Gloria is a dynamic executive and creative growth strategist renowned for her marketing impact on local and national brands across diverse industries, including media, arts and entertainment; as well as community development banking and finance. Gloria has made significant contributions in both corporate enterprises and community initiatives spanning thirty years of service.  Her extensive experience encompasses a distinguished career in the public, private, and philanthropic realms where she honed a double-bottom line approach to business. Most recently, Gloria founded a groundbreaking economic justice nonprofit, the DC Community Development Consortium. The organization's mission focuses on closing the 81x racial wealth gap in Washington, DC, by providing crucial support to credit-invisible Black entrepreneurs and small businesses through innovative economic equity strategies. Gloria has a track record of working with donors, businesses, and local government to manage effective community investments and create tangible, lasting change in the region. 

 

Gloria's dedication to arts and economic development is evident through her executive leadership, board appointments and senior advisory roles in various professional and community-based organizations, including Viva Dance School, Words Beats & Life, Women of Color in Community Development, Anacostia Youth Media & Film Festival, Capitalbop.com, Ward8 Community Economic Development Plan, and 100 Black Women of DC (National Council of Black Women).

 

Professional Background

 

Gloria's impressive career history includes a pivotal role at City First Bank, the largest Black-led bank in the nation. As the Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, she spearheaded brand development and growth initiatives, resulting in unprecedented visibility as the foremost Black-founded and led MDI (minority depository institution) in history. Under her leadership, City First Bank became a premier Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and earned the distinction of being a rare Certified B Corp. At Broadway Financial Corp, the 75-year-old publicly-traded holding company (NASDAQ: BYFC) with over $1B in assets, Gloria expertly managed brand strategies and orchestrated new market expansion research efforts in the Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, CA regions. Her responsibilities extended to overseeing public, private, and philanthropic relations, making her a key figure in stakeholder engagement and educational outreach as an officer and Vice President of City First Foundation.

 

In 2008, Gloria held a significant role in the administration of District of Columbia Government, Mayor Adrian Fenty, as the youngest Commissioner cum Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. As the head of this grant-making Economic Development agency, she skillfully managed an annual deployment of $14MM in funding and resources. Gloria's visionary leadership led to the launch of city-wide creative commerce brand activations that continue to flourish today, including Art202 (now 202Creates), Art All Night, and Digital Media Academy—a pioneering creative economy career pathways program for youth. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in establishing the first marketing & social media division within the DC Government.Under her guidance, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities earned national recognition in the 2011 Fitch Report for achieving the highest digital citizen engagement among all state arts agencies in the nation.

 

During the golden era of Black Entertainment Television (BET Holdings), Gloria held various impactful roles, showcasing her versatility and expertise in creative, marketing, corporate affairs, and new business ventures. As a key contributor, she played a pivotal role in launching BET Soundstage and BET.com, revolutionizing the entertainment industry. Her responsibilities extended to managing sponsor and artist relations for the Rap City HBCU Campus Tour, solidifying her reputation as a skilled relationship-builder and strategist.

 

Subsequently, Gloria embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, establishing her own successful creative agency, Radar Marketing Group. Working with esteemed clients such as Radio One, Dream/Love, The Park at 14th, Red Bull, and MHUSA, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to driving results and delivering excellence.

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Recognition and Awards

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Fitch Award, Telly Award, National Council of Black Women Economic Equity Champion Award, Center for Nonprofit Advancement I am the Change Women’s History Month Award, NAACP Local Image Awards, DC Lit Award, Words Beats Life Community Champion., 2021 PR Daily “Storytelling” Honorable Mention, 2022 Afro Newspaper Women in the Movement Award,  2022 Women of Color in Community Development Sustaining Member keynote speaker. 

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Personal Commitment

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Gloria is committed to help strengthen communities through strategic alliances that fund the arts, youth development, and Black entrepreneurship. Gloria volunteers on numerous commissions, professional and community boards to achieve her personal mission. Gloria also served as an elected official in Washington, DC as Commissioner of ANC 6A-02, a vibrant residential and commercial  district on the Capitol Hill side of H Street , where she resides with her young daughters. 

 

Throughout her career, Gloria's innovative mindset and ability to navigate diverse industries have made her a formidable force in the executive landscape. Her exemplary track record and passion for creating lasting impact continue to shape her trajectory as a dynamic leader in the field.