Review The Finalists

With 15 years of dedicated experience in the hospitality industry, Angel Johnson has built a strong foundation and proven leadership in housekeeping management. Her career began as a room attendant in New Orleans, where she developed a deep understanding of guest services and operational excellence. After Hurricane Katrina, Angel relocated to Dallas, where her career truly took off, leading to key roles with renowned brands including Marriott, Great Wolf Lodge, and Omni Hotels.

Throughout her journey, Angel has consistently demonstrated a commitment to delivering impeccable cleanliness standards, enhancing guest satisfaction, and optimizing housekeeping operations. As an Executive Housekeeping Manager, she brings a wealth of expertise in team leadership, staff training, quality control, and strategic planning—ensuring smooth, efficient, and welcoming environments for guests.

Passionate about elevating guest experiences and fostering collaborative work cultures, Angel is dedicated to driving operational success while nurturing teams that take pride in their work and service.

Chad Mantooth is the Associate Publisher and Advertising Director of Dallas Voice, the Head of the Cedar Springs Wine Walk, a proud Board Member of the Cedar Springs Merchants Association, and a familiar face (and voice) as the host of the Pride in Dallas Parade. In 2025, he was named the LGBTQ Chamber Champion Award Winner, though he’s quick to point out that it’s really the community he champions that deserves the spotlight.

As part of his work with the Cedar Springs Merchants Association, Chad helped support the recent funding of Dallas’ rainbow crosswalks, a colorful symbol of pride and inclusion in the heart of the city. For the past seven years, he has also volunteered his time with the Caven Christmas Show, helping raise thousands of dollars every year for underprivileged kids in Dallas. Known for his passion for bringing people together, he has made it his mission to showcase the vibrancy and visibility of the nation’s 5th largest LGBTQ community. Whether he’s rallying merchants, raising a glass at the Wine Walk, or keeping the Pride parade energy high, Chad’s work is about building connections, creating joy, and making sure Dallas’ LGBTQ community gets the recognition it deserves, all with a wink, a smile, and maybe a refill of your glass.

And if you don’t recognize him at one of these events, don’t worry…. he’s the guy lost in the middle of Cedar Springs trying to remember which meeting, show, or happy hour he’s supposed to be at.

J. Damany Daniel is an Emmy-nominated experience architect, published storyteller, and cultural strategist who believes that when we gather well, we grow well.

As founder and Chief Imaginator of The Event Nerd, Damany leads a creative agency known for crafting immersive, unexpected, and deeply human experiences—from city-backed festivals and cultural celebrations to brand activations, private events, and purpose-driven campaigns. His work blends creativity, culture, and care to design moments that matter, experiences with swagger, and stories that live far beyond the stage.

His creative practice stretches across platforms—on screens, in print, and in the spaces we move through every day. He’s the producer of The Curious Quest of Tennyson Eddy, an augmented-reality-enhanced children’s book designed to reimagine how story and experience interact. Whether he’s writing, producing, or advising, Damany uses narrative as a connective thread—one that ties people not just to ideas, but to each other.

Recognized for his creative leadership at both local and national levels, Damany remains a sought-after voice in conversations around creativity, cultural equity, and community-building.

His civic engagement is as layered as his creative work. He currently serves as Arts and Culture Commissioner for Dallas’ District 6, Vice Chair of the Dallas International Film Festival, and trustee of the Deep Ellum Foundation. He was also a founding member of Engage Dallas and the Mayor’s Star Council—initiatives committed to leadership, equity, and civic innovation.

Whether he’s producing a story, building a strategy, or designing a space for people to gather, Damany’s work is about more than experience.
It’s cultural infrastructure. It’s hospitality with soul.
It’s how we come together—with intention, imagination, and impact.

Valery "Val" Jean-Bart of Val's Cheesecakes is a business owner and professional civil engineer currently living in DFW.

After obtaining a bachelor degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida in 2000 and pursuing his engineering license, Val worked for 20 years as a civil engineer with numerous firms and government entities. In 2008, Val began caring for his mother through terminal breast cancer during which they baked a cheesecake every Sunday.

