 Ms. Wanda Cooper, Chairperson
Wanda Cooper is a native of Virginia Beach and graduated from Bayside High School. She received her B.S. from Old Dominion University in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice in 1997. She received her J.D. in 2002 from Regent University School of Law. Wanda is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Beach Bar. She is the chair of the Virginia Beach Minority Business Council and serves on the Hampton Roads Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC).
She currently is the owner of The Cooper Law Firm, P.C. with offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton. The Cooper Law Firm is a general practice law firm and Wanda specializes in traffic and serious criminal defense matters. Her and her husband James are natives of Virginia Beach and have one son, Julian. In her spare time she enjoys playing golf, reading books and traveling.
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 Ms. Carla Bailey, Vice-Chair
Carla Bailey founded USA Backgrounds Incorporated (USABI) in October 2002. Her niche company provides background checks to employers nationwide and worldwide. USABI is a full service background screen firm and provides its clients with over 19 tools to research prospective employees. USABI is head quartered in Virginia Beach, VA and holds multiple certifications from the federal government and Commonwealth of Virginia.
Mrs. Bailey obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Norfolk State University. After graduating college she had a successful career as a Police Officer, prior to starting her own business.
Mrs. Bailey is a leader in the business community and is supportive of small, women, and minority businesses throughout Hampton Roads and Virginia. Some of her service to the community includes current member and Vice Chair of the Virginia Beach Minority Business Council, Member of the National Organizational of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and was the first African-American and the youngest woman to serve as president of National Association of Women Business Owners, Southeastern Virginia Chapter (NAWBOSEVA).
Mrs. Bailey has received numerous awards for her work in the business community and has been recognized and featured in the Virginian Pilot, Inside Business, and Women Who Wow. |
 Ms. Linda Bright, Secretarial Officer
CEO/President of Health Care Services of Hampton Roads, Inc., providing mental health supports throughout the Southside and Peninsula, CEO/Owner of “We’ll Get You There” Transport, a minority-owned transportation company serving the Hampton Roads area. Ms. Bright is also the CEO/Owner of Linda Bright’s Consulting Service, specializing in therapeutic consultation, and program development for the private and public sector.
Ms. Bright has more than 30 years in Human Services as an administrator. She was instrumental in developing the Medicaid waiver program for the City of Virginia Beach and set on numerous committees with the state to amend current Medicaid waiver policy. She has received many Class Act Awards, Peer Awards and recognition of her work for identifying means for funding and recouping monies during her tenure with the City.
Ms. Bright is a graduate of Norfolk State University with a B.S. in Psychology, and a Master’s of Art in Urban Affairs, Planning and Administrative Management. She received her second Masters of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Bright is completing her doctorate in Organizational Management and Leadership at the University of Phoenix.
She is the President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors for Virginia Case Manager’s Association. Ms. Bright is a member of COMPA (Conference of Minority Public Administrators). Member of the Board of Directors for the Community Services Board, City of Virginia Beach and the Congressional Small Business Advisory Committee.
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  Ms. Amma Guerrier, Financial Counselor
Amma Guerrier is a First Vice President in Cash Management for Monarch Bank in Virginia Beach, VA. She builds relationships with her clients by providing business services and specialized products for the larger business clients. Her clients seek her expertise and utilize her knowledge to help improve their financial position. Amma has been in banking over 17 years, having worked for Wachovia and Bank of America previously in her career.
Amma has a unique understanding of the business world, because she also has a small business. She runs Executive Decision, a consulting company that specializes in client service levels, marketing research, audits and process improvements. This business grew out of her passion for quality service. With Executive Decision, she helps businesses to improve their service levels.
A graduate of Old Dominion University, Amma has a degree in communications and a minor in marketing. She serves on the boards of several organizations. She is the Corresponding Secretary on the Urban League of Hampton Roads Board, Treasurer of the Old Dominion Alumni Association Board of Directors, and she serves on CHEAR’s board of directors. Amma was also appointed to the City of Virginia Beach Minority Business Council. She is a member of several professional and civic organizations. Additionally, Amma is very active in the Virginia Beach community where she lives with her husband Christopher and daughter Laila.
Amma was the recipient of Inside Business’ Women In Business Award in 2011. In addition, she also was awarded the Human Rights Award by the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission in February 2007. Later in 2007, Amma was named one of Inside Business’ Top 40 under 40. Amma received the Urban League of Hampton Roads’ Award of Excellence in 2006. This award was given in recognition of her outstanding Board service and commitment. |
 Ms. Sheila Johnson, MBC Member
Sheila Johnson’s professional background consists of over two decade’s sales, marketing, public relations, and business development experience. Her ability to deliver superior, personalized client service, cultivate strong business relationships, and resolve issues in a way that propels innovation and growth has allowed her to develop a strong track record in both the public and private sectors.
Ms. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Virginia State University and is presently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Strayer University. She has worked for a number of Fortune 500 companies, and is currently president of SJohnson Marketing Group, a Virginia Beach based marketing firm.
Due to her strong leadership and commitment Ms. Johnson was recently appointed to the Virginia Beach Minority Business Council (MBC). She serves or has served on the boards of the Hampton Roads chapters of Women Transportation Seminar (WTS-HRC), the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO HR), and the Hampton University Small Business Incubator. Ms. Johnson is a member of the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Virginia State University Alumni Association, and Gold Key International Honour Society. |
 Mr. Justo Manglicmot, MBC Member
Mr. Manglicmot is a U.S. Navy/Civil Service retiree. He has an A.A. Liberal Arts, B.A. Management from St. Leo College. Mr. Manglicmot is involved in the Woodstock Lions Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War and Fleet Reserve Association.
He lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Salvacion who retired from Civil Service as a registered nurse, and has three children, Alan, Joy and Mar. |
 Ms. Delceno Miles, MBC Member
Delceno C. Miles, President/CEO of The Miles Agency, a Virginia Beach-based niche marketing and public relations firm she founded 23 years ago. Her agency is arguably the oldest minority-owned PR firm in the region. Delceno’s areas of expertise are group dynamics, interpersonal relationships, promotions, public relations and special event planning. Delceno honed her skills as a media consultant for political candidates in California and Virginia as well as with various radio stations. Many political leaders have noticed her talents. Former U. S. Senator George Allen appointed her to two prestigious boards to further serve Virginia while he was governor. Governor Bob McDonnell appointed her to the Christopher Newport University Board of Visitors and Board of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
Delceno has received numerous awards for her civic and community efforts. She serves on the boards of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (regional and Virginia Beach Division), Delceno was appointed in 2002 as the first African American and only the third woman chair of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce regional board. She was appointed by the Virginia Beach City Council in 2007 to the Minority Business Council where she is past chair and in 2011 to the Process Improvement Steering Committee. She was appointed by the HRTPO to its Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). She was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board and served as vice chair for two years. She was honored by Inside Business publication with its Women in Business Achievement Award in 2009. Recently, the YWCA named her its 2011 Woman of Distinction in Communications and Inside Business named her to its 2011 Power List as one of the top 75 most powerful leaders in Hampton Roads. She was named to the Power List again in 2012. |
 Mr. Ferdinand V. Perez, MBC Member
Mr. Perez is a Financial Consultant with Mass Mutual Financial Group and has been in the financial services business for over 25 years. Mr. Perez provides financial planning services to individuals, executives and closely held business owners, especially the medical practitioners. These services include comprehensive financial planning, risk management (life, disability and long term care insurance), wealth accumulation (primarily retirement planning) and distribution strategies.
Though an extensive discussion process, and learning what the client’s goals and concerns are, Mr. Perez helps the client prioritize their concerns, provides strategies and helps his clients implement a plan to help reach their goals and meet their concerns. His objective is to determine how he can add value to the client’s situation, with a particular focus on tax-wise investment strategies and solutions. Ultimately, the client should have a plan and course of action that gives him or her financial confidence. Mr. Perez’s career success can be directly attributed to his ability to educate his clients, help them clarify and prioritize their financial goals, implement a plan of action and then follow up with timely and effective ongoing client services. Mr. Perez is often a guest speaker for WTKR Channel 3 and other association and employee groups on various financial topics. |
 Mr. Edwin Tirona, MBC Member
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer of Dynamic Systems Integration (DSI), Mr. Tirona is responsible for the company’s daily business and financial operations in its Virginia Beach and Ashland, Virginia offices. Additionally, he oversees the Commercial and Government Divisions of DSI. Mr. Tirona holds the professional designation of Registered Communications Distribution Designer and Outside Plant Specialty (RCDD/OSP), and has more than 14 years of experience guiding DSI’s engineering team in designing data infrastructures to integrate data, voice and video communications systems. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Radford University, Radford, VA (1988), a VA DCJS Private Security Systems license and Leviton and Dukane Certifications. |
 Mr. Byron D. Williams, Sr.,MBC Member
As President and Principal Consultant of Intergrated HR and Leadership Strategies, Inc., Byron has more than 30 years of Human Resource Management, organizational leadership and corporate training experience. He has helped a wide variety of clients meet their unique needs by providing solid, well researched and validated solutions in the areas of Human Resources Management, executive coaching and counseling, leadership development and corporate diversity. Byron’s broad scope of knowledge and expertise of leadership development, organization effectiveness, talent development, executive coaching and counseling, and team building has helped corporate entities from government contracting firms and retailers to Fortune 500 companies to improve their processes. He has held such progressive corporate positions as HR Specialist/Consultant, Career Counseling Specialist, Operations Officer, and Vice President of Administration and Human Resources. This has earned him a strong reputation as an “innovative thinker and problem solver”. Many of the skills Mr. Williams has mastered were developed and fine-tuned during his 20 year career as a senior enlisted manager in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Williams hold a BA degree in Human Resources Management from St. Leo University, an MPA degree in Administration & Management from Golden Gate University, and an MS degree in Human Resources Management from Troy University. He has also completed some coursework toward earning a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree from Regent University and has authored several articles on leadership development, corporate mentorship, and corporate recruitment and hiring practices.
Byron has a strong commitment to making Hampton Roads as diverse and effectual a community as possible for all citizens. He demonstrates this commitment by serving as a leader in his church, Mount Lebanon Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA and serving on several community boards and positions of leadership such as: Member, Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation; Past Ministry Leader, now Advisor, Men of Issachar Ministry Leader; Leadership Support Volunteer for EDMARC Hospice for Children; and Past Commissioner of Larkspur/Salem Youth Baseball League, just to name a few.
Mr. Williams and his lovely wife and business partner, Marcia, have two sons TaJarnon (TJ, who is the Manager, Provider Services at HealthFirst and resides in Apopka, FL) and Byron, Jr. (BJ, who is a Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate at Regent University. He is projected for PsyD degree conferral in May2013)
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 Mr. John M. Williams, MBC Member
Mr. John M. Williams is President and CEO of the Williams Insurance Agency based here in Virginia Beach. He has been associated with the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies for the past 18 years. He has a successful agency with over 1,500 clients. He handles auto, home, life and business insurance. John has achieved several honors and awards over the span of his career including the Topper Club Award which represents the top 10% of the agency force.
Mr. Williams is a former Chairman of the Board for Kingdom Federal Credit Union, Vice President of the William T. Mercer Foundation and member of several other professional and civic organizations.
Mr. Williams is originally from New Kent, Va. He came to the Hampton Roads area in 1981 to attend Old Dominion University where he received his bachelors in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. |