Gerard Adore, Shelly Hammond, and Jeanean White Join The Advanced Leadership Institute Team as it Expands its Mission

FOR RELEASE      Contact:      Russell Bynum 412-224-0586

June 2, 2021          

With the rising importance of racial equity in today’s workforce, The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) has expanded its leadership team. This is a part of its strategic effort to prepare Black leaders for advancement and success, and create more diverse, inclusive, and prosperous communities.

“For the past three years, the Pittsburgh community has witnessed the success of our efforts as an initiative, and now we are in the process of transitioning into The Advanced Leadership Institute. The addition of Gerard Adore, Shelly Hammond, and Jeanean White to our team is an important part of that expansion effort. These individuals have strong backgrounds that will be key to our future success,” says Evan Frazier, President and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute.

Gerard C. Adore, originally from Trinidad, is a 20-year veteran in Finance. Mr. Adore was eager to transition into work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he was happy to accept a position with TALI as Vice President of Finance and Administration. He previously served as Senior Finance Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, and he also worked as Vice President of Finance and Administration for a woman-owned business in the DC area. “I wanted to do something to add more value to my work and be able to help people, and I believe my new position at TALI will help me accomplish that,” says Mr. Adore.

Gerard Adore is an accomplished senior finance executive with comprehensive experience in both finance and operations. He has had critical experience in developing sound financial strategies in startups to Fortune 500 businesses. Past work experiences have included contract finance administration for the NOAA/NASA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS); vice president of finance and strategy for FM Talent; CFO & COO for the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) within the U.S. Department of Defenses’ Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and other positions. He holds an MBA in Management and Finance from Howard University, School of Business in Washington, D.C., and a BA in Economics (with a minor in Finance), also from Howard University.

When asked how he envisions TALI making an impact on the Pittsburgh region, Mr. Adore emphasizes the fact that TALI will have graduated its third Executive Leadership Academy cohort by the end of this summer. “Each one of those individuals have now been equipped with knowledge to help them advance their careers, and they have now built a network where they can support each other as they grow,” says Mr. Adore. “We have excellent Black talent in Pittsburgh. What TALI is accomplishing is giving corporations the opportunity to position these talented individuals for advancement.”

Shelly D. Hammond was recently added to the TALI team as Vice President of Programs. Ms. Hammond has always had a passion for empowering people to aim higher, so she was a natural fit for the TALI position. With over 25 years of professional

experience covering government, nonprofit and corporate organizations, she effectively

drives change management and organizational transformation for broader benefits.

Ms. Hammond has worked in a variety of leadership roles in operations, technology, business banking, communications, business resiliency, and other areas as a senior vice president at PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Among her notable achievements, Ms. Hammond served as Captain in the United States Air Force where she served in Desert Storm, as Logistics Officer at Edwards, AFB/NASA, as Adjunct Professor for Leadership and Development at the University of Maryland, and constructed and implemented training and leadership development curriculum. She also previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Urban Youth Action, Inc. (a nonprofit development organization).

Ms. Hammond’s educational background includes a Master of Public Administration in Human Resource management from Golden Gate University, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Marketing and Advertising from Temple University, and a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from Villanova University.

Shelly Hammond says that she feels it’s a privilege to serve in this capacity and shes confident that TALI will succeed at its mission. “The differentiator for TALI is its connectivity,” says Ms. Hammond. “TALI brings the connectivity and engagement needed to help drive meaningful and sustained change in our region. Diversity of thought, background, and perspective supports material growth for all of us, our businesses, and our communities.

Jeanean White, TALI’s new Executive Assistant/Business Administrator, was inspired to join the TALI team after hearing about its great work. “Being a part of an organization that is making a strong impact on the Black community is a big draw for me. When I read about TALI, its mission, and what it has done over the last three years, I was inspired, motivated, and encouraged,” says Ms. White.

As a native of Pittsburgh, Ms. White has over 20 years of experience as anadministrative professional and brings to TALI a high-level of organizational and management strengths. Her past work experience includes positions at Jefferson Regional Foundation, Propel Charter Schools and iCarnegie Global Learning, Inc.

She has a B.S. degree from North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

When asked to describe the impact of TALI on Pittsburgh, Ms. White sited its important role in improving the regional presence of Black executive leaders. “TALI serves as a connector. Its cohort members are individuals who have already accomplished great things in their careers; the critical skills they develop through The Executive Leadership Academy (TALI’ signature education and training program) can lead to even greater opportunities,” explains Ms. White.

About The Advanced Leadership Institute

The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute is to cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities. Its primary focus is to educate, develop, connect, and position Black leaders for executive advancement. TALI’s Executive Leadership Academy, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, serves as a signature program and demonstration model to drive change in our region.

Expansion of The Advanced Leadership Institute was made possible by transformational grants from Highmark Health and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. These Founding Underwriters, along with our annual sponsors and contributors, have demonstrated ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across our region.TALI’s leadership development programs are supported by major corporations and foundations in the Pittsburgh region, including Lead Contributors: BNY Mellon Foundation of SWPA, The Heinz Endowments, Hillman Family Foundations, and The Richard King Mellon Foundation. Current Presenting Sponsors: Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC. Contributors: Buhl Foundation and The Pittsburgh Foundation. Gold Sponsors: Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Covestro, Dollar Bank, FHL Bank Pittsburgh, Gateway Health, Giant Eagle, Giant Eagle Foundation, Koppers, and PPG. Silver Sponsors: Ernst & Young (EY) and Wabtec. POISE Foundation has served as Fiscal Sponsor for TALI since its inception. Companies, organizations, and individuals can support the work of The Advanced Leadership Institute in multiple ways. For information about how you can be involved, visit www.advancedleadershipinitiative.org.

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