CWC Welcome Four New Members to its Board of Directors
Common Wealth Charlotte is excited to announce the addition of four new members to the CWC Board of Directors – Vanessa Clark (U.S. Bank), Rukiya Kelly (Wells Fargo), Sam Smith (GreenLight Fund) and Barbara Meeks (Chapman and Cutler LLP).
Vanessa Clark is an Assistant General Counsel at U.S. Bank. Originally from Florida and New York City, she has been living in Charlotte for the past ten years. Her favorite thing about Charlotte is its proximity to the mountains and the beach, and the ability to easily “fly all over the world from basically my doorstep.” When asked about a financial motto to live by she quoted Warren Buffet, “don’t save what is left after spending; spend what is left after saving.” Welcome, Vanessa!
Rukiya Kelly is a one of a kind, native Charlottean. She has enjoyed witnessing the growth of Charlotte’s diverse cultural experiences and food scene. Rukiya is a Vice President, Product Strategist at Wells Fargo and her financial motto to live by is: “learn from the past, act in the present, thrive in the future.” Rukiya has also supported CWC as a volunteer and client mentor. Welcome, Rukiya!
Born in Monrovia, Liberia Sam Smith Jr. has lived in Charlotte for ten years after living in Detroit, Michigan. He appreciates that Charlotte is a family-friendly city and shared, “there's something for everyone. It's truly a city of opportunities.” Sam is the Executive Director of GreenLight Fund, which connects the county’s best social innovations with the most pressing needs of low-income residents. His favorite financial motto is, “today is an opportunity to build the tomorrow you want.” We couldn’t agree more – welcome, Sam!
Born in California, Barbara Meeks has been in Charlotte since 1995 after having lived in Long Island, New York. Currently a Partner at Chapman and Cutler LLP, her favorite thing about living in Charlotte is how easy it is to meet people and get involved. She believes that financial education is critical, particularly for women who often serve as the financial head of their household. When asked about her favorite financial motto, she quoted Jesse Owens, “we all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” Welcome, Barbara!
Meet CWC’s full Board of Directors here!