Going into its third year the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) continues its mission of building a pipeline of African American leaders for tomorrow, preparing their attendees for key roles in their communities and organizations. ELA is the signature program of The Advanced Leadership Initiative’s (TALI) that is run in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.
“TALI’s commitment to preparing Pittsburgh’s African Americans for the challenges faced in executive leadership is increasingly more relevant. I am inspired by the enthusiasm and passion of each member of this cohort,” said Highmark Health’s Founding Director of TALI and Senior Vice President, Evan Frazier.
Each of the 28 cohort members already stand as some of Pittsburgh’s most accomplished and experienced African American leaders, with backgrounds ranging from high school principals to CEOs. They’ll take part in a world-class executive education program provided by Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business for the next 8 months.
TALI’s 2021 ELI cohort is as follows:
- Marisa Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Hearth
- Christina Wilds, DrPH, Manager of Community Health and Programs at Highmark Health
- Diamonte Walker, Deputy Executive Director at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
- Jamila Sykes, Director, Provider Experience at Highmark Health
- Morton D. Stanfield, Jr., Senior Vice President, Community Development at Dollar Bank, FSB
- Alicia Scott, Executive Director Care Management at Allegheny Health Network
- Rebecca Ross Haywood, Managing Chief Counsel, Government & Regulatory Enforcement Group at PNC
- Albert Robertson, Business Systems manager at Koppers, Inc.
- Jennifer Rice, Director, Dental & Vision Operations at UPMC Health Plan
- Thomas Powell, Financial Solution Advisor at Merrill Lynch
- Jennifer Pannill, Recruitment and Employee Branding Leader at Covestro LLC
- Kimberly Moses, Senior Associate Legal Counsel at the University of Pittsburgh
- Jessica Mitchell, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking at PNC
- Jameeta Lewis-Davis, Director, Team Member Communications & Engagement – Supermarket at Giant Eagle
- Shabaki Lambert, Assistant Vice President, HR Strategic Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University
- Cynthia L. James, President and CEO of Youth Places, Inc.
- Rebekah Hughey, MD, Medical Director for Gateway Health
- Shelley Hogans, Vice President of External reporting and SOX Compliance at Limbach Holdings, Inc.
- Stephanie Morgan, Senior Human Resources Business Partner and Director at BNY Mellon
- Darnell Grinage, Director, Environmental Services at UPMC
- Onyeka Egburna, Audit Director at FHLB Pittsburgh
- James E. Doyle, Ed.D., Chief Operating Officer of Environmental Charter School
- Michael Crawford, Managing Director Finance and Admin at the FEDEX Group
- Kimberly Brevard, Senior Director Claim Operations at UPMC Health Plan
- Tammy Spencer Bey, Vice President – Business Tech Liaison for the Bank of New York Mellon
- Olivia Benson, Chief Operating Officer at The Forbes Fund
- Scott A. Bartlett, Director, Supply Chain US/Canada at PPG
- Dara Ware Allen, Ph.D., CEO and Principal for City Charter High School
Cohort members will participate in leadership development training that has a curriculum focusing on specific challenges faced by African Americans in the workplace. They will also have a professional coach and an executive mentor to create relationships that will enhance their time in the program and lead to continuing support as they return to their organizations.
“In addition to the 2021 Executive Leadership Academy cohort, we celebrate the organizations that support them through sponsorship or advocacy. These organizations have demonstrated a commitment to furthering a culture that embraces racial equity with senior leadership setting the tone,” says Greg Spencer, Founding Board Co-Chair of TALI and President and CEO of Randall Industries.
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