Concurrent Session

Shalynne Jackson is the CEO and Principal Strategist of Sonder Strategies, a DEI consulting firm. She brings extensive experience in implementing DEI strategies across industries, including Fortune 500 companies and public safety agencies. Shalynne serves as Membership Chair for SHRM’s Oklahoma Human Resources State Council (OKHR) and on various boards and committees. She has been recognized as a Notable DEI Leader and is a 2024 40 Under 40 award recipient. Shalynne holds a Master of Human Relations degree from The University of Oklahoma, where she is an adjunct professor. She is also a qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory.

As the CEO and Founder of D. Howze Solutions, LLC, a D&I consultancy, Delphia drives innovative strategies to cultivate inclusive workplaces. Mrs. Howze currently serves as Chief Inclusion Officer for a large-scale national organization, spearheading initiatives to promote diversity and foster belonging. With over two decades of distinguished leadership, Delphia possesses extensive expertise in optimizing human capital and D&I frameworks across diverse sectors including retail, banking, energy, logistics, government, and higher education. Her visionary outlook and dynamic leadership continue to shape inclusive environments that empower individuals and propel organizational success.  She has recently emerged as a new author with her new book, "Including You! Leading Inclusion From Where You Are."

Kara Richardson Whitely is the CEO of The Gorgeous Agency, as well as a plus-size adventurer and advisor. Her book, Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds, is being made into a movie produced by and starring ‘This Is Us’ actress, Chrissy Metz.

Kara has partnered with brands such as Peloton, Jolt Film, L.L. Bean, Keen and Discover Puerto Rico to showcase diversity and inclusion, and build positive brand sentiment in the plus-sized community. Her mission to encourage people of all sizes and abilities to get active outside made her a great fit for Come Alive Outside’s Board of Directors, and she has inspired teams and individuals to overcome obstacles and bet on their own success at companies such as J.M. Smucker, Pfizer, Google and Uber. Here is a link recapping her Body Appreciation Panel with Peloton. 

She has also been featured in countless media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, The Today Show, She Explores, and more. 

Before entering into leadership coaching, Daniel Olexa was a highly successful sales rep who understood that sales success, like business success, is based on collaborative communication and building relationships grounded in trust.

As a Master Certified Coach (MCC), LPI Trained Coach, and Certified DiSC Practitioner, his expertise in transforming leadership is centered on improving communication through building awareness, authenticity, and collaboration. 

Daniel has trained over 3,500 individuals around the world to embrace a coaching-approach to their conversations and relationships.

Daniel was featured in the 2018 bestseller Stop Selling and Start Leading by James Kouzes, Barry Posner, and Deb Calvert, and has co-authored three Amazon #1 Bestsellers, including My Two Minute Journal.

Christopher “CJ” Gross is the author of the best-selling book What's Your Zip Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace and the highly acclaimed Harvard Business Review article, A Better Approach to Mentorship. He is a TEDx Speaker and founder of Ascension Worldwide, a firm dedicated to DEI and cultural transformation consulting based in the Washington, D.C. area. CJ has 20-years of experience as an international organizational development consultant specializing in leadership development, and DEI transformation. CJ is a certified Social + Emotional Intelligence coach, trainer, Keirsey Temperament professional, and Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator.

Jessica (she/her) is the Director of Educational Equity at the Center for Equity and Inclusion in Portland, Oregon. She's been an educator, facilitator and creative leader for more than a decade. Jessica's expertise lies at the intersection of strategic leadership, curriculum design, engaging facilitation, and developing organizational culture. With a track record in facilitating equity-focused training and guiding organizations through transformational journeys, she brings a strategic lens as well as a holistic approach to development and learning. Her dynamic leadership and service in school districts and consulting firms underscore her ability to drive impactful change in diverse settings.

Shan Foster is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fostering Healthy Solutions, LLC, focusing on diversity solutions through education and execution. With experience spanning various sectors, he's regarded as a visionary leader in the fields of entertainment, finance, technology, media, environment, and law enforcement. A passionate advocate for diversity, Foster has made significant contributions to news, corporate EDI efforts, higher education, and non-profit organizations. He authored "What Hurt Didn't Hinder," an inspiring story of perseverance and embracing diversity. As Executive Director of AMEND Together, he leads a nationally recognized program engaging men and boys to end violence against women. Foster's leadership expanded AMEND Together to multiple states. A charismatic speaker and facilitator, he explores the intersections of race, gender, and identity, addressing audiences from corporations to sports programs. Foster's basketball achievements at Vanderbilt University include numerous awards and induction into halls of fame. He actively serves on various boards and has received accolades for his influential work.

Chris Diaz is a dedicated professional who began his academic journey by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas State University. Recognizing the importance of data-driven decision-making, he obtained his MS in Business Analytics from TAMU-Commerce, acquiring the skills to leverage data for strategic HR planning. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, Chris earned the Project Management Professional (PMP) and the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certifications. He has also recently completed the MSHRM program with TAMU-College Station. This pursuit of knowledge demonstrates his commitment to staying at the forefront of HR best practices.

Global CDO, consultant, speaker and author Janet M. Stovall helps business dismantle systemic inequity to leverage the power of diversity.  Global Head of DEI at NeuroLeadership Institute, and founder of DEI consultancy, Pragmatic Diversity, Janet specializes in shaping and implementing realistic DEI visions and strategies that drive change and build culture. Collectively, her three TED talks challenging business to get serious about inclusion have nearly 3 million views, and she is co-author of Amazon bestseller, The Conscious Communicator: The Fine Art of Not Saying Stupid Sh*t.

Liz comes from a physician recruitment background, most recently as a physician and provider recruitment professional at Berkshire Health Systems in Pittsfield, MA. As Director of Professional Development and Solutions at AAPPR Liz partners with recruitment professionals to develop tools and resources to advance the profession.  She is an experienced facilitator and public speaker and enjoys writing articles and blog posts on trends in physician and provider recruitment.

Liz holds a BA in Russian and Eastern European Studies from Union College in Schenectady, NY, and an MFA in Theatrical Management and Producing from Columbia University in New York, NY