LOS ANGELES (June 8, 2021) – The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) today announced that Teresa Henderson, chief operating officer, North America at BCW will join its board of directors. Henderson succeeds former BCW president, North America, Chris Foster, who served as a board member from 2018-2021.
As a board member, Henderson will serve on the Training & Development Committee, where she will participate in the development and implementation of programs designed for students and rising professionals.
“BCW has been a long-time partner and supporter of The LAGRANT Foundation, and I am humbled to be able to continue supporting such an important organization as a board member,” said Henderson. “I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members to support our industry’s next generation of communications professionals.”
Henderson brings more than 30 years of integrated communications and agency leadership experience to TLF’s board of directors. In her current role, she has operational responsibility, including P&L management, for BCW’s North America business and is also a member of firm’s North American Operating Committee.
“There are some allies who watch and wait, unsure of how to effectively support people of color or amplify the voices of members of marginalized communities – Teresa is not one of those people,” said Giana Darville, public relations specialist at Apple, youth board liaison at Truth Initiative, 2020 BCW HAROLD intern and 2019 TLF scholarship recipient. “During my internship with BCW Dallas, Teresa ensured I worked on meaningful projects, connected me with high-profile team members and spoke life into the dreams I had only just begun to formulate. She spoke glowingly about me behind closed doors and made herself available to me in every way possible. When I was unsure of my next move, Teresa helped me strategize and offered sage advice that I still cherish to this day. Because of our relationship, I now know how to articulate my ambitions to those that might help, and that exposure can be absolutely world changing. Teresa served as the inspiration for many of my newfound aspirations, and I will always appreciate how she embraced me during one of the hardest periods of my life. I am proud to know and have worked with such an empathetic, dedicated leader, and am absolutely thrilled to see her join TLF’s board of directors.”
Prior to joining BCW in 2016, Henderson held senior leadership positions at Edelman and Ketchum, overseeing regional growth and client service management at both firms. She has managed numerous issues and crises for clients, including acts of violence resulting in loss of life, foodborne illnesses, communications for Presidential cabinet appointments, product recalls, NGO activism, plant and location closures, environmental issues, shareholder activism, union matters, right of way/permitting, and more.
Henderson holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Old Dominion University. She is a PR Council member and currently serves on PRWeek’s Purpose Council. A lifelong Dallas resident, she has served on numerous boards including Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, SPCA of Texas, Dallas Zoological Society, Junior Achievement, and AIDs Interfaith Network.
“Teresa’s expertise in our industry is an undeniable added value in allowing for TLF to further advance its mission to increase diversity in communications,” said TLF Chairman & CEO Mr. Kim L. Hunter. “I am thrilled to welcome Teresa to TLF’s board of directors and look forward to having her serve on our training and development committee.”
About The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF)
Since its inception in 1998, The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) has provided nearly $3 million and 703 scholarships to continue its mission to increase the number of ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations. With the generous support of its major donors and supporters, TLF provides scholarships, career & professional development workshops, mentorships and internships/entry-level positions to African American/Black, Alaska Native/Native American, Asian American/Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino undergraduate and graduate students.
