Our Team

With more than 30 years of business experience and a long track record of providing strategic oversight and tactical support as a board member of multiple non-profit organizations, Rodney Brown is an established, globally minded, yet locally focused change agent.

His background includes finance, commercial credit, commercial collections, business-to-business sales, business management, and procurement. He has extensive global business experience, having worked in China, Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Canada.

His most recent corporate experience includes more than 20 years in procurement where his last position was Director of Global Procurement for a multibillion-dollar company. He has been recognized for his strategic accomplishments in supplier management and building supply chain relationships.

Rodney served as a Co-Director of the Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) division of the Joseph Business School for almost 10 years. Together with the support of a very committed, faithful, and talented staff, they have developed an effective suite of courses and workshops. The curriculum was designed to meet the needs of adult students seeking self-improvement by using business education and entrepreneurship as a tool to make a difference in their lives, families, and communities.

Currently, he serves as the Board Chair of Kids Above All. In this capacity he provides governance and developed an evidence-based program model designed to help young adults get into college. He is also a Co-Founder of the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC) where he serves as a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Economic Development Committee. Rodney is the Executive Director of the North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce too.

His educational background includes Bachelor’s in Business Administration (major in Finance), and a Master’s in Business Administration. He resides in the Chicagoland area with his wife, loves theatre, dining, and traveling.

Liz is Business Development Manager with New Covenant Community Development Corporation (NCCDC).  In her role, she supports the economic well-being of small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing educational and coaching services to broaden their knowledge base to assist in the growth and development of their businesses.

Her leadership experience includes a career of 30+ years in corporate America, nonprofit management and ministerial leadership. Liz has worked with The Coca-Cola Company, USA in Atlanta, Ga., American Hospital Association, Inc., SOS Children’s Villages of Illinois, Chicago Commons and Triax International Executive Recruiting Firm in Chicago, IL. She has also served in various leadership roles within the National Black MBA Association, Inc. (NBMBAA), including Director of Membership & Chapter Engagement Services, Business Development and Marketing.  She has been an entrepreneur for over twenty years.  Her experience includes training, business coaching, volunteer management, business management, etc.   She has held several leadership roles as clergy.  Liz believes in the power of volunteerism and worked as a volunteer CASA (court appointed advocate for abused children), in both the Atlanta and Chicago Juvenile Court Systems.  

Liz is a dynamic speaker and Distinguished Toastmaster.   She has spoken at a number of corporate events, including the American Heart Association, NBMBAA, The Coca-Cola Company, community organization and local, district and national church events. 

As Business Development Manager, Othello  serves as a coach for NCCDC, supporting the economic well-being of small business owners, partners, and aspiring entrepreneurs through educational and coaching services to broaden their knowledge base and assist in the growth and development of their businesses. With over 45 years of combined experience as a business owner, business consultant, and data analyst, Othello brings a wealth of business operations and data science knowledge.

Othello has assisted businesses of all sizes throughout his career by identifying hidden insights within their marketing, finance, and market data. Through research, analysis, and reporting, he has developed effective operational strategies and optimized financial structures to enhance profitability.

Othello's early exposure to entrepreneurship came from managing his family-owned businesses in the North Lawndale community, instilling a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the challenges companies face in today's competitive landscape.

After completing his bachelor's degree at DeVry Institute of Technology, Othello gained professional experience at Argonne National Lab, specializing in data acquisition and project management. He later joined Mitsubishi Electric Automation as a quality control engineer, contributing to top-notch product quality.

Othello has also served as a mentor for Chicago Score, then transitioned to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as a small business advisor servicing a diverse group of entrepreneurs and business owners. 

Driven by his passion for entrepreneurship and data-driven insights, Othello founded Othello Business Solutions LLC to empower entrepreneurs and companies to make informed decisions for sustainable growth and success.

Matthew  has more than 8 years of outreach experience with a focus on community  engagement. He works to engage with businesses and residents along the Ogden Corridor and North Lawndale area. He also  collaborates with the City of Chicago to create lines of communication  with small businesses and property owners. Matthew aspires to build more  personal relationships with business owners and community members to aid in progressing the development in these  under served communities 

 Dorine has been with the NCCDC family a  little over 9yrs. She is apart of North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council,  North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce and West Women United. She has  experience in customer service, Human resource, security, medical billing, data entry,  agriculture (building and growing food using the hydroponic system) and  in office management for more than 10yrs. Dorine has a certificate in  Bee Keeping and is an inspiring entrepreneur. She has received  The Community that Works Award and A Game Changer Award in North  Lawndale Community. Honoree of LISC Chicago Women History Month.

 Chesay Colson is an experienced Communications Consultant who specializes in intercultural communications. She has over a decade of experience in this field and is a skilled project manager. Chesay has a track record of connecting thought leaders to communities and crafting visionary strategies for impactful community connections. Her portfolio includes enriching multicultural programming for students and addressing healthcare disparities. Chesay holds an MBA in marketing communications and is a Certified Diversity Professional. She is known for being a catalyst for meaningful connections and community engagement.