Our Advisory Boardroom
“Always deliver more than expected.” Larry Paige, Co-Founder of Google
Mr. Benjamin Rodriguez
Mr. Benjamin Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of Business Club LLC. As CEO, Mr. Rodriguez is the highest-ranking executive of the company and assumes the following responsibilities: Managing the overall operations and resources of the company, handling all communications between the company and its club members and maintaining responsibility for successful stewardship of Business Club LLC.
Mr. Rodriguez studied business administration at Dowling College and developed a passion for entrepreneurship. In the last several years, he has dedicated himself to serving the public and is now returning to the private sector.
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Mr. Richard Anthony Celestin, ESQ.
Richard Anthony Celestin is a graduate of The City University of New York School of Law. While at CUNY Law, he focused his studies on criminal defense and juvenile justice. Prior to entering law school, and since becoming an attorney, he has directed his work towards underrepresented and at-risk youth via the not-for-profit sector and with alternative-to-detention programs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Richard also serves as a consultant for various organizations seeking to develop youth-based programs within the community, practices various areas of the law, and is an adjunct professor at two CUNY colleges, teaching public speaking, critical thinking, criminal justice and social justice.
Mr. Celestin created a limited liability corporation, Richard Celestin Consulting Group, LLC, for the purposes of developing and providing legal skill development, self-awareness, youth empowerment, and consequential thinking programs to elementary, middle and high school students in Queens and Brooklyn, particularly with youth of color. Under the LLC, Richard operates the Young Debaters Program, which has been implemented in over 40 schools and focuses on teaching students the skills behind debate and oral advocacy.
Most recently, Mr. Celestin published his first book entitled “The Hard Facts About Soft Skills”. Targeting pre- and young professionals, the book focuses on the soft skills needed in order to successfully navigate the professional world. These skills include networking, resume development, personal branding and professional handshakes. He hopes to publish additional books in the future.
Ms. Nikka A. Williams, MSW
In 2013 Nikka Williams expanded her borders to entrepreneurship. Having completed her master’s degree in Social Work in 2016, and graduating Cum Laude, Nikka launched Go, Grow & Glow, LLC, a holistic counseling and wellness coaching practice. In late 2019 Nikka will release her first published book which coincides with the counseling treatment she provides.
Within her community, Nikka is active and busy. In 2010 Nikka joined the New York City Criminal Justice Agency as a piloting member of the Supervised Release Program. Through the hard work and dedication of the program, over 3000 people have been released without bail. Nikka was very instrumental in the expansion of the program city-wide and is currently assisting CJA with the new bail reform laws.
Mr. Murray Allen, Certified Credit Consultant
Murray Allen is the founder and CEO of MCE Financial Services/MCE Credit Empowerment, is a. Author of The Book Harlem Deserves “DA”Credit A Guide to Help Build ,Maintain and Establish Good Credit . Murray has provided impactful, life-changing credit education and restoration services to his community and nationwide since 2007. He is a public speaker and head of the MCE Credit Empowerment “Consumer & Business Credit Basics 101” training program. Murray previously worked as an employment specialist for 13 years… He was inspired to become a credit literacy advocate after seeing some of the dedicated and hopeful clients he supported denied jobs or housing due to poor credit.
MCE Credit Empowerment has served and collaborated with numerous community organizations, agencies and corporations, including: Union Settlement(Women Entrepreneur Success Training), North East District of The National Association of Negro Business Professional Women’s Club Inc. Harlem Library, Countee Cullen Library, Hostos College, Lehman College, The New American Chamber of Commerce, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, Popular Community Bank, Carver Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Ponce Bank, Operation HOPE, Thurgood Marshall Academy, Bethel Gospel Assembly, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, Harlem Commonwealth Council, Palante Harlem, Community Board 11,Children's Zone, Urban Resources Institute (Homeless Shelter)Department of Labor, SoBro, Brooklyn Kings County Hospital, New Yorker Hotel, Brooklyn Marriott Hotel, Mount Vernon Roosevelt Professional Building, Raymour & Flannigan, Emblem Health, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Law Firm of Rodriguez & Fuentes and more....
Our agenda consists of teaching consumers and business professionals about the credit reporting industry, how it works, how credit scores are calculated, ways to improve one's credit score, and why a credit profile is so important in one's personal life and business venture. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of how a good credit score and credit report correlates with an increased chance of lowering bank and credit card interest rates, qualifying for a loan, and being presented employment opportunities.