BOARD PRESIDENT/CHAIR

Rashaan Peek is Chief of Staff of Charlotte Center City Partners, an organization that envisions and implements strategies and actions to drive the economic, social, and cultural development of Charlotte’s Center City. Rashaan’s experience has given her the skills to develop and manage multi-million-dollar budgets, develop impactful non-profit boards of directors, increase employee morale, and implement sustainable programs.

Mrs. Peek is certified in Nonprofit Management by Duke University, certified in Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace by USF Muma School of Business, certified in Supply Chain Management by Women’s Business Center of Charlotte, and a graduate of the YCombinator Startup School and UNC at Charlotte Ventureprise.

Prior to her work with Charlotte Center City Partners, Rashaan founded Your Girl Inc™ an Executive Management Firm. Rashaan works with small business and nonprofit executives to increase sustainability through strategic planning, leadership development, program and project implementation, digital marketing planning and implementation, and operations creation.

Most recently, Rashaan served as a Consultant Project Director for BlkTech Charlotte/BlkTech Interactive. Her work there aligned with her passion for decreasing the wealth gap through talent recruitment, fundraising, Startup Studio program development, Afrofuturism Event creation, and implementation, Coding and Switching Professional Development, and Networking & Coaching.

Rashaan is a Certified Peer Counselor by the American Association of Mental Health and has been recognized as the 2019 Mentor of the Year by ACHI Magazine for her work with girls and women in the Charlotte area.

Rashaan is Philadelphia-born and Bensalem-bred. She obtained her BA from Georgia State and has lived in Charlotte since December 31, 2004. Mrs. Peek enjoys traveling with her husband, listening to audiobooks, spending time with her children, and eating brunch with her friends.

BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT/VICE-CHAIR

Mackenzie is a graduate from UNC Greensboro’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Prior to starting her masters, she worked as an Academic Advisor at an arts high school. In this role she helped young musicians and visual artists on their path to academic and vocational development. Mackenzie is currently completing an internship at Guilford College in their counseling center. She would classify herself as a life-long learner and multi-hyphenate.

Mackenzie earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University. When she isn’t in class or at her internship, she enjoys reading, thrifting, and spending time with friends.

Mackenzie served as MMC’s inaugural employee from April 2022 - December 2023, and is now serving to govern and keep the vision of MMC as a Board Member.

BOARD SECRETARY

Ayesha Murphy is the owner of natural skin care brand Beary Sensitive. She has grown up around entrepreneurship her entire life by having both parents as entrepreneurs. As a mother she teaches the value of entrepreneurship to her children by having them help in the business.

Professionally she has worked in the utility, retail and finance industries. She is currently working in the finance industry as a consultant who optimizes IT applications, serves as a mentor to six sigma candidates and is a member of the Women in IT networking committee.

Ayesha has a BS in Textile Management from North Carolina State University and an MBA in Marketing from Florida Institute of Technology. When she is not working, she enjoys doing home DIY and interior design projects.

CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER

Teresa Cain is a storycatcher, storyteller, and rescuer of damaged kimonos. (They tell stories, too.) She loves anything that’s finely handcrafted, especially if it’s older than she is. She’s fascinated by mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships in nature. Teresa has an odd gift for recognizing the connections between things and developing professional partnerships based on those connections.

Before working as a children’s librarian at West Boulevard Library, Teresa was an award-winning writer, Montessori teacher assistant, and fast food worker. Her career highlights at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library include standing on the Children’s Theatre stage with 12 young customers when Peter Pan flew, sitting in Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s chair, and co-founding Money Magnets Club.

She’s earned a BS in Business Administration from East Carolina and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from UNC-Greensboro. Dream job: Multi-Millionaire Philanthropist.

BOARD MEMBER

As the CEO of The BrandUscript Agency, J. leads a dedicated team in delivering innovative and holistic public relations and digital marketing solutions. With over two decades of experience spanning multiple industries—including automotive, spirits, legal, energy, food and beverage, marketing, music, fashion, beauty, sports, philanthropy, telemarketing, publishing, technology, printing/signage, and medical—he is passionate about helping brands achieve their goals through creative and newsworthy campaigns.

He holds a degree in Marketing Management from Dekalb Technical College and is a proud graduate of Leadership Charlotte, Class 45. His career has been marked by significant roles in media relations and publishing, including serving as the Head of Media Relations at Ken Harris and Associates, Publisher and CEO of Celebrity Power Magazine, and Publisher of Atlanta Fever Magazine.

At The BrandUscript Agency, the Charlotte-centric approach focuses on enhancing the visibility and reputation of businesses and non-profits within the Queen City. They believe in the power of strategic planning, client-centric solutions, and community engagement to drive success.

Recognized on QCityMetro.com’s PR POWER LIST in 2023, he is committed to excellence and dedicated to giving back to the community through volunteer work.

BOARD MEMBER

Yolanda M. McCormick is a Licensed Clinical Supervisor with over 20 years of experience in public health, human services, and mental health care. She is a recognized expert in trauma-informed care and community-based interventions, dedicating her career to empowering at-risk populations and fostering resilience.

Yolanda’s dedication extends beyond her professional roles; she values personal growth and lifelong learning, frequently participating in advanced training on trauma, child development, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions. When not working, she enjoys connecting with others, hiking, indulging in scented candles, and finding peace at the beach. Her passion for positive energy and fostering authentic relationships drives her commitment to creating supportive and empowered communities.

BOARD MEMBER

Ricky is a Charlotte native. With a Bachelor’s degree from Winston Salem State University and Master’s degree from Webster University, he has proven that education is the foundation upon which dreams are built.

Ricky’s heart is dedicated to his family, and he cherishes every moment spent with them. However, his passion doesn’t stop there. He’s a firm believer in the power of networking, forging connections that lead to incredible opportunities. When he’s not nurturing these relationships, you can often find him on the golf course, exploring new destinations, or simply reveling in the great outdoors.

Entrepreneurship has been ingrained in Ricky’s spirit since childhood. He dedicates most of his spare time to working on his side hustle, continually pushing the boundaries of innovation. To him, entrepreneurship and ownership are not just buzzwords – they are the keys to true freedom and the creation of generational wealth.

Currently, Ricky is thriving in technology, serving as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach. But he doesn’t stop there; he’s a strong advocate for leveraging corporate jobs to propel your dreams as an entrepreneur.

BOARD MEMBER

Alex attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance, as well as his Master of Business Administration. Alex is a registered investment advisor representative and holds his NC & SC Life, Accident and Health, and Medicare Supplement/Long Term Care insurance licensures. When he’s not spending time with his wife and dogs, Alex enjoys playing instruments, traveling, and reading.  He is Co-Chair of the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce Programs Committee.

BOARD MEMBER

Jana Sanders is a Commercial Loan Officer at Self-Help Credit Union, a community development financial institution whose mission is creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for all. Jana has worked in banking in Charlotte for the past twelve years and has a passion for financial literacy. Her own entrepreneurial spirit was ignited at the age of twelve when she began helping her father in his lawn care business.

Jana is a native of Blair, South Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Art degree from the University of South Carolina and Master of Communication from Queens University of Charlotte. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated. Jana and her husband, Mike reside in Charlotte with their two boys. Jana a self-proclaimed home décor addict, enjoys traveling with her family, shopping, reading, binge-watching television, and cheering on the South Carolina Gamecocks and Charlotte Hornets with her sons.