Ondra L. Berry
" Every human being is under construction and has unlimited potential" This principle has inspired Ondra Berry to commit his life to inspire those within his sphere of influence to realize and actualize their hidden potential.
Ondra is a nationally recognized public speaker and author who carries a strong passion for leadership development, organizational change, and developing better results through employee engagement. Ondra has served in numerous leadership roles throughout his career. He recently retired as Senior Vice President of Organizational Culture & Engagement, Senior Vice President of Learning and Development, and Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for the MGM Resorts International. Ondra was also co-founder and partner with Guardian Quest, an organization that specializes in leadership development, employee engagement, and how to gain better performance and results through diversity and inclusion.
Ondra’s skills were refined in a celebrated 25-year career in the Reno Police Department where he retired as the Assistant Chief of Police over-seeing the administrative division. He continued his public service to his state and country as a Brigadier General in the Nevada Air National Guard as the Assistant Adjutant General for the State of Nevada. On August 19, 2019 Gov. Steve Sisolak announced that Brig. Gen. Ondra Berry, a 32-year veteran of the Nevada National Guard, would be Nevada’s 30th adjutant general ,the state’s highest-ranking military officer overseeing more than 4,200 Nevada Army and Air Guardsman. Gen. Berry is the first African American to hold the position in the state’s 154 history.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Evansville and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada Reno. Ondra is a board member of No Opportunity Wasted, a college preparatory program for aspiring high school students that need exposure to opportunities in higher education. He has spoken on the topics of Leadership, Culture, Organizational Effectiveness, Servant Leadership, Teamwork, and Self Development. Recently, Ondra was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the University of Evansville, his alma mater. Ondra lives by the mantra; For Such A Time As This, I am ready to Serve, and believes that his life is defined by the title, Chief Servant!
Other Accomplishments
- National Guard Leadership Award
- Meritorious Military Service Award
- Las Vega Leadership Award for Mentoring
- Harrison HS Hall of Fame
- University of Nevada Reno Presidents Award