Welcome to the official page for the 2025 Thomas “Tank” Strickland Leadership Awards Luncheon! This year, we gather to honor exceptional leaders who embody the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and our 2025 theme: “Beyond the Dream: Empowering the Beloved Communities.”

Join us as we celebrate leadership, unity, and progress with our keynote speaker, Nzinga “Zing” Shaw, a global authority on inclusive leadership and CEO of Attack the Glass LLC. Known for transforming DEI initiatives in organizations like Starbucks and the Atlanta Hawks, Zing brings a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to this special event. As an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee and a recipient of two honorary doctorates, her commitment to education and innovation continues to shape communities.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: UTK Student Union, Pilot Ballroom (2nd Floor)
🎟️ Tickets: $50 per person

Celebrate this impactful occasion with us and be part of a transformative experience. Reserve your spot today and join us as we honor Dr. King’s principles of unity, justice, and leadership.

For more information please contact Luncheon@MLKKnoxville.com.

Nzinga “Zing” Shaw is the President and CEO of Attack the Glass LLC (ATG), a dynamic organization founded in 2019 with a bold mission to amplify diversity across every facet of the human experience. As a seasoned C-suite executive, Zing brings extensive expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), human capital management, change and crisis management, marketing, and community engagement.

Zing has a trailblazing background in DEI, serving as the first Chief DEI Officer at prominent organizations, including Starbucks and the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association, as well as State Farm Arena. During her tenure, she launched pioneering initiatives such as the MOSAIC symposium and led groundbreaking efforts to celebrate LGBTQ+ and differently-abled communities in professional sports.

In addition to her leadership at ATG, Zing is an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business and has previously created curriculum and taught at Fisk University. Recognized with multiple “40 Under 40” accolades, Zing serves on influential boards including ColorComm, Rising Media Stars, and the Board of Trustees at Bennett College. She is also a proud member of The Links, Incorporated, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Zing holds a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College. She has been honored with two Honorary Doctorate degrees in Humane Letters from LeMoyne-Owen College and Morris Brown College. Outside of her professional achievements, Zing enjoys interior design, international travel, and spending time with her husband Keith and their three children, Lacy, Hudson, and Trey.