Protected: Special Guests and Featured Speakers Hidden

Galen Emanuele

President, Shift Yes LLC

Galen Emanuele transforms the way teams and organizations approach and establish culture, perform together, and impact each other at work. His unique content massively improves team dynamics, communication, EQ, and generates high-level performance and engagement. Galen has a unique gift of cutting through the noise and fluffy language to translate broad concepts into simple, practical skills and mindsets. A highly sought-after international speaker, with clients including Microsoft, Safeway, and NASA, Galen is also a world-class improviser and has toured with the cast from Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Brené Brown

Researcher & Storyteller

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.

Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times best sellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.

Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her titles include Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With Tarana Burke, she co-edited the best-selling anthology You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience.

Brené’s TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with over 60 million views. Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix, and in March 2022, she launched a new show on HBO Max that focuses on her latest book, Atlas of the Heart.

Brené spends most of her time working in organizations around the world, helping develop braver leaders and more-courageous cultures.

She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie, and a weird Bichon named Lucy.

Salome Agbaroji

National Youth Poet Laureate

She is a Nigerian-American poet that has written and/or performed spoken word poetry for the Golden Globes Pre-Show, NFL Rams Halftime Show, an Opening Act on Rupi Kaur's World Tour, the likes of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors, Mrs. Tina Lawson, and many more. Salome was a YoungArts winner in Spoken Word and has been honored by the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, among many others. She has been published in NPR's KCRW, Noema Magazine, the Harvard Technology Review, and more.

Not only will she be a freshman at Harvard in the Fall of 2023, she will also be an ambassador for the Vans global brand campaign this year.

Her focuses outside of poetry are civic engagement and advocacy about issues such as racism towards minority communities, immigrant stories, injustices in the international community, and more.

Kevin Caroll

Best-Selling Author, Expert on Creativity and Innovation, Agent for Social Change

Kevin Carroll is the founder of Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC and the author of three highly successful books, Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, What's Your Red Rubber Ball?!, The Red Rubber Ball at Work and A Kids Book About BELONGING published by ESPN, Disney Press and McGraw-Hill and A Kids Book About. As an author, speaker and agent for social change (a.k.a. the Katalyst), it is Carroll's "job" to inspire businesses, organizations and individuals—from CEOs and employees of Fortune 500 companies to schoolchildren to maximize their human potential.

With his consulting endeavors, Kevin has helped turn creative ideas into reality for organizations such as the National Hockey League, ESPN, Nike, Starbucks (his words appeared on 17 million Grande cups), The National Basketball Association, Walt Disney Company, Mattel, Hasbro, Procter & Gamble, Discovery Channel, Capital One and many others.

Raised by his grandparents in Philadelphia, Carroll spent endless hours at the neighborhood playground where he found his calling: a red rubber ball. His subsequent pursuit of play and his "red rubber ball" took him overseas with the Air Force, where he served as a language interpreter and translator, gaining fluency in Croatian, Czech, Serbian and German.

After serving in the Air Force for ten years and earning his college degree, Carroll became an athletic trainer at the high school and collegiate levels in Philadelphia. His expertise in sport performance recognized by the 76ers organization and led to his job as the head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1995. While at the 76ers, Nike tapped Carroll to bring his unique experiences to the sneaker giant in 1997. Although no job "officially" existed at the time, Carroll was directed to create a position at the company that would add value to the overall mission of the brand. Carroll accepted the challenge and stayed for seven years as "Katalyst" (the 'K' is for Kevin)—a creative change agent. At Nike he was instrumental in helping the company develop a deeper understanding of athletic product performance, team dynamics and interpersonal communication. Carroll left Nike in 2004 to create his own company, Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC, committed to elevating the power of sport and play around the world.

Carroll has dedicated his life to advancing sports and play as a vehicle for social change and success. He partners with non-governmental organizations and businesses around the world that share his vision and goals. He was honored to address the United Nations as part of the UN Year of Sports for Development and Peace in 2005. He has been an advisor for Beyond Sport, a global gathering of social innovation leaders and sports organizations, from 2009-2013 (Archbishop Desmond Tutu is the Patron of Beyond Sport). In 2013, Kevin was named by SUCCESS magazine as one of 19 “SEERS – changing the world!”

Carroll holds a MS in Health Education from St. Joseph's University, a BA in Speech Communication with a minor in Physical Education from Angelo State University and an Associates Degree in Interpreting and Translating from the Community College of the Air Force. Kevin is a frequent visiting lecturer at schools, colleges and universities across the United States and internationally.

Jeannie Mai Jenkins

Emmy Award winning TV Host and Producer

Jeannie Mai Jenkins is an Emmy Award-winner and host of America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation on Amazon Freevee. In addition, she can be seen as a sideline correspondent for ABC’s extreme mini-golf competition series “Holey Moley.” Previously, Mai Jenkins co-hosted the nationally syndicated talk show “The Real” for eight seasons. In May 2021, Mai was included in the Gold House A100 list, recognizing the most impactful leaders in the Asian community, and in 2020 she competed on season 29 of the hit ABC series “Dancing with the Stars.” Mai and her fellow “The Real” co-hosts received multiple accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Talk Series, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Talk Series. 

