Tanya M. Odom, Ed.M., is director of the Equity & Inclusion Program at the Walton Family Foundation.

She is a global consultant, writer, coach, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and civil rights thought leader. She has worked globally for over 20 years, in over 40 countries, as a consultant, coach, storyteller and facilitator focusing on areas including: Diversity and Inclusion, Inclusive Leadership, Race/Racism, Challenging Conversations, Mindfulness, Coaching, Wellbeing, Innovation and Creativity, and Educational Equity.

Tanya’s unique portfolio career has allowed her to work in the education, private sector/corporate, not-for-profit/NGO, law enforcement, and in university/college arenas. She is the co-author of "Evaluation in the Field of Education for Democracy, Human Rights and Tolerance.”

Tanya has been a contributor to the Huffington Post, where she has written about diversity, leadership, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Tanya has also written for cnn.com. Tanya’s work and commentary has also appeared in several publications including the Grio, Diversity Woman Magazine, Bloomberg News, Fortune, among others.

Tanya was named by Diversity Best Practices as “A Diversity Thought Leader to Follow on Twitter.” Entrepreneur Magazine featured Tanya as one of the "3 Women Entrepreneurs Who Unleash Their Energy for the Greater Good."

As a mindfulness practitioner, Tanya weaves in mindfulness research and practice in her work with individuals and groups and connects it to leadership, teams, intentional inclusion, and the mitigating of unconscious bias. Beginning in 2021, she began serving as  guest faculty at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center.

Often called an innovator and disrupter, Tanya is featured in a chapter in Dr. Patti Fletcher’s book “Disrupters.”

Tanya was recently named one of the " 2022 Tp 15 Coaches in NYC" by Influence Digest.

Tanya is currently an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. She was also on the faculty of the Human Resources Management program at Georgetown University, where she taught courses in the area of innovation and creativity. She has also taught at Princeton University, in the Junior Summer Institute, and has been an adjunct professor at Manhattanville College, where she taught graduate courses in the areas of Diversity, Leadership, and Team Development.

For the last several years she has been working as a consulting and coaching partner with the United Nations as part of their gender parity by strategy. Tanya has worked with 15 UN entities in 9 different countries focusing on inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, and women in leadership. Over the last several months she has been working with several U.N. entities in their efforts to address racism and create anti-racist action plans and programs.

Over the last four years, Tanya has spent a great deal of time globally facilitating sessions, and moderating panels focused on "Challenging Conversations," where she has been creating spaces for honest and courageous dialogues focused on sharing, learning and connection.

Tanya is a board member of the Institute for Mindful Leadership and the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation. She is also a national volunteer with the American Heart Association and a committee member of the Presidential Advisory on Structural Racism.

Jennifer is the Vice President of North America Operations for Hertz Global Holdings, and leads the team of field Human Resources Business Partners across the continent.  In her role, Jenn supports the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Joe McPherson.  Jenn joined Hertz in January 2019 supporting Joe and the Southwest Region RAC.  She has more than 20 years of HR expertise, including organizational development, workforce planning/ forecasting and succession planning, compensation and benefits, and labor management and employee relations. She’s held key HR leadership roles with Pepsi Co, New West Technologies, and the City and County of Denver.

In her HR leadership role with Hertz, Jenn has developed a strong reputation for being action-oriented and a propensity to “get stuff done.” She has demonstrated deep caring for employees and receives very high marks for being a strategic thinker as well as a coach and mentor to senior executives.  Notable achievements at Hertz have been her pilot of the Peak Support Team—a cross-regional team that combined operations support with enhanced development training opportunities for high potential managers—and she was on the steering committee for the rollout of the airport Leadership Evolution Program in 2019.

Jenn places high value on the “business of the business” – and often says that the two most important words in the term “Human Resources Business Partner” are BUSINESS and PARTNER.  Jenn herself has both HR and business acumen, having earned her M.S. in HR Development from Villanova University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame. In addition, Jenn is a certified Black Belt and a graduate of Denver’s PEAK Academy.

David Mafe is the chief diversity officer for UCHealth and the vice president of human resources for the system’s Metro Denver region. As the Chief Diversity Officer, Mr. Mafe works closely with leaders at UCHealth and in the community to shape the organization’s culture to be one that values diversity and inclusion, and lives out its values in the delivery of care. In his role as Vice President of Human Resources, he provides strategic human resources advice to the executive team and oversees all human resources operations in the Metro Denver region, which includes University of Colorado Hospital, Highlands Ranch Hospital, Longs Peak Hospital, Broomfield Hospital and clinic
locations.

Prior to joining UCHealth in 2021, Mr. Mafe worked at Emory Healthcare (EHC), the most comprehensive health system in Georgia. He served as Vice President for Human Resources at Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM) in Atlanta and was responsible for employee engagement and relations, patient experience, leader development, performance management, succession planning, compensation, talent acquisition, diversity, equity &
inclusion, guest services, safety/emergency preparedness, immigration, and employee and patient parking.

