An entrepreneur speaker, trainer, coach, and electrical engineer with a deep background in change management, project management, and construction and engineering practices, LaShanya is an accomplished adult education leader with decades of experience as a front-line subject matter expert. Before ascending to President of Elevate USA, LaShanya started her own consulting firm, Aikerson Consulting Group, to offer speaking, training, coaching, meeting facilitation and more. At Elevate USA she focuses on boutique change management systems to transform organizations from change resistant to change resilient. She managed change management and corporate training strategies for companies like The Coca-Cola Company and Harley-Davidson Motor Company, and State Farm Insurance. While working for AT&T she supervised the project management while laying new fiber optic cables, oversaw union and outside union technicians, reduced accident rates by 20%, and improved the use of ITRON technology from 60% to 98%. She also developed change initiatives and selected a high performance team to lead strategic changes across a five-state region. LaShanya was a High Potential Engineer at Caterpillar where she learned some of the advanced project management techniques that she integrates into her own practices today. She was also an Adjunct Professor of Business for over 180 students at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. Her expertise as president of Elevate USA extends from detail-oriented ground level implementation to big picture executive strategy.
President, Elevate USA Inc. (2025 – Present); CEO, Aikerson Consulting Group (2004 – Present); Subject Matter Expert & Executive Coach, Elevate USA Inc. (2016 – 2025); Trainer/Facilitator/Consultant/Coach, Aikerson Consulting Group (2005 – Present); Trainer, Fred Pryor Seminars (2010 – Present); Change Management Consultant, The Coca-Cola Company (2014-2015); Community Manager, McKesson (2013); Change Management Consultant, Harley-Davidson Motor Company (2011-2012); Adjunct Professor of Business, Heartland Community College (2009-2010); Organizational Change and Knowledge Management Consultant, State Farm Insurance (2007-2009); Organizational Change and Communication Consultant, Cox Communications (2006-2007); Management Consultant, IBM (1999-2005); Project Manager and Metrics Coordinator, Alcatel-Lucent (1998-1999); Manager, AT&T (1991-1998); High Potential Engineer, Caterpillar (1990)
MBA in Organizational Behavior, Strategy and Marketing, Northwestern University; BS in Electrical Engineering, Bradley University; Executive Certificate in Organizational Change and Innovation, Harvard University; Certifications/Qualifications: DISC (Take Flight Learning), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator – MBTI (Center for Application of Psychological Type), Change Management (Prosci), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP Center of Atlanta), Professional Coach (Professional Coach Academy), Corporate Trainer (Park University), Management Consultant (IBM), Six Sigma Green Belt (Southern Polytechnic State University), Meeting Facilitation (Leadership Strategies), NTL Institute (Human Interaction), Leadership (Legacy Center)
Former President, Association for Women in Communications; Former President, National Technical Association; Former Member: National Speakers Association, ATD, Georgia Coach Association, National Society for Black Engineers
Classically trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and gymnastics, LaShanya loves to dance and write music. She plays the piano, all six clarinets, string bass, and vibraphone. While she loves to train, LaShanya is an introvert at heart.
Elevate USA, Inc. is a professional skills training, coaching, consulting, and workforce management company that makes your employees better. Our diverse roster of trainers, customized training topics, and remote training solutions ensure your staff, managers, and executives will reach their peak workforce potential.