Executive Director - Bryan Oliphant
Our core strength is our passion and personal conviction to create change. The vision for R.I.S.E. comes from its Executive Director and founder, Bryan Oliphant. Mr. Oliphant, the father of 5 children and former community organizer has been involved in improving the quality of life for youth dating back to the mid 1980s where he served in a number of volunteer capacities, including coaching youth in a number of sports. Mr. Oliphant was the Co-Executive Director of the Monroe Township Youth Adult Basketball League. This unique concept paired young players with mentors who in addition to teaching them sound fundamentals of the game, discussed real life issues confronting these young men in their everyday lives. Some of the more notable mentors included, the late Walt Mumford of Temple University, current Monmouth University head coach Dave Calloway and Joey Kurtz of Widener University. Through the efforts of Mr. Oliphant and the volunteers at the league, several individuals went on to play for local, regional and national colleges including: Jimmy Eaddy of Penn State University, Ozzie Smith-Bey of Lamar University and Justin Phoenix of Manhattan College. Additional youth related experiences include serving as President of the Concerned Youth Association and Team Organizer for the Sunshine Foundation's annual softball marathon that benefited area charities.
Mr. Oliphant's ongoing quest for making a difference led him to run for a school board seat in 1993. Despite not winning the election, Oliphant, still determined to make a difference continued his quest to reach underserved youth.
Mr. Oliphant subscribes to the tenants of the ancient African proverb that “It takes a village to raise a child”. It’s that very proverb that is the basis of R.I.S.E.’s approach. Impact through Collaboration! We create the road map to success, identifying critical milestones and creating vivid descriptions of acceptable behavior along the way. These milestones, or checkpoints if you will, involve the frequent and consistent involvement of other entities/organizations and “influencers” who play a critical role in the development of our youth. Hence, they become members of that critical village that will make up the collaboration needed to ensure success.
Mr. Oliphant leads by example. He often says, it's not what you say, but rather what you do that counts. This personal creed serves him well in directing the efforts of the organization; as well as setting an example for youth who look to him along with the facilitators as role models.
Director of Programs & Projects - Horace M. Connor III
Horace Connor is the Assistant Vice President of the Emerging Markets for Manya Education EPO. In his current role, Horace provides educational institutions with a host of customized products and services aimed at improving the overall test results for students taking various states mandated standardized tests.
Mr. Connor at heart is a life time educator with over 35 years of educational experience. He has taught in both the public and private sectors, and has held administrative positions of Vice Principal, Principal, Executive Director of the Learning Center Academy Charter School, Supervisor of Educational Curriculum and Occupational Training Program Administrator just to name a few of his responsibilities. Additionally, Connor has owned and operated a private vocational school where he was accountable for the full operation of this facility to include, hiring, developing curriculum, grant writing and overall staff development. His track record of education has extended well beyond the classroom. In addition to his numerous achievements as an educator he has held coaching assignments in some of the most prolific high schools in the state of New Jersey including coaching some of the most accomplished runners from powerhouse Willingboro school system.
Mr. Connor's in depth familiarity with state and federal guidelines for funding, private foundation rules and regulations in conjunction with his extensive background in education makes him the ideal candidate to assume the position of Director of Programs & Projects for R.I.S.E.
Connor received his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Pre-Med and Art from Cheyney State College, his Masters in Biology from Trenton State College and a Masters in Education/Administration and Supervision from Rider University.
Director of Operations & Marketing - Andre G. Howell
Andre Howell is a consultant with expertise in organizational development, executive coaching and implementation of marketing programs, multicultural marketing strategies and executive diversity staffing. For over twenty years he has worked with senior management at Fortune 100 companies primarily in the area of establishing multicultural marketing programs and the identification of consumer loyalty programs aimed at retaining the most profitable customer segments. His multicultural expertise includes the successful appointment and hiring of over 500 insurance agents and agencies in 26 states, and the publication of the highly acclaimed Hispanic Consumer Marketing guide which was recognized by the Association of Marketing and Communications Association (Marcom Award) as the best collateral for understanding the buying habits of the Hispanic insurance consumer.
Mr. Howell has served clients in the insurance, financial services, nonprofit and media industries.
Prior to his consulting work, Andre spent over 25 years in Insurance and Financial Services, working for Allstate Insurance, MetLife and the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. where he held various management and executive positions in HR, Corporate Relations, Marketing and Claims.
Howell will assume the role of Marketing and Communications Director for R.I.S.E. his duties will include but are not limited to designing and developing all marketing collateral, creation of the website and handling all media related inquiries as well as generating press releases for R.I.S.E.
Mr. Howell received his B.S. degree in Marketing and Economics from The King’s College, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. and completed graduate studies in Public Administration at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
