Our Team | Bcdccasite

Where the Passion Begins

OUR BCDCCA BOARD MEMBERS

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Black Community Development and Chamber of Commerce of Arkansas

is proud to have some of the industry’s best. The experience, capability and passion of our Board of Directors is the foundation for our success in serving our community.

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Mr. Wardell Henley

BCDCCA Founder, Chairman, President and CEO Graduated from Langston University, Langston Oklahoma, graduate. Attended one year at the University of Arkansas law School, Fayetteville Arkansas. Over, 35 years Information Security Consultant. Founder of Northside Town Branch Group, Community Action group, Fort Smith Arkansas.

Mr. Earl Sheppard

BCDCCA Board member, Executive Vice President Born raised and educated in Fort Smith, married for 49 years, Former boys and girls club coach and a previously Restaurant Owner.

Mr. Andre Good BCDCCA Board member Fort Smith Arkansas City Director Ward 2, Federal Express Operations manager, Fort Smith Arkansas, University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas graduate

Attorney, Dequeshia Prude-Wheeler

BCDCCA Board member

The owner and founder of Prude Legacy Law Group, PLLC. Based in Northwest Arkansas. Dequeshia was born and raised in Blytheville, AR. After earning a philosophy degree in 2013 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Dequeshia graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 2017. As a student attorney during a bankruptcy clinic, she helped an indigent, disabled client discharge a considerable student loan debt.

After law school, Dequeshia worked in ethics and compliance at Walmart, at a local law firm, and then served as in-house counsel at Mercy Hospital in Northwest Arkansas. She opened her solo law firm in July 2020, focusing on bankruptcy, business law, estate planning and probate, and criminal record sealing. Currently, Dequeshia is a member of the Benton County Bar Association, represents the Arkansas Bar Association on the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission and serves in various capacities in her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.

Attorney Jacob McElroy BCDCCA Board member An experienced attorney at Mitchell Williams law firm in Rogers Arkansas. Jacob’s practice focuses on the representation of businesses, insurance carriers and their insureds in various lawsuits and proceedings including medical malpractice, nursing home liability, premises liability and administrative proceedings.

Jacob grew up in Little Rock, AR and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. After several years working in juvenile justice in Pine Buff, AR and Atlanta, GA, Jacob returned to Arkansas and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Mr. Frederick H. Freeman

BCDCCA Board Member

Was born to the parents of Charley and Bessie Freeman and raised in Forrest City AR. He graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in Business Management. He was a member of the college football team and played quarterback. He served in various management positions for 12 years with Arkansas Power and Light now Entergy Arkansas before returning to Forrest City in

He is the CEO of FHF Enterprises, LLC, where the company services are focus on advocacy, government affairs and community economic development.

Some of his latest community services and leadership activities are:

Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation – Community Economic Development Services Arkansas Disability Rights – Advocating for the Rights of the Disability Community Arkansas Black Mayors Association – Organizational Technical Assistance Arkansas Department of Health – COVID education, outreach and vaccination East Arkansas Enterprises Community, Inc.- Business and Community Development Governmental and Legislative Affairs Services – Advocating for designated clients County Election Commissioner – Governance of election activities in St. Francis County

Frederick is a member of Beth Salem MB Church. Besides traveling, he enjoys spending quality time with his immediate and extended family members.

Attorney Brian G. Smith

BCDCCA Board Member

Senior partner with the law firm of Nwokorie & Smith. Brian G. Smith of El Dorado Arkansas earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and a Juris Doctor degree from Southern University Law Center in 1994. Brian G. Smith is a member of First Baptist Church where he serves as Chairman of the Deacon Board, Sunday School Superintendent, and a member of the Trustee Board. Mr. Smith holds the position of Chair of the Board of the Nile & Smith Museum of African American History located in El Dorado, Arkansas.

Mr. Smith is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., while serving as a keeper of Finance. Brian G. Smith and his wife, Vada Smith, have three children, namely Tantarras, Drew, and Brian Jr.

Mr. Morece Ford

is the Founder/CEO of Prepmor Insurance Group, an independent insurance agency in Springdale, AR. He has dedicated almost two decades in the insurance industry, gaining experience in the property, casualty, life, and health space. Born and raised in Jacksonville, AR, he attended the University of Arkansas where he studied Industrial Engineering. He currently resides in Springdale with his beautiful wife and two kids.

