Ameyon Hawkins and Briyanna Pierce have been chosen as co-chairs for the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Breakfast.
TAMPA – The Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA) will present its 44th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Breakfast at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at Marriott Tampa Water Street, 505 Water St., Tampa.
The breakfast, which honors the life and legacy of the civil rights leader, brings together approximately 1,000 attendees, including community and civic leaders, elected officials, government and business leaders, educators, religious leaders, students and youth leaders and grassroots organizations.
TOBA has chosen Ameyon Hawkins and Briyanna Pierce as the 2024 breakfast co-chairs. They both are 2023 graduates of the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs Leadership Institute.
Hawkins is an Army veteran and senior manager of Global Technology for Nielsen. Pierce is a business owner and runs a non-profit that empowers girls and young women.
Born in Washington, D.C., Hawkins later relocated to Raleigh, N.C., with his mother, where he graduated from high school. After attending North Carolina AT&T, he joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and graduated with honors. He served as a team leader throughout his enlistment.
After leaving the Army, he furthered his education in technology by gaining multiple certifications, which helped him to begin a 25-plus-year career in technology and engineering. He has worked at Nielsen for 20 years.
Hawkins and his wife, Angela, moved to Tampa in 2007 and have two daughters – Zuri and Zahra. He credits his family for being his motivation to excel professionally and give back to his community. His work directly contributed to an Emmy Award, and he is an inventor credited with two U.S. patents.
He also serves on the College of Computer and Information Technology advisory board at St. Petersburg College. He wants to ensure that the institution continues providing quality programs that he leveraged as an alum of the first graduating class of Dr. Tonjua Williams’ tenure as president.
Hawkins is passionate about ensuring that children are provided opportunities regardless of their environment. He serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast as a “Big” for Big Brothers Big Sisters and has been a mentor with AMI Kids.
Pierce comes from a loving family and is the oldest of five. She graduated from Lennard High School in Ruskin with an associate degree while managing a nearby Chinese restaurant. She completed her undergraduate degree at Stetson University, where she studied political science and business law. She is a first-generation college graduate.
In 2022, she stepped down as the director of young entrepreneurs for the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce to focus on her non-profit, Dolls Get Degrees, a mentorship program she started at Howard W. Blake High School, where she attended her junior year.
In addition, Pierce is an assistant dance coach with the non-profit organization Mrs. Jenkins Dance is My Life Inc.
She is currently studying for her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification while running a nationwide financial planning practice that focuses on helping families and business owners live a life by design and not default by truly listening to what they want to accomplish.
When she is not empowering her clients or engaging in community outreach, Pierce said she is praising God for using her talents to fulfill His purpose. She is a devoted member of By Faith Ministries in Plant City under the guidance of Pastor Willie Mae Ellis.
For information about breakfast tickets, sponsorships and corporate tables, visit tobanetwork.org.
