Herstory Movers and Shakers
Achange agent, strategist, relationship builder, thought partner, problem solver and proven and committed leader in public service, higher education and the nonprofit sector, Dawn Tyler Lee is the President and CEO of Forrest Street Consulting (FSC), a firm that specializes in helping grow leaders and helping leaders grow through coaching and training. Prior to founding Forrest Street, Dawn served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. There, she was the highest ranking African-American appointed official and was responsible for community engagement, diversity and inclusion, education and health – among others. While serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, Dawn assumed additional responsibilities when Mayor Ginther appointed her as the Interim Director of CelebrateOne, the city’s initiative to reduce infant mortality. Dawn has been featured in Business First, Columbus Monthly Magazine, Columbus Alive! and Who’s Who in Black Columbus. She has received numerous awards including being named a YWCA Woman of Achievement. She is a graduate of the African-American Leadership Academy and the Harvard Business School Young Americans leadership Program. She earned her master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware with a specialization in housing and community development and is a proud graduate of Hampton University
Kuleni Gebisa is the Senior Vice President Marketing for Victoria Secret PINK. She is responsible for all aspects of PINK marketing efforts including, customer, performance, and growth marketing, brand strategy, media and public relations. Kuleni joined Victoria Secret & Co in 2021 and was named to her current position in January 2022.
Before joining Victoria Secret, Kuleni was a marketing and technology executive at Google. She served as an Executive in Residence (EIR) at X, the moonshot factory where she was responsible for conceptualizing, building, and scaling new businesses for Alphabet. She also led GTM (strategy, marketing, operations) for Google Maps growing revenue to unprecedented levels, bringing a customer-first approach to product innovation, and ultimately, helping businesses unleash the power of Google Maps to build amazing experiences for their customers. Prior to Google, Kuleni led Omnichannel innovation at Walmart. During her tenure at Walmart, Kuleni was responsible for pioneering Walmart’s Grocery Pickup business currently in hundreds of stores and launching a new subscription shipping service for customers to compete with Amazon Prime. Kuleni also worked in marketing and finance roles at Kosmix (acquired by Walmart), Old Navy, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and the Omnicom Group.
Kuleni holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and BA from Northwestern University. She lives in Palo Alto, California with her husband, three sons, and rambunctious, but lovable Portuguese Water Dog.
An Ohio native and resident of Columbus, I provide real estate services throughout central Ohio.
Iearned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The University of Akron, followed by obtaining my Masters of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. I serve as a member of National Association of Realtors Young Professional Network, Affordable Housing, Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee, Columbus Urban League Young Professionals, a mentor of The BRICC Foundry, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Outside of community work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children.
My personal mission is to bridge the gap of homeownership between minorities and our counterparts, as well as empowering women to experience the pride of home ownership. As I have dedicated my career to driving real change in my community, I find this recognition to truly be an honor. Thank you, Columbus Urban League!
Jennifer Walton is a former Corporate Marketing Executive and Chief Brand Officer of her consulting business, Sky Nile. Previously, Jennifer was Director of Marketing for COTA, Thought Leadership Marketing leader for Nationwide Financial, as well as several other roles, and Associate Brand Manager for Similac. Jennifer is a guest lecturer at The OSU ‚FCOB, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, the Twin Rivers (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, current Board Chair for Zora’s House, and a board member for the Neighborhood Design Center. Jennifer is married to Attorney Sean Walton, Jr, and they have daughters, Sabella and Skyla.
Ciara Johnson-Porter Realtor Red 1 Realty
Jennifer Walton Chief Brand Officer Sky Nile Consulting, LLC
After obtaining her MBA from Florida A&M University, Lydia began her career in Information Technology. In 2005 she was selected to be part of a prestigious, fast-track leadership program at General Electric where she held multiple leadership roles in quality, project management, and marketing. Lydia gained more exposure to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) work as she served as a leader of GEs African American Forum Employee Resource Group & lead Diversity Recruitment for the IT Leadership development program.
Lydia spent two years as the Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Kohl’s Inc before accepting her Chief Diversity Officer at Victoria’s Secret & Company. She and her team work to strengthen inclusive culture, enhance talent pipelines, increase supplier diversity, and drive business initiatives that involve product and marketing. She believes that integrating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
AmberSenior Vice President
(DEI) into everything we do is not just the right thing to do but is critical to driving performance and well-being for associates, customers, and communities. Today Lydia is regarded as a DEI subject-matter expert and speaks nationally on DEI topics.
Outside of the corporate DEI space, Lydia continues to stay active. In 2020 she published her first book, Better Than New: Navigating Divorce, Redemption, and Restoration, and continues to speak publicly about self-care, mental health, and healing. In addition to being an adjunct professor, Lydia sits on the Fashion Industry Council of Runway of Dreams whose mission is to empower people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through fashion and beauty inclusion. She recently relocated to Columbus with her three very active daughters and is looking forward to engaging in the community.
Amber Williams
& Deputy General Counsel Bath & Body Works, Inc.
Lee Williams is SVP & Deputy GC at Bath & Body Works, Inc. Amber previously held attorney roles at Walmart, Inc. and at companies in Houston, Texas. Amber is a board member for the Center for Work Life Law and the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus. She holds a J.D. from The University of Texas and a B.A. in English from Oakwood University.
My professional journey would not be possible without the support of family, friends, mentors, and sponsors. I am committed to paying it forward through mentorship and community service. I am humbled and honored by this recognition.
LC Johnson Founder & CEO Zora’s House
LCJohnson is an award-winning writer, entrepreneur, and activist with a passion for uplifting and empowering women and communities of color. In addition to over ten years of experience developing and facilitating entrepreneurship, economic development, and social justice initiatives, she is the founder of Zora’s House ‚a co-working and community space whose mission is to provide women of color with the clarity, confidence, and connections they need to amplify their authentic voices; grow and contribute their talents; and powerfully transform their lives, careers, and communities.
Lydia Smith Chief Diversity Officer Victoria’s Secret & Co.
Shareah Patrick
Store Leader The Kroger Co.
Shareah began her career with the Kroger Co. as a Courtesy Clerk at age of 14. In 2015 she entered the Store Leadership Development Program, then served as a Human Resources, Operations, Merchandising, Center Store and Fresh Assistant Store Leader. Shareah was promoted to Store Leader in 2021.
Shareah served as Co-Chair of the Young Professionals Associate Resource Group from 2017 to 2019 and participates in the Women’s EDGE and Kroger African American Associate Resource Groups. She believes effective leadership means developing talent, she encourages her team to take ownership of their work and empowers them to excel.
Bethany James
District Human Resources Leader The Kroger Co.
Bethany’s career with The Kroger Co. started in 2014 in the Store Leadership Development Program. She then served in Assistant Store Leader roles in Lewis Center, Columbus, and Pickerington, Ohio. Bethany was promoted to Human Resources Special Assignment, then Division Human Resources Field Trainer before her current role as District HR Leader.
Bethany is an Ohio University alumnus and Pickerington Central graduate. She is a Steering Committee member for the Kroger African American Associate Resource Group and participates in the Women’s EDGE Associate Resource Group. She is active in her church and enjoys spending time with her family and children.
Monique Jones-Murphy Store Leader The Kroger Co.
Monique joined the Kroger Co. in 2017 through the Store Leadership Development Program. She served as Assistant Store Leader at multiple stores before her current role as Store Leader in Canal Winchester. She serves on the Young Professionals Associate Resource Group Steering Committee and is a member of the Kroger African American Associate Resource Group.
In 2021 Monique was selected to participate in the Assistant Store Leader Advisory Council and she represented her district’s Our Promise Team in 2022. She leads through ownership and pride, encouraging associates to make decisions while supporting them through consistent communication and celebration.
Ashley Grayson
Talent Acquisition Consultant OhioHealth
Ashley Grayson, PHR is a wife, mother and native of Columbus, Ohio. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources from The Ohio State University. Ashley serves as Talent Acquisition Consultant with OhioHealth. In her role, she is responsible for managing the recruitment strategies and employment opportunities of associates.
Inaddition to her professional work, she is passionate about service to the community. Ashley has been an active member of Columbus Urban League Young Professionals since 2015 and served on the Leadership Board as Membership Chair. She is a dedicated member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. serving in various leadership positions. Founder of Allure Events LLC, Co-Founder of Just Friends 614, and Owner of The Antique Suite event venue. Through her various platforms, she has been able to create empowering and uplifting experiences, execute visions, and make lasting impressions on the hearts and minds of the Columbus community.
Leslie Nixon
Associate Vice President,
Community Affairs Victoria’s Secret & Co.
Leslie Bauknight Nixon, J.D., Ed.D. recently joined the VS&Co team as Associate Vice President, Community Affairs.
Leslie was previously at the Miami Dolphins where she spent close to 12 years in both community and government affairs roles. She managed the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program, a $5 million program providing 1000 meals daily to South Florida community, Community Service Academy, Fan fundraising, NFL Grants process, and the charitable giving process. She created the first community-based volunteer program in the NFL creating more than $1 million in community impact yearly.
Prior to that, Leslie was Director of Volunteer Services for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee where she led the Super Bowl XLIV effort to recruit, train, schedule, and manage 6,000+ volunteers. She began her career at St. Thomas University Human Rights Institute where as a staff attorney providing legal services to low-income persons in the Miami-Dade County communities.
She holds a Doctor of Education from the United States Sports Academy, a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude and Master of Science in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University, and Bachelor of Arts, Dual Major in Economics and Journalism / Mass Communication from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Herstory Makers
Vice President, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
for Wendy’s Worldwide. Beverly role is to lead the Company’s efforts to advance and promote diversity, equity and inclusion across the Wendy’s global system, including with employees, franchisees and suppliers.
This HerStory honor means that her work is making an impact and that is the validation that a DEI practitioner wants to hear! Vision and Impact are Beverly’s mantra. In fact, since joining the Wendy’s, Beverly has developed and launched a five-year Global DEI strategy that includes increasing third-party partnerships to provide greater access to virtual DEI training in 2022; aligning the missions of Wendy’s six Employee Resource Groups (Black Employees, Cultural Diversity, Equality, Military Support, Women of Wendy’s and Young Professionals) to business objectives, with plans to add an additional resource group for Caregivers in 2022; working with Wendy’s Global Franchise team to support the expansion of minority & women-owned franchises; and maximizing our internal and external partnerships.
Lori Patton Davis
Chair, Department of Educational Studies/Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs The Ohio State University
Lori Patton Davis, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized scholar, educator and thought leader on racial equity. She is a member of the National Academy of Education, Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and best known for scholarship on African Americans in higher education, critical race theory, Black culture centers, and Black girls and women. Patton Davis is the first Black woman Chair of the Educational Studies Department at The Ohio State University and first Black woman President of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. She is a frequently sought media expert and consultant on various education topics.
LoLo is a social entrepreneur who cares about creating effective solutions around equity gaps for entrepreneurs of color along with incorporating true cultural competence in programming and curriculum development to bring about positive impact. Professionally, she is the Co-founder and VP of Equity and Inclusion of the Urban Business Development Center, also known as The U.
As someone who currently lives with Lupus, she is an advocate for incorporating healthy practices into the black community. She has received awards such as Columbus’ Reese Neader Memorial Award for Entrepreneurship and Social Change as well as being recognized as one of the top Black Innovative Females on the Rise in the Midwest.
Lo, originally from Dayton, OH, has made Columbus her home and launch pad to her overall mission of bringing equity, collaboration and culture to the landscape of the entrepreneurial ecosystem nationwide.
& VP of Equity & Inclusion The U (Urban Business Development
As vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Inclusion and Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Hunsicker leads the company’s philanthropic and inclusion and diversity practices across the U.S., overseeing the Honda USA Foundation and community relations programs, and working to advance inclusion and equity both within the company and society through CSR initiatives.
Hunsicker is passionate about creating environments where people of different backgrounds can achieve success, having taken a nontraditional path herself from the manufacturing floor to the executive suite. In 1989, she joined Honda as a welder and quickly advanced through the company’s manufacturing operations while earning her bachelor’s degree in business management. Since then, she has held numerous leadership positions at Honda in manufacturing and Human Resources. In April 2017, Hunsicker took on the position of assistant vice president of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity and also led the Human Resources Division, before taking on her current role leading Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion and Diversity.
Habiba K. Bankston is a leader with over 10 years of experience in leadership, reputation management, donor relations, employee engagement, and program development & management. Currently Habiba serves Executive Director of Dress for Success Columbus, empowering all women to achieve economic independence by providing career development tools, a network of support and professional attire to help women thrive in work and in life.
