August Ask the Expert: Bringing DEI Initiatives to Families

Description

Are you looking for ways to add new DEI initiatives to your hospitality house staff, families, and guests? Join us, Wednesday, August 9th for our Ask the Expert discussion with Dr. William T. Lewis, Sr.

Dr. William T. Lewis, Sr. will host a question and answer session which will help members develop DEI programs for their staff, families, and guests.

Meet our Expert: Dr. William T. Lewis, Sr.

Dr. William T. Lewis, Sr., nationally recognized people and culture thought leader, entrepreneur, and is an advisor and consultant to university presidents, and small to midsize business leaders. As founder and president of WillHouse Global, Lewis leads a team of organizational development experts who help companies create cultures of belonging where everyone thrives! WillHouse Global was recognized as a Top Diversity and Inclusion Company for 2022 by Manage HR.

Lewis is a co-author of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Standards of Professional Practice (2014). He is an award winning author of, Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie: Conversations with My White Friends about Race (SPARK Publications 2022).

Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie: Conversations with My White Friends about Race, is a GOLD award recipient in the 2022 Hermes Creative Awards competition AND has won a GOLD Award of Excellence in the Collateral-Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category in the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) 2022 Communicator Awards.

As a former Chief Diversity Officer, Lewis has led diversity and inclusion efforts at three highly acclaimed colleges and universities-- Indiana University, Bridgewater State University and Virginia Tech University. Lewis formerly served as the Special Consultant to the President for Belonging, Equity and Inclusion at Forsyth Technical Community College.

Lewis serves the community of Winston Salem, as an advisory board member of the Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI), an initiative of the Winston Salem Foundation. He is a member of the board of directors of the United Way of Forsyth County, and he is a Trustee for Leadership Winston Salem, and is a board member of Bookmarks, a literary arts non-profit. Lewis is an 2022 honoree for the Triad Business Leaders in Diversity.

Lewis also serves his fourteen-year-old son's business, CAMS Coffee Co, shop.camscoffeeco.com, as the Chief Executive Gopher (CEG). CAMS was created to provide supportive employment for individuals with disabilities. Lewis earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. He holds a master’s degree in social work (MSW). He has dedicated his entire professional life to living the spirit of his social work background by "providing a voice for the voiceless and creating inclusive spaces for each person to reach their full potential.”

Lewis proudly served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves (1990-1996).