Audria Green Hawkins, Outreach Director has an extensive background working in various Territory, District and Regional Management positions for national and luxury brand companies such as Movado Group, Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., and Waterford Wedgwood in both the U.S. and Canada. With each of these positions, Audria has consistently worked with prominent department and chain accounts, such as Macys, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillards, Belk, Signet Group, Rogers & Hollands and Helzberg and Hudson Bay in Canada.
In addition to her retail background, Audria also has vast experience working in Higher Education. Audria was most recently the Director of College Readiness at UIC with the CHANCE program. Audria has also taught at The Illinois Institute of Art, UIC and Columbia College Chicago, teaching marketing business, business math, communications and retail management. Audria has been adjunct with Columbia College Chicago for over 15 years, and consulting with UIC since 2011.
Professionally, Audria has combined career experience in sales, brand management, territory management, retail, wholesale, marketing and branding, combined with higher education. She participates in platforms and forums that relate to entrepreneurship, sales, marketing and business. Also, she consults for numerous companies and educational establishments, developing, speaking and facilitating workshops that focus on strategizing career, employment and entrepreneurship for businesses, individuals and professional growth.
Audria earned Bachelors degrees from Bradley University, with a double major in Communications and Family & Consumer Sciences and her Masters degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Educational Leadership & Design. Personally, she enjoys baking, reading, traveling and enjoying nature.
Paola Hirn, Program Director is originally from Colombia. Paola holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad del Rosario Bogotá and an MBA from Everest University.
Paola has extensive experience in higher education and medical device industries in both B2B and B2C environments. In her previous role as an International Marketing Specialist, she assisted the LatAm region by implementing insightful marketing campaigns for diverse, multicultural audiences while developing strong partnerships with small business owners throughout Latin America.
Brianne Turner, Project Coordinator moved to Chicago in 2014, after a decade-long career in music journalism. She has organized and promoted showcases at SXSW and covered events for the Portland Mercury and the Nashville Scene. During her time in Chicago, Brianne has crafted marketing initiatives for shows at The Second City and has led community outreach campaigns for local businesses and nonprofits. Brianne has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and will soon be pursuing her master’s in analytics.
Jaime Martinez del Rio, Business Advisor moved from Texas to Chicago at the end of 2011. Throughout his career, Jaime has advised businesses in various industries on how to grow domestically and internationally. He has been a business driver for large companies like 7-Eleven, Merrill Lynch, and Coca-Cola, as well as within the boutique pharma marketing consulting field. Jaime is a strong relationship-builder who is passionate about all cultures, enjoys family, languages, friends, and is an animal lover. Jaime received his MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Anthony Sutton, Business Advisor holds an M.B.A from Purdue University Executive Program, with a focus in Strategic Management and B.S., in Accounting from Driehaus College of Business – DePaul University. A proven visionary and strategic leader that translates business strategies into maximum profits commensurate with the best interest of stakeholders, employees, and the public. An expert in developing strategic operational initiatives; and leading growth plan projects. Anthony has held leadership positions at some of the Top Accounting & Management Consulting Firms in the World. Anthony has served as Chief Operation Officer and Chief Financial Officer for a large Federally Qualified Health Center; as well as Regional Manager for the largest health system in Illinois. In 2003, Anthony was nationally recognized with an “Outstanding Achievement Award” from Deloitte & Touché, and “Star Performance Award” from RSM McGladrey in 2004. His consistent performance earned him recognition among his peers and invitations to teach future business leaders, and advise small business owners at City Colleges of Chicago.
FACULTY
Rashid Carter, Lead Faculty and teaching Orientation, Mod 1- You and Your Business, Mod 8 – Being Bankable & Mod 9 – Growth to Action is a full-time faculty member at the City Colleges of Chicago, and teaches economics and business in the Business and Social Science Departments at Harold Washington College. Prior to that, he was the Chair of the Social Science Department at Olive-Harvey College. He is also returning to the classroom after spending the past year researching program offerings, as well as faculty and staff development, as part of the City Colleges’ Reinvention Initiative. Rashid is also a weekly contributor to WVON 1690 radio’s “Dollars and Sense” and “Urban Business Roundtable” programs and a recurring guest and host on the weekly WYCC-TV production “The Professors”. A native Chicagoan, he graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign where he studied business economics. He later earned his graduate degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was awarded the Chancellor’s Fellowship. Rashid was also a recipient of the 2009 NISOD Award for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Rhonda Henderson, Mod 2 – Growth and Opportunity & Mod 6 – Markets and Marketing is a full-time faculty member at Olive-Harvey College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, teaching in the Business Department. Rhonda has taught courses in accounting, marketing, business management, and finance, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Currently, Rhonda serves as Mod Faculty for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and in this context she states…”Understanding the organization as a whole is critical to business success. To achieve a high level of business performance it is important to evaluate opportunities for growth. The Goldman Sachs 10KSB program will provide you with the necessary ingredients for optimizing operational effectiveness. For long-lasting success, a business owner must be the champion of the organization by being a visionary leader and persistent. Mod 2 on Growth and Opportunity fosters creativity that can lead scholars to innovation, ideas, growth an opportunity”. -Rhonda Henderson
Along with teaching, Rhonda operates a consulting firm that assists small business owners in strategic business planning and training. The firm has held sessions for entrepreneurs through SBA/SCORE, Chicago Urban League, local municipalities and chambers, and privately owned businesses. She is a licensed real estate managing broker in the state of Illinois and owns a real estate brokerage and property preservation company. Rhonda is a SCORE Mentor and the Workshop Chair for the SCORE Chicago Chapter. She has a BS in Accounting and Business Administration, an MBA in Finance, and is currently an Advanced Doctoral Candidate of Business Administration.