Mr. Mafe is committed to diminishing inequities for patients, employees and providers. At EHC, he worked with his team to advance diversity, equity and inclusion while driving a cultural transformation. He was responsible for EHC’s first financial wellness program designed to diminish inequities in financial literacy and 403B usage by minority and female employees. The program provided a 3% increase in 403B participation and match utilization within the first full year.

Mr. Mafe received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts from Hawaii Loa College, and his Master’s degree in human resource management from Hawaii Pacific University. He completed the Senior Professional Human Resource Certification (SPHR), and is a certified “Just Culture Champion”.

Andrea is an experienced leader specializing in global mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, strategy, organization effectiveness, leadership, coaching and human resources. Her leadership experience centers around partnering with senior executives and general managers to tackle business challenges. She has developed and implemented talent and leadership solutions to improve employee performance and maximize
business results. She has a proven ability to coach leaders to create environments fostering strategic business growth and change. Her comprehensive knowledge of industry leading people practices includes organization design, succession planning, employee relations, program management, workforce planning, global HR, employee development, recruiting, transformation and diversity.

As the head of HR for the Genesys product development and management organizations, Andrea leads a global
team of HR partners in a time of significant growth and transformation. The Genesys team delivers experience as a service by orchestrating personalized end to end customer experiences while accelerating their client’s cloud and machine learning adoption. Andrea previously served in HR leadership roles at IBM, British Nuclear Fuels and Tenera. She has a dynamic HR leadership background in HR strategy, acquisitions, leadership development and change management. Andrea is based outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband and 2 children. They are joined by Rocky, Jack (dogs) and Moonshadow (cat) when listening to music and enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Judith Almendra, Vice President Human Capital and Talent Acquisition at TTEC is an accomplished human capital professional with a proven track record of integrating business and people strategies to drive results. With over 15 years of business and human capital experience, Judith has led teams in the implementation of traditional and innovative strategies in the areas of marketing and communications, public relations, learning and development, talent acquisition, performance management, succession and employee engagement and employee retention.

In her 12 years with TeleTech, Judith has held progressive leadership positions, covering multiple facets of the for Human Capital spectrum as well as leading the development of company’s proprietary human capital tools, programs and solutions. Through her career, she has gained deep expertise in the international business and multicultural markets. And, she has played key roles leading global cultural transformation.
She is originally from Mexico and moved to the US in 2001 to pursue her Masters in Business at the University of Colorado. She is also a board member of the TTEC Community Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to provide better education opportunities to children in underserved communities, which is something Judith is very passionate about.

Matt Bloom joined Colorado Public Radio as a general assignment reporter and fill-in host in 2021.

Before coming to CPR, Matt spent four years at NPR member station KUNC, covering breaking news, COVID-19 and the economy in Northern Colorado. Before that, he spent two years as a freelance reporter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the city’s local NPR affiliate stations as well as NPR West in Culver City.

His work has aired on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Embedded, APM’s Marketplace, WBUR’s Here & Now, and WNYC’s podcast Nancy.

He is a proud member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. When he isn’t reporting, he sings with the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus.

Elizabeth Hernandez is a reporter at The Denver Post with a passion for covering historically marginalized communities and issues impacting younger readers. She started at The Denver Post in 2014. Hernandez is a leader in DEI efforts within her newsroom. As a first-generation college student and a Latina, Hernandez understands the value and importance diverse perspectives bring to an organization.

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton joined The Denver Post in January 2022 as a business reporter, focusing her coverage on social inequities in business. She writes for Smithsonian Magazine, Delish, Eater and other publications. She covers the Hawaiian diaspora for Ka Wai Ola, a Hawaiʻi-based newspaper. She also serves as a faculty adjunct at Arizona State University, teaching Media Issues in American Pop Culture. 

For two years, she chased after lawmakers on Capitol Hill as Bloomberg Government's agriculture and trade policy reporter. Megan has covered the Venezuelan refugee crisis in Peru, parliamentary affairs in England, White House press briefings in Washington, D.C., and the cannabis industry in Colorado.

As the Chief Operations Officer at Achievers, Kristian is focused on leading Global Operations including our Member Experience, Client Support Services, Marketplace Operations, Transformation, and Project Management teams to ensure a scalable and sustainable operating model to enable growth. Kristian joined Achievers in 2011 and has progressed through various leadership roles including Director of Customer Success Sr. Director of Revenue Operations and Chief Transformation Officer.

Kristian started his career as an HR practitioner with industry leaders such as Grant Thornton, Vale Inco, and the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto before joining Achievers to support its mission of Changing the Way the World Works. Kristian holds a degree in Psychology from Wilfried Laurier University and a post graduate certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College.

