Meet Seun Adigun, a true seeker of knowledge and Olympian!

Nigeria. A selfless human being that always believes that “impossible is nothing”. 

Meet Cathy B. Smith Shannon, marketing specialist and curator!

Cathy B. Smith Shannon
Vice President Marketing, E&S Gallery, Inc.
http://www.eandsgallery.com

Cathy Smith Shannon oversees marketing and promotions for E&G Gallery, one of the country’s largest African American owned and operated art and custom framing galleries. A native of Louisville, KY, Shannon is a graduate of the University of Louisville and holds a BA in Advertising & Public Relations, as well as a certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College, Boston, MA.  After graduating from college in 1984, she went to work for Louisville Gas & Electric Co. (LG&E). Over the course of 12 years, Shannon was promoted from Customer Interviewer, to Advertising Rep, and finally to Community Liaison.  In her positions with LG&E, Shannon helped craft advertising campaigns, and developed community outreach strategies and initiatives designed to improve relations with the companies many constituents. She served on more than a dozen boards and helped identify areas and organizations with which to align the company’s employee activities.

One activity Shannon connected LG&E employees to was the annual conference of the National Council of Negro Women, of which Shannon was a member. It was during this conference in the early 1990’s that she first met Walter Shannon who was exhibiting with his company, E&S Gallery.  They later began dating, and Shannon began traveling with Walter to various art shows on weekends or during vacation time away from LG&E. They married in 1997, and she left her position with LG&S to join Walter full time at E&S Gallery to oversee the company’s advertising and marketing strategy.  Shannon put her expertise to work at E&S securing national coverage of the gallery’s 1998 opening of their new 5,000 square foot gallery in downtown Louisville, and again in 2004 with the opening of their current 11,000 s/f gallery, which has been named one of the country’s top 25 gallery’s in the country and the top gallery in Kentucky for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The gallery has been featured in local media and national publications including, Décor Magazine, Black Enterprise, Southern Living magazine, and Art Business News to name a few.

Shannon oversees the gallery’s advertising and PR strategy and manages E&S’s online presence via various social media platforms and their EandSGallery.com website. Shannon also works closely with Walter to identify and represent artists, produce and promote fine art show across the country, and helping client start, grow, maintain, and liquidate their art collections. Since 1989, E&S has supported numerous charities and organizations via art donations, speaking engagements and educational outreach.  

Shannon serves on the board of Louisville’s Waterfront Development Corporation, Louisville’s Commission on Public Art and in 2018 was appointed by Louisville mayor Greg Fischer to serve on the Public Art & Monuments Advisory Committee. Shannon is a graduate of Focus Louisville and Leadership Louisville programs. Shannon also helped establish the West Broadway Business Association and served as its first president. Shannon is a member of The Girl Friends, Inc. Louisville Chapter and The Louisville Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and St. Stephen Church. She is a life-long resident of Louisville, KY where she and Walter live and run their gallery.

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd is a nationally recognized champion of education, especially as it relates to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines!

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd is an engineer and is described as a dynamic and relevant leader,  a prolific motivational speaker, a powerful preacher and a prominent advocate for STEM (Science, Technology,  Engineering and Mathematics) education.  Boyd earned her B.S. from Alabama State University  with a major in mathematics and a double minor in physics and music. She received a fellowship and was the first African-American female to earn a M. S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University. She has earned both the M. Div. and D. Min. Degrees from Howard University.

Boyd’s professional career of more than three decades at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory was highlighted by exemplary leadership and dedicated service as part of engineering teams. Boyd was a direct report to the President of Johns Hopkins University serving as chair of the Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council from 2001-2014.

Boyd returned to her alma mater in 2014 and for three years she served as the 14th and first female president of ASU. Highlights of her presidency included getting the university its very first engineering  degree program with approval for a BS in biomedical engineering. Boyd and her team got the university removed from SACSCOC warning status from previous financial instability.  The largest freshman class was documented during her tenure.

