Born and raised in Southern California, Christine Simmons is a true California girl. Her vast experience as a leader, entrepreneur, speaker, and executive has garnered her trailblazing appointments and accolades in some of the most prominent organizations in the world.

Simmons’ strategic consulting firm, Alis Volat Propriis, LLC (which means “she who flies with her own wings” in Latin), advises small-, mid- and large-sized businesses on operational excellence, strategic planning, business development, and representation initiatives, among other things. Her clients include National Lampoon, Cedric the Entertainer, Go Genius by Candace Parker, Influencers Brunch, and more.

Simmons speaks globally on topics of business, strategy, leadership, inclusion, and empowerment. She also teaches a weeklong course on social impact in sports and entertainment at the University of Miami’s Law School since spring 2024. Additionally, she is a thought leader and writer for C-Suite Quarterly.

Her clothing and merchandise line, Unapologetically Christine, encourages everyone to live Unapologetically, which she defines as “Being Bold, Attacking Life’s Challenges in Extraordinary Fashion, & Loving Oneself – Flaws and All!”

She was formerly chief operating officer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (The Oscars), the first woman and Black person to hold the position. Simmons was responsible for the day-to-day management and enhancement of the Academy’s internal organization and infrastructure, focusing on several key initiatives including the organization’s strategic and five-year business plans, organizational restructure, career progression realignment, representation and inclusion, sustainability, and much more. Simmons created the first-ever, Office of Representation, Inclusion, and Equity, which supported internal and external initiatives to broaden the aperture through which excellence is recognized in film and drove the creation of the Best Picture Inclusion Standards.

Prior to joining the Academy, Simmons was president and chief operating officer of the three-time WNBA Champion Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks are one of three founding teams from the league’s inception in 1997. Simmons led all aspects of the team’s business operations including ticket and sponsorship sales and service, marketing, game operations, communications, community relations, and finance. Under her leadership, the team saw a 34% increase in ticket sales, doubled ratings on Spectrum SportsNet, and impacted nearly 70,000 lives through community programs in one season alone.

Before the Sparks, Simmons was an executive vice president with Magic Johnson Enterprises where she would evaluate investment opportunities and was responsible for business development. With more than two decades of leadership experience in creating strategic alliances, leading business development, and driving corporate initiatives, she has worked with many Fortune 500 corporations and multimillion dollar companies, including Disney and NBCUniversal.

A proud University of California, Los Angeles graduate, she currently holds seats on the UCLA Foundation Board of Directors and the UCLA Life Science Dean Advisory Board. She previously served on the UC Board of Regents, where she served on the Finance and Capital Strategies, Public Engagement and Development, and Investments and Basic Needs committees. She is a past president and director on the Board of the UCLA Alumni Association representing all 500,000 global Bruins.

Simmons is a passionate humanitarian and advocate. She is Chair of the Advisory Board for Mindset of Champions, sits on the National Black MBA Association Board, the Advisory Council for Spry (an NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) compliance technology company), Shared Harvest Fund, and MyCOVID MD. She formally mentors the next generation of Black and brown women through American broadcast journalist Cari Champion’s foundation, Brown Girls Dream, and has informally mentored countless others. Her proudest achievement is being mom to her son, Christian.

