President, North America, Dow Chemical

Vice President, Government Affairs & Advocacy, North America

Louis A. Vega serves as president of Dow North America and vice president, Government Affairs & Advocacy, North America.
Over his 20+ year career at Dow, Louis has gained wide-ranging expertise, honed his strong business acumen, and led significant growth projects and business development programs. All of this has been augmented through his extensive international experience, which includes roles in Horgen, Switzerland; Washington D.C.; Dubai, UAE; Midland, Michigan; New York, New York; and Melbourne, Australia.
Previously, he served chief of staff of the Office of the Chairman and CEO from 2011 to 2017. Later, he was named vice president of Dow’s Olympic & Sports Solutions business, where he served from 2014-2019. He most recently headed up Dow’s presence in Australia and New Zealand as president and managing director for the two countries from 2016 to 2019. Louis, a passionate leader who advocates for inclusion and works towards full equality for all, strives to demonstrate how diversity can ensure enterprise success and deliver bottom line results. A member of the Trilateral Commission and many nonprofit boards, Louis is a philanthropist and proud multi-year member of the OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models list. Louis was also named to Australia’s 50 outstanding LGBTI business executives of 2018 and 2019. In 2015, his alma mater, New Mexico State University, honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award.
Prior to joining Dow, Vega had a series of roles in Washington, D.C. – from Capitol Hill to the Executive Branch – over the span of 12 years

Lieutenant Governor, Michigan

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist has dedicated his career to solving problems. An engineer by training, he uses thoughtful innovation, progressive reform, and efficient modernization of policies and programs to make the work better for hardworking families. From spearheading campaigns for equality and justice to harnessing technology to solve real problems, his focus has consistently remained on serving the public and getting things done.
He brings a lifetime of experience to the task, receiving his first computer at age five and setting up a computer lab in a Detroit community recreation center using computers that he built himself at age 16. Lt. Governor Gilchrist studied computer engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, graduating with honors, and later had a successful career as a software engineer at Microsoft, helping to build SharePoint into the fastest growing product in the company’s history.
Lt. Governor Gilchrist spent the next several years of his career as a social entrepreneur and community organizer who helped people in communities across America realize their full economic and political potential. Upon returning home to Detroit, Lt. Governor Gilchrist worked in local government to make sure build systems that made the government more responsive, transparent, and accountable to city residents. This experience prepared him for a key priority: to bring Michigan’s state government fully into the 21st century on every level.
As part of the Whitmer Administration, Lt. Governor Gilchrist has sought to address injustice and inequity across our state at every level. From co-chairing the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration to helming the Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, these task forces have taken actions that saved lives and protect our most vulnerable populations. Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s approach to addressing these disparities is deeply rooted in fact-based practices, science, and connecting with individuals across Michigan.
Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and his wife, Ellen, reside in Detroit where they are raising their twins, Emily and Garlin III, and daughter, Ruby.

Model, Actress, Performer and Activist

As a featured model, Carmen has worked with PUMA and has walked shows at New York City Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week. In fact, she was the first transgender model to ever walk at Miami Swim Week. Her fans are very passionate, where they created a petition for her to be the first transgender Victoria Secret Model, which went viral creating international media attention. In a very special project “Show Girl”, Carmen was photographed by the legendary Steven Meisel for a spread in W Magazine. She also did a special project with HBO creating Transgender Awareness in Latin America for the show “Outpost” and was the face of the New York City Health Department’s #PlaySure Campaign.
Other recent highlights include Carmen partnering with Christina Aguilera performing at Radio City Music Hall and hosting events at the Sundance Film Festival for AT&T and at NYC Fashion Week for Fashion News Live on Amazon Prime. Carmen spoke at the Iowa Safe Schools Governor’s Conference, which is the largest LGBTQ Youth Conference in the country and was the special celebrity host for the Equality California Awards in San Francisco.
Carmen continues to be advocate for many great causes, including Human Rights, HIV Prevention, and Discrimination against Transgender Women.

Former CEO, Henry Ford Health System

Nancy M. Schlichting is retired Chief Executive Officer of Henry Ford Health System (HFHS), a nationally recognized $5.7 billion health care organization with 30,000 employees and recipient of the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, 2011 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Quality Award, and 2004 Foster G. McGaw Award. She is credited with leading the health system through a dramatic financial turnaround and for award-winning patient safety, customer service and diversity initiatives.
Schlichting joined HFHS in 1998 as its Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, President and CEO of Henry Ford Hospital and was named President and CEO of the System in 2003. Retiring in 2017, her career in health care administration spans over 35 years of experience in senior level executive positions.
Schlichting serves on several corporate and non-profit boards including Duke University, The Kresge Foundation, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Encompass Health, Pear Therapeutics, Duke University Health System, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Nancy is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the International Women’s Forum. In June, 2015, Schlichting was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the Commission on Care. The Commission was tasked to examine veterans’ access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care and to examine strategically how best to organize the Veterans Health Administration, locate health resources, and deliver health care to veterans during the next 20 years. The Commission reported to the President of the United States through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and completed the Commission Report in July, 2016. Schlichting testified to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees in September, 2016. In April, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Schlichting to co-chair the Michigan Economic Recovery Council to advise her on the business and healthcare impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2015, Schlichting was honored as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine, the eighth time she received this recognition. In 2017, she was also named to the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, the fifth time she received this recognition and the only Michigander named to the list. Her other awards include the National Center for Healthcare Leadership Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence award, American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award, American Hospital Association/Health Research and Education Trust 2014 TRUST Award, Becker's Hospital Review “40 of the Smartest People in Healthcare-2014”, Crain’s Detroit Business “2012 Newsmaker of the Year”, HealthLeaders Media “20 People Who Make Healthcare Better-2012”, and most recently was named one of “Crain’s 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan”, and received Modern Healthcare’s “Visionary IMPACT Award”.
Author of the acclaimed book, Unconventional Leadership, Schlichting is a highly regarded expert and accomplished speaker on strategic leadership, quality, cultural transformation, community engagement, innovation, and diversity.
Schlichting received her A.B. in Public Policy Studies, Magna Cum Laude from Duke University and her M.B.A. from Cornell University. She has also been the recipient of honorary doctoral degrees from Towson University, Walsh College, Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University.

President Human Rights Campaign

Alphonso B. David, an accomplished and nationally recognized LGBTQ civil rights lawyer and advocate, is the president of the Human Rights Campaign. Mr. David is the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to serve as president of HRC in the organization’s nearly 40- year history.
Mr. David has significant litigation and management experience in the public, private and notfor-profit sectors. He has been at the forefront of the movement for LGBTQ equality for more than a decade and worked at both the state and national level.
In 2015, Mr. David was appointed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to serve as Counsel to the Governor. In this role, he has functioned as the Governor’s chief counsel and principal legal advisor, and managed all significant legal and policy deliberations affecting New York State, including evaluating proposed legislation; implementing laws and policies and formulating the State’s posture in both affirmative and defensive litigation.
Prior to his appointment as the Governor’s Chief Counsel, Mr. David served for four years in the Governor’s cabinet as the Deputy Secretary and Counsel for Civil Rights, the first position of its kind in New York State. In this capacity, he was responsible for a full range of legal, policy, legislative and operational matters affecting civil rights and labor throughout the State. Mr. David also previously served as Special Deputy Attorney General for Civil Rights for the Office of the New York State Attorney General, where he managed Assistant Attorneys General on a variety of civil rights investigations and affirmative litigation, including employment and housing discrimination, fair lending, immigration, reproductive rights and anti-bias claims. Further, he previously served as Deputy Commissioner and Special Counselor at the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Prior to working in the public sector, Mr. David served as a staff attorney at the Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund. At Lambda Legal, Mr. David litigated precedent-setting civil rights cases across the nation affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals as well as those living with HIV and AIDS. He handled both affirmative and defensive matters relating to marriage, parenting rights, discrimination in schools and access to health care. In addition, Mr. David served as a litigation associate at the law firm Blank Rome LLP. He began his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Clifford Scott Green in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
For the past decade, Mr. David has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law. He began his work in academia with Fordham University Law School and continued at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Temple University School of Law.

Member of the editorial board, Detroit Free Press

Nancy Kaffer is an award-winning columnist and member of the editorial board at the Detroit Free Press, where she writes about politics, policy and the complicated relationship between the two, from Detroit’s historic municipal bankruptcy to k12 education in Detroit to the Flint water crisis. Kaffer’s coverage of the Flint water crisis earned her the 2015 Scripps Howard Walker Stone Award for Opinion Writing and the Shorenstein Center’s 2016 Nyhan Prize. Kaffer has contributed articles and columns to Politico, CNN Opinion and The Daily Beast, writing about state and national politics, policy and culture. Previously a staff writer for Crain’s Detroit Business, Kaffer wrote about small business, retail, city government and Michigan’s second-stage economy. She has also worked at publications including metro Detroit alt-weekly Metro Times and the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American, where she covered k-12 education and post-Katrina recovery in Mississippi’s strange and fascinating Pine Belt.

Chief Executive Officer, National Diversity Council

Ángeles Valenciano serves as chief executive officer of the National Diversity Council (NDC), becoming the first female CEO of this major nonprofit. In this role, she will continue to advance the NDC’s mission of fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Ms. Valenciano is a seasoned strategist with more than 20 years of human resources experience, primarily focused on diversity, organizational change, and development. She was previously president of the Healthcare Diversity Council and executive vice president of the NDC. She oversaw the growth of several national markets, including California, Colorado and Arizona. Under her leadership, the annual Women in Leadership Symposium was created and is now a national and global event held in more than thirty states and several countries, including England, Mexico, Canada, and United Arab Emirates.
As an assistant vice president and officer at JPMorgan, she served in the capacity of leadership development consultant in Credit Card Services and Organizational Development and consultant to Customer Services’ clients. Ms. Valenciano also managed the strategic direction and execution of organizational-wide development processes and diversity programs and initiatives. She served as a subject matter expert on global diversity, overseeing its initiatives in various countries.
Active in charitable and civic affairs, Ms. Valenciano is a graduate of the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de San Luis Potosí located in the City of San Luis Potosí in Mexico with a degree in business and computer information systems. She holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certificate from the University of Villanova. She has completed various leadership and professional development programs across the country and abroad. Ms. Valenciano is fluent in English and Spanish. She serves on the Science, Engineering and Technology board at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. She is a strong advocate and chairs several committees for people with disabilities in the workplace. She is a proud ally to the LGBT community and is active with several chambers of commerce across the country. Ms. Valenciano lives in San Antonio, TX, with her sons.

Development & Operations Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Tanya Markos-Vanno, Development & Operations Manager Pure Michigan Business Connect, MEDC

Tanya Markos-Vanno currently works as the development and operations manager for Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC), a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. In this role, Vanno is responsible for initiating, designing and organizing strategic buyer-supplier matchmaking initiatives. She works to increase procurement for Michigan suppliers through creating and maintaining strategic partnerships between suppliers and private sector executives to further PMBC recruitment.
Prior to PMBC, Vanno served for eight years as executive director for the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Under her direction, the chamber developed and implemented a five-year strategic plan including, but not limited to, establishing brand equity, implementing operating systems, developing and managing volunteer committees, hiring and training staff, securing major sponsors and establishing attraction and retention protocol.
Before her position at the Southfield Chamber, she worked for a virtual officing company moving up in the company over her seven-year tenure. As a business consultant, she worked directly with clients and business owners to find solutions to keep their overhead costs down, while maintaining their professional image. In this capacity, she served as an ambassador for the Southfield Chamber then as a board member.
Vanno has more than 15 years of experience as a strong relationship builder, trusted leader and dedicated business partner. She brings excitement and dedication to her position at PMBC and continues to explore new ways to grow Michigan businesses.
Vanno has a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Wayne State University.

