Mission New – African-American Trade Association

Our Mission and Vision.

AATA is dedicated to enhancing the wealth, health, and well-being of African Americans by forging strategic partnerships and spearheading community-driven projects.

Our mission is to create enduring resources that empower our community to achieve a prosperous and empowered future.

Our mission is to create enduring resources that empower our community to achieve a prosperous and empowered future.

Our vision includes enhancing the wealth, health, and well-being of African Americans by forging strategic partnerships and spearheading community-driven projects.

Our Mission

Advocating to reduce wealth and health disparities among African Americans and to position black-owned businesses for growth.

Strategy Partnerships

Program Development

Investment Vehicles

Our Operating Principles.

The scale of the African American health and wealth gap demands a comprehensive and long-term approach. While bridging this gap—estimated to take over 300 years by some projections—is not the immediate goal, our focus is on establishing lasting infrastructure that serves as a resource for our community. Our mission is to build a future where all generations can thrive together.
To achieve this, we must be a trusted partner. As an organization, we are committed to:

Ensuring that our efforts are inclusive, addressing the diverse needs of the communities we serve.
Operating with full transparency, providing clear, honest, and detailed reporting of our activities.
Demonstrating our impact through data and real-life stories that validate the effectiveness of our programs.
Fostering strong, authentic relationships based on mutual trust and respect, while actively engaging our partners in open conversations about both challenges and opportunities.
Holding ourselves accountable by meeting our commitments and deliverables, proactively addressing challenges, and sharing both our successes and lessons learned.
Practicing sound financial stewardship, including the regular publication of audited financial statements.

Our commitment to these principles will help us build the foundation for a sustainable future, one that empowers and uplifts our community for generations to come.

The Fight for African-American Equality.

Transformation and progress start with acknowledging past inequities. This allows us to confront deep-rooted trauma and begin to heal from it. Healing is the process of becoming well again and helping our community become well again. AATA draws on the strengths of its organization’s team and the community, making a collective commitment to drive real advancement and systemic change.

First African Slaves Arrived In Virginia

The first ship carrying enslaved Africans arrive in the English colony of Virginia.

1662

A Call For Compensation

Quakers called for freeing and compensation to enslaved people.

1783

Passage of Compensation Clause

President Lincoln signs a bill emancipating enslaved people and providing reparations for slaveholders through the Compensation Clause.

1865

Jim Crow Laws Enacted

Jim Crow laws enacted that enforced racial segregation until 1965.

1890

Burning of Black Wall Street

Tulsa Race Massacre, leaving 10,000 residents homeless and 300 dead in the once flourishing Greenwood District (aka “Black Wall Street”) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1964

Denver Nondiscrimination Act

Denver City Council enacted a set of ordinances to promote nondiscrimination in the City’s construction, professional services and goods and services contracts and procurements.

2020

1619

Passage of ACT XIII

ACT XIII passed, deeming lifetime enslavement for a child born to an enslaved mother.

1672

First Reparations Awarded

Belinda Sutton became the first African-born woman to win reparations for her years in bondage.

1862

13th Amendment Signed

13th Amendment signed, abolishing slavery with the exception of people convicted of crimes.

1875

Ex-Slave Pension Bill Argued

Congressman Walter R. Vaughan introduces the “Ex-Slave Pension Bill” arguing that reparations would provide economic justice and boost the Southern economy.

1921

Title VII of Civil Rights Act

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment practices that have a discriminatory impact.

1996

Business Resiliency Act

Democratic senators introduce Minority Business Resiliency Act, a bill aimed at supporting minority firms in all industries, including construction, manufacturing, information technology and professional services.

Bridging
Gaps.

Black Businesses

Overall Industry

Black Community

Local Economy

The race-based opportunity gap in America is not new; urgency has long been building nationwide to close this gap. At AATA, we seek to partner with innovators to close the wealth, business, and health gaps in African-American communities and provide community members with holistic opportunities for advancement

Our Foundation.

Like the African-American community, AATA honors its ancestors and the activists and advocates who paved the way. We believe in intergenerational collaboration, utilizing the tools and strength of those who came before us. Our foundation holds us up as we continue the fight for racial justice, economic empowerment, and African-American advancement.

Robert "Bob" Jackson was founder and CEO of Jackson Enterprises Corp for over 30 years. He has a well-earned reputation in the Denver metro are as a community leader and mentor to a multitude of entrepreneurs over the last 60 years. He was a mentor to young leaders in the community, installing his morals of a champion, leadership and that of equal opportunity. Over 40 years Bob Jackson became involved with assisting the Minority and Women Owned Business communities in obtaining and maintaining contract opportunities. He organized multiple trade organizations and worked with Federal, State and City government agencies to establish many of the M/WBE programs we have today.

Bob JacksonCEO - Jackson Enterprises

A nationally known and respected Harvard trained attorney, Walter is a leader in business development for African American businesses. He was received numerous awards including the National Small Business Lawyer Advocate of the Year at the White House, co-chaired the Governor’s Minority Business Advisory Committee and served on the Colorado Board of Law Examiners. An expert in Disparity programs for over 30 years, Walter is actively consulting to small businesses, corporations, and government agencies.

