Board of Directors
Ronald B. Hanley, Chairman
Ronald B. Hanley is the newly elected Chairman of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (NVBCC). Mr. Hanley has been tasked to accelerate the growth of the Chamber, increase the membership and develop alliances with other organizations. Mr. Hanley brings a wealth of knowledge to the position with over 30 years of experience in Procurement and Contracts. He has worked for many large corporations and institutions such as Rockwell International, Hughes, Honeywell, Accenture and Indiana University.
Ron has served as Director of Procurement, Manager of Contracts, Manager of Subcontracts, Sr. Subcontracts Cost/Price Analyst and Business Manager. He has also worked on major government programs that include the Space Shuttle Space Station, F14, F16, F18, F22, Joint Strike Fighter and has supported programs for the FAA and TSA.
Ron has a Degree in Business Management from St. Joseph's College. Ron moved to the DMV area in 2003 after retiring from Honeywell. He is currently the President and CEO of RBH Solutions, a consulting company.
Gregory Woodyard, Vice Chairman
Rodney de Peiza, is the President of Key Concepts Knowledgebase LLC, a SBA certified 8(a) IT professional services firm based in Fairfax, Virginia. Since 2008 Mr. de Peiza has been running the firm full time, with a focus on enabling organizations to maximize efficiencies and achieve results in the areas of Agile, Scrum, Governance, PMO, Federal – Civilian, and Commercial –Distance Learning IT platforms. Mr. de Peiza has more than 18 years of experience in management, software engineering, systems development and managing advanced information technology solutions, in the commercial and Federal government markets. He has led large scale enterprise initiatives in the Federal government, most recently as a Senior Architect and Subject Matter Expert on a Field Data Automation project for the US Census Bureau during the last 2010 Decennial Census.
Mr. de Peiza enjoys advising and supporting organizations that are goal oriented, and require support to defined objectives. In addition to assisting clients with enterprise audits and other customer centered IT solutions, he enjoys cultivating emerging technologies. He is currently serving as an ambassador for the NBVCC, to meet other entrepreneurs and support them in their journey of exploring the chamber benefits.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Rodney now lives in Fairfax Virginia with his wife and children. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science both in Computer Science from the University of the West Indies. He is also a certified project management professional (PMP) and certified in the governance of enterprise IT (CGEIT).
In 2004, Ms. Peterson became a travel agent, thus adding travel to the service options offered to her clients. In 2006, J C Peterson Consulting Travel was added to J C Peterson Consulting, as a subsidiary and independent travel agency offering host agency opportunities to other agents. In addition to being an Italy and Greece specialist, Ms.Peterson also specializes in groups and cruise vacations, and individual and family travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She is an Accredited Cruise Counselor, and is presently completing the credentials as a Luxury Travel Specialist.
Ms. Peterson has over 25 years teaching experience at the college level, having taught at Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia for 17 years. She is presently an Adjunct Professor of Business at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia. Married to a retired Marine, and the mother of five children, Ms. Peterson is a business owner, a mentor, an educator, who is very active in her church and community, and other service organizations. She holds an Master of Business Administration in Finance, and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services.
Dontae L. Bugg, Esq.
Dontae Lamont Bugg is the founder and owner of The Law Office of Dontae L. Bugg, PLLC, a boutique law firm with a focus on criminal defense, DUI/traffic offenses, and family law matters. Mr. Bugg is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Washington DC, the Federal Eastern District of Virginia, and the United States Supreme Court. He is courtroom saavy and has represented hundreds of clients in cases involving misdemeanor crimes, felony crimes, custody, divorce, and complex equitable distribution. Using his wealth of legal experience and competitive drive, he provides his clients with knowledgeable and effective legal representation.
Mr. Bugg is a member of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Arlington County Bar Association, and serves as Chairman of the Community Service Committee for the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association. He has performed hundreds of hours of community service, believing that all who are able must lend a hand to help the less fortunate among us. In that spirit, he is qualified in Virginia as a Guardian ad Litem for children and certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission.
A native of Newport News, VA, Mr. Bugg is a graduate of Heritage High School, where he is inducted into the Hurricanes Athletic Hall of Fame. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland. During college, he was an All-East performer in the men's high hurdles and captain of the men's track and field team. After college, Mr. Bugg attended the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond, where he served as President of the school's American Bar Association chapter and the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and was selected by his classmates serve as student speaker for the Law School's 2006 commencement ceremony. Prior to opening his law firm, Mr. Bugg was associated with the firm of Bremner, Janus, and Stone in Richmond, VA and a domestic relations firm located in Washington, DC.
Walter C. Clarke
Walter C. Clarke is a Vice President – Business Banking at Burke & Herbert Bank, where he brings over 20 years of banking and financial services experience. A graduate of the Virginia State University, he has worked in various capacities in the financial industry including mortgage, wealth management and commercial banking. While employed with Bank of America Mortgage he was a Chairman Club member and Top Producer, setting a record of 77 funded loans for Bank of America loan officers nationally in a month. Mr. Clarke was also a Top Premier Banking Wealth Management Client Manager for his Alexandria team in Investments/Deposits, bringing in $18 million in deposits for a quarter.
Previously, Mr. Clarke was the Vice President/General Manager of Potomac Home Funding, LLC, a subsidiary of Potomac Bank of Virginia and has been a mortgage lender to many families throughout the United States. He has developed an expertise assisting emerging businesses with gaining access to capital and managing cash flows as they navigate this complex economy.
