Chief Executive Officer

William M. White, Ed.D, MLE
A Collaborative Scholar/Practitioner

Dr. William M. White is a native of Bluefield, West Virginia. He graduated from Bluefield State College, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. He earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California. He completed a graduate certificate program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Management and Leadership in Education (MLE).

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Dr.  White has served as a researcher and an executive in Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and Biologics; a college professor and graduate dean; and a facilitator and founder/CEO of The Management Development Group consulting firm, specializing in Diversity Consulting and Training for Fortune 100 companies (including Texaco, AT&T and Amgen Corporation). He was president of The Canadian Centre for Social Justice (currently; Communitas), a non-profit think tank serving Canada. He was the only American member. Dr. White is the architect of a Doctorate of Executive Leadership (DEL) accredited degree program by the HLC of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. At the core of the DEL is effectively managing a diverse workforce. He has written several books and articles on the topic. His publications include: Successful Leaders for Successful Schools: Building and Maintaining a Quality Workforce (2015); When Your Parachute is Black: The African Americans Guide to the 21st Century Workforce (2014); What Leaders Believe: Understanding Leadership Intuition and Intellect (2011); Apex Thinking: A Guide to Long Term Leadership for the Rising CEO (2008); Expanding Leadership as a Discipline, a chapter in Academic Administration: A Quest for Better Management (2009); and The Power of Diversity training video (1991), which was used for diversity training throughout the United States and Canada. His latest publication Leadership after Trump: Refocusing on Leadership Competencies is scheduled for release in the fall. Dr. White served on the West Virginia Board of Education for eight years. He left to accept an appointment to the Cabinet of Governor Jim Justice as Executive Director of The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs. He received the Excellence in Teaching award from the University of California at Davis for excellence in teaching and outstanding service in continuing education. He has served on many boards including; member of the West Virginia School Building Authority; president of the Board of Industrial Social Work at the University of Southern California; First African-American President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Diabetes Association (larger than 45 states); member Board of Directors of Bluefield Regional Medical Center; and Board member of the National Association of Boards of Education for the United State. Dr. White has worked with the Federal government on many projects from being a Preceptor for Senior Executives across the federal government to designing a research protocol with the Department of Education for failing schools in America. He has received numerous awards for volunteerism, diversity management, improving poverty, health care, community development and education. He was elected twice to Cambridge’s Who’s Who of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs. 

Finally, Dr. Whilte is a lifelong learner. He knows his faith, persistence and moral courage learned in Bluefield, West Virginia, has been the cornerstone of his success. Dr. White co-founded The National Diversity Collaborative in 2019 in Washington, DC, in response to the increased divisiveness (racial, gender, political, sexual orientation, etc.) destroying the fabric of our democracy and our society. He believes it will take an army of trained Diversity Ambassadors to bring about the change needed to guarantee everyone the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

His son Aaron and granddaughter Aubrey Mae are the joy of his existence.

Dr. Sonia Zamanou

Vice President of Training and Development
Content Specialist- Communication

Sonia Zamanou, Ph.D.

Dr. Zamanou has a long career in the area of diversity management and inclusion. She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Maryland, a Master’s in Intercultural Communication from the University of Florida, a second Master’s in Counseling Psychology and a Ph.D. in Organizational Development from the University of Oregon. She had a 30+ year career as an academic where she created curriculum for the area of Organizational Communication and developed classes in Training & Development at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Additionally, as a scholar practitioner, Dr. Zamanou consulted with organizations on issues of organizational culture change and provided countless hours of training to create a culture of inclusion for each workplace.

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As an academic, Dr. Zamanou published articles and taught classes in Organizational Culture and Change. She created both an undergraduate as well as graduate curriculum in Organizational Training and Development and thus trained numerous young professionals. She taught classes in Training & Development as well as Interracial Communication, Small Group Communication and Honors classes in Multiculturalism. She served as a member of the Diversity Council and a member of a small team that created the Diversity Plan for the University. She was elected and served a three-year term as a Secretary, then Vice President, and finally President of the Training & Development Division of the National Communication Association. She received several grants to work with underprivileged populations and gave multiple presentations at the regional and national levels on diagnosing organizational problems, creating inclusive cultures, avoiding resistance and backlash, dealing with cross cultural conflict, promoting teamwork in diverse teams and managing employee diversity effectively.

As a practitioner, Dr. Zamanou consulted for The Management Development Group as a senior trainer and delivered the two day “Power of Diversity” training module to AT&T management and employees throughout the United States. She also worked as a Senior Management Consultant for AAIM Management where she developed and delivered training on multiple management issues to address client needs, including Effective Communication, Performance Appraisals, Understanding the Changing Workforce and Valuing Diversity. Finally, she created the first Image Study for the University after surveying all relevant populations.