After her passing, he began to sell his cheesecakes at restaurants and then opened the Shack on Maple Avenue while completing infrastructure projects as a civil engineer. In 2017, he finally quit his job to open numerous other locations. Val's goal is to continue to share his mother's love of cheesecake and perpetually inspire love, grace, dignity, and respect which his mother left him with.

COMMUNITY is a very important word to Val and this can be seen by his support and mentoring of other local businesses, his voting registration efforts as VDR for Dallas County, his transparency on many topics through his social media, and for always seeking to understand and reach to people who might not agree with him.

Chad Houser is an award-winning chef and the Founder CEO of Café Momentum, a nationally recognized nonprofit restaurant and paid internship program for justice-involved youth. What began in Dallas in 2015 has grown into a national movement with locations in Dallas, Pittsburgh and Atlanta—expanding soon to Denver. Café Momentum is also developing a flagship restaurant and a National Training Facility in Dallas, aiming to reach 10 cities by 2035.

Named the James Beard Foundation’s 2025 Humanitarian of the Year, a CNN Hero, and one of Dallas’s Best 500 Business Leaders, Chad is a national voice for youth justice and community-led solutions to systemic change.

He believes All Youth Deserve to Dream and that food can be a catalyst for opportunity, connection and transformation. To date, the program has supported more than 1,300 youth nationwide.

Cindy Pedraza is the co-owner of CocoAndre Chocolatier and the visionary behind Olmo Market, a dynamic cultural and creative space in Oak Cliff, Dallas. As a proud firstgeneration Mexican-American entrepreneur, Cindy has helped shape the future of artisan chocolate by intertwining legacy, craftsmanship, and community through her work with CocoAndre, which she co-founded with her mother, master chocolatier Andrea Pedraza.

Under Cindy’s leadership, CocoAndre has earned national acclaim, winning Best Chocolatier in D Magazine’s “Best of Big D” multiple years in a row and ultimately being inducted into the Best of Big D Hall of Fame. Her entrepreneurial journey has taken her to the White House’s United State of Women Summit not once, but twice during the Obama administration and earned her recognition from the Tory Burch Foundation. She has led collaborations with notable brands including Kia Latino, Siete Foods, and most recently, Uniqlo, where she launched a custom CocoAndre-Uniqlo merch experience at the Dallas Galleria flagship store.

In 2023, Cindy won the UPS “Deliver Your Pitch” competition, sharing the stage with NFL legend Emmitt Smith and Dallas Cowboys’ star CeeDee Lamb. The following year, she was invited back not as a contestant, but as a guest judge, sitting alongside Emmitt and her self-proclaimed "bestie," CeeDee Lamb, to help select the next round of winners. Cindy and her family were also featured in a Puma sneaker campaign, thanks to the incredible team at Politics sneaker boutique, who recognized the Pedraza family's deep involvement and longstanding impact within the Oak Cliff community. The campaign celebrated their legacy and cultural influence, blending streetwear with storytelling.

Cindy’s commitment to cultural celebration and community organizing runs deep. She is the founder of the first-ever Dia de Los Muertos celebration in Oak Cliff, a beloved annual tradition now entering its second decade. She also co-founded the first Oak Cliff Orgullo (Pride) event in partnership with TX Latino Pride, helping carve out inclusive spaces that reflect and uplift queer Latinx voices in her community.

Beyond chocolate, Cindy is the creative force behind Olmo Market, which began as an extension of CocoAndre and has evolved into a vibrant neighborhood hub. Olmo hosts everything from small business pop-ups and art shows to social justice conversations and heritage-centered events. Through this space, Cindy has cultivated a platform for local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs especially women and BIPOC creatives to be celebrated and supported.

Whether she’s on stage with NFL legends, at the White House, or hand-pouring chocolate in Dallas, Cindy leads with authenticity, vision, and a deep commitment to uplifting her community all while building legacy, one bar (or bold move) at a time.

