Diversity 5.0 Virtual Summit

Leah Smiley, CDE®, is the founder and President of the Society for Diversity Inc., a global Education Technology (EdTech) firm that specializes in next generation management practices and professional DEI Certification. As a LinkedIn “All-Star”, Mrs. Smiley has facilitated hundreds of presentations for more than 10,000 professionals and executives around the world, as well as consulted with over 100 organizations. Prior to founding the Society for Diversity, Mrs. Smiley spent a decade in the healthcare industry, working for CIGNA Corp., the City of Philadelphia Health Dept., and CGI Consulting Group (which was acquired by Willis Towers Watson).

With 15 years of experience in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) field, as well as 25+ years as a Master of Training and organizational development, Mrs. Smiley is considered to be a DEI industry thought-leader. Through the Society for Diversity's subsidiary, the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®, Mrs. Smiley has helped thousands of DEI leaders around the world achieve their dreams of promotions, new positions, salary increases, additional staff, greater credibility and visibility, as well as other phenomenal outcomes.

Ms. Gordon is responsible for ensuring Army Diversity and Inclusion strategies, goals and objectives are strategically aligned and integrated into all human capital, military, civilian personnel, and Equal Employment Opportunity decision-making models throughout the Army (1.2 million people). Ms. Gordon is the former CEO and Chief Diversity Consultant for Global Business Readiness, LLC, and has earned more than 25 years of diversity, leadership development, and HR strategic management consulting experience at several Fortune 500 companies including, Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Microsoft, Senior Vice President of HR for TD Bank, Director of Talent Management, Vice President of the Corporate Law Office, and Vice President of HR for Bank of America, and Director of Corporate Diversity Staffing for the TJX Companies. She has provided strategic diversity and leadership development advice and coaching to CEO’s and senior executives at several Fortune 500 companies and institutions of higher learning and has personally mentored countless high potential professionals to successfully move forward into leadership roles. Susan has written and trademarked numerous leadership development programs including “The Business Ready Women™”.

Audrietta recently moved into a new role, partnering with the business units on strategic DEI initiatives. She serves as a strategic DEI thought leader, partnering with key stakeholders to achieve business results and performance outcomes leveraging the strength of an inclusive culture. Using data-driven insights, Audrietta helps to steer impactful strategies, operations, policies and practices to continue to drive that inclusive culture.

Audrietta’s previous DEI roles include managing the ten Employee Resource Groups as a key component of Verizon’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. Her responsibilities included strategy and operations under four ERG pillars – the 4Cs: career development, customer insight, community outreach, and workplace culture. She was also responsible for Global Health and Wellness Strategy in Corporate Benefits, including data analysis and program design, along with consumer health education and utilization management. In this role, Audrietta was a champion of addressing racial and ethnic disparities within employee benefits for several years and accepted a medal from former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, in recognition of Verizon’s focus on the reduction of racial and ethnic health disparities among employees.

Cora Okine is the Verizon Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) supporting DEI Strategic Program Operations. She is responsible for operationalizing Verizon’s commitment to DEI through end-to-end operations support that spans across Market Place and Workforce/Workplace Initiatives. As a thought leader, Cora is focused on building advocacy and managing

the DEI employee engagement portfolio of work, directly impacting all employees to include 10 Employee Resource Groups (ERG) reaching nearly 26K employees. She is also responsible for all DEI cultural moments and heritage months celebrating the unique differences of Verizon employees.

Promoting an inclusive environment of belonging, Cora collaborates with external partners for benchmarking as well as internal leaders across all business units and corporate teams to align on strategies that deliver DEI as a business imperative and showcase Verizon as a leader in diversity. Verizon has received 16 DEI Awards in the past 12 months, to include 2022 #2 Military-Friendly Company, 2021 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion -100% Disability Equality Index, 2021 Forbes Media America’s Best Employers for Diversity, 2021 #7 Top Fortune 500 Companies onDiversity & Inclusion, 2021 Best Places to Work For LGBTQ Equality - 100% Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.

