John Tillman has been called a social entrepreneur. Armed with a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Texas and a Certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional, John has always sought to apply his knowledge and expertise in ways that address social needs and enhance the quality of life for others.

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In 1998, John read a newspaper article which stated that 55% of African American males in the county where he grew up were performing below grade level on standardized, End of Grade tests, putting them at significant risk of failing and dropping out of school.  Appalled and unwilling to sit idly by, John developed a tutoring company to offer professional educational services in a supportive environment. Services included comprehensive academic assessments to pinpoint skill gaps and to identify learning preferences, study skills training, one-on-one and small group tutoring, innovative computer-assisted learning, courses for credit, and SAT prep classes.  By partnering with schools and other social services agencies, John found a way to make high quality, individualized services available and affordable for students with the highest needs and least resources. The results were that more than 90% of participants in his programs achieved passing scores on End of Grade exams.

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Upon discovering that a number of communities were not receiving much needed mental health services, John founded what grew to become one of the largest and most respected, community-based mental health companies in the state. Using a franchise model, John established offices in 13 cities and employed approximately 400 mental health professionals including psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, case managers and paraprofessionals.

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