Board of Directors

Ciara Anfield serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Member and Marketing Officer for Sam’s Club. In this role, Ciara oversees a broad portfolio of responsibilities that collectively make up Sam’s Club’s end-to-end member strategy, including Membership, Marketing and Member experience.

Ciara joined Walmart in 2008 has built a broad-ranging career with experiences in Marketing, Strategy and Field Operations. In 2013, she transitioned from Marketing to Walmart’s Leverage Strategy team where she completed a two-year rotational program focused on expanding her view of the Walmart enterprise. Following the program, Ciara transitioned to Market
Manager, Walmart Neighborhood Markets, in North Alabama, Murfreesboro, Tennessee and the Chattanooga TN metro-area., where she successfully opened eight new stores, including one new to company omni-channel format, Pickup with Fuel.

Ciara returned to Marketing in 2018 as Senior Director, Retail Experience with a transformed view of the company. This enabled her to effectively implement Marketing strategies that immersed the customer in Walmart's products and brands, including Walmart’s first Black Friday Retailtainment event, and various Visual Merchandising, Demo, Associate Engagement, and In-Store Media programs. Following that role, she served as Vice President, Retail Marketing, Walmart U.S., where she led cross-category and seasonal strategic marketing.

Ciara joined Sam’s Club in 2020 as Vice President, Marketing, where her team developed and executed cross-channel strategies designed to build passion for Sam’s Club. She helped elevate the Sam’s Club brand through a variety of innovative programs and events, including Sam’s Club’s first-ever Big Game spot. Earlier in her career, Ciara worked at JPMorgan Chase & Company.

Ciara holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and a Master’s in Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Gary B. Bettman has served the National Hockey League as Commissioner since February 1, 1993 and has guided the world’s top professional hockey league through nearly two decades of growth and advancement – on the ice and off. Record revenues, record attendance and a wide variety of fan-friendly initiatives are just a few trademarks of Commissioner Bettman’s tenure.The 2011-12 season marks the League’s seventh under a restructured economic system created by its Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Hockey League Players’ Association. The campaign also is the seventh under a progressive set of rules implemented to accentuate the speed, skill and creativity of the players. Through the resulting competitive balance, 28 of the League’s 30 Clubs have qualified for the playoffs and a different team has received the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup – in each of those seasons.The combination of competitive balance, exciting play, a calendar of signature events that includes the outdoor games and regular-season games in European cities, has driven fan engagement and sponsor participation to unprecedented levels. In 2010-11, despite a challenged economy, the NHL increased revenues to well over $3 billion, reached record audiences on its website, NHL.com, signed a variety of new business partnerships and renewed several others.

Advancements in the game under Commissioner Bettman have included the implementation of four-on-four overtime and the ‘shootout,’ which combined to eliminate tied games during the regular season. Creation of the two-referee system revolutionized hockey officiating around the world. Innovations also have included advancements in the area of instant replay, emergency on-ice trauma care and elevations in the study of injuries – concussions, in particular. The NHL was the first professional sports league to mandate neuropsychological baseline testing to help determine return-to-play guidelines for players who have suffered concussions. The League also developed a protocol that requires immediate screening, away from the ice, for any player suspected of having suffered a concussion.

In addition, Commissioner Bettman created the first Department of Player Safety in pro sports history. The Department is entrusted with the continued consideration of changes to rules and equipment that will make the game safer for the players. The NHL also was the first sports League to explain player supplementary discipline rulings in videos available to the teams, fans and media through the League’s digital outlets – a cutting-edge advancement that has been hailed throughout the sports world.

Sandra Buchanan is the Chief Human Resources Officer for GCM Grosvenor (www.gcmgrosvenor.com). In this role, Buchanan is responsible for the development and execution of the firm’s people strategy and leads the firm’s office services and real estate efforts. She also serves on the Sustainability, Culture and AI Governance Committees. Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Buchanan held various positions at Bank of America, most recently serving as Global Head of Human Resources for Corporate and Investment Banking. Previously, Buchanan also held leadership roles in Talent Management and Talent Acquisition at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Bernard M. Baruch College and her Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Buchanan serves as a Corporate Board Member for Angi, Inc., where she is a member of the Compensation Committee. She also serves on the non-profit boards of the Harlem School of the Arts (co-chair of the Nomination Committee and member of the Investment Committee), and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (member of the Finance and Marketing Committees).

Greg began his career with Costco in 1985 as a Cart Attendant in Inglewood, California. Greg rapidly moved through most supervisory and management positions in the warehouse. He was promoted to Warehouse Manager at the same location in 1993 after performing as Assistant Warehouse Manager in Inglewood and Oxnard, California. Over the next 20 years, Greg managed the Simi Valley, Hawthorne, and Culver City, California locations. 2013 Greg was promoted into buying as General Merchandise Manager over Non-Foods, becoming Assistant Vice President in 2014. Greg assumed the position of AVP/GMM over Foods and Sundries, overseeing Costco LA’s Food & Sundries buying in February 2019, and was promoted to Vice President that same year. In May of 2022, Greg was promoted to Senior Vice President of the Los Angeles Region. He has Operational and Buying responsibility for four districts, 59 warehouses (in Los Angeles and Hawaii), regional office staff, and over 22,000 employees.

