WOC Summit Presenters

MEET OUR PRESENTERS

Check back to this page – as more presenters are confirmed, we will include their information.

KEYNOTE SPEECHES

Presenter – Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker

Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker is president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, an organization dedicated to connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in western New York.

As the chief executive officer at the Community Foundation, Dedecker has led a focused growth and impact strategy. Under her leadership, the Community Foundation has facilitated numerous public/private sector collaborations focused on systems change. These unprecedented partnerships are advancing progress and addressing issues such as school readiness, post-secondary attainment, lead-poisoning prevention and building a more inclusive economy. Most recently, Dedecker has overseen the Community Foundation’s effort to launch the Say Yes to Education initiative and the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable.

Her community service highlights include a White House appointment to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, U.S. Committee co-chair of the United Nations International Year of the Volunteer and president of the Association of Junior Leagues International. Dedecker serves on the boards of Governance Matters, Candid, FSG and the Global Fund for Community Foundations.

Dedecker’s work has been recognized by many, including the Points of Light Foundation. She has received the Governor’s Award for Service and has been named Buffalo News Citizen of the Year and the 2018 Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year by the University at Buffalo School of Management. She holds a master’s degree in education from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a naturalized U.S. citizen and a native of Cuba.

 

Presenter – Helen Lowery

Helen Lowery holds a bachelor’s in accounting and an MBA from Niagara University. She attended Houghton College, Grace School of Leadership Development and South Houston Bible Institute and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Trinity Seminary.

During her 42-year career working in finance, sales and marketing at DuPont/Chemours Co., Lowery served as vice-chair of the DuPont Corporate Black Employees Network. Through perseverance and putting her trust in the Lord and not man, in 2017 she became the second female and first African American president of a 37-year-old global trade association.

Lowery is an ordained minister who travels extensively throughout the United States. The difficult adolescence she experienced helped prepare her to minister healing to the deep hurts in people with the love of Jesus Christ. Her story destroys the fallacy that an impoverished child will be a burden on society, and proves you can excel, achieve and thrive in life through God’s grace and a good work ethic.

As a community leader, Lowery has served on various non-profit boards, as a mentor to women on work/life balance and success in corporate America and as a Justice Court Chaplain. She also has been a part-time professor of accounting at Niagara County Community College.

Lowery and her husband, Jeffrey, have been married for 35 years and are blessed with four children, three of whom graduated from college in 2017 with bachelor’s, master’s and M.D. degrees. Jeff and Helen are the founders of Living Truth Ministries, a faith-based 501(c)3 ministry focused on teaching principles from the Bible to equip the body of Christ and provide Christian-based counseling.

 

 

Professional Development and Career Advancement

Presenter – Natasha Almonte

Workshop – Girl! You Got This

Natasha Almonte has worked in the non-profit sector for over 18 years. She is the director of parenting services at Pinnacle Community Services in Niagara Falls, New York. During a five-year period, she went from an entry-level position with no education to director of an entire department holding a master’s degree in higher education and administrative affairs from the State University at Buffalo. Almonte discovered during this process that there were some flaws in her belief system about herself, which took her on a journey of self-awareness. Through this journey, she became aware of her ability to communicate with people in way that inspired, motivated and respected who they were. Almonte now has conducted several trainings on goalsetting, staff/executive team building, trauma-informed care/reflective strategies and many others related to organizational and personal development.

 

Presenter – Deborah Campbell

Workshop – Happiness Is Intentional

Deborah Campbell has worked in not-for-profit organizations for over 20 years. Campbell received both her bachelor’s degree in organizational management and a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. She is the director of workforce development for the Catholic Family Center in Rochester. For three years, she worked for The Community Place of Greater Rochester as the director of the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. employment program, where she developed programs and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also worked for Epilepsy Foundation Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton as a program manager for traumatic brain Injury programs and served as the facilitator of the Special Review Committee. She has sat on the foundation board of a neighborhood out-patient clinic and currently serves as a board member of Home Start Hope.

 

Presenter – Ronalyn Pollack

Workshop – From Trauma & Intergenerational Trauma to Freedom Through Forgiveness

Ronnie Pollack is the executive director of the Native American Cultural Center in Rochester, New York. She has worked as a forgiveness coach, specifically with Native American clients, utilizing the healing power of forgiveness and the Seven Generations concept to transform lives. She is an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College and has taught in the Health/Physical Education Department for over 10 years. Her background includes work as a holistic health coach, along with more than 12 years of experience as a social worker. Pollack lives in Rochester and is a member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, in Ontario, Canada. Working with Indigenous peoples in the area of forgiveness is something that is sacred and personal to her heart, as she desires to see all Nations heal.

 

Presenter – Jamyra Young

Workshop – Imposter Syndrome: How to Thrive When You Feel Like You Don’t Belong

Jamyra Young is an administrator at Keuka College and serves as the director of intercultural affairs. In this capacity, Young provides support and advocacy for international students and students of color. As the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee co-chair and deputy Title IX coordinator, she also coordinates college-wide inclusion initiatives. Young received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wells College and a master’s in higher education administration from Stony Brook University.

 

Health and Financial Wellness

Presenter – Detra Trueheart

Workshop – Time Hacks for Busy Women

Detra (pronounced dee-trah) M. Trueheart is a faith mentor and life purpose generator. She is the CEO of TrueheartSpeaks Enterprises, a lifestyle management and empowerment firm where she helps individuals get out of their own way and get to the business of living. Trueheart uses her more than 25 combined years of pageantry, performing arts, leadership, empowerment and personal development expertise to become the go-to girl for life purpose, faith and empowerment for women and girls. She is the author of 30 Days of Thanks: 30 Daily Devotions for Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude and is founder of the Young Miss Buffalo Pageant: Scholarship & Enrichment Program Inc. Trueheart has a bachelor’s from Canisius College in business administration, a master’s in public administration from Baruch College and a master’s in mental health counseling from Medaille College.

 

Careers Outside the Norm

Presenter ­– Tam Little

Workshop – Women of Color Behind the Camera: Use Your Creativity to Create Change

Tam Little uses the medium of film to help others give birth to their dreams through the art of visual storytelling. Little is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology and holds a bachelor’s in human resource administration and a master’s in public administration from SUNY Brockport. She currently travels as a senior trainer for Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical companies. Little is a motivational and diversity conference speaker at the collegiate and secondary school levels, inspiring students of all ages. She is also the chief operating officer for her production company, Virtual Bay Films, and works closely with nonprofits to bring their corporate branding and marketing vision to life. Tam wrote and directed the documentary Move, which captures a community’s response to violence when three young men were killed after a Stop the Violence basketball tournament at the Boys & Girls Club in Rochester, New York.

 

Presenter – Wendy Paterson

Workshop – Environmental Justice Education as an Approach to Engage Underrepresented Populations

Wendy Paterson, community engagement manager at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, has a vast background in scientific research and environmental education. She organizes multiple Waterkeeper volunteer cleanups and restoration programs each year. As the program lead of River Tours, which provides kayaking and hiking educational opportunities to the public, and an educator for the Young Environmental Leaders Program, she mentors many individuals seeking careers in environmental science. She has 10 years of experience designing, implementing and effectively managing volunteer events and research projects in the Great Lakes region. Before working at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, she studied benthic macroinvertebrates of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Cayuga Lake.

 

Presenter – Crystal Tillman

Workshop – Healing Through Writing

Crystal Renee Tillman is a Christian writer and blogger from the South Side of Chicago. Ever since childhood, she wanted to write novels and short stories for girls and women like herself. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003, Tillman shared her testimonial memoir and divine healing with the world in her book, It’s All to Come. Her story relates not just her battle with the disease but also displays how her faith in Jesus helped her conquer the disease and her struggles with self-image, depression and self-esteem. In her second book, In the Company of Women, Tillman displays her first love and passion for fiction writing. She is an English professor and owner of DreamWriterInk! Writing & Publishing Services.

 

Influence

Presenters – Adrienne Taylor and Lauren Jones

Workshop – 2 Dope Fundraisers

Adrienne Taylor is the senior development director for the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. She is responsible for elevating the organization’s fundraising processes and sharing its impact. She joined the Women’s Fund after spending five years with the University of Cincinnati Foundation. Before entering the field of fundraising, Taylor spent 3.5 years as a stockbroker and dance teacher. In addition to her day job, she serves on the global board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Lauren Jones is a dynamic engagement professional with success in design, campaign management, relationship and capacity building. She is the inclusive giving advisor at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. She has also served with the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Public Allies Cincinnati, YWCA, United Way and Organizing for America, the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama. In addition to her day job, Lauren serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region.