 In 2019, Mai launched her weekly web series, “Hello Hunnay,” which takes fans on her journey through fashion, fitness, food, finances and relationships. As a self-described foodie, she enjoys the art of cooking and often showcases cultural cuisines with her family across her social platforms. Mai also hosts the podcast “Listen Hunnay,” where she interviews everyone from sex therapists to divorce lawyers and morticians to crime scene investigators in an effort to understand the journeys at the heart of the human being behind the career. Mai partnered with Owl’s Brew, a leader in tea-based spiked and sparkling beverages, as chief brand officer, assisting with new product innovations and overall brand strategy. In addition, Mai recently launched her first fashion collection in collaboration with Macy’s, Jeannie Mai x INC. 

 In 2017, Mai executive produced “Stopping Traffic: The Movement to End Sex Trafficking,” a documentary that investigates the international crisis of human sex trafficking from a deeply personal point of view. The follow up, “Stopping Traffic 2: Surviving Sex Trafficking,” is now available on demand. 

Aloe Blacc

Singer, Songwriter, Activist & Philanthropist

In the years since Aloe Blacc’s last album, Lift Your Spirit, the global superstar spent time working on an even dearer project: his family. All Love Everything (Delux), his latest album, is the singer-songwriter’s first collection of material written as a father, a journey that expanded Blacc’s already heartfelt artistic palette. “Becoming a father made me want to share those experiences in music,” he says, admitting it’s a challenge to translate such a powerful thing into lyrics and melody. But the listeners who have followed Blacc over the course of his career know that his facility with language and sound is deep -- if anyone was up to the task, it’s him.  

Raised by Panamanian immigrants in Southern California, Blacc grew up around the sounds of salsa, merengue, and cumbia. He initially developed his own taste by throwing himself into hip-hop before trying out his soulful voice to other ends. Across three albums, his sound evolved and grew, finding a pocket that reflects the long and beautiful history of American soul with timeless, descriptive songwriting that speaks to the broad range of human experience, from platonic love to love for humanity, from politics to aspiration. Versatile and compassionate, his songwriting is classic in a way that makes categorization irrelevant; indeed, Blacc’s lyrics have been paired with dance music and country -- always to stirring effect. Aloe Blacc isn’t defined by genre. 

“Rather than a genre, my music follows a theme I call A.I.M.: affirmation, inspiration, and motivation,” he explains. Beloved hits like “I Need a Dollar,” “The Man,” and “Wake Me Up,” with Avicii, may not fall under the same musical umbrella, but they’re united by how they make the listener feel. That’s Blacc’s wheelhouse, the place where he excels. “After so many opportunities to talk about my music and not feel comfortable saying, ‘I’m a pop artist’ or ‘I’m a folk artist,’ I had this realization. My songwriting genre is thematic.” 

Aloe Blacc’s most recent releases include a collaboration with singer/songwriter ZZ Ward, “Tin Cups” followed by “Free”, which was also written and produced by Blacc for the CNN political commentator Van Jones’ documentary ‘The First Step’, on his criminal justice reform journey to pass the First Step Act, which led to the release of thousands of citizens who have paid their debt to society. 

This year celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the global hit "Wake Me Up," an anthem of our generation, co-written and performed by Aloe Blacc.The track's collaboration with the late Avicii resulted in groundbreaking fusion that broke EDM boundaries. In commemorating this milestone, Blacc remembers the power of music to unite and uplift, while also committing to a world where mental health is valued and supported. 

Aloe Blacc is presently writing his next solo album and is expected to drop his first single in Summer 2023. 

Dave Isay

Founder and President of StoryCorps

Dave Isay (I-SAY) is the Founder and President of StoryCorps, a New York Times bestselling author, the recipient of numerous Peabody Awards, and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. His life’s work taps into the heart and soul of the human experience. In 2003, Dave founded StoryCorps, an independent nonprofit organization based in Brooklyn, New York, that has brought more than 620,000 Americans together—two at a time—to record intimate conversations about their lives, create a human connection, pass wisdom from one generation to the next, and leave a legacy for the future. Each conversation is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress—the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. Millions of listeners hear StoryCorps’ weekly broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition, and select stories are also shared through StoryCorps’ podcast, animated shorts, digital platforms, and books. In 2015, Dave was recognized with the $1 million TED prize, awarded annually to one exceptional individual with a creative, bold vision to spark global change. Dave is currently leading StoryCorps’ work to help decrease political divisions in the United States through its latest effort, One Small Step, which was featured in a segment on CBS’s “60 Minutes” in early 2022. For speaking engagement inquiries, Dave is represented by The Tuesday Agency. 

Rocsi Diaz

Emmy award winning host, actor, and entrepreneur

Emmy Award winning Television Host Rocsi Diaz is best known as the former co-host of BET’s ultra-popular mega music show, 106 & Park, Rocsi Diaz interviewed everyone from Lady Gaga to Obama. As a co-host and daily correspondent on CBS’s Entertainment Tonight, Rocsi was known for setting the tone for what’s hot in music, movies and entertainment. She reached 85 million homes worldwide during her time with 106 & Park and has since gone to host CNN/HLN’s The Daily Share, VH1’s Dating Naked and Behind The Movie, People TV’s Chatter, USA's Cannonball, and often seen on E!  She was also the host on FOX's singing competition show Alter Ego. With a massive social media presence, Rocsi reaches millions of followers across all platforms. Currently, she’s an on-camera contributor for GMA. She also wrapped filming on DUTCH II alongside Macy Gray and in pre-production for DUTCH III. 

Lexi Underwood

Actress, Singer, Filmmaker, and Changemaker

Lexi Underwood is an actress, singer, filmmaker, and changemaker. 

Underwood is best known for her role in Hulu’s Emmy-nominated limited series, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE, co-starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. She was nominated for a 2021 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Youth” for her portrayal of Pearl Warren in the series.

