Speakers

2025's lineup includes industry disrupters, experienced entrepreneurs, and the most talented business professionals. New speakers are added weekly!

2025 Speakers  |  2024 Speakers  |  2023 Speakers

Special Speakers

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Susan Au Allen

CEO

USPAACC

Susan Au Allen

CEO
USPAACC

Corporate Speakers

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Dennis Ong

Technology Executive, Board Advisor, Amazon Web Services | TEDx Speaker

Amazon

Dennis Ong

Technology Executive, Board Advisor, Amazon Web Services | TEDx Speaker
Amazon

Dr. Dennis Ong serves as a Technology Leader at Amazon Web Services, where his primary role is to drive business and technology innovation for Fortune 100 companies, with particular emphasis on AI/GenAI and cloud transformation. He is also an Industry Advisory Board member of the University of Pennsylvania’s PRECISE Research Center. Prior to this, he spearheaded 5G AI applied research at Verizon, leading his team to develop the world's first 5G/AI autonomous vehicle, a collaborative project with the Honda Research Institute.

Dr. Ong has given two TEDx talks: one on "IoT Transformation through Machine Learning" and the other on " Securing the World with Blockchain". A frequent presenter at international conferences, his topics revolve around AI, 5G, IoT, and Blockchain. His research collaborations span various global technology companies like Cisco and Nissan, as well as major research universities like the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on AI and 5G. His innovative 5G and AI designs have earned him three patent awards in 2022. Additionally, he co-founded “Leading AI”, a non-profit that delivers leadership and AI education to students and emerging professionals worldwide.

Dr. Ong earned an MBA, graduating with honors, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He also received a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University as a University Fellow. Furthermore, he served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University.

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Roger Cheng

Lead, Supplier Inclusion

AT&T

Roger Cheng

Lead, Supplier Inclusion
AT&T

Roger Cheng recently joined AT&T as a Sr. Supplier Diversity Sourcing Manager. Prior to AT&T, Roger spent the previous 14+ years with M/WBEs in the technology space leading business development through Supplier Diversity.

Roger, also known as “The Voice,” has served as emcee or VOG for a number of organizations across the country. In 2017, Roger was recognized as the #Hes4Shes Champion at the WBENC National Conference.

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Hollina Ung

DEI Consultant

Boston Scientific

Hollina Ung

DEI Consultant
Boston Scientific

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Trevor Boylston

Economic Inclusion Manager

Boston Scientific

Trevor Boylston

Economic Inclusion Manager
Boston Scientific

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Jessica Medeirosman

Senior Vice President of Product Transformation Technology

Caesars Entertainment

Jessica Medeirosman

Senior Vice President of Product Transformation Technology
Caesars Entertainment

Jessica Medeirosman is the Senior Vice President of Product Transformation -Technology at Caesars Entertainment, where she leads enterprise-wide efforts to modernize and scale product strategy. Known for building high-performing teams and aligning innovation with business outcomes, Jessica plays a key role in driving product transformation across the gaming and hospitality space.

At Caesars, she has been instrumental in streamlining the product and project review lifecycle—supporting initiatives such as automated chat responses, data driven parking renovations and AI-transcribed processes and tools that are beginning to reduce the operational burden on product managers.

With over a decade of experience in the gaming industry, Jessica brings deep expertise in IT sourcing and growing expertise in product transformation. She holds an MBA from Cornell University, Fulbright in focused on international brand and private equity strategy in Mexico and is passionate about the intersection of technology, experience design, and scalable innovation.

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Pritesh Patel

Principal Analyst, SD & Engagement

Constellation Energy

Pritesh Patel

Principal Analyst, SD & Engagement
Constellation Energy

Pritesh Patel serves as the Principal Analyst for Supplier Development and Engagement at Constellation, where he leads initiatives that drive inclusive procurement strategies and supplier diversity across the energy sector. In his current role, he collaborates closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to expand access for small and diverse businesses, thereby shaping a more competitive and resilient supplier ecosystem. He is passionate about building meaningful partnerships with a wide array of suppliers and has played a crucial role in expanding Constellation’s engagement within the communities it serves.

Prior to this position, Pritesh held roles as a Senior Chemist and subsequently a Senior Instructor of Engineering at one of Constellation’s Clean Energy Centers. His transition from technical operations to Supplier Development and Engagement reflects a career-long commitment to operational excellence, continuous learning and improvement, and thoughtful innovation.

Pritesh holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Loyola University Chicago and an MBA with a Project Management Specialization from Seton Hill University. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Pritesh is a regular contributor to national supplier development forums and is proud to represent Constellation as a Roundtable Leader at CelebrASIAN.

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Egwu Nwankapah

Head of SD / ESG Leader / Mentor / Brand Strategist

Cushman & Wakefield

Egwu Nwankapah

Head of SD / ESG Leader / Mentor / Brand Strategist
Cushman & Wakefield

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Axel Adams

Manager - S.D. and Inclusion

Delta Air Lines

Axel Adams

Manager - S.D. and Inclusion
Delta Air Lines

Axel D. Adams is employed with Delta Air Lines as a Manager in Supplier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion where he and his colleagues are responsible for ensuring diverse businesses have an opportunity to secure contracts for business with Delta. Prior to Delta, he had a brief stint as National Director of African American Outreach with 2020 Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer’s Campaign. His overall responsibility keeping the campaign focused on AA voters, issues, concerns and what is most important to them.

Axel’s most noted employment was noted with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) where the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. is the Founder and President. Axel served in a many roles such as the Chief Operations Officer in the Chicago Headquarters managing all operations/departments of the organization. staff, finance, education, trade bureau, press, finding, national and regional conventions, and cooperate relationships, emerging markets, and regional offices to name a few. He also held the positions of Bureau Chief, and National Youth Director.

Prior to RPC, Axel was with Westinghouse Savannah River Company as a supervisor in the Nuclear Materials Processing Division. During his employment there, he was the first African American to receive the Community Service Award.

Axel is a recipient of many awards/honors such as the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama; The Georgia Assembly passed House Bill 1984 for his dedication to the betterment of the citizens of the State of Georgia; South Carolina Senate recognized Axel Adams and passed Resolution 1118 for his significant contributions and outstanding achievements in the fields of politics, business, and community outreach. He is the author of “The Journey”, a book detailing his life experiences in politics, community service, and social activism. He is President of the Axel Adams Foundation (www.axeladamsfoundation.com), which is committed to making long-term improvements in education, health and wellness, and combating socioeconomic issues in the Central Savannah River Area. Axel has the honor of being the first African American elected to serve on City Council in New Ellenton South Carolina at the early age of 22 years old, serving two-four-year elected terms on city council. And he was Acting-Mayor and Police commissioner for three years, and the first African American to serve in this capacity as well.

He has a master’s in business administration, and bachelor’s degree in business management. Axel says that God is first and foremost in his life.

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Minh Le

Chief Technology Officer

Denny's

Minh Le

Chief Technology Officer
Denny's

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Randy Brown

Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity

Denny's

Randy Brown

Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity
Denny's

Randy Brown is the Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity for Denny’s. The award-winning executive i charged with managing and expanding the company’s supplier diversity program. Brown works closely to identify procurement opportunities around the country with certified diverse companies, including small disadvantaged, minority business enterprises, veteran-owned, woman business enterprises, LGBTQ+owned, disabled veteran-owned or disabled-owned. Prior to joining Denny’s, he played an instrumental role at Emory University in winning the Jesse L.Moore's2021 Supplier Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity.

The Georgia Minority Supplier Diversity Council also awarded Emory its George Lottier Rising Star Award during Brown’s tenure at the university. Brown has served on Emory University’s Business Diversity Council, National Minority Supplier Diversity Council Mentor Program, and the Georgia Minority Supplier Diversity Council’s Executive Council. He is currently aboard advisor for Spectrum Autism, a board member of Encourage Men Ministries Inc., and a member of the Georgia State University Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute Strategic Planning Ecosystem Subcommittee. Brown received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson School of Business.

