BEFH Gala & Awards Order of Program
Doors open at 5:40 p.m.
5:50 p.m. - VIP Reception Banquet Room /Networking lounge and Museum
5:50 - 6:30 p.m. - VIP Reception
6:35 pm begin dinner buffet and be seated in banquet hall
7 pm - Welcome & Emcee Introduction: Tychelle Ransom & Mentoria Green - Planning Committee Co-Chairs
Johnny was born into poverty in Florida before earning a football scholarship to Kansas Wesleyan University. For twenty-four years Mr. Taylor has been motivating, mentoring, and helping disadvantaged youth overcome adversity.
He has amassed experience in social development, training and administration. What started as a job quickly became his passion. Johnny’s philosophy permeates the environments he works and leads. This includes every student and staff member at Flint Hills Job Corps where he has worked as the Center Director for the past 4 years and is now the Vice President of Serrato Corporation which oversees Job Corps across the Midwest. He is also the CEO and Founder of On Purpose Works.
Mr. Taylor challenges everyone, every day to be better and do better. His outside-the-box approach has cultivated strategic workforce development partnerships across the nation.
Johnny is a certified life coach and has certifications in Management Development Training and Executive Development.
7:05 p.m. Prayer + Introduction of BEFH President & Founder, Sheila Ellis-Glasper
Born and raised in the sunflower state of Kansas, Sheila is a graduate of Kansas State University, nationally published journalist, moderator and interviewer. During her reporting career, she leveraged the importance of social media to build relationships.
In her role at Kansas State University as the social media manager, she built the university’s social media presence to be recognized as a top university on social media in the nation.
Sheila served as the social media consultant for the Kansas Small Business Development Center and founded SEG Media Collective LLC in 2016 to provide branding and social media consulting and management services to businesses worldwide.
Over the past decade, Sheila and her team have crafted dozens of award-winning brands in the Midwest and across the United States.
She is an advocate for underestimated businesses, economic justice and is the founder and president of the Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills. Sheila was awarded the 2021 Minority Business Advocate of the Year from the State of Kansas Department of Commerce and most recently 15 under 40 awarded by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
Sheila is a proud wife to Jermain and mom of two boys, Tre & Jeremiah.
7:10 pm - BEFH Video Presentation
7:15 p.m. - Justin AaronIntroduction- Nathania Riva & DeMario Johnson
Justin Aaron is a 34 year old gospel artist from Junction City, Kansas and semi finalist on NBC’s The Voice, Season 22. He is a behavioral Paraprofessional at Junction City High School. His passion for serving the youth comes from him once sitting in those same seats.
When Justin isn’t singing, he is spending time with his wife Kori. Together, they have overcome many obstacles thrown their way in the last few years. Justin gives all of his growth and accomplishments to God. He gives back by singing often in Junction City and surrounding areas at many events, small or large, for the simple joy of having the Lord move through him to move through others when they hear him sing.
7:15 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. - Justin Aaron Song #1 & 2
7:25 p.m. - Introduce Doug Barrett, VP of BEFH
Doug Barrett is the owner of 400 North Creative and Vice President of founding member of Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills.
He is an internationally recognized photographer & cinematographer published in Time, National Geographic, BBC News and New York Times.
He works to document justice issues, and marginalized communities in America.
He believes that education leads to empathy, compassion, and equality, which is the first step in any change for good or justice.
7:25 p.m. - 7:35 p.m.
Doug Barrett, Testament to Community:
Stephanie Pierce-K-State Innovation Partners
Jason Smith/ Summer Dierks - Greater Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Jenn Laird, Network Kansas
Circle of Community Awards: 7:35 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. Sheila & Johnny Taylor:
Circle of Community Grantees:
356 Days 365 Chances Counseling Services LLC
Youth Achievement Awards:
These two are our youngest members and this award showcases that you are never too young to pursue your dreams.
Black Excellence Awards
This award showcases African Americans in our community that have been nationally recognized for their talents, gifts and achievements and we want to give them their flowers while they are here in our local area.
Lifetime & Longevity Achievement Award
This award honors a Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills member who has shown commitment to entrepreneurship and successful business practices that in turn has allowed them to stay in business for more than 20 years.
Clay Taylor, American Family Insurance
Sponsors Recognition
Circle of Community Sponsors:
Cámara de Comercio de Manhattan
Kansas Black Leadership Council
Kansas African American Affairs Commission
Greater Manhattan Community Foundation
365 Days 365 Ways Counseling Services
On Purpose Works, Johnny Taylor
Mary Vanier, ESB Financial
Red Kansas
Ward & Brenda Morgan Community Fund
8:05 p.m. - 8:10 p.m. Introduction of Keynote
Dell Gines is a lead community development advisor at the Kansas City Fed's Omaha Branch. Gines specializes in small business, particularly entrepreneurship-led development. This approach says that entrepreneurship is an effective way to establish sustainable wealth from employment and ownership, which results in thriving markets and a healthy society.
Gines’ most recent work is the Small Business Owners of Color Recovery guide. Co-authored with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, it shares ways communities can support small businesses of color working to recover from the pandemic.
Gines joined the Kansas City Fed in 2011. He began his career in banking then managed a small nonprofit business incubator. After that, he worked for Habitat for Humanity and then ran a small non-profit health care organization.
Gines received his master’s in business administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha, his master’s in finance from Bellevue University and, in 2021, received his Ph.D. from University of Nebraska Omaha’s College of Public Administration.
He is a commissioner on the Nebraska’s inaugural African American Commission and serves on the equitable economic development committee for the International Economic Development Council.
Gines lives with his wife and two of his five children in Omaha. In his free time, he serves as the assistant basketball coach for Omaha Christian Academy.
8:05 - 8:30 p.m. - Dell Gines - Keynote
8:30 - 8:35 Introduction of JahVelle- Jermain (BEFH Board Member, Co-Founder BEFH, SEG Media)
JahVelle Rhone was born and raised in the heart of Kansas City, Ks, where he found a love and gifting in music in the church and at home.
JahVelle has played alongside many jazz greats such as Legendary Jazz Hall of Famer trumpeter “Clark Terry”, National Smooth Jazz bassist and Kansas City Native, Julian Vaughn, Smooth Jazz Saxophonist, Vandell Andrew, B.K. Jackson. Sharing the platform in ministry with numerous Gospel Recording Artists which include the ministry of Pastor Jason Nelson, Anita Wilson, Tommi and Tobbi, Vicki Yohe, Clifford “HizWay” Watkins, Pastor Michael Lampkin,featured by Minister Jason Sims on the song entitled “David’s Harp”, Justin Aaron And The Royal Priesthood and many more.
He is a K-State graduate, social influencer, activist, husband, father and pastor.
8:35 p.m. - 8:40 p.m. - Jahvelle Perform
8:40 p.m. - 8:50 p.m. Justin & Jahvelle Perform
8:55 - 9 p.m. Recognition of Gala Committee Members
Closing