Prior to her role at Dress for Success Columbus, Habiba served as Senior Community Relations Specialist at L Brands where she managed and executed multi-million-dollar associate fundraising campaigns, philanthropic investments both domestic and international for the L Brands Foundation as well as managed the company’s associate engagement & volunteerism programs, and many other community relations activities.
LoLo Smith Co-Founder
Center)
Yvette Huntsicker
Habiba Bankston
Vinita Clements
Chief Human Resources Officer Nationwide
Vinita Clements is Nationwide’s Chief Human Resources Officer and has led the company’s enterprise HR organization since June 2021. As the CHRO, Vinita oversees the human resources needs of approximately 25,000 Nationwide associates. She is also responsible for leading Nationwide’s overall human resources strategy; talent acquisition; associate and leadership development; cultural development; diversity, equity and inclusion; succession management; compensation and benefits; associate wellbeing and safety; and organizational effectiveness. In her current role, she actively influences organizational change and is pioneering Nationwide’s workplace of the future by redesigning its approach to attracting, hiring and retaining talent. She is also working to evolve the associate experience to include increased workplace flexibility and career development opportunities.
Melissa Blount-Garner
Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Fifth Third
serves as community affairs director at Fifth Third Bank. As a member of the Fifth Third Bank’s Corporate Responsibility Office (CRO) executive leadership team she leads strategy and execution of internal and external CRO communications and national events.
Melissa has 20 years of financial industry experience including community development, corporate philanthropy, project and client relationship management, investment bank merger and acquisitions, diversity initiatives and training and development.
Níel Jurist is the senior director of MORPC’s Communications & Engagement Department. In this role, she serves as the agency’s chief
Niel Jurist
Sr. Director of Communications MORPC
communications officer and oversees the agency’s public information, engagement, diversity & inclusion, membership, and events programming.
Jurist’s career spans more than 20 years of progressive experience in marketing and communications. Prior to MORPC, she served as the public information manager for the City of Gahanna. Most of her career has been in local and state government, where she held similar positions at the Ohio Treasurer of State’s Office and the Ohio Senate. In addition to her tenure in government, Jurist held similar positions at the YMCA of Central Ohio, Franklin County Children Services, and served as the assistant director of diversity and inclusion for the United Way in Central Ohio.
Most recently, Ciji served as the founding President of Schools for Open Sky Education where she oversaw a network of 15 primary and secondary schools across 3 states. Prior to that, Ciji served as the founding Principal Director in Wisconsin and St. Louis where she managed the successful founding and growth of campuses, doubling the size of the network. Ciji began her career as a history and civics teacher in Atlanta Public Schools through Teach For America. She later went on to found and serve as the Head of School of a charter elementary school in Memphis, TN through the Building Excellent Schools Fellowship.
Ciji holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs and African American Studies from the University of Virginia and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. She was a founding participant in the Relay National Principals Academy and the Relay Principal Supervisors Academy and a 2017-18 Leverage Leadership Institute Fellow. She also serves as a Relay National Principals Academy Fellow Advisor where she supports the growth and development of leaders across the country
Gayle Saunders
Founder & CEO The Saunders Company
As Founder & CEO of The Saunders Company, Gayle leads teams to deliver comprehensive, grassroots, and strategic PR projects that exceed expectations and win awards for clients including Ohio Lottery, the City of Columbus, and the Office of the Mayor. The company’s work reaches beyond bottom lines as they were selected to create and execute culturally rich campaigns to address infant mortality and continue the city’s Safe Sleep education. Always willing to tackle difficult subjects head-on, The Saunders Company has played a pivotal role in supporting the diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives of numerous organizations, and Gayle is especially gifted at engaging target audiences in the subject so that entire cultures are transformed.
Janica Pierce Tucker
Partner in Charge/Columbus Taft Law
Janica is the partner-in-charge of the Taft Columbus office. Her practice focuses on representing clients in all aspects of employment and labor law. She advises employers regarding legal planning and policy analysis and formulation, including preparation of employee handbooks and represents colleges and universities regarding labor and employment matters, public records, and tenure decisions. She also represents primary and secondary schools. She also represents employers in defense against a broad range of employment claims including sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful discharge matters. As a litigator, Janica is also active in other aspects of civil trial, appellate litigation and commercial litigation as part of her practice. She is also Title IX certified. She provides Title IX training, conducts investigations that include Title IX, Clery, and VAWA.
Active in the community, Janica has been recognized by her peers on numerous occasions. She is a 2018 Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and is listed in Ohio Super Lawyers for employment and labor law. Janica is a member of Taft’s Executive Committee and serves as co-chair of Taft’s firm wide Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Ciji Piffman Head of Schools KIPP Columbus
Jeaneen is a dynamic Organizational Development professional with a well-rounded and seasoned business acumen across all employment sectors. She is a servant leader, grounded in principle centered leadership that develops teams and builds capacity to the end of improving processes and accomplishing goals. She has spent over 30 years leading highly effective teams, and delivering innovative strategies to promote accountability and awareness around performance management, diversity, and employee engagement.
Jeaneen has been with the Columbus Urban League since
2019 and is currently serving in the role of Assoc. Vice President of Financial Compliance Performance & Strategy.
Yolanda Jackson
Director of Financial Empowerment Services CUL
Yolanda Jackson is a native of Columbus, Ohio. For over the last 18 years, she has been a noteworthy leader in the local human and social services industry. Most recently, her work landed her the position of Director of Financial Empowerment Services (FES) with The Columbus Urban League where oversees all financial literacy and housing programs. These programs are vital to many black and brown citizens that are reaching to achieve the epitome of generational wealth for their selves, their families, and communities.
Yolanda currently lives in Columbus with her life-partner, Jason and three children; Jordan, Jayla and Juliana.
Lark Mallory President and CEO Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County
Lark Mallory serves as President and CEO for the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, a business that provides financing to developers of affordable housing. She previously served as Fund Manager for the organization’s $100M Housing Action Fund, as General Counsel, and as Board Secretary for the organization.
Lark is a member of the American Law Institute; a CPA (inactive) with a B.S.B.A. in accounting; holds a law degree from The Ohio State University and an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Florida College of Law. She resides with her family in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Jeaneen Hooks Assoc. V.P. Financial Compliance Performance & Strategy Columbus Urban league
Ruchelle Pride Director Office of Justice Policy & Programs/CASA of Franklin County
Ruchelle is a public servant leader with over a decade of expertise in criminal justice, mentoring, prevention, and advocacy. In addition to her role as Justice Policy & Programs Director, Ruchelle lends her intellectual property to a myriad of national, state, and local committees/boards to support justice-related projects with an emphasis on community health and economic mobility. Over the years, Ruchelle has been instrumental in piloting several initiatives, one currently recognized as a specialty docket by the Supreme Court of Ohio. After conducting research and continuing her advocacy for equitable justice, Ruchelle became a board member with the European Forum for Restorative Justice in Leuven, Belgium representing the USA! Ruchelle is also a Certified Professional Life Coach committed to people and their growth!
