Kimberly Adams
Vice-President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Talent Acquisition – Ulta Beauty
Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee
Kimberly Adams is vice president of DE&I and Talent Acquisition at Ulta Beauty, the nation’s largest beauty retailer. She is responsible for leading the vision and strategy for these two teams as Ulta Beauty furthers its DEI journey. Kim’s 20+ years of professional experience includes roles as vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for Papa John’s International, vice president for the engagement and inclusion and diversity center for excellence at Equifax; senior director, employee experience and culture at AECOM; director, global diversity and inclusion at Cox Automotive; and leadership positions in global human resources, diversity business marketing, and global operational excellence at The Coca-Cola Company. Always an advocate for equity and community empowerment, Kim serves on boards for non-profit and civic organizations committed to promoting diverse representation, economic sustainability, and women’s health issues across the globe.
Maranie Brown
Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions, BlackRock
Maranie Brown is Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions with the Technology Enterprise Services team at BlackRock, an investment management company. In this role, she manages programs in the DataOps Engineering portfolio and evolves the organization’s platform to provide available, consistent data of the highest quality to clients. She has been recognized as a “Rising Star” for outstanding contributions to the digital community, one of the Marietta Daily Journal / Cobb Life Magazine’s “Top 20 Under 40”, and a Woman to Watch in STEAM by Women in Technology. She serves on various nonprofit boards and, as a graduate of the University of Georgia, Maranie serves as Vice President of the UGA Young Alumni Leadership Council and the Leadership Development Chairman for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Zeta Omega Chapter. She is a graduate of numerous leadership programs, was recently inducted into Outstanding Atlanta, and is a member of Leadership Cobb’s Class of 2022. She is currently pursuing a Master of Business and Technology in the UGA Terry College of Business.
Dexter Conner
Vice President | Wealth Advisor – Goldman Sachs
Dexter Connor is a Vice President, Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Conner was a Senior Private Client Advisor over wealth and advisory for Wilmington Trust in Atlanta, GA, where he provided comprehensive wealth management advice to high-net worth individuals and families, business owners, and entrepreneurs, as well as foundations and endowments; and a financial planning specialist with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. His professional licenses include the Series 7, 66, 31, Life & Health Insurance and Variable Products. Conner earned an MBA within Emory University’s Executive Program, and a master’s degree from UCLA specializing in the sociology of media. His bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a collegiate basketball player. He was also President of his chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Conner currently serves on the board of directors of True Colors Theatre Company, and the advisory board for the Andrew J. Young Foundation. He previously served on the Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council board of directors, and as a long-term volunteer at Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
Shanelle L. Dawson
Co-Leader Treasury Risk Support – Bank of America Business Capital
SVP-ABL Treasury and Trade Manager
Shanelle Dawson is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, where she serves as ABL Treasury-Trade Manager and Co-Leader of the Treasury Risk Support Group for Bank of America Business Capital (BABC). In this role Shanelle is responsible for overseeing the US and Canada treasury transition for the ABL segment. Which includes the implementation and execution of Deposit Account Control Agreements (DACA). In 1998, Shanelle began her career with Bank of America by joining legacy Fleet Capital Corporation and has held various leadership roles in Treasury Management and the ABL segment. The Chairman’s Award and the Outstanding Service Award are some of the various awards she has received during her tenure. Shanelle holds the Certified Cash Manager/Certified Treasury Professional (CCM/CTP) credentials.
Shanelle is involved with a wide variety of professional organizations and was honored when selected to serve as Co-Leader for Multicultural Women Ready to Lead (MCW) during the Atlanta market inaugural launch of the initiative. She is active in the Employee Networks at Bank of America including Black Professional Group (BPG) and Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Development (LEAD) for Woman. She is currently a Brand Ambassador and a Mentor, both of which are leadership programs in the Atlanta market. Shanelle lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tiffany Friesen
Vice President of Programs & Partnerships – Philanthropy Southeast
Tiffany Friesen joined Philanthropy Southeast (formerly known as the Southeastern Council of Foundations) in March 2019 as vice president of programs and partnerships. Prior to that she was with the United Way of Greater Atlanta as senior director for partnership engagement, where she created new programming to strengthen and deepen relationships with funded and non-funded agencies to increase collaboration and impact for the well-being of children and families in Atlanta. Her prior experience also includes work with Be The Match, part of the National Marrow Donor Program, where she led an initiative to grow the diversity of bone marrow donors in the Southeast region. Since arriving in Atlanta in 1991, Tiffany has worked across sectors, including in the political arena as campaign manager for Lisa Borders for Mayor and on the support team for the Atlanta Committee for Progress. In addition, her experience in the nonprofit sector has ranged from working at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce during the Centennial Olympics period to Coxe Curry & Associates. Tiffany is an active community member, currently serving on the Grant Park Meditation Center Board and served as a member the boards of Hands On Atlanta, KIPP Ways Academy, Families First, Victim Witness Assistance Program and the D’AIR Project. She was involved with the startup of the Neighborhood Charter School in Grant Park and taught English as a second language to Vietnamese immigrants through the Carter Project when she first moved to Atlanta in 1992. She holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Goshen College and is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta Class of 2012. She and her husband, Atiba, live in Grant Park and have three children and four grandchildren.
