Welcome to Think Black! 2010

Event Purpose

The W.S.A.C.F presents Think Black! This marquee event raises funds to support and develop programs that address the plight of young African-American and Latino men in the New York City area. There are significant issues that disproportionately affect African-American and Latino young men in our City. For example, there are high incidence of imprisonment and attrition from high school, decreased reading aptitude, and the high rates of STD infections, specifically HIV/AIDS. It is the long-standing belief that education is the key to changing the mentality of our youth. The Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation, through the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. (Gaining Essential Networking Tools for Success) mentoring program, provides these young men with extraordinary life changing experiences through a myriad of educational programs, college trips and life long mentoring.

Through events like Think Black! and the support of sponsors, the W.S.A.C.F will provide resources and solutions to build intellectual and social equity among the underrepresented youth in impoverished communities. These resources are vital if we are to have a positive impact on the lives of our youth.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Faculty House
Columbia University
64 Morningside Drive
New York, New York 10027

Honoree Presentations

Susan Chapman

Racquel Oden


Hosts

Shannon Antonio Lanier

Chavonne Renee Shaw


Hors D'œuvres

Cocktails

Dancing

More Info

Honorees

Susan Chapman

Global Chief Administrative Officer

Citi Realty Services (CRS), a division of Citigroup, Inc.

Susan E. Chapman currently serves as Global Chief Administrative Officer for Citi Realty Services (CRS), a division of Citigroup, Inc. Ms. Chapman oversees Global Program Management, Global Lease Administration, Real Estate and Lease Administration, Energy Strategies, Management Information Systems and Procurement. Additionally, she co-leads the corporation's real estate strategy around Citi's $50 billion commitment to climate change. As part of this effort, Citi became the first company to have over 100 LEED certified buildings certified through the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Prior to joining Citi, Ms. Chapman has also held various roles in real estate investment banking, land use, economic and development consulting and planning. In addition to her professional assignments, over the years, Ms. Chapman has spent a significant amount of time volunteering with non-profit community development organizations across the United States. She remains an active mentor to young people in her community.

She serves on the boards of the Executive Leadership Foundation, The Brotherhood SisterSol, Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), The Global Syndicate and the NYU SCHACK Institute of Real Estate Advisory Board. She has also served on the Dean's Advisory Board at the University of Wisconsin, School of Business. She is a member The Urban Land Institute, The Executive Leadership Council, and the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association.

Ms. Chapman has received numerous awards for her achievements including being named "2008 Woman of Distinction" by the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York and the 2007 Distinguished Young Alumni by the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association. Additionally, Ms. Chapman has been a featured speaker for several organizations including Commercial Real Estate Women, The Harvard Business School Club New York and the Executive Leadership Council and Foundation's Mid-Level Manager's Forums. She has also lectured for the MIT, Sloan School of Business Fellows Program.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Chapman also holds a Master of Regional Planning from The University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Racquel Oden

Managing Director

Head Of Global Product Strategy & Business Development

Bank Of America / Merrill Lynch

In February 2010, Racquel Oden joined Bank of America / Merrill Lynch as the Head of Global Product Strategy & Business Development where she is tasked with overseeing Merrill's new business development supporting all channels within Global Investment Products (GIS), Global Wealth & Investment Management, and Bank of America. She will also oversee 3rd party product relationships across GIS.

Prior to joining Bank of America / Merrill Lynch Racquel spent over 10 years at UBS working in various senior capacities. In April 2008, she was appointed Managing Director, Head of Product & Services Internal Sales where she managed the sales force responsible for driving the Firms core Wealth Management product offerings to the internal network of over 7,500 UBS Financial Advisors. Her internal sales teams were responsible for driving revenue for Alternative Investments, Investment Solutions (Fee Based Brokerage), Financial Planning, Retirements, Insurance & Banking Products. Combined, these products represent over $4 billion in annualized revenue. Additionally, Racquel developed a product sales segmentation model for top performing Financial Advisors to drive key client profitability.

Prior to that role, Racquel was appointed Managing Director of Client Experience for Banking Products where she defined and delivered the Client Experience strategy that drove the usage of all banking products which included Lending, Mortgages, Credit Cards and its Cash Management products. These efforts resulted in over a 30% increase in product penetration.

Previously, Racquel was focused on UBS' acquisition strategy as the Head of Acquisition Integration. In this capacity she functioned as the project leader on the firms acquisition deals which included two Wealth Management firms in one year. As part of her responsibilities she led firm wide cross functional teams, comprised of over 200 people. The success of these acquisitions resulted in a $90 billion increase in combined client assets for the firm.

Before assuming this role, Racquel was the Senior Vice President of Clients Services for UBS, where she managed over 300 employees who were responsible for delivering world class service to all UBS Clients and Financial Advisors. In this role she executed on the segmentation strategy of service delivery by redefining the experience for the Ultra High Net Worth and the Emerging Affluent Clients. Her efforts resulted in a better experience for the clients and improved efficiency & profitability for the firm.

After a number of successes, she was appointed Chief of Staff for the President of UBS. In that role she oversaw the daily operations of the President's Office, management of the firms key strategic initiatives including P&L responsibilities, oversight of the firms diversity and philanthropic giving and also managed all internal and external communications.

She began her career at UBS in 1999 as an Assistant Vice President in the Marketing Technology department where she managed platform development for both the consumer and financial advisor websites. Before joining UBS, she worked at Morgan Stanley, where she was recruited after completing her MBA.