Keisha Slaughter Executive Director JPMorgan Chase
Keisha has 20+ years of process improvement and LEAN/Six Sigma experience in a variety of industries including logistics, distribution, education, and aerospace. She joined JPMorgan Chase in 2013 and currently is an Executive Director, Controls supporting Global DE&I.
Prior to joining JP Morgan Chase, Keisha was an Industrial Engineer for The Boeing Company where she held a Top-Secret Clearance. Keisha has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and Master of Science in Transportation Engineering from University of Texas.
Keisha is passionate about volunteering and helping students pursue STEM careers. She is a Math Enthusiast and loves traveling.
Rachel is the CEO of Raette Consulting where she provides strategic planning for Social Impact Organizations. She is also the founder of BLACK HEALTH LIT, a health literacy organization. Rachel has a Master of Public Health, a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration, and is a Certified Grant Writer.
Throughout her professional career Rachel has worked at CareSource, Quantum Health, Hylant, and OhioHealth. Rachel is a founding member of the American Heart Association PULSE Committee in Dayton,OH and served on the YP Board in Columbus, OH. Rachel has also served on the American Red Cross Associate Board and the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals Executive Board. Additionally, she is a recipient of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Outstanding Community Supporter Award.
Receiving this honor is so exciting and serves as validation to keep moving forward towards creating a larger impact in the world.
Rachel Crowder CEO/Principal Consultant
Sophia Fifner helps women and organizations amplify their purpose through philanthropy, and she has nearly 15 years of experience in corporate affairs, philanthropy, and public policy. She started her career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and currently serves as the Executive Director of the NiSource Charitable Foundation for one of the largest natural gas companies in the United States. Sophia is an active volunteer and passionate about supporting survivors of sexual violence and gender equity. Currently, she gives he time to the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Ohio Crime Victims Justice Center, Marsys’ Law for Ohio, RAINN, and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Sophia graduated with a bachelors degree in communication from Miami University and a masters in communications and marketing from Franklin University. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter @sophiafifner. https://www.sophiafifner.com/
Stephanie Shaw VP
- Enterprise Technology The Wendy’s Company
Stephanie partners with corporate business functions to deliver technology solutions that align to Wendys strategic goals. Stephanie is currently leading a multi-year ERP and HCM transformation to the Cloud.
An advocate for DE&I and community engagement, Stephanie is an Advisor to the Wendys Black Employee Resource Group. Stephanie serves on the Board of Trustees of Alvis, a non-profit human services agency, and is also a member of the Board of Governors at her alma mater, West Liberty University.
In 2019, Stephanie was recognized as a ComSpark Central Ohio Tech Power Player. In 2020, Stephanie was recognized as one of the National Diversity Councils 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology. In 2021, Stephanie was recognized as one of the National Diversity Councils Top 100 Women in Technology.
Maureen L. Stapleton has spent her career successfully making organizations stronger and positively affecting peoples lives. Maureen serves as Executive Director of CelebrateOne, the backbone organization of the collective impact process focused on infant mortality in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to her role at CelebrateOne, Maureen spent the bulk of her career in local government, nonprofit administration, program management and operations including leadership positions with the Detroit Public Schools, City of Detroit, City of Indianapolis, Wayne County (Michigan) governments and Central City Integrated Health a Detroit FQHC. Ms. Stapleton is also a former State Representative in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Being celebrated so early in my tenure here is humbling. I come from a family of public servants who love serving others and making a difference in the community in which we live. Columbus is a special place with a collaborative and welcoming spirit. I am glad to be serving here.
Wendy G. Smooth, Ph.D. is Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University. She holds a faculty appointment as an Associate Professor of Womens Gender and Sexuality Studies and holds courtesy appointments in Political Science and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. A noted scholar of intersectionality and American politics, she is one of the foremost voices writing on the experiences of women of color as law makers in political institutions and women of color issues in public policy. Her current research focuses on girls of color and their interests in political leadership and the exponential
Simon’e Lightfoot, M.B.A. was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in African American & African Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness & Applied Economics. In 2010, she went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University, where she currently serves as a member of the Ohio Dominican Alumni Association Council. Simon’e is currently a member of The National Black MBA Association. She is also a past member of MANRRS a non-profit organization for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.
Writing and fashion are passions for Simon’e, she is a published author internationally and domestically. In 2013, she started a fashion blog at www. thefashionwordsmith.com. She has been a contributing writer for M.O.M Magazine (Canada), Ambition Magazine (U.S.), Alternative Fashion Mob (U.S.) and FashionDecode (U.S.). In 2021, she became a co-author of her very 1st book, The Black Woman’s Guide to Love & Business: A Blueprint for Self-Mastery. In 2017, after a lifelong affair with fashion and style, she started The Phoenix Collection, an online women’s clothing boutique www.shopphoenixonline.com.
The Ohio State University
growth in women of color led organizations linking communities of color to the democratic process. She regularly commentates and consults on issues impacting Black women in electoral politics as voters and candidates. Most recently, Professor Smooth served as one of 25 commissioners appointed to the Columbus Commission on Black Girls founded by former City Councilwoman Pricilla Tyson, which was tasked with assessing the quality of life for black girls in Columbus. She is also a board member of Beautifully Flawed an Ohio based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works to provide a tailored, holistic approach to help girls and LGBTQIA+ youth heal and grow from the inside out.
Simon’e Lightfoot, M.B.A
Wendy Smooth Associate Dean College of Arts and Sciences
Maureen Stapleton Executive Director CelebrateOne
Dynamic Inspector General with over 35 years of experience in law enforcement and the criminal justice. Jacqueline possess a comprehensive background in directing teams, leading complex investigations, inspections and evaluations, project management, budget/fiscal management, communications and establishing relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Jacqueline Hendricks-Moore is the first-ever Inspector General for the City of Columbus.
Toni Cunningham is an accomplished leader,motivator, and workforce development professional. As the former
Most recently, Toni was named as the State Network Director,Ohio for Unite Us; a technology company that builds care coordination networks of health and social service providers. Toni’s career includes roles with the Columbus Urban League,
Mayor’s Recovery and Resiliency Committee, New Directions Career Center Board of Directors, Ohio Workforce Coalition, Black Tech Columbus Co-Founder. Toni earned her Master of Science in Marketing and Communication with Franklin University and Bachelor of Science from Ohio Dominican University. She’s also a 2019 American Express Leadership Academy Fellow, and an alumnus of the African American Leadership Academy.
The many awards bestowed upon Toni substantiate her leadership, impact, and results. Including the naming of Per Scholars as one of Columbus Foundation’s Top 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2018,Women for Economic Leadership and Development 2020 Honoree, BizTech Columbus Business First 2019 Executive of the Year, and Smart Business Magazine in 2018 Smart50; an honor which ‚Recognizes the top executives of the 50 smartest companies in the Central Ohio region for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations.‚
Storm Woods Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Battelle
Storm Woods leads diversity, equity, and inclusion at Battelle, where she works to increase the diversity amongst the innovators of today and tomorrow, provide access to STEM education to underserved youth and young people, and add a lens of inclusion to the search for scientific advancements and environmental sustainability.
Prior to joining Battelle, Storm worked with L brands, Victoria’s Secret/PINK, Big Lots, and Teavana, a subsidiary of Starbucks and was once a performer with local theatre company, Shadowbox Live.
She is incredibly grateful to be welcomed into this powerful, supportive, and driven group of women. Congratulations to this years honorees!
Toni Cunningham State Network Director Unite Us
Forover20 years,Helen has been growing and developing leaders to their greatest potential and advance business goals. In February 2022, Helen joined Victoria’s Secret & Co to lead Talent Management which includes enterprise Learning and Development, Performance Management, Talent and Succession Planning, and Organization Effectiveness. Her responsibility is to strengthen our teams and ensure all VS&Co associates are valued, can do their best work, and grow to their greatest potential in a healthy, happy, inclusive culture.
Helen’s career in Talent has been rich with experiences across various industries. She recently led Talent Management as Managing Director at Delta Airlines and has served as coach to executives and CEO’s including in 2018 holding the position of Chief Administrative Officer for the Westside Future Fund and 11 years as the Vice President, Organization Development and Learning for PulteGroup (National Homebuilder). Helen also held several L&D Director and Marketing Manager roles at Volkswagen of Ameri-
ca and General Motors.
To be recognized by the Columbus Urban League is a huge honor and responsibility. Coming up as a young black woman, it was important to know that I had a community of people and organizations to encourage, support, and empower me to be the best person I could be. The Urban League has always been the pilar we could trust to remove barriers and offer economic assistance to push through difficult times in pursuit of our dreams.
Empowering and encouraging people to have big dreams and grow daily to achieve them, is what I’m blessed to do every day at VS&Co. It is especially important for me to ensure I make a way for more young black women to know their talents and passions, develop their skills and transform themselves and their organizations into superpowers. To be recognized by the Urban League means I’m carrying the torch and grateful to be a small part of this journey.
Jacquelyn Meshelemiah
Associate Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion The Ohio State University
Dr. Meshelemiah is the Associate Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at The Ohio State University. She is also the co-director of Leadership Initiatives for Women of Color in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work. She is the author and co-author of numerous publications and presentations on social justice, anti-trafficking, leadership and human rights at the university, local, national, and international levels.
To be recognized as an honoree of the Movers & Shakers as part of our HerStory Makers event is a distinct honor and a testament to the importance of taking a stand. Having a longstanding commitment to using my platforms to elevate others and to shed light on injustices is my calling and it allows me to persist and resist. I am the product and creator of my ancestors and descendants, respectively. I must do what I can.
Sindy Mondesir
Chief People Officer COTA Central Ohio Transit Authority
Sindy Mondesir is the Chief People Officer for Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the largest regional public transit provider for greater Columbus and Central Ohio. At COTA, Sindy leads the Human Resources (and Learning and Development) Division with a focus on strategy and reimagining the employee experience. Focused on achieving organizational excellence, one of COTAs guiding principles, Sindy has guided the organization with guidance that effectively put culture and people first. Furthermore, as a Human Resources subject matter expert, she has enhanced organizational participation in our industry with diversity and inclusion education as well as forums and conferences that established best practices around the implementation of equitable policies to ensure COTAs success in talent and performance management.
Helen Hampton Head of Talent
Victoria Secret & Co.
Niyah Walters In-house Counsel and Legal Analyst Columbus City Council
Niyah Walters is a young lawyer who is passionate about law and community. A Detroit native but she spent her formative years in Toledo, Ohio. Niyah received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from Wright State University. She earned her Juris Doctor from University of Toledo College of Law with a certificate of concentration in Environmental Law. She currently works for Columbus City Council where she serves as in house Counsel to Council and is a legal analyst in their Legislative Research Office. She is President of the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals, a big sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, a graduate of the YWCA Leadership for Social Change Program, a graduate of the Ohio State Bar Association Leadership Academy, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Niyah’s mantra is “Be the change you wish to see.”
Dr. Brenda Toler is a retired Educational Administrator from Worthington City Schools where she was a trailblazer as the first Black Administrator to be hired into the district. She left a legacy of creating innovative, cognitive avenues for children at their placement on the learning continuum. She earned a B.S., Masters, and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and completed post-doctoral work at Harvard University in Educational Administration. Dr. Toler’s career path also included serving as an adjunct instructor at OSU and other Central Ohio Universities.
Since retirement Dr. Toler has served as a consultant and been involved in community outreach engagements as a volunteer. She has provided Book Scholarships to students in memory of her parents, Florence, and James Toler. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including, the 2018 Muskingum County Branch NAACP Image Award, the OSU College of Education Career Achievement Award and being inducted into the Zanesville High School Hall of Fame.
Dr.Toler has served on numerous Boards and holds membership and offices in several organizations. She enjoys traveling, gardening, music, Card Ministry and being an avid OSU Buckeye Fan.
Receiving this honor inspires her to continue paying forward to make a difference in the community.
Sherrice Sledge-Thomas VP Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Sherrice Sledge-Thomas is the VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. As a first-generation college graduate, Sherrice holds a MBA with a focus in Organizational Leadership and Management from Franklin University and a BA with a focus in Womens Studies from The Ohio State University. Shes also published two books, The Balance Finder and Hot Like Fire. Sherrice resides with her spouse Frederick and twin sons, David and Joseph AKA The Wonder Twins. Her eldest son, Brian, has a family of his own, making Sherrice the proud grandmother of five.