Omari Henderson
Director of Strategy & Innovation – Chick-fil-A Corporate
Chair, Revenue & Development Committee
Omari Henderson is Director, Strategy & Innovation, at Chick-fil-A Corporate. Prior to joining Chick-fil-A Omari led successful innovation programs at The Coca-Cola Company and at P&G. A chemical engineer by training, Omari brings a unique mix of skills to the True Colors board: entrepreneurship, as Co-Owner of ZuCot Gallery, the largest African American owned fine art gallery in the Southeast; and non-profit leadership, as founder of Youth Challenge Incorporated Foundation.
Jamil Jude
Artistic Director – True Colors Theatre Company
Jamil Jude is a highly accomplished director, producer, playwright and dramaturg focusing on bringing socially relevant art to the community. Jamil is the Co-Founder of The New Griots Festival, which is dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and advancing the careers of emerging Black artists in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area in Minnesota. Prior to joining the staff at True Colors, Jamil served as the Artistic Programming Associate at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jeff Nelson
Co-Founder and CTO of Blavity Inc. | Founder and CEO of Cinchapi Inc.
Jeff Nelson is a serial entrepreneur, technical architect and software expert driving innovation in technology, business, culture and public policy. He is the Co-Founder and CTO of Blavity Inc., the leading company for Black culture and millennials, and the Founder and CEO of Cinchapi Inc., a real-time software platform for data discovery, analytics and automation. Jeff’s mission is to create elegant solutions to complex problems using technology, so humans can be more productive. As an entrepreneur, Jeff focuses on inventions that creatively harness the power of human and machine intelligence to make it easier for people to connect, work and thrive. As of today, his companies have combined to raise over $13 million in venture funding, generate millions in recurring revenue and create dozens of jobs for women and underrepresented people. Jeff studied Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to his work as an entrepreneur, he is a startup advisor, coding instructor, and political strategist.
Mike Schleifer
Managing Director – The Alliance Theatre
Mike Schleifer is the Managing Director at The Alliance Theatre. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2014, he spent 13 years at Baltimore’s Center Stage working in a number of roles including Associate Producer, Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager. Before Center Stage, Mike was the Production Manager at Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU and Company Manager and Casting Director at the Hangar Theater in Ithaca, New York. He began his career as a Stage Manager in New York and has over fifty stage management credits between his time in New York and working regionally. Along with 25+ years of experience, Mike brings a wealth of perspective on mounting large-scale productions and advancing nonprofit theatre business models.
Eric Schroeder
Managing Partner – Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Board President
Eric Schroeder is a Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. He helps his clients protect their brand, reputation and sales in the marketplace. He specializes in unfair competition, intellectual property, licensing, First Amendment and various “content” issues. Before joining the firm, Mr. Schroeder clerked with the Honorable William C. O’Kelley, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Mr. Schroeder currently serves as the President of the Atlanta Chapter for the Federal Bar Association, and has served on its Executive Committee for several years. Mr. Schroeder is the immediate past Chairman of the Board for the Frazer Center, a non-profit center in Atlanta which serves adults and children with special needs in an inclusive setting. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1996. His practice areas include: Intellectual Property, Commercial Disputes, Sports & Entertainment Group, Retail, Agriculture and Food Disputes, Sport & Entertainment Disputes, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Regulation, Compliance & Advisory, Media Disputes, Health Care Team, Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure, Hospitality & Leisure. His recognitions and achievements include: Georgia Super Lawyer (2009-2018), Georgia Rising Star (2006-2007), Frazer Center – Former Board Member and Chairman, Recognized by Top Verdict as winner of one of the Top 20 Verdicts in Georgia in the year 2016 for WIKA Instrument Corp. v. Ashcroft (10th highest verdict), Georgia Super Lawyer Top List (2013), ABA Forum on Communications Law – Governing Committee, Atlanta Sports Counsel Roundtable, Founding Member and Convenor, Federal Bar Association, Atlanta Chapter: former President and Executive Committee, and State Bar of Georgia, Media Judiciary Conference, Organizing Committee.