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Antoine Hinton

Sr. Director, Small Business Development

Dollar General

Antoine Hinton

Sr. Director, Small Business Development
Dollar General

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Rich Szellan

SVP Merchandising Operations

Dollar General Corporation

Rich Szellan

SVP Merchandising Operations
Dollar General Corporation

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Dallas Simmons

SD Program Manager

Domion Energy

Dallas Simmons

SD Program Manager
Domion Energy

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Kimberley Thompson

G.D. & Inclusion Leader

Edwards Lifesciences

Kimberley Thompson

G.D. & Inclusion Leader
Edwards Lifesciences

Inclusion thought leader, diversity, inclusion and equity strategist, culture changer, influencer, internal and relationship architect with over 15 + years related experience in diversity and inclusion design, management and community engagement.

Currently practicing D&I in the healthcare industry. Prior to that spent 12 years at Starbucks Coffee Company, providing D&I subject matter expertise, best practices, tools and strategic consultation across the corporate and retail businesses.

Kimberley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Sociology (Race Relations and Education) from University of California, Los Angeles. She holds several certifications: D&I from eCornell, Unconscious Bias and Cultural Intelligence training.

Outside of work, Kimberley enjoys listening to podcasts and running, spending time with her husband, George, and children George, Alexander (twins) and Grace.

Anita Ramdhani

Anita Ramdhani

Manager - Program Delivery and Analysis

JP Morgan Chase

Anita Ramdhani

Manager - Program Delivery and Analysis
JP Morgan Chase

In her role as Program Manager for the Office of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs – a DEI Center of Excellence – Anita oversees programming for the team’s Business Growth and Entrepreneurship pillar and supports overall infrastructure and operations.

Since joining the firm in 2013, Anita has held multiple roles with the Consumer Bank’s Client & Employee Experience team and the Market Expansion Field Strategy & Support Program Management team, supporting Chase’s retail expansion into 25 new states. Anita served as chair of NextGen, the firm’s early career professional Business Resource Group, from 2020-2022 and currently serves as an advisor.

Anita is very closely tied to her Indo-Caribbean & South Asian roots and is actively involved in celebrating both communities in the Tampa Bay area, particularly through her involvement in Delta Phi Omega, a South Asian Interest Sorority.

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Jim Flynn

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Jim Flynn

Executive Director
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Vivian Young

Vivian Young

Global Head of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs

JPMorgan Chase

Vivian Young

Global Head of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs
JPMorgan Chase

Vivian Young has over 15 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry. In her current role as global head of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs for JPMorgan Chase, Vivian is responsible for developing a leading a global, unified strategy to advance equity and inclusion for the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community. Key focus areas include driving opportunity and progress through increased cultural understanding and collaboration; raising awareness about cultural identity and the challenges faced by underserved individuals and communities; supporting API communities globally through public advocacy, economic inclusion and community development.

Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Vivian spent 7 years at Charles Schwab Advisor Services, where she was responsible for strategy, execution and management of the Family Office and Investment Consultant client segment. She also served as business lead on new product initiatives for trust products, ETFs, mutual funds and separately managed accounts. Previous to Charles Schwab, Vivian was a relationship manager and team lead at U.S. Trust Company of New York providing financial planning services to high net worth individuals and families in the Wealth Management division.

Vivian Joined JPMorgan Chase in 2012 leading strategic initiatives for the Product and Platform team in the Private Bank and J.P.Morgan Wealth Management. She was responsible for product management, development and expansion of Trusts & Estates services, donor advised fund, and financial planning tools. She most recently was global head of Bank Product Marketing in Asset & Wealth Management, developing strategies to deepen client relationships and drive business growth. Working in partnership with Product leadership in banking, lending, mortgage, annuities, trusts and estates, and cyber and fraud, Vivian lead the content development and implementation of strategic marketing programs.

Vivian received a BA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

She resides in New York City with her husband and two children.

Learn more about Vivian:

⦁ Office of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs at JPMorgan Chase https://www.jpmorganchase.com/...

⦁ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vi...

⦁ Bringing a cultural lens to her community: Women on the Move podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episo...

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Naina Patel

Head of Supplier Management

MassMutual

Naina Patel

Head of Supplier Management
MassMutual

Naina Patel has over 20 years of experience as a leader in all areas of global procurement within pharma and insurance industries. Leading operations strategic sourcing, Category, and supplier management as well as manufacturing and supply chain strategy. Naina is results-driven and drives maximum value by leading change, creating vision, collaboration, inclusive approach, and inspiring people to achieve goals. Throughout her career Naina has focused on driving simplicity, process improvement, operational excellence, relationship management and organizational transformation.

In her current Executive leadership role at MassMutual life Insurance company as Head of Supplier Management Naina is focused on aligning and working closely with MassMutual leadership and cross-functional stakeholders across all business units to ensure that the management of MassMutual suppliers is executed consistently and efficiently across all levels while driving diversity and inclusion within the process and with supplier partners

Naina is an Avid runner, loves cooking and traveling.

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Jessica Lozano Williams

Head of Responsible Sourcing

MassMutual

Jessica Lozano Williams

Head of Responsible Sourcing
MassMutual

Jessica Lozano Williams is the Head of Supplier Diversity at MassMutual. Her responsibilities include leading the company's Responsible Sourcing vision, mission, goals, and initiatives, while providing support to category teams by bringing innovative suppliers forward for consideration. Her involvement in the Supplier Diversity industry includes National and Local non-profit organizations that support diverse owned companies (ethnic minority, women, LGBT, veteran, and/or disabled owned companies). She serves as the Vice-Chair for the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Procurement Council and has also served on numerous committees and participated in panels across the country.

Prior to her time at MassMutual, Jessica spent sixteen years at Target Corporation, leading their Supplier Diversity program, as well as various other roles in procurement and recruiting. Jessica received her undergraduate degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Law, Criminology, and Deviance from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.  In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, including her husband and two sassy children.

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Dianca Kelly

Regional Liason, Buy to Pay Impact Spending

Kaiser Permanente

Dianca Kelly

Regional Liason, Buy to Pay Impact Spending
Kaiser Permanente

Dianca Kelly joined Kaiser Permanente in December 2015 as a Contracts Administrator with National Facilities Services, now known as National Facilities Design and Construction (NFDC). In this role, she collaborated with project delivery teams to establish contract strategies, provided subject matter expertise for the implementation, execution, and administration of construction, design, and specialty services contracts, and developed critical contract documents and processes for the organization’s major construction and maintenance projects. In 2017, Dianca became a Supplier Diversity Champion for the Mid-Atlantic States market, where her contributions were instrumental in helping the region consistently achieve its Tier 1 and Tier 2 Supplier Diversity spend goals.

In November 2024, Dianca transitioned to Buy to Pay Impact Spending as a Regional Liaison, focusing on increasing spending and contract opportunities with vendors in markets outside of California. In her new role, she connects small, local diverse vendors with contract opportunities, supports responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that include special spend requirements, and ensures compliance with the organization’s goals and standards.

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Laura Flamm

Impact Spending

Kaiser Permanente

Laura Flamm

Impact Spending
Kaiser Permanente

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Debra Quade

S.D. Manager

Kellanova

Debra Quade

S.D. Manager
Kellanova

Debra Quade is the Supplier Diversity Manager at Kellogg Company. Prior to joining Kellogg, she served as Supplier Diversity Specialist at Toyota Boshoku America in Erlanger, Kentucky and Magna Donnelly in Holland, Michigan.

