OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
Bernard J. McCullough
Founder and Chairman Emeritus
Rhonda R. McCullough
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dennis J. Irvin
Vice President and Chairperson
of Executive Committee, Community President,
United Fidelity Bank
Edward A. Williams, Esq.
Treasurer, Principal and Owner, Edward A. Williams and
Associates
Antonio R. Guillen
President of Wintrust Bank,
Pilsen
Douglas T. Gaines
Founder and CEO, Gaines & Gaines Financial Services Ltd.
Reverend
Walter P. Turner, III
Pastor, New Spiritual Light
MB Church
Dr. Jackie Williams (Ret.)
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Crystal L. Johnson, Esq.
Law Offices of Crystal L. Johnson
Dr. Wanda Ewing
President & CEO
We Management LLC
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Ansel T. Johnson
Optometrist /Clinical Director/Founder, Vison Salon
Eye Care Associates
Dr. Kimberly Trotter
Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at The University of Chicago
General Counsel
Attorney Audrey Gardner
Gardner Law LLC
Mary Ann Grossett, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Administration
Miah Rogers
Administrative Assistant
Excutive Director
Board of Directors Members
Rhonda R. McCullough
President and Chief Executive Officer
In 1974, at Chicago Vocational School on the south side of Chicago, a young Rhonda Gore was introduced by a mutual friend to a young man who proudly professed to her, “Girl you better get on this train cause I’m gonna be rich and famous!” Unbeknownst to either, they were both looking at their future spouses and soul mates. A few years later, at the tender age of 19, Rhonda Gore married Bernard McCullough and a short while later; she birthed their only daughter, Je’Niece, and the rest, is as they say, history.
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While the world knows Bernie’s story to be that of a success, life was not always easy for Bernard and Rhonda. After Bernie was laid off from his job at General Motors in the early 1980s, Rhonda put herself through nursing school to be able to afford a better lifestyle for her family. She received her nursing degree from Dawson Technical Institute in 1986 and began her career as a nurse and for a time, became the sole breadwinner of the family. Not only did she support her family financially, she went on to become the backbone of the Mac family, supporting and nurturing both Bernard and Je’Niece and keeping a home while Bernie went on to work towards his comedy career, which took him away for extended periods of time.
Once Bernie’s career began to grow, it was Rhonda who served as his accountant, keeping track of the money and keeping the books in excellent condition. Bernie himself would even say that when it came to matters concerning the money, “You have to ask the Boss,” referring to Rhonda. A consummate giver, Rhonda has been involved with many charities, giving donations anonymously throughout the years on behalf of herself and her family. A savvy and sophisticated woman of many talents, Rhonda understands that she has been blessed by the life she has shared with her husband and that the best way to live is to be a blessing to others.
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It is Rhonda’s hope to continue the rich legacy her husband Bernie left behind and to reach the infinite possibilities that lay ahead for The Bernie Mac Foundation.
Edward A. Williams, Esq.
Treasurer, Principal and Owner, Edward A. Williams and
Associates
Edward A. Williams, CPA/Attorney, began his academic career at DePaul University with a major in accounting. He completed his undergraduate degree in 1962 and obtained his certificate as a Certified Public Accountant in 1963. He is the 84th African American in the United States to become a CPA since 1921. Mr. Williams began DePaul University College of Law School in 1963 and graduated with Honors in 1967. After graduation Mr. Williams was the first African American adjunct professor in Taxation during the year 1976.
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After graduating DePaul, Mr. Williams began his legal career at the law firm of McCoy, Ming, and Black. This firm was the legal architect of the historic Brown v. Board of Education and other seminal cases, ensuring African Americans and other minorities protection of fundamental rights provided under the United States Constitution. During his career at McCoy, Ming and Black, Mr. Williams was the Tax Attorney for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Foundation, Mahalia Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and numerous lawyers and judges.
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After leaving the firm of McCoy, Ming, and Black in 1970, Mr. Williams began his own firm, Edward A. Williams & Associates, Ltd., focusing his practice on federal and state taxation, criminal and civil litigation, and administrative audits and appeals.
During his legal career, Edward has brought cases involving tax matters before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Courts.
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Two of Mr. Williams' cases, Nickerson v. Commission of Internal Revenue, noted in The Wall Street Journal, April 27, 1983, and People of the State of Illinois for the Use of Bernardi v. Bethune Plaza, caused significant changes in the law regarding "hobby losses" and federal and state unemployment taxes.