Steven Simmons
Vice-President, Global Finance for the McDonald’s Division – The Coca-Cola Company (retired)
Board Treasurer
Steven Simmons is retired from The Coca-Cola Company as Vice President, Global Finance of The McDonald’s Division, where he was responsible for the overall leadership of the division’s finance functions, including commercial finance, accounting & reporting, budgeting and strategic planning. Over his 35+ years at The Coca-Cola Company, he advanced through a range of global and domestic finance assignments. He served as Board Chair of the Coca-Cola Family Credit Union for 11 years. Steven serves as Treasurer of the True Colors Board.
Chandra Stephens-Albright
Managing Director – True Colors Theatre Company
Chandra Stephens-Albright is the Managing Director at True Colors Theatre Company. She is a member of the 2022 cohort of Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management at the Harvard Business School, a 2019-20 cohort of the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Officers Program, a 2018 alumna of Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta, a 2014 graduate of the GCN CEO Peerspectives program, and a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2005. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, she enjoyed a successful 22-year career at The Coca-Cola Company where she worked on groundbreaking innovation projects. Chandra is a board member at the Piedmont Park Conservancy, The Alliance Theatre, and the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. She earned a BA in Chemistry from Emory University and an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University. A native Atlantan, she is married to Warren Albright.
David Vigilante
Executive Vice President and General Counsel – Warner Bros Discovery News and Sports
David Vigilante is Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Warner Bros Discovery News and Sports. Vigilante’s responsibilities include serving as chief counsel for CNN’s worldwide operations, as well as legal oversight of all sports brands and programming owned and operated by Warner Bros Discovery, such as the NBA and TNT, Bleacher Report March Madness and NCAA.com. He is a 1993 graduate of Emory Law School and is based in Atlanta. David occasionally contributes to CNN, and in 2013 was awarded the national Edward R. Murrow Award for writing.
Kimberly Adams
Vice-President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Talent Acquisition – Ulta Beauty
Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee
Kimberly Adams is vice president of DE&I and Talent Acquisition at Ulta Beauty, the nation’s largest beauty retailer. She is responsible for leading the vision and strategy for these two teams as Ulta Beauty furthers its DEI journey. Kim’s 20+ years of professional experience includes roles as vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for Papa John’s International, vice president for the engagement and inclusion and diversity center for excellence at Equifax; senior director, employee experience and culture at AECOM; director, global diversity and inclusion at Cox Automotive; and leadership positions in global human resources, diversity business marketing, and global operational excellence at The Coca-Cola Company. Always an advocate for equity and community empowerment, Kim serves on boards for non-profit and civic organizations committed to promoting diverse representation, economic sustainability, and women’s health issues across the globe.
Maranie Brown
Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions, BlackRock
Maranie Brown is Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions with the Technology Enterprise Services team at BlackRock, an investment management company. In this role, she manages programs in the DataOps Engineering portfolio and evolves the organization’s platform to provide available, consistent data of the highest quality to clients. She has been recognized as a “Rising Star” for outstanding contributions to the digital community, one of the Marietta Daily Journal / Cobb Life Magazine’s “Top 20 Under 40”, and a Woman to Watch in STEAM by Women in Technology. She serves on various nonprofit boards and, as a graduate of the University of Georgia, Maranie serves as Vice President of the UGA Young Alumni Leadership Council and the Leadership Development Chairman for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Zeta Omega Chapter. She is a graduate of numerous leadership programs, was recently inducted into Outstanding Atlanta, and is a member of Leadership Cobb’s Class of 2022. She is currently pursuing a Master of Business and Technology in the UGA Terry College of Business.
