Attorney James S. Dilday, President

James S. Dilday is a lifelong Boston resident, currently residing in Dorchester. Attorney Dilday has been actively involved in community organizing, development and quality of life issues since his college days at Howard University as a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He has been involved with the Community Development Corporation of Boston, Inc. (CDC of Boston) for over thirty years and is honored to serve as the current leader of CDC of Boston. He has served as President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, Massachusetts Bar Association and New England Bar Association, in addition to community organizations seeking to further employment of people of color in the broadcast and print industry in Boston. He is also a Coach and Board Member of Boston United Track and Cross Country Club, which trains Boston youth ages 6-14 in track and field events. James is a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast Committee, the oldest such celebration in the United States, amongst his other community activities.

Brendan Feeney, Board Member

Brendan Feeney was a Principal in Feeney Brothers Utility Services which is located in Dorchester. Feeney Brothers is a diversified utility contractor which provides services to the natural gas, electric, and telecommunications industries throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Under Brendan’s leadership, his organization has become a beacon for integrating women, people of color and immigrants into the workforce. They provide area utilities with comprehensive solutions for completing complex projects in urban, suburban and rural settings. Brendan is currently leading a housing development organization in the city of Boston.

Leonard M. Lee, Treasurer

Leonard Lee has over twenty years of senior management experience in entertainment, nonprofit, and community based organizations. He has produced and helped produce the Beantown Festival, Stepping Out, and the Ebony Winter Festival amongst other programs. He has overseen and managed the Melnea Cass Recreational Complex, the Roxbury Heritage State Park, and the Dillaway-Thomas House. Built in 1750 as the parsonage for the First Church of Roxbury, the Dillaway-Thomas house is one of the buildings that link Boston directly to the Revolution, and is currently a museum and home to the Roxbury Historical Society. Additionally, Leonard has been actively involved in community organizing and activism on a regular basis. Leonard is also known as our Dorchester beekeeper.

Attorney Fred Tannous, Board Member

Fred Tannous is a graduate of Northeastern University and the Massachusetts School of Law, and has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1997. He is licensed to practice in both the State and Federal Court Systems. Fred opened his own practice in 1999, Tannous Law Group, LLC. Attorney Tannous’ Law practice is concentrated in Real Estate, Business Development, and the representation of hospitality organizations. The Real Estate practice involves the representation of various local banks in single and multi-family Real Estate closings. He is also a small Real Estate developer. Fred is an owner of restaurants located in the Seaport District of Boston and in the Downtown Crossing section of Boston. Attorney Tannous brings a varied background in real estate and the hospitality industry to the CDC of Boston. Attorney Tannous is also active in advising professional athletes in investment opportunities.

Hamza Alshaibani, HR Generalist/ Operations

Hamza is a dedicated professional with a unique blend of academic and practical experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Digital HR from Northeastern University and has a strong foundation in information systems and business analytics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. With a global perspective, Hamza has worked as a data analyst with an agricultural organization in Dubai and as an HR consultant at a multi-national manufacturing company in Indonesia. At the Community Development Corporation of Boston, Hamza contributes to various aspects of the organization. He handles administrative tasks, oversees payroll, and engages with the community. Additionally, he plays a crucial role in operational improvements, including the recent website revamp.

Attorney Sherriece Perry, Board Member

Attorney Sherriece Perry is the Senior Manager of the Department of Support Services for the Massachusetts Trial Courts Office of Court Management. Within this position, Ms. Perry provides state-wide oversight of the Court Service Centers, Law Libraries and Judicial Response System. Under Ms. Perry’s leadership, the six currently operating Court Service Centers have assisted over 130,000 pro se litigants throughout Massachusetts since opening in 2014.

The Trial Court Law Libraries that Ms. Perry oversees, provide free legal research tools to self-representing litigants and attorneys who cannot afford the exorbitant cost of legal materials. The Law Libraries provide these resources in person and through other alternatives such as online chat, text, email, written letters from individuals who are incarcerated, and phone calls. Ms. Perry also works on a variety of access to justice initiatives for individuals who cannot afford to hire attorneys to represent them, and she serves on multiple committees including committees regarding civil-criminal crossover matters, family law and housing eviction matters.

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Perry developed and managed the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse Court Service Center. Ms. Perry has spent time as a private practitioner handling family law, probate law, and real estate law; and was a Staff Attorney at Volunteer Lawyers Project. Ms. Perry teaches Street Law at Bunker Hill Community College as Adjunct Faculty in the TRiO Talent Search Program at Chelsea High School.

Ms. Perry has led various trainings on guardianship and family law matters. She also has served as faculty and presented at the 1st and 2nd Legal Services Conferences, and the Probate and Family Court: Lawyer of the Day Trainings hosted by the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. Ms. Perry authored a chapter on Guardianship of Minors in Guardianship and Conservatorship Practice under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code. Ms. Perry has received numerous awards for her accomplishments in the legal community and community engagement work.

Mike Ahern, Board Member

Mike has been the Owner at Mike Ahern General Contracting for over 40 years. Mike is the chairperson of CDC’s Real Estate Development committee. Mike has been a member of the CDC of Boston board for many years and is involved in all of our building projects and bids.