Honorary Host
Honorary Host
With an inspiring 18-year tenure at Charlotte’s Praise 100.9, Melanie Pratt has become a beloved voice in gospel radio, bridging faith, community, and culture through her daily broadcasts. As Assistant Program Director and Midday On-Air Personality, she has been a steadfast presence, impacting her community and uplifting listeners. With over 26 years in the gospel music industry, she is a trusted authority in the inspirational market, both locally and nationally. Recognized in Who’s Who in Black Charlotte and named one of the ten Most Influential Radio Personalities by the Gospel Music Industry Round-up, Melanie’s influence extends far and wide.
Her dedication to gospel music has earned her numerous accolades, including the Stellar Woman of Gospel Award in 2013 and Radio Show of the Year at the Queen City Music Awards in 2016. Most recently, in 2023, she was honored at The Stellar Awards as the Gospel Announcer of the Year, a testament to her enduring presence in gospel radio.
A committed community leader, Melanie served over a decade on the board of The Harvest Center and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Inspire The Fire, a nonprofit focused on empowering young people through the arts. She is also an active contributor to the Gospel Music Association’s Diversity Committee and the Gospel Top 40 Board of Directors, championing inclusion and diversity within gospel music. A longtime advocate for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Melanie has been instrumental in leading Praise 100.9 in Radio One Charlotte’s raising of over $1 million since 2008 to support life-saving research and care for children and families in need. Her commitment to service reflects her unwavering dedication to uplifting her community and creating opportunities for young talent.
In addition to her broadcasting work, Melanie is a celebrated executive producer of numerous award-winning gospel projects, with several Stellar Awards, Dove Awards, and Grammy nominations to her credit. Her expertise extends to her work with her company Halo Management Group, a booking-focused artist management company where she and her team empower gospel artists, helping them realize their creative visions and advance their careers with strategic insight. Melanie also served as a preliminary judge for multiple seasons of BET’s Sunday Best, further showcasing her industry acumen.
Alongside her husband, Melanie serves as an ordained Elder at Life Center Fellowship. She is the proud mother of Dr. Tyler Clark. Melanie’s life is a powerful testament to faith, resilience, and service.
Antwaun and Paula are very active members in the community. They volunteer their time individually and in conjunction with their social and non-profit organizations.
Antwaun Cook is a Strategic Account Manager in Rare Disease at Sanofi USA. Outside of work he’s the Charlotte Chapter President of the National Sales Network, as well as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is an avid runner and loves running marathons all around the world.
Paula Cook is the Principal at West Charlotte High School, with over 21 years of experience in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She serves on the board of Classroom Central and is involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Paula and Antwaun prioritize family life with their three sons: Christian, Jackson, and Dallas, enjoying quality time together traveling the globe and entertaining friends in Charlotte, NC.
Clarence Boston is a serial entrepreneur from North Carolina. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Boston Investment Group(Charlotte/Atlanta), Boston’s Funeral & Cremation Service(Stone Mountain, GA), DMV Cremation Services(Washington, DC), Hippin Hops Brewery, & Taste Lounge(Atlanta/Charlotte). He has built a lot of business relationships in Charlotte and has indebted a rapport in the community.
Although Boston no longer resides in the Queen City, he still owns Taste Lounge @ Hippin Hops here in Charlotte.
Born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, he spent his formative years in Spring Lake, North Carolina. Where he graduated High School as a track and field All-American. He attended East Carolina University on a full athletic scholarship.
Rey enlisted into the U.S. Army, and he would be commissioned a second lieutenant. Thereafter, he saw deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He earned numerous military awards and accolades including the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Rey retired at the rank of Major after 22 years of service. In 2011, Rey was the youngest person elected to serve as Mayor of Spring Lake, North Carolina where he served three terms.
Rey is an entrepreneur, thought leader, national speaker, author, and social justice advocate. He is the co-founder of RC Strategy Group and Crown Royalty Travel company.
His philanthropic work includes the Founding of HBCU Internships Foundation, Inc, a 501-C3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing internship opportunities to HBCU students around the world, and The Black Men’s Coalition, a think tank to address the most pressing issues of black men’s health, economic access, and social justice engagement.
In 2021 he was elected the 36th International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and in 2023 he was re-elected to a second term. In 2023 he was tapped by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 20th President of Barber-Scotia College and led the resurgence of the second oldest HBCU founded in NC.
Rey holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Walden University, and a Juris Doctor Degree from William & Mary School of Law. He is currently pursuing an MBA from NC A&T. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Chrystal, and they have nine children.
Timothy and Diamond co-own Nurse Monthly Mingle, a Charlotte-based event organization. Since 2014, they have invited like-minded individuals to explore the city together, one event at a time, while fostering a network for professionals committed to giving back to those in need.
