11:00 - Registration check-in through security
11:30 - Lunch (included in registration) 12:00 - Welcome and opening remarks 12:15 - Keynote: "Disability, Everyone, Intersectionality (DEI) and Me" - Wesley Hamilton 1:15 - Break 1:30 - "You Can Get with This and You Can Get with That" - Dionne King |
2:30 - Break
2:45 - "Gaining Leadership Momentum to Ensure Sustainability" - James Cheng 3:45 - Break 4:00 - Keynote: "Finding the Funny in Everyday Life" - Karen Mills 5:30 - Networking Social at KCMBA Skyline Patio |
7:00 - Check-in through security
7:30 - Breakfast (included in registration) 8:00 - Welcome and opening remarks 8:15 - Keynote: "Intersectionality and Mental Health: The Power of Speaking Your Truth" - Dior Vargas 9:15 - "Finding Purpose at the Intersection of Becoming & Belonging: A Personal Journey" - David Moore |
10:15 - Break
10:30 - "Benefits of Elevating Business/Employee Resource Group Intersectionality" - ERG Consortium Panel (Hoang-Anh Tran, Olivia Law-DelRosso, David Moore, Silas Dulan III) 11:30 - Lunch Buffet (included in registration) 12:00 - Keynote: "Micro-Behaviors: Understanding, Harnessing and Leveraging the Power of the Unconscious Mind" - Michael Murray |
In this transformative keynote, Wesley Hamilton will take the audience on journey into the heart of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), through a unique lens - that of disability and intersectionality.
- We will explore the multilayered nature of identity and examine how the intersections of disability with other aspects of diversity, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, can shape individual and collective experiences. - He will discuss how to create inclusive spaces that welcome everyone's unique identities and experiences, particularly those living with disabilities. - And navigate through the challenges and triumphs, unravel biases, and uncover ways to foster empathy and understanding in our increasingly diverse society. - Expect to be challenged, enlightened, and inspired to rethink the way you perceive DEI. This keynote isn't just about understanding diversity—it's about embracing it, celebrating it, and harnessing its power to create a world where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. Join us as we delve into the intersectionality of disability and DEI, and how it impacts us all. |
In this presentation, James Cheng will explore:
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“Ending our first day with amazing laugher”
As an inspirational speaker, Karen Mills has been the keynote speaker at survivor events, fundraisers, and sports banquets and she has given commencement addresses. Karen has also been a speaker for TEDx events. Whether she is touring theaters with her comedy show or speaking at conferences, Karen Mills finds the funny in everyday life. That didn’t change when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Karen was determined to take on the disease with hope and humor. Now cancer free, she has been hailed for her ability to bring humor to difficult topics as she recently did when she spoke at the National Alliance for Ovarian Cancer in Washington, D.C |
Wesley Hamilton
ADA & DEI Consultant; Inclusive Training Specialist and Founder of Disabled But Not Really Wesley Hamilton
Wesley Hamilton was born and raised on the east side of Kansas City, Mo., where it was difficult for a young African American male to find opportunity outside of the streets. By the age of 16, he became too much for his mother to handle (which was a common lifestyle for kids in his neighborhood) and moved out to be on his own. By the age of 22, he became a father to his daughter, Nevaeh. Two years later, at only 5-foot-4 and 230-pounds, Wes was non-athletic and vastly overweight as a single father, working full time at an auto finance company and had just won sole custody of his then 2-year-old daughter. But only 5 days after his 24th birthday (January of 2012), everything about Wes’s life changed dramatically. As he was walking back to his car, Wes was shot multiple times, with one bullet slicing through his chest and fracturing a rib. The other entered his abdomen, partially severing his spine and paralyzing him below the waist. The shooter was a guy he’d never met. Wes spent the next three years in recovery, which also included two of those years fighting the severe emotional depression that arose from his belief that his life would forever be bedeviled by medications, surgeries and limitations. But for the overwhelming love he had for his daughter, Wes knew he had to set an example for Nevaeh. He started down a path of taking ownership back in his life. He started a fitness and nutrition regiment, which was completely foreign to him – as he never ate healthy a day in his life, nor had any experience exercising. Wes learned everything he could about nutrition and started cooking (and now is known for his culinary skills). The fitness side of everything also took off, and in the first year lead him to lose 100 pounds – which is incredible, especially for a man who doesn’t have the use of his legs. He became a powerhouse of inspiration and felt his transformation had the potential to help others who are struggling similar battles, so he founded a non-profit called, Disabled But Not Really (DBNR). DBNR has helped so many individuals with disabilities (not just physical) to feel empowered and has helped so many lives overcome any mental limitations they may have – which is the driving force of the organization. The passion Wes has for DBNR is passion for DBNR