2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Conference

While conversations about ways to make the business community more diverse, equitable, and inclusive must continue - this panel hopes to highlight the transformative work that has been done in the business community. DEI work has contributed to many successful events, policies, workplace culture shifts, and more that have happened in the Triangle business community. These panelists will be able to speak to their "wins", successes, and methods to drive momentum.

Speakers:

Rich Gilliam (Richnovated), Automation Engineer, Grail, Founder, STEM PLUG (moderator)

Diana Graham MPA, MBA, Owner & CEO, Crowned for Success Global Consulting, LLC

Brent Lewis Ph.D., Director of Equitable Well-Being, Durham County Government

Latisha Newby, Esq., Chief People and Legal Officer, Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines

Susie Silver, Director of Client Success, The Diversity Movement

With the Supreme Court's 2023 Ruling ending Affirmative Action in Higher Education, businesses, organizations, and nonprofits may wonder if they will be impacted. This panel consists of nonpartisan government officials, attorneys, and human resources professionals. These experts will answer questions to ensure companies are able to access a diverse workforce, diverse customers, and diverse clientele.

Speakers:

Andrew Blackburn, Vice President of Government Affairs, Raleigh Chamber (moderator)

Gurjit Chima, Asst. County Manager for Human Rights, EEO, and ADA, Arlington County, VA

Collins Saint, Associate, Brooks Pierce

Courtney White, Head of Human Resources, BASF

Employees, employers, and executives are more efficient, productive, and satisfied when they can bring their full identities into the workplace. When you are the only one of a certain identity - bringing your full identity to the workplace may have challenges. This panel will offer expertise on creating a culture of inclusion in our spaces in which all are empowered to be themselves - even when they are the only one.

Speakers:

Valencia Hicks-Harris Ph.D., Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Empower All

Sunny Myers, DEI Practitioner

Siobhan Norris, Division Director, Wake County Veteran Services

Kameron Phillips, Founder & Executive Director, TRUE Change, Inc

Kyle Touchstone, Director, City of Raleigh Economic Development (moderator)

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and How They Shape the Future Employee Resources Groups (commonly referred to as ERGs) are voluntary, often employee-led groups that foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives. They are a valuable tool in fostering inclusivity, creating cultural awareness, and encouraging leadership. This panel will discuss best practices associated with ERG groups and ways they can be used to improve workplace culture.

Speakers:

Amy Baldwin, President, United Partnership

Ian Lee Brown, Vice President & Chief Employee Experience Officer, Duke Health

Dana Martinez, Corporate Affairs Site Lead, Amgen (moderator)

Tenesha Robinson, Strategic ITSM Business Professional, Microsoft

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals and practitioners offer valuable insights to our workplaces and work culture. This panel will share strategies and best practices for maintaining a healthy and vibrant culture of inclusion for the organization.

Speakers:

Dr. Linda Wiley Bing, Ph.D., CDE, CRS, CEO & Lead Consultant, Turning Point Leadership Group (moderator)

Audrea Caesar, Ph.D., Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, UNC Health

Amanda Taylor, Vice President – Plant Manager, Merck

Riley Templeton, Senior Associate Director, APCO Worldwide Inc.

Join us for an enlightening presentation showcasing Lenovo's Product Diversity Office (PDO) and their pivotal role in minimizing bias in our products to ensure usability for a diverse customer base. Led by Ada Lopez, the PDO champions inclusive design practices, ensuring that our technology is accessible to all users while prioritizing diversity in development. Learn how the PDO collaborates across teams to mitigate bias in AI algorithms, implement accessibility features, and foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. Discover how Lenovo is leading the charge in creating technology that empowers every individual, regardless of background or ability.

Ada Lopez, Senior Manager of Product Diversity Office, Lenovo

There are five generations in the workforce, and it is now more important than ever to be aware of the biases that may exist both within your organization and with your customers and potential customers. In this session, you will gain an understanding of ageism, the common manifestations of this form of bias, and its negative effects. You will also learn helpful advice for addressing and eliminating ageism throughout your organization.

Kurt Merriweather, Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing, The Diversity Movement

This session will explore how intentional inclusion of individuals with invisible, chronic illnesses positively impacts employee recruitment, engagement, and retention. It will challenge participants to identify gaps in policies and practices that hinder inclusion while also offering tangible tools for implementing more inclusive practices.

D’andre Hardy, Founder, The Seen Society

There has been substantial change in organizations across the nation around diversity, equity, and inclusion. While change is normal, it feels very fast and is impacting communities at an alarming rate. This session will discuss the changes in DEI but centers our power and how we can progress and move forward to make it sustainable. Participants will also leave with information and tools to continue to be intentional and do this work and operate in purpose. The goal is to stay committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion work even when it opposition comes. Contrary to Sam Cooke's hit single, a change is not gonna come, it's already here.

Ashley Gaddy Robbins, Ph.D., Founder, Ashley Gaddy Enterprises

Ted Abernathy, CEcD, Founder and Managing Partner, Economic Leadership, LLC

Skylar Elliot Casey, Director of Research and Chief Data Nerd, Economic Leadership, LLC

If you were intrigued by the DEI Metro Index presentation on the main stage, join the researchers behind the report in this breakout session to dive deeper into the data. This session will provide a more detailed explanation of the report and its methodology. The researchers will also provide more detail on Raleigh’s performance and how that performance relates to the rest of the country. The session will also include a discussion of the implications of DEI performance on overall economic growth.

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Dilsey Davis, Senior Creative Lead, RTI International,

Ashley Ascott Ahlers, Director of Justice Philanthropy, United Way of the Greater Triangle

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Calandra Jerrell, Senior Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Executive, Bank of America

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Ronda Taylor Bullock, Ph.D., Lead Curator, we are

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Dr. Lisa Scott, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, YMCA of the Triangle

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Al Sullivan, Founder, Inspirus Consulting

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Jennifer Fields, MPH, Founder & President, The Hills Tandem