Donate Now

Board Info

Youth Mentorship Programs

Connecting students with professionals for guidance and personal growth.

Educational Scholarships

Offering financial support to help students achieve their academic dreams.

Leadership Development Workshops

Training young individuals in leadership skills, public speaking, and civic responsibility.

Community Service Projects

Giving back to Fort Worth through organized volunteer efforts and community initiatives.

Career & College Readiness

Preparing students for success beyond high school through career planning and college prep resources.

Vernon Evans

Vernon D. Evans is a retired seasoned senior executive with more than 42 years of accomplishments in a broad range of significant roles in operation management, finance accounting, audit, administration and economic development. He is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW).

Show Details

Dr. Anderson

Dr. Anderson is a general dentist in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a change leader with JPS Health Network and the Tarrant County Corrections Center as the Dental Director of Correctional Health for Tarrant County Texas. Dr. Anderson is a certified dental consultant and a member of the American Association of Dental Consultants.

Show Details

Torrence D. Burnett

Torrence “T. Riff” Burnett is a graduate of Southern University Law Center and Texas A&M University School of Law, holding both a Juris Doctorate and a Masters of Law in Wealth Management. He is a longtime professional singer-songwriter and producer who evolved into an astute artist manager and record label executive.

Show Details

Brian Colbert

Brian Colbert is a current leader in the Aerospace Industry and a retired Navy Supply Corps Officer.

Show Details

Tommy Lee Spikes Jr. ​

United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, (retired), 29 years of decorated service, Cyber Security Program Manager, (retired), 12 years Government employee. Master’s degree in administration, and M.B.A from Central Michigan University, and Northwood University in Michigan.

Mr. Darrell Pace

A proud native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Darrell Pace is a successful entrepreneur and community leader. The youngest of five children born to Bishop Willis Pace Jr. and Mrs. Rita H. Pace, he grew up in a household where faith was central, developing a strong moral compass and a deep appreciation for hard work.

Show Details

Ryan Russell

Ryan Russell is a Supply Chain Leader for Raytheon, an RTX Business in Dallas, TX. He has more than 20 years in the Aerospace & Defense Industry and holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt) and as Acquisition Professional.

Show Details
Scroll to Top

Vernon Evans

Vernon D. Evans is a retired seasoned senior executive with more than 42 years of accomplishments in a broad range of significant roles in operation management, finance accounting, audit, administration and economic development. He is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW).
In March 2003, Vernon Evans joined San Diego County Regional Airport Authority as Vice President, Finance/Chief Finance Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Evans was responsible for management of the financial operations and related matters with airlines, airport tenant, city, state and federal agencies and community interest representatives. He successfully secured financing for the $2 billion capital development program.

Before going to San Diego, Mr. Evans was employed by Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) in March 1986, where he established proper financial controls and directed the airport’s internal audit activities. Mr. Evans held other positions during his tenure with the DFW Airport board, including Deputy Executive Director – Administrative Services & Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer. He successfully secured financing for the airport capital expansion program totaling $3 billion.
Before joining the DFW Airport, Mr. Evans was Chief Internal Auditor for the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD). In this capacity, he organized the accounting and finance departments to establish proper financial controls. Prior to being employed by FWISD, he was a manager with Ernst & Whinney Certified Public Accountants (which today is Ernst & Young), where he obtained extensive experience in diverse business areas.
Mr. Evans was the first African American hired by the Forth Worth office of Ernst & Ernst in 1972 and the first African American CPA in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area. In addition to being a CPA, he is also a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA). Vernon also received his California CPA license in June 2008.
Mr. Evans’ strong belief in “being involved” and “making a difference” is exemplified by his participation in many professional and civic programs in both Texas and California. Some of the boards Mr. Evans has served on include the Jackie Robinson YMCA of San Diego, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the D/FW Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, the Fort Worth Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and he served as Chairman of the Fort Worth Economic Development Corporation. He also served on various accounting advisory boards, including the University of North Texas, Tarrant County College, Howard University and Texas Christian University.
He is a former member of the Neighborhood Housing Association Board, Financial Executives International Board, the Corporate YMCA Board, Southeastern Economic Development Corporation Board and he is the former Chair of the Treasury Oversight Committee for the San Diego County $60 billion Investment Fund.
In 1989, he founded the Association of Airport Internal Auditors and served as its president for two years. The association has grown to include 64 airports. Most recently, Mr. Evans was inducted into the American Institute of CPA’s Business and Industry Hall of Fame and was selected as the CFO of the Year by San Diego Business Journal. He was the first African American chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fort Worth Metropolitan YMCA in 1992 and 1993. Mr. Evans also served on the board of directors of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, Day Care Association and the Forth Worth McDonald YMCA. In 1999, he served on the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority Board of Fort Worth.
Mr. Evans graduated from the University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University) with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Accounting. He and his wife, Debbara have four adult children, Victor, Vinikka, Vernessa and Shadetra. Vernon is currently a member of New Fellowship Church of Forth Worth where is a Deacon and a member of the Finance committee.