is evident by its expansion. DBNR joins community events to raise awareness about the role of good mental and physical health in overcoming life’s challenges. It has expanded a scholarship program for disabled individuals who learn ways to improve their nutrition and fitness, as well as support the homeless population in his hometown of Kansas City providing dignity care packages, water, and food. Wes has been recognized many times for his entrepreneurial success, and has been honored with a number of philanthropic awards. Wes has also spent the past four years being recognized role-model in the Crossfit Community, winning a number of bodybuilding competitions, even being featured in Men’s Health Magazine climbing a rope with his wheelchair. He has had the opportunity to speak to many community groups, schools, universities, organizations and associations sharing his story and inspiring so many lives. He has a stack of hero letters from all ages thanking him for sharing his story. Wes transformed yet again when working with the Fab Five on Season 4 of the Netflix hit show, Queer Eye, who taught him how to be true to himself, leaving him humbled by the experience. Wes believes that the highest human act is to inspire – and knows that is his purpose in life. CEO of DMK Consults
dionne king
Dionne M. King leads an award-winning executive leadership development firm. Dionne uses business and change management strategies to grow more inclusive cultures. Dionne is versed in race relations, strategic inclusion initiatives, leadership development and mediation. Over the years, Dionne’s expertise has been sought out by an impressive list of companies and firms across the nation. Her work has influenced the policies, personnel development, business operations and community relations practices for the many organizations served. Dionne is a featured keynote speaker and strategist at national conferences, universities, law and engineering firms, police departments, financial institutions, federal programs, town hall meetings, non-profit businesses and religious organizations. In addition, Dionne is an approved mediator who authors inclusive mediation curriculum for colleges and provides expert commentary on television, radio and magazines. It's important to live, work and serve in the community in meaningful ways. Ms. King is an activist for homeless mothers and children in her community and was recognized by the Ford Motor Company with the Unsung Hero Award for her community service in Ghana, Dominican Republic, England and the United States. In her professional life, she enjoys working with people who are champions of positive change. In her personal life, Dionne is a proud and active mommy. James Cheng
Global Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, HR James Cheng
James Cheng is the Global Senior Director and Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of Zimmer Biomet. He is responsible for the strategy, development, and growth of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Zimmer Biomet and to drive positive impact for the 20,000+ team members in 25+ that services 100+ countries across the globe. Prior to Zimmer Biomet, was the Global Director of Inclusion & Diversity and Talent Acquisition at Gilead Sciences Inc. and formally HR Director of Global Inclusion & Diversity COE Business Resource Groups and Business Development at Cargill Inc. He serves on the Board of Directors for The Asian American Dream and NAAAP New York. He also serves as an advisor to the Board of Directors for NAAAP Minnesota. The recipient of the Top Healthcare Diversity Officers in 2022 and Top 100 Diversity Officers in 2021 by the National Diversity Council, Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Awardee by the Asian American Business Development Center in 2018. |
Karen Mills
Stand Up Comic and Inspirational Speaker Karen Mills
Karen Mills has been in the humor business for over 25 years. As a funny stand up comic, Karen has toured clubs, colleges and theaters across the country and she can be heard regularly on Sirius / XM Laugh USA and Blue Collar Radio. As an inspirational speaker, Karen Mills has been the keynote speaker at survivor events, fundraisers, and sports banquets and she has given commencement addresses. Karen has also been a speaker for TEDx events. Whether she is touring theaters with her comedy show or speaking at conferences, Karen Mills finds the funny in everyday life. That didn’t change when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Karen was determined to take on the disease with hope and humor. Now cancer free, she has been hailed for her ability to bring humor to difficult topics as she recently did when she spoke at the National Alliance for Ovarian Cancer in Washington, D.C. Karen Mills has faced every challenge with determination. For instance, she stands at 5’2” and was told more than once that she was too small to play basketball. Not only did she play, in 1981 she led the nation in assists and became the first, Division 1 first team All-American in UT- Chattanooga’s history. She was the first UTC athlete to earn that distinction in any sport, male or female. Her #12 uniform was retired and Karen became the first female inducted into UTC’s basketball Hall of Fame. Networking Social at KCMBA Skyline Patio
Networking social immediately after closing
We're excited to partner with the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association for a fun Networking Social on their beautiful Skyline Patio immediately following from 5:30 - 6:45 pm.