Debra serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in addition to leading a MiDiCo module for supplier inclusion and opportunity. She represents Kellogg Company on the National Minority Supplier Development Council Working Group, and the Corporate Advisory Council for the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in addition to participating on the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Programs Committee, the Food Marketing Institute Group Supplier Diversity Committee, WEConnect International Agricultural Industry Group and the Food & Beverage Industry Group.

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Stéphane Masson

Strategic Advisor to CEOs & Boards | Retired Senior Vice President, Global Procurement

Marriott International

Stéphane Masson

Strategic Advisor to CEOs & Boards | Retired Senior Vice President, Global Procurement
Marriott International

Stephane entered the hospitality industry in 1990 and has a degree in Hotel Business Administration. His career began with Holiday Inn and later he joined the Ramada/ Renaissance group to set up their purchasing department in Eschborn (Germany) covering EMEA. In 1997, Stephane was named Regional Director of Procurement for Continental Europe, overseeing Marriott’s procurement operations to drive margins optimization from contract programs and provide services and savings to our regional teams and owners. In 2002 Stephane was promoted to Vice President International Procurement, managing successfully procurement functions in London, Dubai, Shanghai, Sydney, Bangkok, Eschborn, Paris, Cap Town, Hong Kong and Mumbai. He was responsible for assisting our hotels to maximize buying leverage, providing support to ensure compliance and monitoring service levels of vendors.

As the leader of the Global Procurement Team, Stephane who is a 23-year veteran with Marriott, successfully led the team through the Starwood hotels acquisition, which added ,500 hotels to the 4,000 already supported by the team.

In 2017 Stephane was promoted to Senior Vice President and continues to develop opportunities by leading a team to manage and deploy global key procurement initiatives and strategies including an EProcurement tool which is scalable, environmentally responsible, increases synergies between domestic and international contacts and advances global supplier diversity.

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Susanna Webber

Senior Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer

Merck

Susanna Webber

Senior Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer
Merck

Susanna Webber currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for Merck. In this role, Susanna is responsible for all aspects of strategic procurement (Indirect, Direct and Research & Development), supplier development and performance management, process, operations, and strategy, as well as, the global workplace enterprise services, which is Merck’s facilities and real estate portfolio.

Prior to this role, Susanna served as Vice President, Indirect Sourcing and Operations organization for Merck, responsible for leading the simplification of the purchasing process, supplier performance management, data standardization and transparency by embracing a culture of service mindset while driving efficiencies and innovation in support of the launch and growth of key products that provide benefit to society.

Under Susanna’s leadership, Merck gained a seat at the Billion Dollar Roundtable. In addition, Merck has been recognized as Top Global Champion in Supplier Diversity & Inclusion by WEConnect International, America’s Top Corporation for WBEs by WBENC, Corporation of the Year by NMSDC, Corporation of the Year for Disability-Owned Businesses by Disability:IN, and Best of the Best Corporation for Inclusion by National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (NLGCC) and National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC).

Susanna has an extensive supply chain, procurement, finance, operations, sales, and business development background that spans more than 20 years and includes senior positions in both the pharmaceutical manufacturing and auto manufacturing industries. Susanna has served in several executive positions at General Motors (GM), including general manager and president of GM in Russia and vice president, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain for GM Europe. Her accomplishments have earned her recognition as one of the Top 15 Chief Procurement Officers by DiversityPlus Magazine in 2023.

Susanna serves on the board of directors for NMSDC in the capacity of Vice-Chair and is an active member of World 50 Group.

Susanna holds an undergraduate degree in business administration and management from Southern Methodist University, and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

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Winona Taylor-Lee

Executive Director, Enterprise IT

Merck

Winona Taylor-Lee

Executive Director, Enterprise IT
Merck

Winona Taylor-Lee is a dynamic leader currently serving as the Executive Director of Enterprise IT at Merck, where she supports global Procurement and Workplace Services. Since joining Merck in July 2023, Winona has been instrumental in partnering with the Procurement and Workforce Services organizations to develop, implement, and manage innovative technology strategies and roadmaps.​

In her role, she leads a talented team of solution architects, technical and solution engineers, and product analysts, focusing on delivering products that enhance the source-to-settle process, employee experience, and supplier management product lines. Winona's extensive experience spans multiple industries, having held key positions at renowned companies such as CareFirst BCBS, Johnson & Johnson, Barclays, and Citi.​

Winona holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Morgan State University. Beyond her professional achievements, she is deeply committed to giving back to her community. Winona actively engages in mentoring and leadership forums to promote awareness of women in STEM fields. She is also a proud member of the National Black MBA Association, where she advocates for diversity and inclusion and the importance of education.

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Katie Watson Jordan

Policy Strategy & Governance Manager

Meta

Katie Watson Jordan

Policy Strategy & Governance Manager
Meta

Katie Watson Jordan is a Policy Strategy & Governance Manager at Meta where she serves as the global lead for the Llama Impact Program, including managing it's portfolio of global events, trainings, and funding opportunities. Katie previously served as Meta's Privacy Policy PoC for product strategy related to location, data management, and social impact applications. Prior to joining Meta, Katie was the Director, Public Policy and Technology at the Internet Society where she developed and led engagement on critical internet policy issues, including privacy, interoperability, content moderation, and broadband access. She also previously worked on related initiatives at Public Knowledge and Next Century Cities. Katie received her BA in Media Studies and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.

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Deborah Robinson

Procurement Manager

MGM Resort International

Deborah Robinson

Procurement Manager
MGM Resort International

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Tobias Thornwell

Regional Director of Global Business Impact

MGM Resort International

Tobias Thornwell

Regional Director of Global Business Impact
MGM Resort International

Tobias Thornwell is the Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager for MGM National Harbor, a $1.4 billion resort and casino located on the banks of the Potomac River in National Harbor, MD. He is responsible for developing and overseeing all procurement activities including vendor sourcing, purchasing, vendor contracts, and supplier diversity for the property. Mr. Thornwell is focused on ensuring that MGM National Harbor continues to meet or exceed its spending goals with certified diverse suppliers with the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County.

Mr. Thornwell has more than 12 years of purchasing and supply chain management experience in the food service industry. Prior to joining MGM National Harbor, Mr. Thornwell served as National Product Manager/Regional Buyer at The Chef’s Warehouse in Hanover, MD, and Lead COP Buyer/Product Line Manager at US Foods in Severn, MD.

Mr. Thornwell earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park (Go Terps!). He also holds a Certified Purchasing Manager certification (C.P.M.), and a Certified Professional in Supply Management certification (CPSM) from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Mr. Thornwell is originally from the Bronx, New York and enjoys traveling.

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Tony Gladney

Vice President

MGM Resort International

Tony Gladney

Vice President
MGM Resort International

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Drew H. Misher

Vice President of Procurement

Penn Entertainment

Drew H. Misher

Vice President of Procurement
Penn Entertainment

Drew Misher is the Vice President of Procurement for PENN Entertainment, Inc.

Mr. Misher is responsible for PENN’s Procurement Operations including Strategic Sourcing, eProcurement as well as property purchasing and warehouse. Mr. Misher also plays an active role in managing PENN’s Supplier Diversity program.

Prior to joining PENN in 2017, Mr. Misher worked in procurement for 20 years across various industries including pharmaceuticals, banking/finance and the public sector. He has considerable experience in developing national and global procurement organizations and transitioning the function into a high performing value-added operation.

Drew was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor of the Arts in International Relations from The College of William and Mary where he was a member of the Division 1 Varsity Soccer Team. He also received his Master of Business Administration from Temple University. He resides in Villanova, PA with his wife and three children.

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Brian Gatus

Principle Manager, Direct Services Procurement

Southern California Edison

Brian Gatus

Principle Manager, Direct Services Procurement
Southern California Edison

Brian P. Gatus leads the Direct Services Procurement group for Southern California Edison (SCE), managing over $3.5 billion in annual spend. He oversees a team of professionals dedicated to delivering effective procurement and category spend management solutions for SCE’s supply chain.

