The qualifications, experience, and readiness to serve as Mayor of Washington, DC
Education and Professional Credentials
- A Better Chance (ABC) Scholar: Selected at age 14 to attend Fountain Valley College
- Preparatory High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado; nationally competitive program for high-achieving minority students. Graduated ranked 5th in the Class of 1975.
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — University of the Pacific.
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications — University of the Pacific.
- Juris Doctor — Howard University School of Law.
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation — Georgetown University Law Center.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — District of Columbia.
- Attorney admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia.
- Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government — Senior Executives in State and Local Government Certificate.
- Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government — Crisis Management: Preparation, Performance, and Leadership Certificate.
- Harvard University — Professional & Executive Development Program Certificate: Managing Yourself and Leading Others.
Public-Sector Leadership & Oversight
- Ward 5 Councilmember (eight years).
- At-Large Councilmember (two terms).
- Chair, Committee on Government Operations (2001–2007): Oversight of 23 District agencies.
- Chair, Committee on Business, Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (2012–2016): Oversight of 34 District agencies.
- Washington, DC Democratic National Committeeman (2006–2014) during the Obama administration.
Executive & Private Sector Leadership
- President & CEO, DC Chamber of Commerce (2016–2020): Elevated the Chamber’s national ranking from #5 to #1; generated more than $3 million in revenue in 2019; led business advocacy, workforce initiatives, and international trade engagement.
- Region Vice President for Government Affairs & Public Policy, PEPCO.
- Tax Senior, Arthur Andersen & Co.: Four years in the Tax Division providing complex tax planning, compliance, and advisory services to corporate and institutional clients.
- Chief Financial Officer, National Children’s Center.
International Experience & Global Engagement
- African/African-American Summits — First and Second Summits under the theme “Building Bridges for the Future,” held in Côte d’Ivoire; Dakar, Senegal; Gabon; and Morocco.
- Moscow Conference on Law and Bilateral Economic Relations — Delegate among approximately 1,500 attorneys (Moscow & Leningrad, USSR; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Tallinn, Estonia).
- U.S./Japan Bilateral Session — Tokyo; additional official visits to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
- DC Council Delegation (Chair Linda Cropp) — Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau.
- Mayor Anthony Williams Delegations — Europe, Asia, Africa; security initiatives.
- Mayor Muriel Bowser Delegations — El Salvador; Montreal & Ottawa; Cuba.
- Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner Delegation — United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi).
- DC Chamber of Commerce — Led delegations to Spain, Morocco, Bahamas; organized missions to Israel and Ethiopia; served as international voice of DC business.
Crisis Management & Security Leadership
- Washington Post bomb threats (two evacuations) and dignitary security for Presidents Marcos and Gorbachev.
- Anthrax response at Brentwood USPS facility.
- Gallaudet University homicide response.
Honors, Civic Leadership & Affiliations
- Vincent Orange Day — April 13, 2025.
- Washington, DC Hall of Fame Society (2018).
- DCTV Hall of Fame (2017).
- Washington Business Journal Power 100 (2016 & 2017).
- President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award (2023).
- Prince Hall Lodge No. 14 Lifetime Achievement Award (2017).
- Sigma Delta Tau Legal Fraternity Outstanding Service Award (2016).
- Certified Business Enterprise Award; Ready, Willing & Working Award.
- Life Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Prince Hall–Affiliated Mason; Leadership Washington.
- Raised $300,000 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.