Julianne
Cenac

Executive Director of Learning and Development

UT Health Science Center at Houston

Julianne Robbins Cenac, PhD, serves as the director of learning and development at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and program director for The Leadership Institutes at UTHealth. At UTHealth, Dr. Cenac leads the professional development and leadership development initiatives for the university’s 8,000 faculty and staff. Her 22-year career includes working internationally throughout China, Singapore, India, Qatar, South Africa and the Caribbean as an executive coach, university administrator and management consultant. Dr. Cenac previously served as assistant vice president at Regent University where she led the university’s Professional and Continuing Education Division and oversaw international affairs. Prior to that role, Dr. Cenac served as a senior management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. in McLean, Virginia. There she led and managed projects in strategy and performance for clients including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs among others. Dr. Cenac’s research interests include leadership complexity, leader behavioral repertoire and emergence.

Airies
Davis

Founder

WorkforcEQi LLC

Dr. Airies Davis is an educator, author, strategist, and coach. For over 15years, she has reflected key diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and equality (DEIB-E) principles for such organizations as Deloitte, Merrill Lynch, Monster Worldwide, American Family Insurance, and Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Davis is the founder of WorkforcEQi LLC, solving workforce challenges utilizing emotional intelligence, mental health well-being, and mindset shifts. Her passion project is the EtiKID Academy LLC, (M/WBE), providing character and career etiquette education to underserved populations. Dr. Davis equally transposes scholar practicum as an Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor for Dominican University, Brennan School of Business in River Forest (near Chicago), Illinois. As a BetterUp Fellow Coach, she is renowned globally for designing Coaching Circle curriculum, presenting BetterUp live events, and facilitating customized evidence-based coaching sessions for a myriad of diverse audiences. Dr. Airies joined Professor Quinetta Roberson in a BetterUp Live session entitled: The Culture of Justice: Building Racially Inclusive Teams and Organizations to share how to develop more racially inclusive communities and organizations from the ground up. She also facilitated a BetterUp Live entitled: How to develop an inclusive mindset and book club discussion for the BetterUp coaching community featuring The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness by Rhonda V. Magee.  Her work for BetterUp continues in the codesign of the following BetterUp coaching circles and roundtables: Allyship Circle, Inclusive Hiring Circle, and Chief Diversity Officer roundtable session. Dr. Davis is a published author of book featuring 18 women leaders. Her chapter is entitled Emotionally Intelligent Wonder Women: Behold Our SHEro Leadership Powers at Work. Her recent notables include the Egretha Education Leadership Award for African American Women's Business and Careers (AWBC) Media, an International Association of Women, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-Inspirational Influencer Award finalist, and Chicago Defender Women of Excellence awardee. She serves on several boards including the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana Gies Dean’s Business Council and National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) Executive Advisory Council. Dr. Davis’ academic journey includes an earned education psychology doctorate from the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education, and Gies MBA from the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana. She is a parent caregiver, aunt, and mentor to a community of loved ones.

Arquella
Hargrove

CEO

Epic Collaborative Advisors

Arquella Hargrove brings a successful 25+year track record of creating and implementing productivity-inducing practices through the application of strategic planning and organizational development in both the public and private sectors. She has supported both established organizations and entrepreneurial ventures advising them through their stages of creation, growth, and stabilization. As the CEO of Epic Collaborative Advisors, she helps business leaders build stronger, more effective teams and companies. Valued for providing her clients with a set of principles on workforce development, diversity & inclusion strategies, EEO and company-wide codes of ethics and policies to build their capacity. Arquella has had the opportunity to impact many leaders, including through the Certified Public Manager (CPM), a nationally accredited program, which exemplifies recognized standards for excellence in public management and leadership. Arquella is a sought-after facilitator, business consultant, speaker, and coach dedicated to the transformative and sustainable results of business leaders. A moderator and frequent panel speaker in the areas of diversity & inclusion, women in leadership, and social capital, as well as, a contributor to publications such as Workforce Magazine. Arquella was named one of Houston’s Most Influential Women by Dmars Magazine in 2019. Arquella holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Ottawa University and an Executive MBA from Texas Woman’s University. Arquella is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown and Lonestar Community College. Certifications include: - SHRM-CP (HR) - PHR - Professional in HR - Certified Master Coach - Certified Crucial Conversations Practitioner - Certified DDI Facilitator - Certified Unconscious Bias Practitioner - Certified Practitioner for Multiple Personality Assessments-Birkman, DISC, Insights, MBTI, Personalysis - Certified Mediator “Arquella’s strengths are her ability to problem solve, counsel management, her demeanor and technical knowledge.” David Austern, Former SFDCT CEO Arquella has been actively involved in the community for many years holding various positions, such as: - Association for Talent Development, National Advisor to Chapters and Chapter Leadership Conference Chair, 2016 - Association for Talent Development (Board Past-President) - Passages for Women (Board Past-President) - The Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Board Past-President) - Community Family Centers (Board Past-Secretary) - United Way of Greater Houston (Class XXVII Project Blueprint, 2008) - Leadership Houston (Class XXX, 2012) - Greater Houston Partnership Women Business Alliance - Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) - National Association for African Americans in Human Resources, (Board Past President, Houston Chapter)

