2024 ELC Gala Program Book (Full) by elcinfo

2024 ELC RECOGNITION GALA SPONSORS RECOGNITION PROGRAM

GALA CO-LEAD SPONSORS

VIP PRE-GALA NETWORKING RECEPTION SPONSOR

GALA SPIRIT SPONSOR

GALA ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR

POST-GALA NETWORKING RECEPTION ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR

POST-GALA NETWORKING RECEPTION SPONSOR

GALA RED CARPET SPONSOR

GALA SILVER SPONSOR

GALA GOLD SPONSORS

GALA NETWORKING LOUNGE SPONSOR

GALA PHOTO BOOTH SPONSOR

WELCOME

Michael C. Hyter

President and Chief Executive Officer

The Executive Leadership Council

2024 ELC Recognition Gala Co-Chair

Gale V. King

Board Chair

The Executive Leadership Council

Corporate Director, and Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Nationwide Mutal Insurance Company

2024 GALA CO-LEAD SPONSORS

The Coca-Cola Company

Google

INVOCATION

Pastor William H. Lamar IV

Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

DINNER

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

Kevin Frazier

Michelle Miller Co-hosts

ELC BOARD CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS

Gale V. King

Board Chair

The Executive Leadership Council

Corporate Director, and Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Nationwide Mutal Insurance Company

2024 SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION

2024 ELC ALVARO L. MARTINS HERITAGE AWARD PRESENTATION

D. Keith Pigues

CEO

Luminas Strategy

ELC PRESIDENT AND CEO’S

REMARKS

Michael C. Hyter

President and Chief Executive Officer

The Executive Leadership Council

2024 ELC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTATION

Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall

CEO

Dallas Mavericks

2024 ELC CORPORATE AWARD PRESENTATION

Christophe Beck

President and CEO

Ecolab

2024 POST-GALA NETWORKING RECEPTION SPONSOR UnitedHealth Group

2024 GALA ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR Novartis

CLOSING PERFORMANCE

Bell Biv Devoe

WELCOME

FROM Gale V. King

ELC Board Chair

Greetings and welcome to the 2024 ELC Recognition Gala!

As I write my final letter to you as Chair, I want to begin by congratulating our honorees and scholars. I also want to thank everyone who has joined us this evening.

I am filled with deep gratitude and immense pride for the work and impact of The ELC. I have been honored to serve as Chair. Our accomplishments have been significant, enabled by your unwavering support.

GALE V. KING Board Chair

I would like to honor our 19 ELC Founders for their visionary leadership and lasting legacy. We are fortunate to have three who remain active, engaged, and inspirational. They are Jim Kaiser, Elynor Williams, and Milt Irvin.

I also want to extend my deepest thanks to Michael C. Hyter, our President and CEO, for his leadership and unwavering dedication. To The ELC staff, your commitment to professionalism and service is second to none. To The ELC membership, we are proud of your accomplishments and thank you for your ongoing partnership and support of The ELC.

To The ELC Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Nancy, Gena, and Shaundra, you all set the example for board governance and exceptional leadership. And special thanks to the 2024 Gala Co-Lead Sponsors, Google and The Coca-Cola Company, and their wonderful member representatives, Melanie Parker and Pamela Stewart. And to all of our friends and sponsors, we see and thank you.

I am proud to share that we have made significant strides in support of our mission. Our successes include growth, enhancing the member value proposition, and our advocacy in DEI and voter engagement continue to deliver on our mission. I am confident that our collective momentum will continue to propel us forward.

Thank you for your partnership, shared vision, hard work, and excellence. It has been an honor to serve with you.

Sincerely,

WELCOME FROM Michael C. Hyter

President and CEO

It is my pleasure to welcome you to The Executive Leadership Council’s 2024 Recognition Gala. This evening, we gather to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of our esteemed members, scholars, business leaders, and the transformative role of Black leadership within corporate America.

The significance of tonight’s event is amplified by the invaluable support of our co-sponsors, Google and The CocaCola Company. Their dedication to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion exemplifies the collaborative spirit necessary for driving sustained progress across industries and communities.

MICHAEL C. HYTER President and Chief Executive Officer

Tonight, we honor several exceptional changemakers. We honor ELC Member Cynthia Marshall with the 2024 ELC Achievement Award, Ecolab with the 2024 ELC Corporate Award, and ELC Member D. Keith Pigues with the 2024 ELC Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award.

As we reflect on the strides that we have made, we are filled with optimism for the future. The ELC remains committed to its mission of expanding opportunities, amplifying influential voices, and nurturing the next generation of Black leaders who will shape tomorrow’s corporate landscape.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our shared goals and for joining us in this celebration of excellence and progress.

