Executive Leadership Team
Orlando Ashford
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’ first-of-its-kind partnership with Make-A-Wish. In becoming the wish-granting organization’s official sports partner, Fanatics supported nearly 400 wishes in less than one year. Ashford also developed and launched Fanatics’ 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.
Before joining Fanatics, Ashford served as president of Holland America Line, where he led the award-winning cruise line’s brand and business, including its fleet of premium vessels spanning all seven continents. In this role, Ashford also oversaw the company’s 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.
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’s 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 across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Previously, he was vice president of global human resources strategy and organizational development for Motorola Inc., where he helped modernize the human resources function for the global tech leader.
As Interim CEO of the National Black MBA Association, Ashford provides strategic and operational leadership to drive the organization’s mission of advancing educational, career, and economic opportunities for Black professionals. He serves as the primary representative and spokesperson, strengthening connections with members, chapters, and corporate sponsors. Ashford also oversees the planning and execution of the NBMBAA Annual Conference and Career Fair, ensuring it remains a premier event for networking, professional development, and career opportunities. His leadership is focused on expanding the organization’s reach, fostering meaningful partnerships, and driving transformational impact within the Black business community.
Ashford’s most recent book, How Did You Get That Job?, takes a personal look at the “rules and tools” he has seen, used, and experienced in navigating corporate America, sharing perspectives and advice for those managing their own journey. In his first book, Talentism, Ashford examines how technology and human networks can help bridge the skills gap, improve business performance, and lead to the betterment of society at large.
Ashford currently serves on the board of directors for Perrigo, Array Technologies, and Syndio, as well as the national board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has also served on various boards prior to this, including ITT, Inc., Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, the Seattle Chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance, Virginia Mason Medical Center, and Year Up, a year-long intensive training program for underserved young adults. He also previously served as a strategic advisor for Sycamore Partners in New York. In 2018, he completed a two-year term as board chair for the Executive Leadership Council (ELC).
Recognized as a thought leader in diversity, human resources, and management, Ashford was selected by Seattle Business Magazine for their 2019 “Executive Excellence Award,” honoring the best leaders within Washington-state business and community. In 2017, Black Enterprise magazine named Ashford to their “Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” list, and in 2016, he was awarded a Travvy Award for “Most Innovative Executive, Mid-Sized Cruise.” Ashford was also named to the “Directorship 100” of the National Association of Corporate Directors in 2013 and 2014, and since 2012, has been named to Savoy magazine’s list of the “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.”
Ashford holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Industrial Technology, both from Purdue University. He is a Purdue University School of Technology Distinguished Alumnus and splits his time between Potomac, Maryland and Florida.
Dr. Tan Morales
Harold Reid
Elaine Richardson, CMP
Elaine has served as the main planner for the NBNBAA® Annual Conference and Exposition as an outsource partner since 2016, and then as a staff member since 2021. She shepherded the association through the pandemic switch and drove execution on the organization’s first fully virtual Conference in 2020, as well as its first hybrid Conference in 2021. With more than 20 years of experience serving associations, Elaine’s relationship with NBMBAA goes back to 2007, when, as an outsource partner, she built the organization’s media strategy and led the relaunch of Black MBA Magazine. For the last 16 years, Elaine has supported NBMBAA’s events, and media/communications as a writer/editor, NBMBAA’s publisher and then as a business event strategist. She has served as a strategic advisor to the last seven organization CEOs.
Prior to joining NBMBAA full time, Elaine spent 17 years at Naylor Association Solutions, where she supported media and event needs for non-profit associations across the country, working for national association clients, including the National Association of Home Builders, Association of Old Crows, National Urban League and Intermodal Association of North America, among many others. An award-winning journalist, Elaine served as the publisher and editor of Black MBA Magazine for five years and as publisher and managing editor of the Journal of Electronic Defense for more than 10 years. She has also written for The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Southtown, Money and Print magazines.
A native of the Chicago area, Elaine received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently an MBA candidate at the Quantic School of Business and Technology. She holds a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) Designation issued by the Events Industry Council and is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
Marshall Norwood
Paula Fontana
Paula’s commitment to developing meaningful, intertwined with her passion for impacting and enriching lives provides the platform to make an impactful difference in serving National Black MBA Association® partners and members.
Nyisha Hunt
H. BEECHER HICKS III
Most recently he served as the President and CEO of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) since 2013. During his tenure at NMAAM he completed a $60mm capital campaign, facilitated the museum design and construction, introduced public and school programming, and opened the iconic institution in January 2021, in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic.
Henry earned a bachelor of arts degree in marketing from Morehouse College and earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He is a sought-after public speaker and writer, anticipating that his first book, Power in the Name, a story of family legacy, will be published in 2024.
Henry is husband to Crystal, a gifted elementary school teacher, and proud father to two grown sons.
Harold Reid
Dr. Tan Morales
Kiana Cornish
Harold Reid
Elaine Richardson, CMP
Elaine has served as the main planner for the NBNBAA® Annual Conference and Exposition as an outsource partner since 2016, and then as a staff member since 2021. She shepherded the association through the pandemic switch and drove execution on the organization’s first fully virtual Conference in 2020, as well as its first hybrid Conference in 2021. With more than 20 years of experience serving associations, Elaine’s relationship with NBMBAA goes back to 2007, when, as an outsource partner, she built the organization’s media strategy and led the relaunch of Black MBA Magazine. For the last 16 years, Elaine has supported NBMBAA’s events, and media/communications as a writer/editor, NBMBAA’s publisher and then as a business event strategist. She has served as a strategic advisor to the last seven organization CEOs.
Prior to joining NBMBAA full time, Elaine spent 17 years at Naylor Association Solutions, where she supported media and event needs for non-profit associations across the country, working for national association clients, including the National Association of Home Builders, Association of Old Crows, National Urban League and Intermodal Association of North America, among many others. An award-winning journalist, Elaine served as the publisher and editor of Black MBA Magazine for five years and as publisher and managing editor of the Journal of Electronic Defense for more than 10 years. She has also written for The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Southtown, Money and Print magazines.
A native of the Chicago area, Elaine received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently an MBA candidate at the Quantic School of Business and Technology. She holds a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) Designation issued by the Events Industry Council and is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
Paula Fontana
Paula’s commitment to developing meaningful, intertwined with her passion for impacting and enriching lives provides the platform to make an impactful difference in serving National Black MBA Association® partners and members.