Senior Advisors Board

Ms. Lottie Holt Shackelford, has made history throughout her impressive 40 plus years in local, state and national politics. In 1987, she became the first woman elected Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas. Six years later, President Bill Clinton appointed her and the U. S. Senate confirmed her to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), making her the first African American woman to serve on that Board. She also has the distinction of having the longest tenure as a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), having served for 20 years and is currently Vice Chair Emeritus and Chair of the DNC Women’s Caucus.

Ms. Shackelford's political career began in 1978 when she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. She was elected and re-elected city wide three times before being elected the City’s first woman Mayor. During her tenure in local government, Ms. Shackelford directed liaison activities for minority businesses and held leadership positions in the National League of Cities. Additionally, she presented papers and conducted lecture tours on local government, economic development and electoral politics nationally and in European and African countries, as well as, leading economic trade missions to Asian countries.

For the past several decades, Ms. Shackelford has worked tirelessly with the Democratic Party and has been a delegate to every Democratic National Convention since 1980. Her national political experience includes senior positions on presidential campaigns, working on a White House transition team, Co-Chair of the 1988 DNC Convention in Atlanta and

a DNC officer for 20 years.

With wide-ranging institutional knowledge and political experience, Ms. Shackelford remains an invaluable asset to the Democratic Party. During her tenure as DNC Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation, Ms. Shackelford traveled across the country and around the world, sharing the Democratic Party’s message and engaging voters in the political process. She regularly participated in political forums in other countries, including Azerbaijan, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, and observed elections and the electoral process in Romania, the Baltics, West Germany and Taiwan.

Ms. Shackelford has also been an active member, locally and nationally, of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and has received numerous honors and awards with some of the most coveted being a recipient of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Trailblazer Award in 1980 the Mary Church Terrell Award in 1998 at National Convention, The Delta Legacy Award: Women Making a Difference at the 42nd National Convention.

In 1984, she was named one of Esquire Magazines 40 most influential African Americans, inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 1993, Founding member of Arkansas Women’s foundation in 1998, Woman of Distinction 2003, NFBPA awardee in 2007, Jimmie Lou Fisher-Lottie Shackelford Dinner, 2014 to honor women who have worked tirelessly on behalf of key issues that affect women in Arkansas, Greek Legend Honoree in 2015 and a 2016 inductee into the Arkansas Women Hall of Fame.

Ms. Shackelford received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas and was a Senior Fellow at the Arkansas Institute of Politics and a 1983 Fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

She has an extensive record of having served on numerous boards and commissions such as the Board of Directors of Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR, Southern Regional Council, Atlanta, GA, National Conference on Christians and Jews (now Just Communities) and Little Rock Airport Commission. Ms. Shackelford is also a member of many civic and social organizations including the Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc. and The Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas and a member of the First Baptist Church of Little Rock, Ms. Shackelford is a proud mother of three adult children, a son and two daughters, and a devoted grandmother of six. She is a mentor to dozens of young women and men interested in politics and continues to open doors for future generations who want to serve the public.

Dr. Hazell Reed, former dean of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) School of Agriculture, Home Economics and Technology (currently the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences), from 1985 to 1989. Dr. Reed was appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission.

Dr. Reed also held the following positions; UAPB’s vice chancellor for international affairs from 1989 to 1992, Vice Chancellor for research and economic development, and Vice Chancellor for graduate education and research for North Carolina Central University. Dean for the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and Senior Administrator for research and federal relations and for Delaware State University and Extension horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel CaSaundra Harris is a retired Army Combat Veteran achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She has ancestors, who served this country in every U.S. Army Military Campaign beginning with the Civil War.

Currently, a real estate investor in TX and AR and owner of God’s Blessings Manifested, LLC. She is employed with a Department of Defense Agency, as Chief of Mission Support Office, principal advisor to the command group in all areas relating to budget and resource planning, Contingency Operations, organization training and certification, performance management and improvement and agency policy and procedures.

