Donna Gaines

Professional Background

Donna Gaines brings almost 30 years of entrepreneurial experience to the position of Executive Director for the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE). With this opportunity, Ms. Gaines sees a chance to utilize the resources and relationships of ABLE’s membership to pursue a new paradigm in the way that our business and consumer communities relate to one another. Recognizing that entrepreneurship and educational achievement are critical to the quality of life and future of our community, she has dedicated her life to programs and projects that advance these goals. Her business coaching and development expertise includes strategic planning, project management and marketing services for small to large businesses and non-profit organizations.

Ms. Gaines comes to ABLE after serving as the Executive Director of the International Trade Bureau for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Under the leadership and direction of its founder and President, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Ms. Gaines assisted minority and women business owners in their efforts to obtain contracting opportunities with major corporations across the United States. Her responsibilities also included the coordination of the national business development activities of Rainbow’s satellite offices, and the provision of business coaching and strategic planning services for over 200 constituents.

In addition to advocating for these companies domestically, Ms. Gaines served as the business development liaison with embassy officials and designees from Venezuela, Mexico, Ghana and London. Of the many historic and humanitarian efforts of the Coalition, she considers her participation in the business development activities for the 2005 Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort, the 2006 march in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the 2005 march in Atlanta, Georgia to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights’ Act, among the most meaningful – and memorable.

Ms. Gaines’ experience with Rainbow PUSH followed more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience as the owner of two Chicago-based educational and technology consulting firms. Serving area schools and colleges, as well as corporations and non-profit organizations, these companies provided technology, strategic planning and professional support services, as well as innovative programs and solutions, to the education, health and government sectors.

Ms. Gaines’ board and civic involvement includes the Have a Heart for Sickle Cell Foundation, Rainbow-PUSH Coalition, The National Civility Center, The Center for African-American Archival Preservation, Tabernacle Senior Citizen’s Project, and the Steering Committee for Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. A national speaker on business development and diversity issues, Ms. Gaines has received several awards and citations for her work.