Dr. LaDonna Boyd - President/CEO R. H. Boyd Publishing Corporation and the Vision Conference • Nashville, Tennessee

Dr. LaDonna Boyd is the fifth-generation President/CEO of R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation in Nashville, TN. She has a passion for creating opportunities for underserved communities, providing educational resources for women and girls, and helping with environmental efforts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College, where she studied economics and French, a Master’s in Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance from Tennessee State University, and she is currently a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Education at Pepperdine University. She has also earned a certificate from the Harvard University Extension School in Digital Marketing Strategy. Additionally, she serves on numerous boards, including Citizens Savings Bank and Trust, National Museum of African American Music, and the Metro Davidson County Historic Zoning Commission, which is appointed by the mayor of Nashville. Lastly, she has received numerous awards and proclamations, including Top 30 Under 30, Top 40 Under 40, the Madame C. J. Walker Award from Mother Zion AME Church in Harlem New York, and a resolution from Davidson County, TN for her commitment to community service.

Dr. Gerald M. Dew, Dean - Pastor, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church • Chicago, Illinois

Pastor Gerald M. Dew is the humble pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois (19 years) and the former pastor of the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Houston, Texas (16 years). He is married to Marva Dew and is the father of Reverend Samuel and Eboni Dew. Pastor Dew has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Texas Southern University; Master of Arts in Theology, Houston Graduate School of Theology; Master of Divinity, Northern Theological Seminary; and Doctor of Ministry, Northern Theological Seminary. Pastor Dew serves at Northern Theological Seminary, Lisle, IL in several capacities including: Director of the Southside Center for Urban Leadership, Director of Master of Arts in Urban Leadership Degree Program, Doctoral Thesis Supervisor, and Affiliate Professor. In addition, he is Leader of the Ministers Conference, Illinois Missionary Baptist State Convention (former Convention President); Dean of Pastoral Development, North Woodriver District Association; Founder and Executive Director, Major Impact Ministries, Inc.; and Dean, National Baptist Congress. Pastor Dew has two publications: A Pilot Project for A Future Informed Leadership Development Process at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and Jigsaw Puzzle Leadership.

Dr. Marlon Coleman - Associate Dean Lead Pastor, The Temple of Hope (Antioch) • Muskogee, Oklahoma

Dr. Marlon J. Coleman was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the lead pastor of the Antioch Temple of HOPE Church, and mayor, City of Muskogee, OK, and a community advocate. Marlon retired from federal service after 22 years of working in administrative and financial management. Marlon is a graduate of the University of Phoenix having a Master of Business Administration degree and holds a Doctorate of Theology degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary. Since Marlon’s time in Muskogee he has been busy making the city of Muskogee a better place. He believes in hope for Muskogee and rallies for Muskogee to have living wage industry and technology jobs, a downtown that comes to life at night with fun and entertainment, indoor recreation for youth and adults, full-service public 4 year degree offerings so when young people graduate from high school they have the option to complete post secondary education and reinvest their talents in Muskogee, and ample housing options so we can live, work and play in Muskogee.

Pastor Breonus M. Mitchell, Sr. - Vision Conference Host Pastor, Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church

Pastor Mitchell was called to the pastorate of the Boyce Street MB Church in 1993. He founded Greater Grace Temple Community Church in 1997 and served for nineteen years. On April 3, 2016, he was called to serve as the 11th pastor of Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church.   

Pastor Mitchell is a graduate of American Baptist College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies. He has studied at Regents Park of Oxford University Oxford, England, receiving a Certificate in Textual Exegesis, Hermeneutics, and Homiletics. He received his Master of Theological Studies Degree from Lipscomb University Hazelip School of Theology in Nashville. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. He has received an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas Christian University. 

Pastor Mitchell is a subscribing lifetime member of the NAACP. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of American Baptist College, Donelson Christian Academy, Nashville Drug Court Support Foundation, and Dubois Academy. He is a member of the Executive Board and the Board of Directors for NBCUSA, Inc., 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Pastor Mitchell is also the author of A Fish Called Mercy.  

Rev. Olivia M. Cloud - Women’s Ministry Leader Assistant Pastor, Berean Baptist Church • Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Olivia M. Cloud has been actively engaged in the ministry of Christian and inspirational publishing since 1987 and has been a gender pioneer in every position of employment she has held in that time. She currently serves as associate editor of curriculum at the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) from the University of Kentucky (Lexington) and a Master of Religious Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Ky). She completed additional master’s level study in research methodology at the University of Louisville. Rev. Cloud is assistant pastor at Berean Baptist Church in Nashville and a volunteer minister at the Nashville Rescue Mission Hope Center Christian recovery program and leads chapel services quarterly at the Rescue Mission’s Family Life Center for transitional women and children. She is author/editor of nine books and has made contributions to several nationally and internationally distributed works. She has been a ghostwriter for a number of New York Times bestselling authors.

