Alva Adams-Mason

Corporate executive Alva Adams-Mason was born on April 25, 1961 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Ella Web and Ellie Adams. She attended Walker Elementary, Plantation Park Elementary, and Plantation Middle School before graduating from Plantation High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1979. She received her B.S. degree in accounting from Howard University in Washington D.C. in 1984. She also received a certification in diversity management from the University of Houston in 2009.

After graduating from Howard University, Adams-Mason worked as a controller with the Ford Motor Company, where she served for thirteen years. In 2000, she became the dealer diversity and administration manager at Toyota Motor Sales. In 2002, she worked as an operations manager in Toyota’s retail market development department before becoming a manager of dealer representation and social responsibility in 2005. In 2014, she served as the national manager of African American Business Strategy while continuing her work at Toyota, becoming the senior manager of multicultural business strategy and dealer relations at Toyota Motor of America in 2017. In 2020, Adams-Mason began serving as Toyota Motor of America’s group manager of multicultural business strategy and held that position until 2024.

During her career, Adams-Mason served as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus’ 21st Century Council as well as on the Salvation Army National Advisory Board, becoming its secretary in 2020. She also held memberships on the National Council of Negro Women’s Advisory Council and the National Urban League’s Corporate Advisory Council. She served on the boards of directors for the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute, the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, and the National College Resources Foundation. Adams-Mason is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Adams-Mason has received numerous awards and honors, including the President’s Volunteer Service Award from AmeriCorp, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers in 2021, and the Women of Power Award from the National Urban Leage in 2022.

Adams-Mason has three children: Ashley Williams, Ella Cecil, and Bailey Mason. She also has three grandchildren: Cameron and Cayden Cecil and Cassius Williams.

Adams-Mason resides in Prosper, Texas.

Alva Adams-Mason was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on August 5, 2024.