Our seasoned team of professionals possesses a passion for assisting organizations with matters traditionally thought of as too sensitive or difficult. It takes new approaches and a solid skill set to succeed in leading and managing today's diverse workforce.
This team balances "HIGH TOUCH" with "HIGH TECH" skills to provide the essential guidance, collaboration and implementation on human issues in a workplace - especially race and culture.
Sharon E. Davis
President
Whether speaking to a boardroom full of executives or a group of seminar participants in Mmabato, South Africa, Sharon uses both her professional experiences and formal training to initiate and implement culture and social change in business and communities. This former Information Technology Director has over 25 years experience in implementing business culture change in Information Technology. The unique blend of "high tech/high touch" is the key to Sharon's success as a race and culture change consultant. "On countless occasions, I saw the negative impact of mostly well meaning people on business and other people. I knew there was a way to get in front of that. I'm a businesswoman using my experience and skills with a desire to see all people in client companies excel."
Sharon is a founding member of the Institute for Healing of Racism where there are over 200 branches throughout the U. S., Canada and Great Britain. She has conducted International Dialogue Racism sessions in Mmabato, South Africa, and facilitated a Public Seminar on Cultural and Tribal Unity in Gabaronne, Botswana. In 2001, Sharon was honored with two additional awards: One of 6 entrepreneurs "Most Influential Black Women In Metropolitan Detroit", and "Diversity Champion: Birmingham Bloomfield Task Force on Race Relations and Ethnic Diversity" for demonstrating courage and consistency in modeling diversity-Inclusion. She was interviewed by McNeil/Lehrer Newshour for the "Healing Racism in America" segment in 1995 and was a recipient of the Houston Peace Award for Inter-group Understanding in 1990. In 1979, she received the TWIN award as one of 29 Outstanding Professional Women in Business and Industry in Toledo, Ohio.
Sharon graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Multi-disciplinary Social Science with specialties in Math/Science, Psychology, Sub-Saharan African Culture, and Political Science. Advanced computing and technical courses in
strategic planning, shop floor control, data architecture, and others round out Sharon's formal educational background.
Ted Amsden
Senior Consultant & Facilitator
Ted's groundbreaking work in diversity-inclusion awareness was awarded the Community Detroit Principles Award by the Race Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit in 1993. In 1996, the City of Detroit Common Council recognized Ted with a Spirit of Detroit Award for co-organizing/co-chairing Ethnic Summit '96.
Ted continues to build coalitions among people and invites anyone to see and share in the benefits of Diversity-Inclusion. He utilizes his superb skills in DIALOGUE to help create an environment of trust and safety.
Ted has been featured in "Spotlight on the News" on WXYZ-TV (I 998), the Metro Times (I 996) and the Detroit News (I 994) for his active work m promoting greater interethnic and interracial understanding.
Familiar with the demands and constraints of the business environment after 25 years of legal consulting experience, Ted brings a pragmatic sensitivity to promoting greater understanding in diverse situations. He graduated from Wayne State University with a BA in Economics and Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctorate.
Stephen Cheung
Senior Consultant - Conflict Resolution
Stephen Cheung is an internationally trained and respected arbitrator, consultant, mediator, professor, coach and attorney. He is regarded as one of the most skilled and effective corporate consultants and advisors to management executives. Cheung's career spans over three decades. His work and experiences include projects in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, the Netherlands, Poland and Brazil to name but a few. His global reach and work with people of all nationalities and backgrounds helps to create a unique perspective when advising on organizational change, dispute resolution, and negotiations.
Mr. Cheung holds qualifications of Chartered Mediator (C. Med.) Chartered Arbitrator (C. Arb.) from Canada, is a Chartered Arbitrator and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb.) of England; and serves on a number of exclusive arbitration and mediation panels worldwide specializing in commercial and international disputes.
He earned an LLB (Honors) degree and received a full Honors Scholarship towards an LLM degree from the University of London. He was a Graduate Fellow at the University of Michigan and also undertook graduate studies and training from Harvard University and other leading educational institutions.
Ronald L. Johnson
Senior Consultant - Alternate Dispute Resolution
Mr. Johnson is Human Resources professional with a Masters degree in Alternate Dispute Resolution, and is certified as a Senior Human Resources Professional by the Society of Human Resources Management.
He has over 25 years experience resolving complex employment issues and managing functions such as Labor/Employee Relations, Recruitment, Position Classification, Training & Development, and Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action.
Ron is a qualified Mediator and a well-seasoned facilitator. He has also served as the liaison between a U.S. Treasury Department Bureau and Members of Congress nationwide, with responsibility for coordinating the adjudication of constituent concerns.
Mr. Johnson has had significant experience in a wide range of activities including mediation of both employment and commercial disputes, conducting conflict interventions, negotiating labor contracts, designing and presenting specialized employee and management development courses, and conducting organizational assessments.
He has utilized a variety of Alternate Dispute Resolution techniques in resolving conflicts and specializes in those rooted in cultural differences.
Ramesh Verma
Senior Consultant – Business & Government
Ramesh Verma was the founding member of the University of Michigan Medical Center Diversity Council. In 1991, he was Chairman of the Diversity Training and Communication Task Team.
He is certified in Diversity-Inclusion training and taught Managing Diversity to Managers and Supervisors.
Mr. Verma was born in Burma and was brought up in India. His father was Hindu and mother was from a Sikh family. This unique experience helped Ramesh value the inherent richness of cultures and religions.
After graduating from engineering school, he joined the Indian Army as a commissioned officer. He worked along with a diverse group of people and learned their languages and religions.
In 1996, the University of Michigan Medical Center named an award after him called the "Ramesh Verma Diversity Award", for outstanding commitment to honoring the strengths and differences amongst the community. He was the first recipient of this award.
He is not only an advocate of Diversity-Inclusion, but he continues to embrace and weave Diversity-Inclusion into the very fabric of his being.
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