Donald Northcross
Founder & CEO
Donald Northcross attended Northeast Louisiana University on a combination football and basketball scholarship.
After three years, he transferred to Arkansas State University where he finished his college athletic career. He signed a three-year contract with the Memphis Showboats of the United Stated Football League and was released during preseason due to an injury
Mr. Northcross holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Academy in June of 1988 and was voted most inspirational recruit.
In 1990, two short years after becoming a sheriff’s deputy, he became one of three founders of Sacramento County Black Deputy Sheriff’s Association and served as its first President. He also founded OK Program that same year.
Mr. Northcross was recognized as a “Black in Law Enforcement Honoree,” which is a national publication that emphasizes the value of the black law enforcement officer in the overall success of law enforcement in America.
In 1991, he was selected as California’s Outstanding Young Public Safety Officer of The Year, and in 1992, he was recognized by President George H. Bush as the 945thDaily Point of Light for The Nation.
In 1993, he was one of ten people in California to receive a fellowship from the California Wellness Foundation. He is a recipient of the Jefferson Award for outstanding public service and a Sacramento Safe Street Hero of The Year.
In 1995, he won the National Association of Attorney Generals “For the Children Award; “and, in 2005 OK Program became a national organization under his leadership.
A much sought-after speaker and consultant, He was one of numerous experts assembled in Little Rock, Arkansas, to discuss President Obama’s 2010 Fatherhood Initiative.
Mr. Northcross says, “Black men have the means to improve the condition of Black men and boys by ourselves. We just don’t have the mind to do so…and means without the mind is meaningless.”
Major Baisden
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Major, an alumnus of OK Program, graduated from the University of California at Davis at the age of 19. After graduating from college, he went on to achieve great success, running two Inc. 500 companies and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth in company exits before the age of 35.
Major got his start running a start-up division of a busines-to- business technology and professional services company and quickly grew its revenue from $8MM to $30MM in three years. He later founded and served as the CEO of another B2B services company, growing its revenue from $0 to $46MM in eight years, and generating a 16x EBITDA exit. In his spare time, Major tends to his restaurant, which has profitably grown 2.5x in revenue over the past three years. Major has managed the acquisition and integration processes of six companies ranging from tuck-ins to the merger of comparably sized players. Perhaps most importantly, Major has mentored several executives who have gone on to run and manage their own enterprises using the processes and decision-making skills that have made him successful.
The Carlos Diamond Francies
Leadership Award
In memory of Carlos Diamond Francies, the National OK Program has established the “Carlos Diamond Francies Leadership Award.
This award is given to the middle school and high school OK Program participant that demonstrates the highest level of leadership, in their chapter. Out of all the local leaders around the country, only one middle school and one high school leader will be chosen to receive the “National OK Program Carlos Diamond Francies Leadership Award.”
ABOUT CARLOS DIAMOND FRANCIES
Diamond - as he was known to everyone – was a member of the original OK Program chapter, in Rancho Cordova, California.
Diamon joined OK Program in 1996, when he was in the six (6) grade. As a senior at Cordova High School, he graduated from OK Program in 2002. He went on to play college football at Sacramento State University and started at cornerback.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Diamond embarked upon a career in law enforcement, in 2011, as a Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputy.
On August 13, 2015, he attempted to save someone’s life - while off duty - at the lake, in South Lake Tahoe. Diamond drowned and lost his own life. Being the leader that he was, he didn’t wait for anyone else to answer the call.. He, himself answered the call to help someone in distress.
Diamond always embodied the spirit of leadership, and on that day, August 13, 2015, his decision to take the lead demonstrated one of the main qualities of successful leadership…” consideration for others.”
“All great leaders don’t save lives,
but all great leaders impact lives.”
Thanks Diamond for impacting
our lives.
~Donald Northcross
OK Program Founder