MULYP PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

Biography

As a scholar and a professional my priorities have centered around education and community service. After graduating high school I served my country for 5 years in the Army as a Team Leader, performing transportation-related duties and later, telecommunications duties specific to the IT field.

After being honorably discharged, my education continued by attending Governors State University. I benefited from access to the TRIO programs—including Student Support Services (SSS), which serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education, and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program, which prepares participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.

In 2005 I graduated with honors from Governors State University with a B.A. in Business and Applied Science, making me the first in my family to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. In 2006 I graduated from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (SIUE), with a Masters’ degree in Marketing Research.

It is an honor to be President of the Minneapolis Urban League Young Professionals. As an active community participant, I volunteered at the National Day of Service, teaching teenagers financial literacy and the importance of credit; assisted the Urban League in grading essays for scholarships. Additionally, I volunteered at the Urban League’s Annual Family Day community event. As a Freemason, I volunteer at the Shrine Circus, the Annual Widows and Orphans Christmas Dinner; I also tutor Algebra.

Since 2007 I have served as Project Manager for Market Tools, Inc., which offers market leaders customer insight management solutions, and was named the #1 market research supplier in customer service in 2009. This industry recognition highlights Market Tools, Inc.’s exemplary solutions and commitment to customer support.

At this time I call Burnsville home; my heart resides with my wife and my four daughters.

MULYP Vice-President (OPEN)

Biography

Born in Brunswick, Maine, Danielle Wilburn was never created to be average. Always striving for excellence, she thinks openly and considers challenges to be opportunities for success. Raised in a small suburb outside of Chicago, she has stepped out on faith and now resides in the Twin Cities.

Danielle graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she experimented with her love of design in the College of Fine and Applied Arts which ultimately led her to obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising. Danielle was honored as one of the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Minorities in 2006 and was a participant in the Multicultural Advertising Internship Program of which she continues to serve as an Alumni member focused on recruitment and mentoring.

Upon graduating she began her advertising career in Chicago at two of the most highly esteemed agencies, Leo Burnett Worldwide and Ogilvy & Mather, where she was able to do TV, print, radio, and digital media for high profile accounts such as McDonalds, Dove, and Oscar Mayer. She now works at Campbell Mithun on Burger King.

Danielle is all about hip hop and finds pleasure in reading literature on the subject and its relation to the black community. She enjoys dancing and also writes poetry and gospel music in her spare time, usually in the middle of the night.

Danielle is an active member and volunteer of the Minneapolis Urban League Young Professionals, and currently serves as the Secretary. Being new to Minneapolis, “MULYP was a great outlet for me to meet like minded professionals who care about social issues and seek the advancement of our community.”

Biography

Akilah Mahon, of Kansas City, Missouri is currently an operations analyst for LaCrosse Global Fund Services. Akilah received her Bachelor of Science in Business Finance with a minor in Leadership Studies and Programs from Kansas State University. Her collegiate activities included Black Student Union president, Multicultural Business Student Association treasurer, Big XII Conference Delegate, Multicultural ambassador vice president and Peer mentor.

She gave her time as a volunteer to the Salvation Army, The First Tee National Golf Academy and Girl Scouts of America. She feels that her passion for giving back to the community and her financial prowess will be a beneficial asset for the MULYP.