Sincerely,

WELCOME

FROM Michael C. Hyter & Melonie D. Parker

2024 Gala Co-Chairs

It is our honor to serve as co-chairs for The ELC’s 2024 Recognition Gala. We are thrilled about the incredible evening ahead. This year’s Gala will be a remarkable celebration of leadership and excellence.

We want to extend our deepest thanks to our Board Chair, Gale V. King, whose visionary leadership has been instrumental in making this event a reality. We also recognize the dedication of the Gala Committee and our staff members, who have worked tirelessly to ensure every detail reflects our community’s excellence.

We are also immensely grateful to our corporate sponsors for their generous support. Their commitment enables us to create an event that not only celebrates our achievements but also strengthens our collective impact.

We are eager to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of our members and look forward to a night of inspiration, connection, and joy. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

MICHAEL C. HYTER President and Chief Executive Officer

2024 Gala Co-Chair

2024 ELC RECOGNITION GALA PLANNING COMMITTEE

GALE V. KING

The Executive Leadership Council Advisor

MICHAEL C. HYTER

The Executive Leadership Council Gala Co-Chair

MELONIE D. PARKER Google Gala Co-Chair

MELONIE D. PARKER

Chief Diversity Officer

2024 Gala Co-Chair

SANDRA ALTINÉ Meta

AMADOU DIARRA Bristol Myers Squibb

MONICA HOWARD DOUGLAS The Coca-Cola Company

JOY FITZGERALD UnitedHealth Group

CURTIS HOWSE Synchrony

VALERIE R. LOVE

Kimball International

DALILA WILSON-SCOTT

Comcast Corporation

Our

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Directors Continued

Directors

Ex-Officio

MICHAEL

VALERIE

WELCOME

FROM Sundar Pichai

Co-Lead Sponsor

There’s a world where everyone belongs. It just has to be built.

Google is proud to support The Executive Leadership Council in our shared pursuit to build a world where everyone belongs.

Google is proud to sponsor the 2024 ELC Recognition Gala. We support The Executive Leadership Council’s mission to transform corporate America by fostering a diverse and inclusive executive leadership landscape for current and future Black leaders.

At Google, building a culture of belonging and inclusion is important to us as we fulfill our mission of organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful.

Our racial equity commitments, established in 2020, continue to guide our progress. We’re proud to have met our goal of increasing leadership representation of Black, Latinx, and Native American Googlers by 30 percent.

PICHAI CEO

Internally, we’ve made changes to our recruitment, training, and promotion processes, incorporating more checks for fairness. Externally, our partnership with The Executive Leadership Council led to the successful launch of Decoded 2.0, a comprehensive bootcamp fostering meaningful connections for Black tech professionals across the country, with the goal of helping them build impactful careers.

We are investing in the next generation of diverse tech talent. Our Google in Residence (GIR) program is focused on recruiting and training experienced technical Googlers to teach introductory computer science courses at HBCUs and HSIs. This program currently serves more than 1,600 HBCU and HSI students, and we’ve doubled the number of Google software engineering job offers extended at partner schools in the last five years.

While we acknowledge the progress made, there’s still a lot more work ahead to ensure companies, including ours, have leadership that reflects the communities we serve. The Executive Leadership Council’s vital work, alongside the support of everyone present tonight, will help to drive much-needed change, and Google is honored to be part of this journey.

SUNDAR

WELCOME FROM James Quincey

Co-Lead Sponsor

The Coca-Cola Company is proud to honor tonight’s distinguished achievers and to support The Executive Leadership Council’s dedication to inclusive corporate leadership.

We invest to improve people’s lives, from our employees to those who touch our business system, to the many communities we, our bottlers, and our partners call home.

We believe creating a workplace that represents the markets we serve is a strategic business priority that is critical to the company’s continued growth and success. We embrace differences in background, and we aim to create access to equal opportunities for our employees and within the communities we serve.

This includes support from The Coca-Cola Foundation, our philanthropic arm, for The ELC’s Award for Excellence scholarship for nearly 30 years.

While we’ve made significant progress, more work remains. We are grateful to The Executive Leadership Council for its ongoing partnership.

JAMES QUINCEY Chairman and CEO

2024 ELC ALVARO L. MARTINS HERITAGE AWARD WINNER

D. Keith Pigues

CEO | Luminas Strategy

D. Keith Pigues is an accomplished entrepreneur, business strategist, and thought leader whose impact spans multiple industries, from technology and consulting to academia and nonprofit sectors. As the founder and CEO of Luminas Strategy, a global management consultancy, Pigues specializes in helping B2B companies develop growth strategies centered on differential value propositions. His extensive career includes work with Fortune 100 companies such as Cisco, Ecolab, and Dropbox, where he has been instrumental in driving revenue growth and fostering innovation.

