Vernā Myers, Esq., principal of Vernā Myers Consulting Group, LLC (VMCG), is a nationally recognized expert on diversity and inclusion within law firms, law departments and law schools. Vernā is a dynamic speaker and creative advisor in support of creating inclusive environments and improving the recruitment, retention and advancement of underrepresented groups. VMCG has collaborated with over 100 legal and corporate clients to effect sustainable organizational change by conducting cultural assessments, developing comprehensive strategic diversity action plans, and facilitating compelling and interactive workshops in the U.S. and around the globe. A highly sought after speaker at numerous conferences worldwide, Vernā sponsors her own successful annual Opus Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Large Law Firms.

Vernā is the author of “Moving Diversity Forward: How To Go From Well-Meaning To Well-Doing,” published by the American Bar Association in 2011. www.movingdiversityforward.com. "A second book, “What If I Say the Wrong Thing?: 25 Habits For Culturally Effective People” was released August 2013 also by the ABA."

In 2010, Pepper Hamilton LLP awarded Ms. Myers its Diversity Champion award. In 2009 she was chosen as one of The Network Journal’s “25 Influential Black Women in Business,” and in 2008, one of The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s “Diversity Heroes”.

Prior to establishing VMCG, Vernā was the first Executive Director of The Boston Law Firm Group, a consortium of firms committed to increasing racial/ethnic diversity. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Attorney General of Massachusetts (1997-99), where she executed a comprehensive diversity and inclusion initiative: increasing minority recruitment; conducting diversity and sexual harassment trainings; and performing outreach to the state’s diverse population. Vernā practiced corporate and real estate law in Boston for six years at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP and Fitch, Wiley, Richlin & Tourse, LLP.

Vernā graduated from Harvard Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University.