Known as the “Father of Southwestern Cuisine,” James Beard Award–winning Chef Dean Fearing is celebrated for his bold flavors, innovative spirit, and warm Texas hospitality.

As Executive Chef and Partner at Fearing’s Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, he has redefined modern American dining with dishes that marry regional ingredients with global inspiration.

Chef Fearing’s illustrious career spans decades, including his tenure at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, where he helped put Dallas on the national culinary map.

A cookbook author, television personality, and passionate ambassador for Texas cuisine, he continues to delight guests with his signature style and genuine approach to hospitality, making Fearing’s a destination for food lovers worldwide.

Tisha Crear is a Dallas native dedicated to creating spaces where healthy communities can thrive. A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, she holds a BFA in Theatre and African Studies from New York University and an MS in Management and Administrative Sciences from UT Dallas.

With over 30 years of professional experience in the Dallas cultural arts scene, Tisha has worked as a teaching artist, entrepreneur, and arts administrator. She currently leads the Susu Cultural Business Incubator, which mobilizes creative and cultural businesses to develop locally owned neighborhood hubs. In 2017, Susu launched its first major project, Recipe Oak Cliff, a juice bar and vegan café focused on addressing food security in South Dallas.

Previously, Tisha owned and operated Reciprocity, a creative venue that for six years hosted performance and gallery events, artist consignment and cooperative projects, and a vegetarian café and school lunch program. She also spent 12 years with the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs as a Program Coordinator, developing and administering cultural arts contracts.

Curtis King is a visionary arts leader, director, and producer best known as the founder and president of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), one of the nation’s most esteemed cultural institutions. Established in 1977 from King’s dining room table with just $250, TBAAL has since generated more than $150 million under his leadership to support its capital campaigns, programming, and operations. Located in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, the institution now spans 250,000 square feet and welcomes more than 250,000 patrons annually. Its mission—celebrating and preserving African, Caribbean, and African American contributions to the arts—has flourished through King’s tireless vision, shaping Dallas into a national hub for cultural expression.

Often called the “King of Tributes,” King has produced and directed hundreds of acclaimed plays, concerts, and cultural events, collaborating with legends such as Maya Angelou, Cicely Tyson, Erykah Badu, Phylicia Rashad, and Stevie Wonder. His Emmy-winning Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement concert has become a Dallas tradition, blending artistry with activism and earning national recognition. He has also staged major productions like Bethune starring Esther Rolle, The Amen Corner starring Helen Martin and Juanita Moore, and the national touring show Don’t Start Me to Talkin’ or I’ll Tell Everything I Know. His work has extended to international stages in Paris, Addis Ababa, and Istanbul, amplifying Dallas’ reputation as a global cultural player.

Beyond his productions, King has curated unforgettable events that highlight history and social impact. These include I Remember…The March on Washington at the Kennedy Center featuring Dan Rather, Halle Berry, and Eartha Kitt; Symphony with the Divas saluting African American women in Congress; and the Riverfront Jazz Festival, which attracts more than 40 national and international musical artists each Labor Day in Dallas. His ability to bring world-class talent to the city while mentoring the next generation of artists showcases his unwavering commitment to creativity, community, and cultural preservation.

Dezman “Dezi 5” Lehman is a Dallas-based entertainer, community advocate, and cultural curator whose work bridges music, media, and civic engagement. Known for electrifying performances and an unmistakable presence, Dezi 5 is the driving force behind the Dallas Entertainment Awards, celebrating the city’s vibrant creative scene and spotlighting local talent across genres. A versatile performer, Dezi 5 holds a weekly Friday residency at the Virgin Hotels Dallas from 6–9 PM and keeps the energy alive at Double D’s with dynamic DJ sets. In August 2025, he headlined the iconic Kessler Theater in a sold-out, career-defining performance that solidified his place as one of Dallas’ most magnetic live acts.