Pigues’ entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond Luminas Strategy. He is also the co-founder and chairman of CulTRUE, a tech company that aligns employee fulfillment with organizational culture through advanced analytics. His work as a business-growth advisor and executive coach has made him a trusted partner for companies seeking to navigate complex business landscapes.

In addition to his corporate achievements, Pigues has been a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion. Since 2003, his contributions to The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) have been profound, supporting its mission to increase the presence of Black executives in C-suites and on corporate boards. Pigues’ leadership and influence have earned him the 2024 ELC Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award, named in honor of The ELC’s first president and CEO. This award celebrates individuals who have made remarkable lifetime contributions to the success of Black executives in business.

Keith Pigues’ unwavering dedication to fostering the next generation of Black leaders places him in the esteemed company of past recipients such as Ken Chenault and Debra Lee. His visionary approach to leadership continues to inspire and shape the future of corporate America.

2024 ELC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall CEO | Dallas Mavericks

Cynthia Marshall is a pioneering business leader known for her transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As the first Black female CEO in NBA history, Marshall has reshaped the corporate culture of the Dallas Mavericks, setting a new standard for inclusivity in professional sports. Her tenure with the Mavericks began in 2018, when she was tasked with leading a cultural overhaul following reports of a toxic work environment. Under her guidance, the Mavericks have experienced a 350% increase in women in executive roles and a 224% increase in people of color in leadership positions.

Prior to joining the Mavericks, Marshall had an extraordinary 36-year career at AT&T, where she held numerous senior leadership positions. Known for her groundbreaking work in human resources and diversity initiatives, she helped foster a more inclusive culture throughout the organization. Her efforts to promote DEI within AT&T laid the foundation for the principles she brought to the Mavericks, ensuring that employees at every level feel respected, valued, and empowered.

In recognition of her trailblazing career and profound contributions to advancing DEI, Marshall has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 ELC Achievement Award. This prestigious honor is bestowed upon individuals whose business and career achievements exemplify bold, courageous, and transformative leadership. Marshall’s work continues to break barriers, setting an inspiring example for the next generation of Black executives. Previous recipients of this esteemed award include Mellody Hobson, Kenneth Frazier, and Ursula Burns.

Cynthia Marshall’s story is one of resilience, integrity, and unwavering dedication to creating opportunities for others. Her leadership has redefined what is possible in the world of professional sports and corporate America, making her a beacon of hope and excellence.

2024 ELC CORPORATE AWARD WINNER

As a global leader in water, hygiene, and energy technologies, Ecolab is the recipient of the 2024 ELC Corporate Award, which recognizes the company’s outstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). With over 46,000 associates operating in more than 170 countries, Ecolab has set a high standard for embedding DEI into its business operations, from talent recruitment and development to supplier partnerships and customer relations. The company’s long-term goals include achieving pay equity and ensuring that management-level diversity mirrors the communities it serves by 2030.

Ecolab has consistently been recognized for its DEI efforts, being named a Top 50 Company for Diversity by Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) and receiving the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index award for 11 consecutive years. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Christophe Beck, Ecolab has demonstrated that business success and DEI are inextricably linked. Beck’s belief that innovation and growth are driven by diverse perspectives has been a guiding principle in Ecolab’s approach to fostering an inclusive corporate culture.

The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is proud to honor Ecolab with the 2024 Corporate Award for its leadership in advancing DEI initiatives across the organization and beyond. Ecolab’s commitment to creating a workplace where all employees feel empowered to contribute their best selves has made a lasting impact, serving as a model for other companies worldwide. With its dedication to making the world a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable place, Ecolab continues to set the bar for corporate responsibility and inclusive growth.

By recognizing Ecolab, The ELC celebrates a company that exemplifies the power of diversity in driving sustainable business success and innovation across industries.

The Executive Leadership Council’s charitable efforts focus on providing opportunity, access, and knowledge to enhance and advance Black leadership in Corporate America. We are committed to uplifting communities that uplift Black talent.

