At The Capital Market, our work is rooted in community, culture, and collaboration. Behind every program and event is a dedicated team of neighbors, planners, growers, and leaders who bring passion and purpose to building a healthier, more connected food system. Get to know the people who make it all possible.
Adeniyi Adeyiga is the Founder and CEO of A3 Consulting LLC, an IT government contracting firm he built from a solo venture into a thriving enterprise generating over $40 million in annual revenue. With more than 23 years of IT leadership experience, Adeniyi is widely recognized for his strategic vision, entrepreneurial drive, and commitment to organizational excellence.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland–College Park and is a trusted advisor, investor, and business leader who is passionate about helping organizations reach their full potential.
A proud product of Prince George’s County, Adeniyi is deeply committed to the community that shaped him. He is honored to serve on the advisory board of The Capital Market, where he brings his business acumen and community-driven mindset to support its mission of revitalizing local neighborhoods through food systems, cultural capital, and sustainable development.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland–College Park and is a trusted advisor, investor, and business leader who is passionate about helping organizations reach their full potential.
A proud product of Prince George’s County, Adeniyi is deeply committed to the community that shaped him. He is honored to serve on the advisory board of The Capital Market, where he brings his business acumen and community-driven mindset to support its mission of revitalizing local neighborhoods through food systems, cultural capital, and sustainable development.
Kennedy Brooks is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated with a degree in Organizational Communication from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where her research focused on economic mobility, the social determinants of health, and public rhetoric.
She is an alumni of Yale University’s Legacy of Slavery Voices of Change Political Institute and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Leadership Academy. She is a member of the 2024 Tedx speaker class where she presented a talk on the values of interdisciplinary humanist education reform. She currently serves as a Corps member for the Chesapeake Climate Conservation Corps 2025-2026 class.
She is an alumni of Yale University’s Legacy of Slavery Voices of Change Political Institute and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Leadership Academy. She is a member of the 2024 Tedx speaker class where she presented a talk on the values of interdisciplinary humanist education reform. She currently serves as a Corps member for the Chesapeake Climate Conservation Corps 2025-2026 class.
Sydney Bullock is a dedicated advocate for health equity and community empowerment in Prince George’s County. Currently pursuing an A.S. in Health Science at Prince George’s Community College, she aims to bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility through a career in Health Administration. Sydney's commitment to fostering equitable access to healthcare resources is evident in her active involvement with local initiatives focused on health and wellness. Her professional experience has honed her detail-oriented and service-driven approach, which she brings to her work in the healthcare sector. Sydney believes in the power of community collaboration to create sustainable health solutions and making a lasting impact in her community.
Ashley is a lifelong resident and advocate of Prince George’s County. A graduate of North
Carolina A&T State University (B.A. in Cultural Thought), she is currently working on her
Master’s of Public Administration at Bowie State University.
Carolina A&T State University (B.A. in Cultural Thought), she is currently working on her
Master’s of Public Administration at Bowie State University.
Getting involved, giving back, and connecting people are some of her main drivers. As a Girl
Scout Troop Leader in Capitol Heights, a member of the Cottage City Garden, and more
recently an Advisory Board Member of Creative Suitland, a local cultural arts based center in
Suitland, MD she’s managed to cultivate community wherever she lands. Ashley is currently a
Board Member for EndoBlack, a Black Women led organization advocating for Black women
and women of color with Endometriosis.
Ashley was recently appointed to the State of Maryland’s Urban Agriculture
Advisory Committee and a member of Governor Wes Moore’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture.
Brittney Drakeford is a believer in FATE – the practice of combining faith, arts, and technology to energize communities to create equitable places for generations today and tomorrow. She is a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County. Drakeford is a PhD candidate in the Urban and Regional Planning and Design Program at the University of Maryland College Park; and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Drakeford is a former board member BlackSpace Urbanist Collective, a 2021 UMD
Global STEWARDS NSF Fellow, a 2020 Next City Vanguard Fellow, an Alumni of the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader; and a Senior Fellow for
the Environmental Leadership Program and in 2025, she was appointed by
Governor Wes Moore to the Board of Trustees for the Maryland Affordable Housing
Trust. You can often find Brittney biking along the Anacostia River Trail, working in
her local community garden, or hiking with her partner Kareem and their dogs Pig
and Sage.
