Whitley is a 2014 graduate of Vanderbilt University, with a B.A./B.S. in Human and Organizational Development and Sociology. In 2013, Whitley co-founded The Curbside Chronicle, an international award-winning magazine that employs individuals transitioning out of homelessness in Oklahoma City. In 2017, Whitley co-founded his second social enterprise, Sasquatch Shaved Ice, a nonprofit snow cone stand that provides employment and financial empowerment to low-income and transition-aged youth. With nearly a decade of experience in the field of social enterprise, Whitley is passionate about creating employment opportunities for individuals traditionally excluded from the workforce and using business practices to address longstanding social issues.

Outside of his work in social enterprise, Whitley has worked in all three sectors – public, private, and nonprofit – with diverse work experiences including advertising, social research, and state policy. He is a member of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Institutional Review Board and Mental Health Association of Oklahoma’s Board of Directors.