Shelly is a senior manager in PwCs One Firm Risk Organization, helping PwC maintain independence with respect to all PwC audit clients around the world. She has also spent many years consulting in the field of Cybersecurity and Privacy, helping clients understand and improve their capability to comply with regulations and data privacy and security strategies. She has 20 years of protecting valuable brands by enhancing companiess business and information technology resiliency postures.
Shelly is passionate about diversity and the economic survival of African Americans. She has served as a leader for PwCs Columbus office minority inclusion network with the goal of enhancing the African American experience within the firm. In addition, she volunteers in her community on behalf of her beloved church and various service organizations. She brings a spirit of pride of her culture and womanhood in all that she does. Her motto: ‚God is within her, she will not fall.‚Psalm 46:5
Laurel Beatty Blunt
Judge Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals
Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she received a B.S. in Psychology magna cum laude in 1996. She subsequently attended Vanderbilt University Law School and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1999. While serving 10 years on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Judge Beatty Blunt presided over more than 10,000 cases, involving a variety of issues from sentencing on murder and rape cases to multi-million-dollar civil litigation. After being elected in 2018 Judge Beatty Blunt took the bench as the first Black woman to serve on Ohio’s Tenth District Court of Appeals.
Isabel Chirase joined Drive Capital as their VP of Finance in fall of 2020 after previously working for Deloitte. She and her fiance relocated to Columbus from Austin, Tx, taking a leap of faith in support of Drives mission. As a Black woman, Isabel is proud to work for an organization that is actively seeking out innovators from all walks of life. So many times throughout her career, she has been the only woman, Black person, or both, in the room. Now she finds great purpose as a Black woman leader in VC and by lending her diverse perspectives to the Drive team. Isabel is incredibly honored to be recognized for her impact to-date, and hopes to continue empowering and
Isabel Chirase VP of Finance Drive Capital
mentoring other women into leadership roles and advancement opportunities.
Isabel holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Texas A&M University.
J. Averi Frost Executive Director
Freedom Equity Inc and Central Ohio African American chamber of commerce
Averi Frost, a Columbus, Ohio native, is a graduate of Denison University and Eastmoor Academy High School. Proud daughter of serial entrepreneurs, Frost has always understood that there can be a gap in resources for some of our most disenfranchised business owners. Whether it is connecting entrepreneurs to resources, advocating for the support they need, or both, Frost strives to bridge the opportunity gap between the wealthiest and poorest members of our community. Frost has served the small, Black, and minority-owned business community for the past ten years. Currently, Frost serves as Executive Director of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC). COAACC was launched in 2018 to provide education and empowerment to the Black Business community in Central Ohio. And recently, Frost was named Executive Director of Freedom Equity Inc. – a start-up CDFI poised to provide an alternative to financing for Black owned businesses in Central Ohio. Freedom Equity is positioned to being lending Q4 2022.
Andre Williams
Director, The Women’s Place
The Ohio State University
For nearly two decades, Andre N. Williams has been a scholar, teacher and leader committed to enhancing access, equity, and diverse representation in higher education. As director of The Womens Place at The Ohio State University, she leads the charge for gender equity and womens advancement at the university through advocacy, leadership development, and policy review. Since 2020, she has worked to draw attention to the disproportionate impact of the pandemics disruptions on working women, especially women of color. Andre was recognized with Ohio State’s highest Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award in 2016.
As an English professor who teaches and writes about African American literature and culture, Andre draws her inspiration from Black feminist authors and leaders in history. She is now writing a cultural study of unmarried Black professional women in the early twentieth century to highlight their societal legacies. A proud alumna of Spelman College, she earned her PhD in English at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Giselle Lindsay Program Manager Columbus Urban League
Giselle M. Lindsay, MPA, proves that genuine kindness and a positive mindset will always help you achieve your goals!
After earning her BSB in Marketing from Wright State University, Giselle worked as a substitute teacher and found fulfillment in being of service to young people. Due to this, she decided to change career paths. Giselle enrolled at Franklin University and earned her Masters in Public Administration to pursue service as a career.
Giselle’s journey with the Columbus Urban League began with a temporary summer position. She worked hard and was offered a permanent position by the fall. Six years later, Giselle is now Program Manager of the Youth Leadership Institute department. She effectively and passionately leads a team of dedicated community advocates across three youth-focused initiatives. Giselle is an active member of St. John AME Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She enjoys her family, crafting, and learning.
Grace Hunter President & Founder
Paraclete Planning LLC
Grace Hunter is a marketing and event planning professional with over 14 years of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. In November 2019, she launched Paraclete Planning LLC, a firm that provides corporate event planning, project management, and marketing assistance to organizations. She and her team come alongside clients to handle all event details so they can focus on their daily work objectives. Grace holds an MPA in Public Administration from Keller Graduate School, and a BA in Communications and Business Management from OSU. She is a proud Fellow of AALA and graduate of United Way’s Project Diversity.
Sydnor CEO Rise Together Innovation Center
Danielle Sydnor is CEO of the newly formed Rise Together Innovation Center a capstone of a larger, Franklin county-funded strategic plan to help an estimated 400,000-plus county residents find paths toward economic stability. Danielle worked in banking since 2002, including National City Bank, MBNA, and Bank of America holding a variety of management roles. Danielle became licensed as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch in 2011. Danielle is the outgoing President of the Greater Cleveland Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Sydnor holds a bachelors degree in Finance from the University of Phoenix. She is a proud recipient of Crains Cleveland 2019 40 Under 40 and a graduate of the 2020 class of Leadership Ohio. Danielle is a native of Sacramento, California. Her family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1995. She has two sons Noah and Giles.
Kourtni M. Hatton
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer/VP,
Community Engagement
United Way of Central Ohio
Kourtni Hatton, a native of the Cleveland area, has lived, worked, and served in Columbus since 2010. She is a champion for workplace equity and is known to leverage her relationships to help bridge the gap between employers and their staff to drive organizational results. Kourtni is dedicated to the behind-the-scenes DEI work both as a volunteer and as part of her role at United Way because she knows that the small things done daily will lead to the greatest impact and change. Being recognized as a 2022 Columbus Urban League Mover & Shaker is an honor to Kourtni because it means ‚we see you and keep going!