Thank you KCMBA for sponsoring this event!David Moore
Senior Director of Programs David moore
David Moore is the Senior Director of Programs for NAAAP, The National Association of Asian American Professionals. He is also a Production Designer at Hallmark Cards and has been with the company for 22 years, where he has held various positions at the Kansas City-based greeting card company, including Production Artist, Process Artist, and Multimedia Designer. David is involved with several Employee Resource Groups at Hallmark and was the 2015 and 2018 Chair of AARCH, Asian American Resource Community at Hallmark. David is also a member of Hallmark's Cultural Sensitivity Consultants, a team brought together to thoroughly consider diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the business and build a culture of inclusion for employees and consumers. Before Hallmark, he was Operations Manager for Vanguard Airlines Reservations Center and served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. In addition to his duties at NAAAP National, David serves as Director of Marketing and Communications for NAAAP Kansas City and was the Program Director for the 2019 Leadership Convention in Kansas City, MO. David is also a founding member and past National Director of NAAAP Pride, a national program for the Asian American LGBTQ+ community, and is co-host of the Pride Talk podcast. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he has lived in various countries, including Spain and Germany. David loves to travel and is obsessed with live theatre. He recently returned to school to study his first passion for fashion design and presented his debut collection at Kansas City Fashion Week's 2022 Spring/Summer Runway Show. |
Dior Vargas
Mental Health Activist Dior Vargas
Dior Vargas, MPH, is a mental health activist with over ten years of experience in advocacy. She works with universities and corporations to discuss self-care advocacy, wellness accessibility, and diversity within mental health. She is the creator of the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project, a response to the invisibility of BIPOC in the media representation of mental illness. She is also the editor of The Color of My Mind, a book based on the photo project. Dior has received numerous awards, including the White House Champion of Change for Disability Advocacy Across Generations under the Obama Administration. Dior delivers speaking engagements across the country, and her work and insight have been covered in media outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, and NBC News Latino. Dior has a BA in the Study of Women and Gender from Smith College and an MPH from New York University. She was born and raised in New York City and still lives there. |
Michael Murray
Disability Inclusion Leader/Consultant michael murray
Michael Murray’s lifelong drive for inclusion is fueled by his experience as a person with a learning disability and ADHD. Michael has a long history of fighting for full inclusion. Michael was the Chief Relationship Officer for GT Independence, a 400-million-dollar company supporting people with disabilities in the community. In his role, Michael managed business development, government relations, marketing, innovation and corporate social responsibility. Michael was also the Director of the Employer Policy at the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Michael was also pivotal in the creation and implementation of increased regulations under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring federal contractors to engage in affirmative action. Michael’s tenure in the federal Government also included serving as the Deputy Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In this role, he drove highly successful government-wide workforce initiatives with various diverse communities. Michael was responsible for steering and designing the government-wide policies and programs of 56 federal agencies throughout the country to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities. By fostering teamwork and collaboration, Michael led the federal government to successfully hire 100,000 people with disabilities over five years. Michael was also pivotal in the creation and implementation of increased regulations under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring the Federal government to be a model employer of people with disabilities. Before joining OPM, Michael was the Chief Operating Officer for the American Association of People with Disabilities, supporting private sector employers in creating innovative and high-performing teams. On the state level, Michael advocated for the rights of people with disabilities as the executive director of the North Carolina Disability Action Network. His vision for the organization and strength as a grassroots organizer amplified the voice of people with disabilities at the North Carolina General Assembly, producing positive systemic change. Michael also led efforts at Disability Rights N.C., a local center for independent living and as vice-chair of the North Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council. At the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he and his colleagues established Beyond Academics, now our nation’s largest post-secondary education program for people with intellectual disabilities. Michael is fluent in American Sign Language and holds a Bachelor of Science in special education. Michael is a proud husband and has two amazing kids, Isaac and Ellie. |
Hoang-Anh Tran
UMB Bank |
Silas Dulan
Black & Veatch |
Olivia Law-delRosso
Kansas State University |
David Moore
NAAAP |
hoang-anh tran