Boyd is a nationally recognized champion of education, especially as it relates to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. Boyd was nominated by President Barack Obama and received U.S. Senate confirmation to serve as a trustee to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation in 2009 and later to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans in 2014. 

Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd is an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  She serves on the ministerial staff of Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Md.

Dr.  Gwendolyn Boyd was elected to serve from 2000-2004 as the 22nd National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., an international organization of more than 250,000 members. Known as the “Technology President,” Boyd helped to establish technology in all facets of the sorority’s activities and administration. Her four-year tenure as president included a number of transformative accomplishments, including the launching of Project SEE (Science in Everyday Experiences), an initiative funded by a $1.6 million National Science Foundation grant with a goal of promoting math and science for middle school African-American girls. She also led the sorority’s humanitarian and education advocacy efforts in various parts of Africa, including Swaziland, Lesotho and Soweto, South Africa.  In 2013, Boyd served as chair of the sorority’s Centennial Celebration, which involved organizing a year-long series of events culminating in a Washington, D.C.-based convention that drew more than 40,000 participants from around the world.

Dr.  Boyd has been awarded two honorary doctorates; The Carver Medal from Simpson College; Congressional recognitions; 30 “Keys to the City”; a Key to the “State of Florida”; declaration of Gwendolyn E. Boyd Day in eight cities; leadership awards and professional awards for her achievements in the fields of engineering, higher education and community activism.  She  is a member of the Washington DC  Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Capital City Chapter of the Links, Inc., and Leadership Greater Washington.

Sharon Christopher, Caribbean Powerhouse, is developing future horizons!

2021 Update: Sharon Christopher is a Leadership Development coach, a motivational speaker and an Attorney at Law. This former Banking Executive is the founder and CEO of Sharon Christopher and Associates, an organization that has its mission “helping people lead their best lives”. Sharon has Clients throughout the Caribbean. In addition, she has delivered and continues to deliver presentations at women’s conferences throughout the Caribbean. Sharon is the holder of an Accredited Director designation and has held and continues to hold Directorships on numerous boards in the public and private sector. She is the Chair of the governing  body of the Trinidad and Tobago Campus of the University of the West Indies. She is the holder of a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies and the holder of a Masters of Laws degree from the London School Economics and Political Science. Sharon also holds a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School from which she graduated as the Most Outstanding Student. She is also a certified facilitator with Leadership Management International (LMI). Sharon is a recipient of the Fellows Award from the Institute of Banking and Finance in Trinidad and Tobago, for distinguished and meritorious service to the Banking and Finance Industry. In 2015 she received the award of “Woman who makes a Difference” from the International Women’s Forum. In  2021 she was selected as an honouree for the Caribbean Court of Justice Academy for Law 2021 Eminent Caribbean Jurists Award.

Eva Evans is a dedicated humanitarian!

Professionally Dr. Evans is the Retired Deputy Superintendent of Lansing Schools, the number 2 position in the school district.  In her 35 years she served as a classroom teacher, Director and Assistant Superintendent as well as Deputy Superintendent for Instruction.   She holds the B.A., M. A. and Ph.D. degrees.  As an honor she holds the L.L.D. from St. Paul University.

She retired in 1995 to become the 24^th International President of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the oldest African American civic service sorority in the world.  Founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908, the sorority has more than 960 chapters worldwide, with chapters in all but three states in the continental United States and chapters in the Virgin Islands, , the Bahamas, Japan, Germany, England and Canada and the Middle East.

In Michigan and Lansing, she has served as Chair of the  Michigan Civil Rights Commission, the Vice-president of the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the Michigan Humanities Council.   In addition, she has served two times as the President of the Lansing Community College Foundation as well as Campaign Chair and Board Chair of the Capital Area United Way.  For years, she served on the Capital Region Community Foundation, the Boy Scouts and others.

She is a member of the Lansing Woman’s Literary Club, and formally, the Sparrow Hospital Women’s Board of Managers.  She is currently chair of the Inner Circle and the a member of the Advisory Council of the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan State University.

