Board Members
Trent Legare
Board Member
Trent is a Director of Community Care at Atrium Health, where he increases access to clinical care for underserved communities. Previously, as Assistant Vice President of Community Health and Wellness, he spearheaded wellness initiatives and strategic healthcare alliances. Trent began his career consulting at KPMG and AlphaHealth. Holding an MHA from the University of South Carolina and a BA from UNC–Chapel Hill, he is committed to innovative healthcare solutions and community wellness.
Ni-Eric Perkins
Chairman
Ni-Eric serves as Director of the Carolina College Advising Corps at the University of North Carolina. An industry expert in higher education, including admissions and college access, Ni-Eric holds an MS from the University of Tennessee and a BA from UNC–Chapel Hill. Committed to student success and program excellence, Ni-Eric is a key figure in shaping academic journeys.
Julio PenaSoto
Treasurer
Jack is a Senior Control Officer at Wells Fargo with over twenty years of experience in financial services, specializing in regulatory compliance and community relations. At Wells Fargo and KPMG, he honed his expertise in consumer compliance and lending reviews. His strategic leadership at Freddie Mac and Bank of America underscored his commitment to underserved markets and minority lending. Jack holds an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte and a BA in Economics from UNC–Chapel Hill.
Bryant Foriest
Board Member
Bryant is the visionary Owner of Ellie Mental Health in Winston-Salem and the CEO of Excalibur Consulting, LLC. With a focus on mental health access and value-based healthcare programs, he drives transformative care models. Bryant is highly skilled in sales strategy and financial analysis and deeply invested in advancing healthcare management and delivery. He holds an MHA from Winston Salem State University and a BA in Economics from UNC–Chapel Hill.
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Scottie Torain
Board Member
Scottie currently enhances Duke University's Medical Center as an Administrative Professional, focusing on Precision Medicine and Addiction Medicine research. Simultaneously, he has led Miles Chapel Baptist Church as the Senior Pastor since 2014. His leadership journey includes roles as COO of Eagle's Eye Officiating and Director of Facilities at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Scottie is pursuing a Doctor of Arts in Christian Education Leadership at Regent University. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Shaw University and a BA from Apex School of Theology.
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Travis Melvin
Board Member
Travis serves as the Director of Finance at Trust Neighborhoods after having spent previous years in investment banking at Wells Fargo and Trammell Crow Company. Travis holds an MS in Management from Stanford's Graduate School of Business and a BS in Business Administration and Economics from UNC–Chapel Hill. He is recognized for his strategic financial insights and his passion for driving sustainable urban growth.
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Draper Brown
Secretary
Draper is a Manager at EY, specializing in strategic transformation consulting. He guides major banks through complex platform implementations and process enhancements, driving significant business improvements. As a former Innovation and Design Facilitator, Draper leads design thinking workshops, fostering creative solutions for industry leaders. He holds a BA in Economics from UNC–Chapel Hill.
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Jordan Akalaonu
Board Member
Jordan is a seasoned management consultant and a former US Army officer with extensive experience in strategic planning, project management, and leadership development. He has driven impactful changes in banking and financial services, and holds an MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville and a BA in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from UNC–Chapel Hill.
Rodney Anderson
Program Chairman
Rodney is a Manager at Bain & Company and a US Army veteran. As a Bain consultant, he combines his military leadership skills and business acumen to advise senior executives in addressing critical issues of strategy, operations, acquisitions, and organizational structure. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in International Studies from UNC–Chapel Hill.
Scott Heath
Vice Chairman
Scott is a visiting professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where he specializes in African American literature and Black public culture. He has previously taught lectures and seminars on Black writing, music, and film at Georgetown University, Georgia State University, and Loyola University New Orleans. He is a former Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. An expert in the field of Black cultural theory, he earned his PhD in English Language & Literature at the University of Michigan and his BA in English and Afro-American Studies as a Morehead-Cain Scholar at UNC–Chapel Hill.