Board of Directors
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Connell Wise
Founder,Board Chair & CEO, United States Youth Chamber of Commerce
Connell Wise is the Founder and CEO of Wise Corp Holding’s Company and all it sub-companies (U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce & Connellslist,com). Despite living with A.D.D., 2nd degree heart block, Asthma and being a type II Diabetic, Connell has been a youth rights advocate for the past 6 years and has brought his beliefs of youth-involvement in government to both local and national levels. In several capacities, Connell has worked for the District of Columbia government as a Government Commissioner over the Executive Office of The Mayor Office of Volunteerism, as well as his work as a President Barack Obama campaign fellow. Previous to this, Connell founded C.W.B.N. (Connell Wise Broadcasting Network) an online news website that gives teens a place to report what is happening in their community and offers a forum to discuss how they feel about it. Currently Connell is in his 3rd year as a double major at Curry College studying Business Management with a concentration in Non-Profit Management and a Communication concentration in Television Production/Digital Video. Currently Connell is working as a Employment Investigator with the D.C. Government. Connell also just finished an Internship with the White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence in as a Volunteer Correspondent.
He also recently received a Presidential recognition for his volunteerism receiving the Bronze, Silver and Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Connell also received the President’s Call to Service Award for having over 4,000 hours of volunteer service over a lifetime. Connell is an active member of Community Emergency Response Team in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Medical Reserve Corp. Connell currently serves in the Executive Function with three Non-profit corporations the National Youth Rights Association as the Director for Political Affairs and with The Learning Disability Association of Massachusetts as their Clerk and Finance
Kwame R. Brown, DC Council Chair,(HonoraryMember)
Chairmen Kwame R. Brown has spent a lifetime working for the things that matter most to Washington’s families. A son of Washingtonians, Kwame learned about the issues facing D.C. at a young age and made a decision to give back to the community that has given him so much. In a short time, Kwame has emerged as a national leader. He currently serves as chair of the DC City Council and Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. He is the first DC Councilmember to be a member of the Congressional Award Foundation Board of Directors, a national organization that promotes volunteerism, public service, personal development and physical fitness. In addition to his leadership roles, Kwame’s first term in office led to the revitalization of Phelps High School in Ward 5, passage of the School Modernization Act, a reform of the District’s domestic violence laws, and an unprecedented focus on neighborhood revitalization, job training and local small business development.
Tambra Stevenson, Founder & CEO of Creative Cause, Board Member
With the words of Alexander Dumas engrained in her spirit, Tambra Stevenson, the outgoing president of the Tufts Public Health Student Senate (PHSS), tirelessly Seeks opportunities to improve the student experience in the Tufts public health program and advancing her knowledge and experience in health communication. This past spring, she completed an account management internship at Hill Holiday working on competitive analysis in small business and health care marketplace for an HMO account while working on her master’s project, the YO! Health Study in creating youth-centered, multicultural health career website for the Tufts public health program. Because of her interests in using business strategies to improve public health, she completed coursework at Boston University Graduate School of Management in health care marketing and entrepreneurial management.
Hon. William “Bill’ Brown- Advisory Board Member
William Brown is currently the Chair of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner ANC1A. He is the Single Member District Commissioner for 1A06 in Ward 1 area of Washington DC.
Keon Diggs, Board Member
Mr. Diggs, a Residence Director and community service coordinator at Bard College at Simons-Rock, has shown a passion for organizing student groups and encouraging young adults to become active in their community. His efforts have led to a more robust response to the H1N1 flu pandemic and will continue to support a strong, well prepared MRC in Berkshire County.
Mr. Diggs interest in the Medical Reserve Corp stems from a family that values volunteerism. His brother works with Serve DC, an agency working out of Washington, D.C. Mayor’s office that organizes volunteer programs such as the Community Emergency Response Team. Through his brother’s work at Serve DC, Mr. Diggs discovered the Medical Reserve Corps. Mr. Diggs’s interest in national security also motivated him to volunteer.
“Living in D.C. during the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax scare, I’ve always been interested in working with Homeland Security. Witnessing those events made me want to get involved with the response and try to help people,” said Mr. Diggs. The Medical Reserve Corps, a program under the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG),, provided the perfect outlet for Mr. Diggs.
