Team 

PRESIDENT

Michael E. Ford Jr, 

Michael serves as Founder and Executive Director of Master Builders Academy. Outside of his role with Master Builders Academy, Ford is the business owner of Executive Class Transportation, a luxury hospitality service. 

Michael E. Ford Jr. has served as a professional firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for 23 years. He has earned multiple promotions, ascending to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and the position of Assistant Chief with the Louisville Fire Department
managing the department’s administration, budget, technology, facilities and discipline.

Ford is an international speaker excelling in areas such as; organizational leadership, people and community building, and youth empowerment. Ford is a published author, just releasing his new book, 24: What Can Happen In A Day.

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Michael E. Ford Jr. has been married to Andrea Ford, his high school sweetheart, for 22 years. They have five excellent children; Michael III, Sarah, Josiah, Judah, and Matthew.

VICE PRESIDENT

John E. Mays, MBA, PMP, FMP

John is the Vice President of the Louisville-grown nonprofit organization Master Builders Academy. Outside of his role with Master Builders Academy, Mays is a Franchise Business Coach at YUM! - KFC US.

John is a business professional and leader with over 15 years of restaurant industry experience in team leadership, project management, training and development, operations management, and cross-functional team leadership.

John completed his Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Tennessee State University, is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMI) and also is a certified Food Management Professional (NRAEF). 

If you met John, you would know him as a positive, people oriented Christian business leader with a passion for racial equity and inclusion who energizes and inspires teams to execute at the highest levels. “Taking People with You” is an everyday mantra for John.  John is married to Real Estate Entrepreneur and Louisville native Joy R. Mays; the couple have three outstanding children, John Jr., Imani, Jaywin.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 

LAKISHA MORRIS

Lakisha is the Administrative Assistant of the Louisville-grown non-profit Master Builders Academy. Outside of her role with Master Builders Academy she is the owner and pastry chef of Deche's Cakes and Treats.

Lakisha has dedicated her life to developing and teaching others.She is an entrepreneur, a business owner, youth leader, teacher, and public speaker. She uses her influence to bring change and awareness to the underserved in the community.

 If you met Lakisha, you would know her as a sincere, passionate individual. She is a Christ follower, wife, caregiver, and mother of four. She has a tremendous passion for helping others and sees herself as a philanthropist in training. Her love for continued self-evolvement and the empowerment of others is what drew her to Master Builders 2015.