ETHNIC GEMS ARCHIVE

Ethnic GEM: Allyssa Antunes Profession: Lead Instructional Designer and Content Developer for Environmental Health and Safety. Company: Yale University State: CT Allyssa Antunes Originally from Minneapolis, MN, by way of El Paso, TX, Allyssa proudly calls Connecticut home, where she has lived for more than 30 years. A true “Army Brat,” her early experiences of moving around […]

Driving Transformation Through Leadership: Spotlight on Ethnic GEM, Eugene Green In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven business world, organizations thrive when they can align innovation with strategy. Few professionals embody this balance as effectively as Eugene Green, a PMI-certified project management leader whose career reflects both vision and execution. With extensive experience leading complex business and IT

Ethnic GEM, Tito Jackson: From City Hall to Cannabis Innovation Boston’s first Black-owned downtown dispensary is more than business—it’s a bold statement on equity, culture, and community. When history looks back at Boston’s business landscape, Tito Jackson will stand out as a trailblazer. As CEO of Apex Noire, the city’s first Black-owned dispensary located in

Ethnic GEM, Cindi Lloyd Profession: A Lifetime of Service and Leadership in Bloomfield Deputy Mayor, Bloomfield, CT When it comes to leadership grounded in service, Cindi Lloyd, Deputy Mayor of Bloomfield, Connecticut, stands as a shining example. With over three decades of experience in public safety, investigations, labor relations, and community service, Lloyd has dedicated

Ethnic GEM: Segun Idowu Title & Company:  City of Boston’s Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion State: Boston, MA   A lifelong resident of Boston, Segun is a proud product of the Boston Public Schools. Following his graduation from Boston Latin Academy, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History at HBCU Morehouse College in

Ethnic GEM: Adriane Jefferson Title & Company: Former Director of Cultural Affairs, City of New Haven State: New Haven, CT Submitted by Wesley Webb, Contributing Writer Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced Adriane V. Jefferson as the new Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) beginning February 28, 2025. With nationally recognized expertise

Ethnic GEM: Betty Francisco Title & Company:  CEO, Boston Impact Initiative & Co-Founder, Amplify Latinx State: Boston, MA Submitted by Leonard Webb Originally from New York City, this Ethnic GEM was motivated to come to Boston to study law with the hope of becoming an immigration attorney. She ended up studying business law and 30

Ethnic GEM: June Archer  Title: CEO & Social Media Marketing Manager  Company:  The June Archer School of Arts & Eleven28 Entertainment, LLC  State: Windsor, CT    Submitted by Leonard Webb   June Archer, Best-Selling Published Author, “Artist-in-Residence” University of Connecticut, TV Personality, Lecturer, Keynote Speaker, Senior Director Of A&R at YousicPlay who also just happens

Ethnic GEM: Hilina D. Ajakaiye Title: Executive VP Company:  MeetBoston.com State: Boston, MA      Submitted by Leonard We   If you know Hilina D. Ajakaiye be sure to congratulate her on being an Ethnic GEM!      

Ethnic GEM: Donald McAulay, Jr.    Title: Assistant Professor of Management   Company:  Quinnipiac University School of Business   State: New Haven, CT     Submitted by Leonard Webb      This Ethnic GEM was born and raised in New Haven, CT, and, in his words, was “called to do the work that I do today. I am naturally motivated