Board of Directors
Custom Resources NFP serves as the parent organization and institutional home for the TRECC Community Development Foundation and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum. The Board of Directors provides governance, strategic direction, and fiduciary oversight for the full Custom Resources ecosystem, guiding initiatives that span workforce development, education, culture, civic engagement, economic mobility, and community-centered institution-building.
The Board of Directors of Custom Resources NFP is a multidisciplinary governance body bringing together deep expertise in community development, public administration, workforce systems, education, clean energy, finance, real estate, risk management, cultural production, and civic engagement. Collectively, the board reflects decades of leadership across nonprofit, government, private-sector, and community-based institutions, positioning Custom Resources to operate effectively at the intersection of culture, opportunity, and economic mobility while housing and supporting both TRECC and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum.
The board provides strong strategic and fiduciary oversight, with members experienced in executive leadership, budgeting, compliance, policy navigation, and organizational scaling. This includes direct experience managing public-sector budgets, securing and administering state appropriations, overseeing institutional operations, and ensuring regulatory and ethical compliance—capabilities essential to the long-term sustainability and funder readiness of Custom Resources and the initiatives it houses.
Custom Resources’ board is particularly distinguished by its workforce and education expertise. Members have designed and implemented adult and youth training programs, developed industry-aligned curricula, overseen large-scale workforce performance systems, and built career pathways connecting education to employment in both traditional and emerging industries. This includes hands-on experience in safety systems, credentialing, instructional design, and employer engagement, ensuring that programs operated through Custom Resources, TRECC, and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum are both culturally relevant and labor-market responsive.
The board also brings substantial strength in emerging industries and future-focused economic development, particularly in clean energy and climate workforce systems. Board leadership includes experience in renewable energy deployment, sustainability strategy, international infrastructure development, and state-level climate workforce policy—positioning Custom Resources to create equitable access to growth sectors while aligning housed initiatives like TRECC with public policy and funding opportunities.
Complementing this is deep expertise in finance, risk management, and asset stewardship. Board members have backgrounds in banking, lending, underwriting, investigations, safety management, real estate brokerage, appraisal, and property valuation. This collective skillset ensures responsible financial oversight, informed decision-making around assets and facilities, and strong internal controls as Custom Resources expands its operational footprint and supports the institutional growth of TRECC and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum.
Equally important is the board’s community-rooted leadership and cultural competency. Members bring lived experience and professional backgrounds in restorative justice, youth development, mental health supports, veteran services, civic engagement, and cultural production. This grounding ensures that Custom Resources’ strategies remain accountable to the communities it serves while translating community knowledge into institutionally viable programs across its housed initiatives.
Together, the Custom Resources Board of Directors provides a rare combination of grassroots credibility and institutional fluency. Their collective leadership enables the organization to bridge culture and careers, community and policy, innovation and accountability—ensuring that Custom Resources, TRECC, and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum remain mission-driven, fiscally sound, and positioned for long-term impact.
Brian Gorman — President of the Board
Brian Gorman serves as President of the Board of Custom Resources NFP, the parent organization that houses the TRECC Community Development Foundation and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum. He brings more than two decades of experience in community-based cultural production, youth development, media, and grassroots institution-building. His leadership is grounded in hands-on work that blends creative practice with civic engagement, public health awareness, and workforce skill development.
Brian is the founder and proprietor of Custom Resources, a community resource center in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood that provides seminars, workshops, screenings, town halls, and youth programming—directly aligning with the organization’s mission to create accessible pathways to knowledge, skills, and opportunity. Through this work, he has demonstrated the ability to build trusted community spaces, design relevant programming, and sustain long-term engagement. Under his leadership, Custom Resources serves as the institutional home and operational backbone for both TRECC and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum.
His experience as a Program Facilitator for After School Matters includes developing and delivering curriculum that teaches DJing while exposing youth to adjacent career paths such as music production, sound engineering, and event production—an approach that mirrors the broader Custom Resources model of connecting culture to workforce readiness.
Brian has also led and supported large-scale public events and initiatives, including serving as a Festival Producer for Alderman JoAnn Thompson’s 16th Ward Community Music Festival, producing multi-pavilion events that integrated health screenings, education, entertainment, and community services. His background includes extensive work in marketing, promotions, print, and design for initiatives such as World AIDS Day campaigns, the Chicago Football Classic, and multiple HIV awareness and community-building projects through BASUAH.
Earlier in his career, Brian contributed to major national cultural platforms, including the Essence Music Festival, where he supported main-stage artist and sponsor activations, further strengthening his ability to operate within large institutional and cross-sector environments.
As Board President, Brian leverages this blend of community trust, cultural fluency, program design, and institutional-scale experience to guide the strategic vision, partnerships, and mission alignment of Custom Resources and the organizations it houses—ensuring that all initiatives remain rooted in community while meeting the standards required for funders, public agencies, and long-term sustainability.