Gilbert Campbell is the founder and chief executive officer of Volt Energy Utility, a national renewable energy firm that finances and develops utility-scale solar and energy storage projects for large corporate clients, municipalities, and other institutions. Under Campbell’s leadership, Volt Energy Utility executed the first Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement (EJPPA) with Microsoft, to supply Microsoft with 250 megawatts of utility-scale solar energy. This innovative project represents Microsoft’s first utility-scale solar PPA with an African American energy solar development firm. Volt Energy Utility and its corporate partners contribute a portion of revenue generated by the EJPPA into Sharing the Power Foundation, founded by Volt to support environmental justice and clean energy organization and programs. The foundation also focuses on developing a pipeline of students from historically Black colleges and universities for careers in the clean energy sector. Campbell serves on the board of directors at the Solar Energy Industries Association, Clean Energy Buyers Association, American Association of Blacks in Energy; is an advisory board member at 3Degrees; and is board chair at Sharing the Power Foundation. He also co-founded Volt Energy, a national distributed generation solar development company. Volt Energy successfully developed solar projects for numerous public and private sector clients including Accenture, Exelon/Pepco, The Cheesecake Factory, Subaru, District of Columbia Government, Howard University and Wake Forest University. Campbell is an advocate and spokesperson for diversity, equity and inclusion in clean energy, environmental justice and sustainability; and regularly advises federal and local officials, corporations and other key stakeholders on policies and best practices. He has been nationally recognized for his efforts and has testified before Congress regarding the need for increased minority participation in the renewable energy sector. In 2016, the Obama Administration presented Campbell with the White House Champions of Change Award for his leadership in advancing climate change equity. He was named to EBONY magazine’s 2014 Power 100 List, which recognizes influential achievements by African Americans annually. Under his leadership, Volt is a 2014 recipient of Amtrak and The Washington Wizards Pioneer Award, which honors companies that have made a positive impact in their community. Realizing that change begins with preparation Campbell has been a vocal proponent of STEM education and outreach opportunities for young people across the country. He graduated magna cum laude with a BBA in finance from Howard University and has done postgraduate leadership training at Harvard University.

Eric Alemany is the senior director of supplier relationship management at the New York Power Authority (NYPA). In this role, he oversees supplier outreach, development of business opportunity programs, and manages relationships with key and diverse suppliers. Alemany is also responsible for driving supplier performance while monitoring supply chain risks that impact the business. In almost 25 years with NYPA, he has held a variety of responsibilities from business development and marketing to project and program management of the Authority’s customer clean and renewable energy programs throughout New York State. Alemany has been directly responsible for managing a $2 billion portfolio of consultants, contractor, and supplier contracts to support the customer solutions strategic initiatives statewide. Prior to joining NYPA, he worked as an assistant quality engineer at Stewart Stamping Corporation. Alemany received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York, and has an MBA in Executive Management from Pace University. He is a certified energy manager and has memberships in several professional organizations, such as American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Association of Energy Engineers, and Project Management and Design Build at the Institute of America. He currently serves on the Board of the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors.

Gloria Burton serves as a program manager in supplier diversity & development at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. In this role, she is dedicated to collaborating with small and diverse business firms, enhancing their capabilities to foster growth and success, and delivering economic value to customers and communities. With more than 25 years of procurement experience, Burton has supported numerous organizational units across SCE as a contract manager. Her extensive background includes managing multimillion-dollar contracts at ARCO, where she held various roles in procurement and supplier diversity before joining SCE. Burton’s commitment to professional excellence is matched by her personal interests in reading, traveling, and spending quality time with her granddaughter. She holds an MBA from the University of Redlands and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Pepperdine University. Her work is significant in promoting diversity and inclusion within the supply chain, driving economic growth, and ensuring that SCE remains a leader in supporting diverse businesses. Burton’s efforts contribute to a more equitable and prosperous community, reflecting her dedication to making a positive impact professionally and personally.

Thomas (T.J.) Lewis Jr. has more than 23 years of experience in the financial services industry, and is currently the director of supplier diversity at Ally Financial, Inc. His responsibilities include creating and implementing a world-class supplier diversity program consistent with the company’s strategic sourcing and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Prior to joining Ally, Lewis spent two years with PNC Bank in the Large Corporate Commercial Credit Group overseeing more than $500 million in credit exposure to large corporate companies. Prior to PNC, he was an executive at Urban Lending Solutions (ULS), leading the company’s sales while they were recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies on the Inc. 500 list and reaching the Black Enterprise Magazine Top 25 in revenue. Under Lewis’ leadership, the company went from 50 employees to more than 1,500 and experienced revenue growth from $35 million to $185 million. He started the company’s own supplier diversity program, creating a best-in-class program which led to certification of numerous women- and minority-owned businesses through their development program until the minority business enterprise sold in 2017. Prior to ULS, Lewis worked at Bank of America for 13 years, primarily in supply chain management, developing suppliers, and commercial lending, serving nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and middle market clients. He has a strong financial credit and business development background as well as consulting skills and formal Six Sigma training. While at Bank of America, Lewis earned his Six Sigma Green Belt Certification for managing a payment project that saved more than $1 million annually and generated revenue for the bank. During his commercial banking career, he specialized in working with nonprofit organizations, including higher education and private institutions, which led to him joining the board of trustees at his alma mater Queens University of Charlotte. Lewis has served as trustee for more than 14 years and is part of the Executive Leadership Committee for the university. He also served on the Presidential Search Committee selecting the 21st president in school history in 2019. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Queens University of Charlotte, N.C., and has a wife, Charmain, and three sons.