She has many awards:  Among them are the YWCA Diana Award, the Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, the Applause Award from the Arts Council, the Richard D. Letts from the American Red Cross, And Educator of the Year from the Lansing Branch of the NAACP.  In 2005 she was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. Her bio and vita may also be found in the digital archives of the The History Makers.

She has traveled extensively including to Europe, South Africa, Egypt, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, China and most recently the United Arab Emirates.

2022 UPDATE: Dr. Evans passed away at the age of 85 on July 20, 2020, but her legacy and contributions to society live on.

Meet JaQuitta Williams, the host of “Joy In Our Town” on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)!

JaQuitta Williams is the host of “Joy In Our Town” On the Trinity Broadcasting Network or TBN.  It’s the home of Pastors like John Gray, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Joel Osteen.  The 30 minute program can be seen on Monday’s at 6:30pm on WHSG-TV 63 and throughout the SouthEast.  JaQuitta is also a series regular on a new crime drama on TV ONE called “Atlanta Homicide.”  JaQuitta has covered local news in Atlanta for more than 10 years.  JaQuitta was also the host for  “Your Health Connection” on JAZZ 91.9 WCLK.  JaQuitta can also been seen on the Oxygen Network reporting on various cases on the national show “Snapped” ” Snapped:Killer Couples,  and “Killer Posts,” along with TV One’s “Fatal Attraction” “Justice By Any Means,  and “For My Man.”

JaQuitta joined CBS Atlanta News in July 2010. JaQuitta anchored the 4pm and 6pm newscasts, and had a feature segment, “JaQuitta’s Close Ups” JaQuitta  interviewed celebrities and fascinating people.  Before joining CBS Atlanta News, JaQuitta spent four years as an anchor and reporter at WSB-TV.
JaQuitta’s  TV career has included anchoring, reporting, producing and writing. JaQuitta has been featured on CNN Newsroom with Kyra Phillips, and CNN’s “Your Bottom Line,” hosted by Gerri Willis, along with CNN Newsroom with Fredricka Whitfield.

In addition,  JaQuitta  was an actress and singer in Director Robert Townsend’s “Musical Theatre of Hope” which aired on the Gospel Music Channel. JaQuitta appeared on Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns.”
JaQuitta was also part of  an episode of an all new cooking show called  “Lifetime TV for Women’s, Mom’s Cooking”. JaQuitta has done various on camera and voice over projects with “Home Depot” and a voice over project with “The Georgia Lottery.”

On the print side, JaQuitta was featured in the October 2008 issue of Essence Magazine, where JaQuitta talked about my diagnosis of breast cancer in July 2007. A favorite moment in her career was interviewing R&B singer James Brown. JaQuitta was an opening singing act for James Brown’s Birthday bash. JaQuitta also interviewed Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts. Both Robin and JaQuitta fought their breast cancer battles publicly.

JaQuitta was also a General Mills, 2011 Pink Together National “Survivor Ambassador” along with 4 other women were featured on General Mills products like Cheerios Cereal, Nature Valley Granola Bars, and other packaging.

Finally, the Atlanta City Council honored JaQuitta Williams with a Proclamation for her service to the people of Atlanta. April 26th is JaQuitta Williams Day!

Lead-in, teaser sentence, no more than two lines, just to introduce the concept and give highlights.

WEBSITE: www.MARCIAFORBES.com

Dr. Marcia Forbes is co-founder, co-owner and Executive Chairperson of Phase Three Productions Ltd. a company that is over 30 years old and stands as one of the leading multi-media television production entities in the Anglophone Caribbean. On an annual basis Phase Three produces several hundred hours of indigenous television content, with distribution throughout Jamaica via local TV/Cable stations and to the wider world by satellite and or streamed via the Internet. Dr. Forbes’s personal commitment to the creative industries of Jamaica is being achieved through her continued work in training industry practitioners and interns.

