PONDER DIVERSITY GROUP

Anita J. Ponder, one of the nation’s leading attorneys and consultants, is at the helm of Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG), a legal consulting firm she founded and manages. With over three decades of experience, Anita's work encompasses strategic legal guidance and advocacy for a diverse range of clients, including government agencies, large corporations and nonprofit organizations, with a focus on small, disadvantaged, minority and women businesses enterprises and diverse employees on government contracts.  Her legal expertise includes government contracts, supplier and workplace diversity, and grant writing and administration in the industries of construction, transportation, education and cannabis licensing.  

Ms. Ponder’s notable accomplishments include: conducting DEI assessments, strategies and training; identifying DEI best practices nationwide; grant writing, administration and technical services; developing and implementing DBE/MBE/WBE, social equity and technical assistance programs; developing and implementing a small business certification initiative; preparing a 50-state memorandum on government procurement and bidding requirements; and organizing and chairing the Government Contractors Business Forum, a business group for established government contractors to assist them compete more effectively in the governmental marketplace.

Prior to leading PDG, Ms. Ponder was a partner and government contracts lead at some of Chicago most prestigious law firms, including Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, the nation’s largest minority and women-owned law firm, as well as Seyfarth Shaw, Drinker Biddle & Reath, and Quarles & Brady.  At these firms, she represented the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, and several other government agencies outside of Illinois. She also represented a number of government contractors and consultants, including many of the top firms in the construction and transportation industries in Illinois. Prior to private practice, Ms. Ponder worked for Chicago Mayor Harold Washington in the Departments of Public Works and Procurement Services and provided legal support to his supplier diversity and workplace diversity leadership teams.

Ms. Ponder’s educational background includes a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Political Science from Fisk University. Her legal acumen, coupled with her effective community engagement and diversity advocacy, has earned her numerous awards throughout her career. She has also published several legal articles, been the featured speaker and has made television and radio appearances to discuss a range of government contracting and diversity topics.  Ms. Ponder’s professional journey reflects her dedication to leveraging legal expertise to advocate for equitable business practices and to empower underrepresented communities in the governmental and business sectors. Her work not only contributes to the legal field but also to the broader goal of creating inclusive and diverse environments in business and government.

Sanford Stein brings a wealth of experience as Ponder Diversity Group’s (PDG) Of Counsel. For more than four decades, he has actively championed diversity, equity, and inclusion in various sectors, including governmental and private entities. Beyond these accomplishments, he has established himself as a leading authority in the highly regulated cannabis industry in the United States. Mr. Stein’s work extends into the heart of agencies, where he focuses on fostering inclusive workplaces and workforces. He provides consulting and training services that are specially tailored to the needs of each organization. His approach centers on developing organizations to create and sustain inclusive environments where diversity thrives.  

Mr. Stein’s professional journey commenced at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he managed a multitude of enforcement and policy matters. Today, his practice encompasses a broad spectrum of business regulatory affairs, spanning Illinois and nationwide. Notably, Sanford Stein is at the forefront of the movement advocating for cannabis legalization, social equity in cannabis retail sales, rational cannabis regulations. He has lent his expertise to cannabis legislation and rulemaking, regulatory compliance, business development, real estate, finance, banking, license applications, Tribal Government guidance, and zoning for cannabis enterprises across several states. Tribal advocacy has been a cornerstone of Sanford Stein's multifaceted career. With a deep understanding of government relations and legal expertise, Mr. Stein has been a dedicated advocate for tribal governments and their unique challenges. His experience spans a range of critical issues, from assisting tribal nations with legislative initiatives to providing counsel on matters related to land use, zoning, and economic development within tribal territories. Mr. Stein's commitment to tribal advocacy extends to supporting tribal governments in their efforts to navigate the complex landscape of cannabis regulation and legalization, ensuring that these communities have a voice and opportunities in this emerging industry. His extensive background in both governmental and private sector affairs positions him as a trusted partner in advancing tribal sovereignty and prosperity.

Additionally, Sanford Stein's extensive legal expertise in social equity initiatives is exemplified through his notable engagement with the State of Washington. In this pivotal role, Mr. Stein has played a vital part in shaping and implementing the Social Equity in Cannabis Program. His contributions have focused significantly on providing essential legal advising to guide the development and execution of this groundbreaking program. This initiative aims to create a more inclusive and equitable cannabis industry, addressing historical disparities and promoting diverse participation. Through his legal acumen and dedication to social equity, Mr. Stein has played a pivotal role in advancing Washington's commitment to fostering a fair and inclusive cannabis landscape. Sanford Stein has been dedicated to serving both governmental and private sector clients, navigating a diverse range of legislative, regulatory, and judicial landscapes. With a unique blend of expertise in business and government relations law, Sanford has cultivated extensive experience in infrastructure development, public finance, public-private partnership economic development, government regulations, and procurement.