With a proven track record of success, Brian excels in leveraging spend, optimizing procurement controls, minimizing risk, and improving product quality. He brings over 25 years of experience in both public and private sectors, with expertise in sourcing transmission and distribution line construction, technology, complex contract negotiations, logistics, and business process improvements.

From 2000 to 2010, Brian held various supply chain leadership roles at the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest public school district. He began his professional career in Southeast Asia, working in business operations roles within the construction and textile industries.

Brian is recognized by the Institute of Supply Management as a Certified Professional in Supply Management. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at Purdue Global Law School

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Tammy Tran

Principal Manager - SD

Southern California Edison

Tammy Tran

Principal Manager - SD
Southern California Edison

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Joyce Eggers

Global Lead of S.D.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Joyce Eggers

Global Lead of S.D.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Joyce Eggers is a passionate Supplier Diversity expert with over 20 years of experience in the Life Sciences industry. Joyce is responsible for providing the leadership for Takeda to grow and develop a sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion program for suppliers.

Supported by and aligned with Takeda’s overall DE&I strategy, her expertise and passion for fostering an inclusive and innovative supply chain drives positive impact in the global communities in which our patients, employees, and customers live and work, guided by Takeda’s commitment to patients, our people, and the planet.

In her role, Joyce also serves as an advocate, mentor, and coach for small and/or diverse suppliers and is actively involved with numerous NGOs and advocacy groups focusing on supplier mentoring, development, diversity, and inclusion.

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Dennis Thurston

S.D. Manager

Southern California Edison

Dennis Thurston

S.D. Manager
Southern California Edison

Dennis J. Thurston, a 36-year employee of Southern California Edison (SCE), beginning in August of 1987 serving in his current capacity as a Supplier Diversity Program Manager for 25 years assisting small and diverse businesses understand the Company’s general procurement practices and procedures.

Prior to SCE, Mr. Thurston worked at Consolidated Edison in New York bringing 12 years of experience with him.

In 2021, Dennis received the 2021 Corporate Advocate of the Year Award from the Southern California Minority Development Council.

In 2018, Dennis received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California for outstanding work within the Native American business community and tribal leaders.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, Santa Ana District Office selected Dennis as the 2017 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year for his devotion to the success and advancement of Veterans in business in his professional capacity at SCE and his personal life.

During the 2017 Inaugural Veterans In Business (VIB) Network National Conference, Dennis Thurston received the Above & Beyond Bravo Zulu Award recognizing Veteran Business Advocates that go Above & Beyond to help the Veteran business community grow and succeed.

In 2016 Dennis was nominated for the State Agency Recognition Awards (SARA) given by the Department of General Services.

In recognition of his contributions as a role model of Edison International’s values and guiding behaviors of integrity, continuous growth and improvement, excellence, respect, and teamwork, Dennis was awarded the Chairman’s Award, now the Edison Award in 2009. Edison selects only 40 employees out of over 15,000 for the first of the prestigious award.

Mr. Thurston still volunteers for many community activities geared toward mentorship and guidance of small and diverse businesses in the areas of career, jobs, and starting businesses.

For the past 27 years, served as an off-ice official for the National Hockey League (NHL) assigned to the Anaheim Ducks and Dennis represented the NHL at the first ever game played outside North America in Japan, Helsinki, and Berlin.

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Katie Lawler

Executive Vice President, Global Chief Ethics Officer

U.S. Bank

Katie Lawler

Executive Vice President, Global Chief Ethics Officer
U.S. Bank

Katie leads U.S. Bancorp’s Global Ethics Office and serves as the leading voice in the company’s ongoing commitment to ethics and integrity. Under her leadership, U.S. Bank has been recognized by Ethisphere as a World’s Most Ethical Company 11 years in a row. In 2023, Katie received the Carol R. Marshall Award for Innovation in Corporate Ethics from the Ethics and Compliance Initiative. Katie is a regular speaker, sharing insights on the importance of cultivating an ethical culture to drive business success.

Since joining U.S. Bank in 2002, Katie has served in multiple leadership roles within the Law Division and Human Resources, including Deputy General Counsel, Director of

Inclusion and Employee Relations, and Human Resources Chief Risk Officer. An active member of the Twin Cities community, Katie serves on the board of trustees of Wallin Education Partners and the advisory board for the University of St. Thomas Center for Principled Leadership.

Katie received her B.A. from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. Katie lives with her husband, Charlie, and their two children in Minnesota. In her free time, she is an avid reader, novice crocheter, cautious mountain biker and Ted Lasso fanatic.

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Pafoua Xiong

Procurement S.D. Specialist

U.S. Bank

Pafoua Xiong

Procurement S.D. Specialist
U.S. Bank

Pafoua Xiong joined the Supplier Diversity team at U.S. Bank in 2021 as the Procurement Supplier Diversity Specialist, where her work is focused on enhancing the Supplier Diversity program by actively working to grow relationships with diverse-owned businesses and partners. Shortly after joining the Bank, Pafoua became a board member for the Asian Heritage Business Resource Group (BRG).

Pafoua founded her way into this industry after working as a Merchandiser Assistant at The Scoular Company managing the inventory of pet food ingredients. She later moved on to support the non-retail side of supply chain at Target for 3 years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota where she majored in Journalism and Communication Studies.

Outside of the office, you can find her hiking around state parks with her Pitbull, listening to supernatural podcasts, and spending time with her family.

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Hector Martinez

Vice President, S.D.

U.S. Bank

Hector Martinez

Vice President, S.D.
U.S. Bank

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Dale Shintani

Senior Vice President

Wells Fargo

Dale Shintani

Senior Vice President
Wells Fargo

Dale Shintani is a Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo. In addition to being a strategy and planning leader in her day job, she also serves as the strategy chair for Wells Fargo’s internal women’s employee resource network with over 25K members. She has also focused on supporting small businesses for much of her career through various leadership roles including head of Customer Experience, Digital Strategy, and business manager of a business line of credit portfolio all while continuing to be a Diversity Equity and Inclusion champion.

Passionate about mentoring emerging leaders, Dale regularly delivers talks on women’s empowerment in business and was a frequent leadership speaker in an Asian American Pacific Islander Diverse Leaders program. Dale lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband Mark and daughters Claire and Katie.

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Jennifer Broden

Vice President, Branch Manager

U.S. Bank

Jennifer Broden

Vice President, Branch Manager
U.S. Bank

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Andrew Moy

Executive Vice President, Division Executive Commercial Banking for Diversified Sector Management

Wells Fargo

Andrew Moy

Executive Vice President, Division Executive Commercial Banking for Diversified Sector Management
Wells Fargo

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Jerome Flores

Senior Consultant - D & I

Wells Fargo

Jerome Flores

Senior Consultant - D & I
Wells Fargo

Jerome Flores is a Senior Diversity & Inclusion consultant focused on enhancing the employee resource network program to grow leadership capabilities, bench strength and serve as a diverse resource to influence business outcomes. Jerome has always been passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging helping to stand up the Washington, DC chapter of Pride Connections, and forming relationships through community outreach and engagement.

As a highly skilled and experienced professional, Jerome has spent 19+ years working in the financial services industry. With a proven track record of success. Jerome is become known for their thought leadership, creativity, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Jerome has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate from University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, Office of Executive Education, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Pennsylvania State University and is committed to staying up to date with the latest industry trends and best practices.

And is based in Washington, DC

Government & Chamber Speakers

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Doug Kelly

Chief Executive Officer

American Edge Project

Doug Kelly

Chief Executive Officer
American Edge Project

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Jonathan Brady

Senior Business Development Office

Export - Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)

Jonathan Brady

Senior Business Development Office
Export - Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)

Jonathan Brady is a Senior Business Development Officer with the Emerging Exporter Business Development Division in the Office of Small Business at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). Based in Washington, DC, his primary roles include serving as an export counselor and trade finance specialist for current and potential exporters.
Jonathan possesses a strong background in international relations and economics from having worked for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the U.S. Treasury Department (International Banking Office), and ten years with the Ohio Department of Development’s International Trade Division.

