Larry Scott Blackmon
Larry Scott Blackmon is the CEO of The Blackmon Organization, a public affairs and political consulting firm. Larry held the role of Vice President of Community Affairs at FreshDirect, the leading e-commerce food grocer, expanding current partnerships, cultivating new relationships and serving as a key company spokesman.
For the years 2016 - 2023, Larry was recognized as one of the 50 most powerful community leaders in the Bronx, and New York City, and has been named as of the “40 under 40” people to watch in both The Network Journal and City and State publications. In 2022 Larry was recognized as Crain’s New York Business Notable Black Leaders. In 2023 he received awards from numerous organizations, including R.A.I.N.’s Outstanding Community Service Award.
Full Bio available at https://theblackmonorganization.com/larry-blackmon/
Sandra Garcia
Sandra Garcia is the CEO of Encounter Your Potential, an award-winning New York City based MWBE firm. She is also the owner of Afro-LatinaBeauty.com, an online destination for stories of Afro-Latinas sharing the same intercultural experience.
Sandra is a devoted Marketer with a strong track record for executing Workforce, Workplace, and Marketplace diversity strategies and programs. Her reputation as a leading expert in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging continues to attract a diverse range of organizations and corporations seeking to achieve diversity and inclusive leadership goals. Her portfolio of clients includes brands such as Google, JP Morgan Chase, Vox Media, Unilever Global, Vevo and Kitsap Credit Union. She has provided her expertise to institutions such as The Howard University School of Divinity, New York Power Authority and New York Urban League, as well as to organizations such as HSBC Bank Toronto and Summit Health/City MD.
In 2022, she was awarded Top Women in Communications in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by Ragan Communications and was recognized by the Diversity Action Alliance as a 2022 Distinguished Communicators of Color. In 2019, she received the Digital Diversity Network, Innovation & Inclusion Culture Catalyst Award and was awarded by Latino Leaders Magazine, a Top 25 Future Latino Leader (ages 25-35) in 2012.
Sandra sits on the Board of Directors of the Ithaca College Customer Experience Certificate program, the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications.
For additional information visit https://www.sandraelisagarcia.com/encounter-your-potenial
Tammeca Rochester
Tammeca Rochester is an experienced leader in the wellness and community engagement field, with over a decade of dedicated work promoting healthy communities. She has developed effective strategies for building connections and promoting collective wellbeing.
As the founder and CEO of Harlem Cycle, a fitness studio focused on community-centered wellness, Tammeca has made a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals in her community. She is also a respected speaker, sharing her expertise in wellness and community engagement with audiences worldwide. Tammeca's academic background includes degrees in Mathematics from Spelman College, Mechanical Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the Stern Business School at New York University.
Tammeca's contributions have gained recognition within the wellness industry. Women's Health Magazine has honored her as a Top Woman of Wellness, and Outside Magazine acknowledged her as one of the top 40 women shaping the future, alongside influential figures like Michelle Obama and Serena Williams.
For additional information visit https://harlem-cycle.com/
Paolo Gaudiano
Paolo Gaudiano is Chief Scientist of Aleria, President of ARC and Adjunct Associate Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business. Paolo is also a Forbes contributor on Diversity & Inclusion, and Chairman of the annual Diversity & Inclusion Research Conference. These activities combine Paolo’s decades of experience in business, technology and academia, to transform how people think about diversity and what they do about it, with the ultimate goal of making our society more inclusive and equitable.
Paolo holds degrees in Applied Mathematics, Aerospace Engineering and Computational Neuroscience, and is the recipient of numerous awards including a Moonshot House Fellowship from the Kravis Center for Social Impact (2019), a Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research (1996), and a Neuroscience Fellowship from the Sloan Foundation (1992). He was a tenured faculty member at Boston University and he taught at Tufts University and CUNY before joining NYU.