Leticia Herrera is a consultant for Ponder Diversity Group (PDG) responsible for community outreach and engagement.  She has over 30 years of professional and grassroots experience in community leadership, outreach, and engagement representing government agencies, high-level government officials (elected and appointed), and small business owners in Latino communities in Illinois, nationwide, and globally.  She is an exceptionally dedicated, reliable, and compassionate professional with strong and varied skills that include communications, organizational, management, marketing, problem-solving, leadership, and planning. She has utilized her skills to develop strong community relationships and a superb record of community service and achievement. She is also an established business owner, highly regarded business leader, and strong advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, initiatives, and organizations for Hispanic/Latino communities and women nationwide.  

The consulting services that Ms. Herrera provides to clients of PDG include planning, directing, and coordinating communications and related activities that are designed to create or maintain positive relationships in Latino and other diverse, marginalized, underserved, underrepresented, and/or disproportionately impacted communities - including clients, partners, donors, volunteers, and media.  Her work includes raising issues or project awareness and facilitating equity and inclusion of those communities. She collects and evaluates data on local demographics, develops results, and presents conclusions to PDG and its clients. She attends community events as a representative of PDG and engages in outreach to agencies, organizations, partners, and stakeholders to conduct presentations, surveys, and meetings, both in-person and utilizing online platforms.  

Ms. Herrera is an award-winning entrepreneur and business leader who has been recognized for her business success by several not-for-profit organizations, media outlets, and governmental agencies throughout her career. She is currently a board member for City Kids Camp which provides an escape for kids who live in economically disadvantaged communities, allowing them to experience an environment free from violence, drugs, and gangs. She has been a board member of the March of Dimes which supports research, leads programs, and provides education and advocacy to prevent birth defects and premature birth. She has also served on the board of St. Augustine College, a private college in Chicago which was the first bilingual institution of higher education in Illinois.   

Ms. Herrera has held prominent leadership positions in several not-for-profit business organizations.  She is one of the founders of the United States Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, a leading binational business organization.  She is one of the first women elected to the board of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce who was responsible for leading the Midwest Region and the organization’s international office. She was selected among 100 minority entrepreneurs to participate in a business course at Harvard Business School sponsored by Fortune Magazine. She has been an active member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and HACIA (Hispanic American Construction Industry), which are among the top women and Hispanic business organizations in Illinois. She has also chaired the Illinois delegation for The White House Conference on Small Business to foster better relationships with the Illinois business community and help develop innovative policy solutions to economic problems.

Khizr Masalawala is a law clerk at Ponder Diversity Group (PDG) who brings a wealth of experience in cannabis licensing, social equity matters, government policies, legislation, and public policy issues. Alongside his studies at Chicago-Kent College of Law, he has established himself as a highly skilled professional with a remarkable performance record. His expertise includes utilizing legal databases like LexisNexis and Westlaw, ensuring his work consistently meets exceptional standards. Mr. Masalawala has dedicated his research efforts to analyzing and summarizing legislation and policies related to economic inequality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), as well as government contracts. He takes immense pride in his research abilities, evaluating findings, and facilitating government contracts, all with the aim of creating a meaningful impact in diverse communities nationwide.

One of Khizr Masalawala's core strengths lies in his commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. His deep understanding of DEI issues informs his work as he strives to tackle economic inequality through legal channels. With a passion for social equity, he seeks to promote fair and just practices that uplift marginalized communities. His focus on researching and analyzing legislation and policies related to DEI demonstrates his dedication to creating an inclusive and equitable society. By applying his skills and knowledge to government contracts, Mr. Masalawala aims to facilitate positive change on a national scale, fostering a sense of belonging for diverse communities.

In his pursuit of social justice, Khizr Masalawala's exceptional performance and commitment to DEI make him a valuable asset. With his strong research capabilities and extensive understanding of the law, he leverages his skills to address economic disparities and promote fairness. By actively engaging with legal databases and staying up to date with legislation, he ensures that his work is comprehensive and effective. Through his work at PDG and his studies, Mr. Masalawala strives to be a catalyst for change, working towards a future where diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central to societal progress.

