Fortified Academy is proud to announce that two of our executives, Monica Gilbert and Davon Hawkins, have been selected to participate in the Leadership Edge | Accelerate Program, a leadership development initiative managed by JPMorgan Chase. This opportunity comes through a valued nomination by Deanna Murphy, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, recognizing Fortified Academy’s impact in workforce development and career pathways.
The Leadership Edge | Accelerate Program brings together a global cohort of emerging leaders to strengthen skills in leading large teams, managing complex initiatives, and increasing organizational impact. The program uniquely connects corporate executives with nonprofit leaders to tackle real-world challenges, share strategies, and develop actionable solutions.
Monica Gilbert and Davon Hawkins will join a facilitated ideation session focused on a leadership challenge selected by Fortified Academy. They will explore strategies to scale our 360 CDL Continuum of Care™ while maintaining the personalized support that helps participants transition into sustainable careers in transportation, logistics, and skilled trades. The program includes pre-work and a three-hour collaborative session, totaling approximately seven hours over six weeks.
We are deeply grateful to Deanna Murphy for her nomination and her commitment to cross-sector partnership. Her leadership highlights the power of collaboration in addressing workforce gaps, expanding economic opportunity, and creating meaningful impact.
Through the Leadership Edge | Accelerate Program, Monica and Davon look forward to gaining insights that will sharpen Fortified Academy’s strategy, strengthen partnerships, and expand pathways into careers that transform lives. Leadership growth fuels workforce transformation—and this opportunity moves Fortified Academy one step further in our mission to build stronger communities through meaningful career pathways.