Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit

Join the Georgia Chamber for our annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit to be held on November 1, 2022. This event is a meaningful opportunity to engage in open and honest dialogue with business and community leaders who are paving the way for change and inclusion in our state.

Keynote Speaker: Victor Terry, Chief Diversity Officer, State Farm Insurance

Fireside CEO Chat: DEI Two-Years Later

Moderator: Shan Cooper, Founder & CEO, Journey Forward Strategies

Frank Patterson, President & CEO, Trilith Studios

Chanel Frazier, Managing Director of BlackRock

The past 2 years have been transformative for DE&I and authentic leadership has become a more pressing requirement.  Have we made any progress?  Hear from CEO’s as they share their high-stakes decisions, sleepless nights and celebratory moments as well as how they are planning for the future.

Spotlight – The Intersection Between DE&I and Mental/Physical Health

Dr. Sheryl Heron, Associate Dean, Chief Diversity Officer, Emory University

Mental Health and DE&I are closely connected. Mental health may not be the current focus of all companies, but it should be. People are experiencing increased stress levels since COVID began.  According to the American Psychiatric Society, employees with unresolved depression experience a 35% reduction in productivity. Dr. Heron will shed some light on “The Heron 8”- 3 things and 5 communities we all need to strengthen our resilience.

Breakout Sessions

Maximizing the Diversity in your business, so you can be included in Government Contracts – Sharna Barnes

Creating programs to improve Diversity and Foster Inclusive Programs – McKinsey & Company

Second Chance Hiring: Benefits, Dispelling Myths & Practical Considerations – Georgia Justice Project

Panel Discussions

Making Your Company a Magnet for a Diverse Workforce

Moderator: Audra Cunningham, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, T. Dallas Smith & Company

Cara Herzog, Vice President, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Southwire

Keyla Cabret-Lewis, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Aflac Inc.

Kay Allen Brownlee, Senior Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Comcast

We are in a global talent war! What are some of the key elements to making an employer welcoming to a diverse labor pool?  What do diverse associates want from the companies they work for?

Driving Accountability in Diverse Spend w/Fortune 500 Companies

Moderator: Myra Reeves, Director, DEI Associate Engagement, The Home Depot, Inc.

George Richter, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Cox Communications, Inc.

Valerie Nesbitt, Group Manager, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability, Norfolk Southern

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not just an HR practice. Corporations have retooled their supplier diversity approach as the economic climate has changed. But are they being held accountable for their diverse spend?  Leaders of Fortune 500 companies discuss how they can drive accountability in diverse spend within their companies.

Raising Awareness of Microaggressions and Unconscious Bias

Moderator: Sonia Toson, Interim Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Kennesaw State University

Erica Bolden, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Bridges Holmes, Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Sustainability, The Adecco Group

Jerrell Moore, Global Head of Inclusion, Google

Microaggressions affect everyone. We must explore our own biases to become aware of them.  In this segment, our speakers will provide solutions to actively combat microaggressions to positively impact our workplaces.

Supporting Gender Identity and Expression

Moderator: Chris Lugo, Executive Director, OUT Georgia Business Alliance

Dionysia L. Johnson-Massie, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson, PC

Gabrielle Claiborne, Co-Founder and CEO, Transformation Journeys Worldwide

Malik Brown, Director, Mayor’s Division LGBTQ Affairs, City of Atlanta

As Georgia businesses work to develop a more diverse employee base with an inclusive culture, it is important to allow employees of all identities and backgrounds to thrive.  All persons should receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their gender identity or expression. This panel will discuss how companies can support gender identity and expression through the lens of the law in the workplace, going beyond creating “a new policy”.

Being a Champion of Change for Disability Bias

Moderator: Lisa Guadalupe Clarke, Founder & CEO, ATL Search Group

Alejandro Ugarte, Senior Director, Agency Compliance, Goodwill of North Georgia, Inc.

Mike Wilson, President & CEO, New Ventures, Inc.

Laura Hope Whitaker, CEO, Extra Special People

In today’s tight labor market, there is a strong business case for strengthening inclusion of people with disabilities.  Disability inclusion must become a natural part of an organizations DE&I strategy.  In this segment, our speakers will provide insight and leave behind a platform for ongoing discussions to champion a change for biases around disabilities.