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Mr. Williams served for twenty years on the Illinois State Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Committee. He is also a long-standing member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association.
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In addition to Mr. Williams' many pro bono efforts on behalf of his church, civic and community organizations, he is the Founding Member and Treasurer of DePaul Law Black Alumni Foundation, Inc. providing scholarships to women and minority law students who have been accepted at DePaul University College of Law. Mr. Williams, married, is one of eleven children and has a cadre of children and grandchildren of his own.
Antonio R. Guillen
President of Wintrust Bank, Pilsen
Antonio R Guillen serves as President of Wintrust Bank Pilsen and Senior Vice-President of Commercial Lending & Diverse Markets Manager for Wintrust. Antonio has over 35 years experience in the banking industry. Antonio's expertise is business banking, specifically lending to small to medium size businesses and commercial real estate financing and development. Antonio spends much of his out in the field building relationships and supporting Community Organizations; his vast experience allows him to guide and mentor many local businesses.
Antonio also serves as the President of the Hispanic Bankers Association (HBA) and serves on several other boards including Little Village Chamber of Commerce (LVCC), Eighteenth Street Development Corporation (ESDC), Latino Professionals for a Cause (LPC), Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA), and is a member of the Latino Advisory Council (LAC) for Catholic Charites. Antonio is a Chicago native and married with five children. Antonio joined Wintrust in July of 2010.
Douglas T. Gaines
Founder and CEO, Gaines & Gaines Financial Services Ltd.
Douglas T. Gaines is a sales professional working as a broker with large conglomerate companies, in 25 states and is the Founder and CEO of Gaines & Gaines Financial Services, Ltd. He has partnered with his mentor and business partner Sol Hicks, CEO of Hicks Global Enterprises & Solomon Hicks Financial Services. He was a member of the Prudential Leaders Council, a seven-time qualifier for Prudential’s prestigious Masters Conference; two time Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table – Top of the Table; 14 time Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table – Court of the Table, as well as a 16 time Life Qualifying
Member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Mr. Gaines is a Life Time Member, past president and past member of the Executive Advisory Committee for the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc.; served on the Board of Directors, Director of Finance and Member of the Endowment Committee for 12 years of eta Creative Arts Foundation; serves on the Board of Directors and is Chairman of the Finance & Audit Committee of the Bernie Mac Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park, Inc. where he is the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Elder and Sunday School Instructor. Mr. Gaines is a native of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Accountancy; currently a student at McCormick Theological Seminary perusing the Master of Divinity Degree. He is married to Suzette for 29 years and has two wonderful children, Doug Jr. and Moriah.
Reverend Walter P. Turner, III
Pastor, New Spiritual Light
MB Church
Since 1990, Pastor Walter P. Turner, III has served as the Senior Pastor of New Spiritual Light Missionary Baptist Church, located on the south side of Chicago, IL. In this position, he shepherds a congregation of baptized believers, who truly love the Lord, and has various support ministries, to assist in reaching the vision. In 1997, Pastor Turner was elected as President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Chicago and Vicinity. In this capacity, he leads a large group of Pastors throughout the city to deal with the challenges that face our communities. He is also Co-Chair for Pastors4PCOR, which partners with PCORI (the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute), Northwestern University, and several major hospitals to provide health research training to churches.
Pastor Turner serves as President of Illinois Faith Based Association (IFBA), which provides community outreach, and support services throughout the State of Illinois. Through these established faith-based entities, over 50,000 lives are positively impacted annually with various outreach and human services.
Socially, Pastor Turner serves on various boards and organizations including: The Chicago Football Classic, Next Level Health, Southland Ministerial Health Network, The Bernie Mac Foundation, South Shore Connects, Illinois Smart Solar Alliance, ICI Clinic for Substance Abuse, just to name a few. Pastor also serves on The Executive Ethics Commission for Illinois.
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In recent years, Pastor Turner has received numerous awards: Chicago Public School Interfaith Leader of The Year Award, Martin Luther King Community Service Award and The Keeper of The Dream Award. In 2013, he received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama.
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He is married to the love of his life, Lynne M. Turner. They have four daughters; Lauren, LaToya, Lynnelle, and Leah, better known as "The Turner Sisters" who are national recording artists. Pastor also has five grandchildren, and two son-in-laws.
Pastor Turner believes that if we are the light that shines in the community, then our community will become a place where hope is renewed, dreams are fulfilled, and families are restored.
