BEMU celebrates the lives and works of Black creative talent in all aspects of entertainment.
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BOARD MEMBERS
FOUNDERS
Cynthia Avon Lee
Founder
Cynthia Lee is a trailblazing television executive and consultant with over 30 years of experience at NBC, CBS, ABC affiliates, and BET Networks, where she made history as the first African-American female executive in commercial television.
She has developed award-winning programming, including Emmy- and Iris Award-winning documentaries at CBS, and was the creative force behind BET hits like Comic View, Teen Summit, and the Walk of Fame, helping to launch the careers of stars like D.L. Hughley and Beyoncé.
Natalie Speech
Founder
Natalie Speech is the Founder and Executive Director of the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation (BEMU). With over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, she has worked as a producer, theater director, and development executive.
Natalie began her career as a personal talent manager at Ne’j Management and later became a talent agent at Cavaleri and Associates. She is also the founder of Ne’j Productions and 2 Guys Casting, where she produced theatrical works and supported casting efforts by sourcing hard-to-find talent for film, television, and music video projects.
board of directors
advisory board
Cynthia Avon Lee
Chairperson
Cynthia Lee is a trailblazing television executive and consultant with over 30 years of experience at NBC, CBS, ABC affiliates, and BET Networks, where she made history as the first African-American female executive in commercial television.
She has developed award-winning programming, including Emmy- and Iris Award-winning documentaries at CBS, and was the creative force behind BET hits like Comic View, Teen Summit, and the Walk of Fame, helping to launch the careers of stars like D.L. Hughley and Beyoncé.
Connie Bates O’neal
Vice Chairperson
Connie L. O’Neal-Bates is a retired IT professional with over 40 years of experience, now focused on advocating for invisible disabilities through her own journey with Multiple Sclerosis.
A leader in corporate inclusion efforts, she helped launch a disability-focused employee group and served on the Black Employee Network board. A Southern California native and UCLA alumna, Connie now channels her passion for service, resilience, and entrepreneurship into writing her first book and continuing to uplift others with her motto: “I’m still standing.”
Natalie Speech
Executive Director
Natalie Speech is the Founder and Executive Director of the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation (BEMU). With over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, she has worked as a producer, theater director, and development executive.
Natalie began her career as a personal talent manager at Ne’j Management and later became a talent agent at Cavaleri and Associates. She is also the founder of Ne’j Productions and 2 Guys Casting, where she produced theatrical works and supported casting efforts by sourcing hard-to-find talent for film, television, and music video projects.
Zakiayya Steele
Secretary
With over 25 years of experience, Zakiyyah Steele brings a dynamic blend of innovation, strategic leadership, and deep industry insight to the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation (BEMU) Board, where she serves as Secretary. Currently, she is a Product Manager at ABC News and an MBA candidate at Pepperdine University. Her career began in television broadcasting, with leadership roles at Disney XD and Telemundo.
Zakiyyah’s journey reflects her versatility and dedication to advancing Black entertainment, preserving its legacy while fostering its future.
Rhonda Nelson
Board Member
Rhonda R. Nelson is a seasoned marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in B2B and B2C spaces, currently serving as VP of Member Experience and Operations.
She brings a strategic, results-driven approach to brand building and customer engagement, with a passion for storytelling, innovation, and cultural empowerment. Joining the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation board aligns with her values of celebrating Black contributions in entertainment and inspiring future generations.
Sir Keith Holman
Fashion Designer
Keith Holman is a celebrated designer whose career spans fashion, interior design, and entertainment. Originally from Kansas City, he pursued his dream in Los Angeles, studying under legendary designer Bill Whitten and eventually working with stars like Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Whitney Houston.
Keith's fashion line, Holman Harper Designs, was carried by top retailers, and his costume work has been featured in major tours, TV shows, and award ceremonies. Keith later expanded into interior design, creating spaces for celebrities.
Sharon Glanz
Legal
Sharon J. Glancz is a strategic entertainment legal and business affairs executive, currently serving as Senior Director of Business and Legal Affairs at NBCUniversal. In addition to her legal work, she champions inclusion through leadership roles in the company’s Women’s and Veterans Networks.
A UCLA and Loyola Law School alumna, Glancz joined the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation Advisory Board to help preserve the vital legacy of Black contributions to entertainment.
Eimon Smith
Engineer
Eimon Smith is a seasoned environmental consultant with nearly 20 years of experience, currently serving at Burns & McDonnell, where she ensures compliance with federal and state regulations such as CEQA. Her career spans roles in both public and private sectors, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, and encompasses projects from hospital developments to renewable energy initiatives.
Eimon holds degrees from Yale University (B.S. in Environmental Engineering) and USC (M.A. in Public Policy), and is deeply involved in community and not-for-profit work.
Majenni Nixon
Commercial Real Estate
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Abigail Robinson
Registar
Abigail Robinson is a library and information science professional with over a decade of experience in academic and public libraries. A 2022 MMLIS graduate, she interned with NBC Peacock and now serves as a Metadata QA Associate, where she launched the Diversity Tagging Project to catalog diverse representation in media.
Introduced to the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation through Natalie Speech, Abigail now helps curate and catalog artifacts for the museum’s collection.