Leadership: Guided by Vision and Accountability

Robert Johnson is a social-impact leader with deep experience in business development, franchising, venture capital, and economic-equity strategy. He leads The Solomon Group LLC, a social-impact advisory and legal firm supporting minority and women-owned enterprises across the Diaspora.

He has served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Emergent Ethos and President of its sustainable-technology portfolio company, Purple Flower Farms. His leadership roles have also included Chief Equity Officer at Bezos Academy and Chief Economic Inclusion Officer & General Counsel for YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, where he managed economic empowerment, financial inclusion, SBDC, technology, and workforce programs.

Widely regarded as an expert in corporate law, social enterprise, franchising, and venture capital, Robert has advised senior leaders on economic development domestically and internationally. He holds a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and dual B.S. degrees from Knox College.

Kristoffer Adams is a government affairs strategist who advances public safety, infrastructure modernization, and economic opportunity for Black communities across Illinois. As Co-Chair of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce PAC and a co-founder of the Black Legislative Leadership Network, he builds coalitions that strengthen business ecosystems, expand access to emerging technologies, and support equitable economic development. His work spans natural-gas safety policy, broadband and 5G deployment, and urban infrastructure planning, with a focus on translating complex legislative and technical issues into actionable gains for Black entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.