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CAAO Founders
The below individuals were the beginning
of a wonderful and innovative evolution among the black professional organizations
of Northeast Ohio. They spearheaded the development of the Consortium of African
American Organizations (CAAO). CAAO is the largest collaboration of black
professionals in the State of Ohio and perhaps the country. The economic
contribution of CAAO to the African American communities of Northeast Ohio
during its first five years (2001 – 2006) has been over $15 million - a return of
$25 for every $1 donated to CAAO – a fantastic productive domino effect
spearheaded by CAAO’s founders.
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Kevin
A. Carter |
| Kevin A. Carter is the General
Manager, Diversity & Inclusion - Americas for BP plc. In this
role, he leads the BP Americas team in partnership with the company's
operating businesses and corporate functions in the Western Hemisphere
to identify key Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategic issues
and establish clear actions to create world class D&I capability
in those regions. He is one of the founders and served as the first
Chairman of the African American Business Consortium, now known
as the Consortium of African American Organizations. From 1994 to
2001, Mr. Carter also served as Chairman of Kaleidoscope Magazine
and in 2001 as the Bureau Chief of the Ninth Street Project. Mr.
Carter sparked the creation of the Cleveland Commission on Economic
Partnership and Inclusion. |
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Frank Robinson, Jr.
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| Mr. Robinson, Chief, Risk
Management Office, joined the NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC)
in January 1986. Frank is responsible for management of safety,
reliability and mission assurance for NASA GRC's Aerospace programs.
He is also the Director for the Assurance Technology Center that
supports NASA Headquarters. In his previous assignment, he was Project
Manager for the Thermal Energy Storage Experiment, which flew on
the Space Shuttle in 1996. Frank is a Past President of the National
Technical Association. Frank is the Founding Chairperson of the
Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO). CAAO consists
of 26 African American organizations that work together to bring
economic and networking opportunities to African Americans. Mr.
Robinson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
from Ohio State University and received a Masters of Science degree
in Engineering Management from Cleveland State University. Frank
is married to Sandy Lynn Robinson, and they have two children, Daanicia
and Frank III. |
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Deborah Bibb
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| Ms. Bibb is a native Clevelander
and a graduate of Shaker Heights High School. She completed her
undergraduate (Information Systems) and graduate (MBA) degrees at
The Ohio State University. After spending some time in corporate
America, with her capacity to listen and guide others and her overall
understanding of business, she decided to take a position as Director
of the Minority Assistance Program at Ohio State's Fisher School
of Business. Her success in this role led her to Case Western Reserve
University and four promotions at the Weatherhead School of Management.
Ms. Bibb's most recent achievement is being named the Program Director
for Specialty Graduate Programs. This includes program management
of the Master of Science in Operations Research and Supply Chain
Management, the Master of Positive and Organizational Development
and Change, co-management of the Full-time MBA and new program initiatives.
Ms. Bibb has been inducted into Kaleidoscope's 40/40 and is a founding
member of the Columbus Chapter of the National Black MBA Association,
Immediate past President of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the National
Black MBA Association and currently serves as its Corporate Relations
Chairperson, is a founding member and serves as Vice Chair of
the Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO), and
is the advisor to the Black MBA Student Association at the Weatherhead
School of Management. |
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Betty Ivory
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| Ms. Ivory is a product of
the Cleveland Public School system. While attending the Cleveland
School of Science, her love of science and technology grew. She
endeavored and persevered to earn a Bachelor's degree from Ohio
University (Athens, Ohio), and later, a Master's degree from The
University of Akron, both in Mechanical Engineering. She is presently
employed by the National College Access Network (NCAN) whose mission
is to improve access to and success in postsecondary education for
disadvantaged, underrepresented, and first-generation students.
As the organization's Technology Coordinator, she improves desktop
hardware and software processes and supports critical business strategies
by managing the development, installation, vendor selection, maintenance
and repair of desktop and server equipment. She also provides technical
and administrative support for over 600 internal and external users
who utilize five main web-based applications. Betty Ivory has been
a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (Northeast Ohio
Alumni Extension Chapter - NEO NSBE AE) for 10 years. She had the
honor of representing NSBE as one of the founding four member
organizations of the Consortium of African American Organizations
(CAAO) in 2001. As CAAO's first Parliamentarian, and using the
African American Business Consortium's bylaws as a foundation, she
proposed a completely revised version of CAAO's bylaws that were
adopted in 2003. She also developed and implemented the attendance
and voting process for CAAO's monthly meetings. |
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Norman Mays
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| Mr. Mays is a native Clevelander
who graduated from the "old" Glenville High School. He entered the
US Army where he served for 20 years specializing in administration,
military intelligence and computers. He was very instrumental in
the development of the US Army's first Computer Systems Security
Program. During various assignments he attended several colleges
and also began the national expansion of a BDPA. During service
for his country, Norman received the Bronze Star that is the highest
US decoration and the Cross of Gallantry the highest Vietnamese
decoration. Norman established N.R Mays & Associates in 1996 to
take advantage of his personal experiences in the network marketing
industry where he tirelessly works with others to assist in the
development of their own financial stability and wealth. During
the mid-70s, he served as National Vice President of BDPA and as
a two-term National President where he and others established the
foundation for BDPA. In addition, he was the Founder of both the
Washington, DC Chapter and his hometown Cleveland Chapter in 1980.
Norman was also a Founding Member and the first Vice-Chairperson
of CAAO (Consortium of African-American Organizations) in 2001.
Today, he remains an active BDPA member providing sage advice and
mentorship to many. |
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George Williams
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| Mr. Williams is a life-long
Clevelander and a graduate of the Cleveland Public School System,
John Carroll University and Leadership Cleveland. George has an
information technology and business career that spans 30 years with
professional experience in marketing, sales and management within
corporate, non-profit and civic organizations. Over a 15-year span,
George has served as the Cleveland Chapter and National President
of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) where he was responsible
for establishing the vision and strategic direction for the 40+
Chapters and Board of Directors. Locally, he has actively served
on the Boards of the Cleveland Education Fund, the Cuyahoga Community
College Unified Technologies Center and the John Adams High School
Vocational Education Advisory Group. George played a major role
in the initial strategy and the five-year growth plan for the
Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO). He currently
serves as a community advisor to the MetroHealth Hospital Institutional
Review Board. |
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Lennon Taylor
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| Mr. Taylor is the Assistant
Treasurer at Oatey Co., a Cleveland based manufacturer of plumbing
specialty products. Lennon has been a member of the National Association
of Black Accountants since 1997 and served as president of NABA
from 2000 through 2005 as one of the founding member organizations
of the Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO).
Lennon also served as Central Region Treasurer of NABA from 1999-2002.
Lennon is currently an MBA student at Baldwin Wallace College and
a volunteer speaker at Granville Academy of Cleveland. |
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Charles E. Burkett, Jr.
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| Mr. Burkett has over 15 years
of professional experience in economic development with expertise
in event planning and project management. Charles received his undergraduate
degree from Amherst College and his MBA from Case Western Reserve
University. While serving as the Director of Economic Development
and Diversity for Enterprise Development, Inc. (predecessor to JumpStart,
Inc.), Charles initiated and developed strategies for encouraging
entrepreneurship through outreach to black professional organizations
culminating in the founding of the Consortium of African American
Organizations (CAAO). Charles is very involved in the community
as a board member and past president of the Ohio Venture Association,
board president of Carlton House Condominium Association, Digital
Photography Special Interest Group Leader for the Greater Cleveland
PC User's Group, board member and past president of Granville Academy,
and a volunteer for E-City. |
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