DeJuan Kea — Vice President / Treasurer
DeJuan Kea serves as Vice President and Treasurer of Custom Resources NFP, bringing extensive expertise in government relations, public affairs, regulatory compliance, coalition building, and fiscal oversight. His leadership strengthens the organization’s ability to operate effectively at the intersection of community development, public policy, and institutional funding systems across Custom Resources, TRECC, and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum.
As Founder and CEO of Campaign Strategies & Consulting, DeJuan has led high-stakes advocacy, lobbying, and strategic initiatives for municipalities, school districts, corporations, associations, nonprofit institutions, and statewide organizations across Illinois. His work spans education policy, economic development, healthcare, utilities, finance, workforce systems, and statutory compliance—sectors directly relevant to the programming and funding landscape supported by Custom Resources.
DeJuan has a proven track record of securing state appropriations, coordinating legislative advocacy with members of Congress and U.S. Senators, and managing complex relationships between government agencies, elected officials, and community stakeholders. His experience includes work with the Illinois State Board of Education, where he supported statewide education reform efforts, legislative monitoring, and stakeholder engagement—insight that directly informs workforce readiness and education-aligned initiatives across the organization’s ecosystem.
In his leadership roles with political action committees and advocacy organizations, DeJuan has overseen financial compliance, reporting, budgeting, and regulatory adherence, ensuring alignment with state election law, disclosure requirements, and ethical standards. This experience translates directly to his role as Treasurer, where he supports fiscal accountability, risk management, and funder compliance across all programs housed under Custom Resources.
As Vice President, DeJuan also contributes strategic guidance on external communications, coalition development, and public-sector partnerships—helping Custom Resources navigate government systems while remaining grounded in community priorities. His ability to translate community-driven initiatives into policy-relevant and funder-ready frameworks is a critical asset to the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact.
Joseph J. Anderson — Board Member
Joseph J. Anderson serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing extensive experience in logistics, operations management, workforce supervision, veteran services, and institutional program development. His background strengthens the organization’s capacity to design and manage programs that require operational discipline, accountability, and scalable systems across Custom Resources and the initiatives it houses.
Joseph is a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Illinois Army National Guard, where he has served since 2011 as an Automated Logistical Specialist. In this role, he manages inventory control, procurement, accounting, fleet operations, compliance documentation, and personnel training—experience that directly supports the need for strong internal controls, program tracking, and operational efficiency as Custom Resources grows.
Beyond military service, Joseph has led large-scale institutional initiatives focused on veteran success, including securing funding to establish a university’s first Veteran Resource Center, supporting an 87% graduation rate among veteran-identified students, and implementing crisis response and counseling partnerships. He also played a key role in launching a Department of Veterans Affairs–recognized Stand Down event, serving veterans across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana—demonstrating his ability to coordinate multi-agency partnerships and deliver services at scale.
In the private sector, Joseph currently serves as Director of Field Operations for Gold Star Security and Vice President of Field Operations and Strategy for We’re Cleaning Inc., where he oversees talent acquisition, credential verification, operational logistics, government contracting services, and strategic growth. His experience managing companies that primarily serve governmental entities aligns directly with Custom Resources’ engagement with public-sector partners and compliance-driven funding environments.
Joseph’s leadership is grounded in service, accountability, and execution. As a board member, he contributes practical insight into operations, workforce management, program logistics, veteran-focused pathways, and institutional readiness, ensuring that mission-driven initiatives across Custom Resources, TRECC, and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum are supported by strong systems and real-world operational expertise.
James H. Washington — Board Member
James H. Washington serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing deep expertise in workforce development, adult education, instructional design, performance improvement, and organizational safety systems. His background uniquely positions the organization to build career pathways that are not only accessible, but structured, measurable, and aligned with employer and industry standards across the initiatives it supports.
James currently serves as Director of Performance and Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) at Corrugated Supplies Company (CSC), where he is responsible for performance development and safety systems for more than 1,000 employees across nine manufacturing facilities nationwide. In this role, he leads workforce training, compliance, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives—experience that directly supports workforce readiness, credentialing, and employer-aligned programming delivered through Custom Resources and TRECC.
In addition to his corporate leadership, James has served as Board Vice-Chairman and Trustee of the Workers’ Compensation Trust of Illinois, where he held fiduciary responsibility and supported ethical governance, risk management, and compliance. This governance experience strengthens board-level oversight and reinforces best practices in accountability and risk mitigation.
Earlier in his career, James spent more than a decade with Océ North America (a Canon Group company) in senior technical training, product management, and performance consulting roles. He designed and led national training programs, developed train-the-trainer systems, implemented adult learning methodologies, and logged over 10,000 hours of classroom instruction. His work included designing career-to-education pipelines, such as a print technology curriculum for Chicago Public Schools, directly aligning education with workforce entry and advancement.
