Executive VP and Chief Diversity Officer
Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation
Dalila Wilson-Scott serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation and as President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. Dalila oversees all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives for the corporation and spearheads the charitable giving and philanthropic strategy, including Comcast NBCUniversal’s $100 million commitment to advance social justice and equality. Prior to joining Comcast in 2016, Dalila spent over 16 years at JPMorgan Chase & Co. where she served as Head of Global Philanthropy and President of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. In addition to serving on the boards of Welcome America, Inc. and Box.org, Dalila is a member of the Executive Leadership Council.
President
Social Impact and the UPS Foundation
As President of the UPS Foundation, Nikki leads global philanthropy, social impact and community affairs efforts as part of the UPS Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainability team. She oversees the company’s efforts to respond to the world’s most pressing social, humanitarian and environmental needs.
Nikki has been instrumental in UPS’s response to human rights and social justice issues, including spearheading and coordinating UPS’s anti-human trafficking awareness and education. Her Ted Talk, “3 Ways Businesses Can Fight Sex Trafficking”, has earned more than 1.5 million views. Additionally, she leads the UPS Equity, Justice & Action Task Force, a cross-functional leadership team working to dismantle systemic racism through strategic internal and external engagement.
Most recently, Nikki served as Vice President, UPS Global Public Affairs. She led UPS’s workforce policy, legislative advocacy and external affairs engagement with members of congress and the states’ attorney general. Prior to government affairs, Nikki served as Labor & Employment Counsel for UPS in Atlanta, Georgia. Before joining UPS, Nikki worked for Delta Air Lines as a labor and employment litigator and practiced labor and employment law with two Atlanta law firms.
Nikki earned her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in communications from Howard University’s Annenberg Honors Program. She holds her J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. She is a member of the Georgia Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Nikki serves on the Board of Director for the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital and is active in a number of civic and volunteer organizations. Nikki and her husband have four children and reside in Falls Church, Virginia.
President and CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
As the President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Artis Stevens takes the helm of the organization at one of the most critical moments for our nation’s youth. Artis grew up the youngest in a large family with modest resources but rich in positive relationships that inspired his potential. The son and grandson of preachers, he often shares, rather than going into ministry, his calling for the past 25 years has focused on youth development and empowering young people.
As the first Black CEO in BBBSA’s 100+ year history, he is inspired by the many leaders who blazed a trail before him and sees this historic announcement as fuel for more barriers to be broken. His hard work and drive led him to become an award-winning non-profit marketing leader with a passion for building purpose-driven brands, boards, and teams. He brings unique experience having led large-scale teams, affiliate systems and transformational outcomes across nationwide youth programs, fundraising, marketing, and initiatives focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
Highly skilled in developing innovative marketing and fundraising strategies at the grassroots and national levels, Artis has produced compelling purpose and cause-marketing partnerships with more than 50 iconic and global brands generating hundreds of millions in revenue and media to support kids.
A proven visionary leader, his experience in marketing strategy, partnership and celebrity engagement, digital transformation and board management provides a diverse mix of expertise positioning Artis as a sought-after speaker on revitalizing nonprofit brands, infusing brand culture, and converting marketing to engagement.
Before joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Artis served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for National 4-H Council, leading the national marketing and communications efforts driving the organization's positioning, brand strategy, marketing campaigns, communications, digital presence, consumer insights, and affiliate marketing. His leadership doubled fundraising for 4-H and led to the recruitment of one million alumni. He was named American Marketing Association Foundation's (AMAF) 2018 National Nonprofit Marketer of the Year, the highest honor bestowed to nonprofit marketing professionals, for his leadership in revitalizing 4-H's 100-year-old brand image. Prior to 4-H, he served as National Vice President, Marketing, Strategy & Operations at Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) where his most notable accomplishment was spearheading BGCA's new tagline and most impactful brand awareness campaign launch to date– Great Futures Start Here.
Artis says his most remarkable achievement is being voted World’s Best Dad annually for more than a decade by his wife, Dr. Erica Stevens and his two girls.
Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and People Officer
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Marissa Andrada joined Chipotle Mexican Grill in April 2018 as the brand’s first Chief People Officer. The role has since been formalized and evolved into the Chief Diversity, Inclusion and People Officer for Chipotle, bringing the brand’s purpose, To Cultivate a Better World, to life through its people. Ms. Andrada’ s initiatives and passion points include driving a diversity strategy across all levels of the company and fostering a culture of well-being to inspire mutual learning, development, personal and career growth. Ms. Andrada has been instrumental in redefining Chipotle’s benefits, launching a new tuition assistance program including the option to earn a Debt Free College Degree, access to mental healthcare and a quarterly bonus option open to all Chipotle employees. Prior to joining Chipotle, she was the Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Chief Resources Officer at Kate Spade & Company and Senior Vice President of Partner Resources for Starbucks Coffee Company. Prior to Starbucks, she served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at GameStop Corporation and Head of Human Resources at Red Bull North America. Ms. Andrada has an MBA from Pepperdine University and completed her undergraduate education at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. Ms. Andrada is a founding member of the CNBC Workforce Executive Council and a 2020 American Business Award Gold Stevie® winner in the HR Executive of the Year category. Ms. Andrada has been named to the HRD Global 100 list (2021), Business Insider’s HR Innovators list (2021) and to Nation’s Restaurant News’ The Power List, Women of Influence (2021).
