Senior Corporate Officer and Community Leader

Emerson U. Fullwood was a corporate vice president of Xerox Corporation, and Executive Chief Staff and Marketing Officer for Xerox North America's $9Billion business.   He was named to this position in October 2004 and had been a corporate officer since October 1996.

In his most recent Xerox assignment, Mr. Fullwood directed marketing operations for the entire portfolio of Xerox offerings,  including office systems, digital production equipment and Global Services, through the complete spectrum of direct and indirect sales, and marketing organizations. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Fullwood served as President of the Xerox Channels Group, where he managed worldwide sales, marketing, and distribution of office products through resellers, agents, concessionaires, and dealers. 

Mr. Fullwood joined Xerox in 1972 as an account representative, and advanced rapidly through  progressively responsible marketing, sales, and operations management assignments. Subsequently he built on this career foundation in a variety of corporate officer and senior management roles.  

These leadership roles included: Executive Chief Staff Officer for Xerox Developing Markets Operations, the business unit charged with product distribution and service delivery to customers in over 120 nations; President of Latin America; President of Worldwide Customer Services, an organization with $7 Billion in revenue and 25,000 employees; and VP/General Manager of the $5Billion Office Copier Business Unit, where he directed design, development, manufacturing, and marketing of Xerox office copiers and digital systems around the world. 

An active business leader, Mr. Fullwood sits on the Board of Directors of SPX Corporation and the Vanguard Group. Formerly he served on the Board of General Signal Corporation.   He frequently is named among the nation’s top executives, earning recognition in 2007 from Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “75 Most Powerful African-Americans in Corporate America,” and in 2004 from VARBusiness magazine as one of the “Top 100 Executives” responsible for supporting computer resellers.

A passionate community leader, Mr. Fullwood currently serves as a board member and/or officer for a wide range of organizations, including: Amerigroup; the Rochester, N.Y. Urban League; Rochester Boy Scouts of America Otetiana Council; the University of Rochester Medical Center;the Xerox Foundation; Monroe Community College, North Carolina A&T University's College of Engineering Industry Advisory Group and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.  He also heads the United Way of Greater Rochester’s Howard Wilson Coles Society, and works with several professional and church organizations.

Mr. Fullwood holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from North Carolina State University, an MBA in marketing from Columbia University, and an honorary doctorate from North Carolina A&T University.   He and his wife, Vernita, have two daughters and reside in Pittsford, N.Y., a suburb of Rochester. 

Keynote Address: "The New Economic Journey" - Will you be there?

Family Nurse Practioner
Board Certified

Biography
Julius Johnson 3rd, affectionately known as "Jay-Jae", was born on February 27th, 1984 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY. Although born into a struggling family and a rugged neighborhood, through the love of his family, hard work, dedication, and persistence he persevered and made it out. As a high school football star, Julius decided to take the path of academics over athletics and eventually graduated from Clara Barton High School with a certification in Nursing Assistant. He then went on to attend Binghamton University was enrolled in Decker School of Nursing, which was and still is the top Nursing school in the state of New York.

While at Binghamton, Jay-Jae was the epitome of a Student Leader. He accelerated in both academics and student organization involvement. He was one of 2 people to ever be president of J.U.M.P. Nation for 2 years, which is a major college mentoring program in the Northeast. He eventually graduated and worked at NYU in the Intensive Care Unit for a year before he went into home care. His hard work and campus and community involvement earned him a full scholarship to Binghamton Graduate school in which he graduated as a Family Nurse Practitioner in May 2009. During his graduate studies, he was proudly initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated in the spring of 2007 and is a re-chartering member of the Mu Kappa chapter. Julius currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the Bronx, NY for Essen Medical Associates and he also still mentors. His future goal is to open up clinics in housing projects throughout Brooklyn, NY that can serve the community that it is surrounded by. Through these efforts and mentoring, Julius hopes to close the Health care gap and disparities that people of color face in America.

