Vaughn is the founder and principal of Rvesta, a consulting practice that works to enact lasting, positive change in cities by meeting the policy or organizational goals of clients in the fields of economic development, real estate development and city planning, transportation and infrastructure, and government advisory policy. Vaughn believes he can bring a unique consultative approach to clients by balancing unconventional thinking, generated by intellectual curiosity, with his lived experience as a high-level government administrator in one of America's largest cities. Vaughn previously served as First Deputy Chief of Staff to Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney from 2016-2021. In his time with Mayor Kenney, he retained a portfolio of departments focused on economic development including: the department of Planning and Development; Commerce Department; and the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability. On behalf of the Mayor’s office, he maintained relationships with a number of external, quasi-governmental, and non-profit partners including: the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation; Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau: Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association; SEPTA; DVRPC; and the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia. Vaughn has extensive experience working with Philadelphia community-based organizations such as registered community organizations, business improvement districts, community development corporations, neighborhood violence prevention partners, and faith-based institutions. Prior to joining municipal government, Vaughn spent five years as a fundraiser for political campaigns in and around Philadelphia. He led successful fundraising efforts, culminating in Mayor Kenney’s 2015 victory, and oversaw direct donor outreach, principal management, and financial compliance. Vaughn serves on the board of directors of the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia, a city-associated non-profit organization that both serves as a financial administrator for donor-restricted grants and administers a board-directed targeted community grant program, and Germantown United CDC, his local community development corporation. He also previously served on the board of USA250, an organization dedicated to making Philadelphia the focal point of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, and PHL Soccer 2026, the non-profit bid committee that successfully secured Philadelphia’s place as a host city in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the African American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, DE and the Urban Land Institute. He has a B.A. in International Relations from Lehigh University. Since founding Rvesta, Vaughn has worked with clients in to advance equitable economic development and smart, urban policy with organizations such as Philadelphia250, Elevate215, the Philadelphia Equity Alliance, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, and the Pew Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative.