Board of Directors

Michelle Uchiyama, President and Founder of Charitable Connections, Inc., and President, Smokymountainstone.com has been empowering neighborhoods and communities for 20 years. She is actively involved in her civic association, Friends of Collier Park, Presbyterian Church USA’s Committee on the Self Development of People, has served as the Mayor’s representative on the People TV Board, is an advisor to the King for America Foundation, is on the Board of the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta, been a board member of the Atlanta Women’s Network, Life Member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, a board member of Lea’s Kids, Inc. and has been co-chair for the International Campaign for Victory Over Violence. Michelle was actively involved in the development of the Georgia Faith-Based Initiative Task Force and created campaigns for the Resource Mother’s program of the Child Abuse Prevention Alliance. She has successfully worked with over 200 faith and community based organizations to facilitate their start-up and development utilizing the mechanism of collaboration to promote board and program growth. Michelle has also been a successful entrepreneur taking a company from ground up to 1785% growth in 18 months. Michelle’s degrees are from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Marketing and Communications and from the University of Houston in Corporate Strategies, Planning and Finance. Michelle has also received extensive marketing and sales training during her nine year career at International Business Machines.

Cathy Richards, NPU Chair and Emory Healthcare Administrative professional, has been impacting the non-profit, civic and educational sectors for over 20 years. In her current role as NPU Chair, Cathy is facilitating the growth and development of community members in the area of neighborhood revitalization. She has facilitated numerous workshops and collaborations to assist the civic associations, neighbors and neighborhoods in NPU to understand planning, community development and collaboration. She currently serves as Georgia PTA membership chair, a member of the Board of Adamsville Community and Business Partnership and is an active member of Ben Hill United Methodist Church.

Lisa Sutton is currently the director of the Environmental Justice Center at Clark Atlanta University. She is an engineer by trade and has extensive construction background. Lisa currently leads a program to train hard to employ individuals in the green contruction industry.

Leyta Lance Jordan, Financial Consultant and catering Director. Leyta has an extensive background in finance and financial institution development. She is currently on staff with the Georgia Baptist Convention in the area of hospitality and catering and is working on the development of a new financial institution to support community economic development. Leyta is an active member of the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church including participating on the Pastor search committee and building committee. Leyta has been a tremendous asset to the Board of Directors of Charitable Connections, Inc. identifying faith and community based organizations, potential resources and taking an active role in creating the strategic plan for the organization.

B. Waine Kong, Retired CEO Association of Black Cardiologists and current President of the Heart Institute of the Caribbean Foundation. Waine was instrumental in the leadership of the Association of Black Cardiologists over 20 years. His insight assisted in the development of a $10 million research library and conference center which hosts a cadre of events and activities in south Fulton County. Waine also led the development of the Seven Steps to a Healthy Heart program, significant research on heart disease in minority populations and started a campaign to promote healthy hearts called “Children Should Know their Grandparents”. Waine is committed to health and wellness as an integrated part of living and lifestyle management. He is active on several boards and holds a J.D. in Law and a degree in Psychology.