Thomas “Tony” Waller

Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity, Walmart Stores, Inc.

Mr. Thomas Anthony (Tony) Waller Tony Waller is Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity for Walmart in Bentonville, AR. In his position he sets strategy for driving reputation, augmenting outreach opportunities, and maximizing social investments in diverse and multicultural communities. His portfolio includes the African American, Hispanic, Asian American & Pacific Islander and Native American communities as well as Women, LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities and Emerging Generations.

Tony is also tasked with being a critical “integrator” engaging across Corporate Affairs teams, with real depth in helping to shape public policy, communication strategy, federal and state government relations, and community relations through a racial equity lens. Additionally, Tony and his team help lead efforts to expand the company’s racial equity work across all the diverse and multicultural communities of focus. Tony joined Walmart December 2006.

Serving is extremely important to Tony. He has always been taught that to give real service you must add to the world something that cannot be bought or measured with money. He served as Chair of the NAACP ACT-SO Advisory Council. His passion for the empowerment and advancement of women, has led him to serve on the Board of Trustees of Center for Asian Pacific American Women. Tony also served on the Board of Directors of the National African American Women’s Leadership Institute. With both organizations he was the first male ever selected to serve.

In 2017 Tony was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Black Child Development Institute and currently serves as Chair Emeritus. In 2020 he was asked by the Mayor of Bentonville, AR to serve on the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board. In 2021 he was named to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board for the University of Arkansas.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, he is a diehard WAHOO. He remains highly active with THE University and served on the board of the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund, named after its first African American graduate. Tony is an ardent supporter of the arts and fashion. He serves on the executive committee of the Board of Directors and co-chairs the Corporate Leadership Council of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Interform, an organization focused on self-sustaining design-led fashion and art industry in Northwest Arkansas. In addition, Tony serves on the advisory board of Springclean, a nonprofit social enterprise whose mission is to create jobs and reduce landfill space by repurposing donated textile materials. Tony also serves on the board of Soles4Souls, an organization that turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Recently Tony was honored with the Focus Award from LA Focus Magazine, for his longstanding support of diverse and multicultural communities.

In 2022 Tony was honored by the Black Action Collective of NW Arkansas with the Esther Silver-Parker Corporate Trailblazer Award, in recognition for his exceptional dedication, innovation, careful work, wise diplomacy, commitment, and resilience to uplifting and building a better future for African American and underserved communities.

In 2019 Tony was honored with the President’s Award at the Centennial Celebration of the Corpus Christ Branch of the NAACP. Tony has been the recipient of the Donald H. McGannon Award twice, the highest distinction given by the National Urban League to a corporate individual in recognition of one’s efforts in the community. Tony is the only individual who has received this honor multiple times. The American Indian College Fund honored Tony by ceremonially draping him with a blanket, a symbol of respect and admiration of the Native American community. Additionally, he has been awarded with the Made Man Award by 100 Black Men of Washington, DC. The award celebrates men who inspire and educate underserved men. He is a passionate collector of Black art & sculpture, Latina art, antique watches, vintage cufflinks, eyewear, children’s story books and quotes. Shoes however are his kryptonite. Tony strives to live each and every day by the words of his mother, Barbara Jean Motley Waller, “Keep flowing with The River for The River knows exactly where It is going.”