Raised by my grandparents; my grandfather worked in an upscale nursery today he would be called Horticulturist Expert. I would help in the family garden; we had an abundance of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.  Later in life, worked at the Wonder Bread Company, skilled at making bread.  Every Friday he would bring bread home from work, then share the bread with our neighbors, along with food from our garden.

My grandmother worked at General Motors (GM) during WWII, as a “Black Rosie the riveter.”  She then left GM, and worked as a cook at Rider College.  Several of my aunts and uncles also worked as cooks, at Princeton University.  My family has been in the “business of service” throughout their careers. I grew up in “the church” and participated in different grassroots organizations as a child; and learned quickly what it meant to live in the wrong zip codes.  It is sad to say that this “wrong” still exists today.

My professional career started in my uncle's business, at age 14,  I learned skills, such as customer service, a hard hand shake, and valuing the art of networking.  During my Masters’ and Doctoral studies, I became a trailblazer, as a Black woman, in System Thinking, being the first in various corporate positions.  One such opportunity was working with The Boeing President Mel Stamper to take the Mayor of Seattle, and 14 Washington State dignitaries, to East and West Africa, to deliver Medic-One vehicles of Washington Sister City Program.  This provided prehospital, basic and advanced, life support services.  

I was part of several executive teams during my 25 years in corporate, working with experts , such as world renown Dr.  Edward Deming, Peter Senge, Don Swartz, founder of Antioch University, OSR Graduate Program, and Dr. Ron Heifetz, Founding Director of Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School.  I retired from corporate life, and went back to what I know is service. Our farm focus is social justice, marginalized urban/rural community issues, and prevention gardening for Type 2 Diabetes. 

Fred serves as the Training Project Manager responsible for working with clients and managing the development and implementation of Customized Training, Expert Consulting, and Personalized Coaching services.
With over 10 years’ experience in public, private and educational sectors, Fred has also worked in training or education as an instructor/facilitator, department head and director of instructional programs. Over these years’ of experience, he has provided creative and resourceful leadership and development of training utilizing various methodologies.  He has developed and taught Train-the-Trainer courses, developed and delivered Equity and Social Justice training all across the State of Washington and provided formal and informal coaching from the individual contributor to executive level.
Fred holds a Master of Science in Workforce Education/Organizational Development from Southern Illinois university and a doctorate from Oregon State University in Educational Leadership.  He is certified as a trainer in Equity and Social Justice Training and a facilitator in Continuous Improvement.

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Mr. Boyd is the Chief Financial Officer of Boyd Properties for over 35 years.  Boyd Properties is a family owned business, which owns 7 apartment buildings, and rental homes.  James’s main job is overseeing the financial operations, and making decisions based on the company’s financial stability.  He also helped oversee and manage their 18 employees, which included the property managers.  Other duties included, the overseeing and collecting of rents, in which he then put the monies in the bank.  Furthermore, having customer service with the tenants on a daily basis; as well as interviewing potential tenants.