We are Blackbird.

Latresa McLawhorn Ryan is the CEO of Blackbird Strategy Group. With a personal purpose and career focused on creating economic security and sustainable generational wealth, she has more than 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor with a unique ability to make complex ideas compelling by combining critical thinking with practical implementation.

Prior to founding Blackbird Strategy Group, she served as the founding Executive Director of the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative (AWBI). Under her leadership, AWBI developed as an ecosystem hub serving as a think tank, data engine, community convener, funder, and philanthropic and community development advisor launching its signature Advancing Enterprise Prosperity: 1,000 Black Businesses in 1,000 Days campaign to empower businesses with assets and tools to grow and scale while paying employees a living wage.

Before joining AWBI, Latresa held leadership roles at SunTrust Bank, Operation Hope, and as an attorney serving clients nationally. At SunTrust Bank, she was a vice president within the Foundations and Endowments Specialty Practice. Her expertise helped families, nonprofits, and foundation clients maximize the impact of their assets to support and align with their missions and personal goals. Prior to joining SunTrust in 2014, Latresa was the Director of the Office of Partnerships and Global Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Development at Operation HOPE. She focused on cultivating strategic partnerships and led fundraising activities across the organization. She began her career as an attorney at Arent Fox, PLLC in Washington, DC before opening her own boutique law firm specializing in estate planning, asset protection, and nonprofit law with a concentration on venture capital, private equity firms, and small business owners.

With a deep personal commitment to strengthening communities, Latresa serves as a board member and former chair of the Grove Park Foundation, a board member for Atlanta Beltline Partnership, Center for Civic Innovation, and Georgia Social Impact Collaborative, as well as a member of the Greenlight Fund Advisory Council, Emory University Board of Visitors, and The Children's School Board of Trustees.

Latresa also serves as a participant in Aspen Institute Germany's Transatlantic Townhall Project: Future Cities, Equity in Practice Advisor for New Growth Innovation Network, State of CDFls in Georgia Conference Task Force, Race and Equity in Philanthropy Group, and as a graduate of Boston Impact Initiative's Social Impact Fund-Building cohort.

Latresa has spoken at various events hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, SXSW, Aspen Institute Germany, SOCAP SPECTRUM, Georgia Social Impact Collaborative, Google for Startups & Goodie Nation's Black Founders Fund, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Community Foundation, Southeastern Council for Foundations (SECF), and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Furthermore, Latresa has secured media coverage among print and broadcast outlets, including The Atlanta Business Chronicle, Bloomberg News, CW Focus Atlanta, Atlanta Magazine, MetroAtlanta CEO, NPR, Rolling Out, Global Heroes Magazine, Open Democracy, 11 Alive News, and ABC7 News- Sarasota.

She received her B.S. in Computer Science from Spelman College and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law. In her spare time, Latresa enjoys hiking, live music, and spending time with her children.