Utah Black Chamber names Sidni Shorter its new president and CEO

The Utah Black Chamber hasnamed Sidni L. Shorter as its new president and chief executive officer. 

Shorter succeeds James Jackson, III, the founder who has been leading the chamber since its inception.Jackson will remain engaged in an advisory capacity. 

Shorter 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.

“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,” Shorter said.

Shorter said she wants to use “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.”

“We are thrilled to have Sidni lead the Utah Black Chamber and Utah’s black community to new heights,” Jackson said. “Her experience, knowledge and passionfor change are well beyond what we have ever had and will bring immediate impact. The U.S. will take note of what Utah is doing for its diverse community.

”Shorter returned to her homein Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to join the program management teamfacilitating the National Emergency Grant fund for the city’srelief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Thereafter, she joined a technology startup to bring digital media to Louisiana, establishing the first and only woman-led African American-owned videogame studio to become a Microsoft developer and produce content for the Xbox 360.

She also 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.

Shorter also served as station chairman for the largest American Red Cross in the world and joined community development projects with faith-based organizations in North Carolina and the Washington, D.C., tri-state area. She became a consultant in the areas ofcontract administration, grant administration, project management and human resources.

Returning to the South, she advocated, designed and initiated results-oriented DEI programs, plans, processes, workshops, training, dialogues and discussions forsenior leaders, people managers and staff that encourage learning, reflection, awareness and understanding, as well as community-building.

Shorter holds a doctorate inbiblical psychology, both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in theology, and a bachelor’s degree ingeneral studies with a behavioral sciences concentration. She is currently pursuing an MBA with aconcentration in entrepreneurship at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She is a licensed Christian therapist.