Courtney Battle

Moderator

Courtney Battle serves as President of the professional network Women of Color in Community Development and is also Membership Director for the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). She brings a wealth of experience in journalism and communications to this role. Prior to HAND, she was an Account Manager for a local public affairs firm, and also spent several years at CNN’s Washington, DC bureau as a News Assistant and Media Coordinator.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, DC, where she majored in Journalism and minored in Afro-American Studies. She has also been very engaged in her community via several organizations which include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Reading Partners, and Community ONE.

She is originally from Southfield, Michigan, and has found a second home in Washington, DC.

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Robyn Holden

Founder, Emergency 911 Security

Robyn Holden is the CEO of Emergency 911 Security, one of the largest female minority companies in the Washington D. C. area for over 30 years. The company designs, installs and in many cases provides ongoing maintenance to products they provide such as closed circuit cameras, intercom systems, fire alarms, locksmith services and other security industry needs. Some clients include the navy, local and federal government state agencies and medical centers. It is said that in one year alone Emergency 911 Security easily provided over one billion dollars’ worth of protection services to buildings and agencies. Given her passion for security Robyn continually searches for new ways to fulfill client needs in this ever changing world. With a B.S. In Electrical Engineering from New York University, she’s held positions in technical engineering fields and her background in radio communication garnered her a prestigious Washington D.C. Hall of Fame Award. Business wise she was featured in articles in Black Enterprise and Washington D.C Business journals and received an award of Best Security installation and U.S. Federal Communication Commission. She currently resides in
D. C but is an ever proud ex New Yorker

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Leslie Steen

Senior Advisor, Wesley Housing

Steen has successfully developed, owned, and operated affordable, market-rate, rental, and homeownership housing for the past 35 years. She has received national acclaim and numerous awards for her innovative financial approaches to community and housing development. Prior to joining Wesley Housing in 2008, Steen served as the Housing Chief for the District of Columbia; Vice President for Policy and Business Development for The Housing Partnership Network; and the founding President and CEO of Community Preservation and Development Corporation. Steen holds a B.A. in history and social sciences from Carnegie-Mellon University.

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Veronica Wright

Chief Program Officer of Workforce, SOME

Veronica Wright, Chief Program Officer of Workforce at So Others Might Eat Center for Employment Training, has worked in workforce development for almost 10 years. She joined So Others Might Eat Center for Employment Training as an educator delivering Instruction and managing data for CET’s portfolio of grants before becoming the Chief Program Officer. In her role as CPO, she sets the strategic vision for SOME CET, ensuring that our spectrum of workforce development solutions meet the needs of District residents with high barriers to employment. As a native Washington, Veronica brings a passion for her community that is evident in her work. Prior to working in workforce development, Veronica spent 8 years in the US Navy and thirteen years in the financial industry at Navy Federal Credit Union. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and her Master’s in Business Administration University of Maryland University College.

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