The DeKalb Technical College Foundation is a community based nonprofit organization that strives to promote the cause of technical and adult education while expanding education opportunities for the students of DeKalb Tech.
"The expansion of the DeKalb Technical College Foundation's Board of Directors enables the foundation to continue to benefit from the diversity of experience and perspectives of these new members. Beard, Soyah, Profit and Johnson have proven leadership skills, broad management expertise, and have significantly contributed their time, talent, and energy to various community service initiatives," said Ed Bates, Chairman of the Board of Directors, DeKalb Technical College Foundation. "I'm very excited about working with all of our Board members to further advance the Foundation on multiple levels."
Beard is President of United Bank of Covington. He has more than 30 years of progressive management experience including consumer and commercial lending, business development, office management, public relations, and customer service. A results-oriented banker and seasoned executive, Reed previously served as President of Main Street Bank in Covington, GA, Senior Vice President of Regions Bank in Conyers, GA, and Vice President of Wachovia Bank in Americus, GA. In addition to his broad banking experience, Reed has also spearheaded, organized and facilitated client education seminars.
An alumnus of DeKalb Technical College, Soyah has a background in engineering as well as professional expertise in sales and marketing. As co-founder of Universal Heating and Cooling, his company was recognized as one of the fastest growing residential retrofit HVAC companies in the United States and received numerous awards for its success. After Universal Heating and Cooling was acquired by one of the largest HVAC and plumbing companies in the nation, Soyah remained on the Board for one year as a Vice President of the New York division. Currently, he consults with various companies in the industry while also serving as an active member of the DeKalb Technical College HVAC Advisory Committee and mentoring several students at the college.
Profit is the founder, President and CEO of Multimedia Digital Broadcasting Corporation, a cutting edge technology company dedicated to providing custom Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Networks for a diverse portfolio of clients throughout the world. He has wide-ranging experience in the multi-media industry, and strong leadership in the integration of wireless networks, broadcasting, advertising, marketing and sales, product branding, e-commerce, online provisioning, and capital funding. Dr. Profit's has been honored with numerous accolades, including being named America's Best and Brightest Businessman Award, the National Minority Supplier Development Council's Award, the Nevada Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year Award, and the "Granville T. Woods Award for Outstanding CEO". Additionally, he is actively involved with many political and philanthropic organizations. In 1995, he founded Youth United for Prosperity (YUP) and serves as President and CEO of the nonprofit organization. Dr. Profit is also a former player in the National Football League (NFL) and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. Currently, he serves as the President and CEO of the NFL Alumni - Atlanta Chapter.
Johnson is employed with the Georgia Department of Labor and works in the Safety Engineering Division as a Safety & Health Administrator. He is responsible for implementing the Statewide Public Employees Hazardous Communication Protection and Right to Know Programs for the State of Georgia. A senior business leader with extensive environmental, health & safety experience in manufacturing, aerospace, telecommunication, healthcare supply, and public governance, Johnson received the honor of being the first recipient of the Diversity in Health & Safety Environmental Professional Award given by American Society of Safety Engineers.
"Collectively, the extensive and diverse professional experience and impressive leadership abilities of our new Board members will be a valuable asset as we continue to propel and further develop the DeKalb Technical College Foundation," said Cynthia Dorsey Edwards, Executive Director, DeKalb Technical College Foundation.
DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. The college has 8 centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale, and Morgan counties. Established in 1961, DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 4,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic and Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 100 different occupations. For more information visit www.dekalbtech.edu.