Mr. Clarke also managed the Department of Defense relocation program and facilitated the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program during President Clinton’s Administration. In addition, he participated in congressional hearings and conducted seminars and housing fairs to Base Commanders and employees for the Air Force and Army.
In 2006, he was awarded the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metro Washington Gold Award. He active in the community serving on the boards of The Salvation Army in Alexandria, South Fairfax Development Corporation, Alfred Street Baptist Church, and the West End Business Association. Mr. Clarke has served on the boards of the Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Angela Grantham, CMPS, CMP
Angela Grantham is a trusted mortgage adviser whose goal is to integrate her clients’ loans into their short- and long-term financial and investment plans. She and her team facilitate mortgage & equity management to minimize tax and interest expense, improve cash flow, and build wealth through increased liquidity, safety and rate of return. In addition to being a Certified Mortgage Planner and Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist, Ms. Grantham is a member of such professional organizations as Strategic Equity Group, Mortgage Coach and Mortgage Planner Mastermind Group. She is a CMPS for Prospect Mortgage, one of the largest residential mortgage lenders in the nation.
Ms. Grantham's 17 years in the mortgage industry, extensive training, networking skills, down-to-earth attitude, and commitment to continuing education have earned her the trust of many. In turn, she has created a thriving network of loyal clients and dedicated professionals that generate quality referral business, allowing her to focus resources on valued clients.
She is a mortgage professional for the Commonwealth of Virginia with Lenders Who Care (LWC), a national non-profit trade association committed to educating and counseling consumers on the affordable loan programs available in the state, along with also being a Certified VHDA Specialist/Trainer. As an affiliate of Prince William Association of Realtors (PWAR), Ms. Grantham serves on several committees.
She is an active member of her church where she devotes a lot of time helping others and giving back to the community. She is able to do so through organizations such Zonta, NVBCC, BNI, ABWA and WIIB. Ms. Grantham resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband and son, where they work in their family business, Elite Vacation Homes and Travel, Inc.
Dave Parikh
Dave has ten years of experience in areas of consulting and banking, during which, he has advised over 50 clients in areas of risk management, compliance with regulations set forth by DCAA, SBA, and lending institutions, establishment of strong internal control policies and procedures in regards to financial reporting and management, and growth and profitability maximization. He also has a significant level of experience in strategies regarding planning of start-up ventures, capital distribution, and business divestiture.
He has used his expertise in Financial & Management Accounting, DCAA Regulations and FAR Accounting, expertise in all major Accounting Systems, Job Costing & Financial Modeling, Budgeting & Forecasting, and Tax strategies to help turnaround several unprofitable and stagnant companies into financially successful organizations.
Dave’s motivation in founding Business Wise Consulting was his strong desire to be a financial partner to small and mid-sized businesses by gaining a thorough understanding of their business and providing them cutting-edge financial and accounting solutions aimed at turning their challenges into opportunities. Unlike many larger consulting firms, he is deeply involved with all client relationships and places a great deal of emphasis on nurturing each relationship; big or small.
Dave is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a Certified Global Management Accountant and has earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and MBA in Finance and International Business from East Carolina University.
Dave is fluent in seven languages and has worked with several multi-national businesses.
Brad Ryant, Sr.
Brad Ryant, Sr. is a Principal Agent with Brad Ryant Insurance, Inc. a Nationwide Insurance Agency. He has over 25 years of experience in insurance, mortgage lending and banking and finance. Serving the Washington D.C. Metro area, Brad’s specialty is helping small business owners manage their insurance risk through annual reviews and on-site seminars. His Agency is committed to building lifetime relationships through knowledge and need based selling and by making loyalty and integrity number one priorities.
Equipped with an entrepreneurial spirit, he has experience in business management at both large and small financial institutions. Mr. Ryant has a proven record of success in and utilizing proactive approaches in resolving issues and improving customer satisfaction. He has specific expertise in financial analysis and management, strategic planning, mortgage lending, credit analysis, expense management and real estate. Mr. Ryant is adept at identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities to drive revenue and profit growth. His background exemplifies a rich mix of risk management, financial planning, as well as control and regulatory compliance knowledge. Through Nationwide Insurance he’s able to offer many types of insurance products to help small businesses manage their risks, including general liability, commercial auto/fleet insurance, business umbrella policies, commercial bonds, professional liability, buy/sell agreements and key person insurance.
Mr. Ryant serves on the boards for The Literacy Institute for Financial Enrichment and Kingdom Management, LLC. He’s also a member of the National African American Insurance Association.
Cheryl L. Sheppard
Born in Philadelphia, Cheryl L. Sheppard attended Virginia's Hampton Institute and San Jose State University, studying Theater Arts and Communication. While attending San Jose State, she met her husband of 35 years, starting a family and raising two sons. She is grandmother to two beautiful granddaughters, with a third on the way, and is very active in her community and Church.
Around the same time they started a family, the Sheppards launched Valley Green Landscaping, and have been in business since 1989. Mrs. Sheppard loves her family and they enjoy building their business together. She enjoys participating in all of their lives.
Her extended family includes her father and mother-in-law, three sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and a host of cousins, nieces, great nieces and nephews. She believes that family is everything and, without family, life would be rather boring.