For additional information visit https://www.aleria.tech/
Nekpen Osuan Wilson
Nekpen Osuan Wilson is a certified career coach, small business advocate, and certified project manager. Nekpen offers 15+ years of expertise in business development operations, career success strategy, and non-profit board service. As a former UN Global Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal 5 and Co-Founder of the women’s empowerment nonprofit @WomenWerk, Nekpen leverages her passion for women’s empowerment to advise leaders on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Nekpen serves as a talent and career strategy coach for The Muse, WIN Summit and an Advisor with 81Cents, leveraging her expertise in professional development training, career placement and workplace culture. Her work with WomenWerk has led to brand ambassador roles with The Council of Urban Professionals, Walkers Legacy Foundation and Forbes Women’s Council.
Julio G. Alvarez
Julio is a globally recognized Courage Coach and Uplifting Speaker. He is a leading expert on achieving success, building equitable workplaces, and is a trusted advisor to brands like Apple. His story and impact have been shared through leading media outlets like The New York Times and The Today Show.
As a member of the LatinX and Queer community, Julio has felt firsthand the impact of the empathy crisis in the workplace. While excelling in leadership roles at Apple, Google, Tumblr, Airbnb, and Lyft, he experienced how fear-based leadership contributed to the rising rates of burnout and career grief.
Compelled to protect and uplift those who have been historically underrepresented, Julio developed Big Brave Heart and Let’s Go With Julio to help everyone, everywhere cultivate the courage to reclaim their power. Visit www.LetsGoWithJulio.com to rediscover your Big Brave Heart.
Chef Kenny Minor
Kenny Minor founded the "Eat For Now, Eat For Life Project" in 2010. His mission: to make nutritious and culturally appropriate foods accessible to all. Through this initiative, he works hands-on with community members to instill healthier lifestyles through sustainable habits. The Eat for Life Project has forged partnerships with Whole Foods Market, Emblem Health, YMCA, and Vitamix.
Chef Kenny has been featured on prominent shows, including, "The Tamron Hall Show," "Food Network’s Chopped," and "Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family”. Recognized as a Top Chef by Ebony magazine, he continues to elevate the conversation around food choices and community wellness.
For additional information visit www.chefkenny.com
Ivo E. Philbert
Ivo E. Philbert is an innovative, energetic, and experienced leader with proven success in improving bottom line results by leveraging relationships and developing strategic partnerships. He is an inimitable creator of experiences, a skilled communicator, connector, and tireless problem solver.
Ivo currently serves as the Vice President of Community Engagement, Partnerships & Communications at the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the Jackie Robinson Museum. Previously, he served as the Global Diversity & Inclusion Relationships Lead at PayPal and Vice President of Strategic Account Management & Business Development for INROADS, Inc.
An active and passionate community advocate, Ivo is a Board Member and Treasurer of the National Black Leadership Commission on Health (Black Health), Board Member and Program Committee Chair of the Frederick Douglas Boulevard Alliance (FDBA), and a Trustee of the Gifft Hill School on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands,
For more information on Ivo visit his LinkedIn page http://linkedin.com/in/ivophilbert
Sharene Wood
Lifestyle Entrepreneur. Brand Strategist. Business Mogul, Mother. Philanthropist. Wife.
Sharene Wood wears many hats as a woman on the go! She is President & CEO of 5001 FLAVORS , Harlem Haberdashery, HH Bespoke Spirits and Beverages, HH Bespoke Water and Wood Enterprises.
She is also Board President of #TakeCareOfHarlem, her family’s 501c3 community organization based in Harlem, NY. Sharene is an active philanthropist supporting Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, Food Bank of New York, #TakeCareofHarlem.
Sharene has been honored by Council Member Inez E. Dickens, Sylvia & Herbert Wood Scholarship Foundation (along with her husband Guy), NYC Celebrates Women, Crain’s New York Notable Black Leaders and other illustrious organizations. Sharene has spoken on the stages for The Gathering Spot at Samsung, Tene Nicole PR at Ernst & Young and TedX Harlem at Harlem Hospital Center and many others.
Sharene is featured in various media outlets: CafeMom.com, CBS Pulse.com, New York Daily News, Ebony.com, Essence.com, HuffingtonPost.com, MadameNoire.com, MSNBC.com, New York Amsterdam News, Barrons.com, Thrillist.com and numerous other press outlets.