{"id":14308,"date":"2025-06-02T06:15:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T06:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nzotestserver.com\/nbmbaa\/?page_id=14308"},"modified":"2025-06-03T02:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T02:36:30","slug":"leadership-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nzotestserver.com\/nbmbaa\/leadership-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Executive Leadership Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Executive Leadership Team<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Explore the driving force behind our association\u2019s success. Get to know the dedicated individuals who lead the National Black Master Business Association towards empowerment, growth, and innovation. Learn about their diverse backgrounds, expertise, and unwavering commitment to advancing black-owned businesses across the nation. Meet the visionaries shaping our collective future today![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″ background_position_desktop=”right top” background_position_tablet=”right bottom” background_style_tablet=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1748845490000{margin-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14310″ primary_title=”Orlando Ashford” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Orlando Ashford” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC”]<\/p>\n

NBMBAA Interim CEO and Board Director<\/p>\n

Orlando Ashford is a C-suite executive, Board Director, and Interim CEO of the National Black MBA Association, with a 30-year career spanning leadership roles at several Fortune 500 companies. Most recently, Ashford served as Chief People Officer for global digital sports platform Fanatics until his retirement in December 2024. During his time there, he oversaw all aspects of human resources as the company grew to 22,000 employees and expanded into new lines of business. This included professionalizing and standardizing past HR practices and overseeing a digital systems transformation for Human Capital Management.<\/p>\n

In addition to leading talent acquisition, employee and organizational development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and internal and external communications for Fanatics, Ashford also spearheaded the development of the Fanatics Foundation and Fanatics\u2019 first-of-its-kind partnership with Make-A-Wish. In becoming the wish-granting organization\u2019s official sports partner, Fanatics supported nearly 400 wishes in less than one year. Ashford also developed and launched Fanatics\u2019 Athlete Immersion Program, which provides professional athletes with skills-building and networking opportunities to prepare them for a career after their playing days have ended.<\/p>\n

Before joining Fanatics, Ashford served as president of Holland America Line, where he led the award-winning cruise line\u2019s brand and business, including its fleet of premium vessels spanning all seven continents. In this role, Ashford also oversaw the company\u2019s sales and marketing, revenue management, deployment and itinerary planning, public relations, hotel operations, and strategy. Ashford was widely credited within the cruise industry for re-energizing the Holland America brand, innovating the guest experience, and transforming the corporate culture to embrace inclusion, diversity, and creativity.<\/p>\n

Prior to this, Ashford was at Marsh & McLennan Companies, where he served as president of the Talent Business Segment for Mercer, the global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments, as well as senior vice president, chief human resources and communications officer of Mercer\u2019s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies.Before this, Ashford was group director of human resources and vice president, Corporate Center human resources and cultural transformation for The Coca-Cola Company, with a global team spanning 90 countries.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14320″ primary_title=”Dr. Tan Morales” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Dr. Tan Morales” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC”]<\/p>\n

Chief Learning Officer<\/p>\n

Dr. Tan Morales brings two decades of leadership and learning in the areas of Change & Innovation, Talent and Leadership Development, and Data & Analytics as she spent many years in the Finance vertical prior to making the move to the Human Resources space. She currently serves on two corporate and one non-profit board advancing and amplifying the voices of the underserved.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][vc_hoverbox image=”14325″ primary_title=”Harold Reid” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Harold Reid” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC” css=”.vc_custom_1748914803848{margin-top: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Vice President, Brand<\/p>\n

Harold Reid, a seasoned brand and marketing executive, brings 20+ years of global experience. As VP of Brand for the National Black MBA Association, he leads marketing, communications, and PR efforts. His leadership ensures the NBMBAA remains a powerful voice advancing economic and professional development for African Americans in business.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14349″ primary_title=”Elaine Richardson, CMP” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Elaine Richardson, CMP” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC” css=”.vc_custom_1748917225675{margin-top: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Vice President, Conference and Events<\/p>\n

As VP of Conference and Events at NBMBAA, Elaine leads strategy, planning, and execution of in-person events. She oversees the Annual Conference, Career Expo sales, and Job Board. Additionally, she manages the membership department, focusing on growth and retention, and supports the organization\u2019s full live events portfolio, including Leaders of Tomorrow and board meetings.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14355″ primary_title=”Marshall Norwood” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Marshall Norwood” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC” css=”.vc_custom_1748917660171{margin-top: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Vice President, Finance<\/p>\n

Serving as the Chief Financial Officer, Marshall brings extensive financial leadership experience from roles at The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Purpose Built Communities, and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. His background includes serving as Budget Director for Georgia and Controller at WSB-TV. He holds a B.A. from Morehouse College and specializes in finance and budgeting.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14359″ primary_title=”Paula Fontana” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Paula Fontana” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC” css=”.vc_custom_1748918173280{margin-top: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Vice President, Corporate Partner Development<\/p>\n

Paula leads the team whose efforts are to drive revenue growth through sponsorship and fund development. Paula is responsible for creating and executing a Sponsorship Strategy that identifies and pursues candidate organizations, packages association assets for presentation to those organizations, and fulfills sponsorship agreements.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14361″ primary_title=”Nyisha Hunt” primary_align=”left” hover_title=”Nyisha Hunt” hover_align=”left” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”custom” align=”left” hover_btn_title=”Read More” hover_btn_shape=”round” hover_btn_color=”warning” hover_add_button=”true” hover_custom_background=”#FAF1EC” css=”.vc_custom_1748918100594{margin-top: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Chief of Staff<\/p>\n

Nyisha Hunt, Chief of Staff at NBMBAA, leads the CEO\u2019s office and partners with the Executive Team and Board to advance key initiatives. Formerly Business Program Manager at Enboarder, she brings 10+ years of strategic leadership across nonprofits, sports, entertainment, HCM, and startups, driving business growth in diverse, high-impact executive environments.<\/p>\n

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