Carl E. Brown is Executive Director of the Center for Minority Business Development (CMBD) of Prince George’s Community College. Mr. Brown has extensive experience in management, particularly in procurement and small and minority business programs. Previous positions held include: Manager of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Business Development Programs for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC; Senior Contracts Manager for federal government contracts at VerizonBusiness in Arlington, Virginia; Director of Human Resources at Pepsi-Cola of Washington, DC, and Senior Purchasing Specialist/Administrator of Minority Business Certification for the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Mr. Brown is a public policy expert on minority business programs. He has particular strengths in human resource management, business development, sales and marketing. He has a solid background in evaluating financial statements, and reviewing and analyzing business and marketing plans.

Mr. Brown has testified on Capitol Hill, Maryland General Assembly and before various regulatory agencies regarding issues relating to small and minority business development. He has served as a subject matter expert to engineering, sales and operations divisions within various private sector entities regarding how to expand opportunities with small and minority businesses.

Mr. Brown has a Master of General Administration (MGA), State and Local Government from University of Maryland University College, College Park, Maryland; Bachelor of Arts, in Communications Management and minor in Political Science and Business from Howard University, Washington, DC; Masters Certificate in Human Resource Management from University of Maryland University College, College Park, Maryland; Certificate in Executive Leadership Development from the Executive Leadership Institute, University of Maryland University College, College Park, Maryland.

Dennis Smith is Director of Technical Assistance, for the Center for Minority Business Development.

Mr. Smith was formerly the Director of the Minority Business office for the Maryland State Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. He implemented a strategic plan to ensure that MBE’s received at least 25 percent of the total contract dollars awarded. During his tenure, minority procurement awards increased from 22 percent to 32 percent of awarded contract dollars. Mr. Smith had the distinct pleasure while at DPSCS of sitting as a voting member on a selection committee of substantive value. This was the first time an MBE Director has been a voting member on a selection committee for any agency in the State of Maryland.

Mr. Smith served as Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs where he monitored a $4.8 billion procurement budget targeting a 21 percent small and disadvantaged business goal. Mr. Smith served as a Small Business Outreach Specialist for Capitol City Associates, Inc. He managed a small and disadvantaged business outreach $700 million construction contract for Turner-Gilbane in the construction of Fort Belvoir (VA) Community Hospital.

In addition, Mr. Smith served over 19 years with the Prince George’s County Government’s Minority Business Commission. During his tenure, he served as Director and brought total MBE procurement dollars to 36 percent, up from 10 percent in a 10-year period.

Mr. Smith received his Master Degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park and his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland.

Ms. Evans has over 14 years of experience developing and delivering educational development programs for the public, private, and non-profit sector. In 2006, she was hired to direct and manage the Baltimore City Local Contractor Development Program (LCDP), where she helped minority and woman-owned business enterprises build capacity. Ms. Evans demonstrates exceptional leadership skills that allow her to serve as a pioneer in her field. She continues to create innovative training and education programs that build public and private partnerships to help the small business community thrive and prosper. Ms. Evans holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communication and Fine Arts from Loyola Marymount University, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Deborrah M. Banks is the Marketing Manager for the Center for Minority Business Development (CMBD) of Prince George’s Community College. Mrs. Banks has over 16 years of experience in higher education. She was formerly the Senior Director for University Relations and Marketing at Bowie State University where she led the university in a major rebranding and marketing campaign. She is the recipient of eight national marketing and public relations awards from the Admissions Marketing Report and Service Industry Advertising Award. In 2005, she received the Professional & Faculty Leadership Award for Outstanding Performance in Public Relations and Marketing from the Thurgood Marshal College Fund Foundation. In addition, she produced and served as Editor-in-Chief of the University’s quarterly magazine.

From 1994 to 1998, she produced and hosted a public affairs television show Point of View, increasing viewership on the University’s television station. Mrs. Banks’ tenure at Bowie State University also included serving as the Director for Alumni Affairs, Scholarship Program Coordinator, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Communication for fourteen years. Before joining CMBD, Mrs. Banks served as a Workforce Development Instructor/Curriculum Developer with The Training Source, Inc., Capitol Heights, Maryland where she received certification as a Global Career Development Facilitator.

Over the years Mrs. Banks has been an active member with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Council of Negro Women, Women of Washington, National Black Women’s Political Caucus, Bethune Dubois Foundation, NAMME(National Association of Minority Media Executives), PRSSA, Black Public Relations Association, Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, Glen Arden Boys and Girls Club(Board Member), Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Intercollegiate (Board Member), University System of Maryland University Council , the Bowie State University Alumni (Board of Directors). She has served in various capacities with the Jerry Lewis Telethon, Relay for life Cancer Walk (Chair), and Dionne Warwick Aids Benefit.

Mrs. Banks has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing from Columbia Union College, Takoma Park, Maryland; Master of Art in Organizational Communication /Public Relations from Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland, and postgraduate studies from American University in Public Affairs and Journalism, Washington, DC.