Board Of Directors
Ondre Berry, Our Story, Inc.
Ondre Berry
“Every human being is under construction and has unlimited potential.” This principle has inspired Ondra Berry to commit his life to inspire those within his sphere of influence to realize and actualize their hidden potential. Ondra has been a champion of leadership, diversity, and organizational change for over 25 years. He is committed to challenging the status quo in human potential and utilized his two decades of experience and studies in the topic of personal leadership and greatness to ignite a movement of unleashing the potential within, one person at a time, worldwide. He is co-founder and partner of Guardian Quest, a company committed to unleashing the untapped potential of individuals and organizations through world-class training solutions. Known as a change agent in personal and organizational transformation, Ondra’s vast leadership and training experience spans public and private sectors.
His skills were refined in a celebrated 25-year career in the Reno Police Department, where he retired as the Assistant Chief of Police over-seeing the administrative division. He continues his public service to his state and country as a Colonel in the Nevada Air National Guard and is assigned to the Human Resource Board through the National Guard Bureau as a military expert in the field of diversity. In his role as consultant and trainer, Ondra L. Berry is routinely sought after to bring his expertise to an extensive client list including Fortune 500 companies, military and federal agencies, non-profits. schools and universities. Ondra invests his life energies and passions in the development and delivery of cutting edge training solutions in the topics of diversity, leadership and organizational change.
He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada Reno and is a member of numerous non-profit and service organizations. Guardian Quest is on a mission to launch a leadership and diversity revolution. Since the company’s founding in September 11, 2000, thousands have been trained, have found their voice, and have pursued journeys of greatness. Through this innovative training and keynote addresses, Ondra Berry has spoken in all fifty states and several countries and is on a quest to leave this world better than he found it!
Our Story, Inc.
Greg Black
Mr. Black, who is married and a father of four, came to Reno, Nevada on a football scholarship at the University of Nevada Reno where he played for UNR from 1983 to 1985 and majored in Electrical Engineering. From 1987 to 1989, I served as Vice President of the UNR Black Student Organization. In 1987 he started two college Guys Professional Moving services and opened two additional businesses, Truckee River Spas in 1998 and Catalina Spas in 2004 respectively. He has also been involved in a variety of mentoring programs such as the Professional Black Men’s Group and the Lions club.
Hattie Brown
Hattie Brown
Born 1924, Hattie is a native of New York and has many fond stories of what it was like growing up there. After moving to Los Angeles she received a Degree in Early Childhood Education, afterwards embarked on a career of teaching Elementary School that spanned seventeen years. Hattie retired 1989 and relocated to the Reno/Sparks area where she has resided for over 10 years. Hattie has traveled to many destinations around the world, and has always been and will continue to be passionate about education and world history.
Kenneth B. Dalton, Our Story, inc.
Kenneth B. Dalton
Kenny Dalton has served as a past president of Reno Sparks NAACP and is a producer of the “Reno Sparks NAACP Today” show. Dalton is president of Our Story Inc., a history project that showcases contributions African-Americans have made to northern Nevada. Additionally, he is a board member of the Lear Theater, a member of the Reno Black Firefighters and Reno Fire Union Local 731. He was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. Dalton attended and played football at Washington State University from 1978-1981 and has an associate’s degree in fire science from TMCC.
Shayne Del Cohen, Our Story, Inc.
Shayne Del Cohen
Shayne Del Cohen, formerly producer of ”We the People”, which enjoyed a fifteen years or air time has served as a tribal development consultant for forty five years. Educated in Mexico, Kenya, India, and Malaysia, she holds a PhD in International Law. Civic memberships include the Nevada affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women and the State Historical Records Advisory Board.
Diane France, Our Story, Inc.
Diane France
Ms. France, who is a long time resident of Reno, Nevada, has worn many hats in this community. She was a preschool teacher, assistant director and restaurant manager. Currently she is on the advisory board for Reno Story Tellers- Chautauqua, is an elder Truckee Meadows Community College drama student and a RSVP Volunteer.
George Hardaway, Our Story, Inc.
George Hardaway
George A. Hardaway was born in Hogansville, Georgia and his family moved to Hartford, Connecticut in 1963. While growing up in the South, he faced discrimination and segregation in a life that afforded no luxuries. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but could never hone his skills because of the lack of opportunity.
All this changed when he moved to Hartford, Connecticut at the age of 14 and entered integrated Weaver High School. It was there that he found his love for school, but because of inadequate schooling in the South, he had to become reeducated. Education was very important to him because his parents never had a good education and they wanted him to be successful. Not only did George succeed in school, but he excelled in sports and became a star football player in high school. Sports and extracurricular activities gave him confidence.
After graduating in 1966 from Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut, he received a football scholarship to the state of Washington and transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall of 1968. Football fans saw him in action as a “receiver” for the Wolf Pack from 1968 through 1970.
George received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education on June 5, 1971. He earned a Masters of Education in 1976 and earned his second Masters (Education Specialist) in 1983.
During his years at the University he was one of the main speakers at the Annual Conference for the Professional Staff from the College of Agriculture at the University of Nevada, Reno; the Citizenship Education Conference which was attended by young people from six high schools in Clark County; and the 4H State Citizenship Conference which was held in Las Vegas.
While at the University of Nevada-Reno, George received the “Henry Albert Sr. Community Service Award” at the Honor Convocation an award presented to him as one of four outstanding senior students.
Since 1971, George has had a long presence in the Washoe County School District as a teacher, coach and administrator. He coached track and field for 15 years at Hug High School (1975-1990) and was head coach from (1980-1990). Hug won two Zone Championships (1980 and 1984), five runner-up titles and placed second in the 1984 state meet. Throughout George’s career in the WCSD, the one thing that many people say is that he cares and will do everything in his power to help any student reach their goal.
George spent several years teaching African American History at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno , Nevada from the late 1970’s through the early 1980’s. Those classes were well received and very well attended by a diverse population of students.
The local NAACP has recognized George for his Pioneer Black History class taught at Hug High School in the midst of the civil rights movement in the 1970’s. The Pioneer spirit continues today and students continue to be beneficiaries of the Black experience through his involvement in Black History Program at the middle, high school and college level.
Mr. George A. Hardaway has deep religious conviction and a sincere desire to contribute in a positive way to our global community.
Our Story, Inc.
Marshielah Lyons
Ms. Lyons, who is a wife and mother, is a Principle Policy Analyst for the Nevada Legislature. She enjoys studying the Bible, reading and learning about history. In her spare time she does beading, jewelry making and scrap booking.
Our Story, Inc.
Geralda Miller
Our Story, Inc.
Darrell Simmons
Mr. Simmons was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is an Operator for the City of Reno Fire Department, a father of three and an avid outdoorsman.