Stacye McCall is the Assistant Vice President and Deputy Diversity Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRBA). She has strategic oversight for the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives and programs at the Bank, which has over 1600 staff. Stacye implements short-term and long-term DE&I programs into the Bank’s culture and provides guidance and direction to 10 Employee Resource Networks, DE&I Ambassadors, and divisional DE&I partners. She leads the coordination of internal and external DE&I communication and works in tandem with external consultants to build DE&I educational programs for all levels of the organization. Stacye has been a DE&I leader for the Bank for over 10 years and supports district people leaders in the development and implementation of district inclusive strategies.

Stacye is a certified diversity professional (CDP) having completed all requirements for the Institute for Diversity Certification in 2014. Stacye is also a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrator and Interpreter, with a vision to increase people’s capacity to better understand culture and to develop culturally responsive strategies when engaging across difference. Stacye has completed the Dale Carnegie’s 12-week Effective Communications & Human Relations Course.

Dr. Stacy Roberts resides in Evans, GA with her family. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration with a human resources concentration from Liberty University. She is a lecturer in the Augusta University Hull College of Business and is also a licensed minister at her church, New Life Worship Center. She is a Certified Executive and Leadership Trainer and operates her own coaching business, SMR Leadership Solutions, LLC. Along with teaching and coaching, Stacy is the author of “Donut Leads the Team”, “Boomer, Be Nice” and “Roscoe’s Rescue,” books that help teach key skills and valuable leadership lessons to young children.

Julia Méndez Achée is Senior Consultant for Biddle Consulting Group. She has experience working as an affirmative action, equal employment opportunity law, and diversity/inclusion consultant and trainer since 1995. Based in New Orleans, her duties include assisting federal contractor organizations with the preparation of their annual affirmative action programs, EEO-1 and VETS-4212 reports as well as creating content and delivering training in areas such as equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action (AA) compliance, and other diversity and inclusion topics. She has assisted hundreds of organizations through U.S. Department of Labor, OFCCP compliance reviews and offered technical assistance both to clients and internal customers. She has been invited to speak at national, regional, and local conferences on topics such as recruiter compliance with AAPs, regulatory requirements regarding veterans and individuals with physical and mental disabilities, updates on EEO laws and settlements, as well as recognizing unconscious bias and other diversity topics. She served in 2020-2021 as the first chairperson for the employee resource group, Allies and People Living with Disabilities, with her prior employer.

Jenn Tardy has been helping employers and job seekers reach their goals since 2004. Far more than a Recruitment Thought Leader and Career Success coach, Jenn’s firm, Jennifer Tardy Consulting (aka Team JTC) is on a mission to make it easy for employers to find, attract, engage, and hire more job seekers from historically underrepresented backgrounds.  Her passion is in making increasing diversity make sense and cents. Through her #HiringSuccess programs, she has empowered companies to talk more openly about underrepresentation, identify inequities in their hiring process, and create inclusive work cultures.

Through Team JTC’s #CareerSuccess program, she empowers job seekers to supercharge their careers and forge professional success. Jenn has vast expertise in the hurdles and obstacles faced by women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and individuals who identify as LGBQ+. Team JTC uses this expertise to help job seekers to navigate these bias-driven hiring obstacles so that they can gain access to greater opportunities.  

Jenn and Team JTC is an internationally known, award-winning firm based out of Maryland, USA.  She is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business. She has received several certifications in Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion including her Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR), Certified Diversity Practitioner (CDP), and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE). She is also a Certified DISC Instructor.