Lauren and Adrienne are part of the leadership team for the New Faces of Fundraising program, geared toward   introducing diverse individuals to philanthropy.

 

Presenter – Franchelle Parker

Workshop – Leadership That Is Rooted in Equity, Healing and Justice

Western New York native Franchelle C.H. Parker is the founding executive director of Open Buffalo, a community collaborative whose mission is to advance racial, economic and ecological justice in western New York. Parker found her start as a student organizer at Buffalo State College, fighting to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenders. Later, she would use her degree in political science to win numerous legislative changes. Parker believes healthy communities and a healthy democracy are rooted in a people’s ability to make their own choices. A member of Edison Street Community Church, Parker is a board member for the Buffalo Urban League and Healthcare Workers Rising. She is also a member of the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is chair of the Social Action Committee. Parker is the loving wife to Kenneth Parker Jr. and mother to Kennedy Rae.

 

Presenter – Gwen Mazza

Workshop – Shades of Color … Shade of White a True Sisterhood: Women Keeping it Real from the Inside Out

Gwen Mazza is a dynamic special business advisor and facilitator, with an impressive track record of success in creating high-functioning teams through leadership development and attention to a powerful cultural creation. Mazza has over 30 years of clinical expertise and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, serving people and organizations in coaching, consulting, training and cultural transformation. Her extensive experience in leading organizations through the transformational process is truly an art. She can be found providing executive leadership development and coaching to CEOs and executives locally and internationally. She has guided many executives through major corporate transitions, working through succession planning, transformational corporate cultural creation, role clarification, strategic planning and positioning. Mazza is a member of the International Consultants Odyssey Transformational Group, and in 2012 she introduced enSpirit LLC to the international coaching arena.

 

Professional Development and Career Advancement

Presenter – Lesli C. Myers-Small, Ed.D.

Workshop – Life’s Leadership Lessons

New York State Assistant Commissioner of Education Dr. Lesli C. Myers-Small has dedicated her life to the development and implementation of high-quality education. Myers-Small received her bachelor’s in psychology and her master’s in counseling and human development from the University of Rochester. She continued her educational journey with a second master’s degree in urban educational administration and a Doctor of Education in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College. Myers-Small was the first African American president of the New York State School Counselor Association. She testified before Congress, resulting in a spending bill for Fiscal Year 2008 that included the largest increase (77.5 percent) ever to the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program. Her presentation style is humorous, straightforward and sincere, and she encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to creatively use their abilities and talents to serve others.

 

Presenter – Win Min Thant

Workshop – Engaging and Empowering Women of Color in 21^st-Century Workplace

Win Min Thant was born and raised in Burma and came to the U.S. in 2007. She found new roots in Buffalo through her grassroots work with local organizations and public schools. A true believer in equity and democracy, Thant strives to empower marginalized and disadvantaged youth through education. She coordinated education programs at the CAC (the Buffalo State College Community Academic Center); currently, she manages and leads the City Year AmeriCorps Impact team at the West Buffalo Charter School. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with a bachelor’s in environmental studies, and from Buffalo State College with a master’s in multicultural education. She serves on the Community Advisory Panel of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Advisory Board of the Anne Frank Project, and the Board of Directors of Journey’s End Refugee Services. In her free time, Thant seeks spirituality through nature and mindfulness practice.

 

Presenter – Carlette Bradley

Workshop – Discover Your Purpose and then Use Your Power To Reach Your Potential!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenter – Sharitta Gross

Workshop – The Path Less Traveled

Dr. Sharitta F. Gross has worked in the field of education and career development for the past 15 years. Currently, she is vice-chair of the Cheryl Speranza Leadership Institute. She worked at Rochester Institute of Technology for 12 years in its Office of Career Development and Cooperative Education and the Multicultural Center for Academic Success. As an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College, she taught developmental reading and writing courses. Gross has also coordinated and facilitated career development workshops in Rochester and the surrounding communities. She believes in the spirit of servanthood and has volunteered with such organizations as the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation and YWCA. Gross received her bachelor’s degree in English from University at Albany, her master’s in liberal arts from SUNY Brockport, an advanced certificate in project management from RIT and her doctorate in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College.