Senior Vice President, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)

As Senior Vice President at NGLCC, Sabrina Kent serves as a member of NGLCC’s Executive Leadership and oversees the NGLCC TGNC Inclusion Task Force. Sabrina works with the organization’s Supplier Diversity Initiative and is the liaison to the NGLCC Board of Directors. Sabrina was recognized by Business Equality Magazine as a 2019 Top 40 LGBT Leader Under 40 and in 2020 by Crain’s New York Business in its Notable LGTBQ Leaders and Executives list. Sabrina serves on the Board of Directors of Q Street.

BA, MFA, CDP, Speaker and Author

Nate Cannon, BA, MFA is a nationally recognized speaker and author. He trains in the areas of diversity and inclusion, as well as crisis intervention, educating consumers and professionals through his experiences as a transgender man living with both mental illness and an unseen physical disability. He has over ten years of experience working with dementia, law, mental health, and chemical dependency. To learn more about his work, visit: natecannon.org

Director of Employee Engagement, Doner Advertising

Tom is thrilled to continue his work and passion in the field of corporate Work Life. He works closely with the leadership and all departments at Doner to create an inclusive, energized, happy and healthy culture. He knows that if you innovate, engage and support all employees and programs that you will set a culture in motion that will allow all to thrive.
Before joining the Doner team, Tom was Chief Executive Officer of Daniallle Karmanos’ Work It Out (a Michigan non-profit) and the President/Owner of HALE Culture, a consulting company with a comprehensive concierge-style approach to effective work life happiness and innovative culture. Tom has been in the corporate Wellness and Work Life industry for more than 30 years, and he has earned a reputation as a skilled, committed and energetic professional. He held the position of Director of Wellness and Work Life for 14 years at Compuware Corporation where he and his team oversaw all the work life programs and culture initiatives for the company on a global level.
Tom is effective at motivating people of all ages to learn and practice the knowledge and information he shares. He has an extensive track record of conducting results-based workshops for corporations and individuals looking to improve the health and employee engagement. He has developed a keen insight into the most effective current and future work life approaches. Assessing and innovating the culture of companies is what drives his work in the corporate space.
He also spent three years in Vevey and Lausanne Switzerland where he studied and worked until he made the decision to return home (Michigan) to begin his career.
Few people are as generous with their time as Tom. For that reason, he has held leadership roles or participated in a variety of community and philanthropic organizations including Aids Walk Detroit, Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, Hospice of Michigan’s Race and Remember, American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure and Make-a-Wish of Michigan’s 300-Mile Bike Ride and a seat on the Executive Board of Directors with The Athletes with Disabilities Network and Danialle Karmanos’ Work It Out.

CoFounder, Inception

Tina McCullar is the co-founder of Inception and has over 20 years experience in the corporate sector and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Tina is a licensed clinical social worker with 18 years of supervisory expertise. Tina provided school-based mental health services for students K-12 diagnosed with ADHD adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD, autism, as well as learning and cognitive disorders. Tina’s has a hands on approach and meticulously oversee’s the operational structure and functionality of each Inception endeavor. Tina manages the multimillion dollar enterprise of Inception, engaging the financial integrity of the organization while also developing policy and procedure for all licensees and future franchise owners. Tina travels the country on the speaking circuit as a spokesperson for Inception and has a deep passion for women overcoming traumas from abuse and neglect at every stage.

Associate Director, CrossCountry Consulting

Lee Cage Jr. serves as an Associate Director, Technology Services at CrossCountry Consulting managing and supporting customers during critical testing activities as they transform their HR and Financial practices.
For more than 13 years, Lee has served in the TN Army National Guard on both a M-Day Solider and ADSW solider, supporting human resource units, yellow ribbon (pre, during and post deployment training for service members), and counterdrug task force.
Lee has several years of experience supporting add-on, medium-enterprise, and large-enterprise projects, and serves as an internal testing subject matter expert.
Lee serves on the Board of Directors for March of Dimes for both St. Louis and Nashville market.
Outside of his professional “day” responsibilities, at his previous firm, he was the founding member and is the current chair of a military and dependent focused Employee Resource Group, named VALOR.

Co-Owner, BWHR CONSULTING

Karen L. Bathanit has spent her entire career in the Human Resources field. Her vast experience reaches multiple industries including manufacturing, health care, government and higher education. Her incredible strategic drive has created work environments that support creativity, accountability and results for every employer she has worked with. Karen is a proven negotiator, with over 50 successful bargained contracts under her wing. Thanking those who have fostered her career, Karen has mentored many young women, who today are thriving, successful professionals.
Karen has served on multiple boards and committees and is the co-founder of OakMac SHRM.
president@oakmac-hr.org

Co-Owner, BWHR CONSULTING

Deanna Willmarth is the President of BWHR Consulting, a human resource consulting firm in Southeast Michigan and a Partner in HR Tech Solutions, LLC. She has 20 years of human resource experience in providing strategic solutions for all areas including but not limited to compliance, labor relations, benefits administration, HRIS best practices, training, and payroll. Prior to starting BWHR Consulting, Deanna worked in a variety of industries in human resources including manufacturing, healthcare, and IT. Her last position was the HR Director of a large local public healthcare facility with four unions. Technology consulting, implementation and support has been a primary focus for Deanna throughout her career. She brings an in-depth understanding of HR Practices and experience in over 25 HRIS/Benefit Administration systems to both HR Tech and BWHRC. Deanna is the Co-President of Oak Mac SHRM, a local chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management.
president@oakmac-hr.org

Integration Product Lead, Ford Motor Company

Bill Peters is a IT Supervisor for Product Integration at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI. He started at Ford Motor Company in 2012 and is a 3rd generation employee. He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Keller School of Management at DeVry University.
Bill is the Chairperson of Ford GLOBE, Ford Motor Company’s LGBT+ business and employee resource group. Ford GLOBE has over 750 members in 14 chapters around the world.
Outside of Ford Bill is on the board of the Detroit Midwest Invitational Softball Tournament, an LGBT+ tournament held in Metro Detroit every four years.
Bill resides in Ypsilanti, MI with his partner of 21 years where they enjoy home improvement projects, spending time with friends & family and all University of Michigan sports, particularly their football tailgating.