Founder of Non-Profit Leadership Lab, Author and Executive Coach for Non-profits
Joan Garry began her career in 1981 as part of the management team that launched MTV. She followed this eight-year tenure with another successful run as an executive at Showtime Networks. In 1997 Garry was named the executive director of GLAAD and led the organization out of deep financial crisis. After her eight-year run at GLAAD, Garry co-chaired the LGBT Finance Committee for the Obama 2008 Presidential campaign.
She is currently the Principal of Joan Garry Consulting, a boutique firm that helps nonprofits across a wide variety of sectors to untangle strategic knots, enabling them to have a clearer path in pursuit of their missions.
Her blog for board and staff leaders of nonprofits reaches 100,000 unique leaders monthly from over 150 countries, and her podcast Nonprofits Are Messy is frequently the #1 nonprofit / government podcast on iTunes. She is the founder of The Nonprofit Leadership Lab, a monthly online membership site for board and staff leaders of small nonprofits who can afford neither coaching nor consulting. The second edition of her book, Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership (John Wiley and Sons) was published in Dec 2020.
Joan lives in NJ with her wife of 34 years. Joan and Eileen were plaintiffs in a 1993 landmark NJ court case granting a lesbian couple a second parent adoption.
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Human Resources
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Tanya has worked for the National Office for three years, first as the Director of Human Resources, and most recently as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Human Resources. She supports the National Office as a strategic business partner for Human Resources initiatives as well as providing support to BBBS agencies, as needed. She is the liaison to the NLC DEI Committee and is a champion for ensuring that all dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion are a priority.
President and CEO
The Society of Human Resources Management
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. With over 300,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world, impacting the lives of 115 million workers every day.
As a global leader on the future of employment, culture and leadership, Mr. Taylor is a sought-after voice on all matters affecting work, workers and the workplace. He is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors the weekly USA Today column, "Ask HR."
Mr. Taylor's career spans over 20 years as a lawyer, human resources executive and CEO in both the not-for-profit and for-profit space. He has held senior and chief executive roles at IAC/Interactive Corp, Viacom's Paramount Pictures and Blockbuster Entertainment Group, McGuireWoods LLC, and Compass Group USA. Most recently, Mr. Taylor was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
He was appointed chairman of the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and served as a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board during the Trump Administration. He is a Trustee of the University of Miami, Governor of the American Red Cross, and member of the corporate boards of Guild Education and iCIMS.
In 2020, Mr. Taylor received the Distinguished Executive of the Year Award from the Academy of Management, and in 2021 was named Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update.
He is licensed to practice law in Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C., and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources.
National Youth Poet Laureate
Alexandra Huynh is an 18-year-old Vietnamese American poet from Sacramento, CA. She is a 2020 Sacramento Youth Poet Laureate, a program of Sacramento Area Youth Speaks, and is a Western Regional Ambassador and the 2021 National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States.
Alexandra began writing poetry in elementary school in the form of song. She gravitated towards poetry as a means to express complex emotions, but she seldom shared her work. When she competed in her first poetry slam in high school, she landed a spot on the Sacramento Area Youth Speaks Slam Team, which would go on to compete at the International Brave New Voices Festival. Heartened by the warm and visionary people she met, she has been immersed in poetry ever since.
As a second-generation individual, Alexandra employs poetry as a tool of self-reclamation and social justice for marginalized communities. She embodies a radical pride in her Vietnamese heritage, and seeks to write her story outside of the context of whiteness. Through poetry, she hopes to give students a vocabulary to articulate their lived experiences and empower them to shape their future.
This fall, she will be a freshman at Stanford University where she aims to combine her passions for creative writing, science, and civic engagement.
Equity and Excellence Education
Pain to Propane Project
Roberto Rivera is Equity and Excellence Educator at the Pain to Propane Project. He is an award-winning artist, educator, and change agent who specializes in social emotional learning and youth empowerment. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he created his own major entitled “Social Change, Youth Culture and the Arts”. This major is now a learning community that brings spoken word artists and hip-hop artists together from all over the world through a program at UW-Madison called First Wave. Rivera carries a master’s degree in Youth Development with a focus on Social Justice, Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a researcher and collaborator with CASEL. His work has been featured on WGN, Univision, Fox Television, and numerous newspapers and radio shows around the nation and world. His work is also part of a permanent exhibit in the Illinois Holocaust Museum, and he is a proud husband and father of two creative and energetic boys.
