Breakout Session

Alexia Georghiou, founder of the Knoxville Happiness Coalition, empowers professionals to discover their compass of purpose. She equips leaders with the tools to cultivate executive presence, foster positive workplace cultures, and achieve sustainable well-being through resilience-building strategies that drive productivity and engagement.

A global advocate for happiness and well-being, Alexia serves as the curator and contributing author on purpose for Global Joy: Unlocking Happiness Across Cultures and advises the Global Happiness Forum in Jaipur, India. She also shares her expertise by teaching leadership and professional development at the University of Tennessee. Additionally, Alexia contributes to the Oak Ridge Human Resources Alliance, helping shape HR policies that uplift and strengthen the community.

Through her signature V.A.L.U.E. Model—Vision, Action, Leadership, Unity, and Engagement—Alexia teaches nonprofits how to expand organizational capacity through volunteer engagement. Storytelling remains at the core of her organizational development strategies, driving advocacy and meaningful change across communities.

As founder of WorkJoy, Tina builds on 20 years of operations, technology consulting, and HR leadership experience to provide facilitation and coaching solutions to organizations ready to unleash the potential of their people. She co-creates talent programs that drive business outcomes and deliver human results, partnering with leaders from prominent organizations including Fabletics, FOX Sports, National Wildlife Federation, SAP, Savage X Fenty, and Spotify. Tina graduated from the University of Virginia (BA), University of Michigan (MBA), and Coactive Training Institute coaching program, and is adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University. She lives in Los Angeles with her writer husband and two pet parrots.

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. 

I am Dr. Tracy Powell, the founder and driving force behind, Leading with Compassion. With over a decade of speaking, training, and coaching, I have carved a niche as a Tactical Executive Coach, Practical Leadership Expert, Professional Speaker, and Author. Born and raised in Lamar, South Carolina, and a proud graduate of the University of South Carolina, I bring a wealth of experience, including 16+ years of active-duty service as a Scientist Officer and over 12 years dedicated to speaking and coaching on leadership. My journey is marked by resilience, from overcoming racial discrimination to balancing work and family life, leading me to establish Leading with Compassion as a sanctuary for all organizations, corporations, and associations.​My accolades include being an internationally known, award-winning author and speaker, a Distinguished Toastmaster, and a Certified Mediator. Publications, such as Practical Leadership: Lessons Learned from Mickey and The Leadership Journal, reflect her passion for nurturing leaders who are not only effective but also empathetic and inclusive.

Mallory Herrin is an experienced human resources consultant and industry recognized thought leader, serving as HerrinHR’s CEO and Principal HR Consultant. She is a frequent speaker at HR conferences and the author of Intentional HR: A Revolution in Strategic Thinking. With 20 years of HR experience, she holds certifications from both HRCI and SHRM, and has been named one of the Top 5 Most Influential Women Leaders in HR.

Founder of Spark in the Dark & Co-Founder of HelpLink.

As the founder of Spark in the Dark, a nonprofit connecting individuals in need with resources, I've spearheaded a movement that has empowered over 30,000 members and 18 volunteers across Michigan, facilitating the resolution of over 100,000 needs since 2017. With a mission to enable direct assistance anytime, anywhere, Spark embodies the power of community support.

Recognizing the need for businesses to maximize their social impact, I co-founded HelpLink, a platform revolutionizing corporate philanthropy. With HelpLink, I'm passionate about streamlining corporate giving, ensuring businesses can support local causes while prioritizing the needs of their employees. Our innovative approach fosters a culture of giving within organizations and communities, enhancing brand reputation and driving meaningful change.

As an entrepreneur committed to driving social impact through technology and innovation, I bring over 12 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and nonprofit leadership. Named one of the 2022 "40 under 40" to watch in Northern Michigan and recognized as one of the region's most influential women, I've been honored for my dedication to community building and philanthropy. Additionally, Spark in the Dark was awarded the 2020 Torch of Ethics by the Better Business Bureau and selected as one of 77 organizations worldwide for the 2020 Facebook Community Accelerator, receiving direct training from Meta (Facebook).