LENORA BILLINGS-HARRIS

President & Founder

Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is a CPAE (Council of Peers Award of Excellence) Hall of Fame speaker and an internationally recognized authority in the areas of inclusion, diversity, and bias. She has been included as one of the 100 Global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion by The Society of Human Resource Management and was named by Diversity Woman Magazine as one of the twenty top influential diversity leaders in the US. Her award-winning diversity leadership research is recognized in academic journals internationally. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Council of the Nido Qubein School of Communication, High Point University, as well as on the adjunct business faculty of two other universities.

CHARLES HARRIS 

Vice President & Treasurer

Charles S. Harris served as the Executive Vice President of Averett University in Danville, Virginia.  In his role, Harris’ responsibilities include serving on the President’s Council; managing the university’s strategic plan; overseeing new facility development, construction, renovations, operations, and maintenance; and engaging with the university’s Board of Trustees.

Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions in collegiate athletics at the University of Pennsylvania and Arizona State University, as well as served as Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).   Having accomplished much as an athletic administrator, he has hired and mentored nearly 20 individuals who are currently serving as athletic directors at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) universities. 

Harris is a partner at Excel Development Systems, Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Harris earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University.  Later, he conducted postgraduate studies at the University of Michigan in Business Administration and Journalism. A native of Red Oak, Virginia, Harris is married to Mrs. Lenora Billings-Harris.

MITCH MARGO 

Secretary

A former reporter for The Detroit News and Los Angeles Herald Examiner and a syndicated columnist for fourteen years, Mitch Margo is a native New Yorker and St. Louis trial lawyer. He’s witnessed the clash of cultures which are woven into his first novel, Black Hearts White Minds.  Much of the story is drawn from his personal experiences, interviews, and hundreds of hours of research. He credits his eclectic law practice for a new storyline every few days.

One of Mitch’s defining moments came when a Herald Examiner editor assigned him to drive to San Fernando Valley so the paper could be the first to report a brushfire, should one start. Aware that San Fernando Valley spans 260 square miles, he interpreted the request as one to start a brushfire, so he drove to the Lakers game instead and applied to law school the next morning.

As general counsel to the Missouri Valley Conference, and a former youth coach, Mitch has an insider’s view of basketball that enables him to write about it authentically. He’s also a member of the Washington University Sports Hall of Fame, at one time holding the school record in just about every baseball statistic. He’s proud of his days as a student/athlete but hasn’t lost sight of the fact that you can’t get too much farther from Cooperstown and still be in a hall of fame.

SUSAN DANIELSEN

Trustee

Susan Danielsen has a global career history of more than 30 years that includes exceptional experience in the law enforcement, security, and media relations fields. She is a retired U.S. Army military police officer who served nearly half of her twenty-four-year career as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, NC. She held leadership positions of increased responsibility culminating as the Chief of Law Enforcement at The Home of the Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Forces. Her military career also included three assignments as a Public Information Officer, including one in Desert Shield/Storm.Upon retirement, she was a deputy program manager for three consecutive security contracts: Doha, Qatar; Ft. Meade, MD; and, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Most recently, Susan served for nearly seven years as the first Public Information Officer for the Greensboro (NC) Police Department. She is currently enjoying retirement by going to culinary school; and, volunteering with organizations she is passionate about.
She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Journalism from Rutgers University, and a M.A. in Industrial Education from Central Michigan University. Susan has one daughter ---also a Soldier.

PETER (PECE) GORGIEVSKI

Trustee

Peter is a humankind enthusiast devoted to humanitarian progress. He is a global citizen. Peter's greatest passion and focus is creating a culture of peace throughout the world. He is co-founder of GDF, Global Shipment and Unity in Diversity.

BRIGID BELKO GORTON

Trustee

Innovative leadership development professional with over fifteen years of experience in higher education, government, and community organizing. Combines deep industry knowledge with experience to employ and implement customized performance improvement measures that meet the needs of senior leadership. Recognized as a team player and critical thinker with exceptional organizational and project management skills.