Her role as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in media management at Caribbean Institute of Media & Communication (CARIMAC), University of the West Indies (UWI), where she also sits on the Advisory Board, allows her to provide guidance to Master’s level students. Through her instrumentality, Phase Three Productions provides internship training to youth from a variety of institutions, including universities (UWI, UTech, NCU, overseas) and the National Youth Service (NYS).

Phase Three Production provides:

 • Professional, Experienced Television Crews that have worked in over 12 Caribbean Countries as well as the USA

• Specialists in Content Creation for LIVE TV – Streaming/Cable/Broadcast TV • Content display via LED & other types of Screens

• Creative Post-Production

• Leading Technologies for TV High standard of scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to professional and public service. Ph.D., CD

Marcia A. Forbes Forbes graduated from the CARIMAC with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (1st Class Honours) and later a Ph.D. in Communication Studies. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Emerson College in Boston, USA, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s Degree in Global Marketing, Communication and Advertising. She is author of two media-centered, research-driven books used by different departments in various universities. Her first book is also CXC-approved for CAPE Sociology. Forbes has presented at several academic and non-academic conferences in over twenty countries across several continents.

In 2017 Marcia Forbes was conferred with a national honour by her country, Jamaica – the Order of Distinction (OD), Commander class (CD). She was recognized by The De Kalb County, Atlanta, Georgia for her use of media “as a positive tool to impact both the country and the world” (2011) and by The Queen’s School in 2014 for being an outstanding alumna.. In 2012 she was publicly acknowledged by former Prime Minister Simpson-Miller for her work in support of women. 

At Emerson College Forbes was inducted into the National Communication Honor Society in light of her “high standard of scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to professional and public service.” As an undergraduate at the UWI she received the Dean’s Award for Excellence for two consecutive years. 

Marcia Forbes was the first General Manager of Television Jamaica (TVJ) and a member of its Board of Directors. She spearheaded the transition of that station from the loss-making, Government-owned JBC into a profitable, fully-owned subsidiary of the Radio Jamaica Communications Group with established market leadership in television, before demitting office to pursue a Ph.D.

Marcia Forbes is committed to giving back to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. She has served and continues to serve on several boards and is involved in the work of many organizations, including but not limited to the United Way of Jamaica, Chairperson Board of Governors 2017 (Dec.) – present; Spectrum Management Authority, Chairperson – Technical Operations Committee; Inter-American Development Bank,Jamaica, Member of ConSoc.

Cerese D Jewelry is a mother daughter jewelry design company based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Cerese D Jewelry is a mother daughter jewelry design company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company was incorporated in 2007 and has an international customer base. Cerese was raised by her mom Deborah, a single parent and successful entrepreneur.  

From her first experience with crayons, Cerese Dolman (Cerese D) developed an interest in design. She was fascinated with vibrant colors, shapes, designs and the arts in general. She’s a visionary who captures the  essence of beauty and transforms it into exquisite works of art. 

Cerese Dolman is President/CEO and has earned two bachelor degrees, one in Interior Design and one in Business Management, a wonderful combination for a creative designer. 

Deborah Dolman, VP for Business Development, has been self employed since 1979, starting and growing various business ventures. She co-founded Cerese D, Inc. with her daughter in 2007 and brings a wealth of sales, marketing and management expertise.

Cerese moved from Lansing, Michigan to Atlanta, Geogia in 1991 to attend Clark Atlanta University and graduated with a  Bachelor degree in Business.  Then earned a second Bachelor degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta. 

While working for a large commercial interior design company based in Buckhead, Cerese began making jewelry as a hobby in her guest bedroom. As the jewelry-making supplies consumed her entire condo,  it was at that time she began to realize that jewelry design was her passion.    

After a 9-year successful career designing fabulous corporate boardrooms and executive offices for major clients such as Auto Trader, Cox Communications, Arbys, to name a few, Cerese resigned to concentrate on her first entrepreneurial venture, with her mom by her side. 

The company leased a 1200 square foot studio in Marietta, Georgia and hired a part time assistant.  Deborah flew back and forth from Michigan to Atlanta monthly.

