Akilah manages the day-to-day development and implementation of partnerships with corporations that seek to diversify their procurement process through LISC forged links with new diverse suppliers.  She has over 18 years of service in the public sector, including 8 years as a supply chain and certified diversity, equity & inclusion professional.  Prior to joining LISC, Akilah served as the Business Equity Manager at the Port of Houston Authority where she served as the subject-matter expert and liaison to a network of individuals and local, state, and national organizations regarding small, minority, and women-owned business enterprise programs.  Her acumen in economic inclusion, community partnership, and MWBE programming earned her the opportunity to serve on various boards and committees for agencies including a mayoral appointment to Commissioner for the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity, and advisory councils for the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, and Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance. Her passion is cultivating business culture and working with community-based organizations to contribute to the development of the MWBE business community -actively and positively- across the country.