rock as an undergrad, and to be hired in a major administrative position in the city of Little Rock. Another highlight of his time spent in Arkansas came when, at a social event, he unexpectedly met legendary civil rights leaders that influenced his decision to go on to law school. He continued civil rights activism while at Georgetown Law School and continues it today in Our Town’s
community. David Wilmot has been the Dean of Georgetown Law School and General Counsel for the Washington Convention Center, among other things.
Arkansas. While there, however, he became one of the first African American’s to attend University of Arkansas at Little Rock as an undergrad, and to be hired in a major administrative position in the city of Little Rock. Another highlight of his time spent in Arkansas came when, at a social event, he unexpectedly met legendary civil rights leaders that influenced his decision to go on to law school. He continued civil rights activism while at Georgetown Law School and continues it today in Our Town’s
community. David Wilmot has been the Dean of Georgetown Law School and General Counsel for the Washington Convention Center, among other things.
EXECUTIVE
Dr. Montgomery is an executive-level catalyst, strategist, and social entrepreneur. She has over 25-years of professional experience leading innovation, transformation, and development. Her multifaceted career has spanned four continents, multiple sectors and industries. She has led innovative and transformative projects through analytical problem-solving, idea transcriptions, and results-driven execution. Her success is attributed to her ability to establish trust-based relationships with partners, colleagues, stakeholders, executives, and team members.
In her current role as Executive Director at the FH Faunteroy Center & Resilience Incubator, she has led the transformation and exponential growth of a small community-based organization in order to successfully lead the landmark implementation of Washington, D.C.'s first community resilience hub. Her successful track record in leading this charge is due to her multi-partner approach and continuous expansion of private-public partnerships; securing funding in a timely manner (over $3.9MM in 3 years) and proactively implementing strategies for long term financial, programmatic, and operational sustainability.
She brings a wealth of professional experience into the grass-root effort of firmly transforming and expanding the size of an organization while building its resilience hub capabilities. Her career started as a biomedical researcher and eventually transitioned to the corporate sector when she joined Atos BV in the Netherlands, holding several key positions focused on strategic insourcing (acquisitions), organizational strategy, transformation, and operational optimization. After her tenure at Atos BV, she became an independent consultant, allowing for expansive professional exposure globally and across numerous industries. She has led economic diversification trade missions to several African countries and provided subject matter expertise in strategic operations. Her vast professional perspective is evident in her ability to pivot and remain agile when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
She holds a BA in Psychology from Rollins College, and a PhD (Chancellor Fellow) in Neuropsychology/Neuroscience from Washington University. She furthered her education through a Global Leadership Development Award at Atos BV, earning an MBA in Organizational Leadership Capability from Huddersfield University in the UK. She has shared her research and expertise through written scientific and business journal articles, contributed chapters to a published book, and as speaker and lecturer.
In her current role as Executive Director at the FH Faunteroy Center & Resilience Incubator, she has led the transformation and exponential growth of a small community-based organization in order to successfully lead the landmark implementation of Washington, D.C.'s first community resilience hub. Her successful track record in leading this charge is due to her multi-partner approach and continuous expansion of private-public partnerships; securing funding in a timely manner (over $3.9MM in 3 years) and proactively implementing strategies for long term financial, programmatic, and operational sustainability.
She brings a wealth of professional experience into the grass-root effort of firmly transforming and expanding the size of an organization while building its resilience hub capabilities. Her career started as a biomedical researcher and eventually transitioned to the corporate sector when she joined Atos BV in the Netherlands, holding several key positions focused on strategic insourcing (acquisitions), organizational strategy, transformation, and operational optimization. After her tenure at Atos BV, she became an independent consultant, allowing for expansive professional exposure globally and across numerous industries. She has led economic diversification trade missions to several African countries and provided subject matter expertise in strategic operations. Her vast professional perspective is evident in her ability to pivot and remain agile when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
She holds a BA in Psychology from Rollins College, and a PhD (Chancellor Fellow) in Neuropsychology/Neuroscience from Washington University. She furthered her education through a Global Leadership Development Award at Atos BV, earning an MBA in Organizational Leadership Capability from Huddersfield University in the UK. She has shared her research and expertise through written scientific and business journal articles, contributed chapters to a published book, and as speaker and lecturer.
DIRECTORS
MANAGEMENT
STAFF