James holds a Master of Science in Technology, Adult Instructional Design, and Development and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and Manufacturing Management, along with certifications in SHRM, OSHA (10- and 30-hour), coaching methodology, and PC+. As a board member, he contributes expertise in curriculum design, workforce safety, performance evaluation, employer engagement, and scalable training systems, ensuring that programs across Custom Resources are structured for real-world success in regulated, high-demand industries.
Senyo Ador — Board Member
Senyo Ador serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing deep expertise in renewable energy, clean-energy workforce development, organizational strategy, international partnerships, and public-sector alignment. His background positions the organization to lead in emerging industries while ensuring programs remain scalable, credential-aligned, and policy-relevant across Custom Resources and TRECC initiatives.
Senyo currently serves as Senior Vice President of Renewable Energy for FBRK Brands LLC (TRECC), where he leads the development, evaluation, and expansion of renewable energy programming connected to expos and initiatives. In this role, he manages implementation teams, identifies innovative program models, and develops partnerships that strengthen outcomes while aligning programs with available budgets and workforce demand.
In parallel, Senyo is Chief Operating Officer of Sesenergi Eco Solutions Enterprise LLC, where he oversees company strategy, long-term growth planning, budgeting, forecasting, and board reporting. His executive experience ensures that Custom Resources benefits from disciplined operational planning and sustainability-focused decision-making as it scales clean-energy initiatives.
Previously, Senyo served as West Africa Territory Manager for Weldy-Lamont Associates, managing relationships with multinational institutions involved in private-sector energy lending and working directly with federal and local governments to support Self-Help Electrification Projects (SHEP). This work gives him unique insight into international development finance, government coordination, and infrastructure deployment—perspectives that inform public-private and global engagement strategies connected to Custom Resources’ programming.
Earlier in his career, Senyo worked as a Field Engineer with General Electric, installing and commissioning power generation systems and overseeing site safety compliance, and as a Broadcast Media Sergeant in the United States Army, where he led technical teams and produced high-quality media content. He also serves as a Director and Mentor with the Institute of Positive Education (Betty Shabazz International Charter School Network), developing STEM curricula, introducing solar-powered aquaponics systems, and securing sponsorships for student programming.
Senyo holds numerous high-level certifications, including Governor-appointed member of the Illinois Climate Jobs Workforce Council, MIT Chief Sustainability Officer Certification, NABCEP Associate Credential, Certified Renewable Energy Manager, Solar PV Instructor, and EV Supply Equipment Design and Installation credentials. As a board member, he contributes leadership in clean-energy strategy, workforce credentialing, policy alignment, and cross-sector partnerships, helping position Custom Resources and its housed initiatives at the forefront of equitable access to the green economy.
Rapheal D. Powell — Board Member
Rapheal D. Powell serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing extensive expertise in risk management, financial services, investigations, compliance, safety, and workforce performance systems. His background strengthens internal controls, fiscal responsibility, and the organization’s ability to meet the expectations of funders, lenders, and institutional partners across Custom Resources and the initiatives it supports.
Rapheal currently works in Performance Development and Safety at Corrugated Supplies Company, LLC, where he leads workforce-wide safety initiatives, evaluates safety management systems, manages workers’ compensation claims, and drives continuous improvement in performance outcomes. His role requires direct engagement with leadership, managers, and frontline staff to ensure compliance, documentation accuracy, and risk mitigation—experience that directly supports governance and operational oversight.
Previously, Rapheal served as an Analyst and Investigator with Hillard Heintze, one of the nation’s leading corporate investigation and security risk management firms. In this role, he conducted complex investigations, due diligence, threat assessments, fraud analysis, and litigation support for organizations seeking to protect assets, people, and reputations. This investigative background provides critical insight into organizational risk, ethics, and accountability.
Rapheal also brings deep experience in banking, lending, underwriting, and mortgage operations, having held roles including Branch Business Banker, Senior Account Executive, Mortgage Loan Officer, and Quality Control Specialist/Mortgage Investigator. Across these roles, he managed loan origination and underwriting, evaluated creditworthiness, identified fraud and misrepresentation, and funded more than $10 million in home loans, demonstrating disciplined financial judgment and regulatory awareness.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and additional qualifications in Real Estate Transactions, SHRM People Management, and OSHA 30-Hour Training. As a board member, Rapheal contributes leadership in financial oversight, compliance, risk management, safety systems, and performance accountability, ensuring that the mission-driven work of Custom Resources, TRECC, and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum is supported by strong governance, ethical operations, and institutional credibility.
Edwin L. Sargent — Board Member
Edwin L. Sargent serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing extensive experience in education leadership, student support services, restorative justice practices, workforce transition, community outreach, and grant-supported programming. His background strengthens the organization’s ability to design programs that meet participants where they are while supporting long-term educational and career outcomes across the initiatives it houses.
