Nicole Obi serves as the president and CEO at BECMA and is a strategic planner and a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded several venture backed start-up firms. She’s active in the Greater Boston community by serving as a member of The Boston Chapter of the Links, Inc. a volunteer service organization of Black professional women, GBH’s & Women’s Foundation of Boston’s Board of Advisors, as well a member of the Intensive Community Program Committee at the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Nicole holds master’s degrees from both MIT’s the Sloan School of Management and the School of Urban Planning & Design and a B.S. from Hampton University.
(She/Her/Hers)
Randy Beltre is the Chief of Policy at Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where he leads policy strategy and government engagement efforts focused on advancing economic equity and expanding opportunities for Black businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities across Massachusetts. His work centers on building cross-sector partnerships, shaping policy priorities, and connecting business, civic, and government stakeholders to drive long-term systemic impact.
Prior to joining BECMA, Randy served in the office of Senator Elizabeth Warren as Regional Director for Boston and Greater Boston. In that role, he advised on regional political and policy matters, coordinated engagement with local governments and community organizations, and represented the Senator at public meetings, strategic initiatives, and major community events throughout the region. He also supported federal constituent services efforts and helped facilitate partnerships between public agencies, nonprofits, employers, and advocacy organizations.
Randy previously worked as a Philanthropic Advisor at The Philanthropic Initiative advising donors and family foundations on strategic grantmaking, nonprofit evaluation, and community-centered giving strategies. His background across government, philanthropy, and civic engagement informs his approach to policy development and coalition building.
He is a 2025 ALX100 Honoree and a New Leaders Council Boston Fellow, recognized for his leadership, civic engagement, and commitment to advancing equitable economic and social outcomes. Randy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
(He/Him/His)
Marielys serves as the Operations Manager at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where she oversees the organization’s internal operations and administrative systems to ensure efficiency, accountability, and alignment with BECMA’s mission. An Operations Manager with over 10 years of experience, she brings a proven track record of driving organizational efficiency, improving financial processes, and optimizing day-to-day operations while supporting executive leadership in achieving strategic goals.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Massachusetts Boston and brings a strong foundation in organizational communication and systems coordination to her work. She plays a key role in supporting BECMA’s continued growth and operational sustainability. Her work reflects a commitment to strengthening equitable economic opportunity and building systems that support communities across Massachusetts.
(She/Her/Hers)
Tahisha Charles serves as the Director of Marketing at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where she shapes how the organization communicates its mission to advance Black economic equity across Massachusetts. She collaborates with teams across BECMA to build marketing strategies for their initiatives, leads multi-channel social media campaigns that reach thousands of community members and business owners, directs all marketing efforts for Mass Black Expo—BECMA’s premier annual conference—and oversees the organization’s newsletter, which reaches more than 12,000 subscribers.
Tahisha joined BECMA in 2021 as a Digital Marketing Associate before becoming Digital Marketing Manager. Over three years, she transformed BECMA’s digital presence, growing Instagram followers by 113% (from 2,475 to 5,273), increasing LinkedIn engagement by 26%, and driving newsletter subscribers from 4,000 to nearly 12,000. She’s led nine high-impact social media campaigns, designed and launched the Mass Black Expo website, and created over 800 social media graphics in partnership with Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. In 2025, she was promoted to Director of Marketing.
Before BECMA, Tahisha founded MIIXTAPECHIICK in 2012, a recognized platform in music and entertainment. Through strategic content optimization and digital marketing, she published 5,000+ articles and 3,000+ custom social media graphics, building an engaged audience and achieving a 117% increase in session durations. Her work in the music industry shaped her approach to storytelling and community building—skills she now brings to amplifying Black businesses and entrepreneurs.
A proud graduate of Northeastern University with a Master of Arts in Professional Journalism and Regis College with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, Tahisha combines her journalism training with her passion for public health and community empowerment. Her work at BECMA reflects her commitment to using strategic communication as a tool for economic justice.
Valerie Cardoso is the Grants and Contracts Manager at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). In this role, she manages grant development, compliance, reporting, and contract administration, working closely across teams to ensure funding aligns with organizational priorities and delivers measurable impact.
Prior to joining BECMA, Valerie served as Program Manager for Equity and Environmental Justice at Eversource, where she supported company-wide equity and environmental initiatives. She previously held multiple leadership roles at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, including Deputy Director of Environmental Justice, Program Administrator for the Food Security and Infrastructure Grant, and Climate Change Policy Analyst. In these roles, she supported statewide environmental justice policy implementation, managed inter-agency initiatives, and administered complex grant and procurement processes.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Boston College and brings a strong background in public service and environmental justice policy.
Chris Sonnie is Pipeline and Program Manager at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where he manages a dual role between the programs team and BECMA Community Investments (BCI). He operates the Back Office Support Services (BOSS) program and oversees BCI’s investment process, supporting Massachusetts businesses positioned outside traditional lending parameters.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University and also earned a conservatory degree from The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.
Outside of BECMA, Chris is an avid CrossFit athlete, vinyl collector, and traveler. He continues to pursue his passion for acting and enjoys exploring new cities and cultures whenever possible.
Christopher can be reached at csonnie@becma.org.
(He/His)
He holds a Master’s degree in International Business and Development from the University of Sussex as a Chevening Scholar and is currently pursuing his MBA at Boston University with a focus on social impact.
Abdullateef is the founder and former Program Manager of idixcover, a social enterprise focused on expanding opportunities for young people and underserved communities across 12 African countries. He also served as Special Assistant to the Governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria, where he contributed to initiatives focused on social innovation and economic inclusion.