Before joining EXIM, Jonathan worked at ExportDC, a division of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). Promoted to Program Manager in 2015, his primary responsibilities consisted of administering business support grants for DC-based exporters, organizing trade missions, providing export counseling services, conducting international business seminars, and coordinating special projects with the foreign embassies located in Washington, DC.

Jonathan holds a B.A. and Master of Financial Economics (MFE) from Ohio University, and is a 2009 graduate of Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, with a Master of International Public Policy (MIPP).

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Sri Nori

Information Management Officer

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Sri Nori

Information Management Officer
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

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Terry Hsiao

Adjunct Professor

George Washington University

Terry Hsiao

Adjunct Professor
George Washington University

Terry Hsiao is an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor with extensive experience in mobile messaging, payment, and fintech. He has founded multiple companies in mobile that got acquired by Sybase, Verifone, and Kaleyra where he helped its recent public listing on NYSE:KLR in November 2019.

Mr. Hsiao served on the board of Virginia’s Center of Innovation and Technology, a state-funded economic development and investment agency. Terry is a current adjunct professor at Marymount University. He also serves as the President of Monte Jade DC, representing Asian American business leaders and entrepreneurs for 25 years. He also founded and leads the DC MIT Alum Angel Group.

Terry received a BSEE Honors degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rutgers University and a Master’s degree in Management of Technology from MIT Sloan.

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Sarah Porter

Vice President

Kelly Services

Sarah Porter

Vice President
Kelly Services

Sarah Porter is the Vice President of Government Solutions at Kelly Services, leading sales, and operations for Kelly Government Solutions (KGS). KGS is part of Kelly’s Science, Engineering, Technology, and Telecom division, specializing in outsourced solutions for the federal government in Science & Clinical, Healthcare, Technology, and Professional services. Sarah holds an MBA and is a certified Project Manager. With nearly 20 years of government industry experience, including her former role as a Program Manager at the National Institutes of Health, Sarah has a deep understanding of the complexities of the sector.

Rikin Thakker

Rikin Thakker, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President

NCTA

Rikin Thakker, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President
NCTA

Rikin Thakker, Ph.D., is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Senior Vice President of Technology, at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association. He leads NCTA’s technology efforts and the industry’s interest in techno-policy, standards, and guidelines in such areas as broadband Internet performance, cybersecurity, wireless spectrum, video services, energy, and artificial intelligence (AI).

He has served on various governmental committees, including the Technological Advisory Council (TAC) at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Dr. Thakker also served on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) and was an active participant in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and 6G working groups. Prior to joining NCTA, Dr. Thakker was serving as the CTO at the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). Additionally, he has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland, College Park since 2009.

Dr. Thakker received his Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University, his Master of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Gujarat University. He also earned an Executive Certificate in Cybersecurity from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Sloan School of Management.

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Tom Giancola

Policy Associate

MIT Washington

Tom Giancola

Policy Associate
MIT Washington

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Miguel Peñaloza

Finance Manager

SBA

Miguel Peñaloza

Finance Manager
SBA

Miguel Peñaloza is an Export Finance Manager under the SBA’s Office of Manufacturing and Trade (OMT). Miguel supports small businesses and lenders which engage with SBA’s three core export loan programs as well as the recently launched Working Capital (Pilot) Program. Prior to joining the SBA, Miguel worked as a Loan Specialist with the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) as well as a Membership Manager with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). His background in lending provides a unique understanding of the financing needs for small business exporters.

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Pamela Prince-Eason

President & CEO

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Pamela Prince-Eason

President & CEO
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Pamela Prince-Eason is the President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a role she assumed in 2011. She was previously Vice President of Worldwide Procurement for Pfizer Inc. and held various leadership positions at Texas Instruments, GSE Systems and Warner Lambert, as well as co-owner of RMR Associates.

Pamela is a member of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a non-partisan federal advisory council who advises the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

Pamela’s dedication to women’s business leadership is illustrated in her many professional and personal roles advancing women’s excellence and opportunity. She serves on women’s advisory committees of several corporations including the CVS Health Executive Learning Series, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program, the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, and Walmart’s Women Owned Business Advisory Council.

Pamela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from East Tennessee State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland with a Master of Administrative Science in International Business and Finance. In 2008, she was among the first to receive ISM’s Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) designation, in 2010 was named a Power Women by NYMoves, and in 2012 she received the AIDC WBE Hall of Fame “Executive Leadership” award. In 2013 and 2017, she was named a top leader in Supplier Diversity by WE-USA Magazine and selected by the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) as the 2014 Woman of Achievement. Most recently she was inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame in March 2018 and was recognized as Alumna of the Year at East Tennessee State University in May 2018.

She and husband John have three children and six grandchildren. Favorite family activities include tennis, basketball, and snowboarding.


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Susan McGowan

Manager of Supplier Outreach

USPS

Susan McGowan

Manager of Supplier Outreach
USPS

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Chasity Chatmon

Procurement Officer

USPS

Chasity Chatmon

Procurement Officer
USPS

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Anisa Balwani

Northeast Chapter President | President

USPAACC | RCI Technologies

Anisa Balwani

Northeast Chapter President | President
USPAACC | RCI Technologies

Anisa Balwani is the owner of RCI Technologies, Inc. and is a results-driven business professional with over 25 years of experience. She has successfully established trusting relationships with clients, resulting in increased business. Anisa is an enthusiastic, self-motivated and accomplished entrepreneur with many years of managerial, sales and marketing experience. She has an outstanding analytical, problem solving and communication skills with a successful track record of assisting at all levels of her organization.

RCI Technologies, Inc. provides Information Technology Professional Services and Software Development to major corporations and government entities nationwide. RCI is headquartered in Iselin, NJ with branch offices in New York, Washington DC and Houston, Texas.

Anisa is the Northeast Chapter President of the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, (USPAACC)and she is responsible to connect Asian American businesses within the region of New York, New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware to major corporations and government agencies. Anisa serves on the Governing Forum Board of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) the Steering Committee of the Women’s President Educational Organization and is the member of the Women Presidents Organization, (WPO). RCI is the proud winner of numerous excellence awards and the recipient of the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce -Fast 50 Asian American Business Excellence Award. In September 2013, Anisa Balwani was invited to speak at the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Recently, on March 31st, Anisa was invited by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce to participate in the roundtable discussion, “The Power and Promise of the Minority Woman Business.”

Anisa is a graduate of the Executive Management Programs at the Amos Tuck School of Business and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Anisa is an advocate for small, minority and women owned businesses. She resides in Edison, NJ with her husband and two children.

Grace Mc Dermott

Grace McDermott

Southwest Chapter President

USPAACC

Grace McDermott

Southwest Chapter President
USPAACC

Dallas, Texas. Grace is an advocate, role model, and mentor for women and Asian Americans in Dallas business and the larger community. She has best served Asian American communities through various leadership roles and by giving them a voice and presence on mainstream boards and community associations.

