Leadership (Behavioral)

Payton Drury
HR Director
City of Collinsville
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Payton Drury is the Human Resources Director with the City of Collinsville and has been with the City for over 6 years. Payton oversees all areas of human resources, including employee retention, employee engagement, employee recognition, employment policies, recruitment, training, and benefits. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus in HR and Marketing and a Master’s in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

SESSIONS:
Tony Fuhrmann
Director, Employment & Training
Madison County
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Tony Fuhrmann has served as Director of Employment and Training for Madison County since August of 2017.  Prior to joining Madison County he served as Chief Financial Officer for the Bureau of Property Management, Central Management Services, state of Illinois for 2 years.  Previously he was employed with the Department of Human Services at the state level for 17 years. He worked for Anheuser Busch in the Logistics Department for 10 years.  He holds a Master of Marketing Research Degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  Currently he is serving as a City Councilperson for the city of Collinsville, IL.

SESSIONS:
Darlene Ladd
Assistant Director
Madison County Employment & Training Department
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Darlene Ladd, Assistant Director at Madison County Employment and Training has 8 years of experience in workforce development, assisting job seekers and businesses meeting the changing demands of the labor market. Prior to working with Madison County, she worked for over 16 years with a non-profit agency assisting individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment.  Providing recruitment, job placement, coaching, retention services, and case management services through partnerships with Vocational Rehabilitation and Ability One Programs.  Darlene is currently on the board of directors for a small non-profit organization that provides educational and employment training opportunities to adults with disabilities.  

SESSIONS:
Paula Bradford
Transition Specialist and Director of the STEP Program
Madison County
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Paula Bradford serves as the Director for Madison County Transition Programs and the Special Education Administrator for Madison County ROE #41. She came to the position with 14 years’ experience as a Transition Specialist. She is a Youth Services Coordinator for Secondary Transitional Experience Program with Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). As a Youth Services Coordinator, she is a liaison between school districts and DRS. She serves as the Chairperson of the Madison County Transition Planning Committee which brings together representatives from Madison County school districts and local agencies to discuss and coordinate transition services.

SESSIONS:
Dima Ghawi, MBA
DEI Influencer
Dima Ghawi, LLC
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Dima is Middle-Eastern in her genes and global citizen in her spirit. She ignites the untapped potential in individuals across the globe, empowering them to shatter limitations and become courageous, purpose driven leaders.

Through keynote speeches, workshops, and executive coaching, Dima shares her unique leadership transformation journey with one goal in mind: motivate those around her to reimagine their potential and grow into leaders.

Dima has worked across the United States, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa for several Fortune 100 companies and has honed a keen expertise in developing leaders to meet the demands of the global workforce.

 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 10:30am to Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - 11:30am
Katrina Kibben
Personal Pronouns
They/Them/Theirs
CEO
Three Ears Media
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Katrina Kibben is an award-winning writer and keynote speaker known for helping hiring teams write inclusive, unbiased job postings that help them hire the right person faster.

Before founding Three Ears Media, Katrina was a CMO, Technical Copywriter, and Managing Editor for leading companies like Monster.com, Care.com, and Randstad Worldwide. Today, they are frequently featured as an HR and recruiting expert in publications like The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes.

Kat travels the country in their RV while dividing time between North Carolina, Colorado, and the dogs behind the name Three Ears Media.

SESSIONS:
Monday, October 30, 2023 - 2:15pm to 3:15pm
Michael Ungar
Executive Coach
Unico LLC
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Mike Ungar graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and has an MBA from Clemson. After his service in the Army, Mike joined Michelin North America. Over Mike’s 35-year career, he held managerial roles in continuous improvement, manufacturing, and human resources. Today Mike is a FocalPoint Business and Executive Coach helping business leaders achieve their potential.

Mike led Michelin’s Faith and Beliefs Business Resource Group.  He is a member of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding’s Workplace Advisory Council, is Co-chair of the DEI committee for Greenville SHRM, and a graduate of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative.

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 3:45pm to 4:45pm
David Suson
Author, Corporate Leadership Coach, Speaker
Proliance Group LLC
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David studies the keystones for success and achievement in the areas of Leadership, Communication and Personal Performance.  He studied over 3,000 top performers to find what the top leaders, salespeople and employees do.  And more importantly, he discovered the roadblocks that hold people back.  For over 25 years, David has worked with hundreds of clients of all sizes in many industries such as technology, banking, communications, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution.  He specializes in leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, sales and personal development and brings his insights to you to create breakthrough solutions. 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Guillermo Mendoza
International Speaker & Executive Coach
Impact Coaching Solutions
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Guillermo disrupts people struggling to find happiness, to transform their lives by unlocking the powerful mindsets that create peace, abundance and happiness.