Founder & CEO, The Sister Accord, LLC

Sonia is the Founder, President & CEO of The Sister Accord Foundation, which has 3 areas of focus: Educating girls and women, Enlightening girls and women of the Power of Sisterhood and Eradicating bullying and violence against girls and women. She is also the Founder & CEO of The Accord Group LLC, which is a leadership development, executive coaching, employee engagement, branding & diversity consultancy. She launched her Dreamwalking® Executive Coaching & Leadership Development Program in 2015 and now has hundreds of “Dreamwalkers” (Mentees) walking in purpose and Designing Their Destinies. Prior to launching her entrepreneurial career, Sonia managed over $20 billion, working for Ford Motor Company, The Gillette Company and Procter & Gamble. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her mantra is “There is always a seat at the table for excellence—focus on being excellent.”

Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Slalom

Iesha Berry is a member of Slalom’s Global People Leadership Team where she serves as the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. With over twenty years of global experience in I&D across various companies and industries including Bank of America, Microsoft, Pfizer, and Prudential Financial Iesha leads I&D as a business imperative and is also responsible for stewarding Slalom’s efforts in the equity, environmental, social, and sustainability areas. Most recently, Iesha was SVP of Market and Site HR at Bank of America and previously served as an HR executive and Head of Diversity & Inclusion for the Wealth Management division there. Berry received a M.A. in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from University of Minnesota and a B.A. in Psychology from Tougaloo College.

Attorney General

A former criminal prosecutor in Wayne County and civil rights attorney Dana Nessel was sworn in as Michigan’s 54th Attorney General on January 1, 2019. Her core initiatives have been fashioned in the image of her promise to Michigan’s residents — to give the Department of Attorney General back to the people it serves. As the State’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Attorney General Nessel launched Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force, in partnership with the Michigan Supreme Court, to stop the rise of crimes against one of our most vulnerable populations. She launched the Department’s first Auto Insurance Fraud Unit to investigate and prosecute individuals and businesses who exploit Michigan residents and the system designed to protect the safety of Michigan’s drivers. She has continued the Department’s two largest criminal investigations into the Flint Water Crisis and clergy abuse in the Catholic Church. After starting a Hate Crimes Unit in 2019, she has recently expanded that Unit’s mission to tackle the increase in crimes related to domestic terrorism. Lastly, she has made public integrity a top priority of the Department, reviewing and prosecuting – where appropriate – cases involving law enforcement and other public officials due to conflicts of interest for county prosecutors.
A graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School, Attorney General Nessel lives in southeast Michigan with her family

Supplier Diversity Manager, Kellogg

Debra Quade, Supplier Diversity Manager at Kellogg Company, believes that successfully expanding the company’s supplier diversity program depends on methodically paying attention to the details. Along with her team, she is currently in the process of standardizing procedures, finalizing policies, updating reporting forms, and ensuring the supplier database is current. Debra is focused on aligning supplier diversity efforts with procurement teams, internal customers, and local suppliers. She also spearheads partnerships with organizations that bring value to Kellogg, like CAMSC and WEConnect. Partnerships she produced a food safety seminar for the skilled trades industry, a seminar for women owned businesses in the food & beverage industry,” and a planned 2013 marketing seminar.
Debra serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development (CEED) and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She currently leads a MiDiCo Module for supplier inclusion and opportunity and serves on the Advisory Board for the Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council. She has previously been involved with the Michigan MSDC Council Board of Directors, and the West Michigan Chamber Coalition Cultural Competency Committee.

Owner, Good Cakes and Bakes

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, April Anderson attended Chadsey High School and afterwards obtained her Bachelors of Science from Spelman College in Atlanta Georgia. Later April received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan. However, April knew at the early age of 9 that she wanted to be a baker and started making treats for her family on a regular basis.
As April’s curiosity grew she began exploring more sophisticated recipes and started a home based baking business in 2008; this is also when April took her first Wilton’s Cake Decorating Class. In 2010 April attended Macomb Community College for Pastry Arts. There she gained knowledge on Pastry Techniques, Artisan Breads, French Pastries and Recipe Development. It was during this time that April knew that she wanted to open a bakery in the Detroit and discovered D:hive and later became one of the graduates of the February 2013

BUILD class

Manager Partner, iCode Innovations

Bill Calhoun, MBA, PIP, is the Managing Partner of iCode Innovations. iCode Innovation is a rapidly growing company that has already earned a reputation for being a trusted partner to Clients ranging in size from Small & Medium Businesses to Fortune 1000 companies. At iCode Innovation we think beyond sourcing and hiring talent, we focus on retaining talent and solving challenges.
We are one of the very few selected companies globally that is certified by ISO for its recruitment process, sourcing analysis, IT Development & Programming skills, HR skills, SLA, KPI, Quality in Business process training, communication training, Sales training, this include Business solutions, consulting, application management, staffing, and outsourcing. This helps us to be more agile and creative in sourcing for our clients.