Racquel serves on the Board of Directors for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, where she is Co-Chair of the Strategic Implementation Committee; Executive Board Member and Treasurer for the National Visionary Leadership Project (NVLP); Former Executive Chair of UBS' Asian, Black and Hispanic Employee Network; Steering Committee member for UBS' Women's Network where she is the Chair of the Annual Women's Leadership Conference for 400+ UBS Women; Member of Executive Leadership Council(ELC); Member of the Financial Women's Association (FWA); Member of New York Women's Agenda (NYWA); Member of Jack and Jill of America; Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

In 2006, Oden received the Rising Star Award from NYWA, in 2008 Racquel was named Top 100 under 50 by Diversity MBA Magazine & Top 100 Black Executives by SAVOY Magazine. In 2009 she was inducted as a member of the YWCA NY Salute to Women and 2010 she will receive the award for United Way's Women of Philanthropy.

Racquel holds a BA in Political Science from James Madison University and an MBA from Hampton University

Racquel is married with a daughter and they reside on the North Shore of Long Island, New York.

Hosts

Shannon Antonio Lanier

TV News Reporter

Fios 1 News NYC

Shannon Antonio Lanier is a spiritually grounded, energetic, and inspiring young man. He's dedicated his life to not only making a positive and impactful difference in the lives of his family members, but he strives to do the same for everyone he meets.

As a nationally syndicated TV reporter and co-author of the Random House Inc. book, "Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family," and 9th generation descendant of President, Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings, Lanier has spent many years giving keynote speeches and presentations on multiculturalism and race relations. Although his most recent topics have focused on the Jefferson family, what Lanier enjoys most are empowering people to step out of faith to make a difference in their life and the lives of others.

Regardless if he's speaking about creating a new outlook on life, growing through your pain, or secrets to concurring goals, Lanier brings a fun, relatable, and relevant message that's perfect for all ages and races. As a Black male living the Christian life, this Cincinnati native, loves sharing experiences and techniques to walking with God while surviving the 21st Century.

As a former producer for New York's CBS Morning Show, and now: a TV news Reporter for Fios 1 News, a correspondent and producer for Black Enterprise Magazine's nationally syndicated television programs, real estate Investor, and Production Company Owner (L&P Productions), Lanier knows all too well the troubles, challenges, and reality of our society. Still, Lanier finds a was to maintain a positive, refreshing and motivating outlook on life and his half full cup.

"One of my favorite quotes is, Each One-Reach One-Teach The World!" That motto along with, "Too Blessed To Be Stressed" is what Lanier says helps him make it through his day-to-day challenges. No matter what happens, he says you can always learn something from your experience and that situation is never really that bad compared to all the Blessings you have.

The Kent State University grad, counts his blessings for his wife of five years, Chandra. They both attend St. Luke AME Church in Harlem, New York and are involved in various ministries, like The Mime Team, Drama Ministry and Gospel Choir. Despite his busy speaking, church, and work schedule, Lanier still finds time to be a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated; Wall Street Chapter, International Radio & Television Society, and The National Association of Black Journalist.

Most importantly, Lanier will find time to share his message with you!

Chavonne Renee Shaw

Regional Sales/Marketing Representative

Brinco Mechanical Services, Inc.

Chavonne Renee Shaw was born and raised in Hollis Queens. The 28 -year old City University of York College graduate currently holds the position of Eastern Regional Sales Representative at a National HVAC/R Management Company located in Freeport, LI.

On the East Coast, Chavonne is the face of Brinco Mechanical and represents the company's interests, as well as securing and establishing new lucrative business accounts and associates for a rising company that grossed $35 million last year. Her position is crucial to the future and overall financial wellness of one of the country's leading HVAC companies. She has worked for Brinco Mechanical Services, Inc. for 6 years. Her work ethic, dedication, enthusiasm, and reputation as a social butterfly caught the eye of upper management who promoted her to the Sales Department 2 years ago.

Her business savvy is complemented by a background in modeling and acting. Chavonne was the TV host of the award-winning public access show L.Y.F.E. S.U.X., [Loving Youth First Everyday through Substance, Understanding and Excellence] where she built a local reputation as an energetic and captivating TV personality, interviewing celebrities and entertainment moguls from Gayle King, Editor-In-chief of "Oprah" The Magazine to actors Vivica Fox, and music kingpin P.Diddy. The TV show's objective was to promote positive music and images to youth ages 8 to 18 and deter them from drugs, violence, teenage pregnancy and illiteracy .

She has also ripped the runway for numerous clothing lines: Mecca Femme, Indigo Red, Ecco Red and FUBU. Chavonne has acted in several critically acclaimed independent films such as "Cash Rules" and "The Session", and in her "spare" time she has appeared in videos for several well-known artists including a group on Jay-Z's defunct Rocafella label.

In addition, Chavonne is building a stellar reputation in New York as a reliable and highly competent event planner, party host and PR person.

Chavonne credits her close-knit family with providing her the drive and encouragement to pursue her dreams, as well as the awareness to want to immerse herself in projects of social redeeming value. Her unwavering commitment to excellence comes from her mother, who raised Chavonne and her two siblings as a single -parent.

Chavonne's biggest asset is her positive attitude. She wears a permanent smile, and is known for her "live, love and learn" mentality. Her spontaneity and vivaciousness allows her to make friends quickly and adjust to the most adverse circumstances.