Deputy Chief Counsel, Grand Jury & Juvenile Divisions, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office

Anthony Pierson, is a dedicated advocate for justice and accountability. From a young age, Anthony experienced the harsh reality of crime when his mother fell victim to a traumatic armed robbery, an event that shaped his perception of the criminal justice system. Motivated by the desire to improve it, he now seeks to use his extensive experience in criminal law to protect the citizens of Franklin County and ensure that criminals are held responsible for their actions.

The turning point in Anthony’s career occurred while studying law at The Ohio State University College of Law. Driven by his vivid memories of his mother’s robbery, he became captivated by criminal law and sought to find ways to improve the criminal justice system. Every criminal law course he took was a quest to answer the crucial question: “How can we make the criminal justice system work for us, rather than merely incarcerating individuals? How can we simultaneously hold the guilty accountable while protecting the innocent and wrongfully accused?”

Anthony’s journey in criminal law has been diverse and extensive. He served as a small-town prosecutor for the City of Dublin, where he gained valuable experience handling a wide range of cases. Later, he assumed the role of a major metropolitan county prosecutor for Franklin County, allowing him to develop a deep understanding of the challenges faced in larger urban areas. Anthony’s commitment to justice led him to serve as chief of staff and chief legal counsel for Ohio’s Juvenile Prison System, where he worked tirelessly to reform the system and ensure fair treatment for young offenders. Additionally, he served as a principal assistant attorney general, prosecuting crimes throughout Ohio and gaining a broad perspective on the intricacies of criminal law.

Anthony’s philosophy centers on accountability. Regardless of one’s status, whether a CEO of a major corporation, a gang member, a police officer, or a repeat violent offender, he believes that everyone should be subject to the same standards of the law. This unwavering commitment to equality and fairness has driven him to prosecute both police officers and gang members, proving that justice should be blind and impartial.

Treasurer, City of Whitehall

Shaquille Alexander is a Columbus native who relocated to Whitehall in 2nd grade. He graduated from Whitehall-Yearling High School in 2014 and went on to study finance and business administration at Otterbein University.

After graduating from Otterbein in 2018 with cum laude honors, Shaq began studying to become a Certified Public Accountant; a feat he accomplished in 2021. He spent 3 years at KPMG, one of the largest accounting firms in the world. He currently serves in a project management role at Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.

He also serves on the boards of the Whitehall Education Foundation, the Whitehall Community Improvement Corporation, and the Columbus Crew Community Council. In February 2022, he was appointed as the Whitehall City Treasurer and elected to a full-term on November 7, 2023.

In his spare time, he enjoys running, tennis, cycling, reading, and traveling. He’s passionate about mentoring and tutoring students, as well as serving his community.

Partner & Co-Founder, McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility

Duwain is a Partner in McKinsey’s Ohio office who serves higher education institutions on strategy and operational topics. He also leads McKinsey’s research and client service on the topic of racial equity through the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility. Prior to joining McKinsey, he worked for the Teach For America as the Director of Growth, Development and Partnerships where he helped launch two Teach For America offices (one in Cleveland, one in Cincinnati).

Relevant Experience:

• Network of large and medium size universities – COVID-19 response and operations. Led the team to support 30+ minority serving universities on crisis response, financial scenario planning, use of technology, and quick implementation of high value cost reduction analysis and implementation.
• Top 50 private university – Strategic planning and implementation. Led the implementation of the university’s strategic plan initiatives with by creating clear implementation roadmaps, metrics for success, and accountability. Refined initiatives as necessary to respond to changing university and external conditions.
• Top 25 public university – Administrative operations transformation. Led the first and second phase of an administrative operations shared services transformation (focusing on HR, Finance and Research Administration) as the university aimed to improve operations to accelerate their overall performance and increase employee satisfaction. The work included a comprehensive diagnostic of current operations and managing 5 client teams that met to identify pain points, design solutions, and scale solutions across the university. One of the initiatives rapidly improved hiring time by 50% in fewer than 6 months.
• Private, for profit university system – Five-year strategy and target financial profile. Led the team that created the 5-year strategy statement for this international higher education provider. This effort clarified the vision and competitive differentiation and valued the underlying components of each business unit to determine potential financial performance. The team analyzed and benchmarked the company’s operational and financial performance and led several workshops with senior leaders to clarify the strategy and align on the financial aspiration.
• Top 50 Private University – Ten-year strategy. Led the team that analyzed and made recommendations for a strategy for this university to solidify its Top 50 status (according to U.S. News and World Report) and carve out a distinct place within the higher education landscape. The work included an analysis of all major aspects of the university and compared the results with industry best practices and benchmarks. The team developed a set of strategic aspirations for the leadership of the university and facilitated working groups to implement the strategy.
• McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility. Led research on racial disparities in wealth and the impacts of automation. He is the co-author the recent McKinsey reports entitled “COVID-19: Investing in black lives and livelihoods”, “The economic impact of closing the racial wealth gap”, and “The future of work in black America”. This research now forms the base for McKinsey’s newly formed Institute for Black Economic Mobility focused on inspiring, empower, accelerate, and sustain action that leads to the socioeconomic development of Black communities across the globe.

