Solutions Blog – DBSoaries

Being Black in the Corporate Boardroom

November 29, 2021 by DeForest Soaries in Corporate Boards

DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., Independent Director, Ocwen Financial Corporationand Independence Realty Trust In December 1992 I was honored to be invited to serve on the board of directors of New Era Bank, a small, community bank in New Jersey that was three blocks away from the church that I had was serving as Pastor. This […]

Dr. DeForest Soaries, Jr. Appears in the Top 100 People in Real Estate Magazine.

October 19, 2021 by DeForest Soaries in Financial Wellness

Author: The Top 100 Magazine With nearly 30 years in real estate development, DeForest Soaries appreciates the human aspect of the work he does and believes profit applies to more than the financial. He is the founder and former chairman of a nonprofit affordable housing corporation and the former owner of a real estate company […]

Seven Ways Not for Profit Board Service Can Prepare Future Corporate Directors

September 9, 2021 by DeForest Soaries in Corporate Boards

I never realized that serving on the boards of not-for-profit corporations prepared me to become a director at for-profit companies. As a community activist and local leader, I had opportunities to serve on boards of various organizations that were formed to advance causes that I believed were important. Affordable housing development, voter registration, and foster […]

A Boardroom Seat Belongs to You

August 9, 2021 by DeForest Soaries in Corporate Boards

A young friend of mine was very excited to be admitted into a labor union recently. Someone I know had taken him under his wing and successfully helped him complete one of the union’s training programs. The excitement he exuded when he visited my home was warranted. The union he had joined was the International […]

What It Means To Be Board Ready

July 13, 2021 by DeForest Soaries in Corporate Boards

I have the good fortune of serving on corporate boards with white directors who understand the value of having diversity, equity and inclusion embedded in our board culture and operations. When we discuss new board members, all of my boards have members whose genuine interest is obvious and who realize that our organizations benefit from […]