Greg has worked on Costco’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts for years and currently has a chair on the company’s Diversity Advisory Committee. He is a longtime advocate and member of Journeys, Costco’s Professional Women’s group, which recently opened membership for all Costco employees regardless of gender and has been rebranded as Journeys for ALL. Greg is a longtime supporter and Golf Tournament Director for the annual charity golf tournament benefiting the Caribbean Health Outreach. This non-profit provides free health clinics and awareness throughout Los Angeles, with yearly health missions to underserved Caribbean countries.

Greg is a native Californian, having grown up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles and attended Cerritos Community College. He and his wife Marsha have two adult children, Jazmyn and Gregory III. Marsha is a professional chef and a Regulatory Compliance Manager with Kaiser. Daughter Jazmyn is a grants manager for CalTech’s Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy division (after receiving a BS from the University of Arizona and Master’s degrees from California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Southern California).

Ted Colbert is executive vice president of The Boeing Company and president and chief executive officer of Boeing Global Services. He is a member of Boeing’s Executive Council.

Colbert was named president and chief executive officer of Global Services in October 2019. He is responsible for leading Boeing’s aerospace services development and delivery model for commercial and government customers worldwide, focused on four capability areas: Supply Chain; Engineering, Modifications and Maintenance; Digital Solutions and Analytics; and Training and Professional Services. Global Services offers customers lifecycle solutions regardless of platform manufacturer to accelerate delivery schedules, reduce operational costs and enhance operational efficiencies. Global Services has more than 300 locations in more than 70 countries.

Previously, Colbert was chief information officer and senior vice president of Information Technology & Data Analytics. In this role, he led all aspects of information technology, information security, data and analytics. He also supported the growth of Boeing’s business through IT- and analytics-related revenue generating programs.

Prior to his role as CIO, he led Boeing’s Information Technology Infrastructure organization where he was responsible for developing and maintaining network, computing, server, storage, collaboration and infrastructure solutions across the enterprise. Before that, he led the IT Business Systems organization where he managed the computing application systems that support Boeing Finance, Human Resources, Corporate and

Commercial Capital Business Units, as well as the company’s internal systems.
Prior to joining Boeing in 2009, Colbert was senior vice president of Enterprise Architecture at Citigroup. Before that, he spent 11 years in Ford Motor Company’s Information Technology organization where he held roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of program management, infrastructure engineering and operations, application development, portfolio management and process reengineering.

Colbert completed the Dual Degree Engineering Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse College with degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Interdisciplinary Science. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Georgia Tech Advisory Board and New Leaders.

Colbert’s recent accomplishments include becoming the first recipient of the Fisher Center prize for Excellence in Driving Transformation from the Fisher Center For Business Analytics at Berkeley; winning the 2018 Forbes CIO Innovation Award; recognition as one of the Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America by Black Enterprise magazine in 2017; 2017 Morehouse College Bennie Leadership Award for Excellence in Business; recognition as the 2016 National Society of Black Engineers Golden Torch Legacy Award winner; recognition as the HMG Strategy 2016 CIO of the Year; and, being named a 2015 Ebony Power 100 honoree.

Byna Elliott is a seasoned financial executive devoted to caring for communities. As global head of Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) for JPMorgan Chase, Elliott’s mission is to strengthen the economic foundation of the Black community and to shrink the racial wealth divide globally. Elliott spearheads the implementation of targeted investments and initiatives within the firm’s allencompassing framework of diversity, equity, and inclusion while leading Advancing Black Pathways’ global efforts to address four critical areas where there are racial disparities and economic barriers that create barriers for sustained financial prosperity: careers and skill building, business growth and entrepreneurship, financial health and wealth creation, and community development. Prior to her role at JPMorgan Chase, Elliott was the Chief Enterprise Responsibility Officer at Fifth Third Bank, where she oversaw the firm’s corporate social responsibility functions, which included environmental sustainability, philanthropic giving, ethical business practices, and economic responsibility. Elliott was the chief architect behind the success of the firm’s landmark five-year $32 billion investment in underserved communities in the United States from 2015 – 2020.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Elliott openly discusses her experience of being raised in a low-income household by her single mother and grandmother. Despite facing financial struggles, her grandmother instilled in her a deep sense of compassion and community involvement. This valuable lesson left an indelible impression on Elliott and influenced her actions and character.

Today, Elliott actively carries on her grandmother’s legacy in both her personal and professional life Her dedication and effort go beyond just a job, as they stem from her passion and compassion. Through her tireless work, she has brought hope and tangible change to communities in need for over twenty years.

Rob Engel is a managing director and head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets at Wells Fargo Securities. Rob joined Wells Fargo as head of Mergers and Acquisitions in 2005, became the co-head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets in 2008, and assumed his current role in 2014. He is a member of the Wells Fargo Management Committee.

Rob has more than 30 years of investment banking experience, providing clients across industries with advice and execution for capital structure solutions, debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and restructurings. He retains active involvement in executing important transactions for clients over time including: advising the board of directors of Krispy Kreme on its sale to JAB Beech, Annaly Capital on its acquisition of Hatteras Financial, Rock-Tenn on the acquisition of Smurfit-Stone Container, Dole on its initial public offering and sale of its U.S. packaged foods and Asian fresh fruit and vegetable businesses, and Outback Steakhouse on its sale to Bain Capital and Catterton Partners.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Rob helped establish Gleacher Partners, an independent corporate advisory firm headquartered in New York, in 1990. At Gleacher, Rob was a managing director and head of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructuring. In 2000, he opened Gleacher’s office in London. Before joining Gleacher, he worked at the merchant bank Morgan Grenfell in London and New York for four years.

Rob graduated from Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and earned a B.A. from Princeton University.

Rob takes an active interest in the community, serving on the boards of the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, Opera Carolina, Westminster Kennel Club Foundation, Charlotte City Center Partners, and St. Paul’s School in London.

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.

Hunsicker’s commitment to serving others and society has been a life-long passion, one she had a chance to pursue during her time on assignment in Japan. Working for Honda abroad in 1999, a single mother, she founded The Buckeye Tutorial, an international program to support the educational needs of The Honda Motor Company Inc, expatriate associates’ children in grades K-12.

Hunsicker currently serves on the boards of the National Diversity Council, the Honda-operated Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center, the Columbus, Ohio YWCA, and The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. Hunsicker is also a member of The Conference Board’s Corporate Sociate Responsibility Council. Hunsicker graduated from Urbana University with a B.S. in Business Management and later earned the designations of Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and certified Diversity and Inclusion Professional through the National Diversity Council and Cornell University.

A proud parent, she resides in Bellefontaine, Ohio, with her daughter. Yvette is also the proud mother of a U.S. Army Veteran, and recently became a grandmother.

Jeffrey J. Hurd is Chief Operating Officer of Equitable and a member of the Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH) Management Committee. He has strategic oversight for the company’s Human Resources, Information Technology and Communications departments.

Mr. Hurd also has responsibility for the company’s Transformation Office which encompasses key functional areas including operations, data and analytics, procurement and corporate real estate. Prior to joining Equitable in January 2018, Mr. Hurd served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at American International Group, Inc. (AIG).

He amassed deep industry experience during his nearly 20-year tenure at AIG, having served as the Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Deputy General Counsel and Head of Asset Management Restructuring. In addition, he was the Chief Administrative Officer for AIG Investments and the interim CEO of AIG Global Real Estate. |

Mr. Hurd currently serves on the Board of Directors for AllianceBernstein. He previously has held a variety of board positions, including United Guaranty Corporation, a leading mortgage insurer, and the post-I PO board of AIA Group, a top insurance company in Southeast Asia. He began his career as an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Mr. Hurd received his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Union College.

Gregory (Greg) Jones, a Chicago native and Navy veteran, is the chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer at Cargill. Greg works closely with Cargill’s businesses and functions to align actions, investments and processes in support of Cargill’s DEI strategy and goals.

Throughout his career, Greg has committed himself to ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to realize their potential and use their unique perspective to help organizations succeed. Guided by this strong sense of purpose, he’s excelled at developing strategies, practices and teams that drive real change.

Greg started his career with GE Healthcare in 1989 as a Stanford-trained electrical engineer, followed by various business leadership roles in GE Healthcare and later as a consultant with executive recruiting firms. Over the next 20 years, he led DEI efforts for Fortune 500 companies in the airline and financial services industries, including United Airlines, UBS and Bank of America. Most recently, he served as chief DEI officer for KeyBank.

Following his time in the U.S. Navy, Greg graduated with an electrical engineering degree from Tuskegee University, a historically black college in the U.S. and a current partner through our Cargill University thrive program. He continued his education with a master’s degree from Stanford University.

He currently serves as a member of the board for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund; the advisory board for the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP); and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). He is also a distinguished visiting professor at Johnson and Wales University.

He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including being recognized by Black Enterprise magazine’s Top 100 Executives in Diversity and Ebony magazine’s Power 100.

Collis R. Jones holds the position of Vice President, U.S. Policy & Strategy, for John Deere Public Affairs in Washington, DC. He leads the team responsible for managing U.S. federal and state government relations activities on behalf of Deere. These efforts are aimed at supporting legislation and public policies that are favorable to the interests of the company’s employees, customers and business partners.

Collis brings over 20 years of governmental strategic, tactical and policy development experience to this role and is one of Deere’s key contributors in delivering client-focused business initiatives within the organization. His 30-year career began at John Deere Financial and has included various marketing, sales and public policy leadership roles across the enterprise.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.

Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land – those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity.

Sean Lee currently serves as global vice president of The Coca-Cola Company, leading the Global Operations and Workplace Services team. He brings more than 25 years of global operations and executive experiences from both military and Fortune 100 companies.

Sean was named global vice president of Global Operations and Workplace Services in 2020. He is responsible for operation teams dedicated to delivering scaled shared services across corporate facilities, real estate, The Coca-Cola Credit Union, Coca-Cola Meetings & Events, corporate travel, and executive aviation among other areas. These Services deliver end to end solutions that focus on employee experience oriented solves while also increasing operational efficiencies across 300 global facilities and 180 countries.

