We are as strong as our people.

This is one of our core values and it is a truth that guides us internally and with our clients.

We are pleased to announce that we have added three new leaders to our team of senior advisors Darryl K. Lester, Hannah Randall, and Melvin J. Scales. Each bring a myriad of professional and lived experiences to help nonprofit board and staff members unlock the potential of their communities.

“Over almost two decades serving the nonprofit and philanthropic community across North Carolina and beyond, we have welcomed talented professionals who blend a passion for this work with lived experienced that bring significant value to our clients,” said co-founding Principal Bert Armstrong. “Darryl, Hannah, and Melvin each bring both attributes in abundance, and we are honored to have them as part of the Armstrong McGuire team."

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Darryl K. Lester

Based in our RTP office, Darryl brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the higher education, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors with significant success in increasing individual and organizational cultural competency, racial equity, community engagement, and strategic direction. Darryl previously served as the Principal of the Institute for Building Communities by Design.

His professional and personal journey were shaped by his experiences in philanthropy and higher education. Darryl has served as the Director of Community Leadership and Program Officer with the Triangle Community Foundation, Assistant Director of the African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State University, Adjunct Professor in the Public Administration department at North Carolina Central University, Assistant Dean at UNC-Chapel Hill, Assistant Director of African American Student Affairs at North Carolina State University and as a counselor in the Counseling Center at Shaw University.

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Hannah Randall

Based in Asheville, Hannah brings 20 years of leadership experience in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, with a record of impact and resilience in the face of uncertainty. Hannah is known for her down-to-earth, adaptive leadership style to build and guide inclusive teams with exceptional results.

Previously, Hannah served as the Chief Executive Officer of MANNA FoodBank in Asheville. During that time, she also served as the Board Chair for Feeding the Carolinas and the Eastern Region Chair for Feeding America.   In the for-profit sector, Hannah served in leadership roles in Electric Power Generation and Environmental, Health, and Safety with Duke Energy, Progress Energy, and Carolina Power & Light, focusing on operations, regulatory compliance, training, and business process improvement.

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Melvin J. Scales

Based in Winston Salem, Melvin has been a management consulting professional for 25+ years with leading national and international talent management firms, including Meridian Resources and Right Management, as Executive Vice President and Global Senior Vice President respectively. Melvin was selected to the President's Club for consistent excellence and was appointed to Right’s Diversity Leadership team. Melvin has also chaired several non-profit boards including Leadership Winston-Salem, Wake Forest Baptist Health's CareNet and the Winston-Salem Foundation's Black Philanthropic Initiative.  

Melvin has also held several roles in brand management with leading international consumer products organizations such as Hanesbrands, R.J. Reynolds, Anheuser-Busch and Nabisco.

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We hope you will extend an Armstrong McGuire family welcome to each of them (darryl@armstrongmcguire.com, hannah@armstrongmcguire.com, and melvin@armstrongmcguire.com) and will read more about them on our website.

We look forward to our next chance to help you unlock the potential of your community.

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