Dr. Deanna Kimbrel has established herself as a strategic and transformative leader, accumulating over seventeen years of experience across various sectors, including higher education, corporate, and government.
Her initiatives have focused on driving change in leadership, organizational culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Kimbrel is recognized as a visionary leader whose passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion was reignited by the social unrest of 2020, prompting her to spearhead strategic initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable, systemic change within organizations.
A graduate of the Rochester City School District, Dr. Kimbrel holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and international business from the State University at Buffalo, a master’s degree in communication and marketing from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and a doctoral degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.
In her recent role as Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Office of DEI for Monroe County in New York State, Dr. Kimbrel led diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
She has also played pivotal roles in shaping DEI and leadership strategies at notable organizations such as Paychex, Sears, and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Beyond her corporate roles, Dr. Kimbrel guides a team of consultants at Kimbrel Management Consulting, assisting small to mid-sized organizations in developing robust structures and strategies concerning leadership, organizational culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Known for her charismatic personality and dynamic capabilities, Dr. Kimbrel excels in fostering inclusive environments wherever her work takes her.
She currently resides in Rochester, NY, with her two sons.
CARRIE LYN
At the forefront of innovative education stands Carrie “Ms. NFTy” Lyn, leveraging her 25 years of expertise in business management and development to pioneer LearnVille, a groundbreaking Learn to Earn App that merges traditional educational techniques with cutting-edge Web3 technology.
Launched in 2023, LearnVille promises to revolutionize education, empowering countless individuals with essential skills for the digital age. Carrie’s vision extends beyond the app as she spearheads initiatives to onboard inner-city high school students nationwide. Her commitment to social impact is evident in her prior endeavors, including the founding of an after-school program currently serving over 3000 inner-city youth in Los Angeles County.
Recognized as a trusted advisor to government agencies and esteemed representatives like Maxine Waters and Senator Bob Hertzberg, Carrie’s journey reflects her dedication to driving positive change and leveraging technology for social good, rooted in her early upbringing in Northern California.
CYNTHIA CURRY
Cynthia Curry is a Certified Grants Specialist with expertise in all aspects of fund development, grant writing, and grants management. She is a strategist who develops infrastructure for funding feasibility and is privileged to work with organizations in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Through her work, she has helped countless organizations find their footing and their funding through a systematic structure that funders embrace.
As a federal grant reviewer, she approaches the funding process with review committees in mind to impact the bottom line for sustainability. Her nonprofit work has allowed her to mentor young women through 21st Century Programs in Houston Independent School District, girls clubs, women’s groups, and in ministry.
She is the author of When I Was Sifted, her testimony of one of the darkest seasons of her life and the prevailing power of God through faith and prayer. She has completed two additional books that are in the process of being published.
She is a featured writer and contributor for various publications and a regular speaker/trainer in the Houston Metropolitan area and beyond.
CATHY SMITH SHANNON
Cathy Smith Shannon oversees marketing and promotions for E&G Gallery (E&S), one of the country’s oldest, largest, and most respected African American-owned and operated art and custom framing galleries. A native of Louisville, KY, Shannon is a graduate of the University of Louisville and holds a bachelor of arts in Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing Management, a certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College, Boston, MA, and a master of arts from the University of Louisville.
After graduating from college in 1984, she worked for Louisville Gas & Electric Co. (LG&E). Over the course of 12 years, Shannon was promoted from Customer Interviewer to Advertising Rep, and finally to Community Liaison. In her positions with LG&E, Shannon helped craft advertising campaigns and developed community outreach strategies and initiatives designed to improve relations with the company’s many constituents.
TAMRA GOINS
Tamra is a business leader, and talent agent to some of the world’s leading actors and comedians.
She brings more than 25 years of experience in artist representation, show production, aligned branding, and deal-making. Tamra is known for producing and promoting Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star Comedy Jam before being recruited as an agent.
Currently, Tamra serves as the Head of Comedy/Partner at Innovative Artists where she manages a team of agents responsible for comprehensive artist representation. She has found her niche in developing self-made multi-hyphenates bridging the gap between the streets and Hollywood mainstream, as well as helping veteran comics reestablish themselves and maintaining relevance in an ever-changing industry.