Beyond the stage, Dezi 5 hosts and produces In the Spotlight with Dezi 5, a talk show and podcast dedicated to highlighting artists, entrepreneurs, and change-makers shaping Dallas culture. As a recording artist, his latest release, Dirty Laundry: Unfolded, expands on his acclaimed Dirty Laundry album — blending soul, rock, and R&B influences into a raw and authentic body of work that has resonated deeply with audiences.

Rooted deeply in Deep Ellum, Dezi 5 also serves as a weekend tour guide for the Deep Ellum Foundation, leading the Deep Ellum History Tour every Saturday from 3–4 PM. Spanning from the neighborhood’s 1872 beginnings to its vibrant present, his tours share stories of the people, culture, and music that have shaped one of Dallas’ most iconic districts.

Whether performing, curating events, preserving local history, or advocating for the arts, Dezi 5 embodies the Can Do Spirit that fuels Dallas’ creative heartbeat.

Edwin Cabaniss is the founder and president of Kessler Presents. The Oak Cliff startup began with the opening of the Kessler Theater in 2010, followed by the Heights Theater in 2015, the Longhorn Ballroom in 2023, and the Longhorn Backyard Amphitheater in 2025. All venues are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Producing over 400 events annually, Kessler Presents has become one of the largest and most respected independent promoters in the country while maintaining its core values of presenting curated artists in authentic venues to appreciative audiences. With venues that can accommodate audiences ranging from 300 to 6,500, Kessler Presents uniquely supports both emerging local artists and legendary performers at various stages of their careers.

The Kessler has been named Oak Cliff’s “Business of the Year” multiple times by the Chamber of Commerce, received the Obelisk Award from the Business Council for the Arts, and the Preservation Achievement Award from Preservation Dallas. The Longhorn Ballroom was recognized with a Commercial Real Estate Award for Community Impact, an Obelisk Award for New Initiatives, and Edwin received the 2025 Stewardship Award from Preservation Dallas.

Outside of work, Edwin is actively involved in his community as a founding board member of Halperin Park and a founding member of Go Oak Cliff. He has received the President of the United States Volunteer Service Award and the Father of the Year Award from the T. Boone Pickens YMCA. He is also a current member of the Dallas Assembly and a booster for the South Oak Cliff, Golden Bears football team.

Edwin and his wife, Lisa, have lived in Oak Cliff for over 25 years and have twin daughters who attend Arizona State University. The family enjoys adventure travel, spending time at their ranch, and cheering for their beloved Texas Rangers.

LaDondra Wilson serves as the Dallas Wing's Vice President of Social Responsibility and the inaugural Executive Director of the Dallas Wings Community Foundation. LaDondra leads the organization's community engagement efforts, advises leadership on the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and leads the social justice committee. A proud graduate of Leadership Southlake, and the inaugural class of Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy, LaDondra is a proponent of professional development and servant leadership.

After graduating from Texas State University, LaDondra worked as a Master level social worker, emphasizing Advanced Administrative Leadership for non-profit organizations. LaDondra's work has focused on addressing macro social problems and leadership development, non-profit management, program development, and evaluation. Ms. Wilson has been named the 2013 Tarrant County Case Manager of the Year. She obtained a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Center of Nonprofit Management (CNM), an Executive Sports Philanthropy Certificate from George Washington University, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.

A proud native of South Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX, currently LaDondra serves on the Engage Dallas , Educate Dallas, Parkland Health Foundation, and Rainbow Days Board of Directors. LaDondra serves on the UNT Sport Entertainment Management Advisory Board, Texas A&M-Commerce Sport & Recreation Management Board, Women in Sports and Events, and the Black Sports Professionals of North Texas Board of Directors, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc as the Public Relations Chair of her chapter. LaDondra was named a 2019 Millennial to Watch as a Community Server, a 2020 Community First Award recipient from the Parkland Health Foundation, the 2021 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Graduate Good Citizen Award, and a 2021 Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 award recipient. In 2023, LaDondra was named a Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40 recipient. Also in 2023, she was awarded a Women in Sports and Events 2023 Woman of Inspiration honoree. In 2024, LaDondra was a Cosign Sports Executive of the Year nominee and a PoliChic Bravery Brunch honoree. In 2025, LaDondra was named a DCEO Nonprofit Leadership Excellence Finalist.