Vickie R. Hubbard is the chief diversity officer at JURISolutions Legal (JSL), an award-winning, certified women-owned legal services firm. In her role, she champions JSL’s commitment to fostering supplier diversity and advancing DEI initiatives within the legal field. Hubbard actively engages with advocacy groups, professional organizations, and associations, and oversees JSL’s supplier diversity program. She is also a member of JSL’s diversity committee, is the host of JSL’s Not Your Average DEI Podcast series and serves as in-house staff writer on topics related to DEI and supplier diversity in the law. As a thought leader, Hubbard is a contributing writer to Diversity Professional magazine, where her article, Why Supplier Inclusion Programs Benefit Law Firms, was published in the spring 2024 issue. Prior to her tenure at JSL, she gained extensive experience in sales and recruitment across various industries. Hubbard holds an M.S. in organizational leadership from Northeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in public relations and communications from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is also a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE®) through the Institute for Diversity Certification and is in the final phase of Coach Certification via The Leader Coach Intensive & The Women’s Leadership Intensive. Hubbard currently resides in Los Angeles. Beyond her professional commitments, she is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. As a creative, Hubbard is a multi-faceted artist with a diverse range of talents. In 2024, she joined Diversity Professionals Connect (DPC) and looks forward to further collaborating with her new DPC family on their shared journey toward greater inclusivity and equity across all sectors.

Jared L. Kelly has an uncommon business acumen and skill for problem-solving. He has more than 26 years of experience in strategy, corporate sales, marketing, accounting, and financial management. In 2002, Kelly founded his first startup venture, Complete Entertainment Inc, now known as CEI Media Group. In his role as marketing/tech strategist, he delivers C-Suite consultation, strategy, and execution services for the firm’s top clientele.

Steve Lamar is an entrepreneur with over 21 years of experience in construction, real estate development, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). As a native Californian, he is strongly focused on urban redevelopment and construction diversity, making him a powerful asset for any team looking to use the built environment to drive community and economic impact. As Director of Diversity for National Facilities Services for Kaiser Permanente, his efforts contributed significantly to the $80 billion organization becoming the first healthcare provider to join the Billion Dollar Roundtable. Recently, Lamar served as the President of ARGO Systems, a Maryland-based general contractor. Throughout his career, he has fulfilled the roles of construction project manager, corporate community relations manager, and program coordinator, among others. In 2020, Lamar formed his own company, Forward Planning and Solutions, which specializes in DEI consulting, construction services, and construction inspection services.

Charmain Lewis is a RYT-200 certified yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and wellness-practitioner. Lewis received her training from Hanaq Prana School of Yoga in Tampa, Florida, under the leadership of Lorena Saavedra. She provides yoga, meditation, and mindfulness classes to people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds across the globe. Her sessions are designed for all levels and invite individuals to open their hearts and embrace their unique qualities through breathwork, movement, and wisdom. Her passion for people, music and laughter are incorporated in all her sessions. Lewis was a new mom of two when she began her journey into yoga. Feeling pulled in multiple directions to constantly give to others, she turned to yoga for the physical benefits. After her first class, Lewis experienced a sense of peace and emotional well-being that continued to bring her back to the mat. A former elementary school educator who eventually transitioned into the entrepreneurial world, her consistent practice is a reminder that she is walking in her path.

