The Board

Hazel Broadnax is a member of the Executive Committee of UrbanMatters Development Partners, L.L.C.  She currently serves as the President to the Board of Directors and Interim Executive Director of the Emory Beacon of Light, Inc.  She has worked as a consultant to KPMG. Hazel served as the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.  Before assuming this role, she served as the Director and Deputy of Financial Operations, the Treasurer and Controller of the agency. She has also worked for the District of Columbia in several financial positions including the Controller of the Department of Human Services, for private industry and nonprofit corporations. Hazel currently chairs the audit committee of the Goodyear Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA). 

Dr. Barbara Hutchinson is a pioneer in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death globally. Her trailblazing blend of medical expertise, powerful insights and business acumen is helping change the quality of and access to healthcare. As a world-recognized physician, Dr. Hutchinson is a triple threat to heart disease with credentials in cardiology, sleep medicine and pharmacology. As a thought-leader, she is an influencer, speaker and advisor focused on improving the health of women and people of color. As an award-winning businessperson, she has built a strong company from the ground up and launched innovative start-ups.

Myron Adoteye is a real estate investor and founder of Aya Enterprises, a capital markets firm supporting middle market developers. He’s completed $100M in transactions with another $100M in progress. His past roles include work at REIS (now Moody’s Analytics), where he closed a top-ten deal with Brixmor (NYSE: BRX). He holds Series 7 & 66 licenses and certifications in insurance and real estate data analysis. Myron mentors at Georgetown Law and serves on the Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference committee. He’s spoken at the UN, National Urban League, and NPR’s Streetwise. He received the 2022 Presidential Silver Volunteer Award and is CFO of the New Passage Foundation. Myron earned his BS and MBA from Fordham and lives with his wife in NJ and VA.

Dakotah Jennifer is a creative strategist, writer, and entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of DakJen Creative, a creative agency helping businesses grow through clear storytelling and purposeful design. Under her leadership, DakJen Creative has supported small businesses, real estate developers, and mission-driven organizations with projects spanning brand identity, lease-up marketing, web design, and strategic consulting.

As a young CEO, Dakotah combines creativity with business acumen to help clients refine their message, develop cohesive visuals, and strengthen their market presence. Her approach emphasizes collaboration, strategy, and measurable results. A graduate of Columbia University’s MFA program in Creative Writing, she also founded Elitewise Escapes, a curated travel brand focused on ease, luxury, and experience 

Dr. Gina Merritt is a recognized expert in affordable housing and community development. Her leadership and scholarship in social capital and serving unemployed citizens has catapulted her platform. She is an award-winning business leader– her community development projects have won numerous awards for excellence and social impact. Her entrepreneurship and social impact work are helping communities access safe and affordable housing and employment opportunities. Dr. Merritt is a mentor for Innovation Works, an innovation platform for social enterprise in Baltimore City, and works with Youth Empowered Society (YES) which services homeless youth in Baltimore City, Maryland. She gives back through her daily work activities, but is particularly focused on helping entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses, and also has supported multiple initiatives for houseless individuals. Dr. Merritt’s leadership in affordable housing has been recognized on numerous occasions over the last decade. Dr. Merritt’s industry accolades include three 2023 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Built by Women - two site award winner for North Capitol Commons and The Nannie Helen at 4800, and various Washington and Baltimore Business Journal Honors. Dr. Merritt continues to strive for equality in all communities, and aims to achieve equality through her innovative platforms.