HarlemLIVE

Saidah Nash (Co-Chair) is Vice President for Digital Rich Media at Reuters.  In this role, Saidah leads overall product management, direction and strategy for new multimedia digital syndication product offerings.  Key areas include developing new markets, non-traditional revenue streams and next-generation distribution models for Reuters agency media’s online propositions.   An expert in content syndication, product development, and commercializing content-rich experiences, Saidah has had several roles at Reuters over the years.  Previous roles include Director of Globlal Product Marketing, where Saidah was responsible for global product launches, global customer research and embedding client feedback into the product planning processes. Saidah joined Reuters in 1997 having graduated from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, with a degree in International Relations with a concentration on East Asia.  Saidah speaks Mandarin Chinese has been at Reuters for 11 years. 

David Hatcher (Co-Chair), is the Executive Producer of "Fox 5 News at 10pm.”  Last year David returned to Fox 5 where from 2002-2006 he served as Executive Producer of “Fox 5 News at 5:00 p.m.” and “Fox 5 News at 6:00 p.m.”  Most recently, he was the Assistant News Director at WBZ and WSBK in Boston. Previously, Hatcher was Executive Producer at WCBS in New York and WSVN in Miami and served as a Senior Producer for NBC’s “Real Life” and a producer for WABC in New York .  Hatcher began his broadcast career with WHDH in Boston after graduating from Boston University's College of Communication with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism.  David has had a home in Harlem since 2000 and also lived in the community in the early 90's.  He is the youngest of nine children and grew up outside of the city in Westchester County and in Washington, DC. Throughout his career, David has often spoken to college and high school students about the journalism business and how it has changed over the years.

Justin Balding works for NBC News producing segments for Dateline NBC, NBC Nightly News and Today. He often produces for NBC's Ann Curry, especially on overseas assignments. In addition to his international experience covering conflicts in the Former Soviet Union, Africa, The Middle East and Central Asia, he produces hour-long primetime segments such as The Last Days Of A Secret Agent, an investigation into the poisoning death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, The Road to Baghdad with Tom Brokaw and news specials.

Richard Calton (Founder) is a member of the Harlem Arts Alliance and a former consultant for the Institute for Learning Technologies, Teachers College, Columbia University.  Prior to his position at Teacher’s College, Richard had 13 years of educational instruction experience in the New York public school system. He spent 3 years working at the district level; managing the implementation of computer technology projects and providing professional development to teachers in the East Harlem school district. Before joining the district staff, Richard taught in the New York public schools for 10 years. In 1996 Richard began HarlemLive, Inc. as a way to enhance the education offered by New York City public schools.  Richard holds a Masters Degree in Education as a Reading Specialistfrom City College of New York and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism with a minor in Computer Science from New York University.

Chantay Dingle-El is ranked as one of the best at Bloomberg LP as Global Technical Support Executive. Chantay has a great deal of experience in Information technology in the financial services field.  Prior to her current position she supported several major organizations such as Adecco Staffing, Hofstra University & LHR inc. Proudly Chantay has also been employed by (RICA-Baltimore) Regional Institute for Children & Adolescents Helping Troubled Teens & Children Mental Health & Substance Abuse issues in a variety of professional roles such as; Activities Coordinator, Mental health counselor, One- to –One counselor. Before this, she was the Assistant Director in the Activities Department for Granada Nursing Facility and was an Activities Assistant at Future Care -Old Court Nursing Facility, which aided in improving the quality of life form long/short-term care.
Chantay is a graduate of Briarcliffe College with an Associates Degree in Networking Computer Technology and a BA degree in Information Technology. While in college Chantay completed a Study Abroad Internship Program at American Intercontinental University (AIU) in London, UK and served as Study Abroad Ambassador for AIU London.

