On February 1, 1960, in Greensboro, N.C., Joseph Mc Neil along with three other freshmen students (David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Jibril Kazan) started what became known as “the student sit-in movement”. The four North Carolina A&T University students began sitting-in at a F.W. Woolworth’s lunch counter and refused to leave until they were served. This simple act became the catalyst for a major social movement and challenged racial segregation throughout the South. It became the corner stone for follow-on major civil rights legislation. After the sit-ins, Joe Mc Neil graduated from North Carolina A&T University with a degree in Physics in 1963, and was also commissioned as a 2/Lt. in the US Air Force.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in February 2000 with the rank of Major General. General Mc Neil served for over 37 years and was involved in our country’s efforts in Vietnam and Desert Storm. He last served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of the Air Force Reserves, and had previously served as an Air Force Wing Commander and Numbered Air Force Commander. He received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal upon retirement.

Mr. McNeil also recently retired (5/31/2002) from the Senior Executive Service of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in Jamaica, NY. Mr. Mc Neil served for over 15 years and was the head of the Flight Standards Division for the Eastern Region of the U.S.

He has been recognized with honorary Degrees from St. John’s University (Jamaica, NY) and North Carolina A & T University (Greensboro, NC).

Mr. Jose M. Portela, Brigadier General, United States Air Force, retired, is the president of CDSI Corporation. He is a human resources expert and the recipient of two Presidential Gold Medals from the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States—The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He is also the founding military chairman of Defense Advisory Council on Hispanic issues (DACHI) and has been honored in a unanimously approved resolution by the Senate and House of representatives of Puerto Rico for his Outstanding achievements. He recently served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Undersecretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. While there, he was awarded, for the second time, the highest military decoration issued by the Air Force in peacetime--The Distinguished Service Medal. He has also been the chairman of the Air Force Reserve Command Human Resources Development Council.

Mr. Portela is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. At age 19, he graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Since that time, he has served in a variety of flying, command, and staff positions of increased responsibility throughout the Air Force Reserve.

Mr. Portela is also a command pilot with more than 25,000 flying hours. He currently is an Airbus check captain for U. S. Airways and is the recipient of his profession’s highest award—The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) Superior Airmanship plaque—for “demonstrating extraordinary flying skills and professionalism in the face of adversity, for safely recovering an aircraft with severe flight control problems, exemplifying the best of what a pilot can offer to those who have their lives in his hands.”

Mr. Monroe is one of the founders of Cultural Diversity Solutions Inc. He brings to CDSI over 25 years of management, 20 years of instructional design, 10 years of human resources management, and 9 years working with diversity and equal opportunity issues in the agriculture, construction, and service industries as well as civil service and military organizations.

Mr. Monroe began his military career with the North Dakota Army National Guard. He subsequently enlisted on active duty with the US Army and later transferred to the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). After seventeen years of enlisted service, Mr. Monroe received his commission with AFRC as a military equal opportunity officer and graduated from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.

While with AFRC Mr. Monroe has served as the Chief of Human Resources, HQ AFRC, Chief Military Equal Opportunity 22nd Air Force, Cultural Liaison Officer Operation Trans Am, and has been a member of the Command Human Resources Development Council since 1998.

In addition to his military experience, he worked in the construction, agricultural, and manufacturing industries. He served as Director of Employment Practices for ARAMARK FSS, where he was responsible for supporting over 200,000 employees across the nation, consulting on Federal and state labor law implementation, Affirmative Action development, diversity initiatives, and Equal Employment Opportunity compliance and response. In 2004 he left ARMARK to start CDSI.

Mr. Monroe is a graduate of San Jose State University with a Masters degree in Philosophy. His studies focused on race and gender relations. He also has a B.S. in Human Resources/Philosophy from California State University, Stanislaus, and an A.A. in Production Management form the Community College of the Air Force. He also has technical training in the areas of Advance Threat Assessment, Harassment Investigations, Mediation Training, and Deviant Groups Movements, Cults, & Religions.

Edward Crowell is on the founding partners of CDSI. In addition her is employed by a major defense contractor (Computer Manufacturer) as a Senior Vice President.

As a Brigadier General in the US Air Force Reserves, Mr. Crowell is the mobilization assistant to the commander, Second Air Force, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. He exercises directive authority in all aspects of command policy interpretation and implementation. It is his job to ensures the mission readiness of four technical training wings and a stand-alone training group. Monitors goals and progress of training units, and provides guidance to meet requirements. Coordinates with Air Staff and major commands, training wing commanders, and DoD agencies on all matters affecting Air Force basic and technical training implementation. Serves as Inspector General and Director of Staff. Acts on behalf of the commander when required.