After 37.5 years of Federal service, working in several Federal agencies in different capacities, Ms. Tammie Edmunds retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) in January 2018 as Director of Human Resources (HR). During her human resources career, she oversaw such areas as HR Policies, Programs, and HR Accountability, Diversity and Recruitment, Staffing and Workforce Management Services, Performance Management, Employee and Labor Relations and Employee Benefits.
Ms. Edmunds is a long-time member of Gethsemane United Methodist Church (GUMC) in Capitol Heights, Maryland where she is very active.
Ms. Edmunds is a long-time member of Gethsemane United Methodist Church (GUMC) in Capitol Heights, Maryland where she is very active.
Her passion is to live for Christ and strive to spread His love using gifts she’s blessed with. On December 11, 2011, she was appointed an Evangelist by the late Rev. G. Sylvester Gaines, Sr. and served as a Gospel Exhorter, Teacher and Spiritual Counselor. Since January 2019, Ms. Edmunds have served diligently and effectively as the Lay Leader to the congregation and Lead Pastor of GUMC. In 2021, after a 2-year study she became a Certified Lay Minister with the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Ms. Edmunds is also a strong believer in excellent work ethics and a strict advocate of education. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Management with a concentration in Human Resources in May 2000 and a Certification in Leadership and Management in May 2018 from the University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, Maryland. She also earned her Master’s of Science degree in Management from University of Maryland Global Campus in December 2021. She is currently enrolled at Shaw University, School of Divinity to earn a second Master’s of Arts Degree in Theology and Ministry.
She is a life-long resident of Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she shares her very blessed life with her many wonderful and supportive family members and friends. She enjoys shopping, reading and socializing with friends and family.
Dr. Blair Hayes is the CEO of 10th Chapter Consulting, a firm founded on the belief that cultivating inclusive organizational cultures leads to stronger business outcomes and meaningful pathways to both personal and organizational success.
As a social and organizational psychologist, Blair has spent years researching what makes teams thrive and how people can come together across differences to foster greater engagement and satisfaction in their workplaces and communities.
An award-winning thought leader in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion, he has presented nationally and internationally to government agencies, universities, and private industry leaders.
Blair earned his B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Social/Organizational Psychology from Temple University. His early academic research explored memory and cognitive function in older adults, gender disparities in workplace dynamics, and how diversity influences group performance and collaboration.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Blair still lives there today with his wife and two sons. He enjoys biking, pickling, traveling, cheering on youth sports, and coaching in the same community where he was raised. He is also the author of Grace, Growth, and Gratitude: The Path to Happiness through Acts of Appreciation and Expressions of Thanks.
As a social and organizational psychologist, Blair has spent years researching what makes teams thrive and how people can come together across differences to foster greater engagement and satisfaction in their workplaces and communities.
An award-winning thought leader in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion, he has presented nationally and internationally to government agencies, universities, and private industry leaders.
Blair earned his B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Social/Organizational Psychology from Temple University. His early academic research explored memory and cognitive function in older adults, gender disparities in workplace dynamics, and how diversity influences group performance and collaboration.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Blair still lives there today with his wife and two sons. He enjoys biking, pickling, traveling, cheering on youth sports, and coaching in the same community where he was raised. He is also the author of Grace, Growth, and Gratitude: The Path to Happiness through Acts of Appreciation and Expressions of Thanks.
Andrew is an urban planner with nearly a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors. A native of Paterson, New Jersey, he has worked in Rust Belt cities like Pittsburgh, PA, and rapidly growing suburban regions such as Prince George’s County, MD. Specializing in community revitalization, public engagement, transit-oriented development, housing policy, and environmental sustainability, Andrew is deeply committed to driving equitable and sustainable change through transformative planning initiatives.
