LEGACY VALIANCE GOLD

AMBASSADORS

Eric Zeno

Ambassador At Large

Eric Zeno is a proud veteran of the United States Army. He is currently the Economic Development Director in the City of Lago Vista, Texas. Eric’s responsibilities include working with the City Manager and other key planning personnel to enhance the city’s economic development through attracting new businesses, stimulating economic growth through new projects and to retain and help strengthen the presence of current profitable businesses within the city. Eric also provides advice to other city departments to advance the economic goals of the community. He confers with zoning commissioners, members of the chamber of commerce, housing authority, state and regional agencies as well as other federal, state and local agencies. Eric works with banks and other funding sources to stimulate the city economy.

Dr. Edwin Thomas

The New Iberia, Louisiana native, Dr. Edwin Thomas, appointee of the Clayton A. Wiley and the Viola E. Wiley Endowed Professorship in Engineering Technology at Grambling State University is a person of many talents. He is an Associate Professor and Interim Department Head for the Department of Engineering Technology and also an Associate Band Director for the World Famed Tiger Marching Band. To the students who know him, he is a person who cares and shows concern about their academic well-being. He is a graduate of Grambling State University where he received his BS degree in the field of Industrial and Engineering Technology. He received his MS degree from Northwestern State University in Engineering Technology and has earned a Doctoral degree in education from Grambling State University. He also did graduate study at the historical American Conservatory of Music of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Thomas has a broad but solid background in engineering technology which includes professional work experiences in mechanical, structural, electrical, and architectural design assignments. He has worked with several Architects, Engineers and Contractors from around the state on several campus and community projects, including the Eddie Robinson Museum and the Conrad Hutchinson, Jr. Performing Arts Center at the university. In addition, Dr. Thomas was selected as a consultant and lecturer for the Louisiana State Department of Economic Development, Division of Economically Disadvantaged Business Development, Louisiana Contractor’s Accreditation Institute. His publications include a study of the Computer-Aided Design training for a major company titled “An Evaluative Study of Mechanical CAD Training” and a research study titled “The Impact of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Factors on the Performance of African American Engineering Students in Mathematics.” On his musical side, Dr. Thomas has performed and recorded with various musical artists and celebrities. Dr. Thomas was also a member of the World Famed Tiger Marching Band where he served in many student leadership roles and had the privilege of being the Head Drum Major.  He was later asked by Professor Conrad Hutchinson himself to join his band staff, a most significant honor. He was elevated through different levels of director positions including having the opportunity to lead the unit as Interim Director of Bands during the 2018-2019 academic year. He has the distinct honor of being awarded the Conrad Hutchinson “Lifetime Achievement Award” on two separate occasions, which were during the years 2018 and 2022. He is a husband, father, and grandfather to wife Rhonda, children Ahsaki, Ahvery, and Edwin, II and grand-daughter Zharia. 

William Purpura

Chairman of the COMEX Governors

William Purpura has been involved in commodities since 1976 and currently is serving his seventh term as Chairman of the COMEX Governors. He is Principal at Great Lakes Trading Group LLC-FZ in Dubai and Managing Partner at GLT Group LLP in the USA. He also is a partner and board member of firms involved in patented technologies for the tokenization and monetization of illiquid assets.  In 1987, he co-founded Great Lakes Metals, Inc., one of the largest brokers and trading firms on COMEX. He also served as a Senior Vice President of NYMEX and advisor to the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). As a COMEX Governor and Senior Vice-President of NYMEX, he was involved in the earliest electronic trading of futures on those exchanges, as well as the NYMEX IPO and later its acquisition by CME Group.

Mr. Purpura has been an advisor to various exchanges in the US, China, and Singapore along with major banks and brokerages in China and Hong Kong. He was an International Advisor to the Shanghai Gold Exchange from 2007 to 2013. He has served on COMEX committees including Business Conduct, Adjudication, Floor, Metals Advisory. 

Mr. Purpura lectured at major universities in Asia and the USA.  He was a member of the Board of Advisors to the Faculty of Business at the University of Macau as well as the Advisory Board of Asia Pacific Academy of Economics and Management. (APAEM).

He is currently focused on physical trading of commodities, market research, consulting, and developing technologies to tokenize assets.

Shonnie Murrell

Known by her stage name “Shonnie Murrell”, LaShonda Antionette Harris was born in Jonesboro, Louisiana and raised in Houston, Texas. She has been singing and playing instruments since the age of 3. Shonnie graduated from Sharpstown High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Grambling State University. Shonnie can contribute her showmanship on percussion to years she spent marching in the Grambling State World Famed Tiger Marching band. She is not only the first female to play Quads & Quints, but she also held the highest position in the band as Master Drill Sgt. and was one of the main reality personalities on the hit BET show “Season of the Tiger.” From this she landed a spot on 106 and Park, BET awards and other television appearances. She is also a part of the Class of 2022 Recording Academy (Grammys) in which she sits on the education committee. Performing for Freedom Over Texas, Headliner for Austin Crawfish Fest, Headliner for San Antonio, Texas Mardi Gras, KPC Convention, SeerSeekers & Sundresses in Atlanta, GA, her performances have taken her all over the world! Shonnie Murrell also helps Title 1 schools (12 schools to be exact) upstart their Fine Arts programs along with her partnership with Microsoft.