Radio Host / Actor
Big Boy started his radio career in Los Angeles and quickly became a West Coast icon known throughout the music industry. He has been named Personality of the Year four times by Radio Music Awards and eight times by Radio and Records magazine. He’s also received three Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters for his exceptional talent. As the reigning All-Star of Hip Hop radio in Los Angeles, Big Boy welcomes the biggest names in Hip Hop - while entertaining millions of fans with his take on the hottest music and pop culture - on his wildly popular morning show, “Big Boy’s Neighborhood.”
President
Virginia State University
On February 1, 2016, Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. became the 14th President of Virginia State University (VSU). In his remarks during his introduction to the Trojan family, President Abdullah outlined his four core beliefs: “I believe in God. I believe in family. I believe in the transformative nature of education. I believe in Virginia State University.”
Under President Abdullah’s leadership and guidance, Virginia State University has experienced significant accomplishments. He has positioned VSU to move successfully into the next chapter in its continued growth, focusing on six strategic areas: Student Opportunity and Access, Academic Excellence, The Holistic Experience for Students, Enhancing the Land Grant Mission of the University, The VSU Brand and Financial/Operational Effectiveness.
Under President Abdullah’s leadership, Virginia State University has experienced extensive achievements and successes to include:
Dr. Abdullah is an active member on numerous boards and committees to include Chair of the Council of 1890s Presidents for Association of Public Land-Grant Universities(APLU); Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College, and Vice Chair of the Council of Presidents for Virginia Institutions of Higher Education.
Prior to his appointment as president of Virginia State University, Dr. Abdullah served as provost and senior vice president at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla. (2013-2016), provost and vice president for academic affairs at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Fla. (2011-2013), and dean and director of 1890 land grant programs at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Fla (2008-2011).
Dr. Abdullah is a Chicago native. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard University in civil engineering and his doctorate and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Northwestern University. He is the youngest African American to receive a Ph.D. in engineering. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
He and his wife, Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah, Ph.D., are the proud parents of a son, Mikaili, and a daughter, Sefiyetu, who both are college graduates.
Assistant Coach
After a stellar 14-year NBA playing career, that included winning an NBA Championship with Dallas in 2011 and a pair of All-Star appearances with Washington in 2007 and 2008, Caron Butler has returned home to where his NBA career began nearly 20 years ago. The 2020-21 season marked his initial foray into the world of coaching as he joined Erik Spoelstra’s staff as an assistant coach. Butler, who was universally respected throughout his playing career, was known for both his physical and mental toughness, traits that make him a valuable asset to both the coaching staff and players.
Originally drafted by the HEAT with the 10th pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, Butler played the first two seasons of his career with Miami. He appeared in 146 games (134 starts) with the HEAT and averaged 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.45 steals and 33.5 minutes while shooting 40.2 percent from the floor and 80.2 percent from the foul line. Butler earned All-Rookie First Team honors following the 2002-03 season after leading the HEAT in points, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, steals and minutes played. A four-time NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, Butler still owns the HEAT rookie records for points scored (1,201), free throws made (309) and minutes played (2,858). He also appeared in 13 postseason games with Miami and averaged 12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.15 steals and 39.3 minutes while shooting 38.6 percent from the floor and 82.5 percent from the line. Butler was traded by the HEAT to the Los Angeles Lakers on July 14, 2004 along with Brian Grant, Lamar Odom and a first-round pick in the deal that brought Shaquille O’Neal to Miami.
In addition to Miami, Butler’s career included stops in Los Angeles with both the Lakers and Clippers, Washington, Dallas, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Detroit and Sacramento. He appeared in 881 regular season games (732 starts) and finished his career with averages of 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.32 steals and 32.2 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the floor, 34.8 percent from three-point range and 84.7 percent from the line. He also appeared in 65 postseason contests (49 starts) and averaged 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.12 steals and 31.4 minutes while shooting 39.9 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 83.8 percent from the line.
Upon retiring as a player, the Racine, WI native also excelled off the court as a broadcaster. He joined ESPN as a college game analyst in 2017 before joining Turner Sports as an NBA analyst in 2018. He filled numerous roles with Turner Sports including being featured on NBA TV’s signature studio show, NBA Game Time, and NBA on TNT’s PlayersOnly franchise. Most recently he earned acclaim hosting the “NBA Together” initiative. He has also worked as a studio analyst for Spectrum SportsNet’s coverage of the Lakers and worked as an occasional game analyst for the Washington Wizards during the 2019-20 season. In addition, Butler hosted a podcast Tuff Juice with Caron Butler and in 2015 wrote an autobiography (Tuff Juice) that is also being produced into a biopic.