Director, Strategic Engagement & Procurement, Bristol Myers Squibb

Paul D. Ashley is a seasoned procurement executive with over 20 years of Industry Experience. Paul is currently Director Strategic Engagement within the Global Procurement group at Bristol- Myers Squibb. In his role, Paul is responsible for strategic advising on global category strategies, performance management, professional development, communications and Market Intelligence.
Diversity and Inclusion has been a passion of Paul throughout his career. At BMS he served on the Leadership Team of BOLD (Black Organization for Leadership Development), the People and Business Resource Group (PBRG) where he helped to develop their strategic business plan as well as leads BOLD’s Patient Advocacy Initiative. . Paul serves as co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Council for the Global Business Operations function at BMS.
His role as a procurement professional and passion for diversity coalesce with his work advocating for small and diverse businesses within the supply chain of large companies such as BMS. Because of his leadership in this area, he was named to the Board of Directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), a national advocacy and policy organization, where he recently serves as chair of its strategic planning committee.
Prior to joining BMS, Paul has held various roles in Procurement and Supply Chain management with both IBM and Pfizer. Paul also served as the Chief Procurement officer at Howard University, where he led several transformation initiatives that increased organization performance and compliance.
Giving back to the community has always been important to Paul. In 2015 he started and facilitated sponsorship of community outreach events as part of BMS engagement at supplier diversity conferences. The objective is to connect with diverse patient communities and/or top diverse talent representing the next generation of corporate professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as providing an additional opportunity to engage and highlight diverse suppliers. For this work, Paul was named a 2017 Corporate Buyer of the Year and led a project that was named Corporate Initiative of the Year from the National Business Inclusion Consortium at the 2019 Best of the Best Awards.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University, as well as a Master of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering from The University of Michigan. Paul is also recognized by the Institute of Supply Management as a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM).
Paul resides in Hightstown, New Jersey where he is involved in the greater Trenton community. He is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County, and is an active member of both the Trenton Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Union Baptist Church.

Director of Supplier Diversity, NGLCC

Alicia Greene has been a part of the Supplier Diversity Initiative Team with Nation LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) for 2yrs. As a Supplier Diversity Manager, Alicia assists LGBT business owners with getting their business certified with NGLCC. Once certified, she works with LGBTBEs to take full advantage of their certification by connecting them to business and growth opportunities.
Alicia received her B.S. in Government emphasis in Legal Studies from Texas Woman’s University. Before joining the NGLCC team, Alicia worked for The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) where she advocated for social and economic justice. Prior to working in the non-profit sector, she worked in intellectual property.

Executive Director, Michigan Diversity Council

Darlene King began her career with the Michigan Diversity Council-MIDC, a division of the National Diversity Council, in 2015. As the executive director, her charge is working with corporations and organizations in developing diversity and inclusion initiatives, programs, processes, and procedures. She also oversees the growth of the council in the area of business development throughout the entire state of Michigan.
Prior to her tenure with the MIDC, she held the role of director of events, consultant services, training and development for all 34 school districts under the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency for over 10 years. Her territory covered implementation and execution of all workshops and conference as well as maintaining CEU’s for teachers and administrators within Wayne County MI. She managed more than 60 consultants as well as county-wide, signature events such as the Teacher Job Fair, County K-12 Art Fair and the Cultural Collaborative for Learning. Darlene was also an inaugural member of the Diversity Strategic Planning Committee, which rolled out a county-wide diversity plan for all districts.
Darlene’s background is widespread. She spent six years as a national concert promoter, traveling around the world with some of today’s most popular artists in the industry. She has produced and promoted shows at every concert venue in Detroit and beyond.
In 2008, she launched her consulting company, Life’s Journey Training and Consulting. Competing in today's global market, Life’s Journey offers services in industries ranging from education to automotive, medical, non-profits and manufacturing. Its area of expertise consists of diversity and inclusion, leadership development, marketing, and public relations. Life’s Journey has provided service deliverables to Wayne County Head Start Programs, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, The Order of the Fisherman, The Detroit Medical Center, Revival Home Health Care, RTM Music Group, Real Times Media, Stonecrest Behavioral Health, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Universal Studios, Detroit Community Schools, MASCO Corporation, Diversity Lansing and many more.
Darlene is a native of Michigan and enjoys spending time with her family, nephews and niece. She says her faith in God, family, passion for people and her love of traveling and gardening are the drivers which keep her on a Life’s Journey. Darlene has a passion for people and earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing from Wayne State University in Detroit. She has been operating in this capacity as well as in education and organizational development for 25 years. Darlene earned her National Certification as a Certified Diversity and Inclusion Professional in 2018.

Founder and CEO, Calibrated Lens, LLC

Living and leading by example, Jennifer A. Ingram’s career has been forged through her greatest passions - inspiring others to embrace their journey, live their truth, and thrive authentically while promoting a unified vision for more equitable and inclusive communities. A student of life and continuous learner, Jennifer has traveled the globe visiting six continents and over thirty countries. She approaches differences with curiosity and humility seeking to understand how others experience life, foster a sense of belonging, and celebrate differences.
Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of Calibrated Lens, LLC, a boutique consulting firm with the mission of inspiring clients facilitate sustainable change to optimize performance, presence, and productivity by centering equity and inclusion. Before launching Calibrated Lens, she served as the first Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, the sixth largest United Way in the nation. In this role she gained national attention for the publication of the organization’s inaugural DEI Community Report. A couple of noteworthy accomplishment during her tenure in Cincinnati included leading the planning and implementation of the first community-wide event in the Tri-State area in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing. She is also responsible for organizing the first ever LGBT+ centered discussion at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Possessing over a decade of progressive healthcare experience, prior to relocating to Cincinnati in 2018, Jennifer demonstrated success in bringing together leadership and key stakeholders to advance DEI strategies at two nationally ranked academic medical centers: Mayo Clinic and Henry Ford Health System. She embodies the qualities of servant leadership, driven by an unwavering commitment to strengthening communities. Leading through collaboration and influence, Jennifer never meets a stranger; seeing and valuing individuals equally from all walks of life building and maintaining relationships with intentionality. Her multifaceted experiences have generated her keen ability to address complex challenges methodically with ease and simplicity. Jennifer has been described as a dynamic communicator with an energetically infectious presence. She is a nationally sought-after presenter and well-respected DEI thought leader with extensive experience captivating and training global audiences both large and small.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has been the recipient of several awards and accolades. In 2020 she was named Most Valuable Participant (MVP) in United Way Worldwide’s Advanced Leaders Program, a highly selective global executive leadership program. In 2019, for her community advocacy, Jennifer was a recipient of both a LGBT Community Leadership Award from the Ohio Diversity Council as well as a Vivazi Torch Award from Black Cincy Pride. Previously, she was also recognized by DiversityMBA, a national leadership organization integrating diversity and inclusion with talent management, as a Top 100 Under 50 Emerging Executive Leaders.
A native of Metro-Detroit, Jennifer earned a graduate degree from Central Michigan University in Organizational Leadership and completed undergraduate coursework at Eastern Michigan University in Healthcare Administration and minored in Healthcare Informatics. In her spare time, she serves on the Board of Directors for Global Women 4 Wellbeing, Xavier University’s Center for Women in Business and Leadership Advisory Board, and a CORE Team Member of All in Cincinnati Racial Equity Coalition. She is a strong proponent of volunteerism and mentoring youth from marginalized communities. Jennifer enjoys the arts, cooking, and experiencing different cultures and authentic cuisine.

