Succeed To Lead: Leadership

Byron L. Cherry, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Cherry founded Succeed to Lead, LLC in June 2007. As the President & Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Cherry is responsible for corporate, strategic and business planning, financial management oversight, and corporate business outreach. He participates and donates his time to community and social activities as he serves and works with several organizations and foundations.

Dr. Cherry began his professional career as a United States Army officer, serving 26 years of active service. Key assignments include tours with the Chief Information Officer/G-6 (CIO/G-6) as Chief of Investment Strategy, Director of Resource Integration, Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management-Army Reserve Directorate (ACSIM-AR); Chief, OMAR/MCAR Budget Formulation Division, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve; Comptroller, US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), US Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Dr. Cherry received his Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Norfolk State University; his Masters of Business Administration from Troy University; a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, DC, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Active in professional and community organizations, Dr. Cherry is a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers, the National Defense University Foundation and the Norfolk State University, Military Alumni Chapter. He holds life memberships in the Finance Corps Association and The ROCKS Inc., and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He has received numerous awards and honors to include the Legion of Merit, inducted into the Norfolk State University Military Hall of Fame and was designated as a Distinguished Member of the Finance Regiment.

Josephine Benson
Executive Vice President

Ms. Benson has been associated with Succeed to Lead since its inception in June 2007, as the Executive Vice President. As the Executive Vice President, Ms. Benson is responsible for the overall day-to-day operations and administration of Succeed to Lead, LLC. Ms. Benson also assists the CEO in the corporate, strategic and business planning, financial management oversight, and corporate business outreach. She participates and donates her time to community and social activities as she serves and works with several organizations and foundations.

Ms. Benson has worked in Financial Management and Budget for 25 years. She has demonstrated excellence in PPBE (Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution), Army and Marine Corps financial management systems.

Ms. Benson holds a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting from Norfolk State University and currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Regent University.

Ulysses "Jack" Howard
Vice President for Business Development

Prior to joining Succeed to Lead as Vice President for Business Development in 2011, Mr. Howard served in the Gubernatorial Administration of three consecutive Virginia Governors. He was initially appointed by Governor Mark Warner in 2002 and re-appointed by Governor Tim Kaine in 2006 and then re-appointed again in 2010 by current Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell to a position of leadership in state government. He served as a Business Development, Marketing and Communications Professional working directly with over 20,000 state certified Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned businesses. In his capacity as Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise, Howard was one of the Governor's top appointed officials in the Administration's efforts to increase the percentage of the state's multi-billion dollar procurement fund that is contracted to Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned businesses. Howard's responsibilities included crafting business development strategies to help grow Virginia's small, women-owned and minority-owned companies, matching companies up with state and municipal procurement opportunities, assisting companies with facilitating joint venture and subcontracting agreements with major prime contractors and managing the overall statewide marketing and outreach efforts of the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise.

Howard, who earned a B.A. from Mississippi College in Political Science and History, also has over 15 years of experience in demonstrated excellent communication and presentation skills and professional level writing skills that were honed as a Speech Writer, Media Advertising Sales Executive, award winning Radio Talk Show Host and as a Television Commentator for the CBS and PBS Television affiliates in Norfolk Virginia prior to becoming a leader in state government.

Jennifer Bays, BS, MA
Director of Human Resources Management

Mrs. Bays has been associated with Succeed to Lead since its inception in June 2007, when she served as a communications and marketing consultant. In July 2011, Mrs. Bays joined STL as the Director of Human Resources Management and is responsible for all of STL's human capital, benefits administration, as well as corporate communications.

Mrs. Bays has worked in the HR discipline for 20 years. She began her career as a communications specialist and progressed to trainer and then corporate educator. She has also served as a learning and organizational development specialist for Federal and private corporations. Additionally, Mrs. Bays has edited a book; consults with new entrepreneurs on communications and marketing techniques; and volunteers for several non-profit organizations.

Mrs. Bays holds a Bachelor's of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Colorado Christian University. She has a graduate certificate in Corporate Education and is a certified instructional designer. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Donna Jackson, BS, CDFM
Director of Contract Administration

Ms. Jackson joined the Succeed to Lead team as the Director of Contract Administration in August 2011. Some of her responsibilities include cost estimating, invoicing, and contract reconciling. She also advises management on contract efforts and serve as the focal point for all contractual efforts.

Ms. Jackson has over 35 years' experience within the commercial and federal sectors. She has served as a Comptroller, Director of Contracting, Program Manager and Financial Manager with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense and the Army. Ms. Jackson has Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) experience to include formulating the Program Objective Memorandum (POM). She is an experienced international project manager, coordinator, and trainer of financial management and accounting reconciliation of Defense and Commercial Programs and an accomplished financial manager. Ms. Jackson is also experienced in auditing Department of Transportation grants and contract administration.

Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration and Management from Regis University, Denver, Colorado. She is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager.