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BigHope is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that prepares students in underserved communities for opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields through education, engagement and inspiration. Founded by Oren O’Neal, an engineer and retired NFL player (Oakland Raiders), BigHope provides robotics, coding, mentoring and other enrichment programs and activities to empower children living in low-income communities in Dallas, Texas.
The overarching goal of BigHope is to facilitate and accelerate STEAM learning for Pre-Kindergarten – 12 students to develop foundational knowledge and 21ST century skills to create pathways to future academic and career opportunities and to build a more diverse STEAM workforce.
BigHope has engaged more than 4000 students in elementary and middle schools, and community organizations in the Dallas Independent School District, empowering students, teachers, and parents, who otherwise do not have access to quality STEAM education and resources.
Together, we can improve and accelerate STEAM education for youth in our communities, providing students with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to become empowered learners who are better prepared for the future.
Oren O’Neal is an engineer, former NFL Player, and dedicated STEAM education advocate and community volunteer. Oren graduated from Arkansas State University (ASU) with two engineering degrees before he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2007 and was named “Oakland Raiders Team Rookie of the Year” and nominated for the “Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.”
After retiring from the NFL, Oren worked as a steam turbine engineer at General Electric and began volunteering with elementary and middle school students in Stuttgart, Arkansas and Dallas, Texas. Since 2015, Oren has devoted his time and resources to providing free STEAM education to pre-kindergarten through high school students in Dallas-Fort Worth communities, combining his engineering experience and knowledge, and his personal interest in music, poetry, and illustration to encourage, inspire and empower youth.
Sean Wilson is a mission-driven C-level executive with extensive finance and accounting expertise. He has managed multimillion-dollar budgets and restored fiscal health to struggling schools. Sean has a reputation for quickly identifying organizational needs and creating cultures, teams, processes, and structures for deep and lasting change. He has achieved financial and performance improvement, increased sources of revenue and grew owners’ equity.
Sean is passionate about the value of education to overcome poverty and committed to helping others achieve their goals.
Taje is a graduate of Doane University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Taje has worked with children all of her life and wants to help others explore their talents in STEAM. She has always been passionate about making families feel safe within their own environment.
Kennedy is a recent graduate of The University of Arizona with a major in Physics. She brings valuable experience to the team as she is dedicated and passionate about space exploration, space technology, and computational sciences.
Cedric Smith is a seasoned professional with 20 years of expertise in people leadership, management, communications, and project management. His diverse career journey has included prominent positions at major corporations such as AT&T, Starbucks, and his current position at TXU Energy. With a foundation in Business Management, Cedrick has honed his skills through hands-on experience and furthered his education with certifications from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion for HR, and Diversity and Inclusion: Building a Diverse Workforce.
Cedric extends his experience and influence beyond the workplace by actively engaging in coaching and mentoring endeavors for both children and adults, reflecting his commitment to personal and professional development in all aspects of life.
Originally from Stuttgart, AR, Cedrick’s roots run deep in his hometown, where he not only developed his professional acumen but also met his wife of 16 years. Together, they are proud parents of two children. Beyond his professional pursuits, Cedrick has a passion for music in all its forms and finds joy in spending quality time with his family.
Anne Edwards is a retired kindergarten teacher who has been volunteering with Oren O’Neal and BigHope for several years to bring STEAM education and enrichment to young students.
Anne is married to Bill Edwards and has three grown married children and two granddaughters. She enjoys volunteering with children as a Master Naturalist and at her church. She also enjoys learning and teaching new robotics and other STEAM skills with BigHope and the children that BigHope serves.
Bryon Adams is a corporate executive with a career spanning nearly 30 years. He is currently a Managing Director at Deloitte, where he has spent the last 13 years helping grow Deloitte’s HR consulting business into the largest HR management consulting firm in the world. In this role, Bryon has worked with the HR leaders at dozens of Fortune 1000 corporations and several U.S. federal agencies to optimize and improve how they manage their workforce.
Bryon is a consummate networker, possesses strong leadership skills, and excels at taking ideas and translating them into actions and results in business and in the community. In the DFW community, he helped get a local chapter of the nonprofit Merging Veterans & Players (MVP) off the ground in Dallas and served as a team leader at local middle school and high schools, as well as his church, where he advised on program strategy and execution to achieve desired outcomes.
Bryon was born, raised, and educated in Bloomington, IN, where he was one of six children in an entrepreneurial family. He graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Art in Telecommunications and moved to Chicago for nearly seven years before relocating and settling in Dallas in 2001. Bryon has two daughters and enjoys spending time with friends and family, live music, and anything to do with the Dallas Cowboys.
Kelly Pierce has more than twenty years of experience providing management consulting services to private organizations and government agencies. She has supported more than a dozen clients including Fortune 100 companies, Federal Cabinet Agencies and new business start-ups to transform their business operations and human capital capabilities. Additionally, she has provided market strategy and business development leadership to big consulting firms to enter new business and client spaces.
Kelly is the owner of Ivy Advisors, an SBA certified small woman owned business, providing business development and human capital services to multiple private and government clients. Prior to founding Ivy Advisors, Kelly spent more than 14 years as a management consultant for Deloitte Consulting. Kelly has a master’s in industrial and labor Relations and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University. She is an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston’s School of Business and has her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification.
Colita James is a third-generation contractor and C-level executive with a compassionate philanthropic heart for the community and its initiatives. Her 25 years of experience in the building construction industry has equipped her with extensive operational skills, making her a valuable asset to an organization.
She brings with her a multitude of skills including vision casting, strategic planning, critical thinking, policy/procedure organization and creation, project management, implementation, and execution moving as a team toward goal-driven results.