Rev. David Groves, DMin, PHD - R.H. Boyd Director of Publishing

Rev. David Groves is a native of Nashville, TN. He accepted the call to preach and was licensed at the age of 13 and ordained to the Christian ministry at 17 at the King Solomon Baptist Church in Nashville.

He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a BS degree in Business Administration. He also holds the Master of Divinity, the Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. His Doctor of Ministry project is entitled, “Enriching the Black Worship Experience at the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church.” His Doctor of Philosophy dissertation is “The Civil Rights Preaching of Martin Luther King, Jr.: An Examination of the Theological Concepts of Love and Justice as a Paradigm for Preaching.” He has done post-graduate studies at Boston, Harvard, and Emory Universities, and has served honorably in the U.S. Army.

Dr. Groves has also served as Pastor of the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church; as Professor of Bible and Theology, Director of Professional Studies, and Interim Academic Dean at the American Baptist College, both in Nashville, TN; as professor of History and Religion at Knoxville College, and taught African-American Studies at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville; as visiting professor of Black Church Studies at the Southern Seminary; and as professor of Preaching and Worship at Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC.

Dr. Groves currently serves as Director of Publications at the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation. He is also the founding pastor/servant leader of the Mountain of Hope Baptist Fellowship, here in Nashville, TN.

He holds member in the American Academy of Religion (AAR); the American Academy of Homiletics (AAH); the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL); and the Society of Black Scholars (SBS).

He is also the author of several articles on the preaching and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; presenter of workshops and seminars on the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons; Christian Teaching Methodology, and Biblical Hermeneutics.

He has published several sermons in The Minister’s Manual book series (2003-2008) published by Wiley Press.

Dr. Tommy L. Brown - R.H. Boyd Board Member & Instructor

Dr. Tommy L. Brown is the 5th pastor of New Mount Zion Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. He is a member of the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation’s Board of Directors. He is President of the Baptist Ministers’ Union of Dallas and Vicinity, Third Vice Moderator of the Greater Rising Star District Association, Dallas Chapter of the NAACP, and Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas. He is author of the book Activate Your Faith. Dr. Brown is a 1980 graduate of Ennis High School, and received an Associates of Arts Degree in Business and Computer Science from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas in 1982. He received Bachelor’s (April 1997), Master’s (April 1999), and Doctorate (Cum Laude, 2003) degrees in theology from Andersonville Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Ms. Ruth Chanel Morris. They have three children, Veronica, Angela, and Joshua.

Dr. Pamela Hardy - Dance Ministry

Dr. Pamela Hardy is an ordained minister,  a preacher / teacher of the Word of God. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance and a Doctor of Ministry degree from FICU in Merced, California. Pamela has danced on Broadway in New York City and performed in national and regional touring productions. 

Dr. Hardy travels throughout the United States and abroad.  God has sent her to over 23 countries. She is a frequent guest minister at churches, seminars and conferences.  Apostle Pamela is called to minister a Rhema word to worship teams, ministry networks, as well as in the area of women’s concerns. She is the founder of the International Company of Chayil Women.

Dr. Hardy is the founder of Eagles International Training Institute, an on-line international training school, serving and soaring in over 20 countries. EITI provides a School of the Arts, a School of Business and a School of Theology, with over 20 online courses to equip the body of Christ. She is also the founder of TEN (The Eagles Network – Worldwide. TEN also has a presence in over 20 countries.

Dr. Pamela is the author of several books and as a former pageant winner, Dr. Hardy has started Image1Enterprises, home of the I’m Inspired Pageant and Celebration for young girls 8-17 throughout the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex. IPAC inspires them to see their potential and to celebrate their dreams. She is also the Founder and Director of Set Free Evangelistic Ministries. 

She and her husband Chris are partners in life and ministry.  They live in Dallas, TX. 

Brian Brown - Drill Team Ministry

Brian Brown is a native of Houston, Texas. He is a loving husband and father of two. He is a graduate of Texas Southern University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Airway Science and a minor in Computer Science.

Brian joined the St. Agnes March of Faith Drill Team at the age of 11yrs old under the direction of Bro. Oscar Alexis (Former National Drill Team Coordinator for the National Baptist Sunday School and BTU Congress). He has been preparing for a number of years to lead the Drill Team ministry as Bro. Alexis’ successor, developing a wide range of skills necessary to lead drill teams through the next generation. Regarding his role, Mr. Brown said, “It is an honor and privilege to carry on Bro Alexis’s legacy by instilling confidence, discipline and dedication in today’s youth while carrying the Drill Team Ministry into the future.”