Christopher Frierson (HL Alum) was a member of HarlemLIVE for two years.  During that time he was a reporter, photographer, and web editor.  He went to Long Island University where he majored in media arts.  His concentration was on video production and Art.  During this time he joined the school’s TV station and later became the Station Manager.  He had a few internships (NBC Agency, ABC "The View and, Indigent).  He worked with HarlemLIVE in the video production department as well as another non-profit  called Imani House as their video coordinator. He has done some freelance video and editing for a couple of small time companies and worked for the Fox Business Network for almost two years as a production assistant in two different departments (Media Desk and Art Department).  Today he is a teacher's assistant for district 75 (Special Education).  He is also working on his A+ Computer Technician Certification.

Wilhelm Harbans is an architect and artist.  He is a member of the Incorporation of Artists on the Move (IAM), founding member of the National Institute of Development Inc. (N.I.D.), former member of the Institute of Store Planners (ISP), former member of the Canadian Art Society, former member of the Art Gallery of Ontario, and a member of St. Bartholomew Theater Guild

Melvin Johnson (HL Alum) supervised the HarlemLIVE web team and, during his tenure, represented HL at numerous forums ranging from a panel for the FCC in Washington, DC and to an international audience in Rome, Italy. In January 2007, HarlemLIVE Hired Melvin as their Associate Director. Melvin was essential in the continuance of the organization as its founder prepared to pass the torch of leadership. Melvin is currently pursuing a career in New Media and is an active alum of the HarlemLIVE.

Liza McGuirk is the Executive Producer of Fareed Zakaria GPS, a weekly foreign affairs program on CNN.  She has spent 25 years in television journalism, serving as, among other things, a “60 Minutes” producer for the late Ed Bradley.  During her years at CBS News, she won three Emmy Awards.  She also produced an award-winning documentary on Iran, “Revolutionary Journey”, with CNN International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour.

John McKay is an aviation law specialist at Global Aerospace, a British insurance company with a U.S. headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey.  He is an Assistant Vice President in the Claims Services division, which serves as the lead underwriter for the Boeing Company’s global account.  His work primarily involves managing the defense of lawsuits against Boeing arising out of airliner crashes.  Prior to joining Global, he was a legal and aviation consultant to The Mustique Company, a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines company that owns and manages a private island and airport in that Caribbean nation, and also served for over a decade as outside litigation counsel for a large cable television and telecommunications operator in the U.S.  He has a total of twenty-four years’ experience in the private practice of law, and is licensed to practice in New York, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as England and Wales.  He has been listed in Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World. He received a B.A. with distinction from the University of Virginia, and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law.  He was the creator and former publisher of the Equine Law and Business Letter, and has taught business law to evening students at a community college.  He was also one of the co-founders of the Thomas Jefferson Inn of Court in Charlottesville, Virginia, which serves to improve trial advocacy skills and bench-bar relations among young litigators.  He has four children who currently live in Tucson, Arizona and Stowe, Vermont, and he enjoys travel, aviation, pathetic attempts at tennis, and more passable skiing.  He holds a Commercial Pilot license with instrument and multi-engine ratings.

Dwight Ross is the Financial Consultant for the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, Inc.  Dwight has several years of experience that extend over a variety of industries including Financial Services, Law, Insurance, Health Care, Higher Education, Advertising, Real Estate, Federal Government, and Not-for-Profit.  As a professional, he has held senior financial positions with Grant Thornton, LLP; Thorpe International, Inc.; Thompson Cobb, Bazilio and Associates; Deutsche Bank/Zurich Scudder Investments; and Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, where he garnered and honed his skills in financial accounting and reporting, auditing, budgeting, account analysis and reconciliation.  Mr. Ross’ engagement experiences include Sarbanes Oxley - Internal Controls testing, regulatory compliance testing, internal audit, accelerated financial close, forensic review, enterprise resource planning, project and financial management, and accounting and transaction support services.  Dwight holds a Masters Degree in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Bernard Baruch College.  Mr. Ross is also a Notary Public - Commissioned by the Sate of New York and is an active member of the National Association of Black Accountants and the Association of Government Accountants.

Danya Steele (HL Alum) was named one of Teen People Magazine’s “20 Teens Who Will Change The World” At age 17 for her work in new media and youth culture. Since then, she’s gone on to build a career in media, social change and organizational development.