The Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation (BPACF) has announced Randell McShepherd is their 2011 Black Professional of the Year. McShepherd is joining an elite group of individuals who have been honored by BPACF.

By JAMES W. WADE III

Staff Reporter

The Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation (BPACF) has announced Randell McShepherd is their 2011 Black Professional of the Year. McShepherd is joining an elite group of individuals who have been honored by BPACF.

Randell McShepard was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School he attended Baldwin-Wallace College, where he received Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Psychology and Communications. Mr. McShepard also attended Cleveland State University and received a Master of Science Degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.

Randell began employment after his undergraduate study with Vocational Guidance Services (VGS), which is among the oldest and largest of vocational rehabilitation facilities in the country. Mr. McShepard served as the Manager of the Training Services Division and created an impressive array of job training and job placement programs that helped over 2,000 disadvantaged and disabled persons to become gainfully employed.

After leaving VGS, Randell began employment with the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission as Assistant Director of Administration and Program Development. In this capacity, he was primarily responsible for raising and managing a budget of $10 million dollars and managing all neighborhood, community and education programs. The Cleveland Bicentennial Commission’s activities included over 40 projects that served an estimated 3 million people and leveraged over $100 million dollars in Northeast Ohio.

Mr. McShepard is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland, a Distinguished Alumnus of Cleveland State University and a member of the John F. Kennedy High School Hall of Fame. He is also the Cleveland representative for the Transatlantic Cities Network, which brings together 25 European and American cities to share best practices for urban revitalization. He and his wife Gail reside in Beachwood, Ohio with their three children - Anthony, Madison and Avery.

“Randell exemplifies the character of a gentleman that has a heart of compassion for people coupled with the purpose of mind to execute and perform. These characteristics have him in high demand as it is a known variable that when Randell is involved, there will be results. With everything that he has achieved, he remains a Gentle Man and a Servant Leader that I am proud to salute as the 2011 Black Professional of the Year,” said BPACF President Natoya Walker Minor.

BPACF was formed exclusively to support and advance educational and charitable activities as well as to oversee the distribution of scholarship funds. The Foundation was formed as a result of the vision and commitment of its three original incorporators, Tanya M. Allmond, Arthur Baker, Jr. and Nancella Harris. Other significant advisors were Ed Blunt, Henry Freeman who subsequently assumed the role as legal counsel, and Steven Sims who became the organization’s first Treasurer.

In 1985, after the Gala revenues reached $25,000, the BPA leadership determined that there was a need to create a separate tax-exempt organization. The focus was to raise scholarship funds to assure that high school graduates had an opportunity to advance to higher education. This goal was realized through the continuation of a major activity, the Gala dinner dance that started in 1981 prior to the formation of the BPACF.

As the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation celebrates raising more than $2.5 million dollars towards scholarships and grants. BPACF is continuing to follow its strategic plan that is guided by its mission.

BPACF celebrated 30 years in 2010 and just recently held their Annual Meeting at Trinity Commons.