With over 20 years of technology experience including leadership roles, Jerard Butts aka JB, takes us on his journey of growing up in Chicago, surrounded by black love and acceptance of his black self at a very early age. My conversation with JB touches on navigating obstacles that hinders black people from being successful in certain spaces.

Jerard is currently the IT Manager for the U.S. Soccer Federation where he provides leadership, direction and support in the development and deployment of the organization’s information technology initiatives. Prior to joining the US Soccer Federation, JB held several other leadership positions in IT including Assistant Athletics Director for Information Technology at the University of Mississippi and Data Center Operations Director for the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.