Previously, Sean has served as Chief Security Officer, VP of Aviation Services, and multiple other leadership positions with Hewlett Packard, MassMutual Financial Group, and The Coca-Cola Company. Additionally, he currently serves on the board of directors of the Coca-Cola Federal Credit Union, New England Air Museum, and the National Business Aviation Association.

Lee began his career as a United States Air Force Officer. He advanced to the rank of major and was honorably discharged after 10 years of active-duty service. During his tenure, he participated, trained, and led multiple global multinational operations, as well as flying multiple combat missions and completing 400+ hours of combat experience.

Lee is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s of science in general sciences/physics, as well as the USAF Russian Language Area Studies Immersion Program at the University of St. Petersburg in Russia. He has completed certificate courses in Strategic Operational Agility through Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning, as well as Aviation Safety & Security with the University of Southern California and the DoD/FAA Advanced Instrument School.

Lane McBride is a member of The Boston Consulting Group’s Public Sector and People & Organization practices as well as a member of the firm’s education leadership team in the US.

Since joining BCG in 2003, Lane has focused primarily on the education sector, spanning topics such as strategy, organization design and transformation, change management, cost efficiency, performance management, and consumer insight.

Lane’s client work has included supporting the development and implementation of the comprehensive transition plan for the largest school-district merger in US history, between Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. He also led a review of state education spending for a committee appointed by the governor of Delaware and helped carry out the Academic Transformation Plan in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Lane is a coauthor of a BCG paper on education cost efficiency published in Stretching the School Dollar: How Schools and Districts Can Save Money While Serving Students Best (Harvard Education Press, 2010). He is also a coauthor of several BCG publications on technology in education and K-12 resource allocation. Lane has supported BCG’s relationship with global social-impact partner Teach for All.

Charlie Merinoff is a principal founder of Breakthru Beverage Group (BBG), the innovative beverage wholesaler formed by Charmer Sunbelt Group (CSG) and Wirtz Beverage Group on January 1, 2016. He currently serves as Co-Chairman of BBG’s Board of Managers. The operations of the company and its affiliates span 16 markets throughout North America, and the company represents a portfolio of premier wine, spirits, and beer brands totaling more than $6 billion in annual sales.

Previously Charlie was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSG, one of the nation’s leading distributors of fine wines and spirits. Following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin in 1980, Charlie joined the family’s business, holding various positions in operations, purchasing, and sales. In 1991, Charlie was named President of Charmer Industries, the family’s Metro New York business. In 1994, the family acquired Sunbelt Beverage Corporation, then operating distributorships in several Eastern states. The Sunbelt Beverage Corporation continued to expand through acquisitions and partnerships, and in 1997 the wholesale companies in which the family had an interest became known as The Charmer Sunbelt Group. In 2011, he was named Chairman of the Board of The Charmer Sunbelt Group.

Charlie devotes a significant amount of time and resources to charitable organizations. He has served on the board of directors for Thurgood Marshall College Fund for 22 years, the last 5 years he served in the capacity of board chairman.   In his five years of distinguished service as Board Chair, Charlie oversaw the largest period of sustained revenue growth for TMCF, a significant expansion in corporate and public sector partnerships, and a marked increase in the annual average number of scholarships awarded and professional development opportunities offered to the students that TMCF serves.  Charlie’s tenure also saw the expansion of TMCF’s membership to include our nation’s Historically Black Community Colleges and the expansion of capacity-building opportunities provided to our member schools.

Charlie has also been a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation since 1999 and is currently its Treasurer and an active member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, Charlie spent twelve years on the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America and is currently Trustee Emeritus.  Charlie has previously been on the Board of Trustees of Northwell Health – formerly North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and Make-A-Wish Foundation Metro New York. Charlie spearheaded the annual “Wine and Wishes” tasting and auction, which raised nearly $8.0 million over 13 years for Make-A-Wish.

As senior vice president, human resources, Machell Mims is responsible for total rewards; talent acquisition and management; HR strategy and operations; culture, diversity and inclusion; and the HR business partnerships for finance, human resources and legal. She also oversees the HR teams serving Lowe’s Bangalore office and the third-party Costa Rica operations. She owns the overall talent strategy supporting the development and growth of associates in these organizations, with a focus on building high-performing teams to deliver business results. Machell also leads the HR team’s day-to-day operational excellence and continues to press the evolution of HR at Lowe’s. She joined Lowe’s in 2011.

Machell has 30 years of experience in human resources. She has served Lowe’s in multiple HR leadership roles, including regional HR director; senior director, supply chain and technology HR business partner; and vice president, HR business partner, supply chain and shared services. Before joining Lowe’s, she served as head of HR for Savannah River Remediation LLC, where she was responsible for the company’s HR strategy. She previously served in human resources roles at CVS and Walmart.

Machell earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Winthrop University and an MBA in public administration from Brenau University. She is a member of Lowe’s enterprise risk council and the Lowe’s India Board. She also serves on the governing board of the African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte.

Mark A. Nelson Vice Chairman Mark A. Nelson, 60, is vice chairman of Chevron Corporation. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Nelson leads Chevron Strategy & Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, Corporate Business Development, Information Technology and Procurement/Supply Chain Management.

