W. Kelvin Walker

W. Kelvin Walker is CEO of the Dallas Citizens Council, a non-profit organization of more than 150 CEOs and top business leaders in North Texas. 

He formerly was a Managing Director of RLJ Equity Partners, a private equity fund with over $230 million under management. RLJ Equity Partners is a middle-market private equity firm focused on generating long-term capital appreciation by investing in profitable and growing businesses led by strong management teams. Founded in 2006 by Robert L. Johnson and The Carlyle Group, RLJ invests in traditional buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth capital infusions.

Mr. Walker joined RLJ Equity Partners in 2015, opening a Dallas office for the firm.  Prior to RLJ, he served as the Managing Partner of 21st Century Group, a lower middle market private equity firm with $166 million of assets under management, where he was responsible for originating, structuring, executing, and monitoring the firm's investments.

Prior to joining 21st Century Group, Mr. Walker served for six years as a Senior Vice President of Mesirow Financial and at Pryor, McClendon, Counts & Co.  Prior to that, Mr. Walker was a Vice President at Bank of America. Mr. Walker serves as a director of Spencer Enterprises and Modulant.

Mr. Walker earned his B.A. degree from Morehouse College in 1984 where he graduated with honors.  He received his MBA in 1986 from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University and was a Johnson & Johnson Fellow.

Mr. Walker has been active in the Dallas community for over 15 years and is currently on the board of directors for the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas where he serves as Vice Chairman; Methodist Health System; The Dallas Foundation Board of Governors; The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business and Community Advisory Council.