Me’Shae Rolling is a Certified Financial Literacy Educator and is the author of “How to Save Money & Organize Your Finances” as well as a Course Handbook on Financial Education. A serial entrepreneur, she has been in the Special Events, Conference and Hospitality industry for close to three decades.
Me’Shae made history in 2018 when she became the first Franchise Owner/Operator of EventPrep, Inc., in New York State and the northeastern territory. In addition to providing event services, EventPrep sources, procures and contracts hotel venues locally, regionally and nationally for clients in the market for overnight accommodations for their meetings, conferences, and events.
Me’Shae is the executive director emerita of The Upstate Minority Economic Alliance (UMEA), Syracuse and Central New York’s minority chamber of commerce and was a SUNY Oswego School of Business Fellow in 2024. Prior to her chamber appointment, Me’Shae was the Director of Special Events & Conferences at the Institute for Veterans & Military Families at Syracuse University.
She presently serves on several boards of directors including the Onondaga Community College Foundation, The Central New York Community Foundation Black Excellence & Equity Fund, The Salvation Army, OnPoint for College, and the Small Business Development Center’s Regional Advisory Board. Me’Shae has previously served on the boards of CenterState CEO, The Syracuse Rescue Mission, the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red/Go Red for Women, The WISE Women’s Business Center, and the CNY CA$H Coalition Steering Committee (a United Way initiative).
She is a member of the Human Services Leadership Council, a local consortium of executive directors, and is a consultant for the WISE Women’s Business Center, providing technical assistance to women entrepreneurs in their quest for NYS MWBE (minority and women-owned business enterprise) certification. In 2022, Me’Shae co-founded The TRIBE, a low-key, high impact strategic networking group of Syracuse’s top Black and Latino leaders. She is also a member of other professional, social and civic organizations and enjoys contributing philanthropically to the community.
Me’Shae received the New York State 2023 MWBE Impact Award in Albany and the 2020 NAACP Madam C.J. Walker Small Business Award in recognition of her championship and ambassadorship for minority entrepreneurship.
She earned her Master of Public Administration degree from The Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University and is an alumna of Citizen’s Academy.
Me’Shae has attended and presented at other national financial literacy education conferences, and felt the time is ripe for a vision conceived long ago to finally come to fruition in Syracuse, a city with one of the highest concentrations of poverty in America. Me’Shae is excited to merge her passion and training in financial literacy education; expertise in conference planning; and leverage her extensive network of relationships for the production of the financial empowerment convention as a labor of love for the Syracuse community.
She has been married to Dr. James H. Rolling, Jr. for 32 years. They met as graduate students at Syracuse University. They resided in New York City for 15 years and in Syracuse for 17 years. James is the Interim Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University and is president emeritus of the 16,000-member National Art Education Association. Their home church is Abundant Life Christian Center in East Syracuse. Me’Shae is the doting aunt of six nieces and one nephew and enjoys watching Turner Classic Movies in her spare time.
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