After selling her technology company in Michigan, Deborah could see the extraordinary creativity in Cerese’s designs and began selling and marketing to her vast base of contacts in Michigan.  Deborah would soon move to Atlanta to work closer with her daughter.  

After four years, the company had outgrown the initial 1200 square foot  space.   They needed something larger, closer to downtown, industrial, with great parking. They moved to a 4500 square foot space in West Midtown Atlanta where they currently have design and production capacity for their huge customer base and staff. The current space is by appointment only, offering a very personal customer shopping experience.

The company invests heavily in social media and has thousands of followers. Along with creating new jewelry designs, Cerese and her assistants are always incorporating new, unique content for all their social media platforms. Increasing followers and engaging with them is an important part of this successful business. Shop 24/7 WWW.CERESED.COM

Louise Perrin on creating high performance teams!

An inspirational and motivational leader with a record of delivering and executing best-in-class strategies for large-scale, enterprise change, Louise Perrin is known for driving increased sales and profitability in challenging markets by consistently creating and sustaining high performing teams. She leverages her extensive background in leadership, change management and strategic planning to turnaround underperforming markets, develop individuals, and champion change through teamwork.

She credits the books The Leader’s Compass: A Personal Leadership Philosophy Is Your Key to Success and The One Thing with helping her solidify her leadership philosophy (add link) and finding the one thing that would make everything else simpler or unnecessary. Ultimately, that one thing became her purpose and her passion as a leader:  To create an environment where everyone feels valued, understands how they add value, and where each of us becomes mutually invested in one another’s success and we individually and collectively achieve beyond what we thought possible. 

By providing a clear vision, effectively communicating her strategic intent, aligning people and resources, and creating an environment of collaboration and shared learning that inspires and values individuals, Louise has enabled every member of her teams to achieve their personal and professional visions of success. She is a change agent who consistently entertains risk while embracing new challenges and opportunities, and cut her leadership teeth by leading in ambiguous environments.

Currently a Senior Vice President with State Farm Insurance Companies, Louise began her career as an agent in 1985 and in a few short years, began advancing through multiple levels of leadership.  Always looking for ways to add value, she developed strategies and tools that enabled State Farm Insurance Companies to profitably grow its market share in a variety of markets. Her accomplishments include turning around performance and delivering sustainable growth and profits in difficult markets by development of positive emotional cultures driven through conversational leadership, clarity on the vision and expectations, and creating an environment of collaboration, accountability and trust.

In addition to developing others, Louise is a continual learner. She received a BA in Business Administration from Rutgers University and her MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson School of Business. She says the executive MBA program was a “powerful experience” that “changed the way I fundamentally think and make decisions, especially how I help people manage and thrive through ambiguity.”

Louise embraces the importance of giving back and continues to volunteer and serve local and national organizations including: Board of Trustees, National Louis University; Board of Directors, National Black MBA Association; Board of Overseers, Rutgers University Foundation, and Board of Advisors, LISC, Chicago. She previously sat on the following boards: Board of Directors, State Farm Indemnity Company; Vice Chair Board of Directors, American Red Cross of Southeast Wisconsin; Board of Directors, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music; Board of Directors, Milwaukee Ballet, and Board of Directors, Friends of the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Capturing her significant learnings in journals has been a hallmark of Louise’s leadership journey and she plans to publish a series of three books on leadership to “pay forward what I’ve had the privilege to learn.” And one of those significant learnings is “if you have the right people beside you, you can do anything.”

Personal Leadership Philosophy Louise Perrin, MBA, LUTCF Senior Vice President, State Farm Insurance Companies

What Leadership Means to Me:  I believe…

• Leaders serve others and not themselves. They have a fundamental respect for and value the talents and welfare of each individual.

• Leadership is about seeking and accepting responsibility, assuming personal accountability for actions and results without excuses.

• Leaders provide a clear vision, strategic intent and purpose, and create an environment that inspires individuals and teams to achieve beyond what they thought possible.

Personal Values:  I value…

• People above all else. I am committed to helping people achieve their personal and professional visions of success. I work to identify what people need and broker the resources to get it to them.

