Mel Forbes 

Chief Strategy Officer

Melvin Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes Consulting, Inc. got his start at NASA Space Center when he was just 19-years-old. That opportunity was a milestone that springboarded lifelong career achievements. Since then, Melvin has made significant contributions in executive consultation, strategic development, marketing and process improvements for public, private, domestic and international communities. Forbes maintains a diversified education in Information Technology and Business Management including an executive specialization from Harvard University.

Forbes’ political influence has acquired him White House appointed positions serving the Former President Clinton Administration and Former President Bush Administration as well as with The White House Weed and Seed Commission. He has also upheld State appointed positions such as on the Maryland Correctional Enterprise Council via Governor Martin O’ Malley; the Maryland State Technology Board via Governor Glendening; the Maryland Correctional Services Enterprise Management Council via Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr.; as well as on the Maryland State Use Industries Management Council and the Maryland State Partnership for Workforce Quality.

During the heart of the Telecommunications’ era boom from 1982 – 1997, Forbes led MCI Telecommunications, Inc. as Corporate Director into new territories, taking the enterprise from $3 Million to $26 Billion by driving transformative strategies, technologies, tools and techniques, creating the first global competition market in the Telecomm industry.

In the next years, Forbes directed McKissack & McKissack in implementing standards and policies to improve technology infrastructure, costs and efficiencies across more than 200 projects division-wide. As President and CEO of Wilkerson Sports Enterprises, Inc., Forbes strategized business development, operations and implementation for domestic and international commerce. And as Chief Strategic Officer at Bowie State University, Forbes advanced major initiatives in Information Technology and Healthcare services within collaborative Federal, State and corporate partnerships.

Today, Forbes serves as Chairman of The U.S. Army Advisory Board, where he is actively leveraging his experience and influence to advance missions in improving military processes and programs through collaboration with corporate and government leaders across the country.

Forbes continues to focus his strengths in providing executive consulting, strategic development, marketing and process improvements for a range of public, private, domestic and international clients. As a business advocate, he interfaces regularly with government officials as a key promoter for small and minority business affairs as well as those serving veteran communities and other underserved markets. His accomplishments have been published in “The Wall Street Journal,” “The Washington Post,” and “Black Enterprises” to name a few.