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2024 EXXONMOBIL INNOVATIVE ENGINEERS SCHOLARSHIP

MARCELLUS ODUM

Georgia Institute of Technology

2024 HP

INC. SCHOLARSHIP

CHIDERA OKONKWO University of California, Los Angeles

SPONSOREDBY

BAUKIS WISE JR. Alabama A&M University

DANIEL IGE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2024 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE SCHOLARSHIP

NERANTI GARY

Howard University

BRIANNA GRIFFITHS Howard University

CAMERON MORGAN University of Alabama

JORDAN MORGAN Connecticut College

SPONSOREDBY

GERALD ODURO-NUAMAH University of South Florida

ADRIAN CRICK Spelman College

JASON GARLAND JR. Duquesne University

JORDAN GAY Howard University

ESSENCE-JADE SPRINGER

North Carolina A&T State University

RUBENA UYEH Georgia State University

2024 HSBC SCHOLARSHIP

ETHAN GRAHAM Howard University

SPONSOREDBY SPONSOREDBY

JASMYNE KINSLOW Florida A&M University

GIANA MATTIS Cornell University

MATTHEW NYAANGA University of Michigan

JULIAN YARBOROUGH University of Virginia

2024 JOHNSON & JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP & CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

ASHTON HALL North

CHELSEA BENTON

ALLEN

THOMAS HAILEGEBRIEL

University

2024 MARVIN R. ELLISON EMERGING LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP

JAMYA

ANTHONY

TRINITY

TAYLOR

BARIGBONME NAABIEN

BRYSON

ANJELINA

AMEENAH

ANALAH

ERYN

OLIVIA GWIN

Bethune-Cookman University

AERIES HOSKINS

WILLIAM JOHNSON Winston-Salem State University

ANTHONY KINSEY Hampton University

LANDEN MCFADDEN

Alabama A&M University

SCHOLARSHIP

GAVIN TOLBERT Jackson State University 2024 OTSUKA

JOSEPH

MONIEYA

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

2024 SYNCHRONY SCHOLARSHIP

DARIAS

SYDNEY

2024 RTX SCHOLARSHIP

2024

2024 ALVARO L. MARTINS SCHOLARSHIP

BRYCE ANDERSON

Howard University

WILLIAM BLAND

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

KERMIT BOOKER JR.

Alabama A&M University

JOSHUA BOYCE

Alabama A&M University

PATRICK COOPER

North Carolina A&T State University

LAYTON DAVIS Morehouse College

AARON ELLIOTT Howard University

ZECHARIAH FISHER-COLEMAN University of South Carolina

BRAYLEN HOWELL University of Georgia

FERDINAND IDIAKE Howard University

ISAIAH JAMES Delaware State University

2024 ANN FUDGE SCHOLARSHIP

NIA HEASTON

North Carolina A&T State University

ALLISON HOLMES University of Pennsylvania

CHAKIRA JAMES-GOODRIDGE Howard University

KIRSTEN MARTIN

Georgia State University

DORIAN MOODY Spelman College

CHRISTINA OWENS Florida A&M University

ELC STAFF

The ELC is the preeminent member organization for the development of Global Black leaders.

Executive Office

MICHAEL C. HYTER

President and Chief Executive Officer

HANNIBAL L. BRUMSKINE II Chief Financial Officer

LIBI SPROW RICE Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

FABIAN MILBURN Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

ANGELINA GORDON Senior Director of Communications

THE ACADEMY

RAMIEN PIERRE Director of The Leadership Institute

AMANDA REY Director of The Academy

AUDREY TAYLOR Chief Academy Officer

EARL GRANGER III Chief Development and Impact Officer

ERICA JORDAN VP of Member Services

ANGELA LEFTWICH Senior Executive Assistant to the President

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

ROCHELLE RITCHIE Communications Manager

COURTNEY HUGHES Communications Specialist THE ACADEMY

JUSTINA VICTOR Senior Research Manager

DR. ROBERT HARRIS Senior Program Manager of Learning & Development

TRISHA SAINT-AUDE Senior Program Manager

TAMIKA KELLY Program Manager

ELC Senior Staff

FINANCE & IT

STUART HUGHES Controller

ALIE BANGURA IT Director

PAUL DAVIS Assistant Controller

DEVELOPMENT & IMPACT

LEAH WADE

Senior Director of Philanthropy

MAYRA ESPINOZA Director of Strategic Events

HR, LEGAL & BOARD

JENNIFER VASQUEZ

Director of Board Operations & Governance

PERRY BROWN

Director of Human Resources

ELC Staff

FINANCE & IT

MERKENA COOPER Accounting Manager

DAVID DIGBY Staff Accountant

LORNA WALTERS Accounts Receivable Specialist

SAMSON OLUGBADE IT Support Manager

JUANITA LEE Office & Special Projects Manager

DEVELOPMENT & IMPACT

KRYSTA OMEIR

Senior Program Manager of ELC Scholars

HR, LEGAL & BOARD

LAUREN ASHLEY COE HR Business Partner

MEMBER SERVICES

KHALILAH BRANCH

Senior Program Manager of Member Engagement

KAYLA WAYSOME

Senior Program Manager of Member Engagement

SAMAD SARDRI

Data & Information Specialist for MyELC

DAMON WILLIAMS

Senior Project Specialist for Member Initiatives

EBONY HARRIS

Member Engagement Specialist

2024 ELC ENTREPRENEUR MEMBERS

MARC BELTON

Founder and Principal

Emeritus - Membership

Wisefellows Consulting

KIMBERLY BLACKWELL

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership PMM Agency

LISA BORDERS

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership LMB Group

J.T. CHILDS JR.

