The members of the Board of Directors and Staff of the Minority Business Development Institute share an energy and passion for the goals of the organization. Each has experienced or witnessed the struggles of minority socio-economic inequality, whether on the shores of Haiti or as first or second generation family members of European immigrants.
Many credit the perseverance, vision and fortitude of their parents and grandparents with providing them with a road to a better life, with wealth generation and the opportunity for growth. The deeply-rooted importance and value of education and training in providing positive change has woven a commitment to serve others into the mission of the Minority Business Development Institute.
MBDI’s leadership team is comprised of individuals who are experts in their respective fields, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization. These individuals have been carefully chosen to provide value and perspective in the following areas:
Insurance
Surety Bonding
Law
Banking
Community Development
Andre O’Reggio | Senior Vice President
Managing Director – Executive Liability Beecher Carlson A Brown & Brown Company
Andre O’Reggio is President of the Board of Directors for Minority Business Development Institute, Inc. (MBDI). He is a Managing Director at Brown and Brown, Inc, a global insurance brokerage firm. Andre specializes in Executive Liability coverages for all businesses from small private to Fortune 500 companies. His primary responsibilities include evaluating, designing, and negotiating Directors and Officers, Fiduciary, Employment Practices and Fidelity insurance coverages for clients throughout the US and worldwide.
Andre has over 30 years experience in the insurance industry and began his career as an underwriter for Directors and Officers, Fiduciary, Employment Practices and Fidelity insurance coverages with National Union (an AIG subsidiary) in 1987. During his 11 year career at AIG, he was promoted to increasingly senior positions and ended his tenure there as the U.S. manager for Fidelity insurance as well as retaining responsibility for a significant book of Executive Liability clients. He joined the brokerage operation of Marsh and McLennan’s FINPRO division in July 1998 and was later promoted to Vice President and subsequently Senior Vice President during his 15 year career at Marsh. He was a team leader in Marsh’s New York office with supervisory responsibilities for a team of brokers in addition to handling his own portfolio of clients and their Executive Liability needs. Andre rejoined Brown & Brown (Beecher Carlson) in August 2021.
Jeffrey Lattmann | Vice President
Executive Managing Director – Executive Liability Beecher Carlson A Brown & Brown Company
Jeff is widely known in the industry for his knowledge and expertise with Executive Liability products. Jeff’s responsibilities include consultative solution design and implementation for Executive Liability risks. Jeff has over 30 years of experience in both underwriting and brokerage in these lines of insurance. Jeff’s intimate knowledge of the marketplace and executive liability exposures helps to identify how a company’s risks should be treated.
Jeff is the head of the practice and responsible for leading a group of professionals in designing and negotiating Directors & Officers Liability, Cyber Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Wage & Hour, Fiduciary Liability, Crime and other related Executive Liability insurance lines. Jeff has worked extensively on Fortune 1000 and complex Executive Liability risks. Jeff Previously led the U.S. operations for Marsh FINPRO placement. Jeff was also a regional manager for National Union Fire Insurance Company, a member company of AIG.
Jeff was voted the 2015 PLUS Founders award recipient for his longevity in providing education to the Professional Liability industry. Jeff is the 2013 Immediate Past President, the 2012 President and was on the Board of Trustees of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) since 2006. Jeff was previously President-elect, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. Jeff was also the Co-Chair of the PLUS D&O Symposium, which is the largest and most advanced D&O educational venue in the world. Jeff also sits on the AIG NY Advisory Board and held a position previously on the ACE Bermuda Advisory Board.
Jeff sits on the Board of Directors of Minority Business Development Institute (MBDI), a non-profit entity which offers comprehensive education and advisory services that outline a road map for the growth and success of minority, veteran and women contractors.
Jeff’s dedication to educating the industry is very well known. Jeff is a frequent speaker across many mediums, from on stage to webinars to video, on Executive Liability products.
Jeff holds a B.S. degree in Business Management and Productions/Operations Management from University of Scranton.
Jack A. Callahan | Treasurer
CPA, Partner, Construction Industry Practice Leader, CohnReznick
With more than 25 years of experience, Jack Callahan leads CohnReznick’s Construction Industry Practice. He has significant knowledge and experience in accounting, corporate taxation and business consulting matters within the construction community. Jack serves clients in most construction sectors including: heavy highway, general contractors, construction management, specialty contractors, building trades, and building supply and equipment companies. He has worked extensively with public agencies and major construction owners to developl successful fiscal and integrity monitoring programs that enable contractors to improve the profitability, safety, and integrity of construction programs. He was a lead partner for CohnReznick on the monitoring and investigative work performed at Ground Zero and at the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub.
Jack joined CohnReznick in August 2005 after serving as the managing shareholder of a leading private New Jersey accounting firm. He began his career with a national accounting firm and founded his own firm in 1996. As the managing shareholder for that firm, Jack built the company into a 16-person accounting and consulting firm focused on serving the needs of the construction industry.
Jack is an active member of many industry associations and has written a variety of construction related accounting, tax, and business articles. Jack holds a B.S. degree from St. Peter’s College.
