Vernita Naylor is a proud alum of the Peralta Colleges, who later attended UC Berkeley, where she earned a certificate in Construction Project Management. One of Vernita’s fondest memories of Peralta Community College District was that there were so many colleges to choose from within the system: from Berkeley to Alameda, and Laney to Merritt (she attended each!). To Vernita, each location offered a different experience: from student life, and teaching styles to each campus’ diverse environment. These elements created an excellent environment for learning, growth, and connecting in so many ways that have been instrumental to her career and life. 

Currently, Vernita is the founder of Jabez Enterprise Group with over 25 years of experience working with various federal government agencies, and numerous industries that include relocation services, commercial real estate and leasing, project management, proposal development, GSA schedules, vendor management, supplier diversity, small business development and government contracting. 

Passionate about racial equity and cultural diversity, Vernita has been an Alameda County Parks, Recreation, and Historical Commissioner, a member of the Grant and Scholarship Review Committees, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA), specializing in emancipated youth. One of her most notable recent projects is publishing her book, Speaking In Colors, where she talked about tools and resources on how to interact and change the narrative for effective communication with diverse individuals, communities, and partners. Vernita has been recognized nationally, and is the recipient of numerous awards for her pioneering ideas and groundbreaking work in the fields of business, and professional and leadership development and training. 

An Oakland native, Vernita enjoys yoga, meditation, exploring nature and reading. Her sheros include her daughter, Nikita. Each time Vernita looks at her, she is reminded of the importance of perseverance even in the face of adversity, recalling days when she wanted to give up, and questioning why she was working in the day and going to school at night. But she kept going, and later became a catalyst for change. Vernita’s musical interests range from Miles Davis to Tutu, from Bitches Brew to Kind of Blue, from the Bay Area’s Best Tupac, En Vogue, Tony! Toni Tone! to Devo (Whip It), and from Blondie (Heart of Glass) to Phil Collins (Air Tonight). Just like life, Vernita loves music because of the diversity, style and influence that it has to offer.