In her dual capacity as a strategic process diversity consultant and an employment attorney, Cindy-Ann Thomas adeptly navigates clients through multiple diversity and inclusion challenges and opportunities.  Company executives in a broad spectrum of industries, including government, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, higher education and professional services, have looked to her for the past 18 years for diversity and inclusion services and counsel that emphasize talent development, engagement, productivity and retention. Cindy-Ann - who is a regular speaker for both regional and national SHRM events - is the program host of Littler’s Diversity & Inclusion Podcast Series.

Steve Garguilo is an instigator with a track record of large-scale, grassroots change inside big companies. As the Founder of Cultivate, he leads a team that empowers changemakers inside many different types of organizations. His team at Cultivate also pioneered an enterprise software platform that supports workplace communities.

He is the author of a #1 bestseller, Surge: Your Guide to Put Any Idea into Action.

Garguilo has also worked on social ventures globally. In 2014, he completed The Mongol Rally, a 10,000-mile adventure from London to Ulan Bator, Mongolia, fundraising for the African Prisons Project. He has visited each of the 48 contiguous United States and is a member of the “century club” having visited over 100 countries.

Ben Eubanks is a bestselling author, speaker, and researcher living in Huntsville, AL. He spends his days as the Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, developing groundbreaking research on workforce trends and examining the talent technologies and People practices that set great organizations apart from the rest. 

His latest book Talent Scarcity explores why companies are having difficulties finding quality talent and how they can solve it. His first book, Artificial Intelligence for HR, is the world’s most-cited resource for leveraging technology to create a more human experience at work. His new book The Payroll Promise (March 2025) examines how HR and payroll teams can create workplace trust and do more meaningful work at the same time. He also hosts HR Summer School, a virtual event focusing on improving human resources, one HR pro at a time. When he's not speaking or writing, he spends time with his five kids and runs in a variety of outlandish races for fun.

Keli Wilson is a Principal Consultant with DCI Consulting Group, Inc. (DCI). She leads the diversity and inclusion practice group with metrics driven services. Keli manages a team of associate principal and senior consultants who assist contractors with compliance needs, such as affirmative action plan development, pay equity analyses, strategic audit advice, and training support. She writes blogs and white papers, presents at local and national conferences, and will host a new DCI diversity podcast, The EEO Studio. Keli received an M.A. degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Xavier University and B.A. degree in Psychology from West Virginia University.

Takiyah Cunningham is an individual who is working her purpose of building purposeful understanding, engagement and relationships for individuals across organizations.  Takiyah is Manager of Diversity Programs and Partnerships for Cintas Corporation where she is responsible for the diversity and inclusion leadership development program.  Takiyah is also responsible for military and disability programming, as well as all Business Resource Groups.  Prior to Cintas, Takiyah worked as manager of Diversity and Inclusion for United Way of Greater Cincinnati, where she provided strategy and led efforts in the areas of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  Takiyah serves on the Chief Diversity Officer Roundtable hosted by University of Cincinnati and the Equity Delegation.

Takiyah has been an active volunteer with several organizations, including Board member for UMADAOP Cincinnati, Inc., Cincinnati Urban League Guild, YWCA Rising Star, graduate of the Rising Star Board Leadership program. She has received many honors, the latest, being recognized as one of Cincinnati’s ‘100 Wise Women’. Takiyah is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Cincinnati (OH) Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Takiyah graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and earned her Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Development from Xavier University in Cincinnati. 

Takiyah resides in Cincinnati with her husband Adrian and their three daughters Dylan, Emery and Maison.