Professional Affiliations:
Utility Transportation and Contractors Association
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
New Jersey State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA)
American Subcontractors Association
Associated General Contractors
Building Contractors Association
Construction Financial Management Association
Christopher Black | Board Member at Large
President and Owner Level 5 Construction Company
Christopher Black is the President and owner of Level 5 Construction Company (L5C), a union specialty trade carpentry firm that provides drywall, acoustical ceilings, and plastering work to its valued clients. L5C is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by New York City and New York State. The L5C team delivers an exceptional finished product throughout the tri-state area, and has created beautiful spaces for some of the largest corporations and private clients in New York City. In the first two years since L5C’s launch, Mr. Black has successfully overseen $14 million in projects.
Christopher Black is well known and respected for having successfully owned and managed New England Construction Company Inc., also a certified MBE, for the 25 years prior to L5C’s launch. Mr. Black’s industry experience, managerial and technical expertise, relationships with large construction managers and developers, and the depth of his management team position L5C to achieve outstanding results. Mr. Black offers sound, trustworthy advice and solutions to clients, taking a proactive approach to day-to-day problem solving as he grows the business.
As a sizable MBE known for delivering an exceptional finished product, L5C occupies a market niche that is in high demand. NYC has aggressive black-owned MBE participation goals, requiring 8% participation on all NYC construction procurement. L5C is one of a handful of black-owned MBE contractors in NYC with capacity over $15 million, and the only such firm in the drywall and acoustical ceilings arena, presenting tremendous opportunities for securing government contracts and subcontracts on public projects. In fact, certain prime contractors that would otherwise compete with L5C are instead approaching L5C to work collaboratively in order to meet MBE goals without sacrificing quality.
L5C’s management team strives for a positive a double-bottom-line: achieve a market rate or better return to investors, while creating much needed economic development as they hire and subcontract within the minority community.
Rohan Defreitas | Board Member at Large
President, Crescent Consulting Inc.
An outstanding business professional with over 30 years of specialized construction management experience, Rohan co-founded The Crescent Companies, comprised of Crescent Consulting, Crescent Energy and Crescent Building Services. This 100% minority-owned firm boasts expertise in MWBE utilization and knowledgeable construction industry professionals.
Crescent provides Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity compliance management, LEED Consulting, Energy Cost Savings / Energy Audits as well as Site Safety Management & Fire Guard services for public and private entities. Rohan’s operations management of the companies insures new business development and the implementation and success of initiatives and programs. As President of Crescent Consulting, he deftly assists clients with contract negotiation, strategic planning and construction management.
Both on a personal level and through his companies, Rohan has been intimately involved in opening doors and positioning MWBE firms to participate on projects in NY. A quiet and effective influencer to many of the top developers and large construction primes in NYC, Rohan bridges the divide. Just as importantly, many state and city agencies recognize the importance of his work and dedication to inclusion and diversity.
Ralph V. Pulver | Board Member at Large
Vice President Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
Ralph began his surety career with the Travelers in 1985 in Albany, New York. Subsequently he has served in both home office and field management positions for Travelers, Continental Insurance and Amwest Surety Insurance Company. In 2001, he returned to Travelers where he serves as a Regional Underwriting Officer for Construction Services of Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance based in Hartford, Connecticut. He has underwriting responsibilities for Northeast Midwest territory as well as the Construction Services Express unit in Exton, Pennsylvania.
Ralph serves on the National Association of Surety Bond Producers’ (NASBP) Professional Development and Education Committee, the NASBP’s Virtual Seminar Advisory Board, and the NASBP’s Emerging Contractor Committee. Ralph has been a faculty member for the NASBP’s William Angel Surety School since 1990 and involved with both the development and teaching of the Level II and Level III curriculum. In 2013, the NASBP awarded Ralph with the John J. Curtin Jr Presidents Award for his distinguished service to the surety industry.
Ralph also serves on the contract surety advisory board for the Minority Business Development Institute and was recently added to serve as a member of their board of directors. He has served the Surety and Fidelity Association of America with its initiatives in support of small and emerging contractor initiatives. He has served on the advisory committee for the Insurance Institute of America’s Associate in Surety and Fidelity Bonding designation program and is recognized by the Institute for contributing to the technical review of their AFSB 152 text book material.
Ralph is a cum laude graduate of Siena College. He received his Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bond designation in 1993.
Stephen A. Taylor | Board Member at Large
Vice President of Business Development And Strategy The Will Group
Stephen Taylor serves as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at The Will Group, where he leads growth efforts across the company’s core business areas. He is responsible for spearheading pursuit and capture strategies, driving new market expansion, and ensuring the successful delivery of major infrastructure, program management, and energy efficiency projects across the United States. Stephen also serves on the Board of Directors for the Minority Business Development Institute, Inc. (MBDI).
With over a decade of diverse professional experience, Stephen specializes in public and private engagement strategies, community and corporate growth, and program management. He has built a strong track record of cultivating solution-driven partnerships and fostering relationships that have created sustainable employment opportunities and catalyzed job growth in multiple U.S. markets. His ability to identify synergies between the public and private sectors continues to enhance communities and expand The Will Group’s impact beyond business.
A former collegiate athlete, Stephen values discipline, teamwork, and continuous improvement, qualities that guide his professional leadership and personal life. He remains active in sports and fitness and is a devoted husband and proud father of two. He draws daily inspiration from his family and remains focused on building a legacy rooted in integrity, service, and opportunity for future generations.
Stephen Taylor is a candidate for the Executive MBA at the Kellogg School of Management and holds both a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) from Western Illinois University.
Professional Affiliations
Business Leadership Council
Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, Emerging Leaders Program
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, Aviation Co-op
