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We are
pleased to introduce our professional team that will
be responsible for the design, creative development,
and financial development. Truly a global
project, our team hails from across the country and
has several years of experience in their fields.
GFLCVB Project Liaison
Mr. Albert Tucker – Vice President -
Multicultural Business Development, GFLCVB
As Vice President of Multicultural Business
Development, Mr. Tucker’s primary responsibility is
to develop partnerships and alliances with
community, civic and business leaders locally,
nationally and internationally with the intent to
attract a larger number of multicultural
conventions, family reunions and meetings to Greater
Fort Lauderdale.
In just five quick years the Multicultural
Business Development Plan has more than tripled the
tourism dollars brought in by the African American,
Hispanic and Caribbean market and has played an
integral role for quadrupling the Marketing and
Advertising Budget for the Multicultural market.
Most recently Mr. Tucker served as Chair VISIT
FLORIDA’s Multicultural Committee and was
responsible for overseeing a $14.5 million dollar
marketing budget.
Mr. Tucker currently serves on the Board of
the Urban League of Broward County and is working to
develop the Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel Complex for
Education and Preservation. This $50 million dollar
project will not only provide a home for the gospel
music industry, but will have a huge economic impact
for the community and the county.
Project Coordinator
Ms. Caroline Rucker
Architect
Mr. Henry C. Onochie - CEO, HCO, Inc.
As President and Principal Architect of
HCO, Inc., Mr. Onochie plays an important part
in both management and leadership of the firm.
With over 16 years of professional experience,
he has a wide range of experience in a variety
of project types, including: industrial,
commercial, institutional, civic, and
residential projects. Mr. Onochie is always
actively involved in the project design, and
usually coordinates the staff and consultants
assigned to every project. Mr. Onochie's
exceptional skill and strong desire for quality
work is an asset to any project he is involved
with.
Mr. Onochie is responsible for all aspects of
project coordination, design, and
implementation. His management guarantees
project success. A guarantee that our repeat
customers have enjoyed for years.
To
learn more about HCO, Inc. and their other
projects, please visit their website at
www.hcoarchitects.com.
Creative Director
Mr. Gentry L. Akens - CEO, Buzzie
Productions, LLC.
Award
winning creative executive Gentry Akens is a
leader in the world of design for animation,
theme park attractions, film & television sets,
toys, gifts, parades, nightclubs, restaurants
and more. He has lent his creative talents to
the world's leading entertainment and consumer
product companies including Walt Disney World,
Universal Studios Florida, Hasbro, Inc., Mattel
Toys, Hanna Barbera Studios, and Filmation
Studios.
Mr. Akens was the Production Designer and Art
Director for live shows and attractions at
Disney and Universal theme parks, and popular
television shows such as: The Disney Channel’s
“Mickey Mouse Club”, Nickelodeon’s “Gullah
Gullah Island” and “TAINA”; many national
commercials spots including “Taco Bell”, “Ford
Ranger” and “McDonalds.” He was the Sr. Creative
Director for Universal Orlando’s CityWalk, where
he gave creative vision to various venues on
site, including the highly successful “Bob
Marley’s” Nightclub/Restaurant and “The Groove”
dance club.
Mr. Akens most recently served as Vice President
and Head of Creative Development with Hasbro
Inc.’s Property Group (HPG). He is now Creative
Principal and the Executive Producer for “Buzzie
Productions, LLC.”
Capital Campaign Coordinator
Dr. Angelique S.C. Grant -
CEO, Grant International, LLC
Dr.
Angelique S.C. Grant is currently the Director
of Development for the Departments of Medicine &
Surgery at the University of Miami, Leonard M.
Miller School of Medicine where she is
responsible for the development efforts of 24
medical Divisions and a campaign goal of $50
million.
Dr. Grant has an extensive career in
institutional advancement, media relations, and
public relations. She has worked in higher
education at Princeton University where she
served as Director of Development and Washington
State University where she served as a
communication instructor with the Edward R.
Murrow School of Communication and a development
professional.
Dr. Grant holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in
Higher Education Administration specializing in
Institutional Advancement from Washington State
University. While at Washington State
University (WSU) she served as the Assistant
Director of Development and Alumni Relations,
Alumni and Development Coordinator, and the
Development Coordinator for Special Projects for
the WSU Foundation.
In
these capacities she identified, cultivated,
solicited, and stewarded major gift donor
prospects ($100,000 and above) for the
University and its College of Education. During
her six-year tenure, she was involved in the
promotion of planned giving opportunities, as
well as organized and implemented the college’s
annual giving program. She prepared alumni
volunteers to participate in fundraising and
development initiatives. At that time, Dr. Grant
also created the first WSU Faculty/Staff Drive
that raised over $1 million dollars in gifts and
pledges.
CPA
Shaun M. Davis - CEO, S. Davis
& Associates, PA
Shaun M. Davis is the President and
Founder of S. Davis & Associates,
P.A., an accounting firm he started
in 1991. His wife, Tanya, joined him
at the company in 1997. S. Davis &
Associates is recognized as one of
the top ten minority businesses in
the State of Florida and one of the
top three African American CPA firms
in the southeast United States.
Davis is a nationally known CPA and
has over twenty-two years of public
accounting experience. Born and
raised in New York, he attended
Florida State University and
graduated in 1983 with a degree in
accounting. After graduating, he
joined the CPA firm of Deloitte and
Touche and, later, Davis joined
Ernst and Young where he became an
audit manager.
Davis has received several awards
such as the Price Waterhouse
Up-and-Comer award and the Hollywood
Outstanding Community Leader award.
He also contributes to various
charitable organizations and has
been involved with many other
community organizations. Davis has
served as Chairman of the United Way
of Broward County, President of the
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, among
many more. He is currently the
co-chair of Vision Broward and a
member of the Executive Board of the
South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host
Committee.
Click here to learn more about
S. Davis & Associates.
Sculptor
George Gadson
Mr.
Gadson has been commissioned to create works of
art for many high profile events. He was
commissioned to create two limited edition
commemorative sculptures, “The Kicker” and “The
Quarterback” , for the 1995 South Florida Super
Bowl XXIX and the 1999 Super Bowl XXXIII. The
South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee
presented these sculptures to each owner of the
National Football League team and VIP’s. Each
year South Florida hosts the Super Bowl, Gadson
will create another sculpture to continue the
series.
The Duke University graduate and self-taught
artist, also understands the role art plays in
providing quality of life and vitality to a
community. Based on numerous studies that show
art as a key element to breathing new life into
the “soul” of a community and its residents,
Gadson seeks to bring back to life the forgotten
history found in many communities and capture
civic memories through creative design works.
Such efforts aid in rebuilding the tangible and
intangible characters of the community, bring
disparate groups together, create safer
neighborhoods, and promote a greater sense of
belonging. Gadson seeks inspiration by studying
both people and nature and is well known for his
powerful sculptures, his poignant depiction of
the lives and telling faces of people, and
moments in time through photography.
He has been exhibited throughout Florida,
including the City of Delray Beach Cultural
Loop, the Pineapple Grove Art Walk in downtown
Delray Beach, Florida, the Inua Art Gallery in
Miami, the JM Family Enterprises Gallery at
ArtServe, the African American Research Library
and Cultural Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida,
the African American Carribean Cultural Centers,
the Schacknow Museum of Fine Art, ,and the Old
Davie School Historical Museum in Davie Florida.
To
see more of Mr. Gadson's work, visit his website
at
www.georgegadson.com
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