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Maitjian Welke

Western Chapter President | Founder and Chief Security Officer

USPAACC | CMIT Solutions

Maitjian Welke

Western Chapter President | Founder and Chief Security Officer
USPAACC | CMIT Solutions

Maitjian Welke is the Founder and Chief Security Officer of CMIT Solutions Silicon Valley which is an IT Managed Service Provider specializes in IT infrastructure, Cyber Security, IT Consulting & CIO/CISO services. Maitjian Welke has Computer Science background and extensive IT & Software Engineering experience of over 20 years working in fortune 500 corporations including IBM, SUN, CISCO, AMEX, NCR, VMware and GOOD Technology. Maitjian Welke started their company CMIT Solutions of Silicon Valley in 2009 and continue to grow with two acquisitions. As an active VAR Channel Partner for fortune 500 computer manufacturers, she has been recognized in the Women of the Channel by CRN Magazine every year since 2015 for her leadership and accomplishments. Maitjian and her team are passionate about helping businesses and corporations with their Technology and Cyber Security. Maitjian recently developed a Cyber Security in Supply Chain course for University of California Santa Cruz extension and has been teaching it since 2021. She had been invited to be on Cyber Security Panelists for a number of Cyber Security Summits and Expos in San Jose, Fresno and Los Angeles and provided a number of Cyber Security webinars for professionals in recent years. Maitjian also volunteered and served on three Boards - Board of Industry Council for Small Business Development, USPAACC Western Chapter and Alameda County Employer Advisory Council.

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Mallik Medarametla

Southeast Chapter President | Founder & Chief Architect

USPAACC | SAMPRASOFT

Mallik Medarametla

Southeast Chapter President | Founder & Chief Architect
USPAACC | SAMPRASOFT

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Eddie Allen

VP of Finance

USPAACC

Eddie Allen

VP of Finance
USPAACC

Eddie Allen is the Vice President of Finance at USPAACC, leading financial strategy, budgeting, and regulatory compliance to support the organization’s mission of empowering Asian American businesses. With over a decade of experience in Asset Management and Investments in private equity and commercial real estate, he has honed his skills in financial analysis, portfolio optimization, and operational efficiency to maximize investment returns.

Eddie earned an MBA in Commercial Real Estate from the University of San Diego, complemented by a Bachelor of Education in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia.

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Mark S. Allen

Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs

USPAACC

Mark S. Allen

Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs
USPAACC

Managed Service Providers Speakers

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Tamara Rashid

Senior Vice President, Enterprise Transformation Team

Agile One

Tamara Rashid

Senior Vice President, Enterprise Transformation Team
Agile One

Tamara Rashid is a uniquely talented Workforce Solutions Professional; positively impacting people, organizations, and communities through her two decades of work in management consulting, HR services, managed services, and vendor management technologies.

A recognized process reengineering professional known for her strategic vision and change management, Tamara offers a unique blend of executive acumen, strategic vision, effective execution of vast human capital solutions, and operational leadership. She is credited with delivering industry leading results in service delivery, process standardization, and business process outsourcing.

As Senior Vice President of the AgileOne Enterprise Transformation Team, Tamara is responsible for leading the efforts for 5 key functions: Implementation Services, Supplier Partnership & Engagement, Change Management, Innovation & Optimization, and Product Management on a global scale. Tamara holds Business and Human Resources Management degrees from City University and Seattle University and is a well utilized Mentor.

She remains involved with community based organizations primarily advocating well- being for homeless women and children organizations and at-risk youth populations in Seattle, WA where her family resides.

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Steve Schumacher

President

Allegis Global Solutions

Steve Schumacher

President
Allegis Global Solutions

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Debra Timmerman

President

Kelly OCG

Debra Timmerman

President
Kelly OCG

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Ryan Baker

President

Monument Consulting

Ryan Baker

President
Monument Consulting

Ryan is an industry veteran with decades of experience in the Human Capital Management industry. His experience includes Staffing Services early in his career, with his most recent experience being spent in MSP / Strategic Consulting within the contingent workforce industry. Ryan relies on his ability to perform and deliver at an elite level and takes a bold, passionate, consultative and people first approach as it relates to the growth of Monument Consulting. He prides himself on being a relationship based executive leader, excessive about Monument’s culture. Ryan has served Monument in a variety of ways over the past 10 years, including strategic sales pursuits, and leading the Sales organization and Account (Program) Management organizations as Vice President. Ryan is currently Monument’s 2nd President in its 21-year history and has served in this role since January of 2019. Ryan is a proud and committed graduate of Florida State University (Go Noles!) and resides in Richmond, VA with his wife and 2 children.

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Lee Baldwin

SVP, Global Head of Sales

Pontoon Solutions

Lee Baldwin

SVP, Global Head of Sales
Pontoon Solutions

Lee leads Pontoon’s commercial organization globally, inclusive of sales, sales operations and bid management. His team is instrumental in achieving revenue growth through new client acquisition and current client expansion activity.

Lee’s tenure with the Adecco Group spans 16 years since joining Pontoon in 2009 to support customers in our financial services segment. Over the years, he's held multiple leadership roles and successfully driven innovative global workforce strategies for some of our most complex customers. He serves with a passion for developing teams and creating career development opportunities. Lee has also been recognized as a 2020 and 2021 Provider Superstar by HRO Today and appeared on SIA’s 40 under 40 list in 2020.

Originally from the UK, Lee moved to the US to play collegiate soccer at North Carolina State University. He now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and three children.

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Carolyn Joshua

President & CEO

Trilyon, Inc.

Carolyn Joshua

President & CEO
Trilyon, Inc.

Carolyn Joshua is the President and CEO of Trilyon, Inc., a leading content management, documentation, and technology services provider for Fortune 500 companies. Under Carolyn's exceptional leadership, Trilyon has earned notable recognition, including the esteemed 2023 Fast 100 Asian American Business Award from USPAACC. Her outstanding achievements have also been acknowledged through the prestigious Enterprising Women of the Year Award in 2023. Furthermore, she has been honored as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of San Francisco for 2023 by Women We Admire, highlighting her significant contributions to the business community.

In addition to her role at Trilyon, Carolyn holds a board position at the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC West), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering economic growth and promoting diversity through leadership, education, and business networking. Carolyn also plays a pivotal role as the Co-Chair of USPAACC WISE (Women Initiative for Strategic Empowerment), spearheading initiatives that empower and advance women professionals in the business world.

Carolyn serves as a General Partner at Early Equity Capital Advisors, specializing in late-stage technology startups. Additionally, she contributes to How Women Invest as an LP, a venture capital firm focused on promoting women-led companies and advancing women leaders within the venture capital ecosystem. Carolyn's commitment to diversity and inclusivity is further exemplified through her role as a global advisor for the Women Leaders for the World Fellowship Program. This transformative leadership training program empowers social change innovators and industry disruptors to create positive impacts on society.

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Speakers

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Ann Anjali Ramakumaran

Founder & CEO

Ampcus, Inc.

Ann Anjali Ramakumaran

Founder & CEO
Ampcus, Inc.

Ann Ramakumaran is the Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc a technology savvy entrepreneur with more than 10 years of contribution towards the design and development of software services and delivery of Information Technology services. Under her leadership, she has grown Ampcus Inc into a fast-growing consulting and professional services firm.

She has been awarded as the top Asian American owned businesses by USPAACC for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 and 50 fastest growing women owned businesses in the CONUS by the Women Presidents Organization for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Ampcus Inc made the Inc 500/5000 list for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Ampcus Inc has also been recognized as the Top diversity business for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Ann has helped fortune 2000 companies with their enterprise-wide customized solutions. She reports to the board and drives the company to attain its vision of being one of the largest Professional services companies globally. She has been involved in executing a consultative methodology to define, qualify, and quantify the clients’ targeted and strategic IT and business objectives and from this, develop solutions to proactively address current and evolving needs and projects.

Ann holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business and commercial management from India. She has also completed an executive management program from the Robins School of Management, University of Richmond.

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Lindsey Mastis

Journalist & Media Consultant

Blue Moves Media

Lindsey Mastis

Journalist & Media Consultant
Blue Moves Media

Lindsey Mastis is a four-time EMMY Award-winning journalist, speaker, and media consultant specializing in AI and emerging technology. With 20 years of global reporting experience, her work has appeared on Channel News Asia and CCTV English. She has taught digital media to journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan, produced a documentary on child survival in India, and now helps organizations understand and communicate how AI is transforming their industries. Through her firm, Blue Moves Media, Lindsey advises companies on AI storytelling, strategy, and public engagement.