Mr. Diggs has been in engaged in a wide variety of activities. Mr. Diggs has participated in Train-the-Trainer courses, taught the MRC 101 course, participates in the region’s Disaster Animal Response Team (DART), organized a group of Bard College students to volunteer for flu clinics and delivered presentations on disaster preparedness.
Mr. Diggs’ emphasized the importance of getting younger people involved in the community. “We have a great opportunity to reach out to these kids and get them involved in community service at an early age,” said Mr. Diggs. “On top of their course load, they find time to volunteer with energy and enthusiasm. I’m really proud of them.”
Kyle Taylor, Board Member
Kyle Taylor was born and raised in Anaheim, California. He completed his undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, DC where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a bachelor’s degree in media and political discourse, graduating summa cum laude with honors and phi beta kappa membership. While there he served as Student Government President and started his own Youth Venture non-profit through the Ashoka network. Since then he has served as the global spokesperson for Ashoka’s Youth Venture in 20 countries around the world, worked with migrant youth in Shanghai, China, and completed a master’s degree in politics and communication at the London School of Economics. He currently lives and works in Sydney, Australia where he serves as the business development manager for Inspired Adventures – a non-profit fundraising agency.
Nathan Ward,Board Member
Nathan Ward, a lifelong Tennessee native, currently serves as Deputy Director of the South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD). In his role, he serves as the chief point of contact for regional economic development for thirteen counties in Southern Middle Tennessee. Based in Columbia, Ward spearheads recruitment efforts to attract new business and oversees expansion plans to retain jobs in the area. Prior to his appointment with the district, Ward was Executive Director of the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Industrial Development Board, serving in a similar function for a single county. While in Lincoln County, Ward helped to establish a Junior Achievement program to help high school students learn personal finance skills.
A career economic development professional, Ward worked for three years for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, where he was responsible for creating and retaining thousands of jobs. Previously, he served as a legislative assistant to Tennessee Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh.
A native of Tipton County in West Tennessee, Ward is married and resides in Franklin, Tennessee. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and is a master’s degree candidate at Austin Peay State University.
L. Denise Jackson,Board Member
When busy professionals want to start their business or business owners are ready to expand, The Ideation Expert helps them find opportunities or see the hidden opportunities they don’t see. They request her intuitive perspective, creative solutions, and practical approach to grow, go global, and expand their existing businesses and practices.
Working through the ranks from file clerk into six figure management, winning billions of dollars for large government contractors through her first company LDJ Solutions, LLC, traveling nationally to create solutions for other companies, creating top-notch teams, becoming an author, and coming from a family of business owners, L. Denise began her “retirement career” using her business acumen to guide busy professionals and new and seasoned entrepreneurs through practical steps to succeed beyond what they could see. Her clients have seen amazing results and gained confidence beyond what they expected. L. Denise hows you that your dreams are, in fact, attainable. She helps you see!
L. Denise
has been educated at American University and University of Maryland University College. She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, conference panelist, and personal guide. She speaks every weekday morning as a success panelist on “The Call.” Her approach has been described as driven, honest, and intentional. She is a member of The Spencer Institute, Professional Black Woman (PBW), Professional Women Network (PWN), and Woman International Networking (W.I.N.). Her new book series, The Sustainable CEO will begin to be released by Summer of 2011.
L. Denise resides in Washington, DC. When she is not helping others see and reach their dreams, she is enjoying a good book, wine tasting, time with friends and family, and traveling.
Haydn C. Lambert, Youth Representative & Board Member – Clerk of the Corporation – Social Media Director
Haydn Lambert began serving on the U.S.Y.C.C. Board of Directors in June of 2011, having been interested in the organization in the months prior. In Haydn’s positions, he is responsable for representing the youth members of U.S.Y.C.C. as well as voting on behalf the youth members. In October of 2011, Haydn accepted a position as Intrim Social Media Director. Through this position, Haydn is responsable for representing the chamber via social networking (facebook, twitter, etc.) Haydn is looking forward to what’s to come from the chamber in the future. Haydn can be contacted at haydn.lambert@usyouthchamber.com or 202-599-0801.