Mark Yates, Mod 3 – Money and Metrics, Financial Statement Workshop, Forecasting Clinic and You Are The Lender Clinic is a Continuing Education Lecturer for the City Colleges of Chicago Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. He is currently serving as Adjunct Faculty in the Harold Washington Business Department. Mark Yates is also an Associate Vice President at the Safer Foundation located in Chicago.
Mr. Yates received his MBA from DePaul University and his BSBA from Roosevelt University. His prior employment includes Brinks Hofer Gilson and Lione (Intellectual Property Law Firm/Accounting Manager), Robert Morris College (Accounting Instructor), Baker and McKenzie (Law Firm/Manager of Accounting), Blatt, Hammesfahr and Eaton (Reinsurance Law Firm/Assistant Controller), Lovell White Durrant (Reinsurance Law Firm/Manager of Accounting), Bellows and Bellows (Law Firm/Controller), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI/White Collar Crime Squad – Financial Analyst) and University National Bank (Banking/Bank Officer).
Dr. Jacqueline Callery, Mod 4 – You are the Leader is a seasoned educator and administrator who, for over 25 years, has been creating and delivering significant and transformative experiential learning experiences to undergraduate, graduate, and adult learners. Her teaching areas include marketing, management, business data analytics, and leadership. Jacqueline is an Associate Professor and Program Chair of the Master of Science Business Data Analytics program at National Louis University in Chicago. Dr. Callery is also the Managing Director and Owner of ETL Collaborative. ETL designs and facilitates customized training, workshops, or conferences for small businesses, non-profit organizations, and higher education institutions to achieve desired outcomes.
Jacqueline has served as a Year Up Data Analytics Instructor and mentor/coach for 18- to 26-year-old young adults, the Director of Engineering Studies for Chicago State University, the Senior Director of Faculty Development for City Colleges of Chicago, and an Associate Dean and Curriculum Chair for Robert Morris University, Illinois. She has worked as a database marketing manager for Leo Burnett, U.S.A, and General Motors Corporation as a manufacturing engineer and quality assurance supervisor.
Jacqueline stays active in her community by serving on several boards and volunteering at her parish. As a working member of the Quad Community Development Corporation Board of Directors, she supports strategic planning sessions, writes grants, and engages small businesses in her community. Her relevant research areas include Leadership, Business Data Analytics, Marketing, Inclusive Experiential Teaching and Learning, Universal Design for Learning, and Adult Learning.
Dr. Callery earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology, her Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing/Management from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and her Doctor of Education degree in Adult Education from National Louis University. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a Continuing Professional Education Certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications from DePaul University.
Brandon Pendleton, Mod 5 – It’s the People is one of the newest members of the Harold Washington College Business department. Prior to re-joining City Colleges of Chicago, he was a Human Resources Business Consultant for Integrys Energy Group and also spent eight years as the Human Resource Manager for Harold Washington College. In that position, he was responsible for supporting approximately 895 employees. He was also responsible for the recruiting and hiring of faculty and staff, employee relations, collective bargaining agreement interpretation, and enforcement, payroll, benefits administration, and training. He was also a member of the HWC President’s Executive Council which was responsible for setting the strategic direction of the entire college. Brandon also actively chaired or served on seven different City Colleges and HWC committees which include: CCC 1708 FT Contract Negotiations, CCC 1708 PT Contract Negotiations, CCC 1708 Job Evaluation Committee, CCC Payroll System Selection Committee, HWC Service Excellence, HWC Male Mentoring, and HWC Graduation Committee.
In addition, Brandon was selected for the inaugural City Colleges of Chicago Leadership Institute and was a finalist for the Kathy Osterman Award which is an annual award given by the city of Chicago for recognition of superior public service. Brandon worked in HR for 18 years and began his career as an intern and ultimately an HR Associate for Ford Motor Company. He later worked in HR management positions at both Citigroup and Sears. Prior to joining Harold Washington College, he was the VP of Human Resources for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. Brandon received a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and received his graduate degree from the University of Illinois – Champaign/Urbana’s Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Dr. C. Adam Callery, Mod 7 – Operations & Processes Adam’s professional career prior to academia has included employment with several leading corporations: Dow Chemical Company, Pepsi-Cola, First National Bank of Chicago, United Airlines, and IBM. While at IBM he co-authored an article entitled Avoiding the Blues for Aviation Travelers published in the IEEE Computer Society Press. He has applied this combination of practical and academic experience into the formation of a real estate brokerage where he has participated as a partner for the past five years and a small business coaching practice. He has completed his doctoral studies at National Louis University where his research has focused on the use of performance data to enhance organizational effectiveness. He is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including the National Black MBA Association and National Society of Black Engineers. Outside of professional interests, he travels widely, reads, cycles, snow skis, and white-water rafts.