About Jorge FONTAnEZ

 Jorge Fontanez is CEO of B Lab U.S. & Canada, part of a global network focused on realizing stakeholder capitalism and whose global mission is to create an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative future benefitting all people and the planet. Jorge's career has been in pursuit of achieving racial equity through economic equity, influenced by the belief that business can   be a force for good. Jorge's perspective on business comes from having in-depth experience   leading marketing and brand strategy for iconic brands across a variety of sectors including   Consumer Packaged Goods, Mining and Minerals, Automotive and Financial Services.

 In 2015 he founded Marca Studio, an independent strategic marketing consultancy serving   entrepreneur founders of color in their early-stage ventures, as well as purpose-driven   brands, nonprofits, and foundations. Jorge designed a course on Stakeholders & Marketing   and lectures at the Bard MBA in Sustainability Program. He also serves as an advisor to the   NYU Center for Sustainable Business and Pacific Community Ventures, and since 2014 he   has been a First Mover Fellow of the Aspen Institute Business & Society Program.

About Tia Hodges

 Tia Hodges has dedicated nearly 20 years to creating and implementing strategies that drive systemic change at the intersection of philanthropy, non-profit, and social impact sectors to improve social and economic progress in communities across the U.S. This work has been fulfilled through her roles at the Citi Foundation where she led the strategy and investments of the Youth Economic Opportunity portfolio in the U.S. In this role, she was responsible to lead the strategic composition and investments of the portfolio with a focus on workforce, social innovation, mentoring, and financial education.

 Tia also spent many years at high impact non-profit organizations including Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin supporting the organization's mission to eradicate hunger and the national non-profit organization KaBOOM! where she worked directly with Mayors and civic leaders from more than 200 cities and towns in the U.S. to ensure children and families had equitable access to healthy and vibrant communities. 

 Tia was selected as a Fellow for the Council on Foundations Leadership Program, the 92y Belfer Center for Innovation & Impact Women inPower, and Johns Hopkins University Leadership Program for Minority Manager.

About Jim Shelton

 Jim Shelton is the current Chief Impact Officer at Blue Meridian.

Prior to joining Blue Meridian, he founded Amandla Enterprises, an impact investment and advisory firm, and was President of Education for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, President and Chief Impact Officer at 2U, and Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Education.

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