Leah Smiley, CDE®, is the founder and President of the Society for Diversity Inc., a global Education Technology (EdTech) firm that specializes in next generation management practices and professional DEI Certification. As a LinkedIn “All-Star”, Mrs. Smiley has facilitated hundreds of presentations for more than 10,000 professionals and executives around the world, as well as consulted with over 100 organizations. Prior to founding the Society for Diversity, Mrs. Smiley spent a decade in the healthcare industry, working for CIGNA Corp., the City of Philadelphia Health Dept., and CGI Consulting Group (which was acquired by Willis Towers Watson).

With 15 years of experience in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) field, as well as 25+ years as a Master of Training and organizational development, Mrs. Smiley is considered to be a DEI industry thought-leader. Through the Society for Diversity's subsidiary, the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®, Mrs. Smiley has helped thousands of DEI leaders around the world achieve their dreams of promotions, new positions, salary increases, additional staff, greater credibility and visibility, as well as other phenomenal outcomes.

Yolanda Johnson is the Founder and Executive Facilitator of Beyond Measure LLC, a workforce training and consultancy. Yolanda is a Certified Diversity Executive, Mediator, and graduate of Bowie State University. She holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Nyack College. With almost 30 years in vocational education, state government, and nonprofit sectors, Yolanda has experienced the workforce through a multi-faceted lens holding positions in mid-level to executive level management.

Yolanda currently provides consulting services, training facilitation and subject matter expertise in cultural competence, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), leadership, juvenile justice, and child welfare system practices. Yolanda is highly skilled at non-profit program development and scaling, community relations, multi-sector partnerships and corporate social responsibility. Yolanda has worked with corporations such as Verizon, Capital One, Merck, and Netflix to build civic education programs in underserved communities across the country.

Jina is a consultant and speaker on diversity, inclusion, culture and belonging. She creates training programs and workshops on inclusive leadership, leadership development, unconscious bias, self-awareness and conscious communications, cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, understanding authenticity, and fostering belonging. She also provides executive coaching for business leaders, managers and entrepreneurs to help them improve workplace relationships, team performance and interpersonal effectiveness to lead an increasingly diverse workforce by improving self-awareness, building mindfulness and speaking comfortably and effectively on equity, inclusion and diversity. She is a storyteller and speaks candidly about her experiences, hard lessons and ‘aha’ moments that helped her understand the importance individuality, the value of curiosity and the courage it takes to “just” be yourself. Often described as “approachable” and “relatable” by her clients, she works with purpose and the intention of being engaging, practical, and immediately applicable to real-world situations examples and share insights designed to benefit everyone across the workplace ecosystem – executives, management, employees, and customers.

Sam Santiago, CDE®, is an award-winning senior corporate social responsibility and diversity leader with 30+ years of CSR/ESG, diversity, inclusion, health equity and nonprofit experience in the travel, hospitality, health, logistics, digital marketing and retail

industries. He’s held leadership roles with American Airlines, Hilton Worldwide, American Heart Association, Ross Stores, Inc., and is currently the Co-Owner and Chief Administrative Officer for Grupo Sant Cobian, a corporate group that includes two logistics companies and a marketing agency based in the cities of Manzanillo, Mexico City and Veracruz, Mexico.

Kristie S. Andrews is the Vice President of Human Resources at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital (ESJH) at Emory Healthcare. She oversees the People Strategy for the hospital. Her HR focus includes recruiting, retention, leadership development, engagement and culture. Kristie has been with Emory for approximately 5 years. In her prior role at Emory Healthcare she served in the role of Director, Customer & Physician Engagement were she supported the Human Experience as it relates to Patient Experience, Employee Engagement, DEI, Patient Relations, and Community Benefit for over 250 Primary and Specialty Medical Clinics. 

She earned her B.S. in Healthcare Administration at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC & MBA in Healthcare Administration at Brenau University in Gainesville, GA. She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), and has been a member of ACHE for over 24 years. She is a member of SHRM. She is a Certified Patient Experience Consultant, Certified Professional Life Coach, and a Certified Diversity Professional. She is also a certified EQ-I 2.0 & 360 Emotional Intelligence Practitioner.