Education:

• Harvard University, M.B.A., Business Management, 2017
• Harvard University, M.P.P., Business and Government Policy, 2017
• Case Western Reserve University, B.S., Finance, 2010

Work History:

• McKinsey & Company, Partner, 2010-2012, 2017-present
• Teach For America, Director, Growth, Development and Partnerships – Ohio Region, 2012-2014

Interim Treasurer/CFO, Columbus City Schools

The Board of Education approved the appointment of Jennifer Vanover as Interim Treasurer on June 20, 2023. Jennifer “Jenny” Vanover brings over 20 years of experience in school finance. Since joining Columbus City Schools in December 2014, Jenny has significantly contributed to the District’s financial operations. Her expertise and commitment to the District’s financial stability will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of the educational community.

Jenny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, with a minor in Business Administration, from Ohio University. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master’s in Business Administration from Capital University. In recognition of her dedication to continuous improvement, Jenny achieved a Green Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma in 2019 and completed her Black Belt Certification training in December 2021. Her previous roles include serving as the Treasurer/CFO of Licking Heights Local School District and gaining experience as an assistant to the Southwest Licking Local Schools Treasurer.

Executive Director and CEO, Columbus Museum of Art

Brooke A. Minto assumed the role of Executive Director and CEO of the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) in May 2023. With a career spanning over two decades, Minto has experience working for a range of museums and interdisciplinary arts organizations in the United States and abroad.  

Before joining CMA, Minto served as the inaugural executive director of the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums (BTA). During her time with BTA, she grew the grant-funded pilot program into a robust nonprofit membership organization equipping Black trustees with the resources to bring meaningful and lasting change to their institutions. In 2023, Minto was recognized by the American Alliance for Museums (AAM) for her work advancing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) in the museum field. 

Previously, Minto served as a managing director of Advisory Board for the Arts and held senior leadership roles at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, the New Museum in New York, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and Pérez Art Museum Miami. She began her career in the curatorial department of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Minto studied art history, and earned a master’s degree in modern art and critical studies from Columbia University. Her passion for the arts extends beyond her professional endeavors; she actively contributes to the field by serving on the board of advisors for the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth and the board of directors for Print Center New York.  

Superintendent/CEO, Columbus City Schools

Dr. Angela Chapman's journey as a public educator spans over 25 years, leading to her appointment as the 22nd Superintendent/CEO of Columbus City Schools. Dr. Chapman believes providing high-quality education is a civil right that empowers students and transforms communities. As a parent with a son who is also part of Columbus City Schools, she embraces the responsibility of shaping a brighter future for every student.

With a diverse background in education and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee State University, Dr. Chapman's impact is deeply felt. She joined Columbus City Schools in 2019 as the Chief of Transformation and Leadership, where she introduced innovative strategies to enhance school leadership and regional support. Her vision for strong learning communities drove the successful implementation of the District's Strategic Plan, ensuring equitable opportunities for all students.

In addition to her role as an educational leader, Dr. Chapman is a proud advocate for fair and equal funding to provide high-quality education to all students. She recognizes that public education is not just a choice but a fundamental right, transcending zip codes and backgrounds. Dr. Chapman's leadership nurtures an environment where every student is valued, loved, and supported to thrive.

As Columbus City Schools strives to be both the city and District of choice, her leadership shines as a beacon of hope and progress. Her dedication to leveling the playing field and creating stronger schools paves the way for stronger communities, highlighting the interconnectedness of education and societal well-being. Under her guidance, we are poised to achieve a transformative impact on our students' lives and our city's prosperity.

Director of Inclusion & Analysis, Franklin County Children Services

Mrs. Tanya McClanahan serves as the Director of Inclusion and Analysis for Franklin County Children Services (FCCS). The agency is dedicated to providing services that lead advocacy for the safety, permanency and well-being for each child in the county’s custody. As FCCS’s Director of Inclusion & Analysis, Tanya leads the agency’s Organizational Health, Evaluations, Volunteers/Child Enrichment, and Research and Educational Supports departments. Across these four departments, there is a collective focus on organizational strategies, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives/efforts, evaluation and data analysis, educational supports, and community partnerships with a focus on volunteering and child enrichment programs. Overall, the division aims to ensure that all agency efforts support a healthy culture, create conditions for professional collaboration and instill competencies for excellence and equity.

Mrs. McClanahan served 15 years in district leadership with Columbus City Schools as the Director of Equity and Supervisor of Higher Education Partnerships. In addition to her professional experience as a district leader, Tanya led a high-poverty community school with over 700 students for over six years as the School Director. Collectively, Mrs. McClanahan brings over two decades of proven success with her professional experiences, knowledge, skills, and leadership from the field of education. She is deeply committed to serving youth and families while valuing compassion, commitment, diligence, and authentic engagement.

