Our Board of Trustees consists of elected volunteers who jointly oversee all aspects of Abe Brown Ministries.
Meet Our Board of Trustees
Broadly Diverse...United in Heart...Together on Purpose
Dionne M. Jones, J.D., Ph.D., President
Dionne M. Jones, J.D., Ph.D., is a graduate of the University of Florida where she earned her B.A. and subsequently graduated from the University of Florida College of Law as a Council on Legal Education Opportunity Fellow. After law school, Dionne returned to Tampa and worked as a corporate attorney for several distinguished insurance companies.Dionne is also a certified civil circuit court mediator.
As native of Tampa, Dionne has taken an active role in the community having served as Co-Chair of Diversity and Community Action for the Hillsborough County Bar Association and Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, respectively. As a member of the George Edgecomb Bar Association, Dionne served as: General Counsel, Co-Chairman of the Community Action Committee, Chairman of the Scholarship Banquet Committee and earned the President’s Award for two consecutive years. Dionne currently volunteers with Bay Area Legal Services through the iLawyer program, Domestic Violence Assistant Project and Family Law Clinic.In 2016, Dionne was one of 6,000 selected for Harvard Business School’s Governance for Non-Profit Leaders Fellows program.She was recently presented with the Supreme Court of Florida Pro Bono Service award (2018).
Dionne also graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership (2013) and became an Assistant Professor with the Morsani College of Medicine. She was selected by the University of South Florida's Provost to be an integral part of the Diversity Task Force for the recruitment and retainment of faculty of color. Dionne currently works for the 13th Judicial Circuit, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida and was appointed to The Florida Bar’s Children’s Issues Committee.
Dionne is the Chair for the Vision 2020 Committee and has two children.
Dea Wilkins, Past President
Ms. Wilkins was born in Atlanta, Ga and attended Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a BS in Computer Science. After working in Atlanta for a few years, she relocated to Durham, N.C. where she attended Duke University for her MBA in Finance. Dea has provided extensive leadership to large companies at the executive level to improve corporate performance through technology.
Her prior experience includes two local CEO positions and two Fortune 500 CIO positions. She delivers technology solutions to local and global companies, has led product creation and product deployment for American products and global products, and she has directed international consulting engagements for large technology companies.
Dea’s management specialties include corporate analysis of business performance, technology transformation and financial analysis. Technology specialties include systems design from mobile to mainframe, enterprise architectures, data model optimization and interface development. Industry specialties include technology, insurance and banking, healthcare, hospitality, retail and energy.
Dexter L. Bryant, Sr.
Dexter L. Bryant Sr. became involved with Abe Brown Ministries (formerly Prison Crusade Ministries at that time) in 1983 having been released from incarceration and work release. Dexter began volunteering with Abe Brown as a Crusade Counselor and bus driver.
He is currently employed with Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School. Dexter founded Young Lions Youth Organization, Inc. in 1997. The organization was formed to help prevent juvenile delinquency with the inner city youth. Young Lions provides several different positive activities in which youth ages 5-18 can participate. The Young Lions Youth Organization's sole purpose is to be a help to disadvantaged youth in hopes of making a difference in their lives now and in the future.
In 2001, Dexter was voted volunteer of the year by the Police Athletic League for working with youth.
Jed Kirby, Vice President
Jed Kirby is a seasoned Real Estate Developer and Investor whose compassion and dedication have both earned him the reputation as a service-centered leader in his field. Over the span of two decades, he has garnered extensive real estate experience from a profit and non-profit view.
Currently, Jed serves as a Partner and Owner at Titlemark LLC. (www.titlemark.net), where he plays an integral role in business development and operations. He is also a Principal at KDS Interiors, Inc. (www.kdsinteriors.com), where he spearheads company operations. Furthermore, as the Managing Partner of Kirby Family Properties, he has successfully developed and renovated an array of residential, commercial, and office buildings across Florida.
A man of unwavering faith and justice, Jed’s lifelong vision is to give back to those who are the most vulnerable within the community through quality housing and a mission to build and restore diverse communities. This worldview is shared with his beloved wife, Katie, who also believes in this mission. Together, they are the proud parents of four beautiful children.
Jed Kirby is a Real Estate Professional who truly cares about the future of his community and taking care of people who are in need. This passion and devotion will surely last a lifetime.