The general entered the Air Force in 1974 following graduation from The School of Military Sciences Officer, Officers Training School at the Lackland Annex, Medina Air Force Base, Texas. After completion of specialized training, he was assigned to the 908th Tactical Airlift Group and later the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He served as Social Actions Officer, Chief Social Actions, Logistics Officer, Supply Officer, Commander Mobility Support and Aerial Port Squadrons. He has served as Director of Aerial Port Operations and Inspector General for a Numbered Air Force. The general has served a number of short tours of active duty in the Air Force Reserve Command while maintaining continued civilian employment.

Mr. Crowell has a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Economics, Alabama State University and Master of Business Administration, Troy State University

A career long employee with UPS, Mr. Kinney started as a part time worker while attending Boston College where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After graduating in 1979, he was promoted into management at UPS and served in several capacities, including assignments in Human Resources, Operations Management and Labor Relations. In 1988, he transferred to Louisville, Kentucky and assisted in the start up of the UPS Airline. In 1989, he became the Human Resources Manager for UPS Flight Operations and was responsible for management development and flight crew hiring. In 1995, he was assigned to the position of Human Resources Manager for the UPS worldwide hub operation and supervised the hiring, safety, training and management succession needs for over 10,000 employees at that facility. From there, he transitioned to the UPS Worldport project team and was responsible for the workforce development and diversity needs of the largest facility expansion ever undertaken at UPS.

During his tenure in Worldport, he led the collaborative efforts of state and local government and the regional postsecondary academic institutions in the development of the UPS School to Work Program and Metropolitan College. Designed to recruit and retain student workers for UPS, these hiring initiatives enhanced statewide workforce development and were recognized by CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education and other major media publications.

Having concluded his career with UPS in 2004, Mr. Kinney is currently serving as an advisor with the local government and community colleges in hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

John B. Taylor, Jr., born in Columbia, SC, has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina. He has 27 years of experience with DuPont Company, where he performed duties as an engineer, trainer, planner, supervisor, consultant and manager. John is a military veteran with service in the Army Security Agency in Vietnam and Ethiopia. He has experience as an Air Force Civil Engineer officer and as an Air Force Military Equal Opportunity Chief.

John has always been an advocate of human rights and was active during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Through out his working career he was often the “first” to accomplish the things he did. From the first black supervisor hired for DuPont Camden site to the first and highest level black manager at many of the plant sites.

The last 5 to 10 years of his life has been spent mentoring, coaching and counseling younger corporate, civic and military leaders for the future. He is an active church member and is a member of organizations such as Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Women in Aviation Inc., Reserve Officers Association, Air Force Association, and others. He actively uses and supports others when involved in traumatic incidents using his Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) skills. He has many years of experience teaching corporate courses such as Multi-Cultural Awareness, Culture Change, Quality Management, Team Based Management, and many others.

Mrs. Jacqueline Graham Scott served over 27 years as an Air Weapons Controller, Logistics Planner and Recruiting Service Officer in the United State Air Force. Currently retired, she was born and educated in Tuskegee, Alabama. She graduated from Tuskegee University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) Commission in the United States Air Force. She has attended numerous military schools and training classes and received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Georgia College, Milledgeville, Georgia.

Mrs. Scott left the Active Duty Air Force in 1987 and joined the Air Force Reserve as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee. During this time, she also worked as a civilian Group Leader for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation and later as a schoolteacher in the Bibb County School System, Macon, Georgia. In 1995, she was recalled to active duty and served as a Logistics Plans Officer for Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command. In 2004, she retired from the position of Deputy Commander, Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service, Robins Air Force Base Georgia.

She holds membership in numerous professional organizations. They include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Reserve Officers Association, Joseph McNeil Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated, and the NAACP.

Gloria Bennett is a licensed professional engineer, presently employed in the position of Transportation Engineer 5 at the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) in Olympia, Washington where she has worked since 1986. She is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 446th Air Mobility Wing. She also holds membership in the Air Force Sergeants Association. She is an active member of Women in Aviation International and The Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM).

In her present position, Ms. Bennett provides technical and administrative assistance regarding TIB programs and projects in 80 cities and manages over 120 transportation projects. She is responsible for ensuring projects are designed and constructed within project scope, timeline and budget. She has also developed and taught the inaugural TIB Academy training course. In addition, she develops and revises funding program criteria for seven different programs in response to Board direction.

Ms. Bennett’s professional experience includes several positions at the 446th Maintenance Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Washington. They include Assistant Maintenance Superintendent, propulsion flight chief, assistant propulsion flight chief, propulsion crew chief, jet engine craftsman, and jet engine apprentice. During her tenure, she was selected to manage the Squadron Awards and Decorations Program. She also served on numerous recommendation panels, and developed and implemented the Flight Mentoring Program.

Rita Manning is Department Chair and Professor of Philosophy at San Jose State University. She has over twenty years experience teaching a wide variety of courses in fields relating to diversity. She has published two books and numerous articles, and given talks all around the world on this topic. She received her PhD in Philosophy, with a specialization in Ethics, from the University of California at Riverside.

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