Michael A. LeFevre is a seasoned cannabis industry professional with years of experience in multiple related sectors, including sales, economics, marketing, and data analysis. Ponder Diversity Group is confident in his well-honed abilities and looks forward to his insight on our firm’s cannabis-related undertakings.

Mr. LeFevre triple majored in Business in the Liberal Arts, Government, and Economics at St. Lawrence University, graduating with a BBA degree. He then moved to the professional world, working as Assistant to the CEO at A.T. Cross Company in Providence, where he produced weekly financial reports, analyzed sales, and revised business procedure flows for multiple departments.

Upon taking a position at Oracle, Mr. LeFevre worked first as a Business Development Consultant and subsequently as an Enterprise Account Executive, tasked with improving financial, operational and management processes. His areas of focus included financial management, planning and budgeting, financial consolidation & close, account reconciliation, enterprise data management, narrative reporting, profitability & cost management, and tax reporting.

In 2021, Mr. LeFevre was hired as the Director of Operations at PrimeTime, a vertically-integrated cannabis company based in California. In this role, he managed the production of multiple manufacturing facilities and oversaw the production department, identifying current inefficiencies to continually-increase production. He also worked alongside the COO in managing major retail and cultivation projects in California and Massachusetts. Last year, he was promoted to Head of Operations, in which role he continues to oversee management, production, and day-to-day operations for major brands, while additionally managing human resources, compliance testing, and more. Given this exceptional background, it’s no surprise that Mr. LeFevre’s unique blend of sales experience and analytical talent significantly bolster PDG’s capacity across multiple fields. 

It’s hard to picture a consultant with a more impressive portfolio of experience than Onur Yener. Hailing from Ankara, Turkey, Mr. Yener has an extensive background in civil engineering, construction law, and project finance, providing legal services to construction, energy, design, engineering, facility management, and investment firms. As a Senior Consultant with Ponder Diversity Group, he brings a sharp legal mind to the table, along with the twenty-plus years of experience under his belt. 

Mr. Yener began his considerable academic career with a BS in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University in 2003, and followed up on this by traveling to the US and receiving back-to-back MS degrees (in Transportation Engineering and Engineering Management) from Boston’s Northeastern University. During this time, he served as a Teaching Assistant in Northeastern’s Industrial Engineering department—teaching courses on investment analysis, deterministic operations research, and statistics—and also as a Research Assistant in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, studying the development of advanced bus signal priority algorithms. Mr. Yener also maintained membership in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, thanks to his top academic ranking at Northeastern. Later, he returned to the classroom to receive his LL.B in Construction Law and Practice from the University of Essex in 2021; he was awarded Upper Second-Class Honours based on his academic performance.

Beginning in 2006, Mr. Yener was employed by Washington, D.C.-based engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. (now WSP USA). Originally hired as a Traffic Engineer and Transportation Planner (overseeing transportation management plans, traffic studies, signal optimization, and more), he later transitioned to the role of Consultant and Business Analyst. In this position, he worked on financial strategy for asset management of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, developed a fundraising program for the WMTA, carried out economic impact evaluation studies for major infrastructure projects, and performed risk assessment and other analytical tasks. Mr. Yener authored dozens of studies and transportation plans for a wide variety of organizations during his time at Parsons Brinckerhoff. 

Returning to Turkey in 2010, Mr. Yener spent the majority of the year working as a Scheduler for Zafer Construction Co., where he worked on a design-build project constructing temporary housing facilities for the US Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Afghanistan District. Subsequently, he was employed at Mescioglu Engineering Contracting and Trade Co. as a Technical Consultant, and later at Epik Construction Co. as a Project Manager. In the latter role, he worked on a project designing the East End Barracks in Baghdad for the US Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. 

In 2012, Mr. Yener joined the staff of Envy Energy and Environmental Investments Co. as Project Finance Manager, where he supervised a number of energy-related studies and risk assessment plans. He followed this up with stints at the YDA Group of Companies (as a Business Development/Project Finance Consultant) and the World Bank in Ankara (as a Technical Consultant, where he was involved with the organization’s Sustainable Cities Project). In this period, he also served as the Solar Power Plant Projects Manager at ELTEMTEK Power Plant and Engineering Services Co., where he prepared EPC and EPC-F proposals for power plants, negotiated Power Purchase Agreement terms on behalf of clients, performed feasibility studies and site investigations, and coordinated civil, electrical, and energy transmission line designs. 

