Legends Lecture Series

Presented by the Black MBA Association during United Black World Month.

Victor L. Crawford

February 1, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EST

Registration has closed

In-person location: Gerlach Hall, Room 375 (food will be provided)
A link to join the lecture online will be shared with virtual registrants.
 

Victor L. Crawford
Former Chief Executive Officer, Pharmaceutical Division
Cardinal Health

Victor Crawford is the former chief executive officer of the Pharmaceutical segment at Cardinal Health. This segment distributes brand and generic pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and over-the-counter healthcare, and consumer products. In addition, the Pharmaceutical segment provides services to support the development of these products to pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers across the country.

Crawford came to Cardinal Health with a wide range of experience at some of the world's most respected companies. His most recent role was at Aramark, where he was chief operating officer for Healthcare, Education and Business Dining.

Before joining Aramark in 2012, Crawford served as president of field operations at Pepsi Beverages Company and guided the field leadership team in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He initially joined the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in 1990, working in a variety of roles in finance and sales before being appointed to vice president and general manager of the greater Chicago division of Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers, Inc. in 1998.

Crawford also worked as a senior vice president of Marriott Distribution Services and was named chief operations officer for the Eastern region of Marriott International. His career began with roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Federal-Mogul Corporation.

Crawford serves on the board of directors for The Hershey Company(Chair Audit Committee), The Saputo Company, The National Urban League, Thomas Jefferson University, and the Jefferson Health Advisory Board. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Boston College Carroll School of Management.

Fisher Black Faculty Legends Panel

February 8, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EST

Registration has closed

In-person location: Blackwell Ballroom BC (food will be provided)
A link to join the lecture online will be shared with virtual registrants.
 

James Hill (moderator)
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Tracy Dumas
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Cynthia Turner
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Justin Birru
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Terry Esper
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W.C. Benton
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J. Averi Frost

February 15, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EST

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In-person location: Gerlach Hall, Room 375 (food will be provided)
A link to join the lecture online will be shared with virtual registrants.
 

J. Averi Frost
Executive Director
Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC)

J. Averi Frost serves as Executive Director of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC) and Freedom Equity Inc. COAACC provides education and empowerment to the Black Business community in Central Ohio; Frost works with members to build capacity, increase sales, and seek capital. Freedom Equity Inc., a community development financial institution (CDFI), provides alternative financing options for Black-owned businesses that historically have had difficulty accessing the capital needed to grow their enterprises. As a proud daughter of entrepreneurs and advocates, Frost understands that there often is a gap in resources for Black business owners. Whether it is connecting entrepreneurs to resources, advocating for the support they need, or both, Frost strives to bridge the opportunity gap and build up those left out. Frost, a Columbus, Ohio native and Denison University graduate has served the small, Black, and minority-owned business community for the past fifteen years.

Prior to her current roles, Frost served five years as Director of the Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC), a State of Ohio program hosted by the Central Ohio Minority Business Association (COMBA). Through her work with the MBAC, Frost developed and facilitated business development workshops, and counseled clients to help advance their business in areas such as general business administration, marketing, government procurement, and applying for minority certification. Having facilitated nearly 200 workshops (including multiple iterations of custom programming) and having counseled 200+ business owners, Frost prides herself in helping to build community by strengthening the minority business community in whatever way she can.

Beyond work in business and economic development, Frost has been involved in a number of social causes since being a student at Denison University. Frost has been involved in fundraising efforts for Ohio-based nonprofits raising over $5M in over the course of her career (including three Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society and two NAMIWalks events). Frost, previously served as Board Chair for Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc. – a non-profit that provides housing and supportive assistance to homeless and economically disadvantaged mothers in Central Ohio; and Board President of Black, Out, & Proud, Inc., a non-profit that provides advocacy, education, and inspiration for and by the Black LGBTQ+ community. Frost recently joined the Board of Directors of the Columbus Empowerment Corporation (formerly the Columbus Compact), a non-profit supporting local community development efforts through real estate; and recently completed a term serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Capital Development Corp. (CCDC), an entity that provides real estate loans to small businesses across the state of Ohio.

C. Sunny Martin

February 22, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EST

Registration has closed

In-person location: Gerlach Hall, Room 375 (food will be provided)
A link to join the lecture online will be shared with virtual registrants.
 

C. Sunny Martin
Managing Partner
Mahogany Media Group

Mr. Martin has always defined his primary life mission as making a  positive difference to enhance,  uplift,  and economically empower communities towards entrepreneurship.

Sunny has self-published 64 books  in a span of 30 years. Very few publishers can lay claim to hosting book release receptions at such notable venues as Staples Center in Los Angeles, Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, or at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Martin is a Kentucky Colonel, and he is the founder and former CEO  of  Who's Who Publishing Company. Throughout his 26 years of leadership, he led the firm to expand its unique brand of Who's Who directories out to 27 metro cities across America. His firm came to be recognized as the largest African American directory publisher in the U. S.  In February 2009, Mr. Martin successfully sold the firm resulting in a multi-million-dollar deal transaction.

Of particular note, Mr. Martin has also produced award-wining television specials on diversity and inclusion and has enjoyed consulting many  Fortune 500 firms on matters of outreach and engagement for attracting minority consumers. Additionally, he has personally negotiated well over $40 million in sponsorship underwriting for signature events reaching underserved audiences in numerous markets.

Sunny has received much recognition throughout the publishing industry. He has also garnered recognition from four U.S. Presidents with invitations to the White House on many occasions.

President Barack Obama said of Mr. Martin, "I'd like to personally congratulate Sunny on all his work to showcase the positive achievements of African-­Americans nationwide." Just a few years back, President Jimmy Carter held a special tribute reception in Mr. Martin‘s honor at the Carter Presidential  Library in  Atlanta,  Georgia to acknowledge his outstanding achievements in publishing.

Stephanie Green

February 29, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EST

Registration has closed

In-person location: Gerlach Hall, Room 375 (food will be provided)
A link to join the lecture online will be shared with virtual registrants.
 

Stephanie Green
Regional President
Fifth Third Bank

Stephanie Green is regional president of Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (South Florida). She is responsible for the growth and strategic alignment of our Business Banking, Commercial, Wealth & Asset Management and Consumer businesses to deliver distinctive value to our customers and community impact in South Florida. She was named to the role in June 2023. Stephanie has more than 30 years of banking experience holding multiple leadership roles since joining Fifth Third in 1989. She served as managing director of the Wealth & Asset Management Division in Fifth Third’s Central Ohio region, based in her native Columbus. Prior to, she was a regional residential mortgage sales manager for 13 years. She also served five years as Employee Relations Manager. Stephanie developed the region’s first small business lending department and was a founding member of the Women of Wealth leadership development program.

Stephanie earned a bachelor's degree in business management and finance from Hampton University in Virginia and an Executive MBA from The Ohio State University.

Stephanie is a new Board Member at the Naples Zoo. Prior to her move to Florida, she was active in the Central Ohio community as a member of several boards and commissions including the African American Leadership Academy (AALA); vice chair, Columbus Association of the Performing Arts (CAPA); board chair, Columbus State Community College; vice chair, Columbus Urban League; secretary, Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting Association Board of Governors and YWCA Columbus. She is also a Tocqueville Ambassador for United Way of Central Ohio and a member of the Fifth Third Bank Community Development Corporation. Stephanie and her husband Jack live in Naples, Florida, and have two adult children.