Past Presidents

Select a President from the list below to read their message and biography.

 

Marlon Reid

2010 | Marlon Reid

President’s Message

Answering the Call: Our Pledge for 2010

As the world slowly pulls itself out of financial and economic crisis, many reflect on what the future will hold and what lessons can be gleaned from the events of the past 29 months.  Like no other time in recent history, students wonder whether their education will connect them to their desired careers; professionals question their career ambitions; financial institutions are concerned about their appeal and about having the capacity to compete for the best and the brightest, while the community is unconvinced of its ability to raise its economic condition without any support.  There is a menacing sentiment that the mounting calls for help will either fall on deaf ears or be met with indifference.

While institutions across the country are tapping into the stored value of diverse talent pools, or reaching into diverse communities for mutual support and engagement, frictional barriers remain. While people are awakening to the need for financial literacy and are acknowledging the power of networking, the unrelenting and oppressive forces of social indifference, financial quicksand, feeble networks, and limited career prospects, persist.

With an unequivocal focus in the financial services industry and a vision to deliver professional development, networking, community outreach and financial literacy to visible minority professionals and communities, the Urban Financial Services Coalition has answered the call.

Where barriers prevent our stakeholders from effectively connecting with each other, we aim to be the conduit.  Where children seldom find grounds to consider financial services as a viable career option, we aspire to be their rock. Where indifference or despair obstructs our community from driving toward financial wellbeing, we intend to be the ignition.

For all that we aim, aspire or intend to be, the UFSC, as an organization, understands the challenges associated with unlocking unlimited potential using limited resources.  As a volunteer-based non-profit organization we have, and continue to rely, immeasurably, on the time and talent of our members.   Our pledge to answer the call is not always easily fulfilled, but the result can leave us with new skills, new relationships, replenished hope, and a real sense of satisfaction.

In 2010 we will renew our commitment to financial fluency and demonstrate the value in our ability to be fluently bicultural.  In every aspect of what this organization represents, we have endeavoured to answer the call of the community, of our members, and of our corporate and community partners.  We’ve done a good job, but there is more to do.  In 2010 we make our efforts, to ‘answer the call’, uncompromised, unequivocal.

When a child is in need of financial literacy, a role model, a dream… we will answer the call

When our community is desperately searching for upliftment and inspiration … we will answer the call.

When our corporate partners are looking for talent to fill skilled and progressive roles at their firms … we will answer the call.

When our community partners are looking for financial expertise to speak at an event… we will answer the call.

When a student is desperately trying to break into the capital markets or finance industry… we will answer the call.

When a professional is looking to connect with a network of some of the best and brightest in the world of finance… the Urban Financial Services Coalition is the right call.

In 2010 UFSC is ANSWERING THE CALL.

Yours truly,

Marlon Reid, President
UFSC Toronto

 

Marlon Reid

2009 | Marlon Reid

President’s Message

“Financially Fluent, Fluently Bicultural”

The Urban Financial Services Coalition rests squarely on a foundation of Networking, Professional Development, Community Outreach, and Financial Literacy. On the talent, drive, empathy, intellectual curiosity, and promise of its members, it is poised to guide, uplift and point the community away from downside risk of troubled financial markets and toward opportunity and achievement through education, mentorship and sharing of knowledge and ideas.

As an organization we remain committed to the Professional Development of our members, particularly in the soft skills that are instrumental to becoming leaders in our respective organizations. Our Professional Development programming responds quickly and decisively to the needs of our members and ranges from traditional activities like resume writing and interview skills, to the unique and cutting edge offerings like improv training and dress for success workshops. On the strength of our network, members stay current on career opportunities and stay abreast of recent market issues.

UFSC members dedicate themselves to the community by either seeking out opportunities to play a greater role, or by responding to the call of the community by making themselves available to those in need of our support and input. We have pledged to facilitate greater exposure of our youth to the financial services industry and, through Financial Fluency, repair the economic condition of our communities. Being fluently bi-cultural, members speak the language of the community, as well as the language of business. Because they are each products of their communities, members are imbued with the requisite empathy to be effective and credible role models.

