About TDI

Marc P. Desgraves IV, a native of Dallas, Texas, holds a BS degree in Accounting (Summa Cum Laude) from Alabama State University and a MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. Marc is an accounting professional and Texas Certified Public Accountant in good standing with over ten years of experience including tax preparation, business formation consulting, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, risk assessment, forensic accounting, corporate accounting, internal audit, and big four external audit. Marc has a diversified background with accounting or audit experience in the following industries: Energy, Airline, Financial Services, Publishing, Software, and Retail.

Marc is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and periodically volunteers for the organization. As an independent tax professional, he has performed tax preparation services for over seven years for a diversified group of individual and business clients who own such businesses as fitness clubs, salon services, and software sales. Marc has also provided numerous tax services on a pro bono basis since starting his practice.

Marc has been married for over ten years and has two children. In his personal time, Marc enjoys playing basketball, tackling home projects, and mentoring children while coaching youth sports.

Bryant Spencer, a native of Carrollton, Alabama, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Alabama State University in 1997, where he was a scholarship recipient.

His work experience began with Sears Holdings Corporation, where he served as a Sales Manager with responsibilities for managing a team of over 20 associates. He was promoted through the ranks and served in various capacities such as inventory management, marketing, and buying. While at Sears, he was also responsible for long-range planning and financial goals for multiple categories.

After leaving Sears, Bryant accepted a position with OfficeMax Incorporated. Currently he serves as a Buying Director, responsible for managing a group that is accountable for the buying and merchandising activities of multiple channels including retail, commercial, and e-commerce. He manages new product launches, supplier relationships and negotiations.

Bryant is the recipient numerous professional recognitions from both Sears Holdings Corp. and OfficeMax Inc. He has completed several business development courses from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, and DePaul University.

Bryant is also an active volunteer. He works with various community organizations to provide school supplies to students, schools and educators. He is a member of the Chicago Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University.

Terrance Turner is the Director of Finance for Emerson Climate Technologies - Retail Solutions. Emerson Climate Technologies - Retail Solutions is the leading provider of facility management systems and services for supermarket, convenience store, box retail, and restaurant operators. Retail Solutions provides energy controls, facility commissioning services, as well as engineering design services to retail customers around the world.

Terrance is from Talladega, AL. He attended Alabama State University from 1993 to 1997. While there, he was recognized with the highest grade point average as a freshman and sophomore with a 4.0 GPA. He also received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement, the Presidential Incentive Scholarship, and the Minority Business Council of Birmingham Scholarship. Terrance graduated from ASU in 1997 with a B.S. in Accounting. After which, Terrance attended the University of Arkansas where he received an Assistantship. He graduated in 1998 with a Masters in Business Administration.

He then accepted a position as an Auditor in Dallas, TX with Arthur Andersen, which was one of the largest accounting firms in the world at the time. Terrance excelled with Arthur Andersen as an Auditor where he worked in various industries such as Telecommunications, Real Estate and Manufacturing. He passed the Certified Public Accounting exam and became a CPA in 2001. He later accepted a position in Atlanta, GA in Arthur Andersen’s Merger and Acquisitions group.

After leaving Andersen, Terrance accepted a position as a Financial Controller with Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions in 2002. He was promoted to Director of Finance in 2005. He is currently oversees the Finance group for Retail Solutions and is responsible for budgeting, forecasting, asset management, control administration, financial reporting and various analytical reviews.

Ramone is the CEO of BNB Consulting and Associates, a management and consulting firm whose vision is to become the premiere Kingdom based enterprise that will assist leaders to identify, interpret, and strategically transform their visions into realities. He is originally from Detroit, Michigan but lived the majority of his teenage years in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

He contracts with ministries, major corporations, not-for-profits, and start-ups in the areas of business organization and development, financial management, fundraising, project management, and systems development. Prior to launching his own business full time, Ramone was a Management and Program Analyst for the United States Environmental Protection Agency for 7 years and Chief Operating Officer for one of the nation's fastest growing ministries.

Ramone has over ten years of strong community partnership building experience along with excellent leadership, organizational, strategic planning, communication, financial and project management skills. Ramone earned his BS in Public Relations with a minor in Business Administration from Alabama State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1997. He is currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix working on his Masters of Business Administration Degree.

