About Us. |
Our History
Renaissance Community & Public Relations, LLC, was founded in October 2022 as a specialized firm for community and public relations. Our services cater to the specific needs of organizations in areas such as apprenticeships, diversity and inclusion, leadership and management, recruitment and retention, as well as small and minority business development and entrepreneurship. With a strong focus on workforce staff development, we offer consulting, organizational climate assessments, and training services.
Our company is an offshoot of Renaissance Management and Training Solutions, LLP, established in June 2017 in Kansas City. Since then, we have successfully served a wide range of clients, including private sector, public sector, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The establishment of our LLC branch will allow us to continue delivering high-quality services to the public.
Now, Renaissance Community & Public Relations, LLC, is expanding its reach to major metropolitan areas across the country. Our goal is to provide exceptional human relations, public relations, and workforce development services to organizations nationwide. We take a comprehensive approach, addressing both internal workforce and employee relations, as well as external image and community and public relations.
Our company is an offshoot of Renaissance Management and Training Solutions, LLP, established in June 2017 in Kansas City. Since then, we have successfully served a wide range of clients, including private sector, public sector, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The establishment of our LLC branch will allow us to continue delivering high-quality services to the public.
Now, Renaissance Community & Public Relations, LLC, is expanding its reach to major metropolitan areas across the country. Our goal is to provide exceptional human relations, public relations, and workforce development services to organizations nationwide. We take a comprehensive approach, addressing both internal workforce and employee relations, as well as external image and community and public relations.
Our Leadership Team
Our organization is proud to have a highly competent team of experts specializing in diversity, inclusion, and workforce development. Each member brings a diverse range of skills and experiences, enabling us to effectively tackle the complex challenges of fostering a collaborative workplace. Our leaders are well-equipped to navigate the sensitive and politically charged nature of these issues, paving the way for a common-sense approach.
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Jim Echols was born Memphis, Tennessee, during the racially-segregated era, in 1950. The son of a Baptist pastor, his father moved the family to Spokane, Washington, when he was ten years old to begin his life’s journey in a racially-integrated environment. He readily acclimated, and previous feelings of inferiority quickly diminished. The military draft was still in effect when he graduated from high school, yet he volunteered for service with the U.S. Army to cover the cost of his college education, to avoid adding financial burden to his family. He was the middle child of three siblings.
Upon completion of U.S. Army Basic Training, Echols was assigned to the United States Army Security Agency and stationed in the Republic of South Vietnam upon completion of intelligence training, while still a teenager. He excelled in his assignment and was promoted to sergeant and awarded the U.S Army Bronze Star at twenty years of age. He was later assigned to a three-year tour in West Germany in July, 1974. He was selected by his battalion commander to attend the U.S Army Race Relations Institute, Europe, and he then returned to his unit to serve as a human relations facilitator and equal opportunity noncommissioned officer. His mission was to advise his battalion commander and company commanders in matters pertaining to race & gender relations and provide training along with equal opportunity observations. After serving with the Regular Army for nearly eight years, Echols left active service, joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard and prepared to enroll in college at the University of Central Oklahoma. He ultimately retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after a combined period of twenty-five years of military service. He began college in the summer of 1977 as a twenty-six year-old political science (public service) major. He was soon elected to the university’s student senate and became actively involved in civic affairs in his Oklahoma City community. During a political conference in early 1978, he met Oklahoma’s Lieutenant Governor, a gubernatorial candidate, and was offered a position on his campaign staff as an administrative coordinator. He joined the staff in May, and was assigned liaison with the state’s African-American, Asian-American, Latino and Native-American tribal groups. The campaign was a success, and the Governor-Elect hired Echols to be a member of the Governor-Elect’s Transition Office. Upon the Governor’s Inauguration in January, 1979, Echols was appointed Administrative Assistant, Minority Affairs, Office of the Governor, Oklahoma. On July 1,1979, he was appointed by the Governor as Oklahoma State Affirmative Action Officer, with responsibilities to include advising the Governor and cabinet members on matters pertaining to equal opportunity, liaison to the African-American Community, Asian-American Community, Latino community, Indian Affairs Commission and the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission. He immediately drafted the Governor’s Executive Order on Affirmative Action. After serving in this role