Jacob Rostovsky
Advocate, Thought Leader and Media Consultant for the Transgender and Non-Binary Community
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Jake Rostovsky, MA, is a mental health clinician and noted advocate, thought leader and media consultant. Jake's passion is to help businesses become a truly affirmative, safe and inclusive environment for the Transgender and Non-Binary (TGNB) community. Jake has worked with many organizations, including NBCUniversal, Buzzfeed and Lionsgate, in regards to moving them beyond being "welcoming" and "accepting" for gender diverse employees. In his free time he is an avid true crime junkie and loves to spend time with his partner, Jason, in their hometown of Los Angeles.
 

SESSIONS:
Dr. Danette Howard
Senior Vice President & Chief Policy Officer
Lumina Foundation
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Danette Gerald Howard, Ph.D. is senior vice president & chief policy officer at Lumina Foundation, the nation’s largest private foundation focused solely on increasing student access and success in postsecondary education. Howard oversees several of Lumina’s key strategies to increase Americans’ attainment of high-quality postsecondary degrees and credentials, including strategic work in both state and federal policy. She also leads the Foundation’s efforts to mobilize and engage employers, metropolitan areas, higher education institutions and other key actors with a stake in postsecondary attainment.

Prior to joining Lumina, Howard served as Secretary of Higher Education in Maryland, leading the state’s postsecondary education coordinating agency, the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  As secretary she oversaw Maryland’s statewide financial aid program, approved new academic programs and institutions seeking to operate in the state, and advised the governor and legislators on higher education policies and initiatives.

A nationally regarded analyst and thought leader, Howard previously served as director of research and policy analysis at the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  She also held positions as the assistant director of higher education policy at the Education Trust in Washington, D.C., as a researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park, and as a student affairs administrator and admissions counselor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Howard earned her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Howard University. She also received her master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her Ph.D. in higher education policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2015, she was honored for her outstanding success and national distinction in the fields of education and policy with Howard University's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

 

 

SESSIONS:
Diamond Dallas Page
WWE Hall of Fame Wrestler, Author, Actor, Motivational Speaker, Founder and CEO
DDPY Fitness
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Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) is a guy you need to know. For the past 16 years, he’s been inspiring people worldwide to be healthier through better fitness and nutrition, using the simple phrase “Own Your Life.” Search for DDP online, and you’ll find more than the man himself; you’ll find hundreds of thousands of fans, and just as many incredible stories, focused on the positive impact he’s had on their lives.

But DDP wouldn’t be able to change the lives of so many without an incredible story of his own. At 35, he became the oldest rookie in pro wrestling history, an impossible task considering most wrestlers were close to hanging it up by then. At 40, he was one of wrestling’s biggest draws, side-by-side with the likes of Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Hulk Hogan, and Bill Goldberg. At 42, just when he had the world in a “Diamond Cutter”, he broke his back, rupturing his L4 and L5 discs.
It was over…At least that’s what the doctors said.

However, the world soon found out that DDP has a knack for creating possible out of impossible. He started looking for ways to heal his back, finding the solution in the one thing he wouldn’t be caught dead doing; yoga.
A pro wrestler who’s “Six-foot four, two-hundred and fifty-five pounds of chiseled stone and B-A double D, bad to the bone!” doing yoga?! You’re kidding, right?
No kidding, it worked, but it wasn’t enough. So, Dallas teamed up with trainers, nutritionists, and kinesiologists to create a workout that blends yoga positions, sports rehab therapy, calisthenics, and dynamic resistance into a one-of-a-kind fitness program. DDPY was born, and DPP was back in the ring at 42.

The results? 3 World Heavyweight Championships, more than a decade of dominance in the ring, induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, and the creation of the most effective workout on the planet. Today, DDP is still creating possible out of impossible while helping thousands of others do the same. Designed to help anyone, anywhere, anytime, DDPY works and has the testimonials to prove it. As DDP says, “Whether you want to get in great shape or just get out of bed without struggling, DDPY will help you “Own Your Life.”

SESSIONS:
 
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 - 8:30am to 9:00am
 
Monday, October 19, 2020 - 8:30am to 9:00am
Chok Ooi
CEO
Kenzie Academy
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Chok Ooi is the CEO of Kenzie Academy, an online synchronous school that trains software engineers & UX designers for rewarding, in-demand jobs. Kenzie's one-year, project-based training programs are a new alternative to traditional colleges and short-term coding bootcamps. 

