Mr. T.L. Omowale Crenshaw,
Executive Vice President, Universal Companies

Mr. T.L. Omowale Crenshaw, is currently the Executive Vice President of Operations and Strategic Planning for Universal Companies. Universal Companies, founded by music industry mogul Kenneth Gamble, is a Community Development Corporation (CDC) focused on the rebuilding and redevelopment of South Philadelphia, and other targeted distressed communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In his role as EVP, Mr. Crenshaw manages Human Resources, Technology, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Facilities Management and Internal Operations. He also is responsible for leading Universal's entertainment-related ventures (e.g. The Sound of Philadelphia themed-restaurant project in Atlantic City, the redevelopment of the Royal Theatre, and the initial stages of the R&B Hall of Fame and Entertainment Complex). Omowale has also taken the lead on the Universal Commercial Center, a 150,000 square foot Greenfield project located on the Avenue of the Arts, just south of City Hall in Philadelphia.

Formally, Omowale was the President and co-founder of GEOCENTRIC Group International (GGI), an organization focused on manufacturing, resort development, media and associated opportunities throughout emerging economies in the African Diaspora. Countries of focus included Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania (Zanzibar). Salt, Jute fibre bag production, Cocoa processing, and furniture manufacturing, were the initial industries of interest for GGI. Omowale was also involved with the co-founding of GEOCENTRIC Media and Entertainment (GME). GME focused on developing a comprehensive media organization, which was involved with researching, compiling and distributing global music and entertainment products.

Mr. Crenshaw served as the Senior Vice-President of Commerce at Africa.com, an Africa-targeted internet company. He was focused on developing commerce-related activities for the organization. His responsibilities included business development initiatives, marketing/promotional activities, as well as selection and management of third-party fulfillment vendors. While the initial mandate was to establish a business to consumer catalogue suite selling African produced and/or inspired home decorative products, Omowale's role evolved as the business model evolved. Prior to joining the leadership team, Mr. Crenshaw established ePlanetFurniture, a pure play Internet home furnishings company selling hand-crafted home decorative products from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Prior to GEOCENTRIC, Omowale was an Associate with the global strategic management consulting firm of McKinsey & Company, Inc. in their Washington, DC office. During his tenure with McKinsey, Omowale was a member of the mergers and acquisition practice group.

During graduate school Omowale worked for the Wharton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which included a summer assignment in Monterrey, Mexico. There he developed an export market entry strategy for a Mexican manufacturer of solar energy equipment. Also while at Wharton, he chaired the 22nd Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Conference, the largest student run business conference in the United States.

Omowale holds a B.B.A. in International Business from Howard University and a M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.