All Categories - Black Footwear Forum

Jazerai Allen-Lord: Founder, True to Size Agency

Jazerai Allen-Lord is an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed strategist & designer with deep roots in sneaker & street culture. Currently featured on Lena Waithe's "You Ain't Got These," airing on Roku Originals, Jazerai has worked with Jordan Brand, Nike, adidas, New Balance, and more on telling women’s stories and Black stories through brand strategy, editorial, and design. Her sold-out shoe with Reebok was released in 2019 and has been acquired for the Bata Footwear Museum’s archive of Black designers.

June Ambrose: Creative Director & Designer

Kenneth Anand: Co-Founder & Author, Sneaker Law

Kenneth Anand is a creative advisor, entrepreneur, award-winning author, and law school professor. Kenneth is also Director of Client Relations at Jayaram Law, where he regularly helps designers, musicians, founders and other talented individuals to grow and protect their businesses.  In 2021, Kenneth and his business partner, Jared Goldstein independently published Sneaker Law - All You Need to Know About the Sneaker Business, a disruptive, educational book about entrepreneurship that is now widely referred to as the “sneaker industry bible.” Through his work with Sneaker Law, Kenneth has been featured and quoted as an expert in dozens of major media outlets and industry publications. He has also taught and lectured on Sneaker Law at over 30 academic institutions.

Darius Billings: VP, Marketing and Community Engagement, The Athlete's Foot

Darius Billings is a passionate sneaker lover, a steadfast change agent, and a devoted family man. “D Bills,” as he’s known by those close to him, was raised in West Virginia, and lived in Ohio, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania before making Atlanta, Georgia his home for the past twenty years. Whether attending Howard University, marrying his wife Ashley, or pursuing a career in the Athletic/Sneaker industry, Darius knows when he’s found “the right one.” He’s worked for over 25 years as a marketing and merchandising professional with flagship brands like Nike and AND1 Basketball, spending the last 15 years with The Athlete’s Foot. 

Darrell Booker: Corporate Affairs Specialist, Microsoft

Darrell Booker is an executive within Microsoft’s Philanthropy division who created and leads one of the company’s most important racial equity commitments, the Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities. It’s his 25 years in the tech industry holding roles such as CIO and CTO that led him to be a successful tech entrepreneur but more importantly leveraging that knowledge and experience to bring innovative solutions to help solve the countries’ social impact issues. Darrell has a big passion for working at the intersection of tech and culture. Darrell chairs the board of several nonprofit organizations while playing advisory roles to many other organizations.

LaShae Boone-McCray: Director of Strategic Accounts, Dearfoams & Head of DEI, RG Barry

LaShae is an executive business leader, specialized in wholesale distribution and brand partnerships within the footwear industry. An unstoppable force, this mother of two grew her professional range from retail store management at ALDO to strategic account management within shoe, department store and mass channels of distribution, significantly contributing to high grossing annual sales. From the show-me state of Missouri, LaShae continues to show up for marginalized groups as the founder and head of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion council at RG Barry. In addition to her work at RG Barry, LaShae partners with the FDRA as an advisory board member of the Black Footwear Forum, proudly representing Columbus, OH. Recognizing opportunities and pushing through challenges with a smile to achieve global brand growth through an equity lens is her specialty and what is admired most from her leadership team, colleagues, and partners.

Sheena Butler-Young, Senior Correspondent, The Business of Fashion (BoF)

Sheena Butler-Young is a Senior Correspondent at The Business of Fashion (BoF). She is based in New York and leads the magazine's coverage of workplace, talent and culture. She is the former deputy editor of Footwear News magazine and the recipient of Penske Media Corporation’s Journalistic & Creative Excellence Award for her coverage of diversity issues in fashion. She has interviewed some of fashion’s most influential executives as well as designers and entertainers. Her coverage scope has included the financial performance of publicly traded fashion and retail companies, diversity and inclusion, sustainability and executive leadership best practices.

Amber Cabral: Founder, Cabral Co. & Inclusion Strategist

Amber Cabral is an Inclusion Consultant and CEO at Cabral Co. Formerly a Diversity Strategist at Walmart Stores, Inc.; Amber founded Cabral Co to guide organizations of various sizes and scopes in creating and executing strategies to achieve sustainable, inclusive behavior shifts in the workplace. Amber has a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Wayne State University in her hometown, Detroit, Michigan. Passionate about nurturing the next generation of decision-makers, she serves as the chair of Brown Girls Do, Inc, a non-profit committed to promoting diverse representation in the arts, as well as empowering women and girls globally. In her free time, she travels and writes articles focused on equity, culture, and working-class life. Amber also hosts a podcast called Guilty Privilege and released her first book, Allies and Advocates, published on Wiley Publishing in 2020. Her second book, Say More About That released in July 2022.

Rupert Campbell: President, adidas North America

In his role as President of adidas North America, Rupert oversees all adidas operations in the United States and Canada and is responsible for driving the vision and culture for the team. Rupert, a British national from Huddersfield, UK has a long and successful track record with adidas. He has vast experience in sports and a compassionate leadership style. As a leader, Rupert has a people-first approach and is convinced that if you look after people, they will look after the business.

Ruth Carter: Academy Award winning Costume Designer

Ruth E. Carter is the two-time Academy Award winning American film costume designer. Best known for turning the Black Panther superhero into an African King, Carter makes history as the first Black person to win the Costume Design category and earns Marvel Studios their first Oscar recognition. For BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, Carter makes history, again, for her outstanding costume design work and becomes the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category and the first costume designer to win for the first film and its sequel. Carter pays tribute to the people of Africa through the costumes in BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. She fuses traditional and contemporary while incorporating technology to deliver fashion and function, creating Afrofuturistic pieces that empower the female form, honor ancient cultures, and invoke a deep sense of representation unlike any other costumes experienced on screen. For BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, Carter transforms the groundbreaking Afrofuturistic Wakandan looks from the first film and introduces new superheroes and the underwater world of the Talokan into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Astor Chambers: CoFounder/Host, Culture Raises US

Astor Chambers is a cultural architect who is looking to unlock the greatness that lies within all of us. Astor is internationally recognized as an accomplished marketer, public speaker, and brand consultant with over 25+ years’ experience in the sports & entertainment fields with a proficient understanding of the mindset of today’s consumer, trendsetters, and influencers. Astor has held multiple leadership roles at major brands: NIKE, APPLE, Adidas, and more. During his career he’s had an opportunity to work with many influential icons: Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, Pharrell Williams and Yara Shahidi while developing some of the internationally impactful brands: IVY Park x Adidas, Jordan Brand, Billionaire Boys Club, and more.

Daniel Cherry: SVP, General Manager, adidas

Todd Corley: SVP, Inclusion, Sustainability and Community, Carhartt

Todd Corley is Senior Vice President for Inclusion, Sustainability and Community at Carhartt, a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers. He leads the brand’s purpose-driven workstreams across the globe, with direct responsibility for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategies, sustainability initiatives, community partnerships and corporate giving. His self-published book, Fitch Path, is the inspiration for the Netflix documentary, White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, which debuted at #1 on their global streaming platform. A case study for modern day DE&I efforts, the film examines his transformational role as their Chief Diversity Officer, in moving the brand from a corporate strategy of “exclusion” to “inclusion”.

April Dinwoodie: Head of DEIB, Steve Madden

April began her professional journey as Retail Marketing Manager for Nine West Group Inc., and continued as Director of Marketing at Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. Over the years, April has helped to lead marketing and PR efforts at J.C. Penney, Ruder Finn, and JetBlue where she was often one of the only women of color at the leadership table. Today, as an independent consultant, April is fiercely dedicated to helping individuals, companies, and organizations face and embrace differences, elevate culture and community, and ultimately find even more success and purpose in individual and collective work. One of April’s main clients is Steven Madden LTD. Dinwoodie is also the creator and host of Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World!, a podcast about identity, family, and differences of race, class, and culture.

Chris Dixon: Senior Footwear Designer, Timberland, a VF Company

Donald Dudley: Senior Manager of Marketing LEED, Footlocker

Don is the Co-Owner / Creative Director of CLEAN Sneaker Care in Detroit and also the Senior Marketing Manager for Foot Locker’s LEED Initiative (Leading Education and Economic Development). Raised in Detroit, Don has worked in the Footwear industry for over 10 years starting off as a sales associate at an athletic footwear store in Fairlane mall, Don has since used his passion for sneaker culture and applied it to retail management, marketing, and community engagement.

Merrie Dudley: Owner & Creative Director, merriexmas toys & merried xo

Merrie is an award-winning creative with the philosophy to always follow your dreams. This has allowed her to pursue multiple career paths from toy designer to TV producer, and bridal brand owner. With 30+ years experience, Merrie has worked with companies ranging from Fisher-Price, Little Tikes, Nickelodeon & ESPN. She continues to explore new dreams & opportunities, including the hope to share her love of toy design with a new generation.

D'on Lauren Edwards: Footwear Designer, Michael Kors

Dr. D'Wayne Edwards: Founder, Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design

Dr. D’Wayne Edwards started his career in 1989, with no formal education, as a 19-year-old entry-level footwear designer for LA Gear. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous honors and awards from the Red Dot award, three-time Mercedes Benz Fashion Award winner, Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, Business Insider's 100 People Transforming Business to President Barack Obama awarding him the President Volunteer of Service Award. As a designer, Dr. Edwards has accumulated over 50 patents and designed more than 500 footwear styles for premier entertainers such as Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Dre, Snoop Dog, and Nas. His designs have been worn in six different Olympics and graced all MLB, NFL, and NBA stadiums by athletes including Derek Jeter, Carmelo Anthony, and Michael Jordan.

Jae Tips: Music Artist and Designer

Jae Tips is a multi-hyphenate creator and visionary from the Bronx, NYC, whose creativity, style, and passion for pop culture have propelled him to new heights. From his clothing line Savior Worldwide to his music, he constantly delivers fresh and innovative products that resonate with a diverse global audience. In May 2023, Jae's global release of the signature Saucony Grid Azura 2000, titled "Jae Tips Remember Who Fronted," took the sneaker world by storm, becoming an instant classic, and an early contender for Sneaker of the Year. This iconic release solidified Jae as a force to be reckoned with in the world of footwear and beyond. As a leader in headwear design, Jae continues to captivate enthusiasts with his one-of-a-kind colorways and successful collaborations with esteemed retailers like Hatclub. His bespoke Nike Air Force 1 design became a viral sensation, drawing attention and requests from fans across the globe.