Dr. Soaries served as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens for 30 years, pioneering faith-based community development and founding the Central Jersey Community Development Corporation in 1992. In 2005, he launched the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement, which teaches financial self-sufficiency and was featured in a CNN documentary. He has authored 12 books, hosts a weekly SiriusXM radio show, and has served as New Jersey’s first African-American male Secretary of State, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and independent director at Independence Realty Trust and Ocwen Financial Corporation.