Dr. Lamell McMorris is a strategic advisor, government affairs executive, higher-education leader, and institution builder whose work sits at the intersection of business, government, education, and community impact. For more than two decades, he has advised Fortune 100 companies, nonprofit organizations, and public sector leaders on how to navigate complex challenges, align stakeholders, strengthen relationships, and create lasting value.

As Founder and CEO of Phase 2 Consulting™, he leads a strategic advisory firm that helps organizations navigate complex stakeholder environments through government relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, coalition-building, and issues management. Through his work, he has helped corporate, nonprofit, and public sector leaders address critical challenges involving public trust, government policy, regulatory environments, community engagement, and organizational strategy.

In addition to leading Phase 2 Consulting™, Dr. McMorris has held executive leadership roles across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, he served as Principal and Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs for Edward Jones, where he led the firm's federal and state government affairs strategy and advised executive leadership on legislative, regulatory, and reputational risk.

Dr. McMorris currently serves as Senior Vice Chair of the National Urban League, where he has helped guide governance, fundraising, and strategic growth initiatives, including a fundraising strategy exceeding $100 million. He has served as a trustee of Miles College, Morehouse College, and Elmhurst University, providing leadership on governance, institutional advancement, student success, fundraising, and long-term strategic planning.

Earlier in his career, he represented professional athletes, officials, and labor organizations, serving as lead negotiator for organizations including the NBA Referees Association and Major League Baseball's Umpires Association during periods of significant public and organizational scrutiny. These experiences helped shape his reputation as a trusted advisor, coalition builder, and advocate capable of navigating complex stakeholder environments.

Dr. McMorris is also the Founder of Greenlining Realty® USA, a mission-driven economic development company dedicated to creating opportunity in communities that have historically been overlooked for investment. Through strategic redevelopment and public-private partnerships, Greenlining works to expand access to quality housing, attract investment, strengthen neighborhoods, and create long-term economic impact.

Beyond his work in business, government, and nonprofit leadership, Dr. McMorris is deeply committed to developing future leaders. Through partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations, he helps students and emerging professionals build the resilience, leadership skills, and mindset needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world. Drawing on lessons from his own leadership journey, he shares these insights through his USA Today bestselling book, The Power to Persist, and The Power to Persist Podcast, which explores leadership, resilience, and impact with influential leaders from business, government, education, sports, and nonprofit leadership.

Dr. McMorris holds a Doctor of Law and Policy from Northeastern University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College.