Neka Alston is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Now Foundation.  Neka is responsible for the vision and strategic direction for Beyond Now Foundation.  An adaptable and analytical problem-solver, she has built a strong reputation of success for leveraging obstacles and seizing opportunities for favorable outcomes.  Neka has a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration.  She believes in a strong work ethic and empowering others.

Jon Alston is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Beyond Now Foundation.  He is a frequent public speaker, a well-respected leader in social enterprises, and is passionate about coaching and development. Jon earned his Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Minor in Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina. He was a 4 year Letterman on the Gamecock football team, playing on both the Defensive and Offensive Line.   Jon went on to play in the NFL with franchises including- Redskins and Seahawks; he played in NFL-Europe, Cologne Centurians; and ended his career in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. 

Ray Brown was a Football Coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 2006 to 2018, finishing his career as the Offensive Line Coach of the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1986 NFL Draft, and went on to play 20 seasons in the NFL with franchises including- Cardinals, Redskins, and Lions. Brown played in a total of 265 games with 202 starts, lining up at both Guard and Tackle throughout his career. He was a member of the Washington Redskins' 1991 Super Bowl (XXVI) Championship team, and later earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors while playing Right Guard for the 49ers, in 2001.

Lillie Duncan is retired from the U.S. Army, having served her final assignment with the Department of Defense (DoD) in Arlington, VA.  Lillie was responsible for a broad portfolio, including having provided casualty support to service members and their families. She has significant joint service experience, as she optimized special operations for 34 years at the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site as a Program Analyst. Her leadership and public service are widely recognized by the local community.  Lillie holds a Masters of Science in Management from Colorado Technical University and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from South Carolina State University.  

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We are thankful for Lillie's service to our country and sincerely grateful for the sacrifices she has made.

With 18 years of accounting experience, Wila Horsley has managed companies in the public and private sectors through financial processes. Wila holds a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration. Her industry knowledge is broad and diversified and includes service organizations, government services and real estate.  She has a strong accounting background and enjoys using her expertise to help businesses with all aspects of their financial needs.

Dave Roberts was the Head Football Coach at Baylor University, Northeast Louisiana, and Western Kentucky University, he was named No. 1 Recruiter in the country twice by Football Prep Report Magazine, and he coached national stars such as 2018 Super Bowl Champion Head Coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles.  Coach Roberts spent five seasons on the University of South Carolina staff, coaching the running backs and serving as recruiting coordinator. Roberts was instrumental in helping the Gamecocks sign back-to-back top-10 signing classes in 2002 and 2003. 

Bernard Bell is the Executive Director of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences.

Bell was formerly the Senior Vice President in the Office of the President for TV One, the lifestyle and entertainment cable network.  A respected leader in entrepreneurship education, Bell continues to influence a broader understanding of business enterprise while leading captivating developments linked to economic growth. 

Rachel (Davis) Silvers, MSN, PMHNP-BC is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, with training and experience treating adolescents and adults across practice settings - including the family practice, acute care, critical care, long-term care, and community mental health settings.
 

Nurse Practitioner Silvers' education includes a Master of Science in Nursing and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specialization from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is nationally certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to provide both counseling and medication management, and jointly governed by the NC Medical Board and the NC Board of Nursing. As a PMHNP, Silvers' role is multifaceted - including educator, mental health advocate, and therapist.

Nurse Practitioner Silvers is the Founder of Rejuvenated Minds, PLLC - her private practice in Raleigh, NC.  Her approach to therapy is integrative, evidence based, and individualized.  - and includes various techniques from therapeutic philosophies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness-Based Therapy Practices and Interpersonal Therapy.

Stuart Gold, MD, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and Distinguished Professor and Chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.   Dr. Gold is an accomplished clinical research specialist with special interests in acute leukemia brain tumors and late effects of cancer therapy.  Gold opened a late effects clinic to serve the needs of children at risk for late occurring side effects of their chemotherapy; heads a comprehensive brain tumor clinic that brings together experts from the disciplines of neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, psychology and sociology; and also runs a monthly clinic in Wilmington and Raleigh that serves the pediatric oncology needs of those communities.

Mark Anthony Neal, PhD, is Chair and Distinguished Professor of the Department of African & African American Studies, and Founding Director of the Center for Arts, Digital Culture and Entrepreneurship (CADCE) at Duke University where he offers courses on Black Masculinity, Popular Culture, and Digital Humanities - including signature courses on Michael Jackson & the Black Performance Tradition, and The History of Hip-Hop, which he co-teaches with Grammy Award Winning producer 9th Wonder (Patrick Douthit).  Dr. Neal has authored several books and he is the host of the video webcast Left of Black, which is produced in collaboration with the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke.

Colonel Williamson, a Darlington, SC native, joined the Highway Patrol in 1988. Appointed in  2017 as Commander, Colonel Williamson made history as the first African-American Commander to lead the South Carolina Highway Patrol. 

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Colonel Williamson formerly served as Captain in Orangeburg, SC in 2003 and transferred to Charleston,SC as Captain in 2009. He began his career in Berkeley County, SC and spent his career with the Patrol in the Orangeburg/Charleston region until joining the headquarters in 2011.  As Lieutenant Colonel, Williamson managed the day-to-day operations of the Highway Patrol, which has statewide jurisdiction. He oversaw the administrative, operational and support functions of the Patrol associated with enforcement and public safety, and he also led traffic/specialized enforcement and safety outreach for 11 Troops.