Underwood is currently starring in season 2 of Freeform’s anthology series, CRUEL SUMMER. Underwood will next be seen in Tommy Dorfman’s directorial debut, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, opposite Alexandra Daddario and Cole Sprouse. The film, which is based on the best-selling novel, will premiere at this year’s South by Southwest film festival. 

Underwood recently starred as Malia Obama in Showtime’s THE FIRST LADY opposite Viola Davis; the Emmy winning Disney+ special, SNEAKERELLA opposite Chosen Jacobs, and Marc Webb’s anthology series JUST BEYOND for Disney+.  Her other past projects include: the independent feature IF NOT NOW, WHEN, opposite Meagan Good; the Netflix series, FAMILY REUNION; and CRIMINAL MINDS. Lexi has also appeared in Amazon’s WILL VS THE FUTURE, ABC’s THE GOOD DOCTOR, CBS’ CODE BLACK, Disney’s RAVEN’S HOME, Disney XD’s WALK THE PRANK, and Nickelodeon’s HENRY DANGER. 

In 2018, Underwood founded her production company, Ultimate Dreamer Productions, and made her directorial debut with the docu-short, WE THE VOICES OF GEN-Z. 

Underwood is committed to using her voice to give back and raise awareness on issues that impact girls and youth, both locally and globally. Some of the organizations she supports include March for our Lives, Girl Up, No Kid Hungry, Mattel Children’s Hospital, Say No Bullying, Free2Luv, and she is an avid supporter of (RED) as a (RED)ucator. 

On stage, she made her Broadway debut at the age of 11 in the award-winning theatrical production, THE LION KING as “Young Nala”.

Wyclef Jean

Grammy Award winning Musician

The music that three time Grammy Award winning and Golden Globe and Emmy nominated Wyclef Jean has written, performed, and produced — both as a solo superstar and as founder and guiding member of the Fugees — has been a consistently powerful, pop cultural force for over two decades. In 1996, the Fugees released their monumental album The Score. Since then, Wyclef has released eight albums as a solo artist that have sold nearly nine million copies worldwide, including his 1997 debut The Carnival and 2000’s The Eclectic: 2 Sides II a Book. In March 2019 Wyclef released Wyclef Goes Back to School, a collaboration with students he met while touring the United States and visiting colleges across the country. In December 2019, Wyclef announced the launch of his music publishing and distribution company Carnival World Music Group, with the support of entertainment industry finance firm Sound Royalties. Last year Netflix announced the production of an untitled animated project based on the real-life story of Wyclef’s childhood in Haiti, which will be co-produced by Greg Silverman’s company Stampede and have Jean as the film’s composer. 2020 also found Wyclef venturing into the podcast industry as the host of RunThatBack, a one of a kind weekly show for music lovers of any type, where Wyclef interviews heavy hitters from all walks of life, from music, to sports, politics, and beyond. He also teamed up with Google in the fall of 2020 to create a jingle for their #BlackOwnedFriday campaign to promote and support shopping black-owned businesses for Black Friday during the holiday season. This campaign has won a Webby Award, and has been nominated for a Clio Award, among others.

In 2021 Wyclef co-founded SodoMoodLab, a jingle and scoring company. In his most recent project with Sodo, Wyclef stepped in as composer for seasons four and five of Showtime’s The Chi, a show created by screenwriter and actress Lena Waithe.

GALE NElson

President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Gale Nelson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and grew up in Toledo, Ohio where he began his pursuit of personal and professional success. Gale earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Corporate Finance from the University of Toledo (Toledo, OH) and his Master of Science in Management and Administration of Educational Programs from Nova Southeastern University (Davie, FL).  Gale has earned eight doctoral hours in Non-Profit Leadership at Colorado Technical University (Colorado Springs, CO).

Some of Gale’s most recent accomplishments include: the Irvin F. Westheimer Visionary Leadership Award (2022). This national award is named after the man whose vision led to the founding of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children’s Trust David Lawrence “Champions for Children” Award (2022), South Florida Business Journal Ultimate CEO Honoree (2021), South Florida Business Journal Power 250 List (2021), completed the Nonprofit Leadership program at Boston College (2018), and the Harvard Business School Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management Course for CEO’s from around the world (2018).

Gale’s professional career includes over 30 years of non-profit management and leadership experience. Currently, he is the President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, and since joining the team in July 2006, he has played a significant role in the growth and development of the agency’s mentoring and fund development programs.  He led his team in being named the Agency of the Year Award (2021) and the National Pinnacle Award for three straight years (2019, 2020, 2021).

Gale is a highly effective public speaker and the consummate strategist who provides solution-focused leadership. His faith and his family continue to keep him grounded in helping youth and families.

Julie Novak

Chief Youth Protection Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Julie Novak is the Chief Youth Protection Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Her decades-long career has been dedicated to working to end violence.  For the past eighteen years, she has served as Big Brothers Big Sisters’ leading expert and spokesperson on youth safety & well-being, advancing best practice strategies across all aspects of local Big Brothers Big Sisters’ programming affecting child and youth health and well-being, reaching more than 5,000 local communities across all 50 states.  She’s provided training and consultation to thousands of professionals on youth protection, children’s exposure to trauma, youth mental health and wellness, and risk management during her tenure with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.  She has served as a Board Member of the U.S. Center for SafeSport since its inception in January 2016. She was appointed to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Board of Directors Program Advisory Council in 2019.  In 2018 she led the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation as President. She’s served in an advisory capacity to international, national, state-wide, and local organizations, including the Crimes Against Children Research Center, Johns Hopkins Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, the CDC, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and Vice President Biden’s Gun Violence Task Force. Novak is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid – a program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.  

