Tony Waller is Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity for Walmart in Bentonville, AR.  In his position he sets strategy for driving reputation, augmenting outreach opportunities, and maximizing social investments in diverse and multicultural communities.  His portfolio includes the African American, Hispanic, Asian American & Pacific Islander and Native American communities as well as Women, People with Disabilities and Emerging Generations. Tony is also tasked with being a critical “integrator” engaging across Corporate Affairs teams, with real depth in helping to shape public policy, communication strategy, federal and state government relations, and community relations through a racial equity lens. Additionally, Tony and his team will help lead efforts expand the company’s racial equity efforts across all of the diverse and multicultural communities of focus. Tony joined Walmart December 2006.

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Serving is extremely important to Tony.  He has always been taught that to give real service you must add to the world something that cannot be bought or measured with money.  He currently serves as Chair of the NAACP ACT-SO Advisory Council.  His passion for the empowerment and advancement of women, has led him to serve on the Board of Trustees of Center for Asian Pacific American Women. Tony also served on the Board of Directors of the National African-American Women’s Leadership Institute.  With both of these organizations he was the first male ever selected to serve. In 2017 Tony was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Black Child Development Institute. In 2020 he was asked by the Mayor of Bentonville, AR to serve on the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board. Tony recently concluded his service on the Board of Trustees of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, the Advisory Council for Northcentral University’s School of Business and the NW Arkansas MLK Council.

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In 2000 Tony became the first recipient of the Spirit of Democracy Emerging Leaders Award, presented by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.  The award is given to individuals for their work in the promoting of civic participation.  Also in that year, he was the recipient of the Leadership Award of the National Association of Black County Officials for his contributions to the community.  In July 2002 and 2010 Tony was the recipient of the Donald H. McGannon Award, the highest distinction given by the National Urban League to a corporate individual in recognition of one’s efforts in the community.  Tony is the only individual who has been given this honor twice.  In 2011 Tony was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Jessie Banks Foundation for his work in disadvantaged communities. 

 

In 2012 Tony received the MLK Day Special Merit Award from the National Action Network as well as the Merge Award from The Merge Organization for being an example of integrating his faith with all of his endeavors and for his commitment to uplifting, inspiring and empowering others.  In 2017 the American Indian College Fund honored Tony by ceremonially draping him with a blanket, a symbol of respect and admiration of the Native American community. In the same year he was given the Made Man Award by 100 Black Men of Washington, DC. The award celebrates men who inspire and educate underserved men.  In 2019 Tony was honored with the President’s Award at the Centennial Celebration of the Corpus Christ Branch of the NAACP.

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Tony is a strong supporter of the arts, and serves on the Board of Directors and the Corporate Advisory Council of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Fashion and Arts Forum. A graduate of the University of Virginia, he is a diehard WAHOO. He remains very active with THE University and served on the board of the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund, named after its first African-American graduate.  He is a passionate collector of African-American art & sculpture, antique watches, vintage cufflinks, eyewear, children’s story books and quotes.  Shoes however are his kryptonite.

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Tony strives to live each and every day by the words of his mother, Barbara Jean Motley Waller, “Keep flowing with The River for The River knows exactly where It is going.”