In her current role, Nixon is the director, supplier diversity for Aflac. She is responsible for the overall strategy for supplier diversity to include companywide programs to ensure opportunities for minority-owned vendors to participate in procurement activities; manages relationships with contracted minority, women, veteran, LGBTQ+, and service-disabled veterans and the tracking and reporting of the diverse spend. Nixon identifies, strategizes, evaluates, and develops sourcing and purchasing practices meant to promote diversity among the organization’s suppliers and contractors. Prior to joining Aflac, for two years, she was director, supplier diversity & responsible sourcing at Visa Inc., a team that works to deliver the value of Visa’s sourcing organization to financial institutions, account holders, and merchants in 200 countries and territories. Nixon was responsible for developing and implementing Visa’s supplier diversity goals, with metrics for the first time in their history which included: goals for Tier 1 diverse supplier spend (goal exceeded in year one by .5%); goals for Tier 1 percentage of diverse suppliers (goal exceeded in year one by 8.7%); implementing C-suite executive member dashboards detailing their diverse vs. non-diverse spend with category breakdown; and forming of supplier diversity council with recommendations of executive committee members to appoint champions for key business units. Prior to joining Visa, she served for more than 10 years as a manager for National Supplier Diversity/Impact Spending at Kaiser Permanente, the $80 billion+ Oakland, California-based healthcare organization. In this role, Nixon oversaw and advocated for a portfolio of contracts worth more than $1 billion with diverse companies in the staffing, professional and business services, and marketing sector. In 2014, she was part of the team that led the organization to become the first health care provider in the nation to sit at the prestigious Billion Dollar Roundtable. Known industrywide for her strong leadership, enthusiastic championing of supplier diversity, and generosity in helping other large organizations develop and expand their own programs, Nixon serves as the board chair of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC) and Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West). She holds a master’s degree in organizational development, bachelor’s degree in business management, and certificate in human resource management.

Travis Spencer is the Senior Purchasing Manager for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion at Ford Motor Company. In this role, Spencer is responsible for driving diversity and inclusion among Ford’s strategic partners and supply chain. He accomplishes this by connecting minority, women, veteran, disabled, LGBTQ and small business enterprises to Ford and its Tier 1 suppliers. Spencer believes that economic empowerment for diverse suppliers and their corresponding communities is the epitome for what it means to drive human progress, ultimately delivering Ford’s vision of Creating a Better Tomorrow. He brings a strong professional business acumen in Corporate Purchasing & Strategy, Supply Chain Management, Program Management, and Negotiation along with an academic focus in Accounting, Finance, and Business Ethics. Spencer is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, a private Jesuit institution known for its emphasis on service and servant leadership, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Business Administration.

Tonia Woodbury Hammond is a thought leader and speaker on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategies and trends; business development and relationship building; and professional branding. With more than 25 years of experience in financial and insurance services, she has expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion, supply chain management, and marketing communications for high growth companies. Her extensive skills include executive consulting and coaching, strategic leadership, implementation, and facilitation. Hammond has held leadership positions in corporate and investment banking technology, human resources, supplier diversity, employee experience and DEI at Wells Fargo (and its predecessor companies) and MassMutual. Most recently, she was head of belonging and inclusion for Latin and North America for BNY Mellon. Hammond was responsible for driving regional belonging and inclusion progress and impact across the Americas, led the achievement of the U.S. Black/African American senior leaders and overall Hispanic/Latinx/o/a representation goals and strategy for the three-year cycle (2020-2023), and contributed to the advancement of enterprise diversity, equity and inclusion operationally and across business solutions by spearheading the implementation of a refreshed DEI strategy upon arrival. She is on the board of directors for National Black MBA Association Charlotte Chapter; Diversity Professional Advisory Board; and was appointed by two national Presidents of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to the National Strategic Partnerships committee for the term 2019-2022 and a second term beginning in 2023. Hammond was a member of the Black Wall Street Forward Initiative Charlotte Council as part of a statewide (North Carolina) entrepreneurial campaign to revitalize the Black Wall Street ingenuity and prominence to address the wealth gap in the Black community. She received a B.S. in business administration from South Carolina State University and an MBA in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University. Hammond has been certified as a Supplier Diversity Professional (CPSD); holds an Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Project Leadership Certification; and a DEI in the Workplace certification from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.