Ernest Nicholson
President, HOPE Initiatives
Ernest Nicholson is a nationally respected executive, former Presidential Appointee, and transformational leader at the intersection of policy, innovation, and economic empowerment. With a career spanning both Congress and White House administrations, Nicholson brings an unparalleled track record of success in public-private partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable infrastructure development.
As President of HOPE Initiatives at Operation HOPE, Nicholson leads with a bold vision to scale economic opportunity, drive systemic change, and build new models of empowerment for underserved communities. He leverages decades of experience across government, energy, and the private sector to elevate Operation HOPE’s platform as a national force for inclusive capitalism.
Nicholson’s portfolio includes leadership in alternative energy, transportation, logistics, and hydrogen innovation. As Managing Partner of SKEET Global Services, he helped shape the company into a trusted engine for clean energy deployment—securing investor confidence and advancing hydrogen, microgrids, and biogas applications for high-demand industries and emerging markets. His policy and investment counsel has guided domestic and international consortia on sustainable infrastructure and equity-focused development.
Prior to SKEET Global, Nicholson held executive and leadership roles in some of the country’s most dynamic organizations, including Buzz Technologies (a Y Combinator finalist in Silicon Valley), Sagent Energy, Sodexo, and Halliburton. These experiences deepened his expertise in operational strategy, global supply chains, enterprise technology, and ESG innovation, equipping him with a unique cross-sector perspective to solve the challenges of today’s rapidly evolving economy.
He is a Yale-trained business strategist, a graduate of the Yale School of Management’s Global Business Statesmanship program and holds an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from South Carolina State University. Nicholson earned his B.A. in English and Military Science through studies at The Citadel and the University of South Carolina, where he was also recruited as an All-American football player.
A former U.S. Army Reserve Officer and veteran, Nicholson is known for building powerful coalitions, forging lasting public trust, and turning bold ideas into institutional impact. His leadership continues to shape a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient future—one strategic initiative at a time.