• Continuous learning. Risk taking is part of learning. Learning can be accelerated through failure and can only occur when there is a willingness to be vulnerable.

• Integrity. I keep my promises.

• Intellectual curiosity and a growth mindset. Curiosity sets the stage for learning. A growth mindset stretches you to learn something new.

• Resiliency. We operate in fluid environments and must be adaptable and resilient through challenge and change.

Guiding Principles:  I recognize…

• Our greatest resource is our people and must always work in the best interests of our customers, organization and associates. Every individual must understand the expectations of the customer, the vision and strategic intent of the market area, how they add value, what is expected of them, how they are performing, and how their performance impacts the team.

• Our success is dependent on trusting one another. If we are mutually invested in one another’s success and help each other accomplish their personal and professional visions of success, then we develop trust in one another.

• Learning is the most effective response to any challenge and change. Shared learning and collaboration uses the wisdom in the room to accelerate individual and team capability and capacity to respond to challenges and change. A player that makes a team great is far more valuable than a great player.

• Healthy dialogue and early dissent ensures quality decision making. Having a different perspective and not offering it up for discussion impedes team progress, minimizes the quality of the outcome, and diminishes the effectiveness of execution.

• We speak with one voice. Once a decision is agreed upon, each of us is responsible to explain the thinking that led to the decision.

• The quality of the professional relationship produces the desired results. Conversational Leadership should be used in all interactions. EOM, Key Leadership Behaviors, Remarkable and MACL-T (mission, assets, challenges, landscape and time) drive execution and accountability.

• Standing still is falling back. Consistent progress must be made toward achieving objectives, and moving the enterprise and market area towards their desired future state.

What You Can Expect of Me:  I will…

• Respect and work in the best interest of the customer, the organization, and those with whom I work. Know and care for all team members; and provide consistent development, results and performance feedback.

• Provide clear, candid, honest and compassionate conversations; keep the main thing the main thing; and initiate and sustain the creative tension needed to produce change in myself and others. • Honor my commitments and obligations to design, teach and steward and be transparent in my actions.

• Eliminate barriers; provide resources; and inspect/assess, re-inspect/reassess and re-design operational work practices as needed. 2

• Have a bias toward action and results. Hold high expectations of myself; roll up my sleeves and do what it takes (DWITs – grit: perseverance, passion for a goal, set aside immediate gain for a long term goal) to win and achieve results; never ask anyone to do what I am not willing to do myself; and never make excuses.

• Provide safe space; listen when asked or needed with compassion, and without judgment; be a thinking partner without reservation; provide consistent coaching and development; and consistently increase my personal practical knowledge (PPK).

• Collaborate through team learning environments, avoid defensive responses, and be vulnerable and authentic

What I Expect of Others:  I expect you to…

• Work in the best interest of the customer and organization. Respect and honor the people you lead. Know them and care for them; and provide consistent development, results and performance feedback.

• Have a bias toward action and results. DWITs (grit) to win and achieve results; take calculated risks as needed to achieve results; reveal failures as they occur so everyone can learn; and provide your best understanding of the truth at all times.

• Produce change in yourself and others through creative tension; and constant improvement in your individual and team’s PPK.

• Manage your calendars and actions to reflect a focus on the main things.

• Collaborate through team learning environments; create safe space; avoid defensive responses; be vulnerable and authentic; hold yourself accountable; and drive accountability down to the people you lead.

Non-Negotiables: Must always….

• Honor, respect and demonstrate loyalty to the organization, individuals and the team. Trust is the glue that holds a team together.

• Be mutually invested in one another’s success, and celebrate the success of others as it provides shared learning for the team. Everyone’s success is measured by the team’s success and should be the highest purpose for which we all strive.

• Accept responsibility. Judgment and blame is unacceptable and cannot be a part of leadership.

• Provide consistent and honest feedback on direct reports’ performance (Key Leadership Behaviors and Leadership Performance Results). Every team member has the right to know if they are meeting expectations and how to improve their performance.