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Shahid Azim

CEO & Founder

C10 Labs

Shahid Azim

CEO & Founder
C10 Labs

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Sunil Nandamuri

Chief Technology Officer

Cognivance

Sunil Nandamuri

Chief Technology Officer
Cognivance

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Doris Li Yeh

CEO & Co-Founder

Mirapath

Doris Li Yeh

CEO & Co-Founder
Mirapath

Doris Li Yeh is the CEO and Founder of Mirapath, a Datacenter Critical Infrastructure Total Solution Provider. . In her role, Doris drives growth strategy for the company using Mirapath’s four core values: relationships matter, commitment to excellence, results driven, and strive for innovation and excellence – while having fun and enjoying the journey together. She is passionate about leadership development, women empowerment and cutting-edge technology related to platform development in the data center and IoT space paired with AI and Automation.


Mirapath ‘s was #54 fastest-growing women-owned business. In 2017, the company was on the Fast 100 Asian American Business by USPAACC, the CRN Fast Growth 150, and the CRN Solution Provider 500, as well as the #6 Biggest Minority-Owned Business by Silicon Valley Business Journal.


Doris holds a BSEE from the University of São Paulo and graduated in 2018 from the prestigious Harvard Business School Owner President Management (OPM52) program. She was nominated Silicon Valley Women of Influence in 2018 by Silicon Valley Business Journal, 2018 Enterprising Women Award, 100 Fast USPAAC Company and Infrastrastructure Mason IM100 2020 Recipient . She is a proud Platinum member of Women President Organization, Co-Chair USPAAC WISE ( Women Initiative for Strategic Empowerment) and advisory boartd of USPAAC-West. Doris is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Portuguese.

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Ming Chen

President

MSL Global Express, Inc.

Ming Chen

President
MSL Global Express, Inc.

Ming is passionate about delivering exceptional service to clients while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within her team. Her ability to inspire and motivate others has led to the development of high-performing teams that consistently exceed expectations.

Ming's journey in the logistics industry commenced immediately after completing her bachelor's degree in Finance from SUNY-Plattsburgh in 2008. Equipped with a solid foundation in financial principles, she embarked on her career with a steadfast determination to excel in the world of logistics. Recognizing the importance of specialization and continuous education, Ming pursued a master's degree in Accounting from St. John's University, further augmenting her knowledge and skill set.

Ming has navigated the intricacies of the logistics landscape, adapting to evolving industry trends and regulations especially during the pandemic. Her leadership capabilities and strategic vision have proven invaluable in streamlining operations, optimizing supply chains, and ensuring seamless coordination between various stakeholders.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ming remains an avid learner, constantly seeking opportunities to expand her knowledge and stay at the forefront of industry advancements.

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Nisha Balwani

CEO

RCI Technologies, Inc.

Nisha Balwani

CEO
RCI Technologies, Inc.

Nisha Balwani is the Chief Executive Officer of RCI Technologies, an MWBE information technology firm focused on building and modernizing digital systems while minimizing security risk. By creating high-value technical solutions for clients ranging from, state, local, federal, and commercial entities, RCI Tech is poised to continue its growth. As a second generation-member of the family business, Nisha served as Head of Business Development for five years before becoming CEO, spearheading the company’s expansion into the public sector. Under her leadership, RCI has already tripled its’ business with New York City agencies and expanded its’ cyber security capabilities.

Nisha was recently featured in Forbes for her leadership of RCI through its’ generational succession. She is especially proud to continue RCI's woman-owned and led legacy as she leads the company into the next generation of growth.

Prior to returning to the family business, Nisha graduated from Columbia Business School with an MBA in technology and entrepreneurship and founded RENTALYA, the first US-based brand to provide South Asian formalwear as a rental service. She sat on the board of the NJBPU SDDC Supplier Diversity Development Council and was Chief of Staff to the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Northeast President

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Donald Chu

CEO

Tronex International, Inc.

Donald Chu

CEO
Tronex International, Inc.

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Carolyn Joshua

President & CEO

Trilyon, Inc.

Carolyn Joshua

President & CEO
Trilyon, Inc.

Carolyn Joshua is the President and CEO of Trilyon, Inc., a leading content management, documentation, and technology services provider for Fortune 500 companies. Under Carolyn's exceptional leadership, Trilyon has earned notable recognition, including the esteemed 2023 Fast 100 Asian American Business Award from USPAACC. Her outstanding achievements have also been acknowledged through the prestigious Enterprising Women of the Year Award in 2023. Furthermore, she has been honored as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of San Francisco for 2023 by Women We Admire, highlighting her significant contributions to the business community.

In addition to her role at Trilyon, Carolyn holds a board position at the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC West), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering economic growth and promoting diversity through leadership, education, and business networking. Carolyn also plays a pivotal role as the Co-Chair of USPAACC WISE (Women Initiative for Strategic Empowerment), spearheading initiatives that empower and advance women professionals in the business world.

Carolyn serves as a General Partner at Early Equity Capital Advisors, specializing in late-stage technology startups. Additionally, she contributes to How Women Invest as an LP, a venture capital firm focused on promoting women-led companies and advancing women leaders within the venture capital ecosystem. Carolyn's commitment to diversity and inclusivity is further exemplified through her role as a global advisor for the Women Leaders for the World Fellowship Program. This transformative leadership training program empowers social change innovators and industry disruptors to create positive impacts on society.

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Sophie Zhai

VP of Business Development

Universal Processing

Sophie Zhai

VP of Business Development
Universal Processing

Scholarship Committee Members

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Judy Pines

CPM, APP, Sustainable Procurement Lead, Sourcing & Procurement Solutions,

Allstate

Judy Pines

CPM, APP, Sustainable Procurement Lead, Sourcing & Procurement Solutions,
Allstate

Judy Pines, CPM, APP, is the Sustainable Procurement Lead in Sourcing & Procurement Solutions at Allstate Insurance Company, where she leads the company’s sustainable procurement strategy and initiatives.

In her role, she is responsible for integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into Allstate’s procurement processes, systems, policies and decisions, identifying ESG risks and opportunities, and accelerating emissions reduction in the supply chain, in support of Allstate’s ESG impact goals. Judy is the administrator of an emissions reduction supply chain program which measures, tracks and reports on suppliers’ environmental performance and impact.

Prior to Allstate, Judy devoted over 30 years at Hilton Worldwide in accelerating positions. As Director of Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing, she developed and executed a global sustainable procurement strategy across regions and 14 brands. A highlight of her tenure was establishing and managing a global mattress recycling program.

She is a member of the USPAACC Scholarship Committee, Institute for Supply Management (ISM)Sustainability & Social Responsibility Committee, Sustainable Procurement Leadership Council (SPLC), CDP Financial Services Working Group, and the Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team.

Judy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in art from California State University Northridge and is a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) from the Institute for Supply Management.

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Ann Anjali Ramakumaran

Founder & CEO

Ampcus, Inc.

Ann Anjali Ramakumaran

Founder & CEO
Ampcus, Inc.

Ann Ramakumaran is the Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc a technology savvy entrepreneur with more than 10 years of contribution towards the design and development of software services and delivery of Information Technology services. Under her leadership, she has grown Ampcus Inc into a fast-growing consulting and professional services firm.

She has been awarded as the top Asian American owned businesses by USPAACC for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 and 50 fastest growing women owned businesses in the CONUS by the Women Presidents Organization for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Ampcus Inc made the Inc 500/5000 list for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Ampcus Inc has also been recognized as the Top diversity business for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Ann has helped fortune 2000 companies with their enterprise-wide customized solutions. She reports to the board and drives the company to attain its vision of being one of the largest Professional services companies globally. She has been involved in executing a consultative methodology to define, qualify, and quantify the clients’ targeted and strategic IT and business objectives and from this, develop solutions to proactively address current and evolving needs and projects.