Workshop: "Restoring the health of the Black Male" : Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally
The focus of this forum is to provide insight into the stereotypes of diseases that disproportionally effect the Black male and to provide a better understanding on how improving these conditions can not only impact your physical health but can also promote longevity and unity of the entire family. It will also speak on the importance that mentoring has on the Black Male's health. The purpose is to help close the health care gap and disparities that Black males face, even if they don't know it.

Stony Brook University
Sr. Academic Advisor
Educational Opportunity Advisor

Biography
Jarvis M. Watson has worked in higher education for over 9 years.  Mr. Watson dedicated his time and talent to promising young middle school and high school students as a GEAR UP Coordinator, in a partnership between Kean University and the Perth Amboy School District.  Several years later, he switched gears and guided college students as a Counselor/Academic Advisor with the Exceptional Educational Opportunity Program at Kean University.  Currently, Mr. Watson serves as a Senior Counselor in the Educational Opportunity Program at Stony Brook University.  Mr. Watson earned a B.A. in English from Stony Brook University, a M.A. in Counselor Education from Kean University, and he is a doctoral candidate for the Education Administration, Leadership, and Technology Program at Dowling College. 

Workshop: Staying On Task: Directions for Success
Due to the unawareness of the college application process and being misinformed about the expectations set by institutions of higher education, many young under-represented men decrease their chances of being admitted to and retained in a college or university.  For the young men that are preparing for college and for those that have been admitted, it is important for them to understand that there guidelines for success that need to be followed.  By following these guidelines and taking a proactive approach toward their education, under-represented high school and college men will improve their chances of successfully navigating the application process and becoming fully engaged in the college experience.

Cornerstone Community Church
Endicott, NY

Biography
The Reverend Gregory Johnson is the co-founder and Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church, Endicott, NY. Cornerstone is the result of blending the congregation of Beautiful Plain Baptist Church and Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church together. Pastor Johnson is also the founder of Empower Community Agency, a non-profit agency that endeavors to reach out to the community bridging social and economical gaps.

Reverend Johnson serves a Board member of the Broom County Council of Church, the New York State American Baptist Board of Missions, a member of Family Violence Prevention Council of Broome County and a Member of the Ethics Committee of United Health Care Systems.

Pastor Johnson is a doctoral candidate of Northeastern Seminary, Rochester NY.
Rev. Johnson is a graduate of the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology Virginia Union, Richmond, VA with a Masters of Divinity.  He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and Technology from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

Rev. Johnson’s ministerial experiences also include serving as Chaplain of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk Va., Chaplain for The Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk VA; Assistant Pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Associate Pastor of New Calvary Baptist Church, Suffolk, Youth Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Suffolk, VA, and Chaplain Intern at the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center, Hampton, VA.

Reverend Johnson was ordained into the Gospel on June 24, 2001, he was licensed in the Ministry 1997.  The National Baptist Association 2001 also ecclesiastically endorsed him in 2001. 

He is married to Sister Stephanie Johnson and they reside in Vestal, New York.

Workshop: Claiming Your Inheritance
You are not a new version, you are designed for excellence. You are fearful and wonderfully made. Now is the time to tap into the power of excellence you were created to be. That will require stepping up to the challenges that are before you.

Binghamton University
Assistant Dean of Students

Workshop with Ken Boston: Taking the Next Steps:  Moving Beyond Support to Affecting Change.
Many colleges and high schools have some version of a men of color support group.  Once you have made it through that first year or two it is time to settle in on the focus which will work best for your group at your school.  This presentation will revisit the steps made at Binghamton University to crystalized the focus of the support group towards academic excellence.

Binghamton University
Capital Management Project Coordinator

Biography
Ken Boston is a Capital Management Project Coordinator at Binghamton University and is involved with space planning and design of the physical campus.  Previous to coming to Binghamton University, he supervised construction projects at Portland State University in Oregon. He has planned and designed educational, retail, and office spaces, throughout the country. He is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Art (known as the University of the Arts) and also attended Drexel University. He has a BS in Environmental Design.

Boston believes in investing time and resources for children and young adults. He has worked with and mentored students. He still sits on the Board of Directors of African American Visual Arts Scholarship (AAVAS) in Portland OR.  AAVAS supports young African American and African Diaspora men and women in their development to become artists.  AAVAS also awards scholarships for college at Portland State University.
Currently, he is the co-facilitator of the Men of Color Scholastic Society (MCS2) at Binghamton University.

