President and CEO, Urbanomics Consulting Group
Washington, D.C. Age: 38
David D. Greene III is the founder, president and CEO of Urbanomics Consulting Group, a Washington, D.C., public relations firm the media strategies of which are designed to build awareness, credibility and influence for clients in order that they may impact key public policy issues. A former marketing consultant and strategic planning and business development manager at a leading management consulting firm, Greene always knew he would one day be an entrepreneur. The seeds for the now-flourishing Urbanomics Consulting Group were planted during an experimental learning program sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation, he says. He relished the opportunity to be engaged in expanding the influence of people of color in business, public policy and social issues.
Greene?s greatest inspiration is his mother?s strength. When faced with adversity, he recalls her resiliency and ability to overcome challenges. Her lessons filled him not only with an appreciation of humanity, but also with a passion for success?so much so that he lives by the expression ?Don?t quit,? he says. ?[My mother is] my testament to the triumph of the human spirit,? he says.
Greene enjoys writing and has visions of teaching college courses on entrepreneurship. He places great value on his relationships with family and friends and stresses the importance of healthy relationships in general, both personal and professional. He views himself somewhat as a humanitarian, with a ?passion for people? that greatly influenced his career path.
Greene graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a bachelor of arts in sociology and business marketing. He acquired certification in focus-group moderation from RIVA Institute for Group Process Mastery, in Rockville, Md., and is certified as a professional facilitator by the International Association of Facilitators. He received a fellowship to the M. Carl Holman Leadership Development Institute, a leadership and urban-policy program of the National Urban Coalition funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.