She continues to create opportunities for comedic stand-ups, actors, writers, producers, and directors on a multitude of platforms. Additionally, she serves as executive leader for Innovative Artists’ Advisory Committee.
JANIS BURLEY
Janis Burley has been an arts leader for more than two decades in Pittsburgh and beyond. She was named President/CEO of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) in July 2017.
Prior to taking the helm at the AWAACC, she was Vice President of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for 15 years. Her reinvention of the Pittsburgh jazz scene elevated her to Director of Jazz Programs in addition to her other roles. Burley’s curation diversified the Pittsburgh arts community with programs like the Gallery Crawl, a downtown quarterly art showcase, which she created in 2004.
Burley launched the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) in 2011 and is one of the few women in a curatorial and directorial role in jazz. In addition to leading as president, she is the Artistic Director of the AWAACC, curating the successful Soul Sessions music series, the Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival, TruthSayers speaker series, and a host of education and community engagement programs like AW Community Days.
TRACEY MASON
Tracey N. Mason serves as the Assistant Vice President of Community Development for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Tracey oversees strategic planning, outreach, operations, and communications aimed at promoting economic resilience in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities. She also spearheads the Bank’s Community Advisory Council, ensuring diverse perspectives on the economic circumstances and financial needs of LMI communities.
Tracey held leadership roles with Cuyahoga County, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, University Settlement, and the Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland. Board involvement includes The Centers and University Settlement. Tracey is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland Class of 2009 and has been recognized by Northeast Ohio Boomer Magazine – Impact Award and Cuyahoga County and City of Cleveland City Council for outstanding leadership. Tracey continues to make significant strides in advancing the well-being of underserved communities.
Jean has over 25 years of experience in finance and public and corporate accounting. She spent three years as the inaugural Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO at the DC Green Bank, leading the organization from inception until September of 2023. Jean directed the bank’s accounting and financing functions, lending over $30 million for green energy projects in the District of Columbia. She began her career in public accounting as a financial institution specialist with Grant Thornton, LLP and served in corporate positions as director of accounting and chief financial officer at various organizations.
Jean received her BBA in Finance, graduating cum laude from the Temple University Fox School of Business, and acquired a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment from Tulane University. She also holds a certification from Columbia Business School in ESG Investing. She is passionate about the transition to clean energy and lives that in her everyday life and resides in Virginia with her husband and daughter.
SHAUDE’ MOORE
Shaude’ Moore is the Chief Executive Officer for the Central District Community Preservation and Development Authority (CDCPDA) in Seattle, WA, chartered by state law to preserve the unique character and history of the Central District, long recognized as the historical center of the Seattle African American community. The CDCPDA’s mission is to drive economic empowerment for African Americans, other minorities, and under-served communities through employment, career advancement, education, training, and business development.
In 2019, she received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee Community Organizing Award for embodying the principles of nonviolence, peace, and harmony that guided Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s civil rights movement and in 2024 was named a Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ), 40 under 40 honoree. Shaude’ Moore is also a Global Program Manager at Amazon Web Services for their Datacenter Security Operational Excellence team.
NINA BROOKS
Nina Brooks is a dynamic change agent dedicated to fostering fairness and inclusivity. As an Assistant Chief Diversity Officer, she plays a pivotal role in shaping an organization’s culture and driving positive transformations that champion diversity and value everyone’s opinions.
With a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and a decade of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Nina is a beacon of expertise and empathy. Her career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to breaking down systemic barriers and forging pathways for underrepresented groups to thrive.
Currently, Nina spearheads strategic efforts to incorporate diversity and inclusion principles into all aspects of City operations. Her collaboration with senior leadership, employee resource groups, and external partners has led to the development and implementation of comprehensive DEI strategies.
RHONDA CROWDER
Rhonda Crowder is a journalist, entrepreneur, author, and literacy advocate. She currently serves as the president of the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists and vice president of the Friendly Inn board of directors. Rhonda holds a bachelor of arts in English with a concentration in creative writing, editing, and publishing from Cleveland State University.
She’s been awarded a Rotary Group Study Exchange Fellowship and recognized by I CAN Schools, El Hasa Court #47 as Woman of the Year (2018), Cleveland Chapter of National Action Network, and the Phenomenal Foundation.
