Meet Our Board Members

Tchad Cort, MBA

Secretary

Tchad Cort is a Planning, Scheduling, and Logistics Specialist who has been working with the Boston Public Schools for the past 15 years. She is passionate about ensuring the daily delivery of safe and timely transportation services to the K-12 students in the district.

In addition to her dedication to BPS, Tchad is also involved in a wide array of community organizations, including Boston While Black, where she serves as a Founding Member and Interim Community & Events Manager, the Onyxbirds, a Boston-based travel group, where she serves as Organizer, and the Boston Public Library Fund, where she serves as a member of the Emerging Leaders cohort.

Tchad has been a Certified Event Planner for the past 6 years and is active in the events industry as an entrepreneur. She is an avid reader and traveler who believes that bold exploration has the ability to enrich lives and broaden perspectives, a conviction she has found useful throughout her career. Tchad holds an MBA from the University of Tampa, with a concentration in International Business, and a B.S. in Business Management from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Nakia Smith MA/MPA

Treasurer

Nakiea Smith is the founder and co-host of 21 Minutes or Less Podcast. The 21 Minutes or Less Podcast is an audio and video podcast that discusses self-care for entrepreneurs. She is also a Re-Engagement Coordinator for the nonprofit Communities in Schools (CIS). Nakiea advocates for students who have been displaced from school. She assists students with getting re-engaged in the school system by creating action plans, providing academic resources, and delivering programs. Nakiea knows that if you are an entrepreneur, overcoming challenges, having access to resources, and balancing self-care with other life duties, are extremely important.

Nakiea has worked at other nonprofits such as Student Supports Services at Savannah State University (SSU), Upward Bound at (SSU), Hands-On Atlanta through AmeriCorps, Future Foundation, and the Center for Academic Success at Clayton State University (CSU), and Communities in Schools. Nakiea has been a part of several professional organizations such as the Center for Academic Success Advisory Council Board, the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Black Doctoral Network Inc, the co-chair of the Wellness Pick Up, and the CIS Strategic Planning Steering Committee.

Nakiea believes in learning something new every day. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Savannah State University, a Master of Liberals Arts in English from Clayton State University, and a Master of Public Administration from Clayton State University. She also holds a certification in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University and a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Clayton State University. Lastly, it is Nakiea’s dream to start a nonprofit organization for young African American women between the ages of 14 to 21 with chronic illnesses.