Biography Lester Thomas, MBA, M.Ed., Ed.S is a noted scholar, lecturer, author, and President of the Ujima Group, Inc. a not for profit 501 organization. He has established a highly respected reputation for his research in character development, leadership, community development, project management and curriculum development. His scholarship in this area has led to numerous honors including the Outstanding Service Award, Kittrell Job Corps Center, NC 2014, Wake County Public Libraries, Parks, Recreation and Open Space, Certificate of Appreciation 2012, Employee of the Month, Kittrell Job Corps Center, NC 2010 and 2011, Safety Award, Career Technical Training, Kittrell Job Corps Center, NC 2010, Student of the Quarter, Strayer University, Raleigh Campus, NC 2008, Wake County Board of Commissioners, Volunteer of the Year Award 2004, Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources, Multi-Cultural Arts Volunteer of the Year 2003, Raleigh Television Network, Independent Community Producer, Volunteer Award 2002.
He has served on a numerous civic and community boards, receiving several awards, commendations, and recognitions, i.e., the Cary Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Heat for Home Committee and as a Mentor for Community and School of Wake County and served on The Governor’s Crime Commission Task Force for the Prevention of School Violence. Mr. Thomas has graduate from the Institute for Political Leadership at UNC-Wilmington and was Former Chair of the Criminal Justice Taskforce. He was formerly appointment to the Morrisville Planning and Zoning Board. The Ujima mission is to heighten the awareness of issues related to cultural diversity, risk prevention, and the role of communities, businesses, civic organizations, local government, and concerned citizens in enriching the quality of life for the people.
Mr. Thomas has received the Neil Blair Award, for commitment, and outstanding Service to Interact 2012. The Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Personal Responsibility Summit, Raleigh, NC 2002, Cary Police Department, Cary Citizen’s Police Academy 2002, Morrisville Police Department Citizen Police Academy, Morrisville, NC 2001, Information Service Advisory Board, Cary NC 2001
Mr. Thomas, is a graduate Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, New York, 1978 B.A Concentration Liberal Studies, Strayer University, Cary, North Carolina, 2006, MBA Concentration in Management, M.Ed., Concentration in Technology Strayer University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2008 and Ed.S., Concentration in Adult Education Walden University, Minneapolis, MN, 12/ 2014
