Inclusion & Diversity

Discover best practices for building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where the employer and employees can thrive.

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Miguel Joey Aviles
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/Él
Chief Belonging Officer
MJA & CO, LLC
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Miguel is the Chief Belonging Officer of MJA & CO, a Minority-owned consulting firm helping leaders leverage DEI as a catalyst to improve recruitment, engagement, and retention.  Recognized as a LinkedIn's Top Voice in Racial Equity, Top 15 Champion of Diversity by Diversity Global Magazine, a Top 100 Executive by Diversity MBA Magazine, and featured as an Inclusion Innovator by SHRM.

Miguel served as the first civilian Chief of D&I in the history of the US Coast Guard.  He started his career as diversity recruiter and for over a decade held several leadership positions in 3 major Federal Departments. Miguel is a TEDx speaker, featured at the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and Telemundo.

 You can learn more about him by visiting www.migueljoeyaviles.com

SESSIONS:
Jonathan A. Segal
Partner
Duane Morris, LLP
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Jonathan is a partner at Duane Morris LLP in its Employment Group.  He also is the Founder and managing principal of the Duane Morris Institute, which provides training on employment issues to HR professionals, in-house counsel and other leaders.

The core of Jonathan’s practice is helping employers maximize legal compliance and minimize legal risk with regard to harassment, discrimination, retaliation and reasonable accommodations.
Over the past few years, Jonathan has focused on religion in general and antisemitism in particular. In addition to helping clients, Jonathan has delivered a number of talks on antisemitism on behalf of the EEOC as well as to field directors of the EEOC.
 
Jonathan has provided training to federal judges and other members of the federal judiciary on various employment issues for more than 20 years.

 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - 10:45am to 11:45am
Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP
Divisional Director, Membership Community
SHRM
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Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP is Divisional Director, Membership Community. 

Cheddie has more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in all aspects of human resources and training. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, M&As, and in starting and turning around businesses.

Prior to joining SHRM, she served as senior vice president of human resources for Interval Leisure Group, Inc. and its affiliated companies. The company was publicly traded on NASDAQ and the leading provider of vacation services with a global consumer membership base of nearly 2 million member families, more than 2,500 member resorts in over 75 countries worldwide, and has oversight for about 14,000 employees. 

Cheddie also served as senior vice president, people with PRC, as well as vice president, human resources, strategic planning, office services, and facilities for The Orvis Company, Inc. in Manchester, VT.

She earned her MBA from Upper Iowa University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.

Cheddie received the HR Award of Excellence, Hospitality in 2016 from South Florida Business & Wealth. Business Leader Magazine named Cheddie one of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire and in 2012 the National Diversity Council awarded her the Glass Ceiling Award.

She serves on the Board of Trustees for Upper Iowa University, Chairs the Human Capital Committee and is a member of the Governance and Advancement Committees, Chaired the Keiser Career College’s Advisory Board, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) from 2003-2008 and chaired SHRM’s governance and compensation committees. Cheddie has more than 35 years of SHRM volunteer leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels.  She also served on the Waldorf College Alumni Board from 2004 through 2008 and was the President of the Dallas HR Association in 2000 (one of the largest affiliated SHRM chapters). She resides in South FL.

SESSIONS:
Jim Link, SHRM-SCP
Chief Human Resource Officer
SHRM
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Jim Link is the CHRO for SHRM.  With more than 340,000 members worldwide, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world and the leading voice for matters related to workers and the workplace.

Jim’s career includes roles of increasing responsibility across various industries and companies, including General Electric, the Pillsbury Company, Porsche Cars, and Randstad.  In his most recent role as CHRO for Randstad North America, he led a global team of 150 HR professionals who were instrumental in transforming the company into an award-winning, inclusive, and sustainable global leader.

Jim has served as a volunteer leader in several organizations including the SHRM Foundation Board, the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank Human Capital Advisory Board, and the Human Resources Leadership Forum.

Jim holds undergraduate and master’s degree from Murray State University.  Born and raised on a working family farm in western Kentucky, he currently resides in Atlanta and Alexandria, VA. 

Jim is an adjunct instructor in the Executive MBA program at the University of Poznan (Poland) School of Economics and Business and the University of Liège (Belgium) Asia-Pacific campus in Taipei, Taiwan.

SESSIONS:
Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP
Divisional Director, Membership Community
SHRM
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Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP is Divisional Director, Membership Community. 

Cheddie has more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in all aspects of human resources and training. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, M&As, and in starting and turning around businesses.

Prior to joining SHRM, she served as senior vice president of human resources for Interval Leisure Group, Inc. and its affiliated companies. The company was publicly traded on NASDAQ and the leading provider of vacation services with a global consumer membership base of nearly 2 million member families, more than 2,500 member resorts in over 75 countries worldwide, and has oversight for about 14,000 employees. 

Cheddie also served as senior vice president, people with PRC, as well as vice president, human resources, strategic planning, office services, and facilities for The Orvis Company, Inc. in Manchester, VT.

