Abraham Alston, Jr. President
Abraham Alston Jr., CPA is the President and CEO of Alston & Company, CPAs, P.C. Abraham Alston started his practice in 1993 after working several years at manager level with MetLife and Mitchell/Titus & Company, CPAs, the largest minority owned certified public accounting firm in the nation. His accounting firm excelled and rapidly grew while specializing in serving Churches and nonprofit organizations in the metropolitan area. Abraham Alston Jr., is highly sought after by clergy, churches, and nonprofit organizations. He has been invited to speak about church finances on radio stations such as 98.7 KISS FM and 99.1 FM. His vast knowledge in the accounting and nonprofit industry has made his firm one of the best in the field and in great demand. Mr. Alston received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Hofstra University, NY in 1982, and has earned a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from New York University in 1993. He is a licensed certified public accountant in NY and NJ and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and State Society of CPAs. Presently, Mr. Alston serves as Pastor of Strategic Development & Fiscal Affairs and as Treasurer for one the largest churches in the State of New Jersey, The Cathedral International, where Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr. is Senior Pastor. The Church has approximately 4,000 members with three locations. Mr. Alston has also appeared as a guest lecturer on Church Administration at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ. Mr. Alston has served on several nonprofit organization Boards and a steering committee of the National American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, USA. Infinity Financial Ministries, Inc. In 1999, Mr. Alston became President and Founder of Infinity Financial Ministries, Inc., a non-profit organization whose aim is to equip churches and nonprofit organizations to properly manage their financial/administration resources. The organization conducts various seminars and workshops throughout the year. Abraham Alston, Jr. resides in Cream Ridge, NJ, with his wife Maria. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Mariah & Jonathan.
The Reverend
Michael Wilkerson-Leach
The Reverend Michael Wilkerson Leach gave her life to the Lord at an early age. A native of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Reverend Leach was ordained in 2006 and licensed into Gospel ministry by Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr., Senior Pastor of Cathedral International, (The Historic Second Baptist Church of Perth Amboy, New Jersey), where she has served for nearly 29 years. Having served in various ministry and leadership capacities, Reverend Leach currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Pastor of Administration and Ministerial Life at Cathedral International. A licensed New Jersey Real Estate Agent, Reverend Leach also hosts a weekly Christian radio broadcast on Star 99.1 FM and is scheduled to begin teaching at Pillar College in January, 2017. Committed to education, Reverend Leach holds both Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Reverend Leach has been married to Minister William Leach for 26 years. Together, they have been blessed with two beautiful children - Jonathan Michael and Rhema Joy. She is a fervent worshiper who loves the Lord and counts it an honor and privilege to be called to serve in the Kingdom for such a time as this
The Reverend
Allen Stephen Potts
Allen Stephen Potts was born in Sumter, South Carolina and spent his early years in Newark and East Orange, New Jersey. He earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kean College of New Jersey, the Master of Divinity Degree and the Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Colgate Rochester Divinity School/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York, with a concentration in Biblical Studies & Prophetic Preaching respectively. Rev. Potts also holds a degree in missionary studies from the University of Zimbabwe in affiliation with the Lott Carey/Lilly Foundation Foreign Mission International Pastoral Excellence Program (Lott Carey PEP). He is an ordained Baptist Minister with ministerial standings in the National/American Baptist Convention, USA Inc. and is a member of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention. At the conferring of his Master of Divinity degree, the faculty of Colgate Rochester Divinity School recognized Rev. Potts as “showing unusual promise in becoming a faithful pastor, preach, and parish minister” with the institution’s highest award, the Theodore Louis Trost Memorial Prize. He was a recipient of the J.H. Jackson Scholarship Award; Jessie Brown Scholarship Award, and a two-time recipient of the Gordon S. Deer Memorial Scholarship Award. Rev. Potts was a participant in a post graduate leadership and mission immersion program with the University of Zimbabwe in affiliation with and through acceptance in the Lott Carey/Lilly Foundation Foreign Mission International Pastoral Excellence Program (Lott Carey PEP). With the Lott Carey PEP, Rev. Potts has traveled abroad with 20 pastor colleagues to South America, West Indies and South Africa on Missions, which he completed the program in December of 2008. Rev. Potts is a former member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church of Newark, under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. Granville A. Seward. He was licensed to preach at the age of nineteen at Mount Zion in January, 1988. In order to fulfill God’s call upon his life Mount Zion ordained Min. Potts in April, 1997, where he served as Assistant to the Pastor and Minister of Operations On November 15, 1999, the membership of Greater Abyssinian elected to call Reverend Potts, as it’s third pastor and through much prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he accepted. With God’s help, Rev. Potts has made substantial developments in the life of this church, recognizing God calling us to become “A Church Determined to Take Jesus Seriously.” Reverend Potts is the proud son of John Henry, Sr. and Daisy Mae Potts, and is the middle of five children. He is the proud husband of Keeva Denise, and father of Shelby, Allen II and Aaron
