Salt Lake City— The Utah Black Chamber announced today that Sidni L. Shorter will be named the new President & CEO. James Jackson, III, the founder who has been leading the chamber since its inception, will remain engaged in an advisory capacity. Sidni’s employment will commence on April 4, 2022.
Sidni is an entrepreneur, an advocate, and a practitioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She has more than 12 years of experience leading, consulting, and training minority and women-led businesses and organizations, most recently, as the CEO of ExecuteNow!, a client-focused finance and accounting firm with a mission to ensure nonprofits and small to mid-sized organizations have affordable access to capital, prudent financial management, and forward-thinking leadership.
“We are thrilled to have Sidni lead the Utah Black Chamber and Utah’s Black community to new heights,” says James Jackson, III. Her experience, knowledge, and passion for change are well beyond what we have ever had and will bring immediate impact. The US will take note of what Utah is doing for its diverse community.”
“I am motivated and committed to the vision of the UBCC to capitalize on the opportunity to lead with my passion for Black entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals to fully participate, impact and grow in the economic ecosystem of Utah,” says Sidni.” Partnership with the amazing leadership and community to elevate “allyship” to bring solution-oriented strategies, policies, and resources to address the need for community, capacity-building, and affordable capital for the members of the chamber, supporters, partners, and allies. I am honored for the trust and confidence of the UBCC board to lead the chamber at this time. “
Sidni returned to her home in Baton Rouge, LA to join the Program Management team facilitating the National Emergency Grant fund for the City of Baton Rouge relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Upon culmination of relief efforts, Sidni joined a technology start-up to make history and successfully bring digital media to the state of Louisiana, establishing the first and only woman-led African American-owned video game studio to become a Microsoft Developer and produce content for the Xbox 360. Shifting back to her passions, Sidni has served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Health and Rehabilitation Centers, the Deputy Director of the Louisiana Housing Alliance, and led the effort to produce the first-ever Business Plan for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Also, Sidni served as Station Chairman for the largest American Red Cross in the world. Sidni leveraged this experience to join community development projects with faith-based organizations in North Carolina and the Washington, DC tri-state area. Sidni became a highly sought-after consultant in the areas of contract administration, grant administration, project management, and human resources.
Returning to the South led to the focus and intentional efforts for DEI. Sidni has successfully advocated, designed, and initiated results-oriented programs, plans, processes, workshops, training, dialogues, and discussions for senior leaders, people managers, and staff that encourage learning, reflection, awareness, and understanding as well as community-building.
Sidni holds a Doctorate in Biblical Psychology, a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Theology, and a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with a Behavioral Sciences Concentration. She is currently a Dean’s List student pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She is a Licensed Christian Therapist.