Our corporate and fund development team is a hearty band of mostly newcomers to The Consortium, responsible for building, cultivating and maintaining our organization’s engagement with corporate partners and our network of more than 9,000 alumni.

Under the leadership of Vice President for Development Anthony J. Davis, The Consortium has secured relationships with more than 80 corporate partnerships generating more than $120 million of scholarship revenue in support of MBA student matriculation.

With a background in philanthropic giving and fund development, starting with his work at his alma mater, Livingstone College, Anthony’s leadership has also enabled The Consortium to celebrate a 534 percent increase in student giving, along with a 167 percent increase in the total number of individual donors — growing the individual giving program from 452 donors to 1208 donors in its first year.

Now, his new team is freshly focused in particular on building alumni engagement and developing opportunities to assist corporate partners with their needs for experienced hires, which will mean helping them tap into our alumni network for prospects.

Karen M. Green

St. Louis, Mo.

Education: Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, bachelor’s in mass communications/marketing/advertising.

• My business card says I’m…manager of individual giving.
• What I actually do is…make it rain.
• People are surprised when they find out that I…am an only child.
• I wish you wouldn’t ask me to…cook. I’ve retired.
• The best part of my job is…can’t wait to find out.
• You and I will probably interact when…I make it rain.

Glenda Hibbert

Gibson City, Ill.

Education: Parkland Community College, Champaign, Ill., associate’s degree in administrative office professional.

• My business card says I’m…development services specialist.
• What I actually do is…manage Anthony Davis’s calendar and appointments.  I schedule all of his corporate partner conference calls and visits and follow through with deliverables.
• People are surprised when they find out that I…work from a home office in Columbus, Ohio.
• I wish you wouldn’t ask me to…do your laundry. I’ll probably shrink your favorite shirt or set a stain—just ask my husband!
• The best part of my job is…accommodating our corporate partners.
• You and I will probably interact when…you need to connect with Anthony—either to evaluate the partnership or to develop a strategy for engaging student talent.

Angel P. McKay

St. Louis, Mo.

Education: Webster University, bachelor’s in communications with an emphasis in public communications and a minor in religious studies. Also, I will complete my masters in nonprofit management and leadership from Webster University in December.

• My business card says I’m…manager, corporate development.
• What I actually do is…manage and cultivate corporate relationships, which lead to fund development generated from The Consortium’s corporate partners in order support the fulfillment of our mission. Additionally, I prepare grants and support overarching development efforts.
• People are surprised when they find out that I…was originally a music theater major and I am involved in music and performing arts outreach programs alongside my hubby.
• I wish you wouldn’t ask me to…do anything outdoors. So picnics, outdoor sports, fishing, and golfing are all out of the question because of the mosquitos and grass. However, I love the beach. Clearwater and Laguna are my favorite off-season spots to hang out.
• The best part of my job is…having the opportunity to merge my professional experience, education, core values, and creativity with an organization whose mission is aimed at connecting talented underrepresented minorities and corporations in an effort to create a culture of diversity within the American workforce.
• You and I will probably interact when…you would like to discuss development opportunities, corporate partnerships, the annual fund, OP underwriting — or you need a little encouragement (shout to the Morale Committee).

Adrienne Thomas

St. Louis, Mo.

• Education: Harris-Stowe State College, bachelor’s in urban education.
• My business card says I’m…manager, individual giving, student and alumni relations.
• What I actually do is…engage and build relationships with our students and alumni to promote a spirit of advocacy, volunteerism and stewardship. Interact with member school representatives to establish a mutually beneficial partnership.
• People are surprised when they find out that I…share the same birthday with my mom and great aunt and uncle – who are siblings.
• I wish you wouldn’t ask me to…stay up late. Nine o’clock is usually my limit.
• The best part of my job is…getting to know alumni.
• You and I will probably interact when…I give you a personal call!

Cathy Weisbrod

St. Louis, Mo.

Education: Southeast Missouri State University, bachelor’s in general studies. Oh, and Cor Jesu Academy High School (It’s a St. Louis thing).

• My business card says I’m…corporate relations manager.
• What I actually do is…serve as a steward to corporate partners.
• People are surprised when they find out that I…have five sisters and one brother.
• I wish you wouldn’t ask me to…never mind! I’m adventurous. You can ask me to do just about anything.
• The best part of my job is…meeting the corporate partners face-to-face at OP after I had been communicating with them virtually for six months.
• You and I will probably interact when…you need assistance, have a question, or need information.

Brian Wesley

Chicago – The City of Wind!

Education: Tennessee State University (the greatest HBCU to ever exist), bachelor’s in accounting; THE Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, MBA; and, finally, Cornell University, HR/Diversity Management.

• My business card says I’m…assistant vice president, talent engagement.
• What I actually do is…connect our corporate partners seeking mid- to executive-level talent for their career opportunities with our talented and highly skilled alumni to create the ultimate employment connection.
• People are surprised when they find out that I… played a supporting role (well sort of) in the Academy Award-winning movie The Green Mile.
• I wish you wouldn’t ask me to…go for a walk, anywhere, in the summer months. If it’s not 68 degrees or less, forget about it. I’ll drive or Uber!
• The best part of my job is…working with two great elements of the Consortium organization — our fantastic alumni and our great corporate partners — right at the intersection of opportunity and preparation.
• You and I will probably interact when…you’re either looking for mid-career to executive-level talent or a new career opportunity.

Pictured Above: The corporate and fund development team at The Consortium: Adrienne Thomas, Brian Wesley, Angel McKay, Anthony J. Davis, Karen Green, Cathy Weisbrod (not pictured: Glenda Hibbert, who works remotely).