Through sports, LaDondra champions diversity, drives equity, and builds inclusive spaces where all individuals are empowered to thrive.

Todd Blyleven is a nationally respected sports executive, TEDx motivational speaker, and trauma recovery advocate whose life and leadership reflect the true spirit of Dallas grit and resilience.

A former professional baseball player and Major League Baseball scout, Todd now serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for USA Softball, leading efforts to elevate the sport nationwide while empowering athletes, coaches, and communities through innovation, inclusion, and access.

In 2017, Todd’s life changed forever when he became a hero during the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas. Under fire, he carried dozens of people to safety, saving lives and confronting unimaginable trauma head-on. Since that day, Todd has dedicated his life to helping others heal, grow, and learn how to walk and live with their trauma after adversity.

Through his speaking engagements, bestselling books, podcast, and his “I’m Going In” apparel line, Todd has become a powerful voice for trauma survivors, first responders, and everyday people struggling with life’s battles.

Todd has developed revolutionary sports technology programs and software, equipping coaches and athletes nationwide with data-driven tools to enhance performance, scouting, and player development. His work blends innovation with heart, always focused on lifting others.

As a father, survivor, and man of faith, Todd leads with purpose, compassion, and unshakable strength. His mission is simple yet powerful: “To inspire people to keep moving forward, no matter the odds, and to help them rise with strength.”

Al Wash is a trailblazer in the live entertainment industry, with a storied career spanning over five decades. As the Founder and CEO of ALW Entertainment, he has produced concerts, cultural festivals, and nationally recognized sporting events that celebrate Black excellence and connect communities across the country.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Al graduated from high school in 1970 before heading off to play college football at the University of Tennessee at Martin, TN. His college studies focused on law enforcement and physical education, which laid the groundwork for his early professional life.

Before entering the entertainment industry, Wash served in law enforcement and was appointed Athletic Director for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. He was hired under a federal reform initiative led by Judge Sarah T. Hughes, the same judge who swore in Lyndon B. Johnson following the assassination of President Kennedy. In response to a lawsuit on inhumane jail conditions, Wash created the first structured recreation, education, and religious program for inmates in the U.S. His work became a national model, and he traveled extensively to consult with correctional institutions such as Houston, Kentucky, and Colorado.

Despite his success, Wash found the role unfulfilling and longed for a new challenge. That passion led him to the entertainment world, where he staged his first show with legendary blues artist Johnny Taylor. Though he admits he was new to the music industry at the time, the show sold out, and a new career was born.

Unable to access major artists early on, Wash began producing blues tours featuring Johnny Taylor, B.B. King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Millie Jackson, Z.Z. Hill, and Little Milton, among others. Eventually, his footprint expanded, and so did his network. Wash played a formative role in launching the careers of several major acts, including Tyler Perry, Kirk Franklin, and Steve Harvey, promoting some of their earliest performances, including five sold-out shows with Harvey in Dallas.

Wash is also known for producing national stage plays. His longest-running tour was “Young Man, Older Woman,” starring Millie Jackson and Reynaldo Rey, which ran successfully for two and a half years.

In addition to music, Wash is synonymous with Black college football. He took over production of the State Fair Classic, an HBCU football showdown between Grambling State and Prairie View A&M, after a legal dispute led to a new promotional opportunity. Under his leadership, the Classic exploded in size and influenced, drawing over 60,000 attendees—and has become one of the largest and most beloved HBCU sports traditions in the country. In 2025, the event will celebrate its 100th anniversary, a milestone that underscores Wash’s vision and longevity.

He also produces other sports properties, including the Shreveport Kickoff Classic, and has remained involved with the Black College Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

And if it’s up to him—well, as James Brown would say, “It’s gonna be funky.”