Dr. Anderson

Dr. Anderson is a general dentist in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a change leader with JPS Health Network and the Tarrant County Corrections Center as the Dental Director of Correctional Health for Tarrant County Texas. Dr. Anderson is a certified dental consultant and a member of the American Association of Dental Consultants. Prior to practicing dentistry, Dr. Anderson worked in several areas of upper management for General Motors. He completed his undergraduate education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX.  He holds active dental licenses in Texas and Louisiana. He is a member of several professional societies, including the Texas Dental Association, Fort Worth District Dental Society, American Dental Association, and the National Dental Association.  Dr. Anderson is a Louisiana State University Foundation Member.  He is a board member of the United Way of Tarrant County and a board trustee of the Fort Worth Opera.  He is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  He has a passion for philanthropy and he and his wife have established scholarships at LSU and TCU. He and his wife have also established the Joe Ann Anderson memorial scholarship at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Deborah Burton Endowed Scholarship at Princeton University in honor of their late mothers. His interests include watching sports, traveling and enjoying the arts.  Dr. Anderson enjoys spending time with his wife Aiyanna Anderson M.D. and their sons Jaden and Mason.

Torrence D. Burnett​

Torrence “T. Riff” Burnett is a graduate of Southern University Law Center and Texas A&M University School of Law, holding both a Juris Doctorate and a Masters of Law in Wealth Management. He is a longtime professional singer-songwriter and producer who evolved into an astute artist manager and record label executive. Using knowledge that he gathered from his active duty service in the US Army and his ongoing higher learning studies, Torrence has found the perfect balance between business execution and advocacy. Currently he is an associate at the Baston Law, PC firm. He also serves as the COO & Head of Business|Legal Affairs for Scybe Streaming, Inc and CEO/Pres of The MaVens Records, LLC. With all of this, he endeavors fervently to serve the Fort Worth Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and, he is President of the Board of Directors for the Pretty Blessed Girls, Inc (a 501(c)(3)), a diligent board member of the Guide Right Foundation Fort Worth (a 501(c)(3)), and donates both time and money to the furtherance of community development.

Brian Colbert

Brian Colbert is a current leader in the Aerospace Industry and a retired Navy Supply Corps Officer..  He graduated from Gentry High School in Indianola, MS in 1993.  Lieutenant Commander Colbert enlisted in the US Navy on 6 February 1996 and received training at SK A School with follow on training at Basic Enlisted Submarine School.  

Lieutenant Commander Colbert’s first sea tour was as a member of the Storekeeper division onboard the submarine USS Hampton (SSN767).  During this tour, Lieutenant Commander Colbert made Second Class Petty Officer and obtained several Storekeeper NEC’s.   His next tour was at Priority Material Office Norfolk serving as a Fleet Expeditor.  During this tour, Lieutenant Commander Colbert took advantage of opportunities to pursue off duty education and obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems from St Leo University.  Lieutenant Commander Colbert graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.879 GPA despite, having and excelling at a full time job.  Lieutenant Commander Colbert was next selected to attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL and was commissioned on March 19, 2004.Selection to Officer Candidate School for enlisted Sailors is an extremely competitive process, and only the best and the brightest are selected.

