E. Davon Kelly ’90, Elevating Lives Through Empowerment
Davon learned lessons of teamwork and sportsmanship during his time on the basketball courts at Florida Tech. He has since taken these lessons with him into the business world. He shares the lessons he learned on the court in his book, From Courtside to the Boardroom: A Legacy in the Making. Kelly believes in the importance of mentoring the next generation by exposing them to new ideas and experiences. Because of this belief, he founded The 13th Man organization to provide training, mentoring, leadership development, and enrichment activities to equip young men with the necessary tools to move from feelings of inadequacy to being in the “starting lineup.” All proceeds from his book sales are donated to The 13th Man.
Kelly is president and chief executive officer of NOVAD Management Consulting. He continues to leverage his business acumen, opening My Barber’s Lounge, a chain of upscale barbershops in Greenbelt, Forestville, and Bowie, Maryland. The barbershops, which won the 2014 Ford Motor Company Neighborhood Award, have become another vehicle through which he mentors and supports the development of successful entrepreneurs.
“The experience of creating a business that successfully employs others and provides sustainable solutions to business challenges is equally humbling and rewarding,” he said.
Davon earned his bachelor of science degree in finance from Florida Tech in 1990 and his MBA from Bowie State University in 1995. He is a member of the board of directors for Boys Town of Washington, DC, and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. In addition, he is a member of Bowie State University’s Entrepreneurship Academy Advisory Council.
Davon was featured in Florida Tech’s 60th Anniversary special edition book, “60 for 60: Celebrating Sixty Years of Alumni at Florida Institute of Technology.” Copies are available for purchase here.