Principal

Emeritus - Membership

Ted Childs, LLC

PAULA CHOLMONDELEY

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Emeritus - Membership

The Sorrel Group

MAURICE COX

Managing Director

Emeritus - Membership

3MC Management Strategies

JERRI DEVARD

Founder & CEO

Emeritus - Membership BECA

LAWRENCE DRAKE

Co-Founder and Executive

Chairman

Emeritus - Membership

LEADing for Life Enterprise

TONI FAY

President

Emeritus - Membership

TGF Associates

TARA JAYE FRANK

Equitable Leadership Consultant

Entrepreneur - Membership

The Waymakers Change Group

RONALD HARRISON

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director

Emeritus - Membership

Harrison & Associates

THOMAS HARVEY

President

Entrepreneur - Membership

FloZenda Consulting

CHARLES KING

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership

MACRO

KIRK LAW

Chief Development Officer

Entrepreneur - Membership Cohesity

DALE LEFEBVRE

Founder and Chairman

Entrepreneur - Membership 3.5.7.11

KEITH LEVY

Managing Partner

Entrepreneur - Membership Visionario Venture Capital

ALFRED LITTLE

Founder (Retired)

Emeritus - Membership Alfred Little Consulting

JAMES MOBLEY

President

Entrepreneur - Membership Pony Rose Holdings

UKONWA OJO

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership Zaia Ventures

JEFFERY PERRY

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership Lead Mandates

D. KEITH PIGUES

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership Luminas Strategy

VALERIE RAINFORD

Founder and Chief Executive

Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership

Elloree Talent Strategies

AL REID

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/ (Retired)

Entrepreneur - Membership Calypso Investment Partners

R. LUCIA RIDDLE

Owner

Emeritus - Membership Sister Strength

WARREN THOMPSON

President and Chairman of the Board

CEO/C-Suite - Memberhip Thompson Hospitality

LLOYD TROTTER

Founder and Managing Partner

Emeritus - Membership

GenNx360 Capital Partners

GREGG WALKER

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership

G.A. Walker

ALANA WARD ROBINSON

Founder, President and Chief

Executive Officer (CEO)

Emeritus - Membership

Robinson Group Consulting

MARC WASHINGTON

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Entrepreneur - Membership Supergut

DONNA WILSON

President

Emeritus - Membership Strategic Intersections

THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOUNDING MEMBERS

JEROME BARTOW* ITT Hartford Insurance Group

VERNON N. FORD Alcoa Incorporated

JAMES D. FOWLER JR.* ITT Industries

KENNETH D. HILL Sun Company

MILTON M. IRVIN Solomon Brothers

JAMES H. JACKSON* Cigna

MANNIE L. JACKSON Honeywell

CLARENCE L. (BUDDY) JAMES* The Keefe Company

GARY S. JEFFERSON United Airlines

ROBERT L. JOHNSON Sears

CYRUS E. JOHNSON* General Mills

ALVARO L. MARTINS* Xerox Corporation

JAMES G. KAISER Corning

CLEVE L. KILLINGSWORTH Health Alliance Plan

JARRED R. METZE American Airlines

ARTHUR L. PAGE* Lincoln National Life Insurance

HUGH G. ROBINSON* The Southland Corporation

EARL S. WASHINGTON Rockwell

ELYNOR A. WILLIAMS Sara Lee Corporation

*Deceased

Here for your life's journey and beyond

American Airlines is a proud supporter of The Executive Leadership Council programs and diversity initiatives.

Our Differences Lead to Better Science

At Amgen, we believe a diverse workforce fosters innovation, allowing us to better serve patients. As part of our commitment to health equity, we are working to ensure that people from all backgrounds have greater access to treatment options and the ability to participate in clinical studies.

At Bristol Myers Squibb, inclusion guides our decision-making and fuels the innovation that allows us to serve the evolving needs of our patients and communities, our people and our business. We are proud to partner with The Executive Leadership Council to further this global mission.

Visit bms.com to see how we’re bringing a human touch to everything we do.