Nelson was executive vice president, Downstream & Chemicals, a position he held from 2019–2022, with responsibilities for directing the company’s worldwide manufacturing, marketing, lubricants, chemicals and Oronite additives businesses. He also oversaw Chevron’s joint-venture Chevron Phillips Chemical Company.

Other positions include vice president, Midstream, Strategy & Policy where he was responsible for the company’s shipping, pipeline, power and energy management, and supply and trading operating units, corporate strategic planning and policy, government and public affairs; vice president, Strategic Planning for Chevron; president, International Products and president, Chevron Canada Limited.

With more than 35 years of experience, Nelson has served in a number of leadership positions with increasing responsibilities within the company in retail, marketing, operations and business planning. Nelson also served on several advisory boards and councils, including Singapore’s Economic Development Board and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Nelson joined Chevron U.S.A. Inc. in 1985 as an engineer based in San Ramon, California.

A native of Ventura, California, Nelson graduated from California Polytechnic State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Michelle Nettles joined ManpowerGroup as Chief People and Culture Officer responsible for global HR, culture and diversity in July 2019. Nettles brings proven global leadership and a passion for unlocking people’s potential together with business vision and vast consumer experience. Prior to ManpowerGroup, Nettles was Chief People and Diversity Officer at Molson Coors Brewing Company where she spent 20 years in various leadership positions across all aspects of human resources including executive compensation, talent management, diversity and inclusion, labor relations and succession planning.

Nettles holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. She serves on the Board of HR People + Strategy, Thurgood Marshall College Fund in Washington D.C. and is the Board Chair for Milwaukee Collegiate Academy. Nettles resides with her husband in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dave Osswald joined MillerCoors in 2006. He has been the Chief People and Diversity Officer since March 2018, through which he is responsible for driving the growth and development of the MillerCoors team. As a result of his efforts, MillerCoors received a perfect score of 100 on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index, a survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation (MillerCoors 2019).
Before his current role, Osswald held various positions within the company, such as Associate General Counsel, where he supported human resources and integrated supply chain organizations. He was also in charge of the company’s ethics and compliance program, crisis management team, and corporate security.

Before joining MillerCoors, Osswald was the in-house counsel for the Milwaukee-based Marcus Corporation, which operates theatres, hotels, and resorts. He worked in the labor and employment and civil litigation departments at the law firm Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

Osswald received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Since 2011, Osswald has been on the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families, which supports families through the foster care and adoption process. Since 2014, he has been on the Board of Directors of Milwaukee’s Near West Side Partners, which works to improve the Near West Side neighborhood, located near the MillerCoors office. He was previously on the board of the Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation, which strives to improve the lives of those with the disorder.

In 2018, BizStarts, a Milwaukee organization that fosters entrepreneurship in the region, inducted Osswald into their Hall of Fame for his entrepreneurial work (BizStarts 2018).

Osswald is a supporter of the Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, which provides services that includes childcare, afterschool programs for youth, and literacy education and job skills training for refugees. He has donated to the University of Wisconsin, the Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation, and various democratic politicians in Wisconsin

Parker is an HR executive committed to innovative, relevant, and contemporary HR leadership. She is an advocate for change and a passionate thought leader. Parker is responsible for advancing Google’s employee engagement strategy across Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Additionally, Parker serves as a Minority in Energy Initiative Champion for the Department of Energy.

Prior to this role she served as the Vice President of Human Resources & Communications at Sandia National Laboratories. Parker was responsible for the leadership and Labs-wide management of human resources, health, benefits and employee services. She was also responsible for Sandia’s communication efforts, which include planning, strategy, executive communications, media relations, external branding, community affairs and internal communications.

Prior to joining Sandia as the VP of HR and Communications, Parker extends expertise from a career spanning over 17 years in a variety of Lockheed Martin business areas, locations, and progressive leadership roles.
During her time at Lockheed Martin, she has held responsibility for employee relations, staffing, EEO/Affirmative Action, diversity programs, compensation, benefits, and K-12 outreach initiatives.

Parker received a B.A. in Mass Communications from Hampton University and an M.A. in Human Resources from Villanova University. She was named the 2016 HR Professional of the Year by the New Mexico Society of Human Resource Management. She was recognized with a Special Recognition Award at the 2014 Women of Color STEM Awards, and in 2012 graduated from Lockheed Martin’s Executive Assessment & Development Program.

April A. Payne-McMillian is currently a Program Analyst, Child Care Subsidy Program(CCSP), Office of Human Resources, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The CCSP is a $3.6M national program that supports employees to subsidize the costs of childcare. To improve the efficiency of the program, she has mastered an automated records management system(CCRMS) that captures and electronically processes thousands of payments through an Invoice Payment Processing System (IPPS) to childcare providers across the country.

In 2010, Payne-McMillian worked at The Library of Congress, Office of the Librarian in the Special Events Department. She served as a special assistant in supporting such major events as the Gershwin Prize Award honoring Paul McCartney and several other icons. Prior to her tenure at the Library of Congress, Payne-McMillian developed her career in the music industry, where she provided marketing and promotional events for Sony Music and several recording startups. She worked closely with the late LeBaron Taylor of Sony and assisted in organizing several major entertainment events during the early years of the nationally recognized Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

In 1995, April became the Senior Vice President of Global Productions and Entertainment, Inc. She was responsible for managing the company’s multi-international entertainment/event, contracts, artists, marketing, and strategic planning, as well as assisting in the development of the company’s long-term direction and operating and performance targets. She worked toward an advanced degree in public health/biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University and studied at the University of Alabama. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the District of Columbia, where she started her career in biostatistics and strategic planning on a grant from the U. S. National Institute of Health.