She holds a BBA in Economics with a focus on public policy from the University of Iowa. She lives with her husband and two dogs in Wisconsin, where they raised their three daughters.  

AFUA BRUCE

Public Interest Technologist

AFUA BRUCE is a leading public interest technologist who works at the intersection of technology, policy, and society.

Afua is the Principal of the ANB Advisory Group LLC, a consulting firm that supports organizations developing, implementing, or funding responsible data and technology. With her background in software engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence, combined with experience developing and deploying technology in and with communities, Afua incorporates an equity-based framework into her engagements.

Afua is an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University and an affiliate at Harvard Kennedy School’s Berkman Klein Center. Afua’s newest book, The Tech That Comes Next: How Changemakers, Technologists, and Philanthropists can Build an Equitable World, describes how technology can advance equity.

Gasby Brown

Founder & CEO of The Gasby Group, Inc

M. Gasby Brown has an unparalleled passion for the nonprofit industry. Her work and impact are testaments to her strong belief in the need for good philanthropic practices. As Founder & CEO of The Gasby Group, Inc. (TGG), she leads a team of global organizational development, communications, and philanthropic experts with an impressive list of clients. TGG offers a broad range of consulting services including board development, strategic planning, succession planning, fundraising campaign readiness, feasibility studies, annual sustainability and capital campaign design.

Brown is a faculty member of the prestigious The Fund Raising School (TFRS) at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy where she has taught for more than a decade. She has shared her strategic thinking and expertise with fundraising professionals, executives, and board members nationally and internationally.

Gasby has authored several books: Art of Praise, 7 Fatal Flaws of Non-Profit Boards and How to Fix Them, and The Seven Qualities of Capital Campaign Success. Her most recent book, Business of a Spiritual Matter: What All Leaders of Faith- Based Nonprofits Should Know The book’s foreword was written by Dr. William Enright, Founding Director Emeritus, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. Brown’s upcoming book project, Think Like A Nonprofit. Act Like A Business will be released in 2021.

As a former reporter for Fox Television’s WNYW in New York City, where she was a Financial Correspondent for "The McCreary Report" and General Assignment Reporter, her stories were nominated for several awards. She was also the New York Correspondent for BET, interviewing the top names in the entertainment industry. Gasby is a sought-after speaker, lecturer, facilitator and thought leader.

Brown holds a Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School and she conducted advanced research in new communications technology at MIT’s renowned Media Lab.

Her board involvement includes the Institute of Policy and Understanding (ISPU), Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project (Advisory Board), Kids Hope USA (National Advisor).

Tony Coles

President of Black Information Network and Division President of Metro Markets for iHeartMedia

Tony Coles is the President of BIN: Black Information Network and Division President of Metro Markets for iHeartMedia. He was instrumental in the launch of BIN, the first and only audio network that provides 24/7 news and objective information with a full focus on the Black community. As President, he leads all operations for the network. In his role as Division President of Metro Markets, he oversees the complete profitability for 21 iHeartMedia markets across America. 

Coles has more than 35 years of experience in the media industry. He has been with iHeartMedia since 2004 and has held on-air and leadership roles in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Seattle. Most recently, Coles served as the Executive Vice President of Programming for the company’s West Region. Prior to that, he was the Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Chicago and served as National Hot AC Brand Manager. Coles began his career in Zanesville, Ohio as an on-air personality

Coles holds a B.A. in Communications from Marylhurst University and an MBA from Western Governors University School of Business. He volunteers with several industry organizations including the National Association of Broadcasters and serves on the Board of Directors for The Conclave. Coles is a two-time recipient of the Worldwide Radio Summit Senior Programmer of the Year award. He currently lives outside of Chicago with his wife and two sons. 

Rudy J. Baldoni

CEO of Newport Investment Associates

Rudy J. Baldoni is CEO of Newport Investment Associates, a California based investment company.  Newport Investment Associates invests in distressed real estate and development opportunities and provides late stage investment capital to successful entrepreneurs in the technology space.

Prior to forming Newport Investment Associates, he served in various executive capacities for sixteen years with Arnel & Affiliates, a real estate development and management company owned by former US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, George Argyros. At Arnel, Mr. Baldoni was involved in over $2 billion of residential and commercial real estate development projects and financings. Prior to joining Arnel, Mr. Baldoni was a commercial real estate banker with Security Pacific National Bank and Bank of America in Orange County, CA and managed a portfolio of over $1 billion in real estate development projects.

Mr. Baldoni has served on various Corporate, Non-profit and Advisory Boards.  He currently serves on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (past Board Chairman) and on the Board of USA Water Polo, Inc., the national governing body in the United States for water polo.  He previously served on the Board and was the past Chairman of the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire where he served for twenty years.  He has also served on the Advisory Boards of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, the UCI Center for Real Estate, the Ralph W. Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics at Chapman University and for the UCI Applied Innovation Institute.

Michael Carrel

President and CEO, AtriCure

Suzy DePrizio

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Centene Corporation

Suzy DePrizio is Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Centene Corporation, an organization committed to making quality healthcare accessible to all.  She leads brand development, marketing strategy, advertising, and communications for the +$125B company, which serves more than 26 million members across all 50 states.  

