<i>VBC</I> Contributors

Founder and Editor: Coby W. Dillard, vablackconservatives@gmail.com

Coby is the founder and editor of VBC. He is a Navy veteran, and has been active in conservative causes and organizations since 2007. Coby worked on Bob McDonnell’s campaign staff in 2009 as the director for the veterans’ and African America coalitions, and briefly worked on Chuck Smith’s congressional campaign in Virginia Beach. Coby  welcomes speaking and writing opportunities to help carry the “Urban Conservative” message. When not running back and forth to Richmond, Coby and his family-whose initials make up the name of his consulting group, TDA Strategies-reside in Norfolk. 

Contributors:

Carl Tate: Carl was born and raised in Staunton, Virginia. Carl is working on his J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law located at the University of Richmond and received his B.S. in Government from Liberty University. After graduation he spent three years working on a few local, Republican campaigns in southwest Virginia before receiving a Presidential appointment to the Department of Commerce in 2005. In January of 2007 Carl was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security where he served as a Senior Liaison Officer and worked on the Department-wide clearance of National Application Office program, REAL ID implementation, E-Verify and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Program. Carl left DHS in August of 2008 to not only pursue his J.D. but to continue his work on behalf of minority and youth outreach in the Republican Party. Currently, Carl serves as the Secretary for his local GOP committee; he is the chairman for the GOP 20th Legislative District; and he tirelessly works to promote the Republican cause wherever he is.

Melvin D. Whitlock: Born in 1983, Melvin is a 2002 graduate of Halifax County High School who was also homeschooled. In May 2009, Melvin graduated from Liberty University with a B.S. in history. He works as a specialist with at-risk youth in Amherst County, and was active in the McDonnell campaign and Jim Gilmore Senate campaign in 2008. He believes in strong Christian principles and the protection of the legacy of the civil rights movement from extreme liberal agendas.

Don Scoggins: Don is the President of Republicans for Black Empowerment. He is an architectural engineering graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Va., Don also received a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Pittsburgh. A retired U. S. Army Reserves officer and extensive world traveler, Don and wife, Gurmeet are the proud parents of two grown sons, Donald, Jr. and Vikramjit.

Bobby Shockley: Bobby is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. and MT from Virginia Commonwealth University and his MPA from Virginia Tech. Bobby is a teacher with Richmond Public Schools and serves in the Navy Reserves. He currently holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Navy Reserves and has recently been selected for Commission. In 2007, he served as a Governor’s Fellow working in the Virginia Community College Workforce Development Office. Bobby and his wife Paula are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters Alexis and Kendall.

Terrence Boulden was born and raised in Dale City, Virginia.  A convert to the Republican Party thanks largely to Governor George Allen’s efforts on welfare and crime, Terrence has been a party activist, recruiter and campaign specialist for almost a decade.  He has served as a volunteer staffer on a number of campaigns, including those for Congressman Tom Davis, Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, Commonwealth Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton, and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart.

He serves on the Fairfax County Republican Committee, where he is the African-American Outreach Committee Chairman, and the Hunter Mill District Operations Chairman.  He was the Reston Area Young Republicans Chairman in 2005 and the Prince William County Young Republicans Chairman from 2002-2004.  He also blogs at Virginia Virtucon.

A political history buff, Terrence is a fan of Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon.  He currently lives in Herndon, Virginia.

Email: tjboulden@gmail.com

 

If you’d like to contribute commentary to VBC (and appear on this page!), please email your submission with a brief bio to vablackkconservatives@gmail.com.