Ben Cass has been leading the charge to restore the Braniff brand to its legendary heights for years, starting with his book Braniff Flying Colors and continuing in his work with Braniff International, Braniff Airways, Inc., Braniff Airways Foundation, and Braniff International Hotels.

Ben is an FAA Airline Transport Pilot and FAA Certified Ground Instructor. Ben’s love for aviation and all things Braniff started at Braniff’s Love Field facility when he was 7 years old, a day that started Ben on a life-long passion.

He’s not only Braniff’s Historian, his love for mid- century design can be seen in his participation in the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club and his incredible car collection, as well as his frequent contributions to Continental Comments Magazine.

Brittany Grignon Hays is the founder and creator of SESSION Pilates, the Dallas-born, music-driven reformer Pilates brand she launched in 2016 with its first studio in the Knox-Henderson area. Under her leadership, SESSION evolved from a single studio into one of North Texas’ most recognizable boutique fitness concepts, defined by a high-intensity, beat-based 50-minute method and a strong, community-first culture.

Recognized for brand building as much as for product, Hays and SESSION have earned multiple “Best Pilates Studio” honors, including D Magazine’s Best of Big D and Dallas Observer Readers’ Choice, with ClassPass also naming SESSION among its U.S. standouts. Her operator-led approach centers on instructor excellence, continuing education, and an incentive model that aligns the team around client outcomes—principles that fueled SESSION’s swift digital pivot during the pandemic with SESSION@Home and continue to underpin its growth.

Today, SESSION comprises six studios across Dallas-Fort Worth and, in 2025, expanded into Nashville’s Green Hills—debuting to sustained sell-outs, waitlists, and a surge of earned attention. Hays continues to scale SESSION while stewarding its culture, community partnerships, and philanthropic touchpoints—such as ongoing donation-class initiatives—alongside a commitment to rigorous instructor development. As SESSION nears its 10-year anniversary in 2026, Hays is launching the SESSION Foundation — a foundation that will support and uplift female entrepreneurs across the region. Her vision remains clear: deliver an elevated, modern Pilates experience that keeps studios full, clients loyal, and the brand unmistakably SESSION.

Deah Berry Mitchell is a writer, historian, cultural preservationist. Most recently she is the founder of Road East Magazine, a digital publication that celebrates the cultural roots, food traditions, and historical narratives shaping Texas—especially those of Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. Through thoughtful storytelling and research, she offers readers a deeper understanding of place, memory, and identity in the American South and Southwest.

Berry Mitchell is the visionary behind Deep Ellum AR, the first augmented reality app in the U.S. developed by a woman to showcase Black history. Funded by the City of Dallas, the app is used in tourism, education, and cultural preservation, making her a national trailblazer at the intersection of public history and technology.

Currently a Ph.D. candidate in history at the University of North Texas, Berry-Mitchell’s dissertation focuses on Black Texas foodways as expressions of resistance, adaptation, and community identity. She is a double alumna of Southern Methodist University, where she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Mitchell is a Julia Child Foundation Gastronomy and Culinary History Fellow (2023–2025) and a Kingsford Preserve the Pit Fellow, recognized for her work
documenting the legacy of Black Texas pitmasters and barbecue traditions. Previously she served as a judge for the James Beard Foundation Awards, one of the culinary world’s highest honors. Mitchell is currently an adjunct professor at Tarrant County College, where she teaches U.S. History.

A 2021 Forbes 1000 honoree, Mitchell has been celebrated for her cultural entrepreneurship and innovative leadership. She serves on several civic and scholarly boards including the Dallas County Historical Commission, Visit Fort Worth’s Black Tourism Council, the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Program Committee, and the planning committee for the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo.

Berry Mitchell is also a contributor to the upcoming Texas-focused edition of The American Yawp, a leading open-source U.S. history textbook used in colleges nationwide. Her work and entrepreneurial journey will also be featured in an upcoming California college textbook for students studying business and innovation.

Whether through scholarship, tech, storytelling, or travel experiences, Deah Berry Mitchell is committed to preserving cultural heritage, amplifying marginalized histories, and making history accessible, immersive, and empowering for all.