As the head of marketing at one of the largest healthcare organizations globally, Suzy was tapped to drive accelerated growth for Centene, with focus on its B2C healthcare brands, Wellcare and Ambetter.  Central to Suzy’s responsibilities is enabling Centene’s exceptionally local business strategy through targeted, innovative marketing solutions.   

Prior to joining Centene, Suzy led Digital and eCommerce transformation for the Johnson & Johnson U.S. Consumer Health business, where she was responsible for accelerating growth and driving market leadership in online sales. 

Suzy has a strong track record of building high-performing marketing and cross-functional teams, developing talent, and consistently delivering above-market growth, and made significant contributions to the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health business over more than 17 years with the company.  Previously, she was Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Customer Strategy for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health Canada, where she drove accelerated growth, resulting in No. 1 share position in 10 of 16 categories across a portfolio of 30 iconic brands, including Neutrogena, AVEENO, Tylenol, Nicorette, Reactine (Zyrtec), & Listerine.

Under her leadership, Neutrogena^® U.S. attained the #1 ranking in sun care, and she transformed the Brand’s digital marketing capabilities, resulting in L2 ranking the Brand as “Digitally Gifted.”  She pioneered the over-the-counter eczema category with the launch of the AVEENO® Eczema Therapy platform, the first ever non-steroidal over-the-counter daily treatment for eczema, and led a turnaround of the RoC^® U.S. business, which doubled sales in two years.   

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Suzy served as an officer in the U.S. Navy with worldwide assignments spanning four continents over nearly a decade of service to her country.  This experience helped to shape the passionate, selfless leader and compassionate global citizen she is today.  

Suzy remains an active volunteer on behalf of veterans.  During her assignment in Canada, she initiated a strategic partnership for Johnson & Johnson with True Patriot Love Foundation, a national charity that funds over 800 programs to support the unique needs of military members, veterans, and their families across Canada. 

Suzy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where she was a Fuqua scholar (top 10% of class) and received the Asa T. Spaulding award for leadership. Suzy and her husband, Bob, a fellow Navy veteran, reside in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with their two daughters, Ava and Sophia.

Leonard A. Bernstein

Partner, Holland & Knight

Alonda Williams

President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters Puget Sound

Corporate technology executive turned non-profit leader committed to making an impact in the lives of others. Expert in inclusive and equitable marketing and customer experience practices Passionate about making a difference, Alonda recently shifted her career focus from Technology to Nonprofit. As an Education Technology leader at Microsoft, she saw first hand how many opportunities existed for broad scale technology and strategy innovation in the public and social services sector. She is now on a journey to use her knowledge, leadership and unique collaborative style to accelerate change to make a difference in the lives of others.

As a dedicated people leader, Alonda has managed, mentored and coached the careers of hundreds of professionals. She uses this experience to teach Leadership Development and other courses to aspiring executives and college students. A masterful connector, Alonda enjoys using her deep network to make valuable connections wherever needed.

A successful author, Alonda's best-selling children's book series has received critical acclaim and is beloved by parents and children alike. Through her publishing company, children's books and public service, Alonda has created a personal platform around empowerment and speaks often about building self-esteem in girls.

Maggie Klos

Systems and Innovation Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City

Maggie Klos is the Systems and Innovation Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City. As Systems and Innovation Director, Maggie works across all departments to make sure teams have the tools, data, and systems to work effectively and efficiently. Maggie manages the Volunteer and Family Intake department with a focus on using innovative strategies and providing exceptional customer service to convert inquiries.  Maggie directed the launch of BBBSKC Salesforce - a custom CRM database built to provide a 360 view of agency supporters. She also oversees agency impact data and manages organizational wide systems and processes. Maggie served as leader of the Big Impact Group Junior Board for four years. Maggie has been with BBBSKC for six years and previously worked on the program team as a Case Manager. She is currently a member of the BBBSA Volunteer Experience Task Force.  Maggie believes that systems make things less chaotic and strives to help others work smarter, not harder. 

Michaela Davenport

Director of Admissions, Civics Unplugged

Michaela Davenport (she/her) is based in NYC and currently serves as the Director of Admissions for Civics Unplugged. She is an experienced non-profit professional and summer camp leader with a passion for youth development. 

Adam vasallo

Chief Marketing Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Adam Vasallo is the Chief Marketing Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Adam joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in January 2018 and leads the marketing department in generating awareness for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission, inspiring volunteerism, and bringing the organization’s brand and commitment to youth equity and empowerment to life on national stages, through strategic partnerships and in communities nationwide.

Prior to joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Adam spent 11 years at HSN, where he held several senior level development and marketing roles including Director of New Business Development and Entertainment Marketing. In that role, Adam cultivated and grew multi-year corporate partnerships by driving customer engagement, generating incremental revenue, and acquiring new customers through storytelling, unique experiences, and multichannel marketing programs anchored in content.

Adam is a 2-time Big Brother and is currently matched with his Little Brother Giovanni. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Adam and his wife, Robyn, are the proud parents to three children, Addison, Zachary and Sophie.

DVON Williams

Chief Communications Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Williams brings over 15 years of experience in public relations, media, strategic brand positioning, thought leadership and executive visibility to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) as Chief Communications Officer (CCO). She leads the development and execution of an integrated communications strategy that successfully reinforce BBBSA’s brand strategy and mission to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people through mentorship. 

As CCO, Dvon leads internal communications, bolstering network-wide communications to and with agencies for more message consistency and impact. She also spearheads external communications efforts, developing messaging and elevating BBBSA’s voice to thread a formal strategy for thought leadership positioning of the organization; as well as amplifying executive and board visibility to drive relevance with key stakeholders. 

