Shemariah Waggoner is the Managing Director of the Black Equity Coalition (BEC). The BEC is a fiscally sponsored program of POISE Foundation, whose mission is to support equitable systems that advance justice and affirm the dignity of every human-being by building and strengthening strategic collaborations and networks through advocacy. Prior to assuming her role at the BEC, Ms. Waggoner served as the President of Emery Consulting Services, LLC. (ECS) a Minority- Owned Operational Consulting Services firm located in Collier Township, PA. She specialized in full scale operational support, application development and post license award management services, compliance, DEI, diverse business plan development and supply chain management, for highly regulated industries. Ms. Waggoner’s expertise has assisted in the award and management of limited licenses, state, local and private foundation grant funds through the use of complex diverse business and diverse participant workforce strategies for clients.

Ms. Waggoner has provided services to some of the largest nonprofits, institutional organizations, and emerging markets working with clients including, Trulieve Inc., Organic Remedies Missouri, PurePenn, Cansortium, Penn Health Group, Whole Plants, Green Investment Partners, UPMC, UPMC Insurance Services, Community Care Behavioral Health, The Minority & Women Educational Labor Agency, LEVEL Equity and The Pittsburgh Board of Public Education.

Prior to starting ECS in 2008, Ms. Waggoner worked in the Healthcare, Real-Estate Development and Construction, Banking and the Nonprofit Sector with a focus on operations, compliance, government relations, contracting and diverse business procurement for employers such as PNC Financial Services, UPMC, The Urban League of Pittsburgh and the Northside Leadership Conference.

Ms. Waggoner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, with a minor in Sociology from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Leadership Development Initiative Class IV. Shemariah was appointed by County Executive Richard Fitzgerald to his 2012 Workforce Development Vision/Transition Team. Over the past 15 years, Shemariah has served on boards and has been involved in various organizations in her community. She is a current board member of Auberle.