Our Team

Founder and Visionary Leader

Bevon is a seasoned strategist, entrepreneur, and advocate for equity in education, technology, and financial literacy. With a career spanning leadership roles in finance, nonprofit management, and technology, Bevon has dedicated over a decade to empowering underserved communities through mentorship and innovative programming.

As the founder of this initiative, Bevon is building the company alongside his long-time mentees, Abdul Mohammed and Jacques Potts, whom he mentored through his nonprofit work with the Greenwood Project. Together, they are combining their expertise to deliver transformative workshops and resources that make AI, literacy, and technology accessible to underserved communities, nonprofits, and organizations.

Focus
As Founder and Visionary Leader, Bevon sets the strategic direction, drives high-level partnerships, secures funding, and ensures the team’s mission creates meaningful impact. His collaboration with Abdul and Jacques reflects his commitment to mentorship and developing the next generation of leaders while advocating for systemic change.

AI Specialist and Relationship Manager

Jacques is a rising leader in the AI and blockchain industries with a passion for making advanced technologies practical and accessible. Currently serving as Senior Partner Marketing Manager at Superintelligent, Jacques has successfully spearheaded campaigns, built thriving communities, and crafted growth strategies that drive innovation in emerging technologies.

A Chicago native, Jacques is deeply committed to empowering underrepresented communities through mentorship and education. His expertise in AI, combined with his relationship-building skills, allows him to bridge the gap between complex technologies and the people who can benefit most from them.

Focus
As AI Specialist and Relationship Manager, Jacques leads the development and delivery of AI-focused workshops, helping organizations and communities leverage AI for growth and innovation. Additionally, he manages key client relationships, ensuring seamless communication and long-term impact for the communities served.

Operational Specialist

Lasly Torres is a finance professional and community leader with a proven track record in operational excellence. A graduate of DePaul University, she has supported wealth management at William Blair and Northwestern Mutual, bringing precision and efficiency to every project.

In her role as Director of Events for ALPFA Chicago, Lasly has empowered the Latino community by organizing mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and professional development initiatives. Her commitment to creating opportunities extends to mentoring young adults in underserved communities, focusing on financial literacy and career readiness.

Focus

Lasly excels in creating efficient operational frameworks to ensure seamless execution of consulting initiatives. She specializes in event planning, strategic operations, and client relationship management, with a focus on engaging underserved communities. Her expertise also includes developing financial literacy programs and fostering sustainable partnerships to drive long-term impact.

Curriculum Lead and Educator

Abdul is a skilled software engineer and freelance developer raised on the South Side of Chicago. With a passion for education and innovation, Abdul has developed and facilitated numerous coding classes for high school and early college students. Leveraging his expertise, he has designed his own coding curriculum, blending technical proficiency with creativity to make complex software and tech principles accessible to diverse audiences.

Abdul’s work extends beyond traditional education—he has created chatbots that service over 400 end users and has a background in media and design. His approach combines artistic value with technical rigor, enabling him to convey complex ideas in engaging and impactful ways.

Focus
As Curriculum Lead, Abdul oversees the development of educational content, ensuring workshops on AI, digital literacy, and technology are accessible, practical, and inspiring. He is responsible for crafting engaging curricula tailored to underserved communities and empowering learners to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

Small Business Finance Consultant

Manuel J. Gonzalez is a finance professional and Greenwood Project Scholar, with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business. Through roles at Cabrera Capital Markets, BMO Harris Bank, Piper Sandler, and H&R Block, he has built expertise in credit analysis, financial modeling, and tax planning.

As Director of Corporate Relations for ALPFA, Manny has fostered partnerships with firms like Bank of America and KPMG, while advocating for financial literacy and growth in underserved communities. Proficient in financial tools such as Bloomberg, he empowers small businesses and nonprofits to achieve funding readiness and long-term stability.

Focus
As Financial Specialist, Manny focuses on improving the financial health of small businesses and nonprofits, particularly in underserved communities. He specializes in organizing finances for funding readiness, developing financial literacy resources, and leveraging AI tools to streamline processes. Manny is committed to empowering organizations to secure loans, grants, and investments while fostering long-term sustainability.

Lead Cybersecurity Engineer

Bradley Phillip is a seasoned cybersecurity expert with over 15 years of experience in safeguarding digital infrastructures and mitigating cyber risks. As the Founder and Lead Cybersecurity Engineer of his firm, he specializes in designing and implementing advanced security frameworks that protect businesses from emerging threats.

Throughout his career, Bradley has built robust security programs across industries such as fintech, insurance, real estate, and technology. His expertise spans cyber threat intelligence, risk management, and regulatory compliance. He has leveraged cutting-edge tools like QRadar, Splunk, CrowdStrike, and Vectra to drive proactive threat detection and incident response.

Bradley’s firm delivers tailored cybersecurity solutions, including penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and workforce training, enabling organizations to strengthen their cyber defenses. His approach focuses on bridging technology gaps for companies, ensuring seamless security integration, and empowering teams through hands-on cybersecurity education.

Focus
As a cybersecurity strategist, Bradley is dedicated to helping businesses understand evolving cyber threats and implement proactive defense mechanisms. He works closely with organizations to:

• Identify vulnerabilities and develop resilient security strategies.
• Provide hands-on cybersecurity training for teams.
• Integrate AI-powered threat detection and response solutions.

A recognized thought leader in cybersecurity, Bradley continues to advocate for stronger digital resilience, sharing insights on best practices, compliance, and emerging threats.