MEET THE OFFICERS
Meet the CULYP Officers for the 2025-2026 Executive Leadership Team term.
Vice President
Rashauna Rainey
Rashauna Rainey is a dynamic marketing and community-impact professional with over five years of experience driving strategic marketing initiatives, partnerships, and brand growth across small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and International Business from the University of Cincinnati, where she built a strong foundation in strategic planning, digital marketing, and community engagement.
Rashauna currently serves as Vice President of the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals (CULYP), where she provides executive leadership across organizational strategy, programming, and member engagement. In this role, she oversees cross-committee collaboration, supports signature initiatives, and helps guide long-term planning to ensure sustainable growth and measurable impact.
Previously, Rashauna served as Co-Chair of the CULYP Empowerment Summit. Her work consistently centers on creating meaningful, accessible programming that empowers young professionals through education, leadership development, and community connection.
Driven by purpose and impact, Rashauna is passionate about building initiatives that foster professional growth, strengthen communities, and create pathways for the next generation of leaders.
President
Kendall White
Kendall was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio Dominican University in 2018 while majoring in Criminal Justice. Additionally, he graduated recently with his Masters in Law, Justice, and Culture from Ohio University in the Spring of ‘22. Kendall now works for Ohioans to Stop Executions, serving as Deputy Director where he oversees the day to day operations of the nonprofit organization.
Outside of work he serves as the 2nd Vice- President of Ohio Young Black Democrats and Vice-President of Columbus Urban League Young Professionals. He is a dedicated member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (FA’19) and continues to service the communities within Columbus.
Treasurer
Jovantae Brandon
JoVantae Brandon, a licensed banker at Chase Bank, combines his financial expertise with a passion for community empowerment in Columbus, Ohio. Specializing in making complex financial concepts accessible, JoVantae extends his impact beyond his professional role through financial literacy workshops and one-on-one coaching, focusing on wealth building and protection strategies.
As Treasurer for the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals (CULYP), JoVantae has improved the organization's approach to financial management. His primary focus has been on building strong, lasting relationships with business partners, a strategy that not only bolsters CULYP's current financial health but also secures its future growth and impact. This effective approach to treasury management has positioned CULYP for long-term sustainability and expanded reach.
JoVantae's vision extends beyond immediate financial gains. He is deeply committed to creating opportunities for generational wealth, particularly within the Black community. By leveraging the business partnerships he's cultivated, JoVantae aims to expand CULYP's financial education initiatives, reaching an ever-growing number of young professionals.
Secretary
William Carson III
William W. Carson III MBA, PMP is a dedicated marketing professional with over 10 years’ experience, and a native of Columbus, Ohio. He received a bachelor’s degree in management from Ohio University, and an MBA specializing in Strategic Marketing from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. To supplement his MBA, William also received a Project Management Professional (stylized as PMP) from the Project Management Institute. William serves as Marketing Director for Sigma 614 Foundation, a role that allows him to utilize his creative eye and strategic mind to serve the central Ohio community. Sticking in the realm of creativity, William is the founder of 10x10 Photography and West Tenth Marketing LLC specializing in portrait photography and web design respectively.
William is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Branding for his chapter. He has been involved in varying capacities with CULYP since 2018 and has volunteered for CUL initiatives such as WRTU and IAMBK. Williams’ passion for community service doesn’t stop with the Columbus Urban League, as he is a regular volunteer with The Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and Kettle Bell, and a member of Lions Club International.
William is an avid reader and firmly believes that the best gifts are those that can be shared with others, such as a book. He is a diehard OSU football fan as well as a Dallas Cowboys. One of his favorite pastimes is watching the Dallas Cowboys disappoint him every year in January.
William is thrilled to use his experiences and expertise to help the
people of Columbus, Ohio. As a native of the city, the people
here are near and dear to his heart, and he looks forward to
serving them in this new role as Marketing Co-Chair.