for two years, he was nominated by the Governor to become Executive Director of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission (OHRC), although he had received his Bachelor of Arts degree just two months earlier, at thirty years of age. He became the youngest state agency director in the state’s history. His mission now was to enforce Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes pertaining to anti-discrimination. After serving a couple of years, Echols departed OHRC and served as an administrator with the Areawide Aging Agency, Agent Orange Class Assistance Program, Administrator, Human Resource Development, Oklahoma City Public Schools and as a private consultant for political campaigns and labor relations, etc. In 2013, Echols was appointed to the Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention, serving for about five years, including a year as Chairman and concurrently a Volunteer Mentor for Returning Citizens with the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. From 2014 through 2017, he served as the Director, HOPE Mentoring Program, Kansas Dept. for Children and Families, moving individuals from Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) to education, training and employment. He also served from 2017 through 2019 as a Member, Kansas Sentencing Commission. Upon retirement from the State of Kansas in 2017, Echols immediately Launched Renaissance Management and Training Solutions, LLP, and later a spinoff firm, Renaissance Community & Public Relations, LLC. The two firms are heavily engaged in all aspects of human relations and workforce development consultation. After many years of service as a diversity & inclusion facilitator/trainer, advisor to U.S. Army commanders and senior state government officials, along with conducting compliance investigations, he has now prepared a myriad of seasoned perspectives for workforce development in the private sector. “Equality of opportunity may yet become a reality in my lifetime”, states Echols. |
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Dr. Beryl New is a highly accomplished Director of Curriculum with over 35 years of experience in the academic field. Her impressive background includes roles such as teaching, district administration, adjunct university professorship, and equity leadership. She excels in effective communication and has a proven track record of building strong partnerships between schools, districts, and local communities. With her extensive expertise in designing and implementing professional development curriculums, she offers valuable guidance, mentorship, and supervision to students, staff, and professional organizations. Dr. New holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Washburn University, a Master of Arts in Education from Washburn University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Kansas.
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Kurtis Taylor is a person in long-term recovery. For him, this means that he has not used alcohol or any other substance since December 23rd, 2002. Mr. Taylor obtained his bachelor’s degree in social work from Shaw University in May of 2019. For many years, Kurtis has been a voice for citizens seeking long term recovery from substance use disorders. He is President & Board Chair for i2i Center for Integrative Health, as well as a Board member for Oxford House, Inc. Presently, Mr. Taylor serves as the Executive Director of the Bob Barker Foundation, where he is committed to helping reduce recidivism rates, nationwide. Mr. Taylor is a vocal advocate for all citizens faced with the challenges of Substance Use Disorder, as well as those that accompany reentering society after incarceration.
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Lora Zaidarhzauva is a highly experienced Director of Facilitation and Training, with over a decade of leadership experience in international education. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Missouri Southern State University, as well as a Master's degree in International Studies, specializing in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Queensland. She is also fluent in Arabic. Lora's vast expertise includes visa regulations, cultural sensitivity, advocacy, and mediation. She has been recognized for her skills in mediation and consulting, earning a certificate in Interpersonal Conflict Resolution and Mediation from the Center of Conflict Resolution. Additionally, Lora has presented at numerous conferences and seminars, sharing her knowledge on topics such as Cultural Awareness & Competency, Diversity & Inclusion, and International Enrollment Management Strategies for promoting Peacebuilding Practices. She is a valuable asset in the field of International Education.
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Muriel has served as Customer Services Manager of both Renaissance Management and Training Solutions, LLP, and Renaissance Community Public Relations, LLC, since their inceptions in 2017 and 2022, respectively. Her responsibilities have included preparation and handling of client customer invoicing, correspondence and general administrative & customer services.
She previously served as a store manager and manager trainer with Southland Corporation, owner of Seven-Eleven stores, for nearly ten years. She later worked in Adult Services and Youth Services with the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library System, where she retired in 2017. Muriel is the wife of Jim Echols. |
With a profound understanding of the obstacles that diverse workforces face and a strong drive to promote collaboration we are wholeheartedly devoted to developing a more fare and welcoming workplace for every employee.