Rebecca Warren is a Director of Customer Success at Eightfold AI and has been in and around the TA space for 15+ years at a variety of organizations and industries in both full-time and consulting roles. She has been at Eightfold for just over a year in customer success and the president of the Arizona Recruiters Networking Community (part of the Recruiters Network) and is passionate about helping people succeed.

Andrea Derler, PhD., is Visier's Principal of Research and Value, where she collaborates with Visier’s team of data scientists, People Analytics experts as well as HR professionals to help produce data based and practical insights for organizations.
As a previous human capital analyst and organizational researcher, Andrea brings a research, science and consulting background to her role.

In the past 10 years, she studied a variety of topics including leadership strategy and development, talent and performance management, DEI, organizational change and transformation, and organizational growth mindset in organizations.
Her work is widely publicized in the US and Europe, and her contributions have appeared in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Chief Learning Officer, FastCompany, Wall Street Journal, Deloitte Review, FORMAT, the Leadership & Organizational Development Journal, and more. 

Emily Pearce is the Director of Global Customer Care at Achievers and has a passion for leading large teams through transformations. Emily completed her Master of Arts, Leadership with Royal Roads University in 2022. Though her research focused on mentorship, Emily continues to explore the various types of learning partnerships and the role they play in career development, especially for those new to the corporate world.

Noelle Phillips is a 31-year newspaper veteran who is a reporter at The Denver Post. Throughout her career, she has covered everything from the rural South to combat in the Middle East. Right now, she focuses on air quality, wildfires and other interesting things that catch her attention. Noelle, a Nashville native, graduated from Western Kentucky University where she learned how to be a reporter while also never skipping a party. Noelle lives in Arvada with her husband, Jay Potts. In her spare time, she hikes, reads, listens to music, palys and watches sports and is never far from her loyal dog, Foxy Brown. 

With an innate ability to blend strategic vision with heartfelt passion for people, Rachelle stands out as a leader in the People and Culture arena. 

Currently, as the Chief People Officer at Apryse, a global software company, Rachelle is leading the charge in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of high-growth technology companies. Leveraging nearly two decades of experience, Rachelle has been instrumental in revamping the talent acquisition process, total employee experience and managing over 12 acquisitions, blending multiple organizations into one cohesive company. 

Prior to joining Apryse, Rachelle worked with the PointsBet team where she crafted a foundational people strategy, setting the stage for the organization's exponential growth. Her forward-thinking initiatives, like launching the inaugural DEI committee and restructuring the benefits program, played a pivotal role in PointsBet being recognized as one of the 'Top Companies to Work for in 2021' by Built-In Colorado.

Before her tenure at PointsBet, Rachelle dedicated over a decade to Dish Network. As Vice President of Employee Experience, Total Rewards, and People Operations, she spearheaded transformative strategies—developing award-winning leadership programs, refining employee benefits, and optimizing HR processes.

Rachelle's professional roots trace back to GE's corridors. Here, she honed her skills in the Leadership Development Program, cutting her teeth in Operations, Process Improvement, and Project Management within GE's financial realm.

Rachelle firmly believes that an engaged workforce is integral to business success. For her, fostering employee well-being, development, and organizational effectiveness isn't just a professional pursuit—it's a personal mission. She champions the idea that with the right approach, organizations can attain stellar results while ensuring their teams remain engaged, motivated, and fulfilled.

Originating from Iowa, Rachelle holds a Business Administration degree from The University of Northern Iowa. Now calling Colorado home for over 13 years, she cherishes time with her husband and two sons. Outside of her professional sphere, Rachelle is passionate about sports and revels in the natural beauty Colorado has to offer.

Monet Hires is the VP, Business Partnerships, Diversity, & Talent Acquisition at Summit Materials.

Melissa Uribes is the Vice President, Talent, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Trimble Inc.

Dan brings 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and business management to his role at KinderCare Learning Companies. In his time with KinderCare, his leadership has accelerated the growth of Champions, our Before and After School brand, allowing our best-in-class programming to serve more children and families with our brand of authentic engagement.

Most recently, his role has extended to include KinderCare at Work, where he is looking forward to continuing to extend the same leadership mindset.

Prior to joining KinderCare, Dan worked in the K-12 educational software segment, where he helped create and lead the acceptance and growth of digital subscriptions for both schools and publishers. As a father of four, Dan is passionate about helping children learn.

Kassey Kampman is a dedicated Human Resources professional with over 10 years of experience, who has embarked on a fulfilling journey of growth and transformation within the SSA Group. From humble beginnings as a cashier 15 years ago, Kassey discovered a passion for leading connection and change with people. 

Throughout Kassey’s career, they have held various roles, gaining valuable insights and expertise along the way. Notable recognitions include being named the 2016 Employee of the Year and contributing to the success of the People Department team, receiving the 2019 Make a Difference award. Today, Kassey stands at the forefront of reshaping SSA’s People Department for the future, bringing visionary insights and strategic expertise to the table. 

