Emcee

Lori Pinson

Meteorologist, Fox 2 News

Lori is an award-winning Meteorologist, working all over, including Philadelphia, DC, Lancaster, Cincinnati, even here in Detroit for the CBS program, First Forecast Mornings. She has both the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) and National Weather Association (NWA) seals of approval. Additionally, Lori was appointed to serve as a seal evaluator for the NWA, upholding the guidelines set for potential seal candidates.

Keynote Speaker

Huda Essa

TEDx Speaker, Author, Founder and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant , Culture Links LLC.

Huda Essa is a TEDx Speaker and Author who has positively influenced countless communities around the nation through her engaging and thought-provoking learning opportunities. She utilizes her extensive experience as a Cultural Proficiency Consultant, Author, former English Language Development Specialist, and Teacher to support organizations in successfully meeting their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Huda is the author of culturally authentic and responsive children’s books, Teach Us Your Name and Common Threads.

Moderator

Darlene King, CDP

Executive Director, Michigan Diversity Council

Darlene King began her career with the Michigan Diversity Council-MIDC, a division of the National Diversity Council, in 2015. As the executive director, her charge is working with corporations and organizations in developing diversity and inclusion initiatives, programs, processes, and procedures. She also oversees the growth of the council in the area of business development throughout the entire state of Michigan. Prior to her tenure with the MIDC, she held the role of director of events, consultant services, training, and development for all 34 school districts under the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency for over 10 years. Her territory covered implementation and execution of all workshops and conferences as well as maintaining CEU’s for teachers and administrators within Wayne County MI. She managed more than 60 consultants as well as county-wide, signature events such as the Teacher Job Fair, County K-12 Art Fair, and the Cultural Collaborative for Learning. Darlene was also an inaugural member of the Diversity Strategic Planning Committee, which rolled out a county-wide diversity plan for all districts. Darlene’s background is widespread. She spent six years as a national concert promoter, traveling around the world with some of today’s most popular artists in the industry. She has produced and promoted shows at every concert venue in Detroit and beyond. In 2008, she launched her consulting company, Life’s Journey Training and Consulting.  Competing in today's global market, Life’s Journey offers services in industries ranging from education to automotive, medical, non-profits, and manufacturing. Its area of expertise consists of diversity and inclusion, leadership development, marketing, and public relations. Life’s Journey has provided service deliverables to Wayne County Head Start Programs, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, The Order of the Fisherman, The Detroit Medical Center, Revival Home Health Care, RTM Music Group, Real Times Media, Stonecrest Behavioral Health, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Universal Studios, Detroit Community Schools, MASCO Corporation, Diversity Lansing and many more. Darlene is a native of Michigan and enjoys spending time with her family, nephews, and niece. She says her faith in God, family, passion for people, and her love of traveling and gardening are the drivers which keep her on a Life’s Journey. Darlene has a passion for people and earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing from Wayne State University in Detroit. She has been operating in this capacity as well as in education and organizational development for 25 years. Darlene earned her National Certification as a Certified Diversity and Inclusion Professional in 2018.

Panelists

Alysia Green

Diversity & Inclusion, Education & Multicultural Affairs, Auto Club Group AAA

Alysia Green is the Diversity & Inclusion, Education & Multicultural Affairs at Auto Club Group AAA. Previously, Green was the Executive Director for the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) in Farmington Hills, MI, where she served as Chief Executive Officer and a D&I resource for APACC’s members. In her highest role, she served as Director of Talent Development.

Jesse Venegas

Vice President, Ideal Group

Jesse Venegas is the Vice President of Ideal Group. Jesse has gubernatorial appointment to the Hispanic Latino Commission, Environmental Justice Work Group of 2017, and Community Advisory Group for the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Jesse serves as Chairmen at the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Facilities Chair for the Michigan Opera Theatre.

Portia L. Roberson, Esq.

Chief Executive Officer, Focus: HOPE

Portia Roberson has spent the past four years as Group Executive of the City of Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department. Prior to this position, she served as Corporation Counsel for the Law Department, White House Domestic Policy Council, and Director, Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison, under Eric Holder, Attorney General. Roberson has extensive volunteer experience throughout the Metro Detroit area, serving as a Board Member for Michigan Political History Society, Habitat for Humanity, ACLU and Delta Manor.

Varchasvi Shankar

President & CEO, V2Soft

Varchasvi Shankar, President & CEO of V2Soft, an award winning technology company. As an entrepreneur, Varchasvi offers more than 20 years of leadership, business strategy, operations, sales, marketing and innovation into building V2Soft. Varchasvi operates from the V2Soft Global Headquarters in Michigan, while managing centers in North America, Mexico, Italy, China, Germany and three centers in India.