Danielle
Christina Vera is serving her first term as a proud member of the Columbus Board of Education having been elected in 2021. She is a proud graduate of Columbus City Schools Brookhaven High School, Class of 2003. Christina has expertise in organizational leadership and multi-project management. She currently serves as Advisory Council Member at Otterbein University (WLN), and serves on the Gateways for Growth Steering Committee on behalf of Welcoming City. She is an alumna of United Way of Central Ohio, Project Diversity (Cycle 20), Latina Mentoring Academy (Cycle 1), LEAD Ohio (2021).
Christina Vera Director of Operations Femergy
Collins Director, Donor Relations Columbus Urban League
Shunda Collins has over 12 years in fundraising and event planning. A Chicagoland native, she graduated from Columbia College with a degree in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management. After nearly 8 years at United Way growing their events and donor base, Shunda moved to Columbus and currently oversees development operations and donor relations at the Columbus Urban League. Being able to grow donor engagement and share the story of the Urban League’s work has been a dream for her. Shunda has always had a passion for social justice and urban community development, following the Urban League, working on policy advocacy and DEI task forces.
Tina Boulding Vice President of Advancement Columbus Urban League
Tina Boulding has over 10 years of experience in communication strategy, business development, and brand representation. Tina came to the Columbus Urban League on sight the pandemic as a Chief Mission Officer, and now has transitioned into the Vice President of Advancement. Her primary responsibilities now include but not limited to being a part of the President’s Executive Team, positioning and management of the brand through fundraising, community engagement, and external partnerships.
Mrs. Vera is a former member of the National Association of Realtors and the Columbus Board of Realtors. Christina has served her community in many capacities. For the past 13 years her professional experience is rooted in non-profit management and small business development. As the Co-Founder of Femergy, and a social entrepreneur, Mrs. Vera leads and develops teams through innovative strategy and effective communication to influence positive change and build organizational capacity.
Shunda
Jennifer Mckenzie AVP of Program Performance and Strategy
Columbus Urban League
As a member of the Columbus Urban League’s Executive Leadership team, Jennifer creates space for collaboration and conversations that challenge the status quo. With a “win-win or no deal” mindset, Jennifer cultivates value-based partnerships. Leveraging seven years of non-profit leadership experience, she provides guidance on program design, proposal creation, strategic partnerships, and agency-specific initiatives around program performance and strategy. In addition to serving as a strategic partner, Jennifer secures financial resources that enable teams to deliver on their promises to the community. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University and an Executive Master of Organization Development degree from Bowling Green State University. In her downtime, Jennifer winds down to a trio of dairy free ice cream flavors from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. Jennifer lives in Pickerington, Ohio with her four children and husband Ashon L. McKenzie, Esq.
Tonowoa Days
Meat and Seafood Specialist The Kroger Co.
Tonowoa started at the Kroger Co. in 1992 as a Courtesy Clerk. After graduating from Eastmoor High School she worked her way up to become a Produce Leader. She held that role for 17 years and developed a passion for training and mentoring. She served in various Assistant Store Leader roles before her current role as Meat and Seafood Specialist.
Tonowoa is a member of the Kroger African American and Womens EDGE Associate Resource Groups. Tonowoa has a daughter named Koryn and is also raising her niece Desi. They love to travel, watch movies, over-eat, and have dance parties!
Jayme Smoot
Vice President, Corporate Sustainability Nationwide Insurance
Jayme Smoot is VP, Corporate Sustainability and External Affairs Operations at Nationwide Insurance. She manages corporate sustainability activities (also referred to as Environmental, Social and Governance) by collaborating with Nationwide senior leadership and subject matter experts. She also supports Nationwides Corporate Sustainability Council, leads national workplace giving campaign strategies and provides operational support across External Affairs. Before accepting this role, Jayme served as Chief of Staff for the Chief Legal Officer of Nationwide Insurance Mark Howard. Jayme previously led Nationwides State Legal Team, which provided 50-state regulatory advice and guidance to all P&C business/brands within the Nationwide family and members of OCLO.
She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame and her Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She serves on the boards of the Ohio Womens Bar Association (President) and Pink Ribbon Girls.
Council member Barroso de Padilla was born and raised on the eastside of Columbus where her family still lives today. Her love for this community inspires her to raise my own daughters in the same neighborhood where she grew up. She is a mother, a wife and daughter of working-class immigrants who came to America because they believed deeply in democracy and opportunity.
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla has an extensive background in youth development and leadership. She has served with City Year, an education focused organization dedicated to helping students and schools succeed for more than 20 years. Barroso de Padilla has helped to found five of City Years twenty nine sites across the country, and has worked at all levels of the organization. She is a certified Youth Development Trainer and was awarded the Hewlett Packard Alumni Leadership Award in for her impact and service to the organization.
Barroso de Padilla is a graduate of Project Diversity, Leadership Columbus, and the Academy for Leadership and Governance Executive Fellowship program. She has served as a Commissioner with the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission, as a founding member of the Create Columbus Commission and as a board member for Directions for Youth and Families and a member of the United Way’s Education Impact Council and Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Currently she serves as a board member of the YWCA Columbus, a member of MORPC Regional Policy Roundtable, Advisory Board Member for the Columbus Chapter of the New Leaders Council, member of The Columbus Police Chiefs Advisory Panel and a member of the Columbus City Schools Community Engagement Committee.
As the Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for City Year Inc. Barroso de Padilla oversees the organization’s major gifts, corporate and grant programs. Since its inception more than a decade ago Barroso de Padilla has been engaged and currently serves as the Director for the Latina Mentoring Academy a unique professional development and mentoring program for Latinas in Central Ohio.
Barroso de Padilla was featured in the inaugural edition of The Womens Book and Whos Who in Latino Columbus as well as WELD Ohios Women Welding the Way Calendar. She has been honored as one of Business First 40 under 40, and was named a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan by the Ohio Commission on Latino Affairs. In November of 2021, Barroso de Padilla made history by becoming the first Latina to be elected as a member of the Columbus City Council.
Lourdes is a bilingual first generation Cuban-American who was born and raised on the eastside of Columbus and is a product of the Columbus public school system. She resides with her husband, Ernesto, and daughters, Eva and Valentina in Eastmoor.
The CFO of the Columbus Urban League, Nazree’s experience includes private and public accounting, with several years in leadership roles at non-profit organizations. She is analytical, organized, has GAAP expertise, and is a strategic executer. A collaborative team player with ownership mentality and a track record of delivering the highest quality strategic solutions to resolve challenges and sustain the organization. Nazree has several years of strong accounting experience with an emphasis on providing the highest quality service.
