The Visionaries
Meet our Board
Founder and CEO
Duane B. Evans Jr.
His Story: Duane has been homeless on multiple occasions and is a survivor of Domestic Violence from when he was a Child and an Adult. He was in the military for 8 years and returned home with an honorable discharge, no job, or a solid income. Now, on the brink of a bad separation leading to divorce, and depression life was a struggle. Trying to survive he resorted to forging for food to eat, staying in his vehicle, and/or abandoned buildings. Fortunately, Duane was not a person involved with alcohol or drugs just someone who had hit rock bottom.
Holding an associate's degree and part-time employment God opened his eyes to a new perspective. Now Duane holds 15 years with the government. He started Doing Better than Excellence to teach people how to avoid his rock bottom moments and help them learn the steps he took when others counted him out.
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Chairperson
Joseph Howard III
His Story: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Public Relations Manager
Venica Evans
Her Story: Venica has a Bachelor of Science from Baldwin Wallace University. She previously worked at the City of Cleveland Public Safety Division of Police as a Dispatcher and at the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services as a Social Worker. She currently serves as a Minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Cleveland. Venica has served on the Board of DBE since the beginning, bringing growth, and new aspects for community involvement. Understanding the focuses of the company and the community makes her job an easy task. The annual Fill the Truck Event in August is Venica's startup project that has been running for eight years and keeps growing. Venica uses the resources given to her to help others learn and live better.