Wesley Coleman, corporate leader and Past Grand Sire Archon of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, was born on March 12, 1950, in Halifax, Virginia to Bessie Bowman Coleman and Nathanial Wyatt Coleman.
He earned his B.S. degree in business management from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in 1971, and his M.B.A. degree from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1972.
Coleman began his corporate career working at Schlitz Brewing Company upon graduating from Hampton. He then went to work for S.C. Johnson in 1981 and later transferred to London, United Kingdom as the regional human resources director of the corporation for Southern Europe. His responsibilities also included the Africa and Middle-Eastern divisions. He later became vice president of human resources for Asia-Pacific and North America and was the first African American to hold that position. Coleman remained at S.C. Johnson for over twenty years before becoming in 2002, vice president of global human resources for Nike, Inc. He later became executive vice president and chief human resources officer at the Walt Disney Company until his retirement in 2008.
Over his career, Coleman has been very active in community leadership on a national scale. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Hampton University and is currently the Chairman of the Board. He is also on the board of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena as well as on the National Executive Board for the Boy Scouts of America. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Ray Charles Foundation. His prior board involvement and community service include serving on the Board of Advisors for KMS Software Company, LLC, the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Urban League, the Board of Trustees for the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the Racine (WI) County Workforce Development Board as Chairman. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for Johnson Wax Foundation (where he was Chair of the Education Committee). Coleman was also a member of the board of directors for INROADS Oregon, SMART (Start Making a Reader Today), and SEI (Self-Enhancing Inc.).
Mr. Coleman pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at Hampton Institute (University) in 1969 and he is also a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, commonly referred to as the Boulé. He previously served as the Grand Sire Archon (i.e., National President) from 2016 to 2018 overseeing a full-time staff of eight with a $4 million annual budget. He also acts as Secretary of the Boulé Foundation.
Wesley Coleman is a Life Member of the NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a member of the National Association of Guardsmen. Coleman has been highly recognized for his contributions to society as well. During his time with S.C. Johnson, he was the recipient of the H.F. Johnson Community Service Award (1986), Hampton University Outstanding Alumnus Award (2004), and the University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Alumni Award and University of Pittsburgh 225 Medallion recipient (2012).