Keysha Lynn Berry
Keysha L. Berry is the Founder of Promise of Hope Foundation Inc, a 501 3C Organization. The daughter of a 17 year breast cancer survivor, and a father who passed in 2015 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer, she is passionate about helping, in a tangible way those who have been diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, most cancer victims are not fortunate as her mother, whose bountiful support and resources during this trying time made the difference in healing. Today I take on this fight where it’s needed most on a local, state and national level with Promise of Hope Foundation, Inc. She is charged to see that they survive in spirit and in truth despite the path to recovery they choose to take. Keysha is currently employed by Investors Bank, in Avenel, NJ 07001. Keysha was a former Vice President Manager of TD Bank in Old Bridge, NJ. She possesses 14 years of professional banking experience developing innovative strategies for consumer and business relationships. She has developed new business while maintaining existing ones by creating connections to assist teams and organizations to reach their clients. She is a contributor in organizing financial workshops and implementing coaching strategies to improve confidence, sales, and service, and small business to her teams. She was a part of TD Banks Woman in Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion. A native of Eatontown, New Jersey she is actively involved with causes throughout the state, including Outreach Programs, The Soup Kitchen, Make a Wish Foundation, Special Olympic, American Cancer Society, Woodbridge Chamber of Commerce, Faith Fellowship Ministries, Inc and Debbie Dream Foundation, Inc. In addition to her community involvement Ms. Berry was Past President of the Park Place Association in Lakewood and services on the Infinity Financial Ministries Board of Directors and Triumphant Life CDC in Asbury Park, CARES Foundation Inc, in Union NJ. Ms. Berry is a member of Abundant Life Family Worship Church located in New Brunswick, NJ.
Constance "Connie" Pizarro
Connie Pizarro is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of two companies; E & 3C’s Enterprises, dba Oasis Senior Advisor and Dementia Awareness Training, LLC. She is passionate about helping others and educating people about the consequences of the different types of dementia. Through Oasis Senior Advisors, Connie fulfills her passion for helping others by counseling older adults and providing resources for pertinent issues relating to health, finances, legal matters and senior living options. She provides a free service for families seeking help locating alternative living options for their loved ones, with an emphasis on assisted living and memory care communities. In an effort to also fulfill her passion for education, Connie created Dementia Awareness Training. Through this venture, Connie provides training to health care professionals and families about dementia related diseases and the affects it has on older adults. Prior to becoming the CEO of E & 3C’s Enterprises, Inc. and Dementia Awareness Training, LLC, Connie was a Managing Director for the Bank of New York Mellon (BNYMellon), a global investment company that provides financial services for institutions, corporations, and individual investors in 36 countries and more than 100 markets. During her 29-year career with BNYMellon, she consistently demonstrated the ability to take on increasingly complex and challenging roles. In 2009 and 2011, Connie was awarded the Best in Class Award by BNYMellon. Connie served as a mentor for BNYMellon’s Women’s Initiative Network – Mentoring Program and as Co-Chairman of the corporation’s Information Technology Diversity Council. Connie is the founder and incorporator of P.E.A.R.L.S., Inc., and she is the Director of Finance at North Stelton AME Church, where she also serves on the Board of Stewards. She is also a member and Past President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (Central Jersey Chapter), and the Prophets Chapter of Business Networking International. She also serves as a Director Consultant for Business Networking International. Additionally, Connie serves as a Trustee for Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County and Parliamentarian for the Raritan Valley Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. In addition to being a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she served as the 32nd North Atlantic Regional Director; she is also a member of Women in Leadership (Hofstra University), and the Senior Citizen Advisory Board of Franklin Township. A New York City native, Connie earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science from Hofstra University. She has earned certification as a Certified Senior Advisor, a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer and a Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional. Additionally, Connie graduated from Rutgers Business School’s Entrepreneurship Pioneers Initiative in December 2018. Connie currently resides in Somerset, New Jersey with her husband of 37 years, Edward. They have two grown children, Cameron and Crystal.