MEET THE TEAM
Ron Daniel (since 2020)
President
Ron is a government healthcare enrollment analyst and Star Wars enthusiast. He is a proud Bostonian who wants to see black Boston thrive. Ron has a passion for community service, organizing and promoting events to keep people in the know of what’s happening and not bored. Outside of YBP, you can find Ron going out to dance, traveling, cooking, mentoring with a local program, or laid up on a beach somewhere eating barbecue wings. Follow him on IG @ronnydee617
Philip Gordon (since 2024)
Vice President
Phil is the Deputy Director at Social Capital Inc. (SCI), a local nonprofit in Greater Boston. A native of Woburn and currently a resident of Watertown, Phil is passionate about community building and enjoys event production. In addition to his roles with SCI and Boston YBP, Phil is a member of the Watertown Rotary Club. Phil enjoys staying active in his free time through bicycling, basketball, soccer, and tennis, and he also enjoys connecting with people through cooking and food.
Follow him on IG at @philharm0nic.
Aleah Grady (since 2022)
Treasurer
Aleah is a Product Marketing Manager at a tech company and a marketing enthusiast. Born in Central Mass and a new resident to the Boston suburbs, Aleah was motivated to be an organizer with YBP to champion black professionals networking. Aleah loves to practice her French in her free time, and she is down for a great bar crawl with friends.
Follow her on IG at @theinternationalbossatbusiness
Charity wallace (since 2022)
Secretary
Charity is a scientist in biotechnology and a STEM mentor for minorities looking to build their careers within the biotech industry. She is a first-generation Jamaican, originally from Miami, Florida. Charity’s quest for growth within her career spanned over a decade, as well as several states, before settling in the Boston area in February 2020 during the pandemic. As a newbie to Boston, one of her goals as an organizer is to help the city’s Black population thrive into sights unseen, while being a voice to Blacks in the scientific community who are unsure of where they belong within Boston’s Black communities due to their career choices. Charity is the epitome of an approachable (yet reserved) Southern belle with Caribbean roots who loves to meet new people! Follow her on IG at @cjwallace_mobilenotary
COREY CHARPENTIER
(honarary organizer 2020-2022)
Corey is a Senior Tech Support Agent. Originally from Worcester, he moved to Boston in 2018 and attended his first YBP event. He became a regular, helped to organize the 2019 Adult Summer Field day, and then graciously took over the reins as a host for the Monthly Network After Work mixers. He regularly states that YBP was a major contributor in building a group of friends in Boston. When he’s not organizing, you can find him riding his bike, skateboarding, traveling, and watching anime. You can find him on LinkedIn @Corey Charpentier
quontay (Q) turner
(honarary organizer 2013-2022)
Quontay, also known as "Q", is a multi-talented creative and event organizer. Born and raised in Boston, she made her way back to the area after getting her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies from WPI. After a few career changes, she finally decided to leave a career in Higher Education to pursue her creative business Q Made It full time. If she is not baking, you can probably find her organizing an event, traveling or popping up with her business at an event near (or far) from you! Q has a passion for connecting people and resources so be sure to say hi and introduce yourself next time you are out at an event! Follow her on IG at @quontay_
Laniesha (ELLE) Gray
(Founding Member 2013-2022)
Laniesha is a middle school educator and a Game of Thrones enthusiast. Friends call her Elle. She was motivated to organize for Boston YBP because of her love for black culture, and passion for building community. Laniesha holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Northeastern University and a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia College. She is a proud Bostonian and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Laniesha enjoys 70s & 80s soul music, buffalo wings, and impromptu dance parties—though not necessarily all at the same time. She's looking forward to connecting. Follow her on both IG and Twitter at @thatgirlelle_.
Patrick mcdowell
(HONORARY organizer 2014-2019)
Patrick was a fund controller for a Boston-based firm, and has since moved on to London town. If you ever had the chance to meet him, he’d tell you over and over again, he’s from Cleveland. He attended his first YBP event in March of 2013 after moving here for work as an accountant. He became a regular attendee and naturally moved into the role of an organizer, as Patrick credits YBP for giving him a new perspective on what it means to be black in Boston, and for presenting him with an opportunity to meet many of his closest friends. You can now follow Patrick’s London adventures on IG at @expattheratch
Keesa mckoy
(honarary organizer 2018-2022)
Keesa is a Jamaican born, every where raised (literally everywhere) media junkie and communications maven. Her passion for media brought her to Boston to pursue her master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at Boston University, and somehow she ended up staying (Good. Job. Bad. City 🤷🏾). She’s grown to appreciate Boston, and wants to continue to see the city’s black population thrive economically, professionally, and socially. Her passion for amazing conversations, disseminating information creatively and her ability to understand and motivate people, inspired her to support YBP with its communications and community building. When she’s not being supermom, you can catch her at events chatting it up! Follow her on IG at @keesme
STEPH DENIS
(Vice President 2022-2023)
Steph is a Product Manager and earned a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Babson College F.W. Olin School of Business. She is passionate about mentorship, networking, community building and outreach. She is excited to be a part of a network catered to new or returning black professionals in the Greater Boston area and supporting them in finding things to do, places to visit and creating new connections. Having moved to Boston from a different state and even a different country and culture, she understands the need for community building and finding your tribe. Her hope is to be a resourceful, friendly and welcoming face. Follow her on IG @phabylabelle
