Meet Our Board
Douglas D. Kelley is President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship. He is Vice President of Sales for Courier Communications, which includes WNOV Radio and the Milwaukee Courier newspaper. He has 19 years’ experience in the real estate industry and is currently a Consultant with EXP Realty. Douglas holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University with a major in Finance. He was the President of the Marquette University Alumni Association and has been a long-time member of Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church
Douglas D. Kelley
President
Robert Lamb is a Vice President, Business Banking, at U.S. Bank. He has served on many boards and is proud to be a board member and the Treasurer for CTE.
Robert Lamb
Treasurer
James Kirk is currently Director of Operations with Cave Enterprises and has 17 years of hospitality industry experience. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Phoenix. He is also Secretary for the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship board of directors and has been a participate in different programs since the age of ten.
James Kirk
Secretary
Robert E. Birney has been affiliated with the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship (CTE) as a professor of marketing at Alverno College where his students served as interns and project managers at CTE. He is Vice President of the CTE board and Professor Emeritus at Alverno College.
Robert E. Birney
Executive Director
Mary Hoehne spent 25 years in sales, public relations, and marketing. She formed the Granville Business Improvement District and serves as the Executive Director. Mary completed a Master’s degree in non-profit leadership at UWM and a second Master’s in life coaching.
Mary Hoehne
Charles D. Collier graduated from Rufus King High School and the University of Wisconsin Law School. His law practice is in Milwaukee. He resides in his childhood home in the Rufus King High School neighborhood.
Charles D. Collier
Talisa Smith serves as the public relations and marketing committee chair on the CTE board. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) in communication and criminal justice. She holds a Master’s degree from DePaul University and is pursuing her doctorate in the same program: Educational Leadership. Talisa is an academic advisor and instructor at UWM. She has worked and taught in the Milwaukee Public School District. Talisa is a Rufus King alumna.
Talisa Smith
Armen Hadjinian is Department Chair of Entrepreneurship and Individualized Technical Studies at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). He started the MATC Entrepreneurship Center and is the author of three books on entrepreneurship. Armen also created and managed two businesses. He is proud of being a founder and member of the Cream City Basketball Association which inspires entrepreneurial skills for youth through sports. He completed both his BA degree in business and MBA at Marquette University. Armen serves as a board member of the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Armen Hadjinian
Nkozi Knight is the Assistant Director of Treasury, at Northwestern Mutual and has spent 20 years in finance, investment, and real estate during his career. He is a proud graduate of Marquette University and currently serves on the board of MUAA National Board of Directors and as the Chair for Marquette University’s Black Alumni Association. Nkozi holds several leadership certifications from McKinsey & Company and is a registered Principal (7, 24) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He is also pursuing an MBA at the University of Wisconsin in Finance with a concentration in Global Management.
Nkozi Knight
Sheena M. Carey, M.A., serves as internship director and lecturer in communication studies for the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University, is a consultant in the areas of intercultural communication, cultural sensitivity and workforce diversity, small group dynamics, and teambuilding. She has worked in creative collaboration with Coyaba Dance Theater in Washington, DC. and the Ko-Thi Dance Company in Milwaukee, WI. She wrote narrative poetry and performed spoken word for the dance productions. She is a graduate of Marquette University's Master of Arts program in Speech Communication and completed post-graduate coursework in Rhetorical criticism, Literary theory, and Africana Philosophy.
Sheena Carey, M.A
Ryan Gray is a native of Milwaukee. At age 12 he both started as a participant in the programs at the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship and became one of the youngest successful entrepreneurs in the Midwest. He was inspired by the mentorship and guidance of the center’s founder and executive director, ReDonna Rodgers. He is dedicated to working with youth to develop their work ethic, goal setting, spiritual connection and educational opportunities. Ryan recruits, guides and manages the development of new talent at Quad, a major global marketing and management services company. He earned his BA degree in marketing from the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. Ryan serves as a member of the board of directors for the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurs.
Ryan Gray
Jerry Johnson, Vice President, Community Manager, Chase Bank. He is a local ambassador for Chase building and nurturing relationships with key community leaders, nonprofit partners and small businesses. At Chase he is a member of the Black Organizational Leadership Development Business Resource Group and the Diversity and Inclusion Council. Jerry lives in Milwaukee and earned his MBA at the University of Phoenix.
Jerry Johnson
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Diana Barnett is President and CEO of Infinity Consulting & Training Essentials. Some of her certifications include human rights, diplomacy, coaching, business consulting and diversity, equity and inclusion. Her work and programs have been presented at University of Phoenix, Waukesha County Technical College and Concordia University. She previously served at Molson Coors as the manager of supply chain logistics, controls and compliance. Her MBA in marketing was completed at Concordia University. Diana serves as a member of the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship Board of Directors.