One of the most compelling voices of our time, Byron V. Garrett, President and CEO of Life Works International, currently serves as consultant to Fortune 500 companies, non-profits and school districts across the country. Byron is the former CEO of the National PTA, the nation's largest child advocacy association composed of more than five million members around the globe. Throughout his career, he has been a visionary agent of change promoting the idea that everyone has an obligation and opportunity to serve the best interests of our nation's most precious resource – children.
Byron possesses a unique combination of experience from both the non-profit and governmental sectors. Byron served as the first Chief of Staff for the Office of Public Affairs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security). Prior to this, Garrett served as National Program Leader for the National 4-H Headquarters at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the program's seven million participants and 90,000 clubs. While at USDA he was appointed by The White House as Co-Convener of the Helping America's Youth initiative, an interagency effort to address challenges facing youth and to promote successful solutions.
Earlier in his career, Garrett spent a decade in Phoenix as an education advocate and community leader. He served as Policy Advisor for Faith and Community Initiatives for Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (current U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security); prior to that role, Byron was the Director of the Governor's Division for Community and Youth Development, where he administered multiple boards and commissions. Garrett is also a former K-8 charter school principal.
He has been a guest on the Today Show, MSNBC, Fox and the Dr. Phil Show, and profiled in a number of publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and JET. Garrett was named by Ebony to its "Power 150," an annual list of "The Most Influential Black Americans." Garrett serves as Senior Advisor to the President & CEO of the Americas Promise Alliance and is a member of Parenting's Mom's Congress Advisory Board. Byron also serves on the Advisory Board for the Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. (FFAWN).
Garrett is a former entertainment columnist for the Arizona Informant and an author of several books including "The ABC's of Life." An accomplished speaker, Garrett has delivered presentations all across the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Byron matriculated through the public schools in the Carolinas, holds a BA from High Point University, MA from the University of Phoenix and has completed doctoral coursework at Pepperdine University.
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Evelyn Diane Taylor serves as Senior Partner with Life Works International. Evelyn recently served as Chief of Staff for the National PTA, the nation's largest child advocacy association composed of over five million members around the globe. In conjunction with the CEO and national board Officers, she helped implement the organization's vision/mission, goals and strategic plans to assure future success and viability of the organization. Also, Evelyn provided vision and direction to the Human Resources, Strategic Communications, Meetings/Convention Services and Training areas to ensure effective and efficient delivery of strategic and annual budget and operating plans. Evelyn's commitment to advocating for children and families who are underserved in education was demonstrated in her role as Executive Director of Parents Challenge (PC), a non-profit privately funded organization in Colorado Springs, Colorado. PC empowers low-income families with educational choice by providing financial support and advocacy to elementary school children. While in that role she oversaw scholarship and grant administration and distribution to 200 students per year; was the liaison to the board of directors; represented the organization at local, state and national conventions/panels on education reform; and, created parent empowerment trainings, facilitated monthly meetings, interacted with school and district administrators. Evelyn began her career in public relations and broadcasting in 1978 after receiving her bachelor's degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. She then applied her talents at Johnson Publishing Company, the Chicago Economic Development Corporation, 5100 Communications, Chicago City Colleges, WLIT-FM and WLS-AM. From 1986 to 1988, while pursuing her Master of Arts in Journalism/Broadcast Management at Northern Illinois University, Ms. Taylor worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Broadcast Journalism department and simultaneously served as the Assignment Editor for TV-8 News. Additionally, during graduate school, she worked as an English/Reading instructor for Project Upward Bound and as a Recruiter for The Graduate School. After graduating in August 1989, she relocated to Colorado Springs where she held management-level positions as Director of Urban Affairs and Director of Communications for Junior Achievement Inc. from 1989 to 1997. Also, from 1997 to 2000, she served as the Outreach Manager for Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs Life Connections Adoption and Foster Care. Ms. Taylor has many honors and affiliations. Some of them include being named one of The Cambridge Who's Who of Executives and Professionals – 2006 – 2007; "Who's Who Among Blacks in Colorado Springs" - 1993; Dollars and Sense Magazine "America's Best and Brightest African-American Business and Professional Women" - 1990; "Outstanding Young Women of America" - 1982 and "Who's Who Among College Students" - 1977. Some of her past and present affiliations with local and national organizations include, the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), Community Resource Center's Colorado Nonprofit Leadership and Management Program, the Community Funding Panel for the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, Girl Scouts/Wagon Wheel Council Board Member, Life Support Center Board Member, African-American Youth Leadership Conference, Colorado Springs Assets for Youth, National Association of Black Journalists and the Public Relations Society of America, Charities: United Way, Northern Illinois University Foundation, AIDS Foundation of Chicago; and Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church of Colorado Springs, Ms. Taylor is described as a resourceful leader who is committed to community service, quality performance and motivation of people. She is a Chicago native who has maintained residence in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Alexandria, Virginia. |
