Samuel Wolo, Chair

Samuel N. Wolo, Jr., M.A. is Regional Plant Leader within the Medical Products Division at W. L. Gore & Associates in Phoenix, Arizona. Sam is a career corporate human resources and diversity, equity, and inclusion leader who transitioned into a business operations roll in August of 2020. Sam’s corporate career spans multiple industries including aviation, healthcare, bottling, energy services, technology and material sciences. Prior to joining W. L. Gore & Associates in 2018, Sam led diversity, equity and inclusion for multiple companies. Sam is a graduate of Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science, and a graduate of Howard University, Washington, D.C. with a master’s degree in international relations. In 2018, Sam was named among the Top Executives in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise magazine and was featured in STEM Workforce Diversity magazine's 2018 Spring edition, "Leaders in STEM Diversity Initiatives". Sam is a 2013 alum of Valley Leadership Institute, Phoenix Arizona, and is also 2022 alum of the McKinsey Academy Black Executive Leadership Program. Since joining the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board in March of 2022, Sam has been a contributing member of the Business and Workforce Engagement Committee partnering with community stakeholders and the Business and Workforce Development Center to deliver informative and engaging content for our Bagel and Business quarterly meetings. Sam was elected Board Chair for the 2023 – 2025 term which took effect on July 1, 2023. Sam is married to his wife Toya and together they have two daughters (Cydnie and Kyndal) and live in the City of Phoenix, Arizona.