Shani R. Davis is an African-American female, who is an independent documentary filmmaker, and the visionary CEO/President of TAPS LLC, an organization in Chicago that provides a wide range of assistance, access and resource information to the less fortunate.  Davis is passionate about helping others and focuses on improving the lives of disenfranchised youth, adults, seniors and veterans.  Shani Davis is an U.S. Air Force veteran, and former commercial model and advertisement spokesperson.  From 1997 to 2006, Davis was a music producer and executive at OLIO Record Company, and she established TAPS in 2007.

With TAPS, Davis’ goal is to provide educational and life improving assistance, information and resources to those at-risk of being forgotten in our society. Davis encourages youth to stay in school and avoid drugs, presents information on AIDS Awareness, as well as provides life-inspiring information and resources to adults, seniors and veterans. Shani Davis sponsors community dances and concerts to deliver life transforming messages and information on self-improvement to those in need. Davis is instrumental to giving hope to thousands of people, particularly young people and the elderly.

While working at OLIO Record Company, Shani Davis committed half of her salary for talent searches and produced CDs of youth who sing positive, wholesome songs that counter negative messages and influences of Hip Hop and Rap music.  Davis is devoted to her life’s mission of helping large numbers of disenfranchised people by addressing the issues they face and diligently seeking ways to help them embark on a path of self improvement and empowerment.

From 1986 to 1988, Davis worked as a commercial model, and media, marketing and broadcasting personality. She was an advertisement spokesperson for J.C. Penney, and a model and fashion commentator for The Barbizon Agency from 1985 to 1988.  Davis is bilingual with English as a mother language, and speaks Spanish in seven dialects.

Shani R. Davis served in the U.S. Air Force, where she was a sergeant from 1988 to 1996, and was a Second Lieutenant in 1996 when she was honorably discharged. In the Air Force, Davis was assigned as Law Enforcement Security for Stealth Aircraft 1 and Air Base Ground Defense (ABGD), and was active in a Decorated Asian Campaign.  She was on the Air Force Basketball Team from 1989 to 1994. Ms. Davis graduated from the College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, Illinois with an A. A. degree in Liberal Arts and an A. S. degree in Criminal Justice in 1999.  In 2003, Davis earned a Bachelor degree from DePaul University with a major in biology and minor in chemistry. She also holds an October 2002 chemical patent on polymer (see Chemistry Abstracts).

Shani Davis has been Chair of the Black Ensemble Theater (African American Arts Alliance) since April 2007.  Davis is a member of a number of organizations, including: Kids Korner since 2007, an organization united to protect the well being of children and prevent child abuse; the Coalition of Veterans Organization since 2007, the SBA since 2006, the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) since May 2003; the TRIO Minority Organization at DePaul University, which helps minorities achieve success in their life’s pursuits since 2003, and the George Frazier Network since April 2007.  Ms. Davis has a vision to set high standards for reaching out, enlightening and uplifting disenfranchised youth, adults, veterans and seniors.