Dexter Conner
Vice President | Wealth Advisor – Goldman Sachs
Dexter Connor is a Vice President, Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Conner was a Senior Private Client Advisor over wealth and advisory for Wilmington Trust in Atlanta, GA, where he provided comprehensive wealth management advice to high-net worth individuals and families, business owners, and entrepreneurs, as well as foundations and endowments; and a financial planning specialist with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. His professional licenses include the Series 7, 66, 31, Life & Health Insurance and Variable Products. Conner earned an MBA within Emory University’s Executive Program, and a master’s degree from UCLA specializing in the sociology of media. His bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a collegiate basketball player. He was also President of his chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Conner currently serves on the board of directors of True Colors Theatre Company, and the advisory board for the Andrew J. Young Foundation. He previously served on the Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council board of directors, and as a long-term volunteer at Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
Shanelle L. Dawson
Co-Leader Treasury Risk Support – Bank of America Business Capital
SVP-ABL Treasury and Trade Manager
Shanelle Dawson is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, where she serves as ABL Treasury-Trade Manager and Co-Leader of the Treasury Risk Support Group for Bank of America Business Capital (BABC). In this role Shanelle is responsible for overseeing the US and Canada treasury transition for the ABL segment. Which includes the implementation and execution of Deposit Account Control Agreements (DACA). In 1998, Shanelle began her career with Bank of America by joining legacy Fleet Capital Corporation and has held various leadership roles in Treasury Management and the ABL segment. The Chairman’s Award and the Outstanding Service Award are some of the various awards she has received during her tenure. Shanelle holds the Certified Cash Manager/Certified Treasury Professional (CCM/CTP) credentials.
Shanelle is involved with a wide variety of professional organizations and was honored when selected to serve as Co-Leader for Multicultural Women Ready to Lead (MCW) during the Atlanta market inaugural launch of the initiative. She is active in the Employee Networks at Bank of America including Black Professional Group (BPG) and Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Development (LEAD) for Woman. She is currently a Brand Ambassador and a Mentor, both of which are leadership programs in the Atlanta market. Shanelle lives in Atlanta, Georgia where her most rewarding responsibility is caregiver of her Grandmother.
Tiffany Friesen
Vice President of Programs & Partnerships – Philanthropy Southeast
Tiffany Friesen joined Philanthropy Southeast (formerly known as the Southeastern Council of Foundations) in March 2019 as vice president of programs and partnerships. Prior to that she was with the United Way of Greater Atlanta as senior director for partnership engagement, where she created new programming to strengthen and deepen relationships with funded and non-funded agencies to increase collaboration and impact for the well-being of children and families in Atlanta. Her prior experience also includes work with Be The Match, part of the National Marrow Donor Program, where she led an initiative to grow the diversity of bone marrow donors in the Southeast region. Since arriving in Atlanta in 1991, Tiffany has worked across sectors, including in the political arena as campaign manager for Lisa Borders for Mayor and on the support team for the Atlanta Committee for Progress. In addition, her experience in the nonprofit sector has ranged from working at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce during the Centennial Olympics period to Coxe Curry & Associates. Tiffany is an active community member, currently serving on the Grant Park Meditation Center Board and served as a member the boards of Hands On Atlanta, KIPP Ways Academy, Families First, Victim Witness Assistance Program and the D’AIR Project. She was involved with the startup of the Neighborhood Charter School in Grant Park and taught English as a second language to Vietnamese immigrants through the Carter Project when she first moved to Atlanta in 1992. She holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Goshen College and is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta Class of 2012. She and her husband, Atiba, live in Grant Park and have three children and four grandchildren.
Omari Henderson
Director of Strategy & Innovation – Chick-fil-A Corporate
Chair, Revenue & Development Committee
Omari Henderson is Director, Strategy & Innovation, at Chick-fil-A Corporate. Prior to joining Chick-fil-A Omari led successful innovation programs at The Coca-Cola Company and at P&G. A chemical engineer by training, Omari brings a unique mix of skills to the True Colors board: entrepreneurship, as Co-Owner of ZuCot Gallery, the largest African American owned fine art gallery in the Southeast; and non-profit leadership, as founder of Youth Challenge Incorporated Foundation.
Jamil Jude
Artistic Director – Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company
Jamil Jude is a highly accomplished director, producer, playwright and dramaturg focusing on bringing socially relevant art to the community. Jamil is the Co-Founder of The New Griots Festival, which is dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and advancing the careers of emerging Black artists in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area in Minnesota. Prior to joining the staff at True Colors, Jamil served as the Artistic Programming Associate at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jeff Nelson
Co-Founder and CTO of Blavity Inc. | Founder and CEO of Cinchapi Inc.