• Design meetings as opportunities for learning. Conversational Leadership, EOM, Remarkable, Key Leadership Behaviors and the MACL-T (mission, assets, challenges, landscape and time) process must be practiced by all members.

• Ask for help when needed and come ready with viable solutions and recommendations. Take action as needed, without being asked. Recognizing and acting quickly is what is needed and expected.

• Be prepared, seek, and provide quality feedback. Lacking the context or understanding of a situation, the facts, or alternatives diminishes the quality of the outcome, slows the pace of the team and prevents you from actively contributing to the team’s success.

Personal Idiosyncrasies:  I love….

• The pursuit of excellence. Becoming is better than being. Improvement is a constant state of mind and I expect others to put forth the optimal effort to get the job done, maximize the opportunity and their potential.

• Challenges and “playing above the bar”. I view challenges as opportunities for learning. Therefore, I tend to have low tolerance for those who are afraid to challenge their mental models, take risks, and try new and different ideas.

My Commitment: I believe and am committed to personal excellence in all things. I am committed to helping everyone I lead, including myself, accomplish their personal and professional visions of success.

Tony Waller is Senior Director, Constituent Relations for Walmart in Bentonville, AR where he actively works in helping to set strategy for the company’s outreach opportunities and social investments in diverse and multicultural communities. 

Tony Waller is Senior Director, Constituent Relations for Walmart in Bentonville, AR.  In his position he actively works in helping to set strategy for the company’s outreach opportunities and social investments in diverse and multicultural communities.  His portfolio includes the African American, Hispanic, Asian American & Pacific Islander and Native American communities as well as Women, People with Disabilities and Millennials. Tony joined Walmart December 2006.

Prior to joining Walmart, Tony worked for State Farm Insurance Companies in Bloomington, IL. In his last position with State Farm® Tony served as Assistant Director of Community Alliances in Corporate Communications and External Relations.  He was responsible for all external efforts in multicultural communities as well as all efforts in Auto Safety, Disaster Preparedness, Community and Economic Development, and Financial Education. 

He serves as Chair of the NAACP ACT-SO Advisory Council.  Because of his passion for the empowerment and advancement of women, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Center for Asian Pacific American Women and has served on the Board of Directors of the National African-American Women’s Leadership Institute.  With both of these organizations he was the first male ever selected to serve. In addition, Tony sits on the board of trustees of the Ron Brown Scholars Program, the board of the National Black Child Development Institute and the advisory council for Northcentral University.  

In 2000 Tony became the first recipient of the Spirit of Democracy Emerging Leaders Award, presented by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.  The award is given to individuals for their work in the promoting of civic participation.  Also in that year, he was the recipient of the Leadership Award of the National Association of Black County Officials for his contributions to the community.  In July 2002 and 2010 Tony was the recipient of the Donald H. McGannon Award, the highest distinction given by the National Urban League to a corporate individual in recognition of one’s efforts in the community.  Tony is the only individual who has been given this honor twice.  In 2011 Tony was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Jessie Banks Foundation for his work in disadvantaged communities.  In 2012 Tony received the MLK Day Special Merit Award from the National Action Network as well as the Merge Award from The Merge Organization for being an example of integrating his faith with all of his endeavors and for his commitment to uplifting, inspiring and empowering others.  In 2017 the American Indian College Fund honored Tony by ceremonially draping him with a blanket, a symbol of respect and admiration of the Native American community.

Tony is a strong supporter of the arts and serves on the Corporate Advisory Council of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR.  A graduate of the University of Virginia, he is a diehard WAHOO. He remains very active with The University and served on the board of the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund, named after its first African-American graduate.  In addition, he is a passionate collector of African-American art & sculpture, antique watches, vintage cuff links, eyewear, children’s story books and quotes.  Shoes however are his kryptonite.

Tony strives to live each and every day by the words of his mother, Barbara Jean Motley Waller, “Keep flowing with The River for The River knows exactly where It is going.”