Board of Directors

Erika Irish Brown

Vice Chairperson

Erika Irish Brown is the Enterprise Diversity Recruiting and Program Management Executive. In this role she is responsible for enhancing Bank of America’s employment brand in diverse communities, recruiting diverse executives at the Band 1-3 levels and developing and retaining diverse executives throughout the Enterprise. Erika’s background includes over 15 years of investment banking and capital markets experience in both the public and private sectors at organizations including Morgan Stanley, the U.S. Treasury and Lehman Brothers. Prior to Joining Bank of America in December 2009, Erika served as Senior Vice President and Head of Diversity Lateral Recruiting at Lehman Brothers where she established a strategic, diversity branding, coaching, recruiting and retention initiative for experienced hires firm-wide.

Erika received her MBA from Columbia Business School and holds a BS in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany. She is currently Vice-Chairperson and Director of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the Nation’s first community development corporation and served on the Obama-Biden Treasury Transition Team. Erika resides in Teaneck, NJ with her husband Frank and their 3 sons Frank III, Evan and Bradford.

Marisha L. Clinton, CPA

Board Member
Consultant, Former Director of Equity Research, Oppenheimer Funds

Kevin Chavers

Treasurer
Mr. Chavers is a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2003. Mr. Chavers leads strategy, execution and banking for Residential Mortgage Principal Finance within the Securitized Products Group. He has been responsible for the firm’s residential mortgage franchise’s strategic acquisitions activity, and the acquisition and disposition of bulk residential mortgage portfolios. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he was a Vice President in the Principal Finance Group of the Mortgage Securities Department at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Over his 20-year career, Mr. Chavers has been involved in an array of residential mortgage capital markets activities, ranging from structuring, negotiating and executing portfolio acquisitions, dispositions and securitizations to company acquisitions. Mr. Chavers began his career in the corporate real estate group at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley, and McCloy, in New York. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School (1987) and received a Bachelors in City Planning from the University Of Virginia School Of Architecture (1984). He resides in Bronxville, New York with his wife, Ginger, and daughter, Cameron.

Brian Cosgrove

Board Member
Retired Senior Director of Community Relations and Corporate Communications, Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC). Retired from the New York City Police Department after a 19-year career, Cosgrove joined SIAC as a security officer in 1987. As a New York City detective involved in utilizing the neighborhood policing concept, Cosgrove learned the importance of creating a relationship of trust and mutual respect with the community around him. At SIAC, Cosgrove applied that knowledge when SIAC began planning its move from Wall Street to Downtown Brooklyn. Cosgrove began reaching out to the Brooklyn community, building relationships with community leaders, civic groups and the local schools as part of his security work. He launched the first of many volunteer initiatives in 1990 when SIAC completed its move. In 1993, in recognition of the value and success of his programs, SIAC's CEO asked Cosgrove to create and head the SIAC Community Relations department. A few years later, Cosgrove was asked to assume responsibility for Corporate Communications. Cosgrove also aids numerous educational, community, governmental and non-profit organizations by serving as a board member and advisor. In addition, the community relations programs he oversaw have won numerous awards, including the IBM K-12 Community Leadership Award, the New York State School to Work Award, and the CIO 100 Award. Mr. Cosgrove is currently working as an Educational Technology consultant for the Brooklyn Technical High School Alumni Foundation.

Sherman Edmiston III

Board Member
Managing Director, Zolfo Cooper

Ben Esner

Vice Chairperson & Secretary
Ben Esner, Senior Vice President for Programs, sets the programmatic direction and strategies for the Brooklyn Community Foundation. Ben was formerly the Deputy Director of Independence Community Foundation, where he was responsible for program portfolios in workforce development and early childhood education as well as the Foundation's financial administration and technology development. He currently serves on several nonprofit Boards of Directors focused on education and community development. A lifelong Brooklynite and graduate of the University of Michigan, Ben and his wife, Janine, are raising their two daughters in Brooklyn.

