Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D., MBA Chairman & CEO, BCT Partners May 20, 2011

Randal D. Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, speaker, author and community servant. He is a Founder and the current Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion dollar, management, technology, and policy consulting services firm based in Newark, New Jersey, that works with corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. BCT Partners is a minority-owned and operated company and one of the leading firms in the country with expertise in the following industries: housing and community development, economic development, healthcare, human services, nonprofit and community technology, and education.

Dr. Pinkett was also named the winner of NBC’s hit reality television show, “The Apprentice” Season 4, with Donald Trump. He was selected as one of 18 candidates chosen from among 1 million applicants to compete for the opportunity to run one of Donald Trump’s companies. He is currently overseeing both renovation and information technology projects for Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Prior to founding BCT Partners, Dr. Pinkett gained corporate experience as a Member of the Technical Staff at General Electric, AT&T Bell Laboratories, and Lucent Technologies. Dr. Pinkett holds five degrees including: a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University, that he completed while serving as captain of the men's track and field team as a high jumper and long jumper; a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Oxford in England; a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering; and a Master of Business Administration and Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Pinkett has received numerous awards including the following: NCAA Academic All-American and National Society of Black Engineers–National Member of the Year. He has been recognized by USA TODAY newspaper as one of the top 20 scholars in the country and has been featured in Parade magazine on CNN and Black Entertainment Television, and was featured in Black Enterprise and Ebony magazine, as one of their "30 Leaders Under 30." He is listed in Who's Who Among American Entrepreneurs and Who's Who Among African-Americans. Most notably, Dr. Pinkett is a Rhodes Scholar, and was the first and only African-American ever to receive this prestigious award at Rutgers University.
Dr. Pinkett is a highly sought-after speaker for various corporations, colleges, universities, government agencies, and community organizations. He is the author of three books. The first book, Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion Dollar Business, describes strategies for creating a successful business enterprise on any college campus. The second book, Black Faces in White Places: 10 Strategies for African Americans to Redefine the Game and Reshape America, chronicles his experiences as well the experiences of his college roommate, Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, as African Americans who have successfully navigated predominantly white institutions. His last book is titled No-Money Down CEO: How to Start Your Dream Business with Little or No Cash.
Dr. Pinkett is a proud member of the board of directors for the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute (NJPPRI), the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (N-TEN), and the Institute for Innovation in Government Technology (IIGT). He also serves as a member of the board of advisors for the Community Technology Centers’ Network (CTCNet) and is a national spokesperson for Autism Speaks.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Pinkett attends First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, where he resides and is happily married to his wife Zahara Wadud-Pinkett. Dr. Pinkett firmly believes that “to whom much is given, much is expected,” so throughout his endeavors he places great emphasis on his desire to give back to the community.

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