The power that works in us

In the fall of 1984, Tonya Jefferson Hawley ’88 ’90 and Sheree Walker Knowles ’89 met at a freshman welcome event hosted by the University of Dayton’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity chapter. Like most first-year students, the two young women sought community on an unfamiliar campus – but this first encounter would evolve into a 40-year friendship and a successful business partnership.

“We bonded with everyone there that night,” recalled Hawley. “But I remember thinking Sheree was just the cutest and sweetest person.”

Though they later joined different sororities — Hawley with Delta Sigma Theta and Knowles with Alpha Kappa Alpha — their friendship grew through their shared experience as Black women at a predominantly white institution.

 “In the ’80s, there weren’t many Black students on campus, so when you found someone who looked like you, it created a natural closeness,” said Knowles. “Plus, Tonya and I had tons in common and always found ways to have fun like going on double dates with our boyfriends.”

After graduation, their paths diverged. Hawley earned a communication degree in 1988, followed by a master’s in public administration in 1990, remaining in Dayton. Knowles, who graduated with a degree in psychology in 1989, moved to Atlanta. For a while, they settled for a long-distance friendship.

That changed in the late aughts when Hawley could no longer ignore a desire to relocate.

“I always wanted to live somewhere else with a lively music scene,” Hawley said. “I called Sheree and said, ‘What if I come down there to visit and stay with you?’ The first time I drove to Atlanta, I made that trip alone.”

A few days into the visit, Hawley wondered: What if she moved there?

Knowles thought it was a great idea. She quickly located an apartment for her friend to move into, sight unseen.

“I trusted her completely,” Hawley laughed. “And it worked out. I loved that apartment.”

By 2008, Atlanta had become the backdrop for a new chapter in their friendship. Hawley, inspired by the local soul music scene, launched a marketing and public relations consulting firm, the KAMDI Group, an acronym honoring her three children and her mother.

“I work with entertainers but also handle PR and marketing for small businesses or individuals who need it,” Hawley explained. “The business has grown a lot and it’s how I eventually got involved with Sheree’s company.”

The roles reversed in 2013. Knowles, feeling unfulfilled despite her success in corporate HR, began contemplating starting her own business.

“As a young Black woman, I was treated like a purple unicorn at work. Some days they loved me, and other days, I felt ignored,” Knowles shared. “I knew there had to be something more. So I asked Tonya if I should take the leap.”

This time, it was Hawley’s turn to motivate her friend with simple yet powerful advice: “‘If you don’t try, you’ll never know. You can always return to corporate America, but you’ve got to give it a shot. You can do this.’”

With that encouragement, Knowles founded HR Knowledge Source or HRKS, a human resources consulting firm. What started as informal support from Hawley quickly evolved into a formal business partnership, with Hawley eventually leading the company’s marketing department.

HRKS’ workforce swelled to around 35 employees over the past decade. In 2024, the agency celebrated its 10-year anniversary – a milestone that would be inconceivable without her faith, Knowles said.

“Tonya and I have been together since day one, and that’s part of why I think God has really blessed this business.”

“[As I was considering starting the business,] I read through Ephesians 3:20. In prayer, I came to realize that God placed all of this in my heart. It’s on His time, through His will,” shared Knowles. “Tonya and I have been together since day one, and that’s part of why I think God has really blessed this business.”

And what would business be without a little pleasure, like when Knowles accompanied Hawley to Hawaii to support a KAMDI client during a concert.

“We’ve always made time to support each other, no matter what,” Knowles said.

“And tagging along on a work vacation doesn’t hurt, either,” joked Hawley.

Both women remain rooted in community service, a value they trace back to their University days. Knowles is a member of UD’s business advisory council and has established a scholarship for underrepresented students in the School of Business.

This fall, Hawley returned to campus for the first time in more than 30 years for Black Alumni Weekend, eager to connect with old friends, visit old stomping grounds and re-engage with campus life as an alumnae.

“President Spina [spoke] with us the weekend before Black Alumni weekend,” she said. “[His continued desire to engage with Black alumni and students] just floored me. It’s amazing to see how much UD still values connection.”

Knowles, who accompanied her best friend to the weekend’s activities, agreed.

“UD really planted the seeds of our friendship and our careers. Once that foundation is there, it’s like blooming where you’re planted – like the power that works in us all.”

A version of this article appears in print in the Winter 2024-45 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 1. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE