The Vision Driving Our Programs & Services
Ultimately, literacy is a powerful tool for equity and empowerment. It opens doors, expands opportunities, and gives people the knowledge and confidence to shape their own futures. Investing in literacy is an investment in stronger individuals, stronger families, and stronger communities.
Quinton Smith
Quinton Smith is a Buffalo, New York native, entrepreneur, and community leader with a passion for creating opportunities through business, education, and economic empowerment. A graduate of Buffalo State College with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, he began his career in banking, becoming the youngest and only African American Vice President and Branch Manager at HSBC Bank at the time. In 2008, he left banking to pursue entrepreneurship, building successful businesses in childcare, debt acquisition, and real estate while creating employment opportunities for thousands of people.
Today, Quinton is the founder of multiple companies, including T.V.R. LLC, and a founding member of Upstate Collective, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting financial literacy, generational wealth, and entrepreneurship. A recipient of the Trail Blazers Award and an active member of The Buffalo Club's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Quinton is committed to strengthening his community through leadership and service. He and his wife, Kenisha, are the proud parents of three children, and he lives by the motto, "Expansion Always in ALL WAYS."
