Opening Doors so Eagles Can Soar!
HCI Original Founders
The HCI original Founding Members who came together in support of the vision, foundation and roadmap laid out by Charles Hamilton Houston and P. W. Chavers were: Raymond Richardson, Onjada Richardson, David Mills, Anthony Grate, Ken Allen, Howard Sanders, Martin Clayton, Claude Pierre, Mark Bobb, Anthony Kume, Shawn Baldwin.
Shortly after the launch of the HCI, several other talented and committed followers of the philosophies of Charles Hamilton Houston and P. W. Chavers joined the HCI family including, Jon Walls, Ken Whiteside, Tonia Smith.
1st Quarterly Forum
In the very first HCI Quarterly Forum we allowed an entrepreneur to present in Chicago – and he raised money and attracted a board member as a result. Additionally, a black corporate executive secured a finance position with a prominent entrepreneur in attendance. In the past, the HCI Quarterly Forum allowed start-up companies to seek funding and feedback from the HCI family that often included seasoned venture capitalists. As a part of the HCI’s overall mission, we were looking to create value for the African American community through entrepreneurial efforts that would result in economic development for people of African descent.
European Branch
We had a European HCI Branch that was headed up by an exceptional entrepreneur, Anthony Kume who lives in San Sebastian, Spain – who supported black entrepreneurs across Europe in the capital raising process. HCI Europe held Forums in several cities across Europe including: London, Paris, San Sebastian.
Paris
London
San Sebastian
Past Keynote Speakers who have addressed HCI Quarterly Forums
Kenneth I. Chenault (at the time, COO, American Express – addressed the Clark Atlanta University student body); Raymond J. McGuire (at the time, Co-Head, Global M&A, Morgan Stanley – and during a 2-year run ranked #1 in M&A global transactions deal value); Rodney M. Miller (at the time, Head of M&A – Americas, Credit Suisse First Boston); Charles Phillips (at the time, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley – was a leading technology analyst and named an Institutional Investor All-Star for 10 years); Ernest G. Green (at the time, Managing Director, Head of the Washington, DC Office, Lehman Brothers – and he also made history as the only senior of the Little Rock 9 – the 9 African American students who in 1957, desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas); Jesse Russell (Inventor of Cellular Technology, holder of over 100 Patents); Stuart A. Taylor, II. (Entrepreneur, former Head of Investment Banking – Midwest Region, Bear, Stearns & Co.); Kelvin Boston (President of Boston Media); Darryl Thompson (at the time, Partner, TSG Capital); Duane Hill (at the time, Partner, TSG Capital); J. Donald Rice (CEO, Rice Financial Products); Derek Dingle (at the time, Vice President, Executive Editor, Black Enterprise Magazine); Derek Ferguson, (at the time, CFO, Combs Enterprises); Vivian Hunt, (Partner, McKinsey Europe); Byron Lewis (founder of the largest black owned Ad Agency, UniWorld Group and pioneered multicultural advertising), Chris Simmons (at the time, Partner, PwC).
Sponsored and Taught Finance Course at HBCU
Another aspect of the HCI was providing educational assistance to black students by sponsoring and teaching for two years Finance Courses at Clark Atlanta University, a top HBCU. In collaboration with finance Professor’s, Dr. Alex Williams and Dr. Kasim Alli and the Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Edward Davis, several prominent Black Wall Street Investment bankers lectured CAU MBA students to enhance their finance skills (presenting how valuation methodologies and modeling techniques are used on Wall Street). Led by Raymond J. McGuire and including Rodney M. Miller, Stuart A. Taylor, II., Reginald Mills, Howard Sanders, Kenneth Allen, Colbert Narcisse, Anthony Grate, Chris Simmons – all combined to teach the Finance Courses.
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” Booker T. Washington