Benjamin A. Glascoe

Board Member
Benjamin Glascoe has extensive experience in public and community affairs as well as in economic development. He worked for the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC), the nation’s first Community Development Corporation, established in 1967. During its early formative years, from 1968-1981, Mr. Glascoe held several leadership posts including Assistant to the first president, Franklin Thomas, Director of Community Programs, and Manager of the RDC Commercial Center. In 1981 he joined the Con Edison team as manager of Public Affairs, where he coordinated media relations, advertising, events and political action for the company in Brooklyn. From March of 1985 to June of 1988, Mr. Glascoe was the manager of Economic Development at Con Edison and worked to coordinate the company’s business development efforts. He retired as Director of Manhattan Public Affairs at Con Edison, a position which he held since July of 1988. During his retirement, Mr. Glascoe remains active on several boards: the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation; the East Harlem Council for Community Improvement; the Transfiguration Education Association; the Trey Whitfield Foundation and the Trey Whitfield School Board.

Colvin W. Grannum, Esq.

President & Chief Executive Officer
Colvin W. Grannum has served as president of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (“Restoration”) since March 2001. Restoration, the nation’s first community development corporation, was founded by community leaders and U.S. Senators Robert Kennedy and Jacob Javits in 1967. Restoration owns operates a 300,000 square foot commercial and cultural center, and provides programs and services in the areas of affordable housing, arts and education, commercial revitalization, youth and workforce development, and weatherization. Before embarking on his career in community development, Colvin practiced law for over 17 years in the public and private sectors. Colvin earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He serves on numerous boards, advisory committees and commissions dedicated to improving the quality of life for the residents of Central Brooklyn, in particular, and the borough of Brooklyn at large.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Esq.

Board Member
Mr. Kennedy has worked on environmental issues across the Americas. He has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. Mr. Kennedy has published several books, including The Riverkeepers (1997) with John Cronin. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, The Village Voice, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Pace Environmental Law Review, and other publications.
Mr. Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. He also received a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from Pace University. He is a licensed master falconer, and as often as possible he pursues a life-long enthusiasm for white-water paddling. He has organized and led several expeditions to Latin America, including first descents on three little known rivers in Peru, Columbia, and Venezuela.

Depelsha Thomas McGruder

Board Member
Senior Vice President, Business Operations, Centric, BET Networks

Depelsha McGruder is Senior Vice President of Business Operations for CENTRIC at BET Networks/Viacom. In her role at CENTRIC, McGruder spearheads the operating plan that supports the network’s strategic and financial goals as well as the business model. She also serves as the primary point person on all day-to-day CENTRIC operational issues, including Legal, Human Resources, Finance and Accounting. In addition, McGruder is responsible for developing, negotiating and structuring new business partnerships that grow CENTRIC’s brand and business as well as managing CENTRIC’s digital efforts (centrictv.com). Before joining MTV in 2000, McGruder was a Senior Consultant in Accenture's Media & Entertainment Strategy practice. There, she advised top tier media & entertainment, telecommunications and high-tech companies on their strategies and business processes. Prior to her consulting work, McGruder was a local TV news anchor, reporter and producer at WMAZ-TV in Macon, GA and WFXL-TV in Albany, GA. McGruder graduated first in her class with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a member of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications, Women in Cable Telecommunications, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and The Links, Inc. McGruder resides in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with her husband and son.

Lesia Bates Moss

Board Member
Lesia (Lisa) Bates Moss’ multifaceted career spans the private and public sectors. She has worked for top US companies such as Fannie Mae, Moody’s Investors Service and JPMorgan Chase (formerly Chemical Banking Corporation) and various City and State government agencies in New York. More than half of Lesia’s career has been spent on Wall Street in fixed income and credit research, risk management and business development. Lesia was named President of Seedco Financial Services, a private, non-profit national Community Development Financial Institution that provides loan financing and technical assistance services to small businesses, nonprofit organizations and real estate developers to stimulate local community economic development in its target markets. Headquartered in New York City, Seedco Financial conducts business in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, New York and Tennessee, and has more than $200 million in assets under management. Seedco Financial Services, Inc., is a wholly-controlled subsidiary of Seedco (Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation), a national intermediary that facilitates the delivery of employment and related services to low income individuals in low-income and underserved communities throughout the country.Lesia graduated from the University of Virginia receiving her Bachelor of Arts in American Government and holds a Masters in Real Estate Investment Analysis from New York University

