LIONEL SARGENT
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Connie Questell
HOWARD BYRD, Chaplain
Howard has spent over 20 years as an ordained minister and higher education professional. Previously serving as Pastor of Believers Fellowship Outreach Center, Assistant Director of Admissions at Winston-Salem State University and Student Loan Coordinator at North Carolina A & T State University, he currently serves as a Senior Academic Advisor in the NC Community College system and Founder of New Creation Ministries. His community activities include working as an academic consultant with Young Black Leadership Alliance (formerly YBM) and as President of the Byrd Inspiration Group. Howard’s expertise includes spiritual, personal development and leadership training. His published works include Conceive Your Dreams (Hush Harbor) and Fathers at the Feet of Jesus (Brentwood Press). Howard has a BA degree in Business Administration from Winston-Salem State University and a Master of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
704-561-1128
admin@healingvineharbor.com
8920 Lawyers Rd # 690483, Charlotte, NC 28227
JB is Program Chair and Business Instructor at Central Piedmont Community College. He worked in corporate America for 20 years as Regional Vice President for RadioShack Corporation. He currently serves as Deacon at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and has previously served as a Board Member at Youth Opportunity University, Rolling Oak Home Owners, Tandy Bank of Radio Shack and he was Assistant Scout Master at the Boy Scots of America, therefore he brings a wealth of experience serving on a board. JB is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. His expertise also includes budgeting, relationship management, HR strategic planning and marketing management. JB is currently enrolled at Wingate pursuing his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership. He has a BA degree in Business Administration from the University of Memphis and an MBA degree in Business from Montreat College and he completed the Executive Training Program in Human Resources Management.
HOWARD BYRD
Chaplain, Board of Directors
Connie spent 6 years as a Nursery School Teacher and recent retiree after 16 years as a Personnel Director at E.A. Associates. She is an active member of the National Council of Negro Women, East Bronx Section . She coordinated college bound program for at risk teens from 2005 - 2012. She is Past President of NCNW – EBS and after her tenure, serves as Corresponding Secretary for 4 years and is involved in event planning and fundraising for the section. As an artist, in the entertainment field, she was a band leader and also was one of the business owners of the Sound Pipers for over 30 years. She and her brother started a travel business, ABC Travel, where she handled booking of all destinations, client relations, travel arrangements, hospitality and serviced over 350 clients over 20 years. Connie has performed secretarial duties being on the Board of NCNW and is professional, reliable and quite skilled in administration.
Advisory Board
BRENDA S. THOMPSON
Board of Directors
ALICIA VERDUN
Interim Board President, Board of Directors
Alicia Verdun is the founder of Verdun Consulting. Ms. Verdun’s passion for assisting others is reflected in the company’s mission to foster meaningful connections to information, expertise, legal protection services through LegalShield and opportunities that drive her clients’ business forward. As a Certified Go-Giver Coach, Ms. Verdun uses The Endless Referrals System to help clients develop a consistent stream of prospects that are converted into lifelong Personal Walking Ambassadors. While she has dedicated her professional legacy to the success of small businesses, Ms. Verdun’s career includes extensive experience in the corporate sector. She worked for Delta Resources where she played a major role in assisting with the automation of the New York City Transit Authority Budget System and the New York Telephone Yellow Pages. She then moved on to Bankers Trust where she worked as business analyst. Then she accepted an opportunity as a Technology Executive for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Ms. Verdun has received several notable accomplishments throughout her career including being recognized in Ebony Magazine as one of "100 of the Most Promising Black Females in Corporate America."
Board of Directors & Staff
Lionel has over 30 years of experience in the accounting, finance and treasury management within a variety of business industries. Currently, he is an owner and partner of Cobb, PLLC, a Certified Public Accounting Firm that focuses on helping business owners, non-profit companies and individuals in the areas of tax, accounting and advisory services. He also is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as Trustee Chairman at Greater Providence Baptist Church; in this role, he is responsible for helping the church set financial policies and procedures for the Trustee Ministry, preparation of the Church’s annual budget, preparing financial statements and bank reporting. Lionel has a BS degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Winthrop University.
Contact Us
Brenda S. Thompson is a proven strategic workforce and business development professional with over 25 years of industry experience in relationship building with educational institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Fortune 500 corporations.
She received her Master of Art (MBA) in Business Management from Strayer University, Bachelor of Art (B.A.) in Economics from Tougaloo College, Human Resources Management Certification and Project Management Certification (PMP candidate). Ms. Thompson is also a Certified Workforce Developer from the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Fast Start and Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS). She is also a veteran of the United States Army Reserve.
Ms. Thompson currently serves as the Regional Workforce Manager for NC, SC and VA for a training company that provides training leading to national certifications in Healthcare, IT and Project Management.
DR. JUBLIA GAMMON, PhD.
Vice President, Board of Directors
Tracey Yvette Questell as a young girl always had a love for people. Her compassion for those hurting inspired her to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University and a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University. She began her work as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. mentoring young girls. Her charge is to help those women who are not prepared for adulthood. Because they have aged out of the foster care system/their homes or current housing situation, they are no longer safe or stable. They lack preparation or resources for the future and end up in shelters, jail, or bounced around from place to place. To combat this situation, Tracey has created Healing Vine Harbor Inc., (HVH). Healing Vine Harbor will work towards filling basic needs such as housing, safety and security. HVH's goal is to equip women through a holistic approach. The core values are integrity, education, work ethic, community service, self-awareness and self-sufficiency. Tracey has expertise in counseling, group facilitation, program development, team building, drop-out prevention and retention, college preparation, curriculum planning and coordination. She spent over 20 years in the counseling and education field. She has worked with all populations including youth, women and men. She has worked various modalities including drug rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, college preparation, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling and developing mentoring programs.
Tracey has worked in various residential programs, therefore, knows the inner workings of how to operate a residential program. She founded and managed a college preparation program called F.A.T.C.O. (Future Advancement through College Orientation) and has handled hiring and training staff, budget development as well as curriculum development. She was an educational consultant for the Board of Education and the Governors Committee for Scholastic Achievement and she has gained various experience in management, supervision and training experience throughout her 30 year career in the human services field.
Currently Tracey is a resident in Mint Hill, North Carolina. She is also a college counselor, adjunct instructor and personal counselor at Central Piedmont Community College. Knowing how essential God is in her life, Tracey became a member of New Beginnings Church in December 2011. She is one of the co-leaders of the Excel College Ministry.
Although Healing Vine Harbor has not opened a residential facility yet, Tracey spends her free time building the business, fundraising and currently offers monthly workshops for young women ages 18 and older who need life management and independent living skills.Tracey Questell
Executive Director/Founder