OUR LEADERSHIP | wheelercreekcdc

Mr. Ronald L. Jones, President

Wheeler Creek Community Development Cooperation (CDC)

RONALD L. JONES is a native of Washington D.C. He Graduated from Bell Vocational High School where he studied Architecture. After working for the Department of Building and Grounds, DC Public Schools, Ronald Jones joined the United States Navy.

While in the Navy Mr. Jones rose through the ranks from E-1 to E-8 (Senior Chief Petty Officer) In 1989 Mr. Jones received a commission as a Chief Warrant Officer. During his Navy career Mr. Jones was fortunate to have traveled the world. He has been to Northern Europe, Western Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Mr. Jones retired from the Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer in October of 1997 as has been employed as a Defense Consultant since his retirement.

Mr. Jones earned his Bachelor of Science of Business Administration (BSBA) from Strayer University.

Mr. Jones is involved in his community; he has held positions of President and Vice President of the Wheeler Creek Residence Association and currently serves as the President of the Wheeler Creek Community Development Association (CDC).

Mr. Jones begin his ministry at Brown Memorial AME Church, where he has served as the Chairman Pro Tem of the Board of Trustees, President and Vice President of Senior Usher Board#1, Secretary of the Men’s Ministry and a Bus Driver. Mr. Jones also joined the ICUA in 1999 and currently severs as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and an Instructor of the Catherine E. Mills School of Ushering. Mr. Jones continues to serves as a Member of Brown Memorial’s Senior Usher Board; however his priority is serving as member of the Steward/Trustee Board of Galilee AME Church where his wife, Rev. Caroline L. Jones, serves as Pastor.

Mr. Jones’ favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.

Dr. Bessie Swann, Executive Director

Wheeler Creek Community Development Cooperation (CDC)

Dr. BESSIE E. SWANN provides consulting services to communities, public housing agencies,

not-for-profit and development companies to assist in the sponsoring and development of affordable housing, economic development and related social services. These services specifically include the identification of available local, state and federal funding sources, determination of project feasibility, preparation of funding applications and related documents, and assistance in the evaluation and selection of project development teams.

Swann has helped public housing authorities with diverse tasks including participating in stakeholder meetings, creating demographic profiles of residents and analyzing their housing needs, preparing funding applications, and implementation of housing programs. Swann was involved in program implementation for the HOME, Community Development Block Grant, FMHA 515, 502 Rural Housing Programs, HUD 203K, and other rental rehabilitation programs, Economic Development Initiatives, HUD HOPE VI, Community & Supportive Services Program, (CSSP) and other programs which provide affordable housing, aid for the low income families and spur economic and community development.

Swann has also served as nonprofit developer and managing partner in the redevelopment of hundreds of units including the financial structuring, tenant relocation, substantial rehabilitation, new construction and management of the completed projects. She utilizes this experience in assisting public sector clients.

Swann, Managing Member, is the Principal Officer of Bessie E. Swann & Associates, LLC, a Maryland State Women-Owned Business Enterprise. Founded in 2003, Swann and Associates, LLC is a development and management consulting firm that specializes in nonprofit housing development and related services, serving low and moderate income families and related community economic development activities.

Since 1998 and presently, Swann continues to function in the position of founding executive director of Wheeler Creek Community Development Corporation, a Washington, D.C. based, 501 © 3 organization. and presently serves in the same position for Wheeler Creek Community Development Corporation in Washington, DC. In this position, Swann assumed co-development of approximately 2500 rental and homeownership residential properties through the provision of supportive services to the affected public housing residents. She designed and implemented a case management model leading toward economic and social self-sufficiency of public housing residents, gaining national accolades for its effectiveness.

Swann developed the policies and procedures for the effective marketing and management of developments ranging in size and project budgets in the millions of dollars. Prior to working at Wheeler Creek CDC, she was the founding executive director of the North Fork Housing Alliance on Long Island, New York for 15 years bringing to this area, subsidies to prevent the massive gentrification of the community and initiating housing programs through strong advocacy.

Bessie E. Swann received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Long Island University at Southampton College in New York. She has been involved in housing and community development for over 40 years, beginning her career as a Community Organizer/Advocate in the government sponsored Community Action Program and Head Start Program. She became a certified housing counselor under the federal S.T.A.R. program.

As a long standing advocate for housing and community and economic development, Swann has served as member and officer in several government and private housing related organizations where policy for more effective delivery of federal and state services was established. She received the distinguished Rotary International Paul Harris Medal of Honor as one of the many awards in recognition of her service. Guided by her faith and trust in God, she continues to work to alleviate the disenfranchisement of the poor.