Prior to joining BBBSA, Williams spent over a decade of her career building brand awareness and affinity for some of the top national non-profit brands in the country. She previously served as Senior Director, PR and Celebrity Relations at National 4-H Council where she established a dedicated PR and influencer relations team managing media and talent relations as well as reputation management and positioning. Her leadership advanced the brand’s visibility into mainstream media and expanded its network of spokespeople to include diverse and representative voices for the long-standing organization.

Williams also held positions at Boys & Girls Clubs of America where she led the development and execution of BGCA’s Back-to-School campaign resulting in significant media visibility and increased cause marketing efforts that continue today. Her experience with these organizations as well as with Edelman PR have won industry recognition from MarCom Awards, Public Relations Society of America, and Fast Company.

Ryan Detert

Founder and CEO of Influential

As Founder and CEO of Influential, an AI social data and conversion company, Ryan Detert has brought top influencers, brands, press, and financing to his venture-backed company. 

With over a decade of experience in the influencer and social media space, Ryan's mission to optimize and streamline branded content with a data-first approach has shifted the industry and led to being recognized in AdAge's annual 40 under 40 awards in 2021. 

Through Influential, Ryan has built the largest influencer marketing company in the world, by revenue, and developed invaluable partnerships with prestigious technology and media companies, including Meta, TikTok, IBM Watson, Oracle Data Cloud, IRI, and WME. 

Ryan is passionate about doing well for others, and has forged philanthropic efforts with organizations that include The United Nations, WHO, and CDC, as well as U.S.-based non-profits, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Rock The Vote. 

Stephen Hill

Content Creator and Television Executive

At the intersection of Music and visual distribution is where you’ll find Stephen Hill leaning on the street sign. 

Most recently, Hill served as the EVP, Creative at the legendary Dick Clark Productions. He was responsible for overseeing the creative directions of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, The Golden Globes, The Academy of Country Music Awards, The Billboard Awards, The American Music Awards and The Streamys. 

Hill is the former President of Programming for BET Networks, where he spent 18 years 
developing and creating programs for the leading provider of entertainment for the AfricanAmerican audience and consumers of Black culture globally. 

Hill is best known for heading the team that developed and implemented the Award winning tentpole shows on BET including the BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors and the show with the largest African-American viewership every year since its inception, The BET 
Awards. 

Also, under Hill’s leadership, the BET team built a noteworthy catalog of quality and beloved programming including “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “The New Edition Story, ”College Hill” , and “Tales.” 

During his tenure, he supervised the growth and popularity of the network’s music shows and live events, creating not only unforgettable content and some of the most talked about moments 
in television, but iconic franchises including “106 & Park,” and “Rap City: The Bassment.” 

In addition to behind the desk duties, Hill occasionally showed up on front of the camera; most notably as the host for the NAACP Image Award Winning “BET News presents: An Aaliyah Reflection”, as the host for the BET Michael Jackson: Bad 25 special, and as the host for “BET’s Remembrance of Prince” in April 2016. In 2004, Prince sat down with Hill for a jovial, wideranging conversation (seen by over 1.5 million people) that has been referred to on YouTube as 
“Prince’s Best Interview” (PRINCE BEST INTERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE) 

Prior to joining BET Networks in 1999, Stephen worked for four years at MTV in New York City as Director of Music Programming. As Director, Hill was responsible for selecting and programming all genres of videos for airplay, working with talent and supervising the network’s 
standards processes. 

Hill got his start in music working with industry legend, Elroy Smith, who was programming director at WILD-AM in Boston, MA. In 1993, Hill and his team took WILD-AM to its highest ratings ever, beating six full-time FM stations in the process. Hill has also done extensive work with ABC Radio Network’s Urban Gold Format, launching their 24-hour format. Gaining many 
accolades for his work with ABC Radio Networks, he also served as executive producer for the Tom Joyner Morning Show. 

Hill credits much of his success to his childhood passion of announcing various songs that he kept on a tape player. He began shaping his formal career at Brown's University’s radio station, WBRU-FM, in Providence, RI.

Peggy Lewis

Ph.D

Dr. Peggy Lewis retired from academia as the Executive Dean of the School of Business and Graduate Studies and the School of Professional Studies at Trinity Washington University. Dr. Lewis is now a facilitator of racial reconciliation. She is a native Washingtonian and an alumna of Trinity. She received a Ph.D. with distinction from Howard University.  Her dissertation title: “Preaching, Praying and Strategic Media Planning:  From Montgomery to Selma, How the Civil Rights Movement Forced Journalists to Do Their Job.”  Prior to Trinity, she was an Assistant Professor and Broadcast Sequence Coordinator in the Department of Journalism at Howard University. Before coming to academia, she spent nearly 20 years as an award-winning broadcast journalist in Washington, New York, and Miami before embarking on a career in public service which included working for President William Jefferson Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, and Children’s Defense Fund Founder and President, Marian Wright Edelman. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Washington D.C. Chapter of the Links, Inc., and a member of the National Presbyterian Church where she serves as an Elder and Stephen Minister. 