Edwin has served in multiple roles across K–12 education, higher education, and workforce systems, including as a Restorative School Specialist with Project Oz, Youth & Family Services, where he trained educators in restorative justice practices, facilitated conflict mediation, and coordinated wraparound services for students in collaboration with schools, law enforcement, and community providers. This work directly aligns with Custom Resources’ commitment to trauma-informed, community-centered approaches to development.
At Illinois State University’s First Star Academy, Edwin served as Program Coordinator, where he developed leadership programming, coordinated college readiness initiatives, supervised and mentored scholars, and supported program evaluation and compliance. His experience in documenting outcomes, supervising staff, and managing multi-component youth programs strengthens program management and reporting capacity across Custom Resources and TRECC.
Edwin’s earlier work includes roles as a Business & Community Liaison and SkillsUSA Lead Advisor for the Bloomington Area Career Center, where he managed partnerships with educational institutions and the business community, authored and monitored grant proposals, coordinated workforce readiness programming, and secured public and private funding. He also brings experience as a Transition Educator/Job Coach with the Texas Workforce Commission, supporting youth and young adults with disabilities in employment readiness and workplace integration.
Additional experience in property management, bookkeeping, and small-business operations provides Edwin with a practical understanding of organizational finance, operations, and accountability. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and an Associate of Arts in Social Work, and remains actively engaged in professional and community organizations focused on equity, education, and workforce development.
As a board member, Edwin contributes leadership in program design, grant alignment, student support systems, restorative practices, and community engagement, ensuring that initiatives across Custom Resources are inclusive, responsive, and positioned for sustainable impact.
Leroy L. Willis — Board Member
Leroy L. Willis serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing extensive expertise in real estate brokerage, property valuation, appraisal, asset management, and community-based housing development. His background supports place-based development, facility planning, and long-term asset sustainability across Custom Resources and the organizations it houses.
Leroy is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser and Managing Broker/Owner of Willis Realty, with more than a decade of experience assisting clients with residential, investment, and rental properties. He has conducted comprehensive interior and exterior appraisals for private clients, lenders, and institutions, providing unbiased valuation analysis grounded in market research and comparable sales data. This expertise is especially valuable as Custom Resources evaluates facilities, real estate partnerships, and community-based development opportunities.
In addition to his brokerage and appraisal work, Leroy has experience as a Supervisor in an Independent Living Program, where he supported clients with life skills, job readiness, and independent living services. This blend of real estate and human services experience aligns with the organization’s mission to connect economic development with community stability and individual advancement.
Leroy also brings a strong commitment to youth development and community engagement, having served for many years as a volunteer coach and event coordinator for youth sports programs throughout the Chicagoland area. His long-standing involvement in community-based activities reinforces Custom Resources’ emphasis on trusted local leadership and relationship-driven impact.
As a board member, Leroy contributes leadership in real estate strategy, property valuation, asset stewardship, and community-rooted development, helping ensure that the physical and financial assets supporting Custom Resources, TRECC, and the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum are managed responsibly and in alignment with long-term mission goals.
Dante Sawyer — Board Member
Dante Sawyer serves as a Board Member of Custom Resources NFP, bringing more than two decades of experience in public administration, government affairs, policy analysis, community engagement, and large-scale organizational management. His background positions the organization to effectively navigate public-sector systems while maintaining strong accountability, transparency, and community trust across the initiatives it houses.
Dante currently serves as Village Manager for the Village of Hazel Crest, where he functions as the chief administrative officer overseeing all municipal departments and operations. In this role, he manages personnel policy, prepares and administers municipal budgets, oversees procurement and contracts, evaluates senior leadership, and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. His experience managing complex public budgets, reporting to governing boards, and balancing community priorities directly strengthens governance and executive oversight capacity.
Previously, Dante served as Deputy Director of External Affairs for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he developed and executed countywide community engagement strategies, supervised staff, managed external partnerships, and administered a six-figure departmental budget. He also served as a senior liaison between government leadership and the public—experience that aligns directly with the community-facing initiatives supported by Custom Resources.
Dante’s career also includes extensive experience in legislative and political operations, including serving as District Office Manager for a Member of Congress, Regional Field Director for congressional campaigns, and leadership roles in statewide and national political initiatives. He has managed staff and volunteers, overseen compliance-driven operations, developed public-facing programming, and coordinated large-scale civic events—skills that translate directly into advocacy, convening, and ecosystem-building work across Custom Resources and TRECC.
He holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Political Science and brings strong technical proficiency in data systems, budgeting tools, and administrative platforms. As a board member, Dante contributes leadership in government relations, public-sector compliance, organizational management, civic engagement strategy, and executive accountability, ensuring that Custom Resources is positioned to operate credibly within public systems while advancing community-driven outcomes.