David G. Offensend

Vice Chairperson
David G. Offensend is the Chief Operating Officer of The New York Public Library. Before joining NYPL, Dave spent nine years at Evercore Partners Inc., a private equity and investment banking firm he co-founded in 1995. Evercore operates in four lines of business with approximately $1.3 billion of capital under management. Prior to founding Evercore, Mr. Offensend spent five years in the investment organization of Robert M. Bass, the Texas investor. Based in New York, Mr. Offensend was responsible for the leveraged acquisitions portfolio of Acadia Partners, L.P., and a $1.8 billion investment partnership. Prior to joining the Bass organization in 1990, he spent thirteen years at Lehman Brothers, where he was responsible for founding building that firm’s merchant banking operations. While there he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the $1.3 billion Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Partnership. Mr. Offensend received a B.A., magna cum laude, in public and international affairs from Princeton University in 1975 and an M.B.A., with high distinction, from the Harvard Business School in 1977, where he as a Baker Scholar.

Glenn Edward Sharpe

Board Member
Glenn Edward Sharpe retired in 2007 as a senior managing investment officer of Citigroup, Inc. private equity business and joined IQ Venture Advisors. As a senior member of Citigroup, Inc., Mr. Sharpe managed domestic and international corporate finance businesses. For the last ten years, he led the Citigroup Community Development private equity-investing unit. In the role of senior investment officer, he oversaw the investment in both non-real estate and real estate private equity funds. Mr. Sharpe is a recognized authority on investing in Small Business Investment Companies and in investing in private equity to meet goals of SMW’s. He was also an investment officer for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Portfolio. In this capacity, he managed two of the largest relationships of Citigroup. For seven years he was involved the Structured Trade Finance Business Globally for Citigroup. For 5 years, he managed the Latin American business. Mr. Sharpe continues to have contacts across the region and maintains a residence in Lima Peru. During his tenure, he developed extensive Board experience by maintaining memberships on 23 Limited Partnerships Boards representing the interests of Citigroup. Mr. Sharpe is a graduate of Howard University in Washington D.C. with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business with a Master of Business Administration degree, majoring in Finance.

Timothy L. Simons

Board Member

Timothy L. Simons Biography

Timothy L. Simons is the Vice President and Senior Compliance Officer of the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Unit of a leading wholesale bank. Mr. Simons has an established network with local lenders around the country and works with Congress and state and local legislators to ensure the continued viability of the mortgage lending industry. In this capacity, Mr. Simons had Congress provide guidance to bank regulatory agencies in an area that saved the bank nearly $500M in potential loss business from banking and savings & loans institutions. Mr. Simons is also credited with establishing a best in class government relations ethics policy for
the institution, along with training and monitoring program for the federally registered lobbyist employed by the bank.

In addition to his legislative and regulatory network, Mr. Simons has an extensive background in financial and operational compliance. While at KPMG Consulting (BearingPoint), Mr. Simons was responsible in the audit of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for assessing the collection and processing of the mortgage insurance premiums, as well as the evaluation of property management procedures. In addition to the FHA audit, Mr. Simons led MBS investor reconciliation and analysis consulting engagements at GE Capital and Ocwen Federal Savings Bank that resulted in the establishment of new investor accounting procedures. Mr. Simons
was also a member of an elite Cable & Wireless, PLC board established team that transitioned monopolistic business units in the Caribbean and Latin America into successfully competitive business units operating in a global environment.

After completing his assignment in the Caribbean and Latin America, Mr. Simons worked as an Associate at two socially responsible venture capital funds in the Washington DC area. Mr. Simons lead the investment efforts for Calvert Funds that resulted in the establishment of CityFirst Bank, the largest Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the Washington DC Area. Today that lender is known for providing commercial mortgages and small business loans in lower income areas throughout the District of Columbia.

