D. A. Abrams
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D. A. Abrams

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D.A. (David Anthony) Abrams is the Founder + CEO of the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group. The firm helps its clients leverage Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for positive business and social impact. In addition, D.A. is the Chief Operating Officer at Groundswell. In his role, he is responsible for accounting, finance, information and technology systems, human resources, marketing & communications, fund development, research, business development, and overall operations. Prior to joining the Groundswell D.A. served as the Managing Director for the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning. While in the role (2019-2022), D.A. was responsible for cultivating a quality workforce fostering a more diverse financial planner workforce reflective of the changing US demographics and elevating the discipline of financial planning to increase the stature and recognition of financial planning faculty and educational programs and provide practitioners with cutting-edge knowledge to thrive while providing outstanding service to clients. D.A. is the immediate past Chief Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Officer for the United States Tennis Association (USTA), a position he assumed in February 2012 and concluded in March 2019. While in the role, he focused on developing and innovating the USTA’s D&I initiatives on the national, regional, and grass-roots levels. Abrams utilized a six-prong approach, while advocating D&I as one of the USTA’s core values. The Association embraced the D&I Strategic Approach to diversifying tennis for the good of the sport, which Abrams launched in 2013. During his tenure, the USTA operated under three different iterations (2013-2014; 2015-2016; and 2017-2018) of the “All Hands on Deck - Plan of Attack”. A major component of the plan was the “Cross Cultural Dexterity Training” program, which served to uncover unconscious bias, increase understanding of the negative impact of exclusionary behavior, and the power of intentional inclusion. He also developed a company-wide scorecard to measure the achievements of the USTA’s D&I objectives, as well as identify “Areas of Opportunity.” In 2013, Abrams launched a company-wide internship program. The program was implemented to provide diverse college-age students the opportunity to live the USTA experience for ten weeks. He was also responsible for overseeing and cultivating the USTA’s 7 Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Under his leadership, the USTA has made significant contributions to the business of the organization, including enhanced partner benefits and a greater parental leave policy for both mothers and fathers. Under his leadership as CDIO, the USTA had heightened its Supplier Diversity efforts, with year-end spend with diverse suppliers surpassing 14%; developed 7 D&I Engagement Guides supported by an Engaging Diverse Markets: An Application Toolkit. Abrams oversaw and operated the D&I training for all USTA Board of Directors, Council Chairs, Committee Chairs, C-Suite, USTA Staff, as well as the Presidents, Delegates and Executive Directors of all 17 USTA Sections. He served as a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Hispanic Engagement Advisory Committee, and was chair of the D&I Advisory Group at the USTA. All served to implement positive cultural change and address various areas of opportunity within the organization. In addition, Abrams was the chair of the USTA’s Accreditation Review Committee. During his 26 years with the USTA, D.A. served as the Executive Director and Chief Staff Executive for the Association’s USTA Eastern (2006-2012) and USTA Missouri Valley (1997-2000) regional offices. In 2000, he was named one of Tennis Industry Magazine’s “Top 40 under 40” tennis executives. And in 2017, he was inducted into the USTA Middle States Section Hall of Fame. And, in 2018, he was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. As a best-selling author and Certified Association Executive (CAE), Abrams has authored six books - “Certified Association Executive Exam: Strategies for Study & Success” (May 2013); “Diversity & Inclusion: The Big Six Formula for Success” (July 2013); New-School Leadership: Making a Difference in the 21st Century” (July 2014); “Association Management Excellence: Become an Expert by preparing for the CAE Exam” (October 2014); “The Inclusion Solution: My Big Six Formula for Success” (October 2016); and “Make It Happen” (2019). In 2012, Sports Business Journal highlighted Abrams in their “Executive Transactions” section and Savoy Magazine featured him and the USTA in its “Corporate Diversity Matters” section. In addition, he’s been featured on the covers of Associations Now Magazine (July 2012) and Diversity Executive Magazine (August 2013). D.A. is the member of the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame, and the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. Also, he is a Backstage Capital Limited Partner, and Angel Investor. D.A. currently serves as the Chairman and President of the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the Treasurer of the National Association of Asian American Professionals Board of Directors, Millersville University Foundation Board of Directors member, Metropolitan State University Foundation - Outreach & Engagement Committee member. In addition, he is a former President of the Diversity & Inclusion Sports Consortium, and Advisory Board member of Diversity MBA Magazine, At age 12, D.A. was introduced to tennis via the National Junior Tennis & Learning program operating at Mander Playground located in the Strawberry Mansion (North Philly) section of Philadelphia, PA. The program served as a gateway to many life changing opportunities. He became a nationally ranked junior player, and played tennis at Millersville University in Pennsylvania where he earned his undergraduate degree in business administration, concentration – accounting. Subsequently, Abrams earned a master’s degree from Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis, MN, and continues to learn by way of reading, writing, and travel. Feel free to connect with D.A. Abrams: Via email: DAAbrams21@gmail.com Phone: 914-338-8459 LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/DAAbrams1
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New-School Leadership: Making a Difference in the 21st Century

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