ADMINISTRATION

Kofi Myler/
Founder, Executive Director and Board Chair

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Kofi Myler, President and Founder of 20 Books, has become an innovator in the fields of both education and nonprofits. Myler, being pained by the civil despair witnessed in his travels across the country, organized educators and colleagues to remedy what he believes is the single most significant factor in disenfranchisement — illiteracy. Work has since begun in his hometown of Detroit. ​And Myler's humanitarian efforts has been fostered with national and state recognized charities such as Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services -- or ACCESS, the Siena Literacy Center, Michigan Opera Theatre and the Detroit Regional Chamber. He has more than 30 years experience in the Visual Arts and 15 in Print Journalism.
Email: KOFIMYLER@20BOOKS.ORG

Patricia Cortner/
Board Member

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Patricia Cortner, 20 Books board member, is a successful businesswoman. Cortner, who owns the Pat's Care Away from Home Day Care and Lovie Land Day Care, is also the founder and Executive Director of Tree of Life, a 501c3 nonprofit that promotes goodwill in urban communities. Cortner's business and community outreach spans from the city of Detroit to Dayton, Ohio. The Tree of Life nonprofit and 20 Books are currently partnering to open a transitional housing facility, working with the Detroit Land Bank Authority, for single parent mothers in the East Davison and McNichols neighborhood of Detroit. Cortner heads this initiative. She is also a graduate of Pershing High School.
Email: KOFIMYLER@20BOOKS.ORG

Kasia Bailey/
Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director

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Kasia Bailey, Director of 20 Books, understands the importance of helping those in need. Bailey is a staunch advocate for health literacy and promotes healthy diet, exercise and active-reading. She's also the CEO and Founder of Synergistic Solutions, a wellness consulting agency that provides awareness to companies and their employees. Having worked in Pharmaceutical Sales for 15 years, Bailey witnessed first-hand the impact of the side effects of prescription drugs. Literacy is now her continued mission to make the community aware and healthy through the education and marketing of wellness products. Bailey is a native of Detroit, a graduate of Michigan State University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix and is also a graduate of Cass Technical High School. 
Email: KBAILEY@20BOOKS.ORG

Maisha Maurant/
Administrative Manager

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Maisha Maurant, a Communications Manager at Health Alliance Plan, has worked in communications, community outreach and public affairs for a number of nonprofit organizations and foundations. 
These organizations include 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Focus: HOPE, the Michigan Community Service Commission, The Kresge Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and Ford Foundation. Maurant is a graduate of Renaissance High School and Wayne State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She studied Strategic Nonprofit Management at Lawrence Technological University.
Email: MMAURANT@20BOOKS.ORG

LaShawnda Wrice/
Chief Outreach and Fundraising Officer 

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LaShawnda Wrice was a political campaign manager for Detroit City Councilman Andre L. Spivey's successful 2009 campaign bid. Wrice also led campaigns for Michigan State Representative candidates in Districts 8 and 10; she assisted in Wayne County Commissioner campaigns for District 3 and Congressman Hansen Clarke of the 13th District. Wrice is a consultant for 'Detroit: Creating Our Own Future'; a member of the BizTech Summer Camp; The Bless A Mom Project; All-A-About Technology; Evangel Ministries in Detroit; CEO and founder of Head-A-Hopper Highway, LLC; and member of Toastmasters International. Wrice earned both her Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology and a Masters degree, with a concentration in Law and Information Technology (MLIS) from Wayne State University. 
Email: LWRICE@20BOOKS.ORG

Jiquanda Johnson/
Communications
​Manager  

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Jiquanda Johnson, Co-founder of Brown Impact Media Group, and Publisher/Editor of FlintBeat.com, uses her more than 17 years journalism and news experience to fight illiteracy. In her role as Communications Manager, Johnson wins support by focusing on literacy by way of news. Johnson assists in developing literacy programs for people disenfranchised as a result of media bias or non-coverage.
She is currently working with state representatives to launch a 20 Books news literacy program titled News Movement. It will operate in Flint Community Schools as an after-school program and/or community centers in the City of Flint for both middle and high school students.
Her distinguished news employment includes MLive Media Group, Fox 46 in North Carolina, NBC25's affiliate station in the Flint area and The Detroit News, the Flint Journal.
Email: JOHNSON@20BOOKS.ORG

Keiana Love/
Treasurer

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Keiana Love is Manager of Energy Operations Technical Support at Consumers Energy, a public utility that provides natural gas and electricity to more than 6 million Michigan residents. McMichael has a Masters of Business Administration degree from Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration. She also is a Detroit native and graduate of Cass Technical High School. Love has nonprofit experience serving on the board of other nonprofits in the role as Treasurer. She too serves on the Michigan Chapter Executive Committee. AABE Michigan Chapter Officers (2010 - 2012).
Email: KMCMICHAEL@20BOOKS.ORG

Manson Williams/
Programs Manager

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Manson Williams is a Corporate Quality Assurance professional for Trinity Industries, Inc. Structural Tower business unit. Williams uses project management skills to provide leadership and optimize productivity to achieve program deliverables. A Detroit native and graduate of Martin Luther King Jr. High school, Williams earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Michigan University and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Williams is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 
Email: MANSONWILLIAMS@20BOOKS.ORG

Khaalid Walls/
Public Relations Director

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Khaalid Walls is the public affairs officer covering Michigan and Ohio for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As an ICE spokesman, he is the agency’s primary media representative for investigative and civil immigration enforcement matters in the region. In that capacity, he served as the agency’s lead spokesman for the removal of a Nazi war criminal, earning an official citation from the agency director. He also manages media outreach and response for high-visibility law enforcement operations.
Email: KHAALIDWALLS@20BOOKS.ORG

Demond Tibbs/
Advisor

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Demond Tibbs, who joined the Saginaw prosecutor's office in 2012, has an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Tibbs has worked private practice and as an associate with 
Shinners & Cook in 
Saginaw Township. Tibbs, 
in addition to his commitment to 20 Books Inc., 
also performs public service by mentoring urban youth in the Urban Youth Tennis Foundation. 
His wife, Kasydra, teaches gifted students at a Saginaw County school. He is also a Detroit native and Cass Technical High School graduate.
Email: DEMONDTIBBS@20BOOKS.ORG