Upon completion of several months of training, Lieutenant Commander Colbert’s served as Supply Officer of the submarine USS Nevada (SSBN733B) from December 2004 to June 2007.  While there is leadership of 24 Sailors led to Nevada’s Supply Department reaching new heights.  His next assignment was as a Naval Acquisition Contracting Officer at Naval Space and Warfare Center Headquarters, San Diego, CA from July 2007 to October 2009.  Lieutenant Commander Colbert next completed a tour serving as the Chief of the Infrastructure Support Branch at the Joint Contracting Command Iraq, from December 2009 to June 2010.  His next assignment was to the USS Boxer (LHD 4) where he served as the Stock Control Officer and Principal Assistant for Logistics from August 2010 to December 2012.  

Lieutenant Commander Colbert’s stellar track led to his selection for Post Graduate education.  He obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Navy Postgraduate School, while also serving as the Secretary for Monterey Supply Corps Association.  He was also awarded for Outstanding Research Project for his MBA Thesis.

He is a 2011 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award winner with qualifications as Submarine Supply Corps Officer, Naval Aviation Supply Officer, and Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer.  His decorations also include Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards).  He is married to Kim Colbert of Silver Creek, MS and has one daughter, named Alexis.

 

Mr. Darrell Pace

A proud native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Darrell Pace is a successful entrepreneur and community leader. The youngest of five children born to Bishop Willis Pace Jr. and Mrs. Rita H. Pace, he grew up in a household where faith was central, developing a strong moral compass and a deep appreciation for hard work. As a preacher’s kid, he learned the importance of service and giving back to the community.

Over the years he has a diverse business portfolio, including a real estate construction and investments company, mortgage solutions, interstate commerce, and tax preparation offices; demonstrating his keen business acumen. In 2018, he founded Pacesetter Custom Homes and Design, one of the few Black-owned new residential construction companies in the area, providing high-quality housing options for families throughout Fort Worth, Texas and surrounding areas. Mr. Darrell Pace is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. since 1997.  Currently he the Polemarch/President of the Fort Worth Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. where he successfully leads the chapter in various community service initiatives and fosters a strong sense of brotherhood among its members. He is passionate about mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, guiding them on their entrepreneurial journeys and emphasizing the importance of faith and integrity in business.

Mr. Darrell Pace’s vision is to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and faith-based principles necessary to achieve success and make a positive impact on their communities.

 

Ryan Russell

Ryan Russell is a Supply Chain Leader for Raytheon, an RTX Business in Dallas, TX. He has more than 20 years in the Aerospace & Defense Industry and holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt) and as Acquisition Professional. Before joining Raytheon, Ryan was an Operational Excellence Manager for The Coca-Cola Company, responsible for improving operations at 11 Warehouse & Distribution Centers within Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico.
Additionally, Ryan held multiple positions within the area of Supply Chain and Operations during his 15-year tenure at Lockheed Martin. During this time, he traveled to several suppliers to help improve their on-time delivery performance and negotiated more than $20 million dollars in supplier contracts. His travel has afforded him the opportunity to have visited 39 of the 50 U.S. states and several international countries.
Though working in the Aerospace and Defense Industry is not his only trade, Ryan is a Real Estate Investor and Financial Coach – two (2) areas that was once a hobby that eventually turned into an opportunity.
Additionally, Ryan is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc and you can find him serving his community as the Guide Right Chairman for the Fort Worth Kappa League Program. Kappa League, a subset of Guide Right – Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc National Service Initiative, is a mentorship program designed to help young men between the ages of 12-18 grow, receive, and develop their leadership talents in every phase of human endeavor.
Ryan received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University (CAU), an HBCU in Atlanta, GA. As an alumnus of CAU, Ryan serves as the treasurer for the DFW Chapter of the CAU Alumni Association. Though he is a native of Albany, GA, Ryan has lived in Michigan, New York, Maryland and now Texas; particularly the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.