Advisory Board
Cedric Jones
Cedric Jones was the ACC’s career leading scorer in receiving (upon graduation) from Duke University. Jones served as a Co-Captain, was team MVP, First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, and second team All-America as a senior at Duke. Jones played in the 1982 Senior Bowl. He was inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Jones was a third-round draft pick by Patriots in 1982. He played nine seasons and 120 games. Jones recorded 191 receptions for 2,703 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and 16 Touchdowns and he played in Super Bowl XX.
Jones has embarked on a successful post-playing career. In January 1989, he was an analyst as part of a three-person team which handled radio broadcast feeds to 230 markets for all major sporting events. In 1992, he became a financial consultant and vice president with H.B. Hadley & Associates in Raleigh, NC.
Jones re-joined the NFL in 1993 as the manager of youth programs, developing programs and marketing strategies for youth education programs in all NFL cities. Since August 1994, Jones served as senior manager of club marketing, director of club marketing, director of consumer products, senior director of consumer products-on field operations and NFL coaches club, and senior director of the NFL Youth Football department.
The Youth Football Department managed all League Youth football-related activities and continued to build national awareness for youth football through promotional activities.
The department’s responsibilities included directing and growing key programs, such as NFL Flag, Punt Pass & Kick, Junior Player Development, and coordinating youth football initiatives with NFL clubs and players. The department supported and guided league financial investments in youth football through the Youth Football Fund and other NFL sources, and works closely with the NFL Players Association, the new USA FOOTBALL organization, and other key youth football stakeholders.
Jones currently serves as the Director of Athletics for the New York Athletic Club where he oversees 20 sports and two athletic facilities. He is the first African-American to hold that position.
Jones is a former member of the Duke Alumni Board of Directors, former member of the Duke Athletic Council, member of USA Football Board of Directors, member of National Advisory Board of Parents’ Choice, and former member of the Northeast Region Board of Directors Boy Scouts of America.
Jones resides in Greenwich, CT, and is married to Suzy Abrams Jones. They have four children: Cori, Cameron, Colin and Connor.
Jonathan Shechter
Jonathan is the managing director of Indigo Group’s New York, New York office, and is a founding partner of Foley Shechter LLP, a New York based business law firm. Prior to joining Indigo Group, Jonathan served as the Head of the Corporate Finance and Securities Practice Group of a prominent New York firm with affiliated offices in Tel Aviv, Israel and Shanghai, China, as well as served as an associate at the corporate and securities department of a boutique Wall Street firm. Jonathan works with clients, portfolio companies and their management teams in a wide array of domestic and international corporate transactions, with a concentration on private equity financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and operational development and efficiencies. Jonathan also focuses on the representation of broker-dealers and registered individuals, and advises publicly held companies on reporting obligations.
Jonathan is highly committed to, and inspired by, the mission of Beyond the Boroughs. As a graduate of the University of Maryland and New York Law School, he is a firm supporter of extending educational opportunities to those who have demonstrated a dedication to excel but are in need of support. Serving as a guest lecturer at entrepreneurial programs in colleges and universities, Jonathan often finds himself driven by the energy and enthusiasm of college students presented with the opportunity to pursue their dreams. These experiences and the added involvement in numerous not-for-profit organizations have provided Jonathan with a continued aim to make an impact.
Jonathan resides in New Jersey with his wife and to two baby daughters, and during his “time off†enjoys physical challenges ranging from marathons and triathlons to pick-up basketball games at the local gym.
Mark SpenceÂ
Mr. Spence is a veteran of the insurance industry. He has over eight years of experience in estate planning, pensions, life insurance, disability insurance. He owns his own insurance brokerage, Spence Strategies Group, and currently works with Syren Capital Advisors on the private equity side of the market. He has extensive experience in his field and helps clients protect, grow and, and formats efficient strategies. Mr. Spence graduated from Long Island University CW Post with a Bachelors in International Business in 2009 and studied for a Masters in Public Administration in the College of Management and has one year left to complete the program. Prior to LIU he attended Maritime College and Mr. Spence has also served In the United States Army.
Monqiue Tatum
If those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves, then it makes perfect sense that Monique Tatum is distinctively, purposely and effectively living her life like it’s golden in the sweetest of ways. This native New Yorker has created a national and international empire that has admirably catapulted her clientele to greater heights. In only 9 incredible years, Beautiful Planning Marketing & Public Relations has made an indelible mark in the industry, springing from humble beginnings of working in multi markets such as food & drug, green/eco-awareness, lifestyle brands, luxury brands, health & wellness, technology, fashion, new products, events, publishing, staffing, retail and government agencies. Today, the company is pleased and honored to render impeccable service to corporations, high profile clientele, royalty, not for profit interests and more under Monique’s capable leadership. She humbly, yet tactfully, states, “Many publicists and PR firms just take retainers; we actually deliver results clients can feel and see.†Accordingly, the combination of sincere empathy, a desire to see her clients succeed, a great personality and a total commitment to excellence has proven to be Monique’s formula for success.