She was named a 2019 Cleveland Champion by The Plain Dealer, Guardian, and Ideastream and received the 2020 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Her debut novel is titled Riddles.
VALERIE NORMAN GAMMON
Valerie Norman Gammon is an accomplished entertainment executive with over 30 years of experience in television and mega-event production. As CEO of Amethyst Entertainment, LLC., her company specializes in global multi-media entertainment production, special events, and consulting.
A recognized professional known for her high-level thinking and inclusive style, Valerie Norman Gammon offers a unique blend of executive acumen, global team building, and out-of-the-box thinking.
Valerie’s television career as an executive producer includes work with CBS, FOX, BET, and HBO TV networks. She is credited with producing the original award-winning televised Essence Awards and the acclaimed Essence Music Festival. She is the recipient of six Emmy nominations, one Emmy Award, and three NAACP Image Awards.
JUSTICE MELODY STEWART
In 2018, Ohio voters elected Melody Stewart to the Supreme Court of Ohio. She is one of only 13 women to serve on the court in its 220-year history, and she is the first African American woman ever elected to serve on the state’s highest court. Prior to this election, Justice Stewart had been elected to the Eighth District Court of Appeals where she served for twelve years, including a term as the court’s Administrative Judge.
Justice Stewart has more than 35 years of combined administrative, legal, and academic experience. She was an administrator for a healthcare management company, a music teacher, a civil defense litigator, and a law school administrator and professor before being elected to the Court of Appeals.
YOLANDA Y. ARMSTRONG
Yolanda Y. Armstrong, MSSA, LSW is the president and chief executive officer of one of the nation’s oldest settlement houses, Friendly Inn Settlement, Inc., located in the center of Cleveland, Ohio’s Central Avenue. She manages the day-to-day operations of the organization, which include the Friendly Inn Food Pantry, Before and After-School Youth Programs, multiple programs such as MOMSFIRST, Parents as Teachers, and Help Me Grow that aim to reduce the infant mortality rate among minority women, Community-Based Wrap-Around Services, MYCOM, and most recently Geraldine Burns Behavioral Health services, to name a few.
In her 33 years in the field of Social Work, she has received numerous awards, including the Champion of Central Award, the Mt. Zion of Oakwood Village Hero of Faith Award, the Women of Color Foundation Star Award, the Omega Psi Phi Zeta Omega Chapter Community Leader Award, Non-Profit Executive of the Year Pillar Award from SMART Business Magazine and Medical Mutual, and the Centennial Alumni Award from The Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.
.RENEE RICHARD
Renee Tramble Richard is a strategic thinker executing C-Suite leadership for a regional corporate training center. As CEO, Ms. Richard leads a team that provides training in leadership and organizational development, quality and continuous improvement, and professional development. Her team interacts with corporate entities concentrated in northeast Ohio, as well as corporations across the country—including California, Texas, and Michigan. Additionally, as an accomplished legal advisor with strong finance and business acumen, she has over 30 years of experience working to provide companies with access to capital markets through the issuance of debt financings. Renee has led debt offerings for numerous organizations, in the healthcare industry, housing, real estate, financial, and banking industries. She has worked with various regulatory bodies, state and local governments, and government agencies. As a person who values integrity, Ms. Richard brings a concern for humanity, inclusivity, and empathy to the Board and in all her business dealings.
Over the last decade, Ms. Richard has demonstrated strong leadership in the areas of corporate governance, risk management, internal audit, and litigation mitigation strategies. While continuing in full-time employment, Renee is looking to add a corporate Board to her portfolio.
TERESA METCALF BEASLEY
Teresa is an accomplished attorney with a diverse range of expertise spanning over 30 years. Her primary focus lies within public law, public finance, commercial finance, and real estate development. She holds leadership roles within her firm’s Public Law Practice Group and the Real Estate Group, indicating her depth of knowledge and experience in these areas.
Her proficiency in bond transactions, economic development incentives, and real estate financing demonstrates her ability to navigate complex financial transactions. Teresa’s clientele includes a mix of private sector entities, both for-profit and non-profit, as well as various levels of governmental agencies and higher education institutions.
In addition to her legal work, Teresa is actively involved in community engagement, serving on multiple nonprofit boards in leadership capacities.