NANCY LIEBERMAN

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer

Bill Plaschke

Sports Columnist, Los Angeles Times

Bill Plaschke, an L.A. Times sports columnist since 1996, is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame and California Sports Hall of Fame. He has been named national sports columnist of the year nine times by the Associated Press, and twice by the Society of Professional Journalists and National Headliner Awards. He is the author of six books, including a collection of his columns entitled, “Plaschke: Good Sports, Spoil Sports, Foul Ball and Oddballs.” Plaschke is also a panelist on the popular ESPN daily talk show, “Around the Horn.” Plaschke has been named Man of the Year by the Los Angeles Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and has received a Pursuit of Justice Award from the California Women’s Law Center. Plaschke has appeared in a movie (“Ali”), a dramatic HBO series (“Luck”) and, in a crowning cultural moment he still does not quite understand, his name can be found in a rap song “Females Welcome” by Asher Roth. In case you were wondering – and he was – “Plaschke” is rhymed with “Great Gatsby.” Plaschke is from Louisville, Ky., graduated from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and has three children – Tessa, Willie and MC – and a granddaughter Daisy Ann.

Reette Thorns

Singer-Songwriter, 2023 American Idol Contestant

Reette Thorns grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was a foster kid for most of her early adolescence. She graduated from what is now, ‘Vel Phillips Memorial’ where she was a star Track and Field athlete as well as a star basketball player. She remained a top athlete in track and field three out of four years on varsity in Wisconsin High school Athletics.  She is a student at Grand Valley State university competing in Track and Field and studies Theatre. At her university, she has been recognized as Student-Athlete of the week for having all A’s by midterms and remaining top 16 in the country for track and field in NCCA D2. Reette recently participated in her first play, ‘Merry Wives of Windsor,’ with the Theatre department at Grand Valley. Most recently, Reette has given focus to acting, singing, and learning the guitar, and is preparing to take on a music minor in the early fall.  

Trying to break into the entertainment industry, she recently on the show ‘American Idol’ where she received an in-person audition and the Golden Ticket to Hollywood. Since the show,she has been writing music, taking vocal lessons, and practicing instruments as she begins to find herself as an artist. 

Her focus right now is finishing her degree in Theatre and starting her work in the music department. She plans to continue to write and produce music as well. In her free time, she loves to listen to and write music, play the guitar, study monologues for acting auditions and swim, a lot.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been a part of her life for well over a decade and it was the best decision her mother ever made for her. Her Big Sister, Elizabeth, and the organization have changed her life in ways the world could never imagine. The program gave her the opportunity to have opportunities, good life choices attainable, and to find friendships, family, and love. Big Brothers Big Sisters brought her a best friend, sister, mentor, confidant, laughter, and my mom all in one. 

John Waller

EVP, Talent Management & Business Development, IFA

Born in Iowa, John is the youngest of four. His parents joke that he grew up with three moms - his actual mother and his two older sisters. His older brother Dan was less interested when John entered the picture - but he came around eventually.  As the youngest, he was frequently around adults and developed an appreciation for community, friendship, and communication. His family has always valued integrity, humility, and loyalty. John spent every day of his childhood playing sports and loved being outside with friends.The family moved to Washington State during John's fifth grade year where they stayed until John graduated high school. He followed in his older siblings footsteps and attended the University of Kansas for College. After initially considering Social Work, he earned his degree in Communication Studies and Leadership. After graduating, he moved to Kansas City and started his career in sales. While his sales career started to take off, he still had this burning desire to do more - to tap into his inner social worker and make a positive impact on a young person's life. He enrolled to become a Big with BBBS Kansas City. It's one of the best decisions he'll ever make in his life. He and Rachaad became fast friends, spending valuable time together every week. They'd play all the sports, go to the pool, play at the park, eat stomach-stuffing meals, visit with his sister and her kids, and engage in meaningful conversations about this complicated, beautiful thing we call life. John continues to make his living in sales, now with a professional sports agency called IFA, and also started a plant-based food business with his wife Jessica. He resides in Minneapolis with Jessica, their daughter Maeve, son Eli, and rescue pup Javier. He and Rachaad remain as close as ever with John acting more formally as his Business Manager.

Rachaad White

Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Born in Kansas City, MO as the youngest of four boys, Rachaad has always been active. His mother, Rochelle, always emphasized respect for elders, honoring your word, being true to yourself, and being thankful for what you have. Rochelle enrolled all of her boys in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, seeking additional mentorship and positive male role models for her sons. Naturally, Rachaad couldn't wait to find his match after seeing the opportunities his older brothers had. Rachaad played multiple sports growing up but excelled most at basketball and football. At Center High School in Kansas City, he went on to become All State in football and All Conference in basketball. Surprisingly, he wasn't recruited by any D1 schools so he committed to a Division II school, Nebraska Kearney. Once there, his teammates saw what a great player he was and suggested he transfer to a Junior College, which would then lead him towards his goal of playing for a Power 5, Division 1 school. He took their advice and transferred to Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, California. At Mt Sac, he became a top Running Back in the nation before committing to Arizona State. At Arizona State, his ascent continued, leading the team in both rushing and receiving which caught the attention of all 32 NFL teams. In April of 2022, his ultimate dream came true. He was selected as the 91st overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first year in the NFL, he played alongside Tom Brady, took over the starting Running Back role, contributed to the team's playoff berth, and lead all rookie Running Backs in receiving. Rachaad resides in the Tampa area, is a devoted father to a beautiful daughter named Nevaeh, and loyal friend to many. 

Sean Burke Clifford

Green Bay Packers Quarterback, Alumni Big

Sean Burke Clifford is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State. He was the starting quarterback and team captain for the Nittany Lions from 2019 through 2022. Clifford is the Founder and CEO of Limitless NIL.  

Clifford graduated from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati in 2017. During his career, he passed for 4,004 yards and 30 touchdowns with a school record 1,100 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns as a quarterback. He was a four-time letterman and two-time team captain. Clifford led the Bombers to the Division I Ohio State Championship with a double overtime win over St. Ignatius in 2016. 

