SPEAKERS DIRECTORY

Heather 'Byrd' Roberts is an award-winning poet, creative catalyst, educator, and author of "Mahogany: A Love Letter To Black" with over 15 years of artistic bridge-building experience. Her business, Byrd's World, is dedicated to inspire and transform lives through creativity. Her work enriches experiences through storytelling and workshops. She helps aspiring writers get out of their heads, onto the page, so they can confidently reclaim their creative joy. Her favorite words are balloon and bubble.

I fuse my current experience with tales from my childhood that govern the spaces where generational trauma took root. I utilize my education and passion for healing minds in support of releasing thoughts which no longer serve purpose. I blend together my spiritual guidance and wisdom to bridge the whole of my experience which includes my Ancestors, my African culture, my current awareness of self, and the remembered journey of my soul.

Leona Carter empowers women to build intimacy with their husbands through the power of dating again to enhance communication, from the kitchen to the bedroom. Leona is an International Empowerment Speaker, Multi-best-selling Author, and Intimacy Coach. As the President and CEO of Carter Strategies, Leona hosts, Hey Coach Carter TV. Married since 1995, Leona, and her high school sweetheart, Omarr, have six children and one grandson.

I’m Shawniel Chamanlal, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Empowerment Speaker, and Life Coach. I am the proud CEO and Founder of Healing Springs Wellness Center, a community of culturally diverse wellness practitioners and therapists providing trauma-informed and culturally competent care. I am passionate about empowering individuals to live a more authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling life. I also offer practical steps to achieve emotional wellness, improve mindset, and achieve professional success for the BIPOC community.

Tyneka Pack, Founder & CEO of IMPACKT Fitness, is a dynamic leader and certified fitness expert with over a decade of experience. As a pro bodybuilder turned motivational speaker, she excels in transformative fitness, wellness education, and leadership development. Tyneka empowers her audiences with practical strategies for personal and professional growth, highlighting the importance of wellness as a foundation for effective leadership.

As a corporate marketing manager, I confidently oversaw a $1B product portfolio and various project teams. Juggling life with my newborn twin boys proved MUCH harder.  Outmanned and overwhelmed, I carved a new path that included reimagining my life, tuning into my kids, and becoming a diligent student of child development.  Seventeen years later, I am a certified parenting strategist, guiding parents to rediscover the joy in their journey with my fresh approach to discipline, parent-child communication, and family connections.  As a speaker, podcaster, and 4x best-selling author, I’ve reached thousands teaching my strategies for building self-discipline, purpose, and resilience from the ground up.

Diana Elizabeth Jordan is an Actor, Solo artist, Theater & Filmmaker nationally recognized Disability & IDEA influencer. She is committed to supporting meeting/event planners in making their next event impactful & exceptional by offering and creating content- powerful solo performances, keynotes, expressive arts-based DEIA training workshops- and incorporating evidence based proven tools, strategies and ideas to build and strengthen, DEIA (Disability Focus), Corporate Social Responsibility, Professional and Personal Development goals

Dr. Tyreese R. McAllister is a Therapist, Best-Selling Author, and an Anti-Gun Violence Advocate. She has over 25 years of experience in emergency mental health and crisis intervention. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is heavily credentialed in her field. Dr. McAllister was voted 2021 Mental Health Advocate of the Year. She is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership and a Humanitarian Award for her work in the gun violence arena.

In an extraordinary display of resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to social justice, Xenia Barnes has achieved remarkable milestones as both a published author and a tireless community activist. Her groundbreaking self-help book series and impactful work have garnered national recognition, culminating in her being named an honoree of the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Mary Canty Merrill is an Industrial & Organizational Psychologist with 30+ years of progressive leadership, management and organizational development experience in the private, non-profit and public sectors. She is lauded for her ability to connect and inspire individuals across diverse segments of society, and known for her dynamic work in unleashing latent human potential to ignite personal and social change.

Sgt Shannon is the Founder/CEO of Michigan Women Veterans Empowerment a faith based nonprofit organization that empowers veterans, their families and the youth in the 8 dimensions of wellness.She’s a best selling author, inspirational speaker and veterans’ advocate. Her background includes teaching, education, community service, ministry and agriculture and agribusiness programs. She’s a passionate and enthusiastic woman that believes that anyone can over trauma and pain with the right support and tools.

As a business and communication strategist, I elevate organizations by creating an action plan to increase employee engagement, enhance company communication, and empower cultural awareness, so that organizations can continue to reflect excellence and integrity in their business practices. I also position new and emerging speakers and authors to captivate their audience in their keynote presentations so their audience can experience their story, not just hear their story.