Payne-McMillian has been extraordinarily successful in pursuing her academic interest in the sciences, as well as her passion for the creative and performing arts. She has traveled extensively in South America, Europe and Canada.

Josh Petty is the firm’s chief counsel. In this role, Josh works collaboratively across the firm with various stakeholders and is responsible for leading various legal initiatives, providing management with legal advice, playing a major part in managing the legal department, and collaborating with outside counsel on certain complex legal matters.
Josh’s areas of legal expertise include commercial and government contracting, compliance programs, crisis management, corporate investigations, data protection, technology transactions, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and risk assessments.

Before joining Booz Allen, Josh was a managing director at Accenture where he held several senior positions in the company’s legal group. Josh co-led a team of approximately 70 lawyers, numerous outside counsel, and contractor resources that handled thousands of client transactions annually, representing over $9 billion in annual revenue across all of the company’s North America operations. Josh also served as Accenture’s global government compliance officer and implemented several compliance initiatives including enhanced policies, procedures, and training materials for the company’s global government compliance program.

Before joining Accenture, Josh worked for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems.

Josh earned his B.B.A. in finance from The George Washington University, his M.S. in international business from Johns Hopkins University, and his J.D. from John Marshall School of Law.

Introducing the Visionary Leadership of President Quinton T. Ross, Jr.: Cultivating Excellence at Alabama State University.

Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr., stands at the helm of Alabama State University, his cherished alma mater, as the 15th President, a transformative force propelling the institution toward new horizons. With an unwavering commitment to servant leadership, Dr. Ross has cast an inspiring vision for ASU, boldly steering the university toward growth, innovation, and lasting impact. His guiding mantra, “Moving ASU 150 years forward,” exemplifies his dedication to propelling this esteemed institution into a future of boundless possibilities.

Assuming the presidency in October 2017, Dr. Ross embraced the formidable challenge of securing fiscal stability for ASU. His resolute leadership led to a remarkable transformation, marked by debt reduction, strategic budget cuts, resource reallocation, and the elimination of financial foundation is a testament to his astute financial acumen.

Under Dr. Ross’s guidance, ASU underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, witnessing a comprehensive enhancement of its infrastructure. Through strategic leveraging of partnerships and unwavering determination, he orchestrated a series of ambitious capital projects, including a sweeping campus-wide asphalt resurfacing endeavor, installation of cutting-edge security cameras, modernization of boilers, HVAC systems, and elevators, and the revitalization of residence halls, encompassing essential roof replacements, amounting to a staggering $17 million investment.

Dr. Ross’s visionary leadership was unequivocally validated in 2021 when ASU emerged triumphant through reaffirmation by the esteemed Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), setting a trajectory of excellence through 2030. At the core of his transformative tenure lies the ambitious strategic blueprint, aptly named FOCUS 2030: Advancing the Legacy and Bridging Communities through Commitment, Collaborations,
and Creativity. This visionary roadmap has propelled ASU to unparalleled heights, expanding access and equitable opportunities for a diverse student body.

Under Dr. Ross’s inspirational guidance, ASU has achieved unprecedented milestones in academics, fundraising, partnerships, and student accomplishments, culminating in a remarkable ascent in the U.S. News and World Report rankings. In 2022, ASU proudly secured its position within the Top 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a testament to Dr.Ross’s visionary leadership.

Dr. Ross’s commitment to fostering growth and nurturing strong relationships is epitomized through his innovative approach, encapsulated by John O. Killen’s ‘CommUniversity’ concept. By forging novel global, federal, state, and local partnerships, ASU has amplified its influence and impact. Dr. Ross’s adept communication with both local and national media has elevated ASU’s brand and established him as a recognized authority on the future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Chris Scalia is The Hershey Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer and leads Hershey’s human resources function with accountability for Workforce Planning, Listening and Analytics, Total Rewards, Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, Talent Management, HR Service Delivery, and Strategic Business Partnering. Central to Hershey’s vision of becoming a snacking powerhouse are capabilities brought to life through outstanding talent. An energized workforce and people-centric culture striving to make a positive impact in communities where we live and work is fundamental to how Hershey leads in the marketplace.

With the support and dedication of an amazing HR team, and by partnering with talented leaders and over 18,000 colleagues, Hershey is enabling value for its current and future teammates who make Hershey the best possible place to work. With more than 15 years at Hershey, Chris has held several leadership roles in legal and HR. Across the spectrum of manufacturing, labor relations, employment law, business partnering, and all of talent, Chris has experience designing and implementing talent systems at the Board, C-Suite, and scaled enterprise levels.

