CEO & BOARD MEMBER

TaQuoya Michelle McConnico is an award-winning organizational leader and communications professional. She has spent the last 15 years connecting brands to consumers and helping organizations achieve their goals through communications and digital marketing.

A former WVON News Anchor and Vice President at Teneo Strategy, TaQuoya has received numerous awards for her work, including Verizon Wireless HQ Communications Improvement Recognition, President Obama’s Call to Service Award, and The Village of Maywood Helping Hand Award. She was also named one of Chicago’s Top Professionals Under the Age of 40 to watch by the Chicago Defender.

In addition to representing school districts, nonprofits, and cities, TaQuoya has counseled and supported some of the world’s most successful organizations, including The Coca-Cola Company, The Department of Veterans Affairs, and Verizon Wireless HQ.

TaQuoya is also a proud Air Force Veteran.

BOARD MEMBER

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has served as a State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly since January 2013. On January 13, 2021, he became the first Black lawmaker elected to serve as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

His policy priorities include improving classroom education, creating opportunity for all, and making government more efficient. In 2022, he led the House in passing a fiscally and socially responsible budget that funded the redevelopment of the state’s infrastructure, putting $350 million in new funding into Illinois schools, and expanding access to career and vocational education.

Welch and House Democrats have rebuilt Illinois’ rainy day fund and moved the pension systems closer to stability. These steps earned the state over eight credit upgrades. In addition, the Illinois House has worked to protect a person’s right to choose with the codification of Roe v. Wade.

Before joining the General Assembly, Welch served his community for 12 years on the Proviso Township High School Board of Education, including ten years as board chair.

BOARD MEMBER

House Speaker Joe Tate is serving his third term in the Michigan Legislature. Tate is Michigan’s first Black Speaker of the House of Representatives now holding the gavel and setting House priorities in a legislative term in which Democrats have the majority for the first time in over a decade.

His policy priorities include uplifting Michigan families; protecting the rights of all people; ensuring workers are valued; and investing in a world-class education system, a strong infrastructure, and a thriving economy.

As a teenager, Tate earned a scholarship to play football at Michigan State University before joining the National Football League. After the NFL, he went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, deploying twice to Afghanistan.

After an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he earned both an MBA and a master’s in environmental policy and planning from the University of Michigan. Before joining the Legislature, Tate helped small businesses grow their capacity as a program manager for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.