Mr. Simons has an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland College Park and he received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Hampton University. Mr. Simons is a native of Brooklyn, New York and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Brooklyn Historical Society, Weeksville Heritage Center, and the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

Joseph J. Sitt

Board Member
Joseph J. Sitt is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Thor Equities—a forward-thinking national real estate development and redevelopment company that specializes in value-added investments in shopping centers, malls and mixed-use urban developments in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. He serves as Chairman and Managing Principal of the Thor Urban Property Funds whose investors include pension funds, investment banks, college endowments, and foundations. Formerly, Mr. Sitt founded the women’s clothing retailer Ashley Stewart and quickly grew the company to over 380 stores in more than 100 cities, prompting many national retailers to pay attention to the inner city market. He is also frequent guest lecturer at colleges around New York City including Columbia, NYU, and Baruch College and is an active board member in various non-profits including The Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and King’s Highway BID and has been honored by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) for his commitment to fostering healthy competitive business conditions and new opportunities in inner city neighborhoods.

Joseph G. Sponholz

Board Member
Joseph G. Sponholz has had over three decades of experience in banking and financial services. He retired from Chase Manhattan Bank at mid-year 2000 where he was a Vice Chairman and a member of the Executive Committee. In 2001, he joined a Venture Capital firm as a General Partner; he is currently a private investor. His Boards are: Hudson City Bancorp (Paramus, NJ), Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, and the Occupational and Industrial Orthopedic Center of NYU/Mount Sinai Health. Other career assignments: Citigroup 1970-74; Partner, Booz Allen and Hamilton, 1974-81; Chemical Bank 1981-91: Strategic Planning executive, Chief Technology Officer, and, Chief Financial Officer. He led the Merger Office for the landmark combinations with Manufacturer’s Hanover and Chase Manhattan Banks as Chief Administrative Officer. His MBA (Finance) is from New York University; his BA is from Fordham University. He served his country as a US Army Intelligence Officer. He and his wife Nancy live in Manhattan.

Kevin Stein

Board Member
Kevin Stein is a Managing Director in the Financial Institutions Group of FBR Capital Markets. Mr. Stein is involved in raising capital for regulated and nonregulated financial institutions and specialty finance companies; advising companies on mergers and acquisitions, and providing financial advisory services to business organizations. Prior to joining FBR in October 2004, Mr. Stein held various senior management positions at GreenPoint Financial Corp., a $25 billion asset bank based in New York City. During his tenure at GreenPoint, Mr. Stein's roles included Director of Corporate Development, Executive Vice President of Mortgage Banking, Director of eCommerce, Chief Information Officer and Division Director of Retail Banking. He led the acquisition and integration of GreenPoint’s servicing platform, the $600 million acquisition of the New York branches from Home Savings of America, and the integration of two large wholesale mortgage banking platforms. As Retail Bank Division Director, Mr. Stein was responsible for 30 branches representing $4 billion in deposits. Prior to joining GreenPoint in 1994, Mr. Stein was Associate Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation where he was responsible for the FSLIC Resolution Fund and the oversight and privatization of CrossLand Savings Bank. Prior to the FDIC, Mr. Stein was an Investment Banker at Dean Witter and Prudential Securities. He received his B.S. from Syracuse University and M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.

Hon. William C. Thompson, Sr.

Board Member
Honorable William Thompson is a graduate of Brooklyn College and Brooklyn Law School. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1965, and served until 1968. He was chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Child Care Needs, and over twenty-five bills were signed into law sponsored by him. Justice Thompson served on the New York City Council from 1969 to 1973. He was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court in 1974. In November 1974 he was designated an associate Justice of the Appellate Term, 2nd and 11th Districts (Kings, Richmond and Queens Counties). On January 18, 1978, he was appointed Assistant Administrative Judge in charge of the Supreme Court for Brooklyn and Staten Island. On December 8th, 1980, he was designated by Governor Carey an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department. As an Appellate Division Judge for over twenty years he has analyzed over 24,000 cases, encompassing all types of litigation. He retired January 1, 2001, serves as council to the firm of Ross and Hill and as a mediator.

Kira P. Watson, Esq.