Community Lead for the Delta Revitalization through Innovation, Vision, and Equity (DRIVE) Program, a collaboration between Delta Regional Authority and University of Memphis assisting underserved rural communities build community-centered economic growth; board member for Heart2Heart Connections, a Non-Profit Organization dedicated to improving lives of youth and families in underserved communities through mentoring, education, and advocacy and Great Expectations World Outreach. CaSaundra Harris is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, whose global reach focuses on scholarship, leadership, building Economic Wealth, Civic engagement, environmental stewardship, Social Justice, and Public Service. Other professional affiliations include Society of Military Engineers (SAME) and Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Ms. Harris is a graduate of US Army Command and General Staff College and Combined Arms and Services Staff School, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from Grambling State University, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from LeTourneau University. She is also a certified Education Administrator, Behavioral Specialist and Non-Violent Crisis Prevention Intervention Trainer.

A native of Wilmot, AR, Ms. Harris is an active member of the Inspiring Body of Christ Church where she serves on the Leadership and Hospitality Teams and a Micah’s Fellow, a learning community devoted to nurturing moral leadership around anti-poverty work in Arkansas. She served 7 years as Team-Lead for American Cancer Society Relay for Life and volunteers and supports Habitat for Humanity and Raising the Standards Foundation whose vision is to create and inspire leaders to positively impact the economic, social, and cultural landscape locally and globally.

Dr. Cedric L. Stone, is the Divisional Chairperson for the Division of Business Administration, and Assistant Professor with Philander Smith College. Responsible for developing the first graduate program in Philanders 145-year school ‘s history. A strategic planner and resulted oriented with a strong diverse background in business and education. Over twenty years as a corporate leader delivering year over year growth. Highly regarded as an effective and efficient leader, and consummate team player. An extensive background in process, program, project management, and customer service in various sectors. Responsible for developing a STEM charter school from ideation to conceptualization for at-risk students. He has developed a passion for excelling in all his undertakings along his journey.

Cedric Stone was born in the low-income community of the west end in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a product of the Laurel Homes community, Stone has excelled in his academic endeavors; he has received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing from The Ohio State University, a Master of Business Administration, Management from Miami University, a Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and most recently achieved a Doctor of Management, Project Management from Colorado Technical University. He holds a six-sigma Green Belt for process improvement. Stone has been inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society as well as the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

In addition to his educational accomplishments, Stone has achieved an international educational experience from The Peoples Republic of China. In conjunction with his academic and professional success, Stone also has success as a business entrepreneur. His diverse background has yielded strong abilities to solve problems at an accelerated pace delivering effective solutions. Cedric Stone recently served on the Board of Directors for The 21st Century Harvest Foundation.

Mr. Gregory Modica, is the owner of Government Supply Services (GSS), an online facilities vendor of office, technology, and industrial supplies. GSS is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), a Small Business Administration (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), and a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Modica, the son of a WWII veteran and the youngest of eleven 10 boys 1 girl, is a graduate of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Arkansas program, the International Economic Development Council’s Basic Economic Developers course, and the Arkansas Small Business Administration’s inaugural class of its Emerging Leaders course. He currently serves on the Executive and Advisory Board of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Board of FORGE in Huntsville Arkansas a Certified Development Financial Institution, and served two terms on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Advisory Council. Modica holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Grambling State University where he was also a Military Science Honor Graduate, and a B.S. in Aviation Science (magna cum laude) from Utah Valley University, Modica is U.S. Army lieutenant and licensed private pilot. His motto is “Just do your best and in that you will find honor.” He gives back in the true meaning of GSS (GOD, SERVICE, and SELF).

Mr. LYNN L. HOUSTON, Owner Independent Fee Appraiser, LLC ABOUT. Lynn Houston is a well-known, reputable, licensed Independent Fee Appraiser (IFA) based out of Forrest City, Arkansas. He also is well-known for his outreach community service activities while working for USDA-Rural Development in coverage areas including Lee, Phillips, Monroe, Crittenden, St. Francis, Woodruff, Lonoke & Cross Counties, parts of Pulaski and White Counties.

The community service activities consisted in part with assisting cites and small rural towns in obtaining loans and grants for community development. (Such as Community Centers, Police and Fire Department Equipment, Water & Sewer System Development, etc.)

Lynn enjoyed his earlier career working for the USDA Rural Development, starting as an Assistant County Supervisor, advancing numerous times, and retiring as Area Director. He quickly transitioned to his passion of becoming an IFA, sole proprietor, one person business operation. Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Economics, Minor in Mathematics along with numerous other certifications and seminar/webinar attendance in his field