As the Nittany Lion quarterback, Clifford finished his career as Penn State's all-time leader in wins as a starting quarterback (32), completion percentage (.614), completions (833), passing yards (10,661), total yards (11,734), passing touchdowns (86) and pass attempts (1,356).  

During the 2023 Rose Bowl, Sean Clifford's 88-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith became the longest passing play in Rose Bowl game history. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice. He was also honored as the 2022 Brian Westbrook Regional Player of the Year. 

Clifford was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the 149th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed his rookie contract on May 5.  

Run by current and former college athletes, Limitless NIL helps Talent build cutting-edge brands and business relationships designed for the World of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL).Limitless NIL was founded in 2022 by Sean and his brother Liam Clifford. Limitless athletes have now signed deals accumulating over $250,000 with over 50 companies. Limitless NIL was sold to TEAM Group Holdings inc. in 2023.  

Sean Mitchell

Sean Mitchell is a current Little from Kansas City, Missouri and has been a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2014. He was Matched with his Big Brother Charles when he was nine years old and has a close relationship with him to this day. 

Sean is currently a Junior at William Jewell College where he is majoring in Communications, as-well as playing football. He has served as the first ever BBBSKC ‘Voice of Potential’, where he was the representative for Littles across Kansas City. Some of Sean’s favorite memories with BBBS include attending the Super Bowl in Atlanta, and, of course, lot of Royals and Chiefs games with his Big. He was also chosen as the Little Correspondent at the 2023 NFL Draft and was able to interview players on the red carpet.   

Jayla Saunders

BBBS NYC Little, Cheslie C. Kryst Fellowship Recipient

Jayla Saunders, 18, is originally from the Bronx and currently resides in Jersey City. She joined the Workplace Mentorship Program during her sophomore year of high school and has been with BBBS for the past four years. During her time with BBBS, she has had the opportunity to participate in the Dream Big Campaign with Express alongside Cheslie Kryst and her Big at the time Casey Johnson. After graduating high school, she transitioned into the College and Career Success program which she is still part of. Jayla currently attends LaGuardia Community College with a major in Communication Studies but plans on transferring to Baruch College in the spring of 2024, as a digital communication and culture major with a minor in marketing. In the future, she hopes to become a social media manager or communications/PR specialist for a major cooperation.  She was inaugurated as the first recipient of the Cheslie C. Kryst Fellowship in June 2022 at BBBSA’s national conference. Jayla also plays an active role in the BBBSNYC Youth Council and has participated in the BBBSNYC Summer Leadership Practicum in the summer of 2021. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, trying new recipes, filming and editing YouTube videos, and catching up on the latest show or movie.  

Tate Sanchez

BBBS Rhode Island Little

Tate Sanchez, an inspiring 18-year-old transmale, is a recent high school graduate and a participant in Big Brothers Big Sisters of RI's (BBBSRI) mentoring programs. He has been matched with his Big, Eli, through BBBSRI's "BRITE" program for transgender youth. This life-changing connection has shown Tate that transgender individuals can achieve anything they set their minds to. Motivated by his own experiences, Tate plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in pursuit of becoming a therapist specializing in transgender youth. In addition to his mentoring journey, Tate has been working at BBBSRI's donation center since 2022. Throughout high school, he has been a reliable source of support and a safe person for other LGBT youth, sharing his own story and providing assistance. Tate's diverse interests include gaming, sewing, cross-stitching, jewelry making, and hiking. He also shares his home with a pet fish, bird, and frog. 

Curtis Kopf

Senior Vice President, Chief Experience Officer, REI 

Curtis Kopf serves as the co-op's first chief experience officer, leading its Customer Insights, Analytics and Platforms, Outdoor Experiences, Customer Service, and Innovation teams, all focused on delivering a differentiated outdoor experience. He is the executive sponsor for the Warrior Inclusion Network, an employee group focused on building community and addressing the needs of the co-op's veterans. 

Curtis served on the BBBS Puget Sound board of directors from 2014-2019, and was board chair for two years, 2017 and 2018, during the agency’s revitalization of growth. 

Prior to joining REI, Kopf held leadership roles in digital and customer experience at Premera Blue Cross, Alaska Airlines, Microsoft and Amazon. He has a track record of leading transformation and a passion for building customer obsessed teams and products. Curtis also serves on the board of Nature’s Sunshine; a publicly traded health and wellness company based in Salt Lake City and chairs their Risk Committee. He has two kids and lives with his wife in Seattle, where they enjoy hiking, swimming, and adventures in the outdoors. 

Rhonda Nichols

Parent of Little RaeAnna

Rhonda Nichols is a single mother of 17-year-old daughter, RaeAnna Nichols. As a disabled Veteran who served during the Persian Gulf War, Rhonda's commitment to her country was evident during her tenure in the Army Reserve from 1988 to 1996. In 1990, she responded to the call of active duty when her Reserve unit was mobilized, serving in the Persian Gulf War for six months. Rhonda's professional journey has been marked by remarkable achievements and a profound sense of entrepreneurship. Her experiences working alongside individuals at Creative Memories and Mary Kay inspired her to establish her own enterprise, named Ronkne's Shortstop Embroidery. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Rhonda has contributed to her community for over 15 years as a dedicated member of The Order of the Eastern Star. Through their collective efforts, she and her fellow members engage in various community service projects, making a positive impact on the lives of those around them.