Mrs. McClanahan believes in building strong relationships and fostering a space for honest and transparent conversations to create practical and efficient systems within organizational environments designed to meet the unique needs of youth, families, and the greater community. She embodies the belief we need each other; everyone deserves to have a deep sense of belonging because, ultimately, our fates are linked.

Mrs. McClanahan earned her B.A. in History/Business Administration from Wilmington College and M.A. in Educational Leadership from Mid-American University.

Vice President of Advancement, National Veterans Memorial and Museum

Candace serves as the Museum’s Vice President of Advancement. In this role, she oversees all fundraising, membership and development initiatives. Candace’s responsibilities include building the Museum’s regional and national fundraising network through recruiting Board Members, individual and corporate memberships, philanthropic donations and exclusive partnerships.

Co-Founder and President, East Chop Capital

Carrington McKinley Carter is a serial entrepreneur, real estate developer, private equity investor, and wealth strategist who is passionate about building businesses, economic empowerment, wealth creation, and uplifting the community.

He is Co-founder & General Partner of East Chop Capital, a private equity firm with over $20 million in assets under management. Its first two real estate funds are focused on the $114 billion global vacation rental market. Future investments will support companies in real estate, hospitality, technology, financial services, media, and sports.

Carrington is also Co-founder and President of McKinley Carter Enterprises, a real estate investment and property management company with a portfolio of residential and commercial properties. Under the Getaway Society brand, the company owns and manages a network of luxury vacation rental homes in Martha's Vineyard, Hilton Head, Gatlinburg, Orlando, Virginia Beach, the Pocono Mountains, and Broken Bow (Oklahoma).

Carrington and his companies have been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Cheddar TV, New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Black Enterprise, Essence, Ebony, Rolling Out, Authority Magazine/Medium, Heart and Soul, SHOPPE BLACK, the Columbus Dispatch, and Savoy Magazine.

Prior to running these businesses full-time, Carrington worked for 10 years in pharmaceutical marketing at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott Laboratories, and inVentiv Health (now Syneos Health). Throughout his corporate career, he successfully marketed products in various stages of their life cycle, across therapeutic areas including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, antibiotics, and oncology. He gained significant experience working with diverse teams, matrix organizations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and billion-dollar brands.

In the community, he is active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc. Carrington graduated from Hampton University with a BS in Chemistry. He also earned an MBA in Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh. He enjoys reading, exercising, mentoring, traveling, and has been an avid investor for nearly 20 years. Carrington and his wonderful wife Kia reside in Columbus, OH.

Executive Director, the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director, Freedom Equity

J. Averi Frost, a Columbus, Ohio native, is a graduate of Denison University and Eastmoor Academy High School. Proud daughter of serial entrepreneurs, Frost has always understood that there can be a gap in resources for some of our most disenfranchised business owners. Whether it is connecting entrepreneurs to resources, advocating for the support they need, or both, Frost strives to bridge the opportunity gap between the wealthiest and poorest members of our community. Frost has served the small, Black, and minority-owned business community for the past fourteen years.

Currently, Frost serves as Executive Director of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC). COAACC was launched in 2018 to provide education and empowerment to the Black Business community in Central Ohio; Frost works with members to build capacity, gain access to contracts, make sales, and seek capital. Frost was named Executive Director of Freedom Equity Inc. in March 2022. Freedom Equity is a start-up CDFI poised to provide an alternative to financing for Black owned businesses in Central Ohio. Freedom Equity began lending activities Q4 2022.

Prior to her current roles, Frost served five years as Director of the Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC), a State of Ohio program hosted by the Central Ohio Minority Business Association (COMBA). Through her work with the MBAC, Frost developed and facilitated business development workshops, and counseled clients to help advance their business in areas such as general business administration, marketing, government procurement, and applying for minority certification. Having facilitated nearly 200 workshops (including multiple iterations of custom programming) and having counseled 200+ business owners, Frost prides herself in helping to build community through strengthening the minority business community in whatever way she can.

Beyond work in business and economic development, Frost has been involved in a number of social causes since being a student at Denison University. Frost has been involved in fundraising efforts for Ohio based nonprofits raising over $5M in over the course of her career (including three Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society and two NAMIWalks events). Frost, previously served as Board Chair for Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc. – a non-profit that provides housing and supportive assistance to homeless and economically disadvantaged mothers in Central Ohio; and Board President of Black, Out, & Proud, Inc., a non-profit that provides advocacy, education, and inspiration for and by the Black LGBTQ+ community. Frost recently joined the Board of Directors of the Columbus Empowerment Corporation (formerly the Columbus Compact), a non-profit supporting local community development efforts through real estate; and recently completed a term serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Capital Development Corp. (CCDC), an entity that provides real estate loans to small businesses across the state of Ohio.