President DRLGBTCC
USA Today Network

Kevin Terrell Heard is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University (CAU), where he received a BA in Public Relations. In 2018, Heard received his MBA from Walsh College in Troy. Heard works for Gannett/USA Today Network as the Diversity & Engagement Program Manager for USA Today Network. Heard is the current Board President and Founder of the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Mercedes Benz Financial Services USA, LLC

In her current role, Jody focuses on developing and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce. She provides of a range of consultation services to managers and supervisors to help them develop and implement strategies to create and sustain a culturally rich environment. She also serves as an internal consultant to leaders as they recognize, identify and resolve diversity issues throughout the organization.
Jody’s oversight includes corporate-wide D&I programs, six Business Resource Groups and the D&I council, all to assure an inclusive workplace. Jody offers coaching in D&I, change management, and organization effectiveness. She provides guidance to team members and researches and reviews analytics to identify D&I trends. Further, she leads cultural events and creates strategies to bring about changes within the organization. Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Jody worked for FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) in Corporate Diversity and Talent Acquisition as well as for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in Strategic Talent Acquisition and Diversity Program Management.
Jody holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Michigan and an Master of Business Administration in finance from Wayne State University. She is a Certified Diversity Professional, has served on the adjunct faculty at Wayne State and is on the board of the Michigan Diversity Council. She and her husband live in Rochester Hills with their three children.

Vice President, Senior Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, Comerica Bank

Lori Walker is the Vice President, Senior Diversity and Inclusion Consultant at Comerica Bank. She has been with Comerica Bank since 2009. In her current role, she has primary responsibility for Diversity and Inclusion education and Corporate Governance for the company. This includes managing the required and elective D&I education for senior leadership, managers and employees. The Corporate Governance role includes management of the bank’s EEO and Affirmative Action program.
Prior to joining Comerica in 2009, Lori worked as a Director of Diversity, Manager of Affirmative Action and other Employee Relations management roles over the previous 15 years.
She received her Masters’ Degree in Industrial Relations from Wayne State University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan Flint. Lori is a Certified Diversity Professional through the National Diversity Council.
Lori is on the Board of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion and the Michigan Diversity Council.
Personally, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband and twin 11-year old girls. She is very involved in her daughters’ school and coaches cheerleading. She enjoys traveling, running and gardening.

Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Consumers Energy

In her position as Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Angela Thompkins leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) and Strategic Talent Sourcing teams for Consumers Energy. In this role, Thompkins is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s DE&I and strategic recruitment strategies. Thompkins also serves as the Advisor to the company’s Employee Resource Groups. Under her leadership, the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been recognized by Forbes; DiversityInc; Military Times; Best for Vets; Corporate Equality Index; Corp! Magazine; National Organization On Disability; and, featured on Montel Williams’ Military Makeover show just to name a few.
Her previous experience includes various positions within Human Resources in the automotive and foodservice industries; Automotive Lobbyist; Trial Attorney; and, Adjunct Professor.
Thompkins serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, Equality Michigan, American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) Michigan, NPower Detroit and the Advisory Council for the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Thompkins holds a bachelor’s degree in political science; a Juris Doctor and an LL.M. in Labor and Employment law.

Senior Sr. Specialist, Diversity Inclusion & Employee Engagement, The Hershey Company

Tory Niceswander is the Senior Specialist, Diversity Inclusion and Employee Engagement at The Hershey Company. Tory is a member of the Global Inclusion & Employee Experience team where he influences and executes the employee experience strategy. He is responsible for advising and coaching Hershey’s leaders on employment matters including policy interpretation, HR procedures, employee conflicts, and performance management. Tory is responsible for the conception, design, implementation, growth, and evaluation of inclusion and belonging at the company to drive the recruitment and retention of a diverse and culturally competent global workforce.
Most recently, Tory served as the Inclusion & Diversity Program Coordinator at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Tory was the primary lead for the Employee Resource Network (ERN) program. He oversaw 10 employee resource networks, ERN Annual conference, ERN leader training, and summer intern projects through influencing executive sponsors, volunteer leaders, and employees.
During his tenure at BCBSM, Tory served as the Board Chair of the BCBSM Leadership Development Association, a chapter of NMA – The Leadership Development Association where he directs the implementation of professional development opportunities, community service, public relations, and member engagement, along with fiduciary oversight. Tory also led the efforts of the merger of the two Blue Cross chapters and the rebranding campaign for the chapter to become more inclusive in its recruitment and retention. Tory has previously served as President (2018-2019; 2019-2020) and Vice President Professional Development (2016; 2017-2018).
Previously, Tory has served as Young Professionals Network Sr. Mentor, Azul Hispanic Latinx ERN Treasurer and Secretary, on the Corporate Secretary & Services Division Diversity Council, was a participant of BCBSM Mentoring Circles (executive mentoring program), Intern Project Advisor, and actively supported the Equally Blue (LGBTQ+) ERN leadership team.
Tory obtained his Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, a graduate certificate in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Social Psychology from Western Michigan University. Tory serves on the Michigan Diversity Council Advisory Board, Ferndale School Diversity Committee, and the Criminal Justice Advisory Board at Wayne State University.
Tory and his partner reside in Ferndale with two daughters and Rudy their four-legged housemate.

Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Wayne State University

Marquita Chamblee is the Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer. In this role she is responsible for leading efforts that advance diversity and inclusion across campus and into the broader community. This involves collaborating with Wayne State students, staff, faculty, administration, and alumni as well as community partners across the Detroit metro area to enhance all aspects of diversity and inclusion, which includes: supporting student success, promoting intercultural skill development, enhancing faculty and staff diversity, and strengthening leadership accountability for diversity and institutional equity.
Dr. Chamblee has spent most of her career focused on creating safe, welcoming, supportive spaces for as many different people in as many different settings as possible. This is reflected in 30-plus year career in higher education, during which she has engaged with and served a broad constituency of students – from high school students all the way through Ph.D. candidates – as well as collaborating with and supporting staff, faculty, administrators, and trustees at a variety of institutions. Her primary work has focused on what is now broadly known as diversity and inclusion, though the field has evolved and expanded dramatically since she began her career at Penn State University in the early 1980s.
The work of diversity, inclusion, multicultural education, and community engagement blends relatively seamlessly with her life work and purpose, and she came into it in part as the result of having grown up in a large family with civic-minded, civil rights activist, humanitarian parents. In addition to designing, implementing, and evaluating a number of initiatives, programs, and strategies to enhance diversity and inclusion, she has also developed and taught courses, co-designed educational workshops on issues of diversity and multicultural awareness, and engaged in a wide variety of academic and administrative pursuits.
Prior to joining Wayne State, she served as the Director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education (ODIME) at George Mason University. She has also worked as a consultant in the San Francisco Bay area, and on the staff at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She has held administrative and faculty roles at Michigan State University and Penn State University. Dr. Chamblee received her Ph.D. and Master of Science from Penn State University, and her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University.

Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness, Learning, Employee Health, Safety and Wellness, Henry Ford Health System

Eric Bacigal is the Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness, Learning, Employee Health, Safety and Wellness for Henry Ford Health System, which is a large health care system headquartered in Detroit Michigan. Eric has a long career, over 30 years, in health care with specific expertise in developing interventions to assist organizations with realizing strategic objectives while managing organizational change and the subsequent impact to culture.
Eric received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University, and his Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Obtaining his Post Master’s Certification in Human Resource Administration from Central Michigan University, Eric’s career has allowed him to support and influence leaders across three major health care systems as well as corporate operations within the manufacturing industry.
Today, Eric is leading the Org. Effectiveness as well as Learning and Development teams in transforming the current culture to deliver on the strategic objectives and support the new Operating Model at Henry Ford Health System. Re-designing a completely different approach to Performance Management, bringing a new learning platform to address needs of a generationally diverse workforce, establishing new criteria and a process for calibrating and managing talent, along with architecting new culture attributes are a few of the recent initiatives to support this work. Additionally, through his leadership of Employee Health and Safety, Eric partnered with key stakeholders across the enterprise to provide strategies and approaches to keeping the workforce safe and healthy, particularly during the COVID pandemic.

Senior Analyst of Diversity & Inclusion, Ally

A Royal Oak resident and Alma College graduate, Emme is a Senior Analyst of Diversity & Inclusion at Ally Financial Inc., overseeing the strategic operations of all eight of Ally’s Employee Resource Groups and Ally’s three Employee Networks. As an out and proud transgender woman, Emme not only fights for change and inclusivity within the walls of Ally, but also out in her community. She has served for five years on the Board of Directors of Stand with Trans, a Michigan-based transgender and non-binary advocacy group, helping grow the organization from a startup, to a $200,000 per year organization that provides gender affirming support for trans youth and their families all across the United States. She has spent countless hours volunteering on the frontlines with the Human Rights Campaign, being Michigan’s sole awardee at their 2019 Equality Convention in Washington D.C. Emme’s advocacy work has also been recognized by the Race Relations and Diversity Task Force, being named to their 2019 Diversity Champion Honor Roll. Most recently, Emme was elected by members of the Michigan Democratic Party to serve as Vice Chair of the party’s LGBT&A Caucus.

Behavioral Health Program Manager & Therapist, Corktown Health Center & Health Emergency Lifeline Program

Jennifer is a licensed clinical social worker, and has worked as a therapist providing mental health treatment to individuals, couples, and groups, since 2012. Jennifer specializes in serving the LGBTQ+ community, people living with HIV, and those exploring various identities, including polyamory and consensual non-monogamy, BDSM and Kink-identity, body positivity and fat identity, and trauma survivorship. She utilizes an eclectic approach in the provision of therapy services, incorporating elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, Existential Therapy, and various art therapy techniques in her work.
Jennifer joined the Corktown Health staff in 2015, and currently manages the Behavioral Health Services department, in addition to her duties as a therapist. She received her MSW from University of Michigan, and her BSW from the University of Michigan-Flint, where she tailored her educational experiences toward sexual health education and sex therapy, as well as mental health.

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Pistons

Henderson was named Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Detroit Pistons on Monday, February 1st and the Detroit Pistons are the 10th team within the National Basketball Association (NBA) to add this vitally important role. Henderson served as Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development & Leadership since 2018. Prior to being promoted at FSU, he served as an Associate Director of Football Academic Services at Clemson University. He worked with the offensive side of the ball from (2013-2015). Henderson also served on various DE&I committees and worked closely with campus stakeholders to ensure the university was inclusive for everyone. This past summer Henderson was named: Athletics Inclusion Officer and represents FSU on the ACC DE&I Initiative entitled Champions of Racial Equity Committee (CORE).
While he was a Graduate Assistant at Michigan State University, he developed and administered a freshman mentoring program for football players called “Keeping It Real Mondays.” This program was designed to help freshmen football players get acclimated to college as to well as teach them essential life skills.
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Henderson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising from Michigan State University in 2010. He was a four-year letterman playing cornerback for the Michigan State football team. Henderson returned a blocked punt 33 yards for a touchdown vs. Northwestern to help fuel the greatest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history as the Spartans rallied from a 35-point deficit for a 41-38 victory in 2006.
In 2012, he earned his Master’s degree in Public Relations from Michigan State University as well as a Master’s of Business Administration from Florida State University in 2019.
Ashton serves as the 1st Vice President for the National Association for Athletic Academic Advisors and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and will be President of the Association this summer through 2022. Henderson is an active member of Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee where he serves as a Trustee and an usher.