Chok is also Chairman of Agility.io, an Andela for Southeast Asia that trains and places developers on projects with US-based tech firms such as Google, NerdWallet and Meetup.com. Prior to this, Chok built trading systems for top investment banks including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Bank of America. Chok also worked for Silicon Valley startup Loopt and was previously CTO of AZAP Mobile and Head of Web and Mobile Solutions at Selerity.

 

SESSIONS:
Karen S. Carter
Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer
Dow
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Karen S. Carter serves as Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer for Dow. As Chief Human Resources Officer, Carter is responsible for developing and implementing human resources policies and practices to support the company’s global workforce, which includes talent, recruiting, compensation, benefits, and employee experience. 

As Dow’s first Chief Inclusion Officer, she guides and directs the Company’s efforts to create a more inclusive environment and diverse workforce while integrating inclusion as a key driver for business success. 

Carter has more than 25 years of experience with Dow. Before assuming her current responsibilities, Carter held the role of North America commercial vice president, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics (P&SP). While serving in that role, Carter was a member of the global business leadership team and was responsible for the overall profit & loss of P&SP’s North America region. 

Carter has held a variety of global business positions throughout her career, including global business director and global marketing director for Dow P&SP, and has also held roles within Building and Construction, Polyethylene, Engineering Thermoplastics, Fabricated Products and Information Technology Equipment and Consumer Electronics. 

Carter is on the board of directors for the Great Lakes Bay Region Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She is also a previous member of the Dow Kakoh Kabushiki Kaisha board of directors, a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited and The Dow Chemical Company, and previously served as board chair of the Adoption Option, Inc. board of directors. Carter is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and is on the Catalyst Board of Advisors. 

Carter has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Howard University and a master’s degree in international business from DePaul University. Carter has been published in the Journal of the American Health Information Management Association and featured in Chemical Week, the Huffington Post, MORE Magazine, and the Disrupt Yourself Podcast and The Future of Work Podcast. In 2014, Carter was named to the prestigious Forty Women to Watch Over 40 list for her innovative leadership contributions. In 2018, she was named to Black Enterprise’s Top Executives in Diversity list and received Northwood University’s Distinguished Women Award. In 2019, Carter was named to Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful Women in Corporate America list, and most recently was recognized as one of the 100 Ethnic Minority Executives on the EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model Lists supported by Yahoo Finance. 

SESSIONS:
Peter Quigley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kelly
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Peter Quigley was named president and chief executive officer of Kelly Services (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) in October 2019. Kelly is a global provider of workforce solutions, always thinking about what’s next in the story of work, connecting talented people to companies in need of their skills and designing talent strategies that help businesses embrace the value of all workers and workstyles.

It’s a dynamic environment, and Peter’s diverse professional background provides a valuable vantage point. In his 17 years with Kelly, he has held executive leadership positions across operations, global sales, and account management; has served as the company’s general counsel; has overseen a full breadth of corporate functions; has been a chief architect of the company’s strategy; and has played a pivotal role in executing its mergers and acquisitions, including a joint venture in APAC and the expansion of Kelly’s education practice in the U.S. His experiences—and his time spent with both clients and independent contractors—have made Peter a passionate advocate for speed, innovation, and adaptability in an industry that faces constant disruption.  

He leverages his industry knowledge and global expertise on multiple fronts. After serving as vice-chair of the thought leadership task force for the American Staffing Association (ASA) and as a member of the association’s legislative committee, Peter now serves on ASA’s board of directors. He previously served as Kelly’s representative on the board of directors of Persol Holdings, a leading Japanese staffing and solutions company publicly traded on the Nikkei stock exchange. He is a past board member of PersolKelly, a joint venture that provides staffing in 11 geographies in APAC. A known leader in the workforce solutions ecosystem, Peter has been recognized as a “Staffing 100” leader by Staffing Industry Analysts for four consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). 

Peter started his Kelly career in 2002 within the law department and was promoted three years later to associate general counsel. A proven strategist, in 2007 he was appointed to lead the account management and then the business development functions in Kelly’s large-client portfolio, where he drove innovation and focus by aligning Kelly’s expertise in distinct industry verticals. He went on to serve as general counsel and chief administrative officer, responsible for Law, Corporate Communications, Facilities, Global Business (Shared) Services, Global Service, Human Resources, IT, Legal, and Risk Management. Most recently, Peter held the role of executive vice president, serving as president of Global Staffing and general manager responsible for aligning Kelly corporate functions to the company’s growth strategies.