The HR team has driven enterprise-wide culture change and developed peer-leading talent pipelines of diverse teams who help Hershey grow and thrive. Chris has multiple experiences leading organizational transformation and restructuring efforts that better aligned Hershey’s resources for growth, improved profitability, and new capabilities. He regularly collaborates with Hershey’s CEO, his colleagues on the management team, and the company’s Board of Directors. Prior to Hershey, Chris worked in the HR Law Practice Group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP.

Chris holds an Executive Master of Human Resources Management from Cornell University, a Juris Doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Juniata College. He is an attorney, though not practicing, admitted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and various federal courts of appeal. Active in several professional organizations, Chris is a board member of Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a member of HR Policy Association, and serves on Gartner’s CHRO Leadership Board. He is a strategic advisory board member of Catalant, and a strong supporter of Cornell University’s Center for Advanced Human Resources Studies.

Mr. Sweeney is a member of the Los Angeles office’s Commercial Litigation group, where he focuses his practices on handling complex business disputes. Mr. Sweeney has handled individual and class action lawsuits involving claims of breach of contract, unfair business practices, unfair trade practices, consumer fraud, and breach of warranty. He has also handled employment lawsuits where claims of discrimination, wage-hour, wrongful termination and trade secrets are at issue. Mr. Sweeney also handles entertainment cases involving claims of idea misappropriation, invasion of privacy and breach of contract.

Mr. Sweeney’s recent engagements include the following:

• In 2010, handling six class action lawsuits, in subject areas ranging from unfair business practices, to consumer fraud, to employment.
• In 2008, won appeal in the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, representing major telecommunications company accused of engaging in wrongful business conduct.
• In 2006, obtained dismissal of case filed against major entertainment company accused of misappropriating idea for television show.
• In 2005, served as lead-counsel defending entertainment conglomerate in a two-week discrimination trial in Los Angeles Superior Court in which jury rendered a defense verdict.
• In 2004, represented international electronic components manufacturer in consumer representative action (CA B&P Section 17200) alleging product defects and false advertising regarding warranties.

Professional Background
Between 1979 and 1981, Mr. Sweeney served as a White House Fellow, where he worked for the White House chief of staff/assistant to the President for intergovernmental affairs. In 1999, Mr. Sweeney served as a volunteer prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Branch, where he handled misdemeanor jury trials. Mr. Sweeney was named a Southern California Wyer” in the Corporate Counsel Edition in 2008.

Professional/Civic Activities

• American Law Institute
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Hollywood Wilshire YMCA, Board of Directors
• Public Counsel, Board of Directors

Byron Taylor is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and co-leader of Sidley’s Environmental practice group. His practice includes civil litigation, crisis response, compliance counseling, internal investigations, regulatory advocacy, and environmental aspects of transactions.

Byron assists clients and advises boards in high-stakes matters following major environmental incidents, including matters that involve both environmental regulatory issues and related tort claims. He also frequently provides key strategic advice on regulatory and permit matters and defends clients against alleged violations of a variety of federal and state environmental laws. Over the past several years, Byron has become well known for his work on complex Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act matters.

Byron was named the Litigation — Environmental law “Lawyer of the Year” in Chicago in the Best Lawyers’ 2013 edition. He also has been recognized as a leader in Chambers USA 2013-2022 in Environment: Litigation, which noted he “feels like a steady hand for clients in difficult negotiations.” In 2019, Byron was named by Crain’s Chicago Business to its list of “Notable Minorities in Accounting, Consulting & Law.”

Within the firm, Byron is a co-chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and serves on the Lawyer Training and Professional Development Committee and the Counsel Committee.

Toni Townes-Whitley, 35-year global technology veteran, is the new Chief Executive Officer of Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC), effective October 2, 2023. Toni brings a distinguished and proven track record of driving strong enterprise financial results and fostering an inclusive culture focused on entrepreneurship and high performance. In her most recent role as President, U.S. Regulated Industries at Microsoft, she led the company’s public sector and regulated commercial industries including education, financial services, government, and healthcare, managing $16B of annual revenue.

Toni is a global tech leader who has served as an Independent Director/Trustee on 8 Boards:  Nasdaq, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PNC Financial Services, Granicus, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Partnership for Public Service, and the Princeton Faith & Work Initiative. She is a guest lecturer on technology ethics and entrepreneurism in the public sector at Stanford and Princeton Universities. She has been a recipient of numerous awards.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in public policy and economics from Princeton University’s School of Public & International Affairs (SPIA) and has received certifications from Wharton Executive Education, New York University, and the Performance Management Institute. Toni is the proud daughter of former Comptroller of the Army, LTG (Ret.) James F. McCall and former Fairfax Co. principal S. Yvonne McCall. She and her husband John H. Whitley reside in Northern VA and have five children, nine grandchildren and counting… Upon her appointment, she has become the 3 rd African American female CEO on the Fortune 500 and first in the National Defense sector.

As former President of US Regulated Industries at Microsoft, Toni led the US sales strategy for driving digital transformation across customers and partners within the public sector and commercial regulated industries – including Education, Financial Services, Government, and Healthcare.  With responsibility for the 5200+ sales organization and $16B+ P&L, she was one of the leading women at Microsoft, and in the technology industry, with a track record for accelerating and sustaining profitable business and building high-performance teams. In addition to leading a sales organization, she helped steer the company’s work to address systemic racial injustice – with efforts targeted both internally at representation and inclusion; as well as externally at leveraging technology to counter prevailing societal challenges. She has developed expertise and speaks publicly about “Civic Technology,” applying tech innovation for social impact.