Attorney General

A former criminal prosecutor in Wayne County and civil rights attorney Dana Nessel was sworn in as Michigan’s 54th Attorney General on January 1, 2019. Her core initiatives have been fashioned in the image of her promise to Michigan’s residents — to give the Department of Attorney General back to the people it serves. As the State’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Attorney General Nessel launched Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force, in partnership with the Michigan Supreme Court, to stop the rise of crimes against one of our most vulnerable populations. She launched the Department’s first Auto Insurance Fraud Unit to investigate and prosecute individuals and businesses who exploit Michigan residents and the system designed to protect the safety of Michigan’s drivers. She has continued the Department’s two largest criminal investigations into the Flint Water Crisis and clergy abuse in the Catholic Church. After starting a Hate Crimes Unit in 2019, she has recently expanded that Unit’s mission to tackle the increase in crimes related to domestic terrorism. Lastly, she has made public integrity a top priority of the Department, reviewing and prosecuting – where appropriate – cases involving law enforcement and other public officials due to conflicts of interest for county prosecutors.
A graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School, Attorney General Nessel lives in southeast Michigan with her family

CEO Action for Racial Equity and is the LGBTQ ERG Vice Communications Chair Flagstar Bank

John Davis-Piotrowski (He/Him/His) is a Queer professional with over a decade experience working in customer experience in financial institutions. In 2018, John joined Flagstar Bank as a Customer Experience & Insights Reporting Analyst. While advocating for the voice of the customer, John was also active in various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Flagstar and in 2019 joined the LGBTQ ERG Leadership team as Vice Communications Chair. John has always had a passion for social justice and is an active supporter of the local LGBTQ and BIPOC community in Detroit, where he and his husband have loved for the last 10 years. In October 2020, John was honored to be selected as one of two representatives from Flagstar to the CEO Action for Racial Equity (CEOAFRE) Fellowship. Created in response to the murder of George Floyd, CEOAFRE is the first business-led coalition of its kind focused on improving the lives of the 47+ million Black Americans through advocacy and advancement of public policies that will root out and end systemic racism. John is thrilled to be representing Flagstar and partnering with the 100+ CEO Action companies and fellows from all over the country in this important work.

CEO - Inclusion Score

James Felton Keith is an award-winning engineer and economist who was the first Black LGBTQ person to run for US Congress. He lectures at New York University in the Big Ideas Course Series. As an author and activist, his Data Unions redefined the labor movement and personal-data as the natural resource driving all corporate productivity. As an entrepreneur, he established the first international standard certification for corporate diversity & inclusion and the first insurance policy for a lack-of-inclusion based on an "inclusion score".His bio-political philosophy, Inclusionism is at the forefront of Human Rights advocacy and International Relations and each week he hosts the WHCR 90.3 FM radio show, Inclusionism, from NYC.

COO Inclusion Score

Karen Pater jasmine is a native detroiter and recently returned ‘ex/pat’ having saved in the united states army and lived around he country and abroad she has done one thing// use her public policy skills to better the organizations that she has served from the city of Detroit mayors office bankruptcy transition team to the United States Democratic Party as a research analyst and now as founder and owner of a residential building company the common thread. Currently the COO and Data Engineer of Inclusion Score IO.

Director – Pure Michigan Business Connect

Bobby has been on the Pure Michigan Business Connect team since early 2014. Throughout his different roles with the program, he has been responsible for supplier relations, guiding strategy and managing signature initiatives, and ultimately now leading the team as director for the past two years. The PMBC team is the state’s b2b matchmaking program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and serves as the industry agnostic platform for connecting demand to supply. Through matchmaking events, webinars, pitch competitions and other initiatives, PMBC works to help grow small and medium sized businesses in our state. The MEDC is a public-private partnership serving as the state’s economic development and marketing arm, and lead agency for business, community, talent, tourism, and overall economic growth.

Technologist and business owner.

Founded the Targa Group in 2009 - A full service IT firm specializing in data management. He is a lifelong, passionate supporter of diversity and inclusions causes and movements.
In 2019 , the Targa Group leveraged its technical expertise and developed an interactive discrimination-simulation in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Space.
This workshop is currently being used by companies, professional organizations, schools and civic groups to demonstrate discrimination through experiential learning.

Supplier Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Ford Motor Company

Brian Lloyd a new addition to the Supplier Diversity & Inclusion team brings a wealth of knowledge, strong leadership capabilities and a solid foundation in data analytics. Brian’s Ford background includes successful roles throughout the organization, including Program Management, Operations Purchasing, Commodity Core Purchasing (Seats), and Strategic Analysis. He has built a strong list of core competencies including data analysis, strategic planning, diverse thinking and being highly results-driven. While new to the Supplier Diversity environment, Brian is excited to help drive Ford’s leadership position in the Supplier Diversity space to the next level.

Director, Pure Michigan Business Connect

Bobby has been on the Pure Michigan Business Connect team since early 2014. Throughout his different roles with the program, he has been responsible for supplier relations, guiding strategy and managing signature initiatives, and ultimately now leading the team as director for the past two years. The PMBC team is the state’s b2b matchmaking program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and serves as the industry agnostic platform for connecting demand to supply. Through matchmaking events, webinars, pitch competitions and other initiatives, PMBC works to help grow small and medium sized businesses in our state. The MEDC is a public-private partnership serving as the state’s economic development and marketing arm, and lead agency for business, community, talent, tourism, and overall economic growth.