Anthony Davis joined The Consortium as Vice President, Fund Development in 2009. Since, he has led his team to add 28 new corporate partners to The Consortium’s roster.

How do you spend your free time outside of work?

I enjoy playing golf. Golf is a game which relaxes my mind and really teaches me much about life, integrity and the importance of perseverance no matter how bad it gets. I also read to stimulate my mind, and I write poetry to express some of my inner-most thoughts.

What would your coworkers and our constituents be surprised to learn about you?

In addition to being an ordained minister, coworkers and constituents would be surprised to know that I spent 18 years, my entire childhood in the foster care system. Also, that I was once a professional club DJ known for my mix tapes, and creative ability on the turntables. My name was DJ Tony Davis “The People’s Choice.”

I am an orator who recites many of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches from memory, and I also write and perform original spoken word pieces (poetry) as well.

Employees often bring stuff from home to decorate their work space. What is your favorite, or most meaningful personal item in your workspace and why?

I have on my meeting table, a book entitled “A Knock At Midnight,” inspirations from the great sermons of Dr. King. I am amazed as it relates to his prophetic voice in those very turbulent times. The sermons motivate me to bring my highest and best to the workplace.

Name your favorite book, food, movie and television program.

Book: The Difference Maker by John Maxwell

Food: Seafood

Movie: Boyz n the Hood and Mr. Holland’s Opus

TV: The Practice and (yes) Miami Vice

Name one of your greatest personal accomplishments?

In 1997 I took on a community based project that was closed due to neglect and lack of interest. After 13 years of commitment and perseverance, the work resulted in the $2.3 million renovation, construction and operation of a fully funded, licensed residential care living facility which serves for the poor and underserved in the city of New Haven funded by The Department of Social Services.

What part of your job or working at The Consortium do you enjoy the most?

I really enjoy cultivating and developing relationships. I always say that I have the most exciting job within the organization. Also, the mission and vision are both directly aligned with my personal core values.

Janice Wells-White joined The Consortium as Vice President, Program Administration in 2008. As such, she oversees recruiting, communications and special events.

How do you spend your free time outside of work?

I enjoy traveling abroad, listening to music and spending time with my nieces and nephews.

Traveling abroad fulfills a need I have to explore other cultures. I am fascinated by the commonalities we share, no matter how different we seem. My favorite example is walking into a tiny, tiny restaurant off the beaten path in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amour playing over the loud speaker. I immediately felt at home.

Music moves me. I learned to appreciate lyrics at a very young age. A song can move me through a range of emotions….from tears to joy. How powerful is that!

I enjoy time with my nieces and nephews because they think I’m cool, fun to hang out with (most of the time) and the older ones think I have exquisite taste. My mission is challenging them to move beyond their comfort zone in the world.

What would your coworkers and our constituents be surprised to learn about you?

I possess an artistic side. I have won first place in competitions for art, poetry and dance. I sold two of my artistic creations, a six-foot lion made out of rope and beads and a poster-size batik entitled “Moon Children” for a decent amount of cash. I also use to be in a traveling drama troupe. I am currently taking piano lessons and just learned how to play “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Employees often bring stuff from home to decorate their work space. What is your favorite, or most meaningful personal item in your workspace and why?

My favorite personal item is a picture of me sitting in a sculptured “O” in Time Square during the Oprah Live Your Best Life Weekend last year. The weekend was uplifting and transformative.  I met amazing women with fascinating stories. The picture reminds me of the experience and the power of sisterhood.

Name your favorite book, movie, television program and food.

Movie: Scent of a Women

TV: Dexter and Frasier re-runs

Book: My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due, Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and Freakanomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt. All four books lead to spirited discussions with friends.

Food: Although I am known for my Southern Teacakes, I don’t really have a favorite food. I prefer hot gourmet beverages; especially chai and hot chocolate. If I had a last meal, it would be a toasted blueberry bagel with butter and a steaming cup of chai.

What part of your job, or working at The Consortium do you enjoy the most?

I most enjoy the operations component of my job. I like building the infrastructure and establishing the processes that allow our organization to deliver the best service possible to our constituents. I also enjoy giving prospective students the information needed to make an informed decision about applying to MBA programs via The Consortium. It’s a great feeling when students seek you out at OP to thank you for your support and to share the impact of a conversation that inspired them to move forward in the process.