As an ever-expanding, New York-based PR Firm, Beautiful Planning continues to add rungs on its ladder of success. In 2011, Monique announced the launch of “The Reality of FASHION The Reality of AIDS,†(http://www.realityontherunway.com) , an annual event taking place during NYC Fashion Week where reality stars walk the runway to raise money for AIDS and AIDS research. The first RFRA event took place for February 9th 2013 and garnered major publicity for the young CEO, sponsors and the 24 celebrities that graced the runway. Tatum’s firm has also played a major role in events to include “Fighting Leukemia with Fashion†on behalf of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, June 2011; EMERGE! a Fashion Runway Show Honoring Vogue Contributing Editor Andre Leon Talley, who was presented the Fashion innovator award by Diane Von Furstenberg, February 2012; and NYC Mercedes Benz Fashion Week for Nina Skarra at Lincoln Center, September 2012.
Believing firmly in the power of mentoring, Beautiful Planning Marketing & PR works to bring all employees in from the ground level, train them and mainly promote from within. Monique also launched “Do-It-Yourself†PR classes in an effort to teach small businesses and entrepreneurs how to create and implement their own Public Relations campaigns in 2011. The classes were nationally recognized by many prestigious business organizations and large Public Relations organizations such as PRWEB, who is an official sponsor of the learning venture.  As a result of her commendable business acumen, she has been featured for business, PR and social media advice on Career Builder, MSN, Reuters, American Express OPEN for Business, Bloomberg News, CBS, Fox and more.
Prior to experiencing entrepreneurial success, the seeds of greatness were planted within Monique’s garden of achievement when she was very young. After being home schooled from the 5th through 9th grades, she attended high school at New York City’s Professional Performing Arts. Graduating at the age of 16, she garnered a scholarship as a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major, but she later changed her major to Marketing. Her professional career launched when she was tapped by NBC to work in their Retail Operations Department for Marketing & PR. In this capacity, she assisted managing the online store promotions and marketing communications, as well as Rockefeller Center events such as Jerry Seinfeld being inducted into the NBC Hall of Fame, the search for Bravo’s “Showdog Moms and Dads,†VIP Tree Lighting parties, NBC Celebrity book signings, NBC’s online Ebay charity auction to benefit Autism Speaks and more.  While there, she drastically increased revenues for The NBC Studio Tours and Rockefeller Center tours by getting them on to Expedia, Travelocity, and more as attractions for tourists to visit while in New York City.
Monique furthered her career by working as Director of Sales and Marketing for Integrity Partners, a Microsoft Partner company. This experience afforded her the opportunity to work on Marketing, PR and Sales for Enterprise Software Solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains.  Her efforts to push Integrity Partners to the forefront of The Microsoft Partner Channel yielded the U.S. Field Partner Award, wherein they were recognized their extraordinary contributions. Her time with Integrity also earned her the honor of being awarded “Rookie of the Year†for her outstanding performance.
In her spare time, she enjoys living a balanced life, which includes spending time with her closely knit family, attending dance class, painting and attending live events such as the Philharmonic.
Lisa P. Wolf
With her engaging leadership style and 20+ years of experience, Lisa Wolf has been consistently sought after as a key executive and adviser to numerous global organizations. Her professional work has encompassed businesses in sports, media & entertainment, technology, financial services, and retail companies. Lisa has applied her business background and cross-functional strengths to enable corporations to meet their challenges and set up new initiatives to positively impact the bottom line. Her valuable business acumen comes from a breadth of skills and experience including; corporate strategy and mission statement, organizational development and board initiatives, licensing and legal issues, and cost management, and procurement strategies.
As the President and visionary leader of the Manhattan-based LPG Group LLC since 1998, Lisa specializes in marketing, management, executive coaching, and diversity-related projects, and has achieved major successes with well-known professional athletic associations, media clients, venture capital firms, top retailers, and financial institutions. Her high-level initiatives, combined with her marketing and business savvy, have allowed her clients to flourish.
As the Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategic/Business Planning, for World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly Titan Sports/WWF) from 1992 until 1998, Lisa was a confidant to the CEO, President and executive senior management of this fast growing, multi-hundred million dollar global sports entertainment company, where she applied her expertise in strategic planning, talent relations, media sales, sponsorships, licensing, and community relations.
As a key Executive/Business Consultant for The Discovery and Learning Channel from 1990 until 1992, she concentrated on strategic planning and sales/marketing divisional operations.
As a Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Organizational Development and key advisor to the firm’s principal at Cadence Design System / Gateway Design Automation from 1988 until 1990, Lisa played a pivotal role in bringing together varied cultures and executive staff, leading the company through M&A stages of organizational growth to a position as a worldwide leader in design automation.
As Senior Vice President of Employment, Training and Staffing with Monet, Inc. (former subsidiary of General Mills) from 1983 until 1988, Lisa worked closely with the chairman and president, served as a major change agent, and focused on strategic leadership, organizational development, and executive team building for this global manufacturer of costume jewelry.
Lisa’s leadership in prominent charities includes Chair of the Homeless Veterans of New York City organization, where she created a very strong board of directors through her relationships within the entertainment, sports, and venture capital communities. As Chair, Lisa spearheaded the raising millions of dollars over a five year period.
Lisa has a Masters degree in Business and Counseling from Suffolk University and a Bachelors in Business from Boston University. She has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at New York University’s Management Institute. Lisa is also a licensed therapist/sports therapist.
