Education

• Concord University School of Law

  Completed First-Year Curriculum (2006), currently not registered

• University of Louisiana at Lafayette

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), December 1997
  Bachelor of General Studies, December 1991
  Completed 300+ undergraduate hours across the arts, sciences, business, and physical disciplines.

• Tursair Flying School, Miami, FL

  FAA Licensed Private Pilot (1983)

• Sheffield School of Aeronautics, Miami, FL

  FAA Certified Flight Dispatcher (1979)

Experience

Early in my journey, I was invited into a national youth service initiative that placed promising graduates into various sectors to explore career alignment.

I spent two years in a university hospital environment—first learning medical records and clinical procedures in outpatient care, then serving directly on an open-heart surgical team as a cardiac thoracic technician.

This experience gave me a front-row seat to life at its most vulnerable point, offering invaluable insight into the strengths—and limits—of conventional medicine.

While I ultimately chose a different path, it left a lasting impression that later deepened my interest in holistic health, systems-based wellness, and preventative care.

My exposure to the traditional medical model eventually led me to explore Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where I found a more integrated, whole-person approach to health and vitality.

The pivot from medicine to aviation was sparked by a simple conversation with a friend, who shared how travel opened the world. That moment ignited a passion—and I’ve been charting new horizons ever since.

Founder, UL Foundation

A nonprofit initiative created to give back to the community through art, music, fashion, and culture. Originally envisioned as a multimedia design company, the UL Foundation now serves as the philanthropic arm of Air Gumbo, supporting causes and institutions aligned with education, cultural preservation, and creative empowerment.

• Focused on community engagement through design and creative expression
• Supports the mission of promoting Universal Love through philanthropy
• Collaborates closely with Air Gumbo to ensure impactful community contributions

Founder, Air Gumbo

Visionary behind a fully digital, culture-rooted, next-generation airline concept rooted in design, inclusion, and smart aviation strategy.

Design Director & Strategic Consultant

Led projects in branding, identity systems, and product development, with a strong focus on using Design Management as a strategic tool for growth, clarity, and influence.

Multidisciplinary Creative & Technical Lead

Over 30 years of experience in roles spanning tech infrastructure, brand development, systems design, and leadership mentoring — often serving as the connective tissue between vision and execution.

Lifelong Practitioner of the Modernized 64 Arts

A dynamic portfolio of cross-disciplinary mastery that merges classical disciplines with modern expression:

• Martial Arts (Black Belt Candidate – Taekwondo)
• Yoga (Practitioner since age 16)
• Dance (Ballet, Reggae/Dancehall)
• Audio Recording Engineer & DJ
• Fencing, Archery & Horseback Riding
• Fashion Design & Product Innovation
• Motorsport Enthusiast & Automotive Mechanic (focused on the BMW M Series platform)
• Aviation & Multi-modal Transportation Systems
• Cybersecurity & Network/Firewall Architecture

As a lifelong student of the 64 Arts, I embrace a modern interpretation of ancient disciplines—merging timeless craft with contemporary mastery. From music, movement, and design to strategic thinking, digital innovation, and personal discipline, I live by a holistic philosophy of continuous learning.

• Clothing construction is central to my philosophy. I believe every human should learn to create their own outer shell—an ability unique to our species. Garment-making is more than fashion; it’s identity, self-reliance, and personal expression in physical form.
• Scent is part of my creative language. I craft my own cologne, blending modern shortcuts with ancient alchemy to leave a personal signature wherever I go.

Each pursuit—whether physical, intellectual, or spiritual—reflects a commitment to growth, purpose, and giving back through creativity, service, and leadership.

Skills & Strategic Assets

• Design Management Advocate – integrating design as a core business strategy
• Strategic Planning & Execution – operationalizing vision with precision
• Brand & Identity Development – turning narrative into influence
• Vendor & Stakeholder Negotiation – navigating complex relationships with confidence
• Corporate Reputation Management – protecting and elevating public perception
• Digital Fluency – from firewalls to front-end design
• Business Architecture – organizing and developing complex, multidimensional business plans
• Creative Problem Solver – broad, adaptable, and deeply intuitive
• Lifelong Learner – mastering ancient disciplines & emerging tech alike
• Board-Level Communication – fluent in both executive language and visionary strategy

Best Board Fit

I am seeking board opportunities with organizations that understand diversity, equity, and inclusion are not programs—they are core strategies that reflect the marketplace. True leadership today requires understanding that inclusive representation is not just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. Organizations that embrace this philosophy are better positioned for innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth in a complex, globalized world.

I am not interested in sitting on boards that view inclusion as a performative checkbox or a public relations exercise. I bring real lived experience, broad sector knowledge, and intersectional intelligence—and I expect to engage with organizations that value those assets as essential to growth, innovation, and good governance.

I was initially approached by Boardspect purely on the premise of Air Gumbo—before traditional credentials or affiliations were even in the picture. That early recruitment, though largely driven by algorithms and checkbox compliance, affirmed what I already knew: that authentic leadership resonates on its own. I am committed to serving on boards that see diversity as vision, not optics.

If your board embraces diversity as a core operating principle—embedded in vision, leadership, and decision-making—then we are aligned. Otherwise, I respectfully decline to be included as part of any structure that does not reflect the future we are called to build.

Signature Perspective:

“Jack of all trades. Master at business.”
Ralston Champagnie brings not only a seat to the table — he brings the entire table into alignment.

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