Malia Turner is a leadership and DEI expert emphasizing how inclusive leadership creates more equitable organizations. Over the past ten years, her experience has ranged from career mapping and pay equity consultations to broad scope DEI strategy. She currently runs a global DEI program spanning 14 countries and 10,000 employees.

Dr. Ayanna Cummings is passionate about eradicating the malignant diseases of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other ills which plague our social and organizational environs. She has over 21 years of experience as a diversity consultant, specialist, researcher, and trainer. In her current role as Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice with Compass Group National Accounts, Ayanna serves as a change agent for cultural transformation. Ayanna is also recently completed a postdoctoral research program at Georgia Institute of Technology in the School of Psychology. Her scientific research seeks to examine the plight of, issues affecting, and identification of solutions relevant to African Americans and other diverse and marginalized groups. Her research findings give her unique expertise in diversity, equity, & inclusion training and consulting strategies and cultural change methods.

Antoinetta Mosley is the CEO and Principal Leader at I Follow the Leader LLC, a strategic consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, initiatives, and education. Launched in 2016 to heighten awareness and readiness of DEI initiatives within companies, I Follow the Leader Talks on diversity, equity and inclusion can be difficult or uncomfortable for some audiences. But when Antoinetta gets on the stage or into a breakout session, she brings with her an approachable yet vibrant energy that is immediately disarming. No matter where she speaks or teaches, she creates an equitable and inclusive space that invites the audience in for a courageous conversation about DEI. Antoinetta’s impact has been praised by so many because her expertise is always accompanied by genuine compassion and clear solutions that are accessible to all partners with organizations to move them along the diversity continuum, improve their overall culture and increase profitability, creativity and innovation.

Dr. Linda Wiley Bing is founder and CEO of Turning Point Leadership Group LLC, an innovative performance improvement company that specializes in diversity &amp, inclusion, leadership development, and relationship management. She has worked in the U.S. and abroad developing and delivering interventions for clients of all sizes and disciplines from individuals to Fortune 50 companies. Dr. Bing is a Certified Diversity Executive through the Institute for Diversity Certification. Her training programs won an award from The Society for Human Resource Management. Her viewpoints are often sought out as a conference keynote speaker and presenter. And, they have been aired on the CBS Evening News.

Derwin Smiley is the Host of The Derwin Smiley Show, an Indianapolis-area television program that caters to community issues and interests.  For the last 9 years, Mr. Smiley has created the 30-minute, monthly program to: Inspire The Greatness In You. The show airs on WHMB-TV because serious times calls for serious conversations, and the show is a vehicle to balance the entertainment found in video games, music videos, chat rooms, and IPODs with serious and inspirational discussion. The show also broadcasts on the Internet, where Mr. Smiley receives nearly 60,000 worldwide hits per month. Two of Mr. Smiley’s greatest accomplishments to date have been: winning the Society of Professional Journalists Award for Indiana Contest for the Coverage of Minority Issues category and being commissioned by The 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee to document the Super Bowl Legacy Project that is revitalizing the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. The four-part series aired on WFYI/PBS.

In addition to hosting The Derwin Smiley Show, Mr. Smiley organizes community events.  Mr. Smiley has coordinated an annual back to school event featuring distinguished keynotes including Tavis Smiley, Talk Show Host and Best-Selling Author; Dr. Eugene White, former-Superintendent of IPS; and others. Derwin partnered with and the Indianapolis Housing Agency to distribute hundreds of free backpacks, school supplies, and haircuts to needy Indianapolis-area students as well.  Derwin has also distributed over 10,000 holiday gifts to less fortunate families in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, US Marines, and Toys for Tots. With over 10-years of experience working with youth, including 5-years as a middle school teacher for Indianapolis Public Schools, Mr. Smiley is a dynamic facilitator that uses ingenious illustrations to drive his points home.  For this reason, his scheduled speaking engagements always draw large crowds.