Ann holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business and commercial management from India. She has also completed an executive management program from the Robins School of Management, University of Richmond.

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Fred Lona

Retired, Former Senior Director, S.D. and Performance Management

Hilton Worldwide

Fred Lona

Retired, Former Senior Director, S.D. and Performance Management
Hilton Worldwide

Fred Lona was the Senior Director of Supplier Diversity and Performance Management for Hilton Worldwide which is based in McLean, Virginia. Mr. Lona directed the development, administration, and execution of the Hilton Supplier Diversity Program and supplier performance processes. He was also responsible for the oversight of the Global Travel and Expense Services Program and the Marketing and Communications department for Hilton Supply Management.

While ensuring compliance with the corporate-wide diversity strategy, he incorporated innovative best practice programs in supplier processes and supplier diversity. Exemplifying his commitment to supplier diversity, Mr. Lona served on numerous prestigious and diverse organizations that impact the hospitality industry.

Under his leadership, Hilton’s supplier diversity program has earned numerous awards and recognition including: “Top Supplier Diversity Programs for Women,” “Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity,” “Top 25 Companies for Supplier Diversity,” and “Top 50 Corporations for Supplier Diversity.”

Mr. Lona has earned numerous awards and recognition, including: “Trailblazer Award” (National Minority Supplier Development Council), “Corporate Champion of the Year” (United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce), “Advocate of the Year” (Asian Business Association), “Top 30 Champions of The Year” (Diversity Plus), “Top 100 Leaders in Corporate Supplier Diversity” (WE USA)

Katie Macias Headshot

Katie Macias

VP Strategic Initiatives

Tech Observer

Katie Macias

VP Strategic Initiatives
Tech Observer

Katie is a dynamic business professional with a proven track record spanning Marketing, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management in diverse industries, including contingent labor, aviation, and construction and facility management. Her results-driven approach and wealth of experience underscore her ability to deliver tangible outcomes across global markets.

With a keen focus on optimizing human capital, Katie adeptly navigates complex supplier relationships, fostering innovative solutions that drive organizational success. Her fluency in multi-cultural and multi-lingual environments equips her with a unique perspective, enabling her to overcome obstacles and achieve strategic goals with finesse.

Recognized as a leader in the staffing industry, Katie's visionary leadership has propelled her to
the forefront of talent acquisition and workforce planning. Her innovative strategies have garnered acclaim, earning her nominations and awards such as the "Top 100 Staffing Leaders to
Watch" at the World Staffing Awards 2023.

Further cementing her reputation, Katie has led Cynet Health to prestigious accolades including being named as a “FAST 100 Asian American Business Award Winner for 2024” by USPAACC, securing a spot among the "Top 50 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the Washington Region" by the Washington Business Journal, and earning the distinction of "2023 Best Staffing Firms to Work For" by Staffing Industry Analysts. Her commitment to excellence and strategic vision continue to drive success in the staffing industry and beyond.

Jackie lajoie

Jackie LaJoie

Retired D.S. Manager

USPAACC

Jackie LaJoie

Retired D.S. Manager
USPAACC

Jackie LaJoie joined Ingersoll Rand in September 2012. She has overall leadership responsibility for Supplier Diversity and Supplier Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand. In this role, she is responsible for building world class programs and driving results around supplier diversity strategy throughout the enterprise as well as supplier sustainability in areas such as conflict minerals and environmental initiatives.

In her supplier diversity leadership role, Jackie created a strategic plan for Ingersoll Rand based on NMSDC Best Practices to ensure a successful and sustainable program that creates jobs for supplier partners, economic growth for local communities, and customers for life for Ingersoll Rand. Specifically, to ensure sustainability and future growth of the program, she created a robust program and various supplier development initiatives to equip 41 direct and indirect commodity teams to identify and document supplier requirements and opportunities.

Under Jackie’s leadership, Ingersoll Rand spend with minority-owned businesses has increased 228% over the past three years. Jackie’s work also resulted in a $50,000 grant from the Ingersoll Rand Foundation to support an NMSDC Center of Excellence with the TriState MSDC, which launched in August 2016. As a result, 10 corporations and 20+ minority-owned businesses are spending 18 months working together to improve the corporations’ supplier diversity programs, and build capacity and increase business opportunities for the MBEs.

Prior to joining Ingersoll Rand, she served as vice president of the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, director of Supplier Diversity at Merck and manager of Supplier Diversity at legacy AT&T.

Jackie is also the co-founder of Diversity Alliance for Science in 2007, a non-profit organization focused on supplier diversity in the life science and healthcare industries. Under the leadership of Jackie and Leah Brown, her co-founder, the organization unites healthcare, pharmaceutical, academic and government entities with industry diversity leaders, such as NMSDC, to promote economic growth of small and diverse companies.

Jackie has been recognized nationally for her leadership and service in the Supplier Diversity field with multiple awards and recognitions across her 28-year career, including:

· Co-founder and past president of Diversity Alliance for Science

· Best of the Decade and Women Who Mean Business – Minority Business News

· Top 25 Women of Power Impacting Diversity – Diversity Plus Magazine

· Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year – U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

· Chairman’s Award – PA-NJ-DE Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC)

· YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry Award – YWCA of Central New Jersey

· First Ladies of Supplier Diversity – MBNUSA and Women Business Enterprise USA Magazine

· Champions of Supplier Diversity – Diversity Plus Magazine

· Women Who Mean Business – MBNUSA

· First Ladies of Supplier Diversity – MBNUSA / WEUSA

· Supplier Diversity Advocate – AT&T CEO

· El Paso Trade Conference – Keys to City of El Paso

· AT&T Creating Excellence Award

She has a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration and a B.S. in Economics from High Point University and an MBA from Wake Forest University. She and Ed, her husband, reside in Mooresville, N.C. Jackie enjoys spending time with her son and daughter and spoiling Franklin, her first grandchild and pride and joy.

Maggie Shortes Sq

Maggie Shortes

D.S. Representation and Inclusion, External Engagement

Wells Fargo

Maggie Shortes

D.S. Representation and Inclusion, External Engagement
Wells Fargo

Maggie Shortes is the Business Development and Operations Lead on the Diverse Segments, Representation, and Inclusion (DSRI) External Engagement team at Wells Fargo. In her role, she oversees the development and implementations of business and operational processes, collaborates with leadership to create and execute on strategic plans, and collaborates with cross-functional teams on key initiatives, ensuring alignment with division goals, policies and risks.

With 28 years at Wells Fargo, Maggie has held various positions, including branch teller, branch specialist, Assistant Corporate Travel Manager and Meeting & Event Planner. Prior to joining DSRI, she worked in Diverse Segments marketing and sponsorships, providing thought leadership and collaborating with internal businesses to execute diverse segments sponsorships and
campaigns, as well as developing and executing experiential marketing strategies to activate diverse segments sponsorships.

Between her two tenures at Wells Fargo, Maggie was the Project Manager of Clinical Education at Dignity Health, formerly Catholic Healthcare West, where she led the clinical education strategy
and program development and execution for the largest hospital system, with 42 hospitals, in the western United States.
Throughout her career, Maggie has been an active member of her community. She currently serves on the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) National Business Advisory Council, US Pan
Asian American Chamber of Commerce Corporate Advisory and Scholarship Committees, and Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Scholars Advisory Committee. She has led special community projects at the Chinese Cultural Center in San Francisco and volunteers frequently at the Edwin and Anita Lee Newcomer School and San Bruno Education Foundation.

Maggie earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting at San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts in Urban Development and Design at University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia. She resides in San Bruno, CA, with her husband and son.