Toni helped to launch new initiatives at Microsoft, building the ethics framework for Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, creating a Microsoft Federal subsidiary model, establishing the Microsoft Executive women’s network, sponsoring Blacks & Africans at Microsoft (BAM), and partnering with the Athena Alliance, an organization that prepares tech women for corporate board roles, and creating a cultural and operating shift to applied innovation customized by industry.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Toni was president of CGI Federal, where she was responsible for a portfolio of more than $1 billion, leading 6,600 employees to deliver greater value to US Government civilian, defense, and intelligence sectors. Previously, Toni held several management roles at Unisys Corporation leading global and commercial-sector system integration and the Federal Civilian group, where she achieved 500 percent revenue growth and doubled profitability.

Toni’s work has been recognized across many industries, making her the recipient of numerous awards that include Fortune’s Most Powerful Women: Ones to Watch, Women in Technology Leadership, Black Enterprise Top Executive, FedScoop Top50 for Industry Leadership, the 2020 IES Lifetime Achievement Award, NVTC Tech 100 Executive, Federal 100 Industry Eagle Award, and “Woman of the Year” by the Washington-based STEM for Her organization.

Kevin R. Walling is vice president, chief human resources officer, of PPG. He leads PPG’s global HR organization, is a member of PPG’s Operating Committee and reports to PPG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael H. McGarry.

Over the past 30 years, Walling has delivered shareholder value and commercial performance through HR excellence. Before joining PPG in February 2020, he had served as chief human resources officer at The Hershey Company for nearly a decade. In his leadership role, Walling helped transform Hershey through the alignment of strategy, talent and culture. He led Hershey’s global HR organization, talent management, leadership development, learning, recruitment, and total rewards strategies. Walling also led the corporate communications and sustainability teams that drove Hershey’s global reputation, innovative community engagement and globally responsible citizenship.

Prior to his role with Hershey, Walling held leadership roles with Kennametal Inc., where he was responsible for human resources in more than 60 countries; Marconi Corporation plc.; and Acclaim Entertainment. In addition, he served in management roles with PepsiCo and the Manville Corporation.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Gartner CHRO Leadership Advisory Board. He formerly served as a Trustee at the Lancaster Country Day School, and was a member of the State of Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board. He is a member the HR Policy Association, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Labor Relations from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, New York.

Alicia West serves as Vice President, Region Sales, for Altria Group Distribution Company. In her current role, Alicia heads a team of over 350 sales leaders to support Altria’s tobacco companies’ businesses and top customers across thirteen states.

Upon graduating from Penn State University, Alicia joined Philip Morris USA in the Customer Supply Chain department. She received her MBA from the University of Richmond and has held a variety of leadership positions in Sales, Trade Marketing, Sales Infrastructure and Customer Supply Chain.

Alicia is passionate about advancing Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Altria and in the community. She has served on the board of directors for Communities in Schools of Chicago, as well as the Altria Companies Employee Community Fund.

Outside of work, Alicia enjoys checking out new vacation spots with her husband and their three children, diving into a great book and cooking with her junior sous-chefs.

As Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at the National Basketball Association (NBA), Tatia L. Williams is responsible for the legal and business affairs related to the league’s Social Responsibility and Player Programs department, which includes all programs related to NBA Cares, the Jr. NBA, Player Marketing and Player Development. Williams also leads a league-wide, inter-departmental team that reviews global brand compliance for the use of creative promotions and advertising. Additionally, she manages a portfolio of NBA TV media deals, handling all aspects of the affiliate relationship, oversees the NBA’s compulsory license work and, most recently, focused on the 2019- 20 NBA Season Restart, concentrating on the legal process for vendors, staff, player and team guests.

Williams is a member of several of the NBA’s affinity groups, including the NBA Women’s Network and Dream in Color, where she holds a leadership role. Recently she has been active in assisting the league in establishing and activating new social justice initiatives and commitments, including the NBA Foundation and National Basketball Social Justice Coalition.

Prior to joining the NBA, she worked as a Director in the Sales Planning and Strategy/Media Distribution Group at MTV Networks and as a Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at Oxygen Media. In addition, she has served as a political appointee in the Executive Branch of the United States Government as a lawyer for a Presidential Transition Team, Special Counsel to the President in the White House (White House Counsel’s Office), and Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce. She began her career in the Corporate Department of the New York office of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett.

Williams dedicates much of her personal time to serving her community. She recently was asked to serve on the College Foundation Board of the University of Virginia and is on the Board of Directors of iLiveFor, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit, committed to ending the cultural stigma of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders in teenagers and young adults of color. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Girls, Inc. of NYC and on the Board of Advisors of the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC. She also has held numerous leadership positions as a member of the Links, Inc., and was elected to and serves as a Mentor for the W.O.M.E.N. in America Organization, whose mission is to enable women to fulfill their highest potential by positioning them early in their careers for success. She is a graduate of the Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Executive Leadership Institute (WELI) and is a member of WISE.