He accelerates leadership turning managers into leaders. Leadership expert, global speaker, author, entrepreneur, meditator, and executive coach. He is passionate sharing his tools and experiences on neuroscience, emotional intelligence, mindfulness and coaching to help people and leaders to thrive.

Guillermo is dedicated to empowering leaders to grow a successful organization developing talent in people. He engages people to reflect on their leadership and to make the changes to create transformations that will positively impact lives.
 
 
SESSIONS:
Monday, October 30, 2023 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Joy Johnson-Carruthers
Personal Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Founder and CEO
JTraining Solutions
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Joy Johnson-Carruthers is the founder of Jtraining Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to helping clients apply diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies that make a difference. A former police officer and US Army Veteran, Joy’s expansive career in the public and private sector make her a sought-after Public Speaker, HR Consultant, and Workforce Development Leader with over twenty years of award-winning experience developing leaders and high-performing teams across the United States and abroad. Her presentations are a call to action for better business outcomes and more inclusive workplaces. She currently resides in Nashville, TN, with her husband, Tom.

SESSIONS:
Monday, October 30, 2023 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Sonia Aranza
CEO
Aranza Global Cross-Cultural Strategies
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Global Speaker Sonia Aranza has presented on the international stage from Spain to Singapore.  She brings 27+ years of experience in Diversity, Inclusion & Global Leadership. Her clients include Boeing, CIA, McDonald’s and more. The U.S. Department of Labor describes her work as “Outstanding” and was selected to execute programs for landmark cases. SHRM featured her as a Diversity & Inclusion Expert in HR Magazine and she is a LinkedIn Top Voice in Leadership. She serves on the Faculty of Howard University’s Executive Diversity Program; named “100 Most Influential Filipina Americans in the United States” and honored “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World.”

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - 9:00am to 10:00am
Claudia Schabel
Founder, President and CEO
Schabel Solutions
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Claudia Schabel is the Founder, President and CEO of Schabel Solutions. Born and raised in Brazil, Schabel lived and worked in Japan for five years prior to moving to the United States. Her approach as a sought-after DEI consultant combines over 20 years of DEI and HR practitioner experience, largely with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, with her international, multicultural background.

Schabel serves on the Iowa SHRM State Council as the Director of Diversity. She also serves on the Grand View University Board of Trustees, the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Leadership Council, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Region 7 Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board and the Business Record’s Racial Equity Advisory Board. 

Her many years of leadership within the community led to honors and recognition such as the Drake University Zimpleman College of Business Women’s Impact Award (2024), Business Record’s List of Business Leaders You Need to Know (2024), Business Record – Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Woman Business Owner of the Year Award (2023), CITYVIEW Business Journal’s 22 from 2022 Award, Business Record ‘Forty Under 40’ Honoree (2008), State of Iowa’s Robert D. Ray Iowa Latino Ambassador Award (2010), and Iowa International Center Passport to Prosperity Award (2014).

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 3:45pm to 4:45pm
Dr. Di Ann Sanchez, SHRM-SCP
Chief Exceptional Officer
DAS HR Consulting LLC
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Dr.  Di Ann Sanchez, Ph.D., SPHR, SHRM – SCP, is the Chief Exceptional Officer of DAS HR Consulting LLC and Sanchez & Associates, a WMBE/HUB-certified firm focused on creative and non-traditional Human Resources programs and Diversity. Dr. Sanchez has over 35 years of experience, is a certified Senior Human Resources Professional (SPHR & SHRM – SCP), and has held executive positions with both private and public companies, including: 
    Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
    United Natural Foods, Inc.
    Burlington Northern Santa Fe
    Boeing Commercial Airplane Group
    American Airlines 
    Delta Technology 

Dr. Sanchez received the 2018 Top Minority Business Leaders Award for Tarrant County. Hispanic Business magazine named her one of the “Top 50 Hispanic Women in Business,” one of the “Top 80 Elite Hispanic Women,” and one of the “Top 100 Latinas in America.” She is also a past SMU Latino Leadership Initiative Advisor. 

She was highlighted in the Hispanic Journal Magazine, recognizing her human resources and diversity accomplishments at American Airlines. She has also been featured in USA Today to improve the employment verification process and encourage comprehensive immigration reform.  

Dr. Sanchez has spoken at the SHRM National Conference, Talent Management, and National Diversity and Inclusion. She has also spoken at several SHRM and Business Chapters and has been featured in many publications as a national Human Resources and Diversity expert. She is also a SHRM National Speakers Bureau Member. Dr. Sanchez actively participates in the SHRM Voice of Work Research Panel. 

SESSIONS:
Monday, October 30, 2023 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm