UMEA to search for new executive director

SYRACUSE — The Upstate Minority Economic Alliance (UMEA) is set to search for its next executive director. Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling, who has served as UMEA executive director since 2019, will leave the role at the end of June. The UMEA board of directors has accepted a letter of resignation from Brooks-Rolling.  She will continue leading UMEA through June 30 and plans to “pursue new opportunities,” according to an April 24 announcement from the alliance.  Founded in 2015, UMEA is a nonprofit that describes itself as Central New York’s “first and only” minority chamber of commerce. Its office is located at 115 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse.  Brooks-Rolling spent her tenure as executive director developing operations, growing membership, delivering programs and services, providing technical assistance, and cultivating a statewide network of stakeholders and supporters on behalf of minority and women-owned business enterprises, per the announcement. In the resignation letter, Brooks-Rolling said the following about her time leading UMEA: “Serving the needs of UMEA’s members and working on behalf of minority entrepreneurs and business owners has been an utmost honor. It has been a pleasure working with this board of directors under Sheena Solomon’s leadership. I’ve had the privilege of shepherding the chamber out of start-up phase and facilitating its emergence into its current phase of steady growth. I’m excited that my successor, when appointed, will have the opportunity to lead UMEA from growth to maturity. I will continue to be a champion of minority & women-owned business enterprises, and an ambassador for UMEA, Syracuse/Central New York’s premier minority chamber of commerce.” The board of directors said it will work with Brooks-Rolling to implement a plan that “ensures continuity” in membership services and uninterrupted operations during the transition. The transition plan includes the board organizing a search process to identify and hire its next executive director. “UMEA has been blessed to be led by Me’Shae for the past 4 years. We appreciate her commitment to UMEA and our members,” Solomon, president of the UMEA board of directors, said in the announcement. “UMEA became an award-winning chamber of commerce during Me’Shae’s tenure. She has full support from our Board of Directors as she transitions into her new opportunities. Me’Shae leaves UMEA ready for its next executive director. Her legacy of leadership is forever embedded in this organization.” UMEA says its mission statement is “harnessing the economic power of the minority community for the benefit of the region.” UMEA’s vision statement is “enhancing greater regional prosperity through enhanced minority economic opportunity.”