Stan
Kimer

Founder and President

Total Engagement Consulting

Stan C. Kimer, founder and president of Total Engagement Consulting, and National Diversity Council consultant and trainer, is recognized as an internal/external consultant with unique skills in employee development/career mapping, workplace diversity (all areas but with deep specialization in LGBT – Lesbian, Gay, Transgender), and organization effectiveness/leadership development. Stan formed his own consultancy around these areas in 2010 following a 31-year successful diverse, multi-functional career at IBM. While at IBM as Director of Global Sales Operations for IBM’s consulting practice, Stan served as the executive sponsor overseeing career development for IBM’s 3,000 Sales Operations employees. He has now executed his unique innovative career mapping approach which he launched at IBM, with clients ranging from major corporations to church denominations to professional organizations. During his four years on IBM’s global corporate diversity staff, Stan led IBM into industry leadership in LGBT diversity and established IBM’s procedures for supporting transgender employees and assisting with case management of employees undergoing gender transition while in the workplace. Since forming his own consulting practice, Stan has trained or spoken in over 100 venues reaching over 7,500 professionals, and has provided diversity and career development consulting and training to dozens of clients, small and large, across multiple industries. He is a certified Out and Equal Workplace Advocates Building Bridges Trainer and a certified Training Management Corp / Berlitz Cultural Competency Trainer / Practitioner. Within the transgender arena, Stan has provided training to client employee and HR teams and has assisted with case management of gender transitions in the workplace. In 2019, Stan was appointed the part time role of the National Diversity Council’s Vice President of Training. In this role, he serves on the National Diversity Council’s DiversityFIRST Certification Program faculty, and has designed and facilitates their Employee Resource Group Academy, Unconscious Bias, LGBTQ and Inclusive Recruiting training programs. In addition, he provides diversity strategy consulting and diversity training services to the NDC’s clients across several areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. Stan received his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and BS in Management Science from Georgia Tech. In his spare time, Stan trains as a competitive adult figure skater.

Jobi
Martinez

Executive Director

Racial Justice Institute

Jobi Martinez, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of J|M Consulting. Dr. Martinez has 20 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion and has worked with non-profits, city municipalities, colleges and universities, and for-profit corporations. Her work and research primarily examine how institutions advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The last five years, Dr. Martinez has strategically focused on antiracism and guiding institutions on becoming antiracist institutions. In 2018, Dr. Martinez joined the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), one of the most diverse universities in the nation, as the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion. With over 20 years of experience in diversity and inclusion, Dr. Martinez has spent most of her career leading DEI work in higher education. Dr. Martinez worked closely with the president and other administrative leaders on diversity, access, equity, and inclusion initiatives with a special focus on the university’s antiracism initiatives. In her capacity building role, she led the university to receive its first Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. Prior to joining UHD, Dr. Martinez served as the Managing Director and Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at Texas Tech University (TTU) where she helped establish a division of 13 units committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement from 2009 to 2014. In 2014, she left her position to complete her doctorate degree and examine to advance her research and teaching in diversity and inclusion. During this time, she consulted colleges and universities on campus climate studies, diversity and inclusion marketing and communication, antiracism, and strategic plans. Dr. Martinez was recognized as a National Thought Leader (2018 and 2019) for her diversity leadership, innovative practice, and media and communication research.

Ivette
Mayo

Motivational Business Speaker & Author

President & Chief Executive Officer of Yo Soy I AM, LLC

Ivette Mayo is an awarding winning entrepreneur, international author and motivational business speaker. Ivette’s POWER is that she gets what is important, the bottom line – people, profits, and productivity. As the CEO of Yo Soy I AM, LLC, a professional development and consulting firm. She is known as a POWER ADVOCATE by her clients for creating POWERFUL and IMPACTFUL results. Her 27 year global career was spent working in business development, sales, marketing and training. Her focus is to incorporate cultural awareness and competencies into all her training programs to assist participants in stimulating performance and to gain more insight into themselves and others. This dynamic facilitator has worked with several Fortune 100 & 500 companies such as Shell, Direct Energy, Comcast, Nationwide, Comerica Bank, H&R Block, Nielsen, and State Farm. Her high energy style, direct approach and humor make Ivette a powerful motivational business speaker. Her message is always centered on these five key areas, leadership, confidence, change, courage and culture. These keys are certain to empower and unlock potential to lead with confidence in today’s marketplace. Most importantly, she dares her audiences to challenge limited thinking, to take bold action, to push past excuses, and move beyond complacency to be POWERFUL. From 2012 to 2016, Ivette served as a Public Diplomate for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. In 2017, became an award winning international author by pinning her book “A 30 Day Guide to Your POWER - Powerful Outcomes through POWERFUL Words”. In June 2018, she establish POWER On Heels Fund, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on the advancement of Latinas in the workplace and marketplace and minimize the impact of pay-gap inequities faced by providing unique programs, mentorship, and scholarships to accelerate their professional growth and cultivate future leaders. Most recently, Ivette was recognized by TalentLMS and made their list of "Top Female Career Coaches to Follow in 2020", and “2019 Woman Worth Watching” by the Diversity Journal, a national publication.