Andrew focuses on building community confidence and aligning diverse interests at the intersection of community vision and plan execution. With a human-centered approach, Andrew helps municipalities rethink the relationship between transit, land use, and the environment, ensuring that planning efforts are inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with community values. Above all, he is committed to making planning efforts equitable and creating places that enhance the lives of the people who live there.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from South Carolina State University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech. He serves as an At-Large Director for the American Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter and is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
Andrew focuses on building community confidence and aligning diverse interests at the intersection of community vision and plan execution. With a human-centered approach, Andrew helps municipalities rethink the relationship between transit, land use, and the environment, ensuring that planning efforts are inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with community values. Above all, he is committed to making planning efforts equitable and creating places that enhance the lives of the people who live there.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from South Carolina State University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech. He serves as an At-Large Director for the American Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter and is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
Kyle Reeder is a self-proclaimed “community alchemist.” He finds purpose in his quest to revive the heart of Prince George’s County and transform the perceptions of those unaware of the potential of his underserved bedroom community, Capitol Heights. He is a product of Prince George’s County Public Schools, a graduate of Prince George’s Community College and received a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Towson University.
Reeder takes pride in being an engaged citizen and a good neighbor. In concert with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections, he worked to maintain the integrity of the voting process as an election judge and participated in a Prince George’s County Planning Department’s working group to prepare the Sustainable Community Initiative application/action plan for the Central Avenue – Blue Line Corridor. During his tenure at Community Forklift, he advocated for green principles and educated his neighbors on local reuse/recycling programs. Through his work with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s public education campaign, Fresh Empire, he pushed to reduce tobacco use amongst at-risk youth.
Whether he’s bustling in a community garden, organizing with neighbors at “Wine & Cheese” night, or organizing communal meals like Meal on the Hill at Gethsemane United Methodist Church, Reeder bestows his very best, remembering that wherever his heart is, there he will find his treasure.
Jonathan Santana, a local resident of Capitol Heights, embodies a deep commitment to community service. His dedication is particularly evident in his support of The Capital Market since 2019, an organization whose mission resonates deeply with his own values. As a board member, he plays a crucial role in shaping the organization's future, working alongside the executive board and leadership team to set strategic goals and long-term vision. This involvement reflects his belief in the power of community-driven initiatives to create positive change. His past military service, including a deployment to Iraq, instilled a profound sense of duty, reinforcing his desire to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others.
Beyond his work with The Capital Market, Jonathan’s professional life is also centered around service. As the founder of Excelsior Consulting Services, he leverages his extensive experience to support organizations across diverse sectors. His professional background, which includes working with various government agencies, has honed his ability to problem-solve and collaborate effectively. Ultimately, Jonathan's drive stems from a genuine desire to make a lasting impact, whether through his leadership at The Capital Market, his business endeavors, or his active participation in the cultural enrichment of the DC metro area.
A unique individual with vision, mission, passion, and purpose, Reverend Ronald Triplett is an anointed vessel equipped to minister the empowering gospel of Jesus Christ to today’s world. Upon receiving salvation in his childhood, Reverend Triplett gave his life to ministry. Throughout his life, he has served in numerous capacities in the church. He has been in public ministry for 22 years. Throughout this time in ministry he has traveled the country teaching and preaching the gospel, assisted in the establishment of several churches on the east coast, west coast, and in the mid-west, and a national organization that addressed the needs of youth.
Reverend Triplett’s pastoral experience extends from assisting in the planting of the Rehoboth Church of Deliverance, Baltimore, Maryland, and serving as an associate pastor in that ministry to being appointed the Associate Pastor of the former St. Paul-Corkran Memorial Cooperative Parish in Oxon Hill, Maryland. He has served as Lead Pastor of the Temple Hills Charge: United Methodist Church of the Redeemer and Corkran Memorial United Methodist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland. He currently pastors Gethsemane United Methodist Church in the heart of Capitol Heights, MD.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Reverend Triplett holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morehouse College, and a Master of Divinity from Howard University.
Adrienne Walker is the founder and operator of BlueHenry, a company that creates all-natural cocktail garnishes, including dehydrated fruits, simple syrups, and rimming sugars/salts. Walker, a former executive at the FDA, launched the business in 2017 to make craft cocktails easier and more fun to create, focusing on high-quality, approachable mixers and garnishes sold directly to consumers and businesses.