Jeff Nelson is a serial entrepreneur, technical architect and software expert driving innovation in technology, business, culture and public policy. He is the Co-Founder and CTO of Blavity Inc., the leading company for Black culture and millennials, and the Founder and CEO of Cinchapi Inc., a real-time software platform for data discovery, analytics and automation. Jeff’s mission is to create elegant solutions to complex problems using technology, so humans can be more productive. As an entrepreneur, Jeff focuses on inventions that creatively harness the power of human and machine intelligence to make it easier for people to connect, work and thrive. As of today, his companies have combined to raise over $13 million in venture funding, generate millions in recurring revenue and create dozens of jobs for women and underrepresented people. Jeff studied Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to his work as an entrepreneur, he is a startup advisor, coding instructor, and political strategist.
Mike Schleifer
Managing Director – The Alliance Theatre
Mike Schleifer is the Managing Director at The Alliance Theatre. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2014, he spent 13 years at Baltimore’s Center Stage working in a number of roles including Associate Producer, Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager. Before Center Stage, Mike was the Production Manager at Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU and Company Manager and Casting Director at the Hangar Theater in Ithaca, New York. He began his career as a Stage Manager in New York and has over fifty stage management credits between his time in New York and working regionally. Along with 25+ years of experience, Mike brings a wealth of perspective on mounting large-scale productions and advancing nonprofit theatre business models.
Eric Schroeder
Managing Partner – Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Board President
Eric Schroeder is a Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. He helps his clients protect their brand, reputation and sales in the marketplace. He specializes in unfair competition, intellectual property, licensing, First Amendment and various “content” issues. Before joining the firm, Mr. Schroeder clerked with the Honorable William C. O’Kelley, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Mr. Schroeder currently serves as the President of the Atlanta Chapter for the Federal Bar Association, and has served on its Executive Committee for several years. Mr. Schroeder is the immediate past Chairman of the Board for the Frazer Center, a non-profit center in Atlanta which serves adults and children with special needs in an inclusive setting. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1996. His practice areas include: Intellectual Property, Commercial Disputes, Sports & Entertainment Group, Retail, Agriculture and Food Disputes, Sport & Entertainment Disputes, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Regulation, Compliance & Advisory, Media Disputes, Health Care Team, Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure, Hospitality & Leisure. His recognitions and achievements include: Georgia Super Lawyer (2009-2018), Georgia Rising Star (2006-2007), Frazer Center – Former Board Member and Chairman, Recognized by Top Verdict as winner of one of the Top 20 Verdicts in Georgia in the year 2016 for WIKA Instrument Corp. v. Ashcroft (10th highest verdict), Georgia Super Lawyer Top List (2013), ABA Forum on Communications Law – Governing Committee, Atlanta Sports Counsel Roundtable, Founding Member and Convenor, Federal Bar Association, Atlanta Chapter: former President and Executive Committee, and State Bar of Georgia, Media Judiciary Conference, Organizing Committee.
Steven Simmons
Vice-President, Global Finance for the McDonald’s Division – The Coca-Cola Company (retired)
Board Treasurer
Steven Simmons is retired from The Coca-Cola Company as Vice President, Global Finance of The McDonald’s Division, where he was responsible for the overall leadership of the division’s finance functions, including commercial finance, accounting & reporting, budgeting and strategic planning. Over his 35+ years at The Coca-Cola Company, he advanced through a range of global and domestic finance assignments. He served as Board Chair of the Coca-Cola Family Credit Union for 11 years. Steven serves as Treasurer of the True Colors Board.
Chandra Stephens-Albright
Managing Director – True Colors Theatre Company
Chandra Stephens-Albright is the Managing Director at True Colors Theatre Company. She is a member of the 2022 cohort of Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management at the Harvard Business School, a 2019-20 cohort of the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Officers Program, a 2018 alumna of Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta, a 2014 graduate of the GCN CEO Peerspectives program, and a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2005. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, she enjoyed a successful 22-year career at The Coca-Cola Company where she worked on groundbreaking innovation projects. Chandra is a board member at the Piedmont Park Conservancy, The Alliance Theatre, and the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. She earned a BA in Chemistry from Emory University and an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University. A native Atlantan, she is married to Warren Albright.
David Vigilante
Executive Vice President and General Counsel – Warner Bros Discovery News and Sports
David Vigilante is Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Warner Bros Discovery News and Sports. Vigilante’s responsibilities include serving as chief counsel for CNN’s worldwide operations, as well as legal oversight of all sports brands and programming owned and operated by Warner Bros Discovery, such as the NBA and TNT, Bleacher Report March Madness and NCAA.com. He is a 1993 graduate of Emory Law School and is based in Atlanta. David occasionally contributes to CNN, and in 2013 was awarded the national Edward R. Murrow Award for writing.
