Avie Banks, a native of North Carolina, gained a B.A. in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and subsequently gained a dual MBA/MHA from Pfeiffer University. Avie has over 20 years of experience in several roles within pharmaceutical research and currently serves as the executive director, development operations at PPD, a Thermo Fisher Scientific organization.
At PPD, Avie has been instrumental in successfully operationalizing a number of very important studies and has led various face-to-face trainings and initiatives. She was awarded three CEO awards: one for Performance Excellence in 2018, one for Defining Principles also in 2018 (Game Changer Award for PPD Biotech) and a Teamwork Excellence Award in 2017. Avie currently serves as the executive sponsor for the PPD Chapter of the African Heritage Employee Resource Group, supports recruiting efforts and manager trainings with HR and acts as an industry speaker on employee and career development.
Avie is also a licensed real estate agent with Banks Realty Group, LLC, a published author (95 Days in the NICU) and the founder of a nonprofit organization, MiiLD Support. In the community, Avie is an active member of the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. where she has served as co-chair of the strategic planning committee and a collegiate programming advisor of student members at Davidson College. She has also served as the nominating chair for the Deltas of Charlotte Foundation and on the executive leadership team of Charlotte March of Dimes.
She and her husband have been married for over 20 years, and they are the proud parents of Kenya and Clayton, and currently reside in Davidson, NC.
Avie’s research will focus on the relationship between internal and external transformational leadership qualities and the connection between sociology, psychology, philosophy and theology and how these connections impact corporate culture and performance.