TAAA Executive Board and Committee Chairs

PRESIDENT
Howard Baker Jr. is a founding member of the Tracy African American Association (1994). He has been an active member of TAAA ever since. Howard is currently the broker/owner of Imara Mortgage & Realty, Central Valley and Imara Property Management. In 2007 Howard retired from Hewlett-Packard Company, after 25 years, to pursue his own business endeavors. He earned a B.S. Degree in Aeronautics from San Jose State University and is a licensed pilot.
Other of Howard’s community involvements have included membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Stockton Alumni, and service on the Tracy Airport Advisory Board (1995-1999). Howard is a deacon and the Finance Director at Good News Missionary Baptist Church. He is married to Elizabeth Baker who is president of the Tracy Women's Forum Association. They have two children; Howard III, a graduate of Howard University (2006), and Danielle, a Cheerleader for Morgan State University. They have lived in Tracy since 1990. . president@TAAA.net

VICE-PRESIDENT
Fred Cole was employed for 18 years with IBM and later with Loral Space & Communications, Lockheed Martin, and Nortel Networks as Director of Quality and Reliability. Having earned multiple Physics and Engineering degrees, Fred taught Physics at Spellman and Morehouse colleges in Atlanta, GA. He has serviced his community as president of Alpha Phi Alpha, Iota Theta Lambda Chapter; president of the Binghamton, CA branch of the NAACP; chairman of several church groups, Foster Care; and president of Tracy African American Association, Inc. Over the years, Fred founded several social organizations throughout the country. An extensive traveler, Fred is married to Patricia Cole and has three children, one of whom is adopted. colef@bsci.com

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Melyssa Barrett has been a member of the Tracy African American Association since 1998. She is the Director of Loss Mitigation Services at Visa U.S.A. and has worked in financial services for more than 21 years. She serves on several non-profit Boards including Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco, American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Tracy Performing Arts Foundation. Ms. Barrett holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. melybar@aol.com

RECORDING SECRETARY
Margie Eaton Forehand has been a TAAA member for 13 years and the Education Committee Chairperson for 10 of those years. The retired educator worked for the Diocese of Oakland for 25 years. She is an advocate for children and the community at large. She enjoys working with children, and providing them with opportunities to be successful in life. Born in Oakland, California, Margie grew up in Richmond. She received an AA Degree in Fashion Design from the College of Alameda and a BA Degree in Home Economics from San Francisco State University, where she minored in Black Studies. Margie and her husband Sheldon have been Tracy, California residents for 18 years. They are the parents of eight children and the grandparents of 18. Margie’s motto: “A Good Education is the Drumbeat of Promise.” robinson.valerie1@gmail.com

TREASURER
Menjiwe Nkosazana has been an active member of the Tracy African American Association and a resident of Tracy since 1997. Currently a resource specialist for the Tracy Unified School District is also an active member of the African American Educators’ Association. Menjiwe has been an educator for twenty-six years. She has taught at the middle school, high school, and adult education levels. She has an undergraduate degree in political science and a master's degree in special education. Menjiwe strongly believes that it is important to nurture young people in both mind and in spirit, and to give back to our community in whatever ways we can. treasurer@TAAA.net

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Toni Beckham is president and CEO of PR, et Cetera, Inc. - a full service Public Relations and Marketing Communications company. Toni’s professional communications experience includes 12 years as Investor Relations Manager for a Fortune 1000 Silicon Valley company; eight years as writer and Corporate Communications Director for CityFlight Media Network; and president of the public relations company she formed in 1999.
Her writings on such ominous topics as black adoption, adult literacy, and mental illness have been published in “CityFlight Newsmagazine,” the “Alliance Star,” a periodic journal produced by the “Alliance for Community Care,” and the literary award-winning anthology “Gumbo for the Soul: The Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community.” PR@TAAA.net

ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR
Valerie Robinson has been a TAAA member for more than four years, serving the last two years as recording secretary. A Real Estate professional for over 10 years, she received her professional training in the San Jose and Stockton, CA. Valerie currently works for Platinum Home Mortgage and is also an entrepreneur for AmeriPlan USA. She is the mother of one son, Aaron, and her passion is helping abused children. robinson.valerie1@gmail.com

BY-LAWS CHAIR
John Stewart Jr. has been an active member of TAAA since 2004. John has worked in financial services industry for 28 years.  Currently, he is a real estate agent and loan modification specialist for Lokman Financial Group.  John is also a health plan specialist for AmeriPlan Corporation. Born and raised in Berkeley and North Oakland, John is accustomed to various cultures and ways of thinking.  Although TAAA members are primarily African American, he recognizes the diverse cultural styles and leadership experience that makes TAAA a great organization. Working with the youth and young adults at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Stockton, John strives to always be a positive influence in the lives of all young people. johnstewart37@gmail.com

EDUCATION CHAIR
Paul Earl Hall has been an active TAAA member for 2½ years. He currently serves as the Director of Student Services and Curriculum for the Tracy Unified School District, and maintains a current California Teaching Credential in Social Science, along with a California Administrative Credential. Paul is currently serving as Pastor of Mustard Seed Faith Christian Center Church of God in Christ in Hanford, CA. He is a Charter Member of Kings County NAACP and is Member Chairperson of the Tracy Unified School District African American Education Association.

Born in Nacogdoches, Texas and raised in Richmond and Rodeo California, Paul retired as a United States Naval Officer after serving 20 years. He has a MS in Human Resources Management Development, a BA in Social Science, and an AA in Liberal Arts from Chapman University. Paul is married to Angela W. Davis Hall. They have six children ranging in age from 16 to 28, and one 9-year-old grandson. phall@tusd.net

JUNETEENTH CHAIR
Mishelle Lundy-Neverson has been a member of the Tracy African American Association for four years. She has served as chairperson for the TAAA’s Juneteenth Festival since 2008, with that year’s festival having been the most successful in the number of participating vendors and the number of attendees in the celebration’s then 14-year history.

In addition to her professional position with the Clorox Company, Mishelle is the owner of "My Tiny Blessings Day Care" since 2000. The eight-year Tracy, CA resident holds a BS degree in Human Services and is currently studying for her MBA degree. Mishelle has been married for 18 years to Rev. Dr. Michael Neverson; they are blessed with six children and one grandson.   Juneteenth09@yahoo.com

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Mercedes Patrick has been a TAAA member since 1996, during which time she has been active on the scholarship selection team and served as membership chairperson. Mercedes also served as chairperson of the TAAA Juneteenth Celebration in 2003 and 2004. Mercedes has also volunteered for the Golden Agers, Interfaith Ministries and the Boys and Girls Club. Her commitment to the community was acknowledged in 2004 when she was presented with the TAAA Martin Luther King Image Award.

Mercedes relocated to Tracy from Oakland, CA in 1990. She has been retired from Safeway since 2004 and now spends her time working on crafts and jewelry making projects, baking and cooking.   mjuju9@aol.com

NEWSLETTER CHAIR
Larry Gamino is a homegrown Tracyite of Mexican descent. He is third generation of a Southern Pacific Railroad family. Educated at South School, St. Bernard’s School and Tracy High School, Larry went on to graduate from U.C. Berkeley in 1974. His major in U.S. History led to his interest in local, ethnic, and cultural histories.

Larry’s love affair with multi-cultural history resulted in his grass roots community involvement as an activist and local writer. Having been editor of past newsletters for the Tracy Historical Museum and Southside Community Organization, Larry looks forward to contributing, and communicating TAAA matters and those of the community at-large in order to help make Tracy a better place as the Tracy African American Association continues to grow.