Prior to joining Kelly, Peter held a variety of roles at Lucent Technologies and AT&T Corporation. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in Washington, D.C. He earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the National Law Center at George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the District of Columbia Bar.  He is also a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber Executive Committee for 2020-2021.

SESSIONS:
Jocelyn Lincoln
Chief Talent Officer and Vice President, Global Business Planning
Kelly
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Jocelyn Lincoln is chief talent officer for Kelly®, a  global provider of workforce solutions, always thinking about what's next in the story of work, connecting talented people to companies in need of their skills and designing talent strategies that help businesses embrace the value of all workers and workstyles.

Jocelyn’s role as chief talent officer is focused exclusively on external temporary talent. She sees each temporary employee as a “customer” who brings unique experiences, goals and expectations to their career journey. Her goal is to connect talented people to world-class organizations and ensure they have the best “customer experience” possible. To achieve this, she is responsible for designing systems and processes that simplify, personalize and transform how Kelly connects with temporary workers at every step of a fast-paced digital strategy – from online storefronts to onboarding, career development, performance management, benefit packages and more.

Jocelyn also continues to lead the global business planning and experience team in her role as vice president of global business planning. She oversees a team that manages experience design; recruitment marketing; demand generation; translation of customer insights into marketing messaging; and product, cross-channel and account-based marketing. 

A proven leader in developing talent and marketing strategy, Jocelyn has taken on increasingly responsible positions during her tenure at Kelly, all with a focus on talent and connecting people to the right opportunities. With her deep industry expertise and a proven passion for the temporary workforce, she has spent two decades leading numerous marketing and candidate-focused teams at Kelly.

From the time she joined Kelly in the late 1990s, Jocelyn quickly advanced to head of marketing for Kelly’s largest operating segment, leading teams responsible for candidate and client-facing programs, product development, employer brand strategy, and social advocacy. She went on to lead Kelly's sourcing and recruiting strategy for the Americas region; assumed ownership of the candidate experience; and managed the company’s online recruitment partnerships. Prior to joining Kelly, Jocelyn served in strategic marketing roles in the banking and energy industries.

She is a highly respected leader and sought-after expert both inside and outside of Kelly. She frequently presents to Kelly’s Fortune 100 clients and at leading industry events, advising on future talent trends, supply and demand dynamics, and emerging workstyle preferences. She is a founding member of Kelly’s Leadership in Action business resource group, dedicated to developing current and future leaders in the global marketplace. Jocelyn is also a member of CALIBR, an affiliate of the Executive Leadership Council, and a member of the mentoring committee for Pretty Brown Girls, a fast-growing nonprofit focused on the well-being of girls of color.

Jocelyn earned a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Detroit-Mercy and a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University. 

 

SESSIONS:
James M. Beamesderfer
Vice President, Veterans Initiatives
Prudential Financial, Inc.
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Jim Beamesderfer is vice president, Veterans Initiatives and heads the Prudential Veterans Initiatives Office. He is responsible for the company’s external and internal veterans programs, which includes supporting Diversity and Inclusion activities, implementing the communications strategy and overseeing philanthropic activity in coordination with internal business partners. In addition, he oversees the VETalent program that in partnership with the nonprofit organization Workforce Opportunity Services, recruits, trains and hires Iraq and Afghanistan-era military veterans and military spouses. Beamesderfer has been a driving force behind the development of the company’s military spouse employment program and was recently appointed as the Co-Chair of the US Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Hereos Military Spouse Employment Advisory Council. He also plays a key role in expanding the VETalent program and other Military Talent employment programs to other companies.

Beamesderfer joined Prudential in 1997. Prior to his current role, he was a director, Information Systems in Prudential’s Individual Life Insurance business where he supported Prudential Advisors technology functions such as Customer Relationship Management, marketing, financial planning, and learning / professional development. 

Prior to joining Prudential, Beamesderfer was a captain in the U.S. Army, serving six years in Infantry units.

Beamesderfer has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.  He also earned the Project Management Professional designation.

Beamesderfer sits on the board of directors of the United Service Organizations (USO) of Metro NYC, the board of advisors for the Center for a New American Security and is an active member of the Rutgers Business School Military and Veteran Advisory Board.

