EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Otis Threatt PRESIDENT
Tracie Moore VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION
Shavannia Williams VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
Shavannia Williams is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Georgia World Congress Center
Authority, the No. 1 convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world. In this new role, she leads transformational initiatives, social responsibility and sustainability. She also works with
cross-functional partners to strengthen community support and expand the overall brand visibility of the Authority.
Ms. Williams joined the Authority following six years at AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) where she most recently led fan innovation for the Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Atlanta United (MLS) and
Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In addition, she served on the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Committee
working to identify organizations that increase time kids spend in physical activity and approve grants.
Prior to her experience at AMBSE, Williams consulted and worked with diverse organizations and
projects including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Incorporated, D.C. Women’s Business
Center, General Motors Monday Night Football, Sam’s Club, USA Today Charitable Foundation, United Way Worldwide-NFL Partnership and YUM! Foundation. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Detroit Lions and Washington Sports and Entertainment (now Monumental Sports and Entertainment), the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Mystics (WNBA) and Washington Wizards (NBA) brands and the United States Senate. She also led the public relations strategy for the 2009 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®.
Committed to education and empowering others, Shavannia launched Heels and Helmets in 2010 to use sports to level the professional playing field and help women advance in their careers. Additionally, she serves as a volunteer tutor and mentor, a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA and a WISE (Women in Sports & Events) Atlanta board member. She was an adjunct professor in the School of Global Journalism and Communications at Morgan State University. She frequently lectures on branding, entrepreneurship, marketing and using sports to connect and empower for national and international organizations including the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Shavannia’s experience and passion for events and community impact began as a student working on the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. She enjoys cooking, fitness, traveling, and spending Fall Saturdays cheering on her alma mater, the University of Michigan, where she earned a B.A. in Sport Management and Communication.
She resides in Atlanta, GA and lives by the belief to “bloom where you are planted."
Ladawna Barnes VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Tyeisha Miller VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Tyeisha Miller graduated with a BS Degree from Tennessee State University and Meharry Medical College’s Medical Technology program. She started her career as a Laboratory Scientist and later combined her passion for science with business administration to become a healthcare operations leader. She received an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan Graduate School of Business and studied Global Business Strategies at Loyola’s University in Rome, Italy campus. She’s currently a Clinical Laboratory Administrator at Wellstar Healthcare.
Demetria Ali VICE PRESIDENT OF RECORDS
Demetria Ali is a Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, based in Atlanta. In her role, she leads client development from end to end, providing solutions to internal stakeholders for digital enterprise solutions. Demetria is skilled in Power App, Power Platform Fundamentals, Power BI + Dataverse, and Power Automate Flows. She is passionate about servant leadership and has been actively involved in various community organizations, including the National Black MBA Association, American Cancer Society, Junior League of Atlanta, United Way AAP, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Travis Townsend IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Travis Townsend is a Co-Founder and Financial Partner of the law firm of Townsend & Lockett, LLC, in Atlanta, Georgia, where he oversees the firm's multi-million-dollar financial plan. Travis also leads Townsend Lockett’s business law, corporate and securities transactional practices, directing the firm to more than $21B in transactions closed. Additionally, Travis is a Managing Consultant with Torinity Consulting Company where he is currently building out its leadership development and intergroup dialogue departments. Travis is an Adjunct Professor on Faculty at the University of Michigan School of Law and the Emory School of Law where he teaches Deal Skills transactional law simulation.
Jennifer Christian BOARD ADVISOR
Charmaine Ward Chapter Advisor
Charmaine Ward- Millner is Corporate Relations Director for Georgia Power. She is responsible for building and maintaining key state and national relationships with diverse opinion leaders, forming strategic alliances with diverse segments of the company’s 2.5 million customers, corporate partners, and civic organizations to promote advocacy for important industry and company initiatives.
She is a noted speaker, adjunct professor at Georgia State, serial entrepreneur, John Maxwell Leadership Coach, andICF Professional Certified Coach.
Charmaine’s service to the community is widespread. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Clark Atlanta University and Secretary for the National Black MBA national board. She also serves on the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Board, Atlanta Technical College Foundation Board, Atlanta Business League Foundation Board, Operation HOPE Regional
Board, NBAF Advisory Council and Alliance Theatre Advisory Board. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., and National Council of Negro Women. She is also an alumna of United Way VIP, Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), Leadership Georgia, and Leadership Atlanta.
Charmaine graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Economics from Clark Atlanta University and earned an MBA with honors from Kennesaw State University.
A native of Chicago, she is an avid reader, loves the theatre, and enjoys international travel. She is married to Keith Millner.
Charmaine’s personal mission is “To be a CATALYST, creating positive change in individuals, organizations and communities by making connections, coaching and servant leadership”.