Dr. Sonia Zamanou was born and raised in the suburbs of Athens, Greece, which she visits every year. She is married and has a daughter who is the light of her life. She has dedicated her professional life to creating inclusive environments for all and educating people on the benefits of appreciating and managing diversity effectively.

T. Jeffery Conley

Director of Regional Offices

T. Jeffery Conley

Mr. Conley is a long-time advocate for Business Development and Supplier Diversity which provides a wealth of information and expertise to his role as Supplier Relations Manager for the County of Henrico, Virginia. In this role, Mr. Conley oversees the County’s Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned (SWaM) Business Programs, ensures compliance with diversity program objectives and initiatives’ and creates and provides training as needed. Mr. Conley is passionate about entrepreneurship and small business and his relationship management skills combined with his zest, zeal and corporate savvy serve to enhance the goals of Henrico County to build an inclusive economy.

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A consummate business professional Mr. Conley has held senior leadership positions with the Office of Minority Business Development, the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) along with more than a twenty-year career with Fortune 500 financial institutions where he ensured that the message of Diversity and Inclusion was adequately communicated throughout the company. His ability to nurture and develop relationships helped to catapult him as a sought out financial advisor and resource. Mr. Conley has been awarded the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council’s Coordinator of the Year Award and facilitated and hosted Henrico County’s first regional procurement expo that brought together four localities and diverse vendors with an estimated 1B in purchasing potential.

Mr. Conley, a native of Virginia Beach and graduate of Norfolk State University, has certificates from the University of Richmond, Robins School of Business, Executive Management Program and Business Management from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. A hallmark of Mr. Conley’s work is his commitment to small businesses as a vigorous supporter of the business community and his dedication to diversity and inclusion. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Carolinas Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council and a Board Member of the Metropolitan Business League. Finally, Mr. Conley is a motivated and accountable servant leader who seeks to empower others to find purpose.

Dr. Ken Davis

Vice President for Marketing and Social Media

Ken Davis, DEL

Dr. Kenneth Davis has served as an Assistant Professor in the Center for Criminal Justice and Forensic Science at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida since 2016. He is the institution’s Chapter President of the American Association of Universities Professors (AAUP).

Dr. Davis’s research interest includes social justice, criminal justice reform, and minority recruitment in law enforcement. As a scholar practitioner he has over 15 years’ experience in criminal justice as a law enforcement and probation officer. During his time in the field he served as an investigator, training officer and academy instructor. He currently consults with law enforcement agencies across the Country on effective ways to recruit minority candidates.

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Dr. Davis has lectured on both the graduate and undergraduate levels to include Bethune-Cookman University’s Graduate School of Leadership and Florida State College at Jacksonville School of Public Safety . During his time in higher education institutions he has functioned as a subject matter expert and developed courses. He has served on over 15 thesis committees of graduate students for Bethune-Cookman University Master’s in Transformative Leadership Program. As a passionate advocate of mentoring, Dr. Davis has served as a mentor with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Koch Scholars program for top students across the Country since 2017. His experiences as a practitioner, educator, trainer, and mentor have allowed him to become a highly sought-after speaker on diversity and social justice issues.

Dr. Davis’s educational background consists of undergraduate degrees in criminal justice from Georgia Military College and Mountain State University. He has a master’s in criminal justice from Mountain State University and a doctorate in executive leadership from the University of Charleston. Additionally, he has completed a certificate in negotiations from the University of Michigan and a certificate in Online Education Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is married with 2 sons and resides in Florida.

Londa Justus

Accountant

Londa Justus

Londa Justus is a graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Londa has 20 years of experience in nonprofit accounting and budgeting. She has worked as a Budget Analyst for the state of West Virginia, as well as the Chief Financial Officer of the state’s largest convention and visitor’s bureau. Londa is a native of southern West Virginia, and currently resides in Ohio. She is mother to one daughter, Lexis, and soon to be first time grandmother to Piper.

Andrew Schneider

Content Specialist LGBTQ+

Andrew Schneider

Since 2014, Mr. Andrew Schneider, as Executive Director of Fairness West Virginia, has led the effort to advocate for effective lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender policy changes in West Virginia.

Prior to joining Fairness, Mr. Schneider served for seven years as the Executive Director of the ACLU of Connecticut where he was a leader in the successful state campaigns to win transgender civil rights, abolish the death penalty, and legalize medical marijuana.

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Before that, he was the Executive Director of the ACLU of West Virginia for six years. In 2007 he was the recipient of the West Virginia NAACP Freedom Award for leading the successful legislative effort to ban and combat racial profiling in the state.

Mr. Schneider holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in European History from Washington and Lee University.