Dr. Jackie Williams (Ret.)
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Williams received his bachelor's degree majoring in chemistry and minoring in psychology from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri. He studied medicine at Howard University's College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and Columbus Cuneo Cabrini Medical Center in New York City.
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Dr. Williams is retired with over 20 years of medical experience as a private physician, clinician with the Cook County Dept. of Public Health, medical director of Laboratory Services, and assistant medical director.
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Dr. Williams is a memeber of the National Medical Association, and he served as the vice president of his local chapter of the National Medical Association.
Crystal L. Johnson, Esq.
Law Offices of Crystal L. Johnson
Crystal L. Johnson is the sole owner of the Law Office of Crystal L. Johnson LLC in Crown Point, Indiana. Crystal’s primary practice areas are business, real estate, and estate planning. Also, she is a real estate investor who purchases tax liens from property tax auctions and educates potential and current investors about property tax sale auctions.
Crystal was born in Chicago and raised in Gary, Indiana. She obtained her Juris Doctorate
Degree from Valparaiso University Law School. During her time at Valparaiso, she was involved in several student organizations that served the community. She held a position in the Tax Clinic which provided free and low-cost legal services to disadvantaged individuals.
Prior to attending law school and opening her own practice, Crystal worked at her uncle’s
CPA/Law firm for twenty-one (21) years. The firm specialized in handling tax matters for high net worth individuals and businesses.
Crystal is admitted to practice law in Indiana, in the United States Tax Court, in the United
States District Courts of Illinois and Indiana, and in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Crystal sits on the Board and is the Treasurer of e-Engaging Northwest Indiana Business Women and the James C. Kimbrough Bar Association. She sits on the Board and is the Membership Chairperson for the Northwest Indiana Creative Investors Association (a local real estate investment association). Crystal is a member of the Lake County Bar Association, National Association of Black Women in Construction, and Black Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Indiana.
Dr. Wanda Ewing
President & CEO
We Management
DR. WANDA EWING, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WE MANAGEMENT LLC, is also a Clinical Research Auditor for University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Clinical Trials Unit, Cleveland OH.
Dr. Ewing serves as Chief Operating Officer (10 Years) of WNZN Power 89.1 FM Radio (Lorain/Cleveland, OHIO) since the inception of the 2-time Stellar Award winning, African-American Owned Radio Station.
She's the author of her newly released book entitled, "Broken Made Whole - Success Made Manifest: Activate The Greatness Within."
She received an Honorary Doctorate in Mass Communications and a United States LifeTime Achievement Award (Harvest Christian University - Dallas, TX)
Dr. Ewing is also an Ordained Elder of The Lord's Church, she serves on several Boards (Board of Director - Board of Mental Health; Board of Director - Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast OH; Board of Director - UMADAOP -URBAN MINORITY ALCOHOLISM & DRUG ABUSE OUTREACH PROGRAMS) and her passion and mission is to serve in ways that impacts and improves the lives of others.
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Ansel T. Johnson
Optometrist /Clinical Director/Founder, Vison Salon
Eye Care Associates
Dr. Johnson received his bachelor's degree in biology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts in 1985. Dr. Johnson has done research for the Glaucoma Research Foundation based in California and has participated with them on their national public education projects on glaucoma.
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Dr. Johnson serves on the Board of Directors for United Eye Care Providers (www.UECP.com), as well on the executive board for the Central Cities Optometric Society. He is a member of the the Illinois National Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.
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Dr. Johnson is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards and a member of distinguished boards.
Dr. Kimberly Trotter
Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at The University of Chicago
Dr. Kimberly Trotter is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at The University of Chicago. She completed her medical degree at The University of Maryland School of Medicine and her Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at The University of Chicago. After fellowship, she continued her career at The University of Chicago as a clinical Rheumatologist and serves as the co-director for The Lupus Clinic.
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Dr. Trotter is passionate about improving the outcomes for her patients and believes that research can help provide valuable information about rheumatologic diseases. She is involved in several ongoing clinical trials and research studies and has published multiple articles.
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Dr. Trotter is an active member of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and is working with the ACR on the Lupus Clinical Trials Training (LuCTT) program; a national program focused on increasing minority patient participation in Lupus clinical trials.
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In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Trotter serves as a mentor to undergraduate and medical students, residents, and fellows and has been an invited speaker for a number of organizations. She is a vigorous advocate for her patients and is dedicated to advancing the field of rheumatology.
