Patricia Bransford
Patricia Bransford is the Founder and President of The National Urban Technology Center and an expert in using technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering education and vocational services to low-income communities. She is the author of the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) educational curricula that transforms the conventional classroom into an interactive learning environment for youth 10 to 17. In conjunction with creating the YLA curriculum Ms. Bransford developed a “turn-key” process for building state-of-the-art computer training centers in multiple countries across the country. This process, called SeedTech, has been adopted by the Department of Justice, Weed and Seed, for transferring technology skills to inner-city communities. The National Urban Technology center has built more than 700 computer centers across the country.

Prior to establishing The National Urban Technology Center, Ms. Bransford worked at IBM for more than 20 years in a career in technology. During her years at IBM she directed IBM’s $100 million business with New York City including strategic planning, marketing and implementation of large-scale information systems projects in the areas of social services, criminal justice housing and finance. As an economic development consultant, Ms. Bransford assisted government officials in developing economic development and differentiation strategies for the 21st century and was instrumental in turning a former IBM manufacturing facility into the largest minority employee-owned compute manufacturing company in the world.

In 2003, Ms. Bransford received the Dr. Gardner C. Taylor Humanitarian Award for “outstanding vision and commitment to opening up the world of computer technology and telecommunications to our children and families, increasing educational, employment and economic opportunities and fostering empowerment in our urban communities.” She was awarded the Beacon Award by the Morehouse and Spelman New York Alumni Scholarship Fund in honor of her distinguished accomplishments and work in disadvantaged communities and received the Granville T. Woods award given by the National Association of Black Telecommunications Professionals to “the outstanding CEO of a corporation with the greatest impact in the community”. Ms. Bransford received the 2007 Freedom Hero Award for innovation, involvement and intervention that provides options and opportunities for education for disadvantaged at-risk youth and for working as a catalyst for change and encouraging others to learn, grow and contribute; and in 2008, she was recognized by The Network Journal as one of the 2008 “25 Influential Black Women in Business” for achieving significant levels of success in business and for myriad contributions to the community.

Ms. Bransford has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and a Master’s Degree from the N.Y.U. Stern School of Business Administration. She received the Catholic University of America’s Alumni Achievement Award given each year to alumni for outstanding accomplishments in their professional fields.
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Tom Bransford
Tom Bransford, Vice President of Marketing and Finance, is a senior manager with thirty years of experience in information technology, largely with IBM. His last assignment with IBM was as the State Education Advisor to the New York City school system, where he oversaw the implementation of technology to assist the education of more than one million students. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Dartmouth College. Mr. Bransford joined Urban Tech in 1995.
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Gena Davis Watkins
Gena Davis Watkins is the Chief Education and Development Officer at Urban Tech, where she will be increasing and diversifying the organization’s financial resources, enhancing brand awareness, identifying new markets for expansion, overseeing professional development initiatives, and organizational capacity building.

Ms. Davis Watkins joined Urban Tech after six years with the Institute for Student Achievement (ISA), where she was Vice President and Chief Development Officer from March 2004 through February 2010. Ms. Davis Watkins oversaw all ISA fundraising activities with a focus on significantly increasing and diversifying its financial resources to achieve maximum growth. Prior to ISA, Ms. Davis Watkins was the from the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Office for National Urban League where she oversaw all fundraising, including a $50 million endowment campaign, raising $23 million in the first 18 months of her tenure.

Ms. Davis Watkins began her career as a Research Associate for the United Way of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Other credits include Planning & Development Coordinator for the City of New Haven Office of Downtown & Harbor Development; mayoral appointee and Director of the City of New Haven Office of Housing & Neighborhood Development; Administrator/ Development advisor for the $3.5 million historic renovation and expansion of the Hannah Gray Home, a 140 year-old home for elderly African-American women. In this role, Ms. Davis Watkins had a wide involvement in community service organizations and contributed to a number of publications on strategic planning and implementation of community development projects and programs.

Ms. Davis Watkins holds a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as certification from the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.
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Emi Gittleman
Emi Gittleman has joined the Urban Tech team as the Director, Education Initiatives. She will oversee the expansion of the Get Healthy, Get Smart! initiative and will forge new alliances and educational outreach efforts. Ms. Gittleman has an M.A. in Education from Bank Street, founded GlobalArts to Go (her international multicultural arts & education organization) and headed up the Putumayo World Music Kids division for 6 years. She has authored 3 books and written diverse curriculum for Families and Educators.  
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Roxanne Febles
Roxanne Febles, Office Manager, has practical, hands-on experience with assembly, troubleshooting, and repair of both personal and network computers. Ms. Febles joined Urban Tech June 2001, after graduating from Urban Tech's computer repair program.  Ms. Febles provides marketing, accounting, and administrative support to Urban Tech's System Services Department. She was involved with building a website for Columbia's Teachers College - J.M. Huber, as part of Columbia's Tech Skills Mentoring Project. Ms. Febles is A+ and Microsoft Word certified.
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Craig Patches
Craig Patches, Multimedia Development Manager, is the Animation Director of YLA's On the Reel series of cartoons and interactive games.  He created and animates the characters in the life skills episodes; he designs games and manages animation production. Prior to joining Urban Tech, Mr. Patches worked as a multimedia developer for an internet-based interactive educational software maker. Mr. Patches holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film and Video from California Institute of the Arts.
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Daniel Soto
Daniel Soto is YLA Systems Administrator for the APOLLO online administrative system. He also does technical support, including help desk duties, installation, repair, computer lab upgrades, training support, and curriculum, software, and website development. He attended New York University and has completed the Urban Tech's computer repair program. Mr. Soto is certified in A+ and Microsoft Word.
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