ABOUT NICOLE D. FORD
Nicole D. Ford, sometimes affectionately called "Nikki," was born with a natural gift for music and has always been passionate about the performing arts. Throughout her childhood, she studied jazz, tap, ballet, gymnastics, singing, theatrical production, violin, and piano, and performed extensively. As a young adult, she set aside her musical aspirations to pursue a career in the business side of entertainment.
Nicole graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting and Finance. She spent several years working at Price Waterhouse, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Universal Pictures. More on that below. She also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Windswept Holdings LLC, one of the largest independent music publishing companies globally. During her tenure at Windswept, the company secured an eight-figure acquisition of the Trio/Quartet catalog from Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Nicole reported to Japanese parent companies Fuji Television Network, Itochu Corporation, and Fujipacific Music while overseeing the finances of Hitco Music Publishing, a joint venture with Antonio "LA" Reid.
After moving to Las Vegas, Nicole rekindled her passion for music and the performing arts. In 2009, she began studying various percussion styles, including Brazilian, African, Afro-Cuban, and Middle Eastern drumming. Her dedication led to numerous performance opportunities at various venues and events throughout the city. She eventually co-founded Triba!, an African and world culture performance group, with professional drummer Angelo L. Stokes and Master Drummer Papa Diarra Zumana in 2016. Triba! celebrates African and other world cultures through song, drumming, music, dance, acrobatics, and specialty entertainment. Nicole also joined Vozolo Dance Company in 2017, where she served as a percussionist and part of the management team.
Nicole has been deeply involved in cultural and social advocacy initiatives. She served as a Cultural Ambassador and Event Planner for Africa Love Store and Da African Village, as well as a co-founder and co-owner of Juneteenth365 LLC. She also volunteered as a member of the American Staffing Association IDEA Council and participated in various DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts at Eastridge Workforce Solutions.
At Eastridge Workforce Solutions, where she worked until January 2024, Nicole held the role of Strategic Delivery Manager (Project Manager). She was also a volunteer member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force, their Advisory Board, a leader in the Employee Resource Group, B.L.A.C.K.@Eastridge (Black@Eastridge) Leadership & Operations Team, and a leader of the Juneteenth 2022 Planning Committee.
Nicole's formal education includes graduating with honors from Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California. At the University of California at Berkeley, she was accepted into the Haas School of Business and graduated with honors while working full-time at The Daily Californian newspaper.
Throughout her corporate career, Nicole held several key positions at Price Waterhouse and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she planned, supervised, and performed audit and business advisory engagements for Fortune 500 companies and other multinational public and private companies. She later worked at Universal Pictures as Director of Planning & Ultimates, where she was responsible for preparing film pre-release reports, "what-if" analyses, and film profitability forecasts.
Nicole has also sung with the Spirit of Joy Choir, Gospel Music Workshop of America, Facebook Chorale, and other performing groups throughout the Las Vegas Valley. She has played violin in the CSN Orchestra and various small chamber ensembles and recently performed as a solo violinist in Baobab Stage Presents: Tribal Night and the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive's A Night in the City of Riches Pro Show. Nicole has also explored steel drums, drum set, bass, rhythm tap, and body percussion.
Nicole has always been a lover of rhythm, which she says has saved her life many times over. She follows the beat of her own heart (drum) and looks forward to sharing what's next with the world. #therhythmofpurpose. As Chief Visionary of her life, Nicole continually upgrades her experiences into greater and greater expressions of her TRUE authentic self and enjoys the magnificence of watching her life and dreams evolve and unfold.
After many years of working in the Events industry, serving in various roles at conferences, conventions, meetings, and private corporate events as well as all the community and cultural events Nicole has run along with her team(s), she learned that she has a deep love and passion for event planning and logistics. She also loves Project Management, Organization, Marketing and Logistics.
Nicole looks forward to her next adventures while continuing to be a music lover and music maker.
Nicole graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting and Finance. She spent several years working at Price Waterhouse, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Universal Pictures. More on that below. She also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Windswept Holdings LLC, one of the largest independent music publishing companies globally. During her tenure at Windswept, the company secured an eight-figure acquisition of the Trio/Quartet catalog from Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Nicole reported to Japanese parent companies Fuji Television Network, Itochu Corporation, and Fujipacific Music while overseeing the finances of Hitco Music Publishing, a joint venture with Antonio "LA" Reid.
After moving to Las Vegas, Nicole rekindled her passion for music and the performing arts. In 2009, she began studying various percussion styles, including Brazilian, African, Afro-Cuban, and Middle Eastern drumming. Her dedication led to numerous performance opportunities at various venues and events throughout the city. She eventually co-founded Triba!, an African and world culture performance group, with professional drummer Angelo L. Stokes and Master Drummer Papa Diarra Zumana in 2016. Triba! celebrates African and other world cultures through song, drumming, music, dance, acrobatics, and specialty entertainment. Nicole also joined Vozolo Dance Company in 2017, where she served as a percussionist and part of the management team.
Nicole has been deeply involved in cultural and social advocacy initiatives. She served as a Cultural Ambassador and Event Planner for Africa Love Store and Da African Village, as well as a co-founder and co-owner of Juneteenth365 LLC. She also volunteered as a member of the American Staffing Association IDEA Council and participated in various DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts at Eastridge Workforce Solutions.
At Eastridge Workforce Solutions, where she worked until January 2024, Nicole held the role of Strategic Delivery Manager (Project Manager). She was also a volunteer member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force, their Advisory Board, a leader in the Employee Resource Group, B.L.A.C.K.@Eastridge (Black@Eastridge) Leadership & Operations Team, and a leader of the Juneteenth 2022 Planning Committee.
Nicole's formal education includes graduating with honors from Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California. At the University of California at Berkeley, she was accepted into the Haas School of Business and graduated with honors while working full-time at The Daily Californian newspaper.
Throughout her corporate career, Nicole held several key positions at Price Waterhouse and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she planned, supervised, and performed audit and business advisory engagements for Fortune 500 companies and other multinational public and private companies. She later worked at Universal Pictures as Director of Planning & Ultimates, where she was responsible for preparing film pre-release reports, "what-if" analyses, and film profitability forecasts.
Nicole has also sung with the Spirit of Joy Choir, Gospel Music Workshop of America, Facebook Chorale, and other performing groups throughout the Las Vegas Valley. She has played violin in the CSN Orchestra and various small chamber ensembles and recently performed as a solo violinist in Baobab Stage Presents: Tribal Night and the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive's A Night in the City of Riches Pro Show. Nicole has also explored steel drums, drum set, bass, rhythm tap, and body percussion.
Nicole has always been a lover of rhythm, which she says has saved her life many times over. She follows the beat of her own heart (drum) and looks forward to sharing what's next with the world. #therhythmofpurpose. As Chief Visionary of her life, Nicole continually upgrades her experiences into greater and greater expressions of her TRUE authentic self and enjoys the magnificence of watching her life and dreams evolve and unfold.
After many years of working in the Events industry, serving in various roles at conferences, conventions, meetings, and private corporate events as well as all the community and cultural events Nicole has run along with her team(s), she learned that she has a deep love and passion for event planning and logistics. She also loves Project Management, Organization, Marketing and Logistics.
Nicole looks forward to her next adventures while continuing to be a music lover and music maker.