General Counsel
Attorney Audrey Gardner
Gardner Law LLC
Audrey pursued law school because of her passion for helping people. She credits her empathy for others to her experience of growing up in Kingston, Jamaica and her parents’ outreach to their community. Moreover, while working as an intern at Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston, Audrey, often, defended orphans who had no one to protect them. Audrey moved to the United States in 1990, and her passion for advocacy grew with each letter she deciphered, each application she completed, and each telephone call she made on behalf of members of her Jamaican community.
Audrey received her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University Law School in Valparaiso, Indiana and her Bachelor of Arts from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. She has an Associate degree in Claims and is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. She has over twenty-five years of experience negotiating and settling workers compensation claims and helping injured employees return to gainful employment.
Over the years, Audrey managed workers compensation claims that occurred in the Midwest and thirteen other states for national employers and major insurance companies. She negotiated and settled work related claims ranging from minor sprain/strains to those involving catastrophic injuries, including death, multiple surgeries, and permanent total disability.
As a claim adjuster/supervisor, Audrey gained a thorough knowledge of the Illinois Workers Compensation Act. As an attorney, Audrey helps injured employees navigate the workers compensation system while enforcing their rights against insurance companies.
Audrey brings this breadth of compassion, experience, and knowledge to Gardner Law, LLC and aggressively advocate for injured employees in securing their rights to medical benefits, temporary total disability benefits and settlements insurance companies.
While workers compensation is a major focus of Gardner Law, LLC, the firm provides a wide array of other legal services, including, representation in personal injury, immigration, estate planning, probate, adoption and real estate closings for home buyers and sellers.
Audrey is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and an active Committee Member of the Illinois State Bar Association Workers Compensation Division.
Executive Director
Mary Ann Grossett, M.Ed.
Mary Ann Grossett graduated from University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and received her Master of Arts in Education, Administration and Leadership Supervision also from University of Illinois. Mary Ann has been formally trained in education reform at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland.
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Mary Ann is a proven leader. She began her professional career thirty-five years ago with Chicago Public Schools. Mary Ann’s stellar teaching performance and ratings in the classroom eventually catapulted her career to become an educational leader and administrator. As an educator, Mary Ann held four certificates, early childhood, elementary education, secondary education, and administrative education.
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After several years of possessing a deliberate mission of being a change agent for at risk youth, family and community, Mary Ann was encouraged to join the Bernie Mac Foundation to serve as Executive Director. As executive director, she feels that her primary responsibility is to support the legacy and vision of the Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, aka Bernie Mac, President and CEO, Board Members and Medical Advisory Board. Mary Ann is deeply committed to the vision and mission of The Bernie Mac Foundation.
During Bernie’s last days, he worked tirelessly in establishing the foundation. He wanted to positively affect and change the lives of people who are challenged with sarcoidosis. It is through the foundation that Mary Ann is proud to preserve Bernie’s legacy. It is because of this journey with Bernie and her sister, Rhonda that she is deeply committed to the Bernie Mac Foundation. The Bernie Mac Foundation provides a catalyst for Mary Ann to work on behalf of those who are living with sarcoidosis and to promote research and raise awareness. It is a labor of love and dedication to Bernie’s memory that Mary Ann serves the foundation. For Mary Ann, “it’s all personal.”
Administration
Miah Rogers
Administrative Assistant
In 2018 Miah Rogers began her quest for a higher education in the field of clinical psychology at Heartland Community College in Bloomington Illinois. During her time as a student at Heartland Community, she academically earned an achievement honors award and was involved in multiple community service organizations. Miah volunteered her service to the YMCA, YWCA, The Boys & Girls Club and The Lincoln Towers for low income housing assistance. At the Lincoln Towers, Miah provided tutoring and emotional support to young children and teenagers from low income communities. This kind of work motivated Miah to become more involved with struggling minority communities.
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In 2019 Miah moved to Chicago Illinois, where she is currently enrolled as a student at Harold Washington Community College. Since her enrollment, Miah has obtained status on the dean’s list. She has been able to maintain a GPA of 3.6.
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As the Bernie Mac Foundation’s Administrative Assistant Miah’s goal is to help the organization shine a light on promoting Sarcoidosis awareness and research. Miah views the life and accomplishments of Bernard Jeffery McCullough aka Bernie Mac as a stunning example of black excellence. Miah plans to follow in his footsteps and to continue to be motivated by his quote, “Whatever success I’ve had, I always like to top it.”