She earned her MBA from Upper Iowa University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.

Cheddie received the HR Award of Excellence, Hospitality in 2016 from South Florida Business & Wealth. Business Leader Magazine named Cheddie one of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire and in 2012 the National Diversity Council awarded her the Glass Ceiling Award.

She serves on the Board of Trustees for Upper Iowa University, Chairs the Human Capital Committee and is a member of the Governance and Advancement Committees, Chaired the Keiser Career College’s Advisory Board, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) from 2003-2008 and chaired SHRM’s governance and compensation committees. Cheddie has more than 35 years of SHRM volunteer leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels.  She also served on the Waldorf College Alumni Board from 2004 through 2008 and was the President of the Dallas HR Association in 2000 (one of the largest affiliated SHRM chapters). She resides in South FL.

SESSIONS:
Jim Link, SHRM-SCP
Chief Human Resource Officer
SHRM
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Jim Link is the CHRO for SHRM.  With more than 340,000 members worldwide, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world and the leading voice for matters related to workers and the workplace.

Jim’s career includes roles of increasing responsibility across various industries and companies, including General Electric, the Pillsbury Company, Porsche Cars, and Randstad.  In his most recent role as CHRO for Randstad North America, he led a global team of 150 HR professionals who were instrumental in transforming the company into an award-winning, inclusive, and sustainable global leader.

Jim has served as a volunteer leader in several organizations including the SHRM Foundation Board, the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank Human Capital Advisory Board, and the Human Resources Leadership Forum.

Jim holds undergraduate and master’s degree from Murray State University.  Born and raised on a working family farm in western Kentucky, he currently resides in Atlanta and Alexandria, VA. 

Jim is an adjunct instructor in the Executive MBA program at the University of Poznan (Poland) School of Economics and Business and the University of Liège (Belgium) Asia-Pacific campus in Taipei, Taiwan.

SESSIONS:
Sara Taylor
President and Founder
deepSEE Consulting
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Sara Taylor, President and Founder of deepSEE Consulting, has 35 years of extensive experience, nationally recognized as in the practice of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion serving local, national and global clients. While her areas of specialty are in both Diversity and Leadership Development, Sara has become a thought leader particularly in the field of Cultural Competence. Her bestselling book, Filter Shift: How Effective People SEE the World, is used by numerous individuals and organizations to increase success and create greater effectiveness. Sara holds a Master's degree in Diversity and Organizational Development and, prior to founding deepSEE, held positions such as Chief Diversity Officer and Leadership and Diversity Specialist.

SESSIONS:
Jack L. White
Partner
McGuireWoods, LLP
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Jack is an accomplished trial lawyer and legal strategist who guides clients through complex challenges, including high-profile and sensitive litigation and government investigations. While serving as Managing Partner of the Tysons Office of McGuireWoods LLP, Jack focuses his practice on civil litigation, regulatory enforcement, and congressional investigations for clients in the defense, technology, federal contracting, higher and K-12 education, and other business sectors.  

Jack has handled a range of complex litigation, investigations, and enforcement matters, including representing clients in congressional investigations. His extensive experience in litigation, investigations, and strategic counseling is particularly deep with respect to defense industry clients and other businesses operating in the federal sector, including emerging companies for which he provides support for continued growth.  

One of Jack’s principal practice areas involves conducting internal investigations and providing counsel on matters pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion, assisting several companies in development and implementation of initiatives in these areas. Jack was one of five civilian members who served on an independent review panel that investigated the command climate and culture at Fort Hood and within the Department of the Army as they related to sexual assault, harassment and crime. After releasing their report, Jack testified before the House Armed Services Committee.  

Jack also provides particularly valuable counsel to companies through growth, particularly in heavily regulated industries, guiding them through legal and regulatory compliance as they transition out of small business status and through graduation from the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program into viable competitive enterprises. He also assists companies with the seating and engagement of fiduciary and advisory boards.  

As a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point and a U. S. Army Ranger, Jack served on active duty in the U. S. Army and continued his service in the U. S. Army Reserve while earning his J. D. at Pepperdine University School of Law. He served as a law clerk for U. S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. after earlier clerking for Alito at the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  

An ordained minister, Mr. White has pastored congregations in Savannah, Georgia and San Francisco, California. His commitment to community is further exemplified in his service as Chairman of the Board of the Fairfax County Public Schools Education Foundation and on the Boards of James Madison University, the Pepperdine University School of Law, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the National Military Families Association, and the American Red Cross Services to Armed Forces Council. Mr. White resides in Fairfax Station, Virginia with his wife and children. 

SESSIONS:
Samantha C. Grant
Partner
Reed Smith
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SESSIONS:
Anuradha Hebbar, J.D.
President, CEO Action for Inclusion and Diversity
SHRM
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Anuradha Hebbar is renowned as a trusted advisor to CEOs on inclusion and diversity, bringing over 25 years of strategic leadership in transforming organizations across global, Fortune 500, mid-size, and private equity-backed companies. A seasoned business leader and human capital executive, she has partnered with top executives to embed inclusive practices that drive transformational change, shaping iconic brands such as Major League Baseball, Penske, Millennium Trust Company, Urovant Sciences, Bank of America, and Clariant. Her exceptional commitment to fostering inclusive cultures has earned her prestigious accolades, including being named Chicago United’s “Business Leader of Color 2021,” a 2021 Crain’s “Notable Executive in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” a “2016 Top 100 under 50 Executive Leader” by Diversity MBA, and a “2015 Diversity Leader” by Profiles in Diversity Journal.

 

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
James L. Banks, Jr.
General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer
Charities Aid Foundation America
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James L. Banks, Jr. is a highly skilled and seasoned leader, educator, and advisor, with extensive expertise in law, risk management, leadership, and organizational management. With over 25 years in the legal industry, he has honed his skills and developed a reputation as an effective leader and problem solver. James' career includes a proven track-record of forging strong relationships and working effectively at all organizational levels. He specializes in general corporate law, risk management, employment law, executive coaching/leadership development, legal ethics, public sector governance, and fostering collaboration for organizational growth and excellence across diverse sectors.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 2:40pm to 3:30pm
Chris Failla
keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and Gallup-certified Strengths Consultant
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Chris Failla is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and Gallup-certified Strengths Consultant. He has a master's degree in Organizational Leadership, and has worked with teams on every inhabited continent, including five years in China. Chris loves to Ignite What’s Possible in organizations, helping them gain greater clarity, connection, and capacity so they can be more fulfilled and productive. 
 
Chris has been married to Sarah for over 20 years, and they have three boys. As a family they enjoy traveling (he’s been to over 50 countries and speaks three languages), time in the snow, and planning their next adventure. 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 10:00am to 11:00am
Mike Horne
Executive Coach and Organization Development Consultant
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Mike Horn helps executives, aspiring leaders, and their teams avoid, minimize, or reduce poor outcomes related to people and culture actions and decisions. He coaches clients on how to close the gap between probable (the best they can do) and possible (what they are capable of doing).

⭐️ Coached an IT Security executive into success following being made redundant following organizational restructure
⭐️ Led an Engineering VP and his team through a significant organizational redesign to increase managerial opportunity and career development for software, hardware, and mechanical engineers
⭐️ Worked with a founder and CEO to re-imagine his career and leadership impact
⭐️ Developed a newly formed global HR team in the midst of an organizational contraction
⭐️ Coached a Biotech VP to seek new career success following failure at their current company
⭐️ Assisted a biopharma technical leader to advance their career for promotion

An expert in human and organization development who works with leaders with technical backgrounds (scientists, technologists, engineers, financiers), helping them excel at what they do while developing leadership skills - including the ability to influence others authentically.

SESSIONS:
Nicole Jackson
Vice Provost
Golden Gate University
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Management Expert with over 15 years of diversified program management related experience including in business process improvement, organizational design and alignment, training, and risk mitigation for education, government, non-profit and private sectors. Demonstrated effectiveness in the design and delivery including the creation of IT to HR and academic programs and their alignment. Experience includes academic research and instruction positioned to mid and senior executive audiences in HR, Organizational and Leadership methods and practices, as well as program and risk assessments with a specific emphasis on organizational and leadership ambidexterity development (i.e., the balance between innovation and competency development) - critical to the digital transformation economy. Prior to graduate academia, five-years of experience as an IT Business Process Consultant, Training Manager, and Product Manager in both high compliance-driven client engagements and start-up environments. Extensive training in strategic stakeholder assessments, change management methodologies, curriculum design including external policy reviews, benchmarking, and use of quantitative and qualitative data collection such as surveys and interview methods for organizational change and design work.

SESSIONS:
Christopher Good
Founder
One Workplace
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Christopher Good is the Founder of +One, a culture consultancy, and Chief Creative Officer at One Workplace. He advocates for positive change through design, focusing on reshaping the human experience. Chris frequently speaks at national events, leading workshops on design, human connection, and workplace culture. An award-winning interior designer and artist, he has collaborated with IDEO, Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room Campaign, and the Unreasonable Group’s Project Literacy Lab. Recently, he spoke at TEDx on "The Power of Propinquity: Fostering Connection and Belonging at Work.” 

SESSIONS:
Monday, September 30, 2024 - 11:30am to 12:30pm
Dr. Miller Bargeron
Co-Founder
MI Global
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Dr. Miller Bargeron is a Mindset Integration Specialist and Human Behaviorist specializing in leadership development and organizational culture development. In December 2021, he retired from the United States Federal Government after a 30-year career. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Bargeron has also served as an independent corporate trainer, mindset coach, and keynote speaker. In addition, he is an award-winning filmmaker and author. In 2022, Dr. Bargeron co-founded MI Global, a consulting, training, and coaching company. MI Global helps individuals and organizations achieve greater levels of efficiency, productivity, and profitability through human behavior based training.

SESSIONS:
Monday, September 30, 2024 - 10:00am to 11:00am