Butler and his wife Andrea reside in Miami and have a son, James Caron (JC), Jr. who is a redshirt sophomore on a basketball scholarship at UC-Irvine and four daughters, Camary, Mia, Ava and Gia.
American Television Journalist
Hard-hitting, inspiring, intelligent, honest, and direct—these are some of the words used to describe the style and approach of Emmy Award– winning broadcaster Ed Gordon. Known for his stellar interactions with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, entertainment, and sports, Gordon is the president of Ed Gordon Media, a multi-service production company.
In 2020, Gordon authored his first book, Conversation in Black. In the best-selling book Gordon interviewed over 40 leaders and influencers for a “virtual” conversation about the state of Black America and new narratives about the continuing fight for justice and equality. Recently, Gordon serves as host and executive producer of Ed Gordon, an hour- long quarterly newsmagazine on Bounce TV. This program has featured many inspirational and moving interviews, such as an emotional interview with the Mothers of the Movement, a group of women whose children had been killed by senseless violence, and a look at the controversy surrounding the movie The Birth of a Nation (2016) and its star and director, Nate Parker. Other highlights include a profile of powerhouse Congresswoman Maxine Waters and exclusive interviews with comedian Steve Harvey, R&B singer Maxwell, and the cast of the mega-successful movie Girls Trip.
Additionally, Gordon hosted and executive-produced the nationally syndicated one-on-one program Conversations with Ed Gordon. The signature program allows Gordon to bring newsmakers and celebrities up close and personal with viewers. Over the years, guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Kevin Hart, and Beyoncé, among many others. Previously, he has also been a contributing correspondent for the CBS news show 60 Minutes II, a contributor for NBC’s Today Show and Dateline, the host of NPR’s News and Notes with Ed Gordon, and the MSNBC anchor and host of the nationally syndicated television programs Our World and Weekly with Ed Gordon. He further distinguished himself during two stints at BET.
He’s had many roles at the network, including host of BET Tonight, anchor of BET News, and creator of his signature one-on-one series Conversation with Ed Gordon. Gordon also anchored BET’s coverage of the 2012 presidential election, Obama’s second inauguration, Nelson Mandela’s funeral from South Africa, and the fiftieth anniversary of the historic March on Washington.
But Gordon’s reach doesn’t stop there. Gordon is also featured on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, where he gives his perspective on current national headlines, and he records Right Now with Ed Gordon, which provides daily commentaries for radio stations across the country. He also hosts the nationally syndicated radio program, Weekend with Ed Gordon, a two-hour program featuring a mix of talk, information, entertainment, and music. It’s been called “a fun, smart radio show for grown folks.”
Aside from his own media ventures, Gordon continues to be at the fore- front of news. He conducted one-on-one interviews with President Barack Obama during his historic presidency. He has covered many of the world’s most defining events throughout his career, from the historic 2008 US presidential election to the freedom of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela to the beating of Rodney King to the upheavals in Haiti and Cuba. He’s also provided comprehensive coverage and up-to-the-minute reports on many other domes- tic and international events, including the tragic 9/11 attacks on America.
Gordon’s impressive interview portfolio also includes conversations with the following newsmakers: President Bill Clinton; Academy Award winners Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Halle Berry; Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan; actor Idris Elba; and the late musician Michael Jackson.
Some of Gordon’s other notable works that have garnered the admiration and respect of viewers and colleagues include the infamous O. J. Simpson interview; an exclusive interview with pop superstar Janet Jackson about her secret marriage and painful divorce; no-holds-barred interviews with controversial senator Trent Lott and embattled singer R. Kelly; the critically acclaimed one-on-one interview with Tupac Shakur (often noted as the rapper’s definitive interview); and a fiery interview during the 2017 NABJ national convention with White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman, made national headlines.
In addition to receiving an Emmy for his work, Gordon is the recipient of many other awards recognizing his talent and professionalism, including the NAACP Image Award and the prestigious Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.
Miss USA 2019
Cheslie Kryst was crowned Miss USA in May 2019, and was the third woman from North Carolina to win the competition.
Cheslie is a complex litigation attorney licensed to practice law in two states. Passionate about criminal justice reform, she has worked pro bono with clients serving excessive time for low-level drug offenses.
In October 2019, Cheslie was named a correspondent for the nationally broadcast entertainment news show Extra, following interviews with top celebrities, including Lizzo and Paula Abdul. Cheslie will balance her duties as Miss USA and her hosting duties with Extra from her home in NYC.
Prior to winning Miss USA, Cheslie worked closely with Dress for Success Charlotte, an organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Recently named a Dress for Success Impact Ambassador on a national level, Cheslie supports chapters across the country, travelling to local communities to give back.
Cheslie was also recently elected to the national board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she gets to put her love of mentorship into practice.
Cheslie earned both her law degree and MBA from Wake Forest University and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina.