Nikki Purvis is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee and is afire about family and community. She has over 20 years of public and private sector leadership experience and currently has the pleasure of serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, Inc., a non-profit membership organization that focuses on economic and business development of Black businesses. She is currently tasked with deploying over $5MM in federal funds to help under-sourced businesses recover from the pandemic.
Prior to becoming CEO, Nikki spent 13 years in the public sector, most recently serving as the inaugural chief equity officer for the City of Milwaukee where she created the infrastructure and groundwork for the City’s newly created Office of Equity and Inclusion, responsible for implementing citywide racial equity and inclusion efforts. She played an integral role in developing the City’s federal pandemic funding allocation process for city departments and was part of the City’s internal Democratic National Convention planning team, ensuring local businesses had access to information regarding contracting opportunities. In addition, she oversaw the inclusion of small business enterprises on multi-million-dollar development projects such as the Fiserv Forum, Komatsu and Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons Project.

Nikki currently serves on the board of directors for Legacy Redevelopment Corporation and is a member of the M3 Advisory Board. She previously served as an appointed Commissioner and Vice-Chair for the Community Relations-Social Development Commission (SDC) and past board chair of the Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA) and African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, Inc (AACCWI). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Marquette University and her Master or Science degree in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University. She is also an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. where she has held multiple elected and appointed positions, locally and nationally.

Tanya Gray serves as Office Manager for the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin. She is responsible for overseeing daily operations, managing projects, and providing HR and accounting support. She finds working for the Chamber to be very rewarding because supporting the organization’s leadership and assisting entrepreneurs gives her a sense of accomplishment. Tanya considers it a privilege to work alongside the wonderful staff at the Chamber creatively planning events and tackling challenging projects together. When she is not working, Tanya spends her free time enjoying family and books.

Lakesha Highshaw is the Legacy Incubator Program Manager at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, where she has been dedicated to supporting and empowering entrepreneurs since May 2021. With a deep love for entrepreneurs and a strong belief that she is right where she belongs, she strives to help create opportunities that elevate businesses and drive economic prosperity within our community. Her advice to all entrepreneurs is to stay focused on your vision, embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and always remember that your passion and determination are your greatest assets.

As a breast cancer survivor and mother to a beautiful teenage daughter named Journey. Kesha understands the importance of resilience and empowerment, she is also an entrepreneur as she is the owner of Angels In Style, an apparel company specializing in affirmation-centered inspired fashion. Angels In Style empowers individuals to embrace self-expression through fashion, creating connections, boosting confidence, and celebrating uniqueness. As a dog parent to a two-year-old male Boston Terrier named Saint Titus. She values the joy and companionship pets can bring to someone’s life.

In her personal time, she loves to travel, enjoy quality time with her family, and find joy in journaling and reading. With 20 years of corporate experience, Kesha brings a wealth of skills to the Chamber, including customer service, creating exceptional experiences with a people-first attitude, and a background in insurance and investments. She has a passion for creating safe spaces for people to talk and connect, and truly loves working with people. Her journey has led her to believe that she is right where she belongs, supporting and uplifting entrepreneurs in our community.