Board of Directors

Director, Diverse Talent & Supplier Programs, Manpower Group

Shaleta is responsible for the management, development and execution of the Supplier Diversity Initiative across all four brands – Manpower, Experis, ManpowerGroup, and Right Management.  She directs, manages, and implements the ManpowerGroup Supplier Diversity Initiative, ensuring compliance with clients diverse business spend requirements and ManpowerGroup policies and goals. She is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic plan that provides the framework for ManpowerGroup to have access to all diverse and multicultural communities and organizations, meet clients contractual requirements, provides innovative solutions to clients, and meets ManpowerGroup Supplier Diversity mission. Ms. Dunn is a member of the North Central Minority Supplier Development Council Board of Directors and Vice Chair of that council’s certification committee and WBOF Planning Committee. She is also a member of the NMSDC Supplier Diversity Advisory Council.  Shaleta majored in political science at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and also attended Cardinal Stritch University where she received her project management certification.

Associate, Michael Best Strategies

Thomas Harris is an associate with Michael Best Strategies LLC, assisting clients in identifying strategic opportunities to grow their business. His work involves a full range of services related to government relations, lobbying, strategic planning, and public relations. Prior to working at Michael Best Strategies, Mr. Harris served as the Chief of Staff for the Office of State Senator Lena C. Taylor developing and implementing all policy objectives, strategies and operating plans in accordance with office policy and applicable law. He was also the Director of Community Relations for the Milwaukee County Executive’s Office. There, Mr. Harris was a trusted advisor to the Country Executive for outreach and special events. Mr. Harris also served as the Political Director, Staff Assistant and Campaign Manager on various campaigns in the state of Wisconsin over the past few years. He holds his Master of Arts in Communications and Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice/Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

President, Vangard Group, LLC

In 2003 Kalan Haywood founded Vangard Group, LLC, a full-service real-estate development company and has over 25 years of development and leadership experience in the investment and development sector. He is currently Member of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), The Business Council (TBC), National Realtors Association (NRA), Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA), and the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors (GMAR). Prior to founding Vangard Group, LLC Mr. Haywood led Haywood Investment Group and Haywood Construction, as well as worked with Eppstein Uhen Architects. Mr. Haywood received his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture while minoring in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Deadra Richelle-Purifoy is Continuous Improvement Manager at Briggs & Stratton Corporation for the Turf & Consumer Division. She is responsible for leading process improvement initiatives and driving execution of manufacturing processes to improve profitability, speed to market, and fostering a Continuous Improvement culture at all of our global plants including domestic US, Europe, China & Australia. She is also uniquely adept at new product development rooted in voice-of-customer spawned from her 25 years as a Marketing professional.

Her community involvement efforts include serving on the Board of Directors of First Stage Milwaukee, an organization dedicated to transforming lives through theater. She just completed a term as Board President of Sisters 4 Cure, a volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring awareness to breast cancer and other life-threatening and chronic diseases. She is also co-founder of The Children are Crying Calendar, a project that began 16 years ago, that combines photography and poetry that tells the story of inner-city youth.

Deadra has a B.S. in Business Administration and an MBA in International Business from Concordia University.

Co-Owner, Garfield’s 502

In early 2006, LaMarr Franklin co-opened a bar and restaurant, Garfield’s 502, in Milwaukee. The lounge is located on the former site of “a legendary blues bar founded by Everette “Boobie” Moore”. Mr. Franklin has also been member of the Medical Examining Board, Chairman of the Board for Northcott Neighborhood House, Vice Chair Milwaukee Immediate Care Clinic, Past Chair and member of the Board of Citizen for Veterans Issues, President of the Historic King Drive Bid Board, Past chair of the joint Examination Board of Marriage Counselors, Professional Counselors, and Social Workers for the State of Wisconsin, Past Chair and member of the Wisconsin Real Estate Appraisers Examining Board, President and one of the Founders Garfield’s Art, Blues, Gospel and Jazz Festivel, Past Chair and member of Martin Luther King Economic Development Board. He has also been the Vice President of Sales at Computec Integrated Solutions, Owner/National Sales Manager of his own business, Marrs Systems and Regional Sales Manager of Informer Computer Systems, Inc., among other notable titles. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.