Board Member
Ms. Watson is a member of Bryan Cave’s Commercial Litigation; Corporate Compliance and Defense; and Securities Enforcement and Compliance Client Service Groups. Her practice focuses on a variety of matters including complex commercial litigations, criminal trials and internal investigations. She has broad experience in all aspects of civil litigation and criminal proceedings in state and federal courts, from inception through trial and appeal. Ms. Watson has tried cases involving charges of breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, grand larceny and conspiracy. Recently, she was a member of the trial team that defended former Tyco CEO L. Dennis Kozlowski. Ms. Watson also has conducted internal investigations on behalf of public and private companies on issues including revenue recognition, related-party transactions and compliance with various federal, state and local laws and regulations. Ms. Watson is a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee and is chair of the New York office Recruiting Committee.

Peter M. Williams

Board Member
Legislative Assistant, Office of U.S. Congressman Edolphus Towns

Albert C. Wiltshire

Board Member
As the Chief of Staff for United States Congressman Ed Towns, Mr. Wiltshire is the chief policy advisor, who is responsible for developing and implementing all policy objectives, strategies and operating plans for the Congressman's offices. He manages and directs all activities and staff of the Washington, D.C. and district offices, as well as coordinates the activities of the Congressman with Leadership and committee office(s). In addition, he oversees the office budget, and approves recommendations on positions taken by the Legislative Director and Legislative Assistants. Having earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Masters degree in Public Administration, and having completed a Senior Managers Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Mr. Wiltshire continues to serve as role model and mentor to New York City youth. His drive to improve the quality of life by forging new venues for minority youth to operate echoes his commitment to diversity, environmental justice, and professional ethics.

Wayne C. Winborne

Chairman
Wayne Winborne is a Principal with The Winborne Group, a consulting concern focusing on non-profit fund development, strategic planning, and management, corporate diversity, marketing, and program design and facilitation. Prior to this, he was Vice-President, Business Diversity Outreach at Prudential Financial. He has also been Director of Program and Policy Research at The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), Program Officer at the Ford Foundation, Senior Research Coordinator at the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, and an adjunct lecturer in psychology and research methods at New York University and the City University of New York’s Baruch and Medgar Evers Colleges.

He has been honored by the Feminist Press with its 2006 Crossing Borders award, the Brooklyn Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., with its 2007 Man of Distinction award, the Asian American Federation of NY with its 2008 Spirit of Asian America award, by FraserNet with its 2009 Corporate Professional of the Year award, and by the National Council for Research on Women with its 2010 Diversity Champion Award. Winborne holds degrees from Stanford and New York University.

Lester W. Young, Jr., Ed.D

Board Member
Lester W. Young, Jr. has made creating school atmospheres where every student can be successful the guiding principle of his more than 35 year career. Dr. Young is currently a Professor of Human Development and Leadership, Long Island University, Graduate School of Education. In March of 2008, Dr. Young was confirmed and appointed by the New York State Legislature as Regent At Large, The State University of New York.

Dr. Young serves on the boards of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Independence Community Foundation and Billie Holiday Theatre. During his career, Dr. Young has been recognized by many local, national education, and civic education organizations for his professional contributions. In February 2007 Dr. Young received the Humanitarian Award from the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican and Asian Legislators, Inc. Dr. Young is profiled in Men of Courage II, documenting the lives and achievement of 27 African American Men. He is also a contributing writer to Child by Child: The Comer Process for Change in Education, 1999. Dr. Young is married to Dr. Renee Young and they are the proud parents of one son, Lester III.

Antonia Yuille-Williams

First Vice Chairperson
Antonia Yuille Williams is the director of Public Affairs, Brooklyn/Queens Customer Service of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. In this capacity she develops the strategic direction for the Brooklyn Public Affairs department, of one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies. Her responsibilities include community outreach, corporate community relations, media relations, employee communications, volunteerism, special events and the Renaissance Housing Program.

Mrs. Williams graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and completed a graduate degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She also completed certificate programs in Corporate Community Relations and Social Responsibility at Boston College, and Community Negotiations at Harvard University. Mrs. Williams has also served in an academic staff position at the University of California at Berkeley. She is an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis College. Mrs. Yuille Williams is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Art. Mrs. Williams lives in Brooklyn, is married to Kelvin Williams and has a son, Alexander and a daughter, Adrienne.