Having primarily worked in the hospitality industry, Kassey has developed a deep understanding of its unique challenges and dynamics. They have played a pivotal role in influencing the foundation of Diversity and Equity programs and successfully implementing the IDEA+B strategy at SSA. Through involvement with the DICE (Diversity, Inclusion, Community, Equity) Taskforce formed in 2015, Kassey has helped drive representation within leadership roles. They are passionate about implementing equity and accessibility across all facets of HR that can impact the organization as a whole, including pay, recruiting, and development. 

As a certified SHRM-SCP professional with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Colorado Denver, Kassey brings a profound understanding of human behavior to their work. Their approach to problem-solving and decision-making involves leveraging diverse perspectives and dismantling barriers and inequities. 

Kassey’s guiding values and principles revolve around the interconnectedness of personal and professional life. They strive to create a space where individuals feel empowered and supported, recognizing that their personal lives profoundly impact their professional success. 

In their downtime, Kassey finds solace in hiking and connecting with nature, allowing them to recharge and gain fresh perspectives. 

Looking ahead, Kassey’s future aspirations and goals revolve around driving a workplace culture that champions belonging for all. They are committed to fostering an environment where every individual can thrive and contribute their best. 

Lyssa learned to navigate business challenges, develop staff, and lead teams as a functional HR expert and generalist at fortune 500, private, global, and private-equity owned growth organizations prior to founding Cura HR in 2010. She now leads a team of HR consultants who value continuous improvement, both personally and professionally. Their proven project and program management practices and standards result in over 66% of the business being returning clients, year over year. Lyssa enjoys leveraging best practices and strategic capabilities to provide the best – most efficient and purpose-driven – practices and solutions with her inimitable team for each client engagement.

Jess serves as a partner to the most innovative employers in the world, working to create equitable and accessible opportunities for their employees to find care.

Mel Faxon is the COO & Co-Founder of Hey Mirza.

Linda Pourmassina is the Senior Director of Product Management at Virtual Therapeutics. 

Sabrina Volpone, Ph.D. is a Associate Professor at University of Colorado Boulder. 

From a young age, Chris Packert was always fascinated by the world around him. He had a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning, which led him to pursue a liberal arts bachelor’s degree at West Virginia University. His plan was to eventually get an MBA and venture into the world of business.

During his college years, Chris enjoyed the academic environment and made the most out of his education. However, fate had other plans for him. After graduating, he found an opportunity that changed the trajectory of his career path. Chris landed a job as a ski instructor in the picturesque mountains of Beaver Creek. This experience ignited a newfound love for teaching and the outdoors.

Realizing that his true calling lay in education, Chris decided to shift gears. He pursued a masters of education in curriculum and instruction while also working for NASA as an instructional designer during his graduate school years. His time at NASA allowed him to combine his passion for teaching with technology, honing his skills as an instructional designer.

After completing his graduate studies, Chris embraced his role as a high school science teacher. He dedicated 11 years of his life to educating and inspiring young minds. His commitment and dedication did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded a full scholarship by the public school system to pursue a second masters degree in Instructional Design and Technology from George Mason University.

Armed with two master’s degrees and a wealth of experience, Chris embarked on a new journey as an instructional designer for various institutions, including the Marine Corps and different universities. But life had more in store for him. Chris’s passion for skiing and snowboarding led him to become the Sr. Manager of Coach Development for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

In 2018, Chris decided to take the leap and set up his own venture called Emerge ID. He assembled a talented team of LMS Administrators, Curriculum Developers, Instructional Designers, Graphic Artists, Videographers, and Animators. Together, they helped organizations build effective training systems that benefited countless individuals.

Over the years, Chris’s dedication and excellence in his field garnered recognition. He received the prestigious 2020 Coach Educator of the Year from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the 2020 Coach of the Year Award for his volunteer coaching contributions to The Buddy Werner League at Beaver Creek. His exceptional skills and contributions led to an invitation to join the Buddy Werner Board of Directors.

Despite his busy schedule, Chris always made time for his family and hobbies. He now resides in the beautiful Vail Valley in Colorado with his wife, son, daughter, lab mix, and golden retriever. Whenever he’s not immersed in work, you can find him enjoying the great outdoors. He loves mountain biking, backpacking, playing disc golf, strumming his guitar, riding motorcycles, and, of course, skiing and snowboarding with his loved ones and friends.

Chris Packert’s life journey is a testament to the power of following one’s passions and the joy of making a positive impact on others’ lives. As he continues to thrive in his career and personal pursuits, Chris remains an inspiration to those who dream of finding fulfillment and success in life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Dan Elebaas is the CEO/Co-founder of Virtual Therapeutics.