His community service resume is extensive which began with his work in college in the Public Relations Council of Alabama where he served as President for two years. After graduating from college and beginning his career with the Federal Government, he was selected as the Community Relations Liaison for the Houston Area. His work involved coordinating all outreach activities at local schools and community fairs. He also served on the Houston Federal Executive Board where he served on the initial planning committee for the Government Procurement Connections, which is now held annually and aimed at helping small businesses learn how to do business which government entities. Most recently, he was awarded the Ebony Men of 2006 Award by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Tyrish Garrett was born in Talladega, Alabama, the son of Brenda Garrett and Howard Leonard. He has one brother, Brian Garrett, who currently resides in Talladega, Alabama. He received his formal education at Alabama State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. Tyrish, also received his M.B.A from Troy State University in Business Administration.

Tyrish has been employed by United Parcel Service for the last eight years. He has worked as a Finance Supervisor for the last four years. Tyrish’s duties have included district profitability analysis, customer profitability, and Auditor training. Tyrish has also worked as a volunteer for United Way for the last six years. His United Way responsibilities includes meeting with Company Coordinators to plan, organize and schedule employee meetings. Assist with developing campaign goals based on potential. Generate ideas; provide enthusiasm, and a new perspective. Educate and communicate the United Way story. Develop and deliver brief speaking presentations to employee groups. Assist coordinators with completing campaigns on time.

Anthony Lewis is from Talladega, Alabama. He is the proud father of Akirah and Anthony, II. He received a B. S. degree in Special Education; M.Ed degree in Special Education; and a Certification in Educational Leadership from Alabama State University. He also attended the Instructional Leadership Academy from Samford University.

Anthony began his work career as a Special Education Teacher at Jefferson Davis High School where he taught for six years. While there, he was Advisor to the Junior Civitans International, winning them numerous awards and recognitions. After which, he was appointed to Assistant Principal of E. D. Nixon Elementary School a position he held for three years. Because of his hard work and dedication he was later appointed Principal of E. D. Nixon Elementary School a position he has held for the past two years. While at E. D. Nixon the following was accomplished: TV's were mounted in all classrooms, two 42' flat-screen TV's were placed in the lobby, all teachers received laptops, projectors and eBeams, discipline decreased by more than 50%, daily student attendance increased, the school's first National Elementary School Honor Society chartered, and most importantly the school became an Alabama Torchbearer School during the 2007-2008 school year - one of only nine in the state. This is a prestigious award given by the State of Alabama recognizing high poverty schools (96% poverty rate at Nixon) where 80% or more of the students exceed national averages on Stanford Achievement Tests (SAT-10). Because of this award and making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), the school was awarded more than $75,000.Additionaly, numerous Principal Academies, the Alabama Bar Association, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, U.S. Congressman Artur Davis, and many others have visited the school.

Anthony is the Owner of SugaBear Entertainment (SBE) - DJ and Sound Services. SBE specializes in weddings, birthdays, reunions, proms, and PA systems. Anthony was the first DJ for the newly opened Club IKONZ in Montgomery, Alabama. Most noted artists that SBE has provided sound for are: Lyfe Jennings, Carl Thomas, J. Holiday, Kelly Rowland, Chrisette Michelle, Trey Songz, Tank, Cupid, and Rich Boy.

Anthony attends Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church where he is a member of the Male Chorus. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the National Alliance of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Montgomery Public Schools Leadership Academy, National Education Association (NEA), Alabama Education Association (AEA), Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Autism Society of Alabama (ASA), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), and Phi Delta Kappa International.

Dr. Brencleveton “Donta” Truss was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but reared in Talladega, Alabama, the son of Clement and Brenda Truss. He received his formal education at Alabama State University where he received a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law.

He has dedicated his career to helping young adults be the best that they can be. Currently, he is the Director of the TRIO Programs at Andrew College, which consists of managing the Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services, and the Educational Opportunity Center. In this role, he serves as a senior-level administrator and is a member of the President’s Cabinet and Chair of the Student Retention Committee. The TRIO programs that he leads all focus on assisting prospective first generation college students with postsecondary entrance and retaining them until graduation. As the Director, he manages a staff of approximately 20 employees and serves over 2000 participants. During his career, he has counseled and mentored young adults throughout Alabama and Georgia as a counselor, educational advisor, and now as a Director.