1st Assistant Chief LaShanna Potts made CPD history along with Chief Elaine R. Bryant after being named by Mayor Ginther as the first outside hired Police executives in CPD history. She is the second in command of a division that employs approximately 1800 sworn members and approximately 300 civilian employees.
1st Assistant Chief Potts came to Columbus after serving more than 24 years with the Detroit Police Department. She started her career shortly after high school joining the police academy in 1997. She began her career working patrol in the Eleventh Precinct, eventually being sought out to join the special operations within the precinct concentrating on the most violent offenders. Her other assignments with the Detroit Police Department included working Vice Enforcement, Eighth Precinct Patrol/ Special Operations, and Police-Law where she was a liaison between the department and city law.
She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2013, where she was assigned to the Central District/Third Precinct working patrol and administration before being assigned as the Community Policing Sergeant. During her tenure as a Sergeant she worked Neighborhood Policing Bureau, Criminal Investigation Bureau, and was the Chief of Staff for the Assistant Chief of Enforcement Operations.
She was promoted to Lieutenant in 2016 and assigned to Chiefs Neighborhood Liaison, where she shined creating robust community programming that brought the community and police together. With the help of her team she helped to enhance and create many initiatives such as CITI Camp (Children in trauma Intervention), Cop on the Block, Secret Santa, Chief Car Show, Community Block Parties, Chiefs Senior Cupid Ball, Police Athletic League-Team Up, Co-Creator of Sisterhood and Brotherhood Program which partnered female and male officers with high school students for mentorship. She also created the Detroit Police Department Fallen and Critically Injured Officer Fund which provides funding for families of fallen and critically injured officers. She was an active member and creator of the Detroit Police Department Peer Support Program, which provides support to officers experiencing trauma. During, her time at Chiefs Neighborhood Liaison she also oversaw the LGBTQ Liaison program, restructured and increased the ranks of both Police Chaplains and Reserves program, managed the media relations team of the Public Information Office, while overseeing the Police Cadet and Explorer program.
1st Assistant Chief Potts was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019, where she was assigned to the Sixth Precinct during a time when the precinct was experiencing low morale and community distrust. She was tasked by the Chief to bring up officer morale, increase non-fatal shooting closure rates and repair community relationships. In just two short years under her tenure, the Sixth Precinct became the model for community policing also carrying one of the highest closure rates for Non-Fatal shootings during her tenure. The Sixth Precinct continues to be recognized for it strong community relations well after her departure. She used innovative ideas such as; creating a Community Closet in the space once used as precinct holding cells, created a meditation room for officers to decompress after a difficult run and she begin holding outdoor roll calls in areas that were experiencing an uptick in crime. She rented ice cream trucks to engage the children in the community and adopted families who were in need. She hosted many round table discussions focused on healing and repairing the relationship between the police and community. She was re-assigned to the Eighth Precinct prior to her appointment. She is the recipient of many awards for her dedicated work in rebuilding community relations and is widely respected throughout the law enforcement community as a consummate professional.
Mathilda Tuuli Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The
Wendy’s
Company
Tina Boulding has over 10 years of experience in communication strategy, business development, and brand representation. Tina came to the Columbus Urban League onsight the pandemic as a Chief Mission Officer, and now has transitioned into the Vice President of Advancement. Her primarily resposibilites now include but not limited to being a part of the President’s Executive Team, positioning and management of the brand through fundraising, community engagement, and external partnerships.
Kesha is the Chief Operating Officer at Besa Community, Inc., a Columbus nonprofit dedicated to connecting people and businesses to impactful community service. Kesha is an experienced operations professional with over a decade of active civic leadership through positions at the Columbus Partnership, Columbus Urban League, Orange Barrel Media and currently Besa Community, Inc.
Kesha is a Columbus native who grew up on the citys east side and worked her way to the epicenter of civic leadership. Her work, while largely behind the scenes, has been experienced by thousands. As development manager for Orange Barrel Media, she has cultivated relationships nationwide to deploy and install interactive, 8-foot kiosks. As integration manager at the Columbus Partnership, she managed cross-functional strategies and operations, special projects and events, including supporting the annual Harvard executive leadership retreats. And as chief of staff at Columbus Urban League, she served as a thought partner and advisor to the CEO and senior executive team as well as a development officer.
Kesha loves spending time with her family and volunteering in the community she loves the most.
Makeda Matthews is a busy woman! She is one of four Category Managers on the Enterprise Strategic Sourcing Team at Grange Insurance Company. She is also leading the Supplier Diversity Program, Supplier Relationship Management Program as well as the Internship Development Program.
Makeda’s passion work is helping to build and expand the Black Career Women’s Network where she is the Chief Network Director. BCWN is a national career development organization dedicated to fostering the professional growth of black women. professional development and mentor access for Black women. Since 2012, BCWN has helped thousands of Black Career Women across the country gain clarity and confidence to execute proven strategies that can create the change they want to see in their careers.
However, the role that brings her the most joy is the role of “Auntie Keda” to her six adorable nieces and nephews. Originally from Wichita, KS, her family moved around the country often during her childhood. This instilled in her the love of travel and from time to time, she may be working from San Diego, Baltimore or a Caribbean Island.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant made history as CPD’s first chief from outside the division, and its first African American female Chief. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Chief Bryant’s selection on June 2nd, 2021, after a nationwide search. Chief Bryant came to Columbus after more than two decades with the Detroit Police Department. She started her career in law enforcement in August of 2000. Chief Bryant was promoted from ranks of from sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and Deputy Chief. Chief Bryant holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration; Community Development from Central Michigan University where she graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude). She also holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Bowling Green State University where she graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude). Chief Bryant is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). The title she holds dearest is that of Mom to her two sons.
The mission of the Columbus Urban League is to empower African Americans and disenfranchised groups through economic, educational and social progress.
“You may be the first, but be sure you aren’t the last.”
-Vice
President Kamala Harris
sharing a quote from her mother
These words are the call to action at the heart of Columbus Urban League’s 2022 Herstory Maker’s Celebration. Women are growing in representation, influence, and power, using their unique gifts in extraordinary ways that benefit our community, exemplifying excellence, crossing new thresholds, and holding the door open for talented future leaders. Honoring those who dared to cross new thresholds and then intentionally held the door for those who followed. Recognizing these women provides support for women’s equity and excellence. As well, proceeds from this event strengthen core programs and services of your Columbus Urban League that support many women and families across our community.
Thank you for celebrating with us!
