Nicole Obi serves as the president and CEO at BECMA and is a strategic planner and a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded several venture backed start-up firms. She’s active in the Greater Boston community by serving as a member of The Boston Chapter of the Links, Inc. a volunteer service organization of Black professional women, GBH’s & Women’s Foundation of Boston’s Board of Advisors, as well a member of the Intensive Community Program Committee at the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Nicole holds master’s degrees from both MIT’s the Sloan School of Management and the School of Urban Planning & Design and a B.S. from Hampton University.
Marielys serves as the Operations Manager at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where she oversees the organization’s internal operations and administrative systems to ensure efficiency, accountability, and alignment with BECMA’s mission. An Operations Manager with over 10 years of experience, she brings a proven track record of driving organizational efficiency, improving financial processes, and optimizing day-to-day operations while supporting executive leadership in achieving strategic goals.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Massachusetts Boston and brings a strong foundation in organizational communication and systems coordination to her work. She plays a key role in supporting BECMA’s continued growth and operational sustainability. Her work reflects a commitment to strengthening equitable economic opportunity and building systems that support communities across Massachusetts.
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Tahisha Charles serves as the Director of Marketing at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where she shapes how the organization communicates its mission to advance Black economic equity across Massachusetts. She collaborates with teams across BECMA to build marketing strategies for their initiatives, leads multi-channel social media campaigns that reach thousands of community members and business owners, directs all marketing efforts for Mass Black Expo—BECMA’s premier annual conference—and oversees the organization’s newsletter, which reaches more than 12,000 subscribers.
Tahisha joined BECMA in 2021 as Digital Marketing Manager. Over three years, she transformed BECMA’s digital presence, growing Instagram followers by 113% (from 2,475 to 5,273), increasing LinkedIn engagement by 26%, and driving newsletter subscribers from 4,000 to nearly 12,000. She led nine high-impact social media campaigns, designed and launched the Mass Black Expo website, and created over 800 social media graphics in partnership with Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. In 2024, she was promoted to Director of Marketing.
Before BECMA, Tahisha founded Miixtapechiick in 2012, a recognized platform in music and entertainment. Through strategic content optimization and digital marketing, she published 5,000+ articles and 3,000+ custom social media graphics, building an engaged audience and achieving a 117% increase in session durations. Her work in the music industry shaped her approach to storytelling and community building—skills she now brings to amplifying Black businesses and entrepreneurs.
A proud graduate of Northeastern University with a Master of Arts in Professional Journalism and Regis College with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, Tahisha combines her journalism training with her passion for public health and community empowerment. Her work at BECMA reflects her commitment to using strategic communication as a tool for economic justice.
Naiquisia Hensey serves as the Director of Events at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where she leads the planning, management and execution of the organization’s signature and community events. Her journey with BECMA began as an independent contractor in the membership department in 2021. Since transitioning to a full-time employee and leading the events team in early 2022, Naiquisia has been instrumental in scaling BECMA’s convening power, overseeing more than 20 annual events on average, including the Mass Black Expo—BECMA’s premier annual conference—and the non-profit organization’s Annual Meeting.
With over a decade of experience in creative project management, concert touring and promotion, and executive support, Naiquisia brings a unique approach to building community and driving economic equity. At BECMA, she has created innovative systems and processes, overseen events department operations, including a direct-report team from 2022 to 2024, multi-six-figure budgets, and complex production timelines. Throughout her tenure, she has collaborated with local and national leaders—including Mayor Michelle Wu, Governor Maura Healey, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and more—to host high-impact policy roundtables, forums, and business tours that advance Black wealth and political engagement.
Before joining BECMA, Naiquisia honed her expertise in the music, entertainment, and culture industries, serving as a tour and project manager for independent artists such as Alice Smith, Citizen Cope, Mulatu Astatke, and more. Her background includes managing logistics for televised performances and international tours, as well as coordinating with icons like Bethann Hardison. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Business and a minor in Africana Studies, she previously served as an Outreach Specialist for Berklee’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
A Malden native and humanitarian at heart, Naiquisia is a visionary thinker who has lived and worked across the globe, from Brooklyn to Bangkok. She is a proficient technologist, having built and managed company-wide systems for CRM, ticketing, and event management from the ground up to ensure BECMA’s operational excellence. Committed to the intersection of art, humanity, and equity, she embodies Dr. King’s ideal of making a career out of humanity.
“I am deeply committed to the mission of closing the racial wealth gap through innovation, expression, and collective action. My goal is to ensure that BECMA remains the premier space for Black business owners and professionals to convene, ensuring our community has the tools and the platform to achieve lasting economic freedom.”
Naiquisia can be reached at nhensey@becma.org.
Chris Sonnie is Pipeline and Program Manager at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), where he manages a dual role between the programs team and BECMA Community Investments (BCI). He operates the Back Office Support Services (BOSS) program and oversees BCI’s investment process, supporting Massachusetts businesses positioned outside traditional lending parameters.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University and also earned a conservatory degree from The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.
Outside of BECMA, Chris is an avid CrossFit athlete, vinyl collector, and traveler. He continues to pursue his passion for acting and enjoys exploring new cities and cultures whenever possible.
Christopher can be reached at csonnie@becma.org.
