Detria Austin Everson

Detria serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Ms. Everson has a rich and diverse professional background, which has earned her national recognition as an award-winning Executive Director.

Her expertise lies in strategic forecasting, managing multi-million-dollar nonprofit budgets, fostering corporate contracts, orchestrating large-scale multi-city events, and spearheading corporate philanthropy. With a career spanning over two decades, Ms. Everson has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to her work.

Her extensive experience in managing complex projects and budgets, creating, and maintaining strategic partnerships, as well as engaging with diverse stakeholders, has been instrumental in her success as a leader in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. As the Founding Executive Director at the Martin Luther King Sr. Community Resources Collaborative, Inc. in Atlanta, Ms. Everson has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at breaking generational poverty.

Under her leadership, the organization secured substantial government grants and contracts, diversified funding, and increased philanthropic contributions. Her tenure as Chief Operating Officer at the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), the nation’s largest nonprofit mortgage and U.S. Dept. of HUD-Certified counseling agency, saw her orchestrating nationwide operations, securing significant corporate funding, and facilitating multi-city homeownership tours, benefiting thousands of underserved communities.

During her tenure at the Augusta University Medical Center (Formerly MCG Health, Inc), Detria's role as Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services underscored her commitment to healthcare innovation and patient well-being. Her focus on culturally competent care and diverse functions within the premier teaching hospital and her ability to manage vital funding resources showcased her multidimensional expertise in leading impactful initiatives.

Ms. Everson's impressive track record of leadership, strategic planning, and effective execution make her a highly respected and accomplished professional in her field. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Business from Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, and a Master's in Health Services Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Everson is an active community service and advocacy volunteer.

Her prior recognitions include “Georgia’s Top 40 under 40” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, “Volunteer of the Year” by the Delta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and acknowledgment as "Member of the Year" by the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Branch of the NAACP. She is a sustainer member of Junior League of Atlanta, Georgia, and the Life Member of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NAASC). Ms. Everson is supported in her endeavors by her loving husband, Eddie Everson, and they reside in Atlanta, Georgia.