Dr. George C. Fraser is Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc; a company he founded almost 30 years ago with the vision to lead a global networking movement that brings together diverse human resources to increase opportunities for people of African descent. He is considered by many to be a new voice for African Americans and one of the foremost authorities on economic development, networking and building effective relationships.

While George’s accomplishments are significant, his beginnings were very humble. He was born in Brooklyn, NY into a family of 11 children (8 boys and 3 girls). When George’s mom became mentally ill, George’s dad, a cab driver, could not care for 11 children so George was orphaned at 3 and spent 14 years in foster homes. Growing up on the streets of New York he had little hope and no expectations.

Although his guidance counselor suggested he drop out of high school, George graduated from high school with a vocational diploma in woodworking because the school system did not consider him college material. Thank God George felt differently…for several years, he mopped floors on the midnight shift at LaGuardia Airport, while he paid his way through college. Later, in 1996, he graduated from the prestigious Dartmouth College; Minority Business Executive Program. In 1999, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters from Jarvis Christian College.

Dr. Fraser rose to leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, the United Way, and Ford Motor Company. It was some 25 years ago that God unveiled His real purpose for George. Mr. Fraser went on to author of four critically acclaimed books: Success Runs In Our Race; Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community and Race For Success; The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks In America; Click: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships; and, most recently, a children’s book; Who Would Have Thunk It; The First Adventures of The Fraser Foster Kids.

Dr. Fraser is also the publisher of the award-winning SuccessGuide Worldwide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources. He is the founder of the national annual PowerNetworking Conference, where thousands of Black professionals, business owners, and community leaders gather to learn the art and science of networking, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
Dr. Fraser is the Chairman of Phoenix Village Academy; which consists of three afro-centric charter schools that serve Cleveland inner city children. A popular speaker and author, George C. Fraser’s inspiring talks on success principles; effective networking, wealth creation, business ethics; and valuing diversity, are as popular among corporate professionals as they are among college students.

His views have been solicited by media as diverse as CNN and the Wall Street Journal. Over the past decade, the prestigious publication, Vital Speeches of the Day, has selected, reprinted and distributed worldwide, five of Dr. Fraser’s speeches–a first for any professional speaker in America, regardless of color.

UPSCALE magazine named him one of the “Top 50 Power Brokers in Black America”. Black Enterprise Magazine called him “Black America’s #1 Networker” and featured him on a cover issue. Dr. Fraser has appeared on seven national magazine covers and was recently inducted into the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum.

TV host and journalist, Tavis Smiley called him a “visionary with the rare combination of leadership and management skills.” Mr. Fraser was featured in the New York Times-bestseller, Masters of Networking, along with Secretary of State, General Colin Powell. Bio from https://www.greatblackspeakers.com/author/georgefraser/

Attorney and entrepreneur building partnerships and expanding opportunities in education law, renewable energy and public finance. Darrick provides legal support to public schools helping them navigate the legal and regulatory terrain. Also serves as counsel on various state and local financings, and works with renewable energy developers to obtain valuable local tax incentives. Bio from https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrick-eugene-072ba46/

Robert Edison was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Louisville Male High School. After earning an Associate Art’s degree from Southwestern Christian College in 1968 and enrolled in Oklahoma Christian College.

He has earned a B.A., degree, in Political Science from East Texas State University, a Master’s degree in Civic Affairs from the University of Dallas and a Second Master’s degree, in history from Texas A&M University-Commerce on a James Madison Memorial Fellowship. Mr. Edison worked for the Dallas Independent School District for 44 years and retired as the Director of Social Studies Instruction in 2017. While working at the Dallas ISD he served as the Curator of the African American Cultural Heritage Center, a district museum that was established as part of the 1975 desegregation order.

He spent a year working for the College of Charleston in South Carolina as Director of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. Edison serves as the president of the W.M. Dulaney Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and is a former Board Member for the Dallas NAACP Branch and continues to be a member of the NAACP National Branch.

In 2019 he was named A Distinguished Visiting Professor of American Studies on Race and Ethnicity at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma and teaches Introduction to African American Studies and the Philosophy of Race, course. He also co-teaches a class on Race, Class and Gender in the Honors Program. He will be assisting the University in the establishment of an African American history minor.

One of the highlights of his career was being selected as a Fulbright Teacher Scholar and spending six weeks in Egypt studying at the American University in Cairo. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was a member of the charter line at ETSU now Texas A&M- Commerce. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University in 1993.

Jamila Thomas is a 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar appointed by the Presidential Centers of William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson. She is a native of Dallas, Texas and a graduate of Florida A&M University, located in Tallahassee, Florida. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a graduate degree, Masters of Business of Administration (MBA). She also has Master of Arts degree in Divinity from The University of Chicago Divinity School. In 2018, at the direction of Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees, Jamila created and established the Racial Equity Office for Dallas ISD. In this capacity, she was responsible for developing culturally responsive policies and programs designed to close the achievement gap and simultaneously build culturally intelligent practices for all faculty and staff. In addition, Jamila was instrumental in guiding the Texas State Board of Education towards the historic and unanimous statewide adoption of the African American History course. Jamila now serves as the Senior Vice President for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is responsible for building the strategic plan for community and corporate engagement. Jamila is married to the love of her life of 19 years, Brandon Thomas, and they have two amazing children, Braylon and Jaidence.