Don Cannada

Don Cannada has served as Chief Executive Officer of Barksdale Management Corporation since 2018. Prior to 2018 he was a partner for forty years at Butler Snow LLP and specialized in commercial real estate and corporate law.

Don is active with educational, charitable, and community organizations in Mississippi.  He is a Board member and former Chair of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Foundation, a Board member and current chair of the YMCA Old Hickory Club, a former Chair of the Jackson Metropolitan YMCA, and a current Board member of The University of Mississippi Foundation.  He also is a long-time officer of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson and serves on the Board of Directors of numerous private companies.  He is a graduate of Leadership Jackson and a member of the Mississippi State Bar.

Don has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Mississippi, graduating summa cum laude, and Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Vanderbilt University, where he served on the Vanderbilt Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.

Don and his wife Joy live in Jackson, are the parents of four grown children, and have six grandchildren.

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Leroy Walker, Jr.

LeRoy Walker, Jr. is a familiar face in the Jackson community and is well known for his volunteer and philanthropic efforts.  He has been an active community and corporate servant, and through the years has given generously of his time, talent, and resources.  His business, LTM Enterprises, Inc., formerly owned and operated 22 McDonald’s Restaurant in the Jackson Metro area.  He retired from the McDonald’s system in March 2015 to pursue other business interests.

Mr. Walker is a graduate of Tennessee State University with a degree in Zoology.  He also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois and has done additional study in Education Administration at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois.  He previously taught Science and Mathematics in the East St. Louis, Illinois school system, and was also a founding member of the East St. Louis Community Federal Credit Union, where he served on its board of directors.

His involvement in professional and civic organizations is extensive.  As founder of the 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc. he created an opportunity to mentor students as well as share his entrepreneurial skills.  In 2015, Mr. Walker received the prestigious Mentor of the Year Award from the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.  He is a past Chairman of the Metro Chamber of Commerce, past Chairman of the Board of the United Way of the Metro Area, and Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees of Tougaloo College, where he served for 13 years.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of Trustmark National Bank and a former board member of Junior Achievement of Mississippi where, in 1994, he was inducted into its esteemed Business Hall of Fame.  Other board affiliations include the Hinds County Economic Development District, Jackson State University Development Foundation, St. Dominic Hospital, Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Advisory Board for Entergy Mississippi, and Central Mississippi Planning and Development District.

In 2005, LeRoy was a graduate of the inaugural class of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy.  He is a Commissioner of the Capital City Convention Center, Incorporated, and a member of the Mississippi State Advisory Committee (SAC) of the United States Commission on Civil rights.  Other affiliations include Life Memberships in the NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and membership in Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  In 2011 he received an appointment to the United States Chamber of Commerce Board where he served two terms.

LeRoy is an active member of  Farish Street Baptist Church, where he has chaired several committees and its Board of Trustees.   He counts himself fortunate and blessed to be able to give back to his community.  He adheres to the scripture of Luke 12:48  which reads “Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.” Through faith and determination, Mr. Walker continues to make a positive impact in the community.   LeRoy, and his wife Terryce, has one adult daughter and three grandchildren.

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Bill Geary

Bill Geary is a Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Raymond James & Associates. He joined Raymond James through the merger with Morgan Keegan in 2012. At Morgan Keegan he served as an Executive Managing Director for the Private Client Group and a member of the firm’s Executive Management Committee.  At Raymond James, Bill manages the Mississippi offices for Raymond James & Associates and is the senior advisor for Meadowbrook Wealth Advisors of Raymond James providing planning and investment advice for families and businesses across the state. Bill is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), a graduate of the University of Mississippi and has been active as a board member or volunteer for a number of foundations and non-profit organizations. Bill is married to Kathleen Geary and they have three adult sons with growing families.

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Jamie Mallinson

Jamie Mallinson is a Principal and Wealth Advisor at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, the private client business of AllianceBernstein. Jamie lives in Jackson, MS, after having relocated from Bernstein’s Washington, DC office in 2021. For the last 14 years at Bernstein, Jamie has advised clients and professional partners on a wide range of investment matters including personal financial planning, endowment & institutional portfolio management, and the sale of privately held businesses.  He holds the FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, 31, 63 and 65 licenses as well as the Certified Financial Planner™ designation. Jamie received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington and Lee University, and he and his wife Kristen have two wonderful daughters. Jamie loves coaching his daughters’ soccer teams, playing golf and soccer, and traveling with his family. He is thrilled to be living back home in Mississippi.

Community and Professional Activities

• Community Foundation for Mississippi – Investment Committee
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School – Regent
• Estate Planning Council of Mississippi – Executive Committee, VP/President Elect
• Fondren Renaissance Foundation – Board of Directors, Treasurer
• Jackson Futbol Club – Board Member

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Vangela Wade

Vangela M. Wade is an attorney and dedicated advocate for equity and social justice, committed to advancing community-driven change through leadership and service.

From 2020 to 2024, she served as president and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ), a nonprofit, public-interest law firm focused on racial, social, and economic justice. During her tenure, she helped guide the organization through a major internal restructuring, expanded its programming, strengthened its infrastructure, and broadened its influence at the state and national levels. Under her leadership, MCJ’s capacity grew, enabling it to make a greater impact in communities across Mississippi.

Vangela’s legal career includes experience as a law clerk for the Mississippi Court of Appeals, a special prosecutor for the Madison/Rankin County District Attorney’s Office, and a corporate defense attorney specializing in employment law. She has also served as an adjunct law professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law and worked as a consultant, helping corporations and nonprofits navigate diversity and fair employment practices.

Her leadership and contributions have earned broad recognition, including an appointment in 2024 to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Planning Committee for Empowering Justice 40 Communities. She has been honored with the Nonprofit HR 2024 Social Impact Women to Watch Award, Magnolia Bar Association Legal Services Award, Metro Jackson Black Women Lawyers Association Attorney of the Year, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law’s Edwin D. Wolf Award, and the National Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Division 50th Anniversary Impact Award.

She has served on several local boards, including Mississippi Today, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, and Operation Shoe String. She remains engaged with Mississippi Today as a member of its Advisory Board. Her contributions have been recognized both locally and nationally, including honors from the Magnolia Bar Association, Metro Jackson Black Women Lawyers Association, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. Under her leadership, MCJ received national recognition for its advocacy and impact.

In 2021, the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund honored Vangela for her commitment to addressing systemic racism. That same year, she was invited to join the International Women’s Forum (IWF), a network of accomplished women from various fields, including business, government, civil rights, and the arts.

Vangela is an alumna of Leadership Jackson and a member of the Mississippi Bar. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

She lives in Madison with her husband, Thandi Wade, a shareholder in the law firm of Tatum and Wade, PLLC. They have three sons—Ryan Young, Christian Wade, and Garrison Wade. A cancer survivor, an engaged wife and mother, an avid traveler, and a passionate sports fan, she values family, community, and opportunities to explore new perspectives.

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Ray Harrigill

Ray Harrigill is the founder, President and CEO of the Sunray Companies, LLC, based in Madison, MS. The Sunray Companies owns and operates franchise service-based businesses and hotels throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. Along with his wife, Ray is actively engaged in the day-to-day operations of their businesses. His primary focus is on finance, real estate, business development, and construction. Ray grew up in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He received a BBA and an MBA from Millsaps College as well as a JD from the Mississippi College School of Law.

Ray has served on various boards including the Ronald McDonald House (Past President) and the Madison Ridgeland Academy. He has also served on national franchise advisory boards for Palm Beach Tan, Massage Envy (Past President), and My Salon Suites. Additionally, he has served on various boards of privately owned companies.

Ray and his wife, Monica, live in Madison and are parents of adult twins.

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Marcus Ward

A Native of West Point, Mississippi, Mr. Marcus D. Ward is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the ASU Foundation, Inc. at Alcorn State University. This year Alcorn is celebrating its 150th anniversary as the oldest HBCU land-grant university in the United States and its 100th year of fielding a championship football program that has won 6 consecutive SWAC eastern division champions and back-to-back conference championships. In 2020, Ward successfully secured a $25 Million donation, the largest cash gift in the history of a Mississippi institution of higher learning.

Marcus has served as Chief of Staff in the Capitol City for the late Mayor Frank E. Melton in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Special Assistant to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott and as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.

Ward earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Pre-Law from Alcorn in 2000 and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 2004. He has studied public policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Mr. Ward is a Ford Foundation PPIA Fellow, an American Israel Education Foundation Fellow (AIPAC), a Kentucky Colonel and a graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 2007-2008.

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Ravi Raju

Vice Chair

Ravi Raju has three decades of experience in the areas of cross-functional leadership, strategic marketing, and technology implementation. As a senior executive and technology consultant, Ravi built and led sales, marketing, engineering, operations and delivery teams for high-technology companies in Mississippi while helping to define and execute the strategic initiatives of each company during successful periods of rapid growth.

Ravi currently serves as Board Director and Chief Operating Officer for Empower Grid Holdings and its operating subsidiary Exceleron, which provides cloud-based customer engagement, billing, and payment software to the energy industry. Previously, Ravi served as Chief Executive Officer for NunoErin, Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager for Commercial Programs at Camgian Microsystems, Senior Vice President and Executive Officer of SmartSynch, a Smart Grid technology company acquired by Itron, Chief Technology Officer for 121Micro, Vice President of Technology for Vention, and Senior Management Consultant for Computer Sciences Corporation. Over the course of his career, Ravi held leadership roles in Engineering, Marketing, Product Management, Business Development, Corporate Strategy and Professional Services for cellular, internet of things and software-as-a-service companies while overseeing billion-dollar annual revenue product lines including software, networking, and hardware solutions.

Ravi is active with educational, charitable, and community organizations in Mississippi. Prior to serving on the Board of Trustees for the Community Foundation for Mississippi, Ravi served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Co-Chair of the Forward Saints Capital Campaign, Co-Chair of the Head of School Search Committee, Chair of the Governance/Nominating Committee, and Steering Committee/Cabinet Member for the St. Andrew’s Chapel Capital Campaign. Ravi served on the Board of Trustees for Youth Villages Mississippi and served as Chair of the Talent Attraction and Retention Committee for Vision 2022, a group of local business leaders tasked by the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership with developing a 10-year strategic growth and improvement plan for the City of Jackson. Ravi previously served as Chair of the Leadership Greater Jackson Board of Trustees and President of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Alumni Board. Ravi also served on the Executive Committee of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board of Directors and served by appointment of the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office on the State of Mississippi Trademark Law and Technology and Intellectual Property Law Study Committees.

Ravi has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Davidson College where he received the Samuel H. Bell Academic Honor Scholarship. He completed his graduate coursework in Computer Science at Mississippi State University where he was awarded the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Founders’ Scholarship as the top graduate student in the Computer Science Department. Ravi is an Alpha Omega graduate of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (Class of 1988) and is married (Whitney) with twins (Rece and Rand) currently attending Elon University and Davidson College. Ravi is a continuous learner with a particular passion for family, technology, travel, and wine.

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Steve Orlansky

Steve Orlansky is a Greenville native who has practiced law with Watkins & Eager in Jackson since 1980.  He has been engaged primarily in the defense of product liability and commercial litigation and the resolution of insurance coverage issues.  He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation, and a recipient of the Pro Bono Publico Award presented by the Mississippi Bar and the Professionalism Award presented by the Capital Area Bar Association.

Steve has served as president of Beth Israel Congregation, chairman of the Mississippi Equal Justice Foundation and the URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp Committee, and on the boards of Central Mississippi Legal Services and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi. He is a member of the Rotary Club of North Jackson.

Steve and his wife Beth have three adult sons, Abram, Jonathan and Benjamin, and six grandchildren.

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