In addition, he is the CEO/Founder of Resource One, LLC, which started as a professional development and consulting group, but has grown to include a Male and Young Lady Academy that includes a mentoring program and a weekly monitoring component to assist with taking the young men and women in his community to the next level in their lives.

Dr. Truss is the Past President of the Georgia Association of Special Programs Personnel, which is the advocating body for TRiO Programs in Georgia. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, Southeastern Association of Special Programs Personnel and the Council of Opportunity in Education. He has served as the Vice-Chair for Family Connections in Cuthbert, Georgia. He is involved in community activities as the Past President of the Cuthbert, Georgia Rotary Club and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Recently, Mr. Truss was selected and honored as one of the Best and the Brightest: Top Forty under Forty Persons in the state of Georgia by Georgia Trend Magazine.

Jeremy “J” Spratling was born and raised in Talladega, Alabama. He graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1996. He received his Graduate Degree in Banking from Louisiana State University in 2001. He worked in the banking field for 13 years in various Senior Management and Lending positions.

He is the Principal of Corporate Facilities Management, Inc. CFM is a facilities management company. CFM provides service management expertise to industrial, governmental and commercial entities. Their main lines of business include, but are not limited to, commercial and industrial janitorial services, production and heavy equipment staffing, chemical supplies and distribution management. The company started in Birmingham, Alabama and now covers Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and the Florida pan handle. CFM employs over 50 associates. Mr. Spratling handles the day to day operations and management the company.

He is married to Freddie and they have a 4 year old daughter, Jasmine Lauren and a 1 year old son, Jeremy II. He enjoys fishing, reading, and physical activity.

Herman Moncrief currently serves as the Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of American Software, Inc (NASDAQ:AMSWA). American Software is a publicly traded software company operating primarily in the Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) and Supply Chain sectors of the software industry. Mr. Moncrief is originally from Prattville, AL and currently resides in Atlanta, GA. Mr. Moncrief is married (April) and is the proud parent of four year-old fraternal twins (Asia & Bryce).

Mr. Moncrief received a BS degree from Alabama State University, with a concentration in accounting, in 1997 and is a certified public accountant in Georgia. Shortly after graduation Mr. Moncrief relocated to Atlanta, GA and begun his professional career as a Staff Accountant for The Maxim Group. Mr. Moncrief subsequently served as Senior Auditor and Staff Auditor for Arthur Andersen, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia from December 1998 to June 2002. Mr. Moncrief was an Audit Manager with KPMG LLP in Atlanta, Georgia from November 2004 to February 2006. Previously Mr. Moncrief was a Corporate Controller for InterCept, Inc., a Norcross, Georgia, a provider of information technology solutions for community-based financial institutions, from June 2002 to November 2004.

Terrence Hall is originally from Talladega, Al.  He attended Alabama State University back in the fall of 1993 and majored in finance.  After college, he worked as a loan processor for NorthEastern Financial Services from 1997-2001.  From there he started working for Regions Financial Corporation as head loan officer for hazard and flood loans for the Midwest Region from 2001-2005.  Mr. Hall is now currently employed with Delta Airlines, the premier airline in the global airline industry, where he works in Global Sales Support and Services.  He has been awarded with the Certificate of Excellence for outstanding performance, is a two-time member of the renowned Pinnacle Club, and a nominee for the Chairman's Club which is the highest award to an employee with Delta Airlines.  Mr. Hall is currently single and has no children.

Demetrice A. Jones was born the younger of two siblings in Talladega, Alabama. He attended Alabama State University in 1993 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. In 2003 he enrolled into the ASU Graduate Program and received his Master of Science degree in General Counseling.

Demetrice has been employed with BB&T formerly Colonial Bank for nine years, whereas the previous six years he has served as Call Center Supervisor. His responsibilities include managing payroll, coordinating statistical reports, as well as evaluating and counseling agents on performance issues. In addition, Demetrice is employed with Youth Enhancement Family Service and as a counselor he provides therapy to youths that encounter personal, family, and behavioral issues within their homes, communities, and schools. He is also a writer and the author of the relationship novel, When the Truth is Reveal.

Bio information forthcoming.