Shelley Fisher Attardo
Chair, Financial Resources Committee
Shelley Fisher Attardo is an accomplished, proven leader with demonstrated history and expertise in the banking and institutional retirement industry. She is an experienced Senior Vice President, and Head of Client Service for Regions Bank and Institutional Services, bringing more than 30 years of financial services industry experience to this integral position. Prior to becoming an innovative thought leader at Regions, Shelley served in a leadership role at Wells Fargo, and served in a key role and influential member of a large employee benefits consulting firm.
A strong professional with a demonstrated history of working in the banking and institutional retirement industry, Shelley is skilled in 401(k) recordkeeping and consulting, retirement, management, and leadership.
Shelley has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Mathematics from Georgia Institute of Technology. She obtained her Series 7 and 63 licenses as well as Certified Retirement Service Professional designation.
A proud mother and wife, Shelley served several years as the Treasurer of the Robinson High School Band Boosters.
John Drinkard
John Drinkard began his commercial real estate career in the late 1980s. He started as a Leasing Director for The Austin Group for 12 buildings totaling 910,000 square feet and was quickly promoted to Senior Leasing Agent.
In 1998, John founded Drinkard & Company, Inc., specializing in Tenant Representation, Investment Sales and Corporate Advisory Services. Over the years, John has executed leases and purchases for more than one million square feet. His track record includes negotiating purchases, build-to-suite transaction services, and financial and acquisition strategy analysis.
John is actively engaged in the community from coaching basketball for the past 10 years at the local Bob Sierra YMCA, to serving on the Membership Committee on the CEO Council of Tampa Bay.
He lives in the Tampa Bay Area with his wife, youngest daughter and two dogs.
Major (Retired) Curtis N. Flowers
Curtis Flowers is a retired Major with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Tampa, Florida. Curtis is a native of Florida and a longtime resident of the Tampa Bay area. He served his community and State as a public servant for 31 years and dedicated his efforts to serving and helping others. He often helped the very people that he was partly responsible for incarcerating. He worked and partnered with community outreach organizations to establish the first ReEntry Program for his agency. This work specifically directed ex-offenders to services that made an immediate positive impact upon their release from jail. He has served on several boards, councils and committees in Hillsborough County. Curtis is a member of the New Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Kentucky State University (BS) and the University of South Florida (MS) Business Administration. He is married and enjoys family activities with his wife, kids, and others. He has dedicated his life to the service of helping others.
Antina Mobley, ESQ
Antina Mobley, Esq., having transcended humble beginnings, earned a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1991. As a recipient of the prestigious and recognition-worthy Virgil Hawkins Fellowship, she earned her Juris Doctorate in 1994 from the University of Florida’s College of Law. Antina was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1995, and has used her time and talents to fight for, and to speak for those who otherwise would not be heard.
Antina’s progressive career with the Public Defenders’ Office, 13th Judicial Circuit Court, Tampa, Florida, is a testament to her beliefs that one is not defined by a brief moment of depravity; and each of us should be should be given an opportunity to become who we are. Currently serving as Misdemeanor/Juvenile Bureau Chief and the Bureau Chief of Career Attorney Development, Antina has served as a Misdemeanor Attorney, a Juvenile Attorney, a Felony Attorney, and as a Division Chief with the Public Defender’s Office. Her belief that those who seek help and want to change should be afforded the opportunity to do so--to change course, and better themselves for their individual quality of life, which ultimately leads to change for their family and their community.
Ms. Antina Mobley’s extensive experience in litigation, coupled with her passion and compassion for one’s disadvantageous life experiences, strengthens her resolve that regardless of the offense, regardless of the reason someone becomes a defendant, and regardless of the crime alleged, every citizen deserves all the rights, privileges and protections that the legal system affords. Her dedication and leadership in numerous affiliations and community service organizations include being a Trustee with the First Baptist Church of College Hill, a member of the George Edgecomb Bar Association, the Safe & Sound Hillsborough, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, and Safe & Sound Hillsborough’s Policy and Governance Committee.
Major Kawanna Brown,
Chair, Community Committee
Major Brown is currently the Jail Division II Commander for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Major Brown began a career in corrections with the Department of Juvenile Justice in 1998 and joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2002. Major Brown has held various assignments as a detention deputy as well as supervisory positions in releasing, confinement, the Field Training Officer (FTO) Program as a supervisor and FTO Coordinator. Prior to her role as the Deputy Division Commander of Jail Division I, Captain Brown was a lieutenant in the Court Operations Division.
Major Brown has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of South Florida. She is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 85th Command Officers Development Course. Major Brown is a former board member of the Falkenburg Youth Academy’s Community Advisory Board.
Major Brown is a native of Florida and was born and raised in Clearwater. She is married and has one son and a step-daughter.