After this, Mr. Yener moved to Renaissance Facility Management Services Consultancy Co., where he acted as its Project Management Office Supervisor, as well as the Deputy Head of Proposal Department for PPP Healthcare Tenders. In this role, he managed public-private partnership agreements, prepared financial models and budget projections, and much more, overseeing several major hospital and health center projects. After two years at Renaissance, Mr. Yener was hired as Operations Manager at Kütahya Hospital Management Investment Co. in 2017, where he managed proposal teams for pipeline PPP healthcare tenders, developed and introduced new procurement funding models, and managed technical, financial, legal, social, and environmental advisory teams. Similarly, his tenure at KHMIC included supervision of hospital projects. 

In 2020, Mr. Yener began working for the Turkey office of Spanish firm Eptisa Servicios de Ingeniería as its Deputy Projects Director in IFI Projects. Here, he prepared technical and financial proposals for EBRD, WB, ADB and EU projects, provided his expertise in renewable energy and PPP infrastructure project development, and offered support in general contract management. The next year, he moved to Ankara Etlik Hospital O&M Co., serving as the General Manager of the hospital’s operations & management department and supervising operational, technical, financial, and legal teams. 

Since 2022, Mr. Yener has been self-employed as the principal of Yener & Partners. He has spearheaded major infrastructure projects all across the world (including in Vietnam, Ghana, the Philippines, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and many more) and continues to offer a wide array of services, including but by no means limited to preparation and negotiation of contracts, PPP project structuring with partner governments, drafting of merger & acquisition agreements, project management advisement, dispute resolution, risk assessment, quantum analysis, and the preparation of feasibility studies. His civil engineering background gives him an experiential edge in legal matters relating to infrastructural and operational projects. PDG is excited to welcome Onur Yener to our team and looks forward to his expert guidance.

When searching for a hardworking, experienced human resources trailblazer, one would be hard pressed to find a more qualified professional than Betty Torres. Over twenty years of HR work across multiple specializations (including labor relations, organizational development, talent acquisition, technology, employee relations, compliance, and management) set Ms. Torres apart as a standout in her field. As a Senior Consultant with Ponder Diversity Group, she works to address any HR-related concerns that arise. 

Ms. Torres’ professional background is built on the foundation of her educational accomplishments—she’s the holder of both a BSBA in Human Resources Management from Roosevelt University and an MPA in Human Services Administration from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. In addition, she maintains a position on the Executive Advisory Board of Loyola University’s Quinlan School of Business, holds SHRM and SPHR certifications from DePaul University and an FMLA/ADA certification from the National Employment Law Institute, and has been certified by the American Contract Compliance Association as a Title VII trainer. 

The majority of Ms. Torres’ lengthy career in the field of human resources has been in service of Cook County Government, which presides over more than five million residents (almost half the population of Illinois). She was hired in 1991 as a Senior HR Generalist and Deputy Director of HR at the County Clerk’s office, where she oversaw daily operations and created policy and procedure for hundreds of employees. After a promotion to Manager of Compensation and Classifications at the Bureau of Human Resources, she took on the responsibilities of crafting job descriptions, advising internal and union leadership, building budgetary projections, and advising the Bureau Chief on confidential matters. 

Later, as Director of Human Resources for the Cook County Health and Hospital System, Ms. Torres was tasked with recruitment and discipline of thousands of doctors, nurses, and technicians; she next returned to the Bureau of Human Resources as a Senior Labor Relations Liaison before working for several years as the Special Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer of Cook County, advising leadership on changes in HR policy and talent acquisition. In 2021, she took on the role of Chief Human Resources Officer at the County Clerk’s office, where she oversaw  labor relations, talent acquisition, local and federal compliance, policy development and implementation, training and development, records management, and payroll administration and benefits. Her most recent role with Cook County was as the Director of Human Resources at the Office of the Chief Judge, where she oversaw all levels of human resources for over 500 employees. 

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Outside of her employment with Cook County, Ms. Torres has also been employed with the State of Illinois as the Director of Human Resources for the Illinois Department of Employment Security (where she notably spearheaded a revamp of their records management mandates and moved manual and paper processes to electronic systems), as well as the U.S. Census Bureau, where she supervised daily operations as Regional Director of Human Resources. She has worked as a Senior HR Generalist for the Taproot Foundation since 2009, advising non-profit organizations with HR capacity building, policy development, and payroll administration.

Aside from her well-honed areas of HR expertise—including but not limited to labor relations, organizational development, workforce development, compliance, technology, and fiscal operations—Ms. Torres is proficient with all relevant software and fully fluent in Spanish, and her highly effective communication skills and critical thinking make her a valuable asset to any team. PDG looks forward to the wide array of additional talents Betty Torres will bring to our firm.