Meet Our Team
Curriculum Author & Lead Trainer
Kim Bianca Burgess
She currently serves as Board Chair of Seaview Community Development Corporation in Bridgeport, CT. Her board service and leadership spans over 20 years.
As CEO of VCL Consulting Group, Inc., SEAT is one of many training programs designed to provide providing performance improvement training to residents of underserved Black and Latino communities and organizations having direct impact or influence in these communities.
She is pursuing a doctoral degree in Human Services, specializing in Leadership and Program Evaluation in Human Services Organizations. She holds a Master's in Education, with a specialization in Training and Performance Improvement.
Community Resident Connector
Tanya R. Thomas
She is the former office manager of a private equity firm and a former adjunct professor of communication studies. Her professional experience spans over 20 years.
As a committed community leader, she co-facilitates the SGC Sisters Fellowship, a faith-based women’s empowerment organization, has served on the College of New Rochelle Editorial Board, and as editor of local elementary and middle school newsletters. As Chairperson of the Inner Circle Book Club, she has led fundraisers to provide scholarships for high-achieving minority high school seniors.
She holds a Master’s in Communication Studies.
SEAT Alumnus Facilitator
Andrew Beamon
He is a graduate of Cohort 5 - Waterbury, and currently serves as a board member of Capital for Change.
As founder and CEO of AB Consulting, he assists organizations in bringing their values and purpose to life through meaningful and intentional actions. Prior to forming his company, his nearly 20 years’ experience in leadership and organizational development helped clients build and improve their employee engagement, corporate citizenship, and diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and programs.
He holds a Master’s in Organizational Psychology.
SEAT Alumnus Facilitator
Alicia Carpenter-Cummings
She is a graduate of Cohort 6 - Bridgeport, and currently serves as a board member of Burroughs Center.
With more than 20 years of experience in finance and community leadership, she has held senior roles at Travelers Insurance Companies and now serves as Account Manager for Donor Recruitment at the American Red Cross. Her work builds partnerships that expand blood donation programs and champion the critical need for African American donors to support sickle cell treatments.
She holds an MBA and a BS in Business Administration from Florida A&M University.