Walter JonesAttorney - Progressive Urban Business Development, LLC

She introduced bills to improve Denver's rapid transportation system, so people could get where they needed to go. She fought against police violence, especially violence against African Americans in Colorado. Arie Taylor mentored women who wanted to go into business, and African Americans who wanted to go into politics. Arie mentored many famous Colorado politicians, including former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and his wife, Congresswoman Wilma Webb. Ms. Taylor knew it was important for Colorado to be accurately represented by its citizens. This meant that she wanted Colorado to include more people of color and women in the government. He founded his company 45 years ago, RMES Communications, a Telecommunications and Advertising firm serving the Airports and Transit markets.

Arie Parks TaylorCO State Legislator

Herman Malone has pioneered his innovative skillsets. He was a founding member of the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Supplier Development Council and the Business Advisory Coalition (BAC). He has served with distinction on various National, State and City Boards and Commissions. And now, once again, he is a founding member of this organization, the African American Trade Association (AATA) of which he says, holds the greatest promise. He founded his company 45 years ago, RMES Communications, a Telecommunications and Advertising firm serving the Airports and Transit markets.

Herman MalonePresident - RMES Communications, Inc

Building
Futures.

Much talent in the African-American community remains untapped, and many Black-owned businesses cannot access the capital needed to start or grow. When our companies and community suffer, the entire economy suffers.

AATA provides quality training and development, leverages and builds business relationships and partnerships, and expands access to capital through workforce opportunities and resources. Equipped with the right tools, African Americans can profoundly impact industries that drive the U.S. economy now and in the future.

Our Team.

With a growing team of experienced and skilled black-owned enterprises, AATA strengthens how we interact, support and mentor fellow entrepreneurs.

Terri Jackson

Executive Director, AATA

Terri is a skillful people and business leader with comprehensive executive leadership experience. She is the former Vice President of Empowercom, Inc. and experienced supplier development strategist skilled in entrepreneurship, business development, and community advancement. Terri is an accomplished Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree holder committed to the empowerment of the African-American community.

Throughout her career, she has served on numerous boards and committees. She currently serves as a commissioner on the Denver Urban Renewal Authority. A former CU Buff basketball player and a fierce advocate for all things girls!

Steve Jackson

Chief Operating Officer, AATA

Steve is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience managing commercial, industrial, and office projects. As President of Empowercom, he has overseen more than 100 projects worth over $100 million.

His background in aerospace engineering, including early work with Lockheed Martin on the Titan missile, informs his strategic and innovative approach to project delivery.
Steve is known for his hands-on leadership style, fostering teamwork, and developing staff at all levels. He is passionate about diversity and equity in the construction industry, advocating for greater opportunities for people of color. Under his leadership, AATA prioritizes excellence, integrity, and empowerment, driving both company growth and industry change.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Darlene Adams

Program Administrator

Drew Jackson

Field Director

Robert Anchrum

PreApprentice Program Director

Robert Smith

Case Manager

Chris Brewer

Case Manager

Michael Tipton

Industry Business Development

Jose Casillas

IT/Data Systems

Zakiyyah Doss

Accountant

Mike Retland

Apprenticeship Instructor

Our Trusted Parnters

Business Members.

Meet several members who promote our community’s physical, mental, spiritual, and financial well-being. These leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators pave the way for community growth and economic prosperity.

Street Source Marketing & Communications is an agency specializing in shopper marketing, effectively connecting people with products and brands. We exist at the convergence of increasing revenue and improving brand experience by driving growth and visibility within the airport environment.

Ivan BurwellAdvertising // Street Source Marketing & Communications // Owner

Recognized Market Researcher, Black American SME, Thought Leader, Author, Award Winning Speaker. Since 1995, Pepper has been helping large corporations better understand and engage Black America in a positive, relevant way. Some of these companies include: AARP, Bravo Network, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority(CHFA), McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Pepper MillerAuthor, Market Researcher // Pepper Miller // Owner

Pynergy Petroleum is a full-service fuel distributor that offer a complete line of gasoline, distillates, and biodiesel including 91-no ethanol, clear diesel (on road), dyed diesel (off road), biodiesel, Avgas, and Kerosene. We offer the highest quality of API certified products in our lubricants line. Our lubricants can be used in heavy civil equipment, heavy-duty vehicles.

Darrell JacksonOil & Gas // Pynergy // President

SynEnergy is a Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing (MEP) design firm, with a strong focus on energy efficiency and high performance building design. We support our clients meet their energy reduction goals with LEED strategy and renewable energy feasibility studies for commercial, industrial and Federal applications.

Mina McCullom PE, CEM Engineering & Technology // SynEnergy // President & CEO

Provides organizations with the tools to enhance personal performance and the performance of the organization by designing successful change interventions

Carolyn Love, Ph.D. Organizational Development // Kebaya Coaching ~ Consulting Inc. // Owner

Join Us.

Committed to empowering and strengthening the African-American community in its entirety.