Lisa is a Native New Yorker and newly
retired general, oncologic and vascular surgeon. She is the mother to three adult daughters and grandmother of two. In Lisa's spare time she enjoys long distance cycling, scuba diving and jumping out of planes anywhere on the planet.
PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION
Lisa's service to the Rocky Mount community spa
Lisa is a Native New Yorker and newly
retired general, oncologic and vascular surgeon. She is the mother to three adult daughters and grandmother of two. In Lisa's spare time she enjoys long distance cycling, scuba diving and jumping out of planes anywhere on the planet.
PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION
Lisa's service to the Rocky Mount community spans over 27 years, as a private practitioner and partner of Boice-Willis Clinic, a physician owned multi-specialty clinic formed in 1914.
Formerly Co Director of Nash / UNC Health Care Systems Breast Clinic.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Wesleyan University in Middletown (Connecticut)
Undergraduate Degree
Yale University
Medical Degree
UCLA
Surgical Internship
Uniform Services Public Service Corp
General Surgical Officer
Vanderbilt University
(Nashville Tennessee)
Surgical residency
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Lisa has actively been involved in community engagement upon her arrival to Rocky Mount in 1993.
My Sisters House, Board Member
Board member for local women's shelter.
Rocky Mount Preparatory Charter School
Founding board member
Westminster Medical Missions
5x Lead surgeon to North Uganda
Saving Lives Initiative
Taught specialized surgical technique to surgeons and residents at University of
Sierra Leone College of Medicine; and
financially sponsored two Ugandan
surgeons specialty residency training.
Triangle Bike Works, Board of Trustees
Hosting youth of color on multi-day cross country cycling tours visiting historical African-American sites across the country. And showcasing the power of cooperative economics and a circular
economy within the black community.
In November 2018, Nish transitioned from her role as a venture banking analyst (with Square 1 Bank) to form Lennox and Grae, Inc. (CRE investment firm). With a vision to "buy it , and build it" she formed Lennox and Grae Construction, Inc. in November 2020; expanding in-house service offerings to construction management and general contr
In November 2018, Nish transitioned from her role as a venture banking analyst (with Square 1 Bank) to form Lennox and Grae, Inc. (CRE investment firm). With a vision to "buy it , and build it" she formed Lennox and Grae Construction, Inc. in November 2020; expanding in-house service offerings to construction management and general contracting
SPEAKING + PUBLICATION FEATURES
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
Take No Bull Conference (March 2019)
MED Week (October 2019)
UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina
Forum: Black Wall Street (April 2019)
Black Experience in Business (April 2019)
Durham Magazine
Developer Spotlight (April and June 2019)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kenan Flager, MBA Program (June 2019)
Partners for Youth Opportunity
ConnectEd Conference (June 2019)
Duke University
Fuqua LEAD Program (July 2019)
Capital Matters Conference (Oct 2019)
REAL ESTATE AND
PROPERTY MANAGMENT PORTFOLIO
112 W Main (2019)
Secured $2.5 million in funding within
Fully-leased; with market rate tenants
that include a regional law group
(Morningstar), local dance studio
(Empower) and popular South American restaurant (Luna).
310 E Main (2020)
Secured $1.39 million in funding to
acquire a historic landmark.
Redevelopment project will include full
interior renovation of nearly 16,000 SF.
To date, Nish has raised $6.8M in capital to acquire a combined 24,000 square feet of commercial real estate in downtown Durham, NC and 1.86 acres in downtown Rocky Mount, NC.
Nish is the owner and managing partner of a
portfolio that includes two properties in
downtown Durham.
CONSTRUCTION PORTFOLIO
Nish previously served as a project manager with a commercial construction company, overseeing public and private renovations that totaled nearly $4.6 million. Projects included:
By following her truth - she calls it
Brewing it Forward, Celeste has
tapped into her passion for creating
beers that infuse flavor, passion and
pride. She has used her influence to
help open doors for a new generation
of brewers and indy beer distributors.
PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION
Celeste launched Harlem Brewing
Company in 2000, inspired by her lo
By following her truth - she calls it
Brewing it Forward, Celeste has
tapped into her passion for creating
beers that infuse flavor, passion and
pride. She has used her influence to
help open doors for a new generation
of brewers and indy beer distributors.
PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION
Celeste launched Harlem Brewing
Company in 2000, inspired by her love
of the craft and the Harlem community.
She became the first African American
woman brewer to launch a commercially
distributed beer, and later went on to
sell her beers in Walmart, the largest
food and beverage company in the world.
The introduction of her Harlem “Sugar
Hill” Golden Ale, was a nod to its famous
neighborhood namesake, in 2001 and has since launched several Neighborhood Original recipes including her award winning Harlem Renaissance Wit, Harlem 125th Street IPA, and a hard cider - Harlem Strawberry Hill. Today, her beers are widely distributed throughout NYC and along the east coast as well as Japan and the UK.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Celeste and her beers have received
many awards, which include:
2x Entrepreneur of the Year, Harlem
Beer Alliance
Best Brew NYC
Best Amber Ale, Beer and Bacon Fest
Emerging Entrepreeneur Award,
Clinton Foundation
Local Hero Award, Assoication of
Resident Theaters
SPEAKING + PUBLICATION FEATURES
The Root
NBC
Fox News
MSNBC
Forbes
People Magazine
THE JOURNEY
Kevin brings over 30 years of banking and finance experience, to his role as the Downtown Development Manger for the city of Rocky Mount. He duly serves as the president and owner of KGH Sustainability Solutions; a strategy consulting, project management and contracting service company for public agencies and not-for-profit com
THE JOURNEY
Kevin brings over 30 years of banking and finance experience, to his role as the Downtown Development Manger for the city of Rocky Mount. He duly serves as the president and owner of KGH Sustainability Solutions; a strategy consulting, project management and contracting service company for public agencies and not-for-profit community economic development organizations, focusing on sustainable revenue solutions.
PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION
In his role as Downtown Development
manger, he is responsible for revitalizing an aging downtown, assisting property owners through developing and delivering financial incentives for development, and assisting and recruiting businesses to the downtown
central city. Kevin also oversees strategy and direction, as well as overseeing the city’s participation in NC Main Street program.
Formerly, Kevin served in the following
community development roles:
President of the NC Community Development Initiative Capital
Lead a community development
financial institution engaged in lending
and investing for community and
economic development purposes, to
include small business growth and
expansion. He was responsible for all
aspects of CDFI operations, and
successfully grew the NC Community
Development Initiative Capital from a
$6MM to $17MM in assets and
sustainability within two years.
Director of CRA and Community Development
During his 26 year tenure with RBC Bank
(USA), Kevin served in various
commercial credit and leadership roles.
While serving in this role as director, he
established and expanded the bank's
community development department
throughout its markets nationally.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
BS in Business Administration & Accounting, Virginia State University
Graduate School of Banking, LSU, Advanced Banking & Management
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