Workshop with Milton Chester: Taking the Next Steps:  Moving Beyond Support to Affecting Change.
Many colleges and high schools have some version of a men of color support group.  Once you have made it through that first year or two it is time to settle in on the focus which will work best for your group at your school.  This presentation will revisit the steps made at Binghamton University to crystalized the focus of the support group towards academic excellence.

CUNY Black Male Initiative
Associate Director

Biography
Jermaine Wright is the Associate Director of The City University of New York Black Male Initiative (CUNY BMI). A graduate of Binghamton University with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, Wright later earned a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) degree with a concentration in Management and Operations from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY. Prior to becoming CUNY BMI Associate Director, Wright worked at the National Urban League as a Program Manager for the Urban Youth Empowerment Program (UYEP), a comprehensive workforce development model for disconnected and adjudicated youth between the ages of 18 -24. As a Program Manager, Wright managed several National Urban League affiliates across the nation that were operating UYEP. Additionally, he revised program policies/procedures to better serve participants' needs.

Wright’s other work experience includes monitoring the employment status of clients transitioning from public assistance to the workforce as a Site Supervisor at Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, and developing workshops/special events for low-wage workers as an AmeriCorps member. In his spare time, Wright serves as a mentor to young people through Catholic Big Sisters/Big Brothers. Wright is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., an international service organization predicated upon achievement and the uplifting of underserved low-income communities, where he serves as President of the Queens Alumni Chapter.

Workshop: Mentoring and it's connection to academic success.
It is critical in life to have mentors to help guide you along the way and help you avoid pitfalls.  This presentation will focus on the affect mentors have on academic success.  Whether they are instructors, coaches, or a family friend an effective mentor is in valuable.

Beth Israel Medical Center
Clinic Manager

Biography
John R. Lopez grew up in Far Rockaway Queens, New York.  He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Brooklyn College, and earned his Master’s in Health Care Policy and Management from Stony Brook University. 

He currently co-manages a clinic at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City that caters primarily to the opiate addicted population.  In addition he works as a Saturday Administrator at Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation in New Hyde Park, New York.  John has over twenty years experience in the health field, and has held positions in a variety of areas; primarily in counseling, supervisory, and managerial roles. 

John advises and mentors early careerists through the Greater New York Hospital Association as well as the Health Care Leaders of New York.  He is a member of several professional and development organizations including Toastmaster’s International, American College of Health Executives, National Association of Health Care Executives, and Healthcare Executives Club.

John lives with his wife and two daughters in Brentwood, Long Island.

Workshop: Success Essentials
- The power of relationships; networking
- Specialized workshops i.e. empowerment, Leadership, Time Management etc..
- Establishing Mentors
- Being open to Therapy (Self-discovery)
- Book recommendations.

Beth Israel Medical Center
Crisis Intervention Counselor
Author/Playwright

Biography
Ramon Maisonet is an author, playwright and motivational speaker who was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City. Ramon has attended Audrey Cohen College for Human Services, and upon completion has been providing counseling in various modalities of treatment. For the last nine years Ramon has been working as a clinician in the field of substance abuse.

Ramon is in the process of developing a not-for-profit organization called “The Process to the Promise. He has also written a book under the same title which is currently being utilized as an intervention for young at risk adolescents in New York City in a variety of programs such as Henry Street Settlement, The Dome Project, several churches in New York City.

Ramon also is a Chaplain and has been a role model for his community for the last 11 years by feeding the homeless, delivering gifts to kids whose parents are incarcerated, and speaking to the youth in his neighborhood. Mr. Maisonet’s goal is to identify future young leaders and help empower and assist them with the tools necessary to become a force and a voice that will speak against the injustices that are occurring against our Black and Hispanic youth.

Workshop: Process to the Promise
- Finding our purpose and overcoming challenges during the journey.
- Altering one's relationship with fear.
- Personal story of Ramon Maisonet