Besides using a lot of his free time with drill teams, Brian stays active in community service. He is a member of OBAP (Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals). Its mission is to enhance, advance and promote educational opportunities in aviation/aerospace and to develop and sustain a process for the ongoing mentoring of our youth. He actively participates in university and school visits.

Brian has traveled all over the world as an Airline Pilot for the last 14 years. He is currently flying as a First Officer on the Boeing 777 based out of Newark, New Jersey and has been most recently employed at United Airlines for the last 8 of those years.

Brian has achieved many proud accomplishments and one of his top accomplishments is mentoring young minds to do whatever it takes to achieve their life goals and become successful. In doing so, he is doing what he loves by inspiring, embracing and encouraging today’s youth.

Dr. Heather Burton - Oratorical Competition

Heather E. Burton, PhD, a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and African-American Studies with a minor in Theater, a Masters of Social Work, University of Akron, a Masters of Public Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies and Public Affairs both from Cleveland State University. 

Dr. Burton is employed with Case Western Reserve University, specializing in gender and racial equity, facilitating diversity training and encouraging individual and systemic change. She is faculty in African and Africana Studies and Social work.

Through her work she has dedicated her life to being a change agent enhancing the lives of others through education and philanthropy. She is Founder and CEO of Crimson Heights Ministries, Inc. a 501 (c)3 geared towards the holistic development of women. She is author of "Crimson Heights" and "I'm Single, So What?" A Woman’s Journey to Spiritual Contentment.  She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and has been featured as part of the Delta National Author Tour. She has been involved in acting and public speaking for over 25 years.

Dr. Burton has received numerous awards including the RH Boyd Award for Excellence, Staff Diversity Award, Mather Spotlight & Women of Achievement, YWCA Women of Achievement and listed in the Who’s Who of Black Cleveland.

Dr. Burton serves as the oratorical coach for East Mt. Zion Baptist Church and the Ohio Missionary General Baptist Convention of America.  She is also advisor for the Historic Greater Friendship Praise Dancers

She attributes her success to her family and her Christian Faith.

“If God can use me to touch one person, then my work is not in vain.”

… Dr. Heather E. Burton

Dr. T. B. Boyd III - President/CEO Emeritus of R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation Chairman Emeritus of Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company • Nashville, Tennessee

Dr. T. B. Boyd III is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. As a 1965 graduate of Pearl High School, he began his matriculation through Tennessee State University, graduating in 1969 with a B.S. degree in Business. Dr. Boyd is a 1980 recipient of the D.D. degree and a 1983 recipient of the Doctor of Letters.

Upon his graduation from Tennessee State University, he became a full-time employee at the R. H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, (formerly known as The National Baptist Publishing Board) in the position of Personnel Director. He began his career in the family business working in the bindery and mailing rooms in high school in the early 60’s. In 1972, Boyd was assigned to design and oversee the building of a new corporate headquarters where it would house all aspects of the corporation including the Publications Division, Marketing Division, Operations, and Distribution Division. This 65,000 square foot facility was completed in December of 1974.

Dr. Boyd is a recognized leader in the religious publishing industry and has continued to play a pivotal role in the development of Christian materials for African-American churches throughout the country.

In 1978, Dr. Boyd was appointed to the Board of Directors of Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company, the nation’s oldest African-American full-service bank, founded in 1904, and elected Chairman of the Board in 1982. In 1992, Dr. Boyd was appointed to the Board of Directors of First Union Bank. In order to serve on two bank boards, he was given special permission by the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States. Dr. Boyd is also a member of the National Bankers Association.

Dr. Boyd was inducted into the Nashville Public Schools Hall of Fame in 2005. He was the 2008 Thurgood Marshall awardee in Business, the recipient of the National Trumpet Award in Business in 2008, and he received the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Hall of Fame Award in Business in 2009. Dr. Boyd was inducted into the Blair & Beckwith Religious Hall of Fame in 2011.

In October 2017, Dr. Boyd retired as President/CEO of R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation and transitioned to Chairman Emeritus. He was succeeded by LaDonna Boyd. Dr. Boyd became Chairman Emeritus of Citizens Savings and Trust in 2019.

Dr. Boyd is married to the former Yvette Jean Duke. They are the proud parents of four children: T. B. IV, LaDonna Yvette, Shalae’ Shantel, and Justin Marriel.