Eris T. Sims is the NAACP Chief of Staff, overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Office of the Board of Directors and the Executive Office and supports the president and CEO in the areas of external positioning, executive reporting and strategy. Eris works behind the scenes to solve challenges and drive execution of action items and top priorities agreed upon by the president and CEO and Leadership Council.

Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Sims joined the NAACP team in 2015 as Senior Director of Events where she guided the planning, management and execution for a variety of NAACP meetings and events, including our national convention and the NAACP Image Awards. Eris says, "People come to me with big ideas and dreams of making something happen. It's my job to make it happen." She noted the NAACP National Convention is a forum that has allowed her to "turn ideas in reality."

Growing up, Eris' family traveled often. Travel, staying in different hotels and customer service fascinated Eris. As an adult, Eris has traveled the country and internationally in her varied career. Prior to joining our team, Eris served as the Director of Meetings for The Links, Incorporated where she planned and executed all of the organization's national meetings including meetings in South Africa, Ghana, Liberia and meetings-at-sea. Eris was promoted to Executive Director of The Links, Incorporated and The Links Foundation, Incorporated. Here, Eris provided strategic direction and was responsible for all aspects of the organization's daily operations management including guiding membership services, meeting planning, marketing, programs, finance and grants and donor management.

Before joining The Links, Incorporated, Eris was employed as the Associate Director of Catering at Hyatt Regency Atlanta and as a Travel Director with Maritz Travel Company in Fenton, Missouri.

An influential leader in non-profits and the association meetings and events industry, Eris has over 20 years of management experience. She was named a 2016 recipient of Connect Magazine's 40 under 40. She was also the 2013 Meeting Planner of the Year by the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners.

Eris is a former member of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitor's Bureau Customer Advisory Board and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners Board of Directors. She has also served as member of the MGM Hotels and Resorts Diversity Advisory Council and was a founding board member of the Association of Women in Events (AWE).

Eris holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. She is a member of The Links, Incorporated, the Cornell Hotel Society (CHS), the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

When NAACP President/CEO Derrick Johnson finds some down time, definitely a rare occurrence, Eris is able to enjoy some down time, too. Living in Prince Georges County, Maryland, she enjoys visiting her parents in Meridian, Mississippi and other warm climates with sand and sun.