Brian
Norgaard

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Culture Change Specialist

Practitioner, writer, speaker, and consultant, Brian Norgaard has been accompanying individuals and organizations on their diversity, leadership, and empowerment journeys for over twenty years in the US and abroad. As a culture-change specialist, he has directed nationally recognized DEI initiatives. Known for his frank and engaging style, Brian is a sought-out speaker on DEI and empowerment topics. Brian is one of the few professionals in the diversity field to hold an advanced degree in diversity studies. He received his MA in intercultural relations from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, concentrating in DEI training and consulting. By additionally completing a graduate business program at Harvard University with a concentration in organizational development, Brian possesses a rounded set of skills, theoretical and practical, sensitive to the art and science of DEI strategy and organizational design. He also holds a BA in Asian studies from the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, was a Fellow at the Health Research and Education Trust’s Cultural Competency Leadership Fellowship, and spent two years as an undergraduate student in Japan. Born and raised in rural Oregon, Brian currently resides with his family in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, promoting race unity, skateboarding, and tracking his car.

Eddie
Pate

Founder & Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer

Eddie Pate Speaking and Consulting, LLC

Eddie Pate is currently the Founder and Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer of Eddie Pate Speaking and Consulting, LLC. Eddie Pate Speaking and Consulting focuses on illuminating Inclusion, Diversity and Equity issues and solutions. Our mission is to provide thought leadership in I&D, pushing organizations to be intentional in their approach and focused on addressing issues from a systems framework. Keynote presentations, roundtable and panel facilitation, I&D and Leadership consulting, and Executive guidance will be the primary methods to accomplish our mission. Eddie spent 20th years doing I&D work in the corporate world. He was the Director of Inclusion and Diversity for the World Wide Operations (WWOPs) organization at Amazon. He was responsible for the development and implementation of Global I&D efforts in the largest organization at Amazon. Eddie was formerly the VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Avanade. He was responsible for developing and implementing all diversity and inclusion efforts globally. Prior to Avanade Eddie was the Founder of Pate Consulting & Associates where he focused on I&D and Leadership development consulting. Prior to his own gig, Eddie had two roles at Starbucks. He was the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Starbucks’ Global Diversity team and, prior to a reorganization, Eddie was responsible for all of the diversity efforts Starbucks’ US Business. Prior to joining Starbucks Coffee Company, Eddie was a Director in Microsoft’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Team and was responsible for overseeing implementation of Microsoft’s global diversity initiatives. Prior to joining Microsoft’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Team, Eddie’s career started as the Diversity Manager for Microsoft’s Enterprise and Partner Group reporting to SVP Charles Stevens. Before his corporate journey began, Eddie was a graduate student at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he earned his Ph.D. in sociology focusing on comparative race and ethnic relations/stratification and social psychology. Before graduate school, Eddie served as the Assistant Director of Admissions and School Relations at Humboldt State University in northern California. Eddie also had a short stint in the NFL but severe knee injuries cut his career short. Eddie excelled in college earning All American and All West Coast honors as a wide receiver. He is currently in Humboldt’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Eddie also holds a BA in Wildlife Management and a MA in Sociology from Humboldt State University. He has been married for 33 years to Valeri and they have two children, Karley (27) and Arthur (21). He has three dogs named Lola, Macy and Captain Fantastic.

Jonathan
Stutz

President and Chief Diversity Officer

Global Diversity Partners

Jonathan Stutz is the President and Chief Diversity Officer at Global Diversity Partners. Previously, he led Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity for several global businesses at Amazon. His business experience includes Amazon, Microsoft, and Zulily. He has a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and has experience in cross-cultural management, international business, operations, human resources, corporate governance, and leadership development. Jonathan serves on the Board of Trustees for Youth Eastside Services, a Seattle area non-profit focused on the behavioral health of children. He serves on the City of Kirkland, Washington’s Human Services Commission and co-founded the Seattle area’s Eastside Diversity Task Force, the Eastside Latino Leadership Forum, and the Professional Technical Diversity Network in the Puget Sound and Bay Areas. Jonathan is a former President of the Lake Washington Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He also served on the National Diversity Committee for SHRM. Jonathan is an active runner and hiker and while born in Toronto, Canada, has lived in the Seattle area most of his life. He is married to Stacie for 30+ years, they have two adult children and a Golden Retriever.