SESSIONS:
Kristin Jemison
Lead, Veterans Community Network People & Business Resource Group
Bristol Myers Squibb
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Kristin Jemison, PMP is a biopharmaceutical leader with a progressive 20-year career that includes delivering multimillion-dollar results by driving enterprise-level strategy, initiatives, and operations. Through her career she has held positions of increasing responsibility in Operations, Project Management, Manufacturing Sciences & Technology and Integrated Product Strategy. She currently leads the Veterans Community Network People & Business Resource Group for Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company, and has helped them increased veteran workforce representation by spearheading diversity initiatives.

As part of leading the Veterans Community Network, Kristin has worked hard to build, develop, and manage a robust leadership team with a sharp focus on member engagement and diversity hiring. She has liaised with congressional leaders to shape policies on veteran employment and military spouse underemployment. Kristin recently presented at The White House to The Second Lady’s Office and industry peers on solutions for improving military family benefits. She resides in Langhorne, Pennsylvania with her husband Michael and their two children.

SESSIONS:
John Perez
Head of Military & Veterans Affairs
Johnson & Johnson
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John Perez is the Head of Military & Veterans Affairs at Johnson & Johnson.  John is a graduate of Johnson & Johnson's Procurement Leadership Development Program and Shaping Talent & Accelerating Results (STAR) Supply Chain accelerated development program; he has held previous Procurement, Supply Chain and Acquisition & Divestiture roles across Johnson & Johnson.  Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, John served as a US Army and US Army Reserve officer in various cross-functional roles, twice deploying to Iraq.  John is a graduate of Seton Hall University and Yale School of Management and holds numerous professional certifications, including the SHRM Foundation’s Veterans at Work Certificate.  John is also a George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program alumnus.

SESSIONS:
Kevin Whirity
National Military & Veteran Recruiting Lead
Deloitte
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Kevin Whirity is the National Military & Veteran Recruiting Lead at Deloitte, where his efforts focus on Recruitment, Onboarding and Retention strategies for transitioning veterans. Prior to joining Deloitte in 2009, Kevin served 6 years on active duty with the US Navy as a Human Resources Officer. He completed his academic studies at the US Naval Academy (’03), Loyola University of Chicago (MBA – ’07), and the University of Florida (MS Real Estate – ’09). Kevin currently resides in Jacksonville with his wife and three kids.

 

SESSIONS:
Dr. Tina Atherall
CEO
PsychArmor Institute
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Dr. Tina Atherall is a social innovation strategist with a concentration in non-profit management, community development, and advocacy. She obtained her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work focusing on the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work to eradicate social isolation. She is the CEO of PsychArmor Institute and works extensively with communities educating and advocating for critical support for those who have served and their families. Tina has advanced certificates in nonprofit leadership, human-centered design facilitation, military family readiness, military social work, and is a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator. She is an Associate Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work.

SESSIONS:
Nadja West
Lieutenant General (Retired), 44th Army Surgeon General and the former Commanding General
US Army Medical Command (USAMEDCOM)
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Lieutenant General (ret) Nadja West is the 44th Army Surgeon General and the former Commanding General of US Army Medical Command (USAMEDCOM). In 2015 West became the first African American woman 3-star General in the Army’s history, and is currently the highest-ranking woman to ever graduate from West Point.

A graduate of George Washington School of Medicine, West completed residencies in Family Medicine and Dermatology, and has held various clinical, operational and leadership positions throughout her 30+ year career as a Soldier.

In her last Army assignment, West managed an $11 billion budget and led an organization consisting of more than 130,000 healthcare professionals comprised of Active, Guard and Reserve soldiers, civilians, contractors and volunteers. She was responsible for medical centers, community hospitals and clinics; dental, veterinary and public health facilities; research, education and training platforms; and deployed medical formations around the globe, supporting over 4 million people. In her role as SG, West was the senior medical advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army. During her tenure, she led the AMEDD through the most comprehensive transformation that military medicine has seen in over three decades.

West is a 2019-2020 Hauser Leader at Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership, serves on the boards of directors for Americares, Nucor Corporation, and Tenet Healthcare Corporation. She is also a trustee of the National Recreation Foundation, dedicated to enhancing the role of recreation as a positive force in improving the quality of life of youth.

 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 - 11:30am to 12:30pm