UFSC will form and nurture greater strategic relationships with our corporate partners, like-minded community groups, and will endeavour to fortify and be guided by our corporate advisory board.

In times of crisis there is no better shelter than under the umbrella of community. In spite of the torrential downpour caused by the effects of global credit and liquidity troubles, through its unequivocal commitment to Networking, Professional Development, Community Outreach, and Financial Literacy, USFC, its members, and our Community will weather the storm, remain confident, and reach new heights of personal and collective achievement.

Marlon Reid
President
UFSC - Toronto

Kurunkye Sekyi-Otu

2006 | Andru McAllister

President’s Message

"Inspiration for Others"

Next year marks the 10th anniversary since the establishment of the UFSC chapter in Toronto.  Therefore it is my duty as President in 2006, and with the help of the Executive Board, to ensure there is continuity and a seamless transition of the values and visions set forth in the original mandate. My theme for this year is “Inspiration for Others” which captures the passion of our founding members.  In September of 1997, their mission statement still rings clear;

“to serve as a resource organization that provides a link between our corporations and communities through education, information and implementation of programs to facilitate economic empowerment.”

This powerful statement resonates with me and was part of the reason I joined in 2000.  I looked at the personal contribution every member, including myself can make to this organization and the legacy that will be created.  It is our duty as members to participate and be actively involved.  We owe this to ourselves as a community, both professionally and personally.

I am extremely proud and honoured to carry the torch of all the previous Presidents since inception, to ensure the visions and goals are upheld.  My mantra for this year arose from the commitment to evolve with our membership and communities and foster positive role models.  To do this we will continue to impact our membership numbers through visibility in effective workshops sharing resources other than resumes, structured alliances to increase funding from our organizations and attendance at Career Days for Universities, Colleges and High Schools in the GTA & GTR.  It is important that the good work we do be profiled through effective media sources.  We are all “walking billboards” for this organization and we must endeavour to “Inspire Others!”

 

Kurunkye Sekyi-Otu

2003 | Kurunkye Sekyi-Otu

President’s Message

Urban Financial Services Coalition is a service organization of minority financial professionals that promotes the pursuit of excellence amongst our membership and within our communities and financial institutions.

As a five-year member of the UFSC Toronto chapter, I have witnessed the progression of our members through their contributions to a number of community initiatives: Junior Achievement, Inroads, Youth Encouraging Self-Empowerment and others. Our Professional Development workshops provide UFSC Toronto members experiences and ideas that enrich their professional abilities by addressing issues such as: Building Your Thinking Power, Team Building Exercises and Wine Tasting.

The theme, "Walk Strong" represents the way in which an individual approaches all aspects of life. UFSC members encourage minority students pursuing financial services or any discipline to always put their "best foot forward" and in doing so, appreciate that there is nothing they cannot themselves accomplish!

Imperative to the strength of our organization is networking and the sharing of ideas with respect to the financial services industry. UFSC Toronto holds general meetings the 4th Thursday of each month. One of the many highlights of these meetings, involve a presentation from a member or guest addressing a topic of significant interest. Past presenters have included Senior Economists, Portfolio Managers, Hedge Fund Specialists, Investment and Corporate Bankers.

UFSC Toronto is the "Canadian content" of a much larger, Washington, DC based organization with chapters throughout the United States. The organization was formed in 1974 and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2004. UFSC Toronto members have the opportunity to network with financial professionals south of the border, through regional and national conferences held each year. My experience has been that these relationships are increasingly vital in a more global and consolidating financial industry.

As President for 2003, I look forward to welcoming new members and their positive contributions to this progressive organization.

Sincerely Yours,
Kurankye Sekyi-Otu, CFA
President
UFSC Toronto
"Walk Strong"