D-Lori joined The Consortium in 2010. Since, she has established herself as a resource for Consortium students and alumni.

How do you spend your free time outside of work?

I spend my free time working out, shopping and spending time with family and friends. I enjoy these activities because I believe they bring a good balance to my life. All of them are great stress relievers.

What would your coworkers and our constituents be surprised to learn about you?

My coworkers and constituents would be surprised to learn that I worked at Anheuser-Busch part-time as a weekend production worker. I worked in the brewery where production took place.  It was hard work and not very glamorous, but the pay was good and I met some very nice people there that are now life-long friends.

Employees often bring stuff from home to decorate their work space. What is your favorite, or most meaningful personal item in your workspace and why?

My most meaningful item in my workspace would probably be a tie between my photos and my degrees. My photos remind of how blessed I am to have such good family, friends and experiences. My degrees remind me of how far I have come in life and the hard work and dedication it took to get here. Sometimes it still blows my mind that I have a graduate degree.

Name your favorite book, movie, television program and food.

Book: Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell

Movie: Shawshank Redemption

TV:  Any of the Real Housewives series on Bravo

Food: Mexican

What part of your job, or working at The Consortium do you enjoy the most?

The part of my job that I enjoy the most is assisting students and alumni. It gives me an opportunity to speak with them and get to learn a little about them. No two are the same so there is always something different.

What I enjoy most about working at The Consortium are my coworkers. Everyone is so different and we have a wide range of personalities. I feel like we are all pieces to this puzzle. We manage to make it work.

Coordinator, Program Administration and movie buff Angelia Piper has been with The Consortium since January, 2009.

How do you spend your free time outside of work?

I like to spend time at my church, which is an inspiring and peaceful place. I enjoy mediating. I believe the silence allows for mental, physical and spiritual rejuvenation. I also spend time reading, which, to me, is the pathway to knowledge, imagination and fun.

I am also earning an associate’s degree in business administration, so I spend time concentrating on school work.

What would your coworkers and our constituents be surprised to learn about you?

I go to the movies every weekend. I like all types of movies, but Pixar movies are my favorite.

Name your favorite book, movie and food.

Book: In the Flow of Life by Eric Butterworth and Lessons in Truth by Emily Cady.

Movie: Oliver Twist directed by David Lean in 1948 and Wizard of Oz, directed by Victor Fleming in 1939.

Food: I like all food except peas.

What parts of your job or working at The Consortium do you enjoy the most?

The Consortium develops underrepresented business professionals who desire a career in corporate America. I believe that by fostering a multicultural workforce, we help the entire U.S. business community.

With The Consortium since 2007, Stacy Abeles, The Consortium’s Director, Projects and Special Events shares why she’s passionate about The Consortium’s Annual Orientation Program & Career Forum.

How do you spend your free time outside of work?

Spending time with my family, laughing with friends (preferably over a bottle of wine), working out (outside when possible), shopping, reading and travel.

What would your coworkers and our constituents be surprised to learn about you?

I was a political science major and have wanted to obtain a law degree since I was six years old. I still might do it one day.

What is your favorite, or most meaningful personal item in your workspace?

Photos of my family and friends. They make me smile.

Name your favorite book, movie, television program and food.

Book: I just love to read anything from autobiographies to women’s literature.

Movie: I think my favorite movie is “Love Actually.” I can watch it anytime and not get sick of it. I’m obsessed with all things British and can break out the accent when necessary.

TV: I am a reality TV junkie, but also love DIY.

Food: I don’t discriminate with food– I love it all. I’m especially into Asian-inspired food, Chinese, sushi and Thai are my favorites.

What part of your job, or working at The Consortium do you enjoy the most?

The exhilaration of being on-site at the Annual Orientation Program & Career Forum for a week is what I look forward to all year long! I really enjoy interacting with our many constituents in a live format and seeing more than a year’s worth of work come to fruition in four conference days. I especially love walking the exhibit hall floors – from its bare bones to a busy area for networking. I love the vibrant branding and seeing the corporate recruiters in “action.” I also appreciate how grateful our students are for the opportunity to participate in the OP and be a part of The Consortium. You hear “thank you” a lot and that’s pretty rewarding.