Media executive | Strategist | Minister

I have always believed I was a child of God, recognizing from my upbringing in the Catholic church and my Christian calling that I wanted to serve the Lord. 

I considered entering the priesthood at the age of 14, but God had other plans.

I am currently serving on the ministerial staff of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Boynton Beach, FL. I have also served as an associate minister at Heritage Fellowship Church in Reston VA, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington DC.

I was licensed and ordained to preach by Morning Star First Baptist Church in Hickory, NC in 2013, where I was associate minister. My calling comes from the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 1, verses 1-7, which reads in part:

“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.

My career has taken me around the country, yet through all of those destinations and life’s trials, tribulations and travels, I remain a humble steward in service of God’s kingdom. 

As part of my ministry during the pandemic, I launched the YouTube channel Praying It Forward  and blogged on CultureofChrist.org. 

Here I am, pictured with Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. I've known The Pearl for many years, since he played at Winston-Salem State University for Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines.  My dad was one of Gaines' assistant coaches, where my love for sports grew, eventually leading me to cover sports for USA Today and ESPN. 

Over my career,  I've been a news and sports editor and non-profit leader with decades of experience in media, news management, organizational development and strategy. Over my 45-year career I have worked in 10 newsrooms, as a top editor in six of them including at The Undefeated/ESPN, Detroit, Dallas and Winston-Salem NC. 

I've taught twice at my alma mater, Washington and Lee University and was the Griffith Visiting Professor in the Journalism and Mass Communications recently. Currently, I am working on a biography and docuseries on the life and family of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo. 

I currently consult with non-profit and media organizations on leadership and organizational development and executive leadership. In my last full-time newsroom role at The Dallas Morning News, I was senior editor for sports, business and features. Prior to the News, I was senior editor at ESPN’s The Undefeated where I was an original staff member, as editor for commentary and HBCUs. I was also a founding staffer of USA TODAY in 1982, making my decades-long career truly unique. I currently serve as the board chair for the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, and board member for the Prison Journalism Project and OVISNews.com. I am a former Pulitzer Prize Juror, a HistoryMaker, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society.