Chalton O. Askew
Executive Director

Trustbuilding Initiative names Executive Director 

Chalton Askew has been named executive director of Trustbuilding Inc. by unanimous vote of the board of directors. He began his position on Feb. 1. 

Askew is a lifelong resident of Troup County, a Troup County School System product, and a graduate of LaGrange College, where he earned a business administration degree. He is retired from Interface Inc., after 30 years of serving in accounting and finance roles.

He is one of the founding board members of Trustbuilding Inc., serving on the board since 2015.  He has been a participant in the Racial Trustbuilding training (Levels I and II).   

Additionally, he has completed Community Trustbuilding Fellowship (Class of 2017), Facilitation, Call to Community training with Hope in the Cities of Richmond, Virginia, and Non-Violence 365 Orientation at the King Center in Atlanta.    

Askew's community engagement includes Troup Transformation, Troup Acts, and the Education Taskforce. He is a volunteer with Troup County Schools 345 Thrive program as a virtual tutor. 

"I join co-chair Dan McAlexander and our entire board in welcoming Chalton to this position," said Carl Von Epps, co-founder of the initiative. "He is deeply committed to our mission and has gone out of his way to prepare himself for this role. I am confident we will make great progress under his leadership." 

Askew said he is excited to begin this new chapter in his life.   

"I view this as accepting a calling to help the community where I grew up to become more equitable and hopeful for all of our children and grandchildren," he said. "The relationships between black and white citizens that have already been developed through this organization's work have formed the foundation of racial progress. I am humbled yet inspired to lead this vital work in the future." 

Trustbuilding Inc. is a 50l(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Ricky Wolfe (co-chair emeritus) and Von Epps.  The organization's mission is to bridge the racial divide in Troup County through trust-building, research, community collaboration, and action to remove barriers that prevent full access to opportunities for all. To date, Trustbuilding Inc. has brought together more than 300 Troup County citizens to engage in challenging, honest conversations about racial issues in our communities.  

For more information, contact Askew at 706-402-1311 or chalton@bellsouth.net.