The eBoard » LA Bison

Sabrina Garba

President

Sabrina K. Garba is passionate about creating environments where people thrive and reach their highest potential, also known as Accelerating Genius. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Glass Ladder Group, LLC, a consultancy helping people from different cultures work together to increase organizational efficiency. Sabrina is also the co-creator of the ARC Engagement Method, a methodology that enables organizations to achieve authentic engagement that is rooted in the culture and values. A certified intercultural trainer, Sabrina is a graduate of Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business Minority Business Programs. She has a Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications and Public Relations from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Culture from Howard University. In addition to serving as an Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of International Service, she chaired the Historically Black College and University Project at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is currently the President of Howard’s Alumni Club of Los Angeles, a Step Up Women’s Network Luminary Circle member, and a Fulfillment Fund Scholar Bridge Committee Member. Sabrina has received the Intercultural Achievement Award from American University, School of International Service (2015), and "Woman Who Disrupts" Entrepreneur Award by Lady ReBranded and City National Bank (2017). Sabrina is also a highly praised public speaker, host and commentator who has given talks on organizational culture, cross-cultural relations, entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, media and pop-culture. She has been featured in outlets like Huffington Post, Essence and Feminist.com to name a few.

Voncella McIntosh

Vice President

Voncella McIntosh is a Beverly Hills based Events, Partnerships & Talent Relations Consultant possessing over a decade of experience. Her expertise is in producing unique brand-driven events, curating talent relationships and forging strategic partnerships in entertainment, hospitality, corporate and non-profit industries. Before flexing her entrepreneurial skills by building a successful portfolio of clients over the past few years, Voncella developed a wealth of experience leading high level projects across world class brands. With positions like Sr. Director of Event Management & Communications for entertainment mogul Kevin Liles and strategic holding company KWL Enterprises, Director of Communications for NBCUniversal’s Oxygen Media and Senior Publicist at Viacom’s BET Networks, she was responsible for strategic implementation of a multitude of campaigns, corporate initiatives and mega special events. With education as her backbone, Voncella holds an MSc in Social and Public Communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science, along with a BA in Journalism (emphasis in Public Relations) and minor in Business Administration from Howard University. In dedication to her alma mater, she presently serves as Vice President for the Howard University Alumni Club of Los Angeles County.

Taylor Johnson

Events Co-chair

Originally from Cleveland, Taylor graduated from the School of C in 2012 with a BA in Journalism. Following Howard, she relocated to LA and landed a job at the Directors Guild of America, planning large-scale events including the DGA Awards and many other high-profile events attended by prominent filmmakers. After 4 years at the DGA, Taylor decided to pursue a long-held interest, real estate. Currently, she is an agent with ACME Real Estate. Taylor is excited to join the HUAC-LAC as Co-Event Chair and is looking forward to a very successful and fun term!

Sierra McDonald

Events Co-chair

Sierra is a creative and insightful Bison with a strong work ethic and team player personality. She grew up in Compton CA and followed her passion for the entertainment industry all the way to Howard University. She graduated with honors in 2016 with a degree in TV Production. In addition to serving as the 2018-19 Event Co-Chair for LA Bison, Sierra works in TV Production and Development for NBCUniversal. One of her favorite quotes is by Audre Lorde "If you don't define yourself for yourself, then you will be crushed into other people's fantasies of you and eaten alive." She also loves pugs and will be a proud pug mother some day.

Brandi Coleman

Group Activities Coordinator

Brandi Coleman (who prefers to be called Bee) is a 2006 graduate of the Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science (CEACS). Bee was born in the Philippines and moved with their Air Force family to Denver then Maryland before finding their way to HU on a full scholarship. After earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Bee spent several years in the Washington metro area honing their professional skills within different technical and consulting environments; first with a position as Junior Patent Examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office, then as a Consultant and Senior Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, providing program management to two offices within the Department of Defense's research arm known as DARPA. In 2010, Bee decided they had suffered enough of the East Coast's brutal winters and the mundanity of the “American dream” and set their sights on the Left Coast to pursue a goal of starting a business. In the summer of 2016, Bee launched their pet care service called To Bee Loved, offering thoughtful, loving care to dog and cat owners throughout South LA. Bee has always recognized the necessity of community and been an advocate for building strong social bonds for connection, for survival because "we all we got." After spending almost 8 years exploring the social and cultural landscape of LA, Bee is excited to join the LA Bison family as the Group Events Coordinator to help build community among and supported by Bison.

J. Marie Jones

Community Service Chair

J. Marie is a creative professional and entrepreneur who currently serves as the Director of Communications for Playing For Change and is a co-founder of the creative branding agency, Brainstorm Collective. She is a proud honors graduate of Howard University where she earned a degree in Communications with minors in education, sociology, and anthropology. As a singer/songwriter/musician, she’s released two independent albums and performs around the Los Angeles area with her band, The Color Different. She’s also held many roles behind-the-scenes in television production, artist management, A&R and music publishing—working with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Jamie Foxx, Alicia Keys, Linda Perry, and V. Bozeman, to name a few. In her spare time she loves to travel, paint, spend time with her dogson Benson, and serve her community through her work as the Community Service Chair for the Howard University Alumni Club of Los Angeles and as a mentor with the organization, Girls With Gifts.

Brandon Tanori

Web Co-chair

Brandon Tanori was born and raised in East Cleveland, OH and received his Bachelors Degree in Film Production from Howard University in 2009. He then relocated to Los Angeles, CA to pursue his Masters in Television Writing from Loyola Marymount University, which he completed in 2013. Brandon manages to business. One as a freelance videographer and the other as the president of a networking company for television assistants called the Writers Assistants Network. Brandon served as the LA Bison club president from July 2016 to June 2018.

Chris Walker

Web Co-chair

Simone Berry

Fundraising Chair

Simone Berry is a non-profit and fitness professional with over 10 years of experience in each respective field. Her passion for fitness and philanthropy started while she was student-athlete at Howard University where she received her BA in Journalism. Balancing athletics and academics taught Simone early on that you can peruse a profession without giving up your passion. Since Howard, she’s worked as a fitness instructor, personal trainer, a wellness coach in New York City and Los Angeles. Additionally, she led Reebok’s corporate responsibility program in New York City, consulted for several fitness outlets including Bowflex, Celsius, WTRMLN Water, and has worked for several non-profits. Currently, Simone owns and operates her own fitness company, Moni B Fit LLC, is a Regional Director at Coaching Corps, a non-profit whose mission is to provide every kid with a kind and caring coach and teaches group fitness classes at Equinox, a luxury gym. She is a proud member of the Howard University Alumni Club of Los Angeles and excited to serve on the board as the Fundraising Chair.

Haley Hall

Membership Chair

Haley Hall is a proud alumna of Howard University where she received her B.B.A. in Marketing. While in school she gained tremendous marketing experience interning with Red Bull, Apple, and even startups in Cape Town, South Africa. She loves marketing but chose to begin her career in consulting to gain a well-rounded knowledge of business. Haley moved to LA last September and began working at Accenture. She also recently started a blog focusing on travel, lifestyle, and career called www.lifeashales.com (@lifeashales).

Malon Murphy

PR Chair

Malon Murphy is a marketing and media specialist with a Film/English degree from the illustrious Howard University. After graduating in 2014 she took her talents back to her hometown of Los Angeles where she collected a myriad of experience in the entertainment and marketing business. She has helped build and manage campaigns for brands like CRWN Magazine, CB2, and a host of startups. Malon’s unique edge is her knowledge and experience with film and photography an edge she is striving to bring to LA Bison. Currently, she works as a media specialist and research assistant for the community agency Healthy African American Families in Leimert Park. Malon also serves as a stakeholder advisor on the University of Pittsburgh’s PCORI funded Storybooth Project; a national effort to collect and tell the stories of patients and caregivers in health care systems. In her spare time, she enjoys drinking wine, watching films, and making music. You can keep up with her at malondotcom.com

Christopher Cathcart

College Fair Chair

Jonathon Lucas

Treasurer

Jonathan Lucas is a native of Inglewood, CA where he transferred from El Camino College and became a proud alumna of Howard University. There he received his B.S. is Human Performance with a concentration in Sports Medicine. While at Howard he was able to gained experience and participate in many opportunities that allowed him to grow into the professional and creative man he is today. Many years later he took advantage of a new passion in the social service field and obtain his Masters in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University. He is now back in Los Angeles, pursuing his career as a Social Worker. Jonathan is excited to be a part of this great organization and looking forward to an awesome year.

Angela Allen

Secretary

Angela Allen is a Texas native and graduate of the Howard University School of Communications. She was active in the Howard University Alumni Club of New York City before relocating to Los Angeles in 2007. Currently works in the Entertainment Industry.

Tselane Prescott

Scholarship Chair