Chief of Staff- Administrative Group, UMB Financial Corporation - MODERATOR Hoang-Anh.Tran@umb.com Hoang-Anh L. Tran (she/her) is responsible for project management supporting the successful integration of strategic organizational initiatives, processes, and communication strategies throughout UMB's Administrative pillar in partnership with corporate administrative function leadership. Prior to her arrival at UMB in 2015, Tran served as Assistant Chancellor and Chief of Staff at Syracuse University. She has over 15 years of experience in administration and academia, from theological education to legal education as well as Division I higher education, and previously worked at Syracuse University, Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, and Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. She has a bachelor's degree in arts and literature from Southern Methodist University, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. Tran currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Kansas City’s iconic Folly Theater, a senior advisor on the Board of Directors for the Kansas City chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals, and leads the Employee Resource Group cohort of the D&I Consortium of DEI professionals. |
silas dulan
Associate Vice President, Global Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Black & Veatch DulanSS@bv.com In March 2023, Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, announced Silas as Associate Vice President and the company’s Global Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). He works with company’s senior leaders to advance commitments for creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace and workforce. Previously, Silas served as the inaugural Director of DE&I at electric utility company Evergy where he developed and implemented the company’s DE&I strategy. During his tenure at Evergy he served as Sr. HR Business Partner for the Operations Department where he partnered with leaders to delivered people solutions. Subsequently, he worked within Power Marketing Department as a Trading Analyst where he bought, sold and traded power. Before joining Evergy, he served as an onsite Financial Business Manager, then University Recruiting Manager at engineering, procurement and construction company Kiewit; Director of Multicultural Affairs at the under-graduate campus & Director of Retention at the graduate school for Baker University; and he served within Supply Chain Management Department at Sprint (now T-Mobile). Silas earned his master’s of Science Degree in Management from Baker University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Psychology from Baker University where he was a scholar-athlete. He also earned a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. Active in his community, Silas sits on The Board of Trustees for Baker University. Silas’s board of director responsibilities are with the Urban League of Greater KC and with CEWD (Center for Energy Workforce Development) where he serves as Vice Chair and oversite of DE&I Initiatives. Additionally, he is also an executive member of the KACCTE (Kansas Advisory Committee for Careers and Technical Education). He is an advisory council member of the NUDC (National Utility Diversity Council) and alumni of Advance Kansas (Class XII) – a Wichita, KS based program focused on bringing equity, inclusion and diversity to the workplace. Silas resides in Lawrence, KS with his wife and three children. He coaches several of his children’s little league sports teams and he has been a certified high school football referee since 2013. |
olivia law-delrosso
Assistant Dean DEIB College of Business Kansas State University olivia@ksu.edu Dr. Olivia Law-Delrosso (she/they) is an expert in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging strategy. She is the Assistant Dean for DEIB for the K-State College of Business and owns a small consulting company, Building Belonging. Dr. Law-DelRosso is an innovative and dynamic DEIB leader with 19+ years of experience in diverse, homogenous, and global contexts. She has experience implementing strategies to build equity, inclusion, and belonging in organizations resulting in increased customer engagement, diverse representation, retention, and performance. er work is grounded in fostering spaces where all team members are part of the solution. She helps team members feel motivated to work towards building belonging for all and connecting their personal performance with their improved inclusive leadership skills. |
david moore
Senior Director of Programs Natl Association of Asian American Professionals; Hallmark David.Moore@naaap.org David Moore is the Senior Director of Programs for NAAAP, The National Association of Asian American Professionals. He is also a Production Designer at Hallmark Cards and has been with the company for 22 years, where he has held various positions at the Kansas City-based greeting card company, including Production Artist, Process Artist, and Multimedia Designer. David is involved with several Employee Resource Groups at Hallmark and was the 2015 and 2018 Chair of AARCH, Asian American Resource Community at Hallmark. David is also a member of Hallmark's Cultural Sensitivity Consultants, a team brought together to thoroughly consider diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the business and build a culture of inclusion for employees and consumers. Before Hallmark, he was Operations Manager for Vanguard Airlines Reservations Center and served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. In addition to his duties at NAAAP National, David serves as Director of Marketing and Communications for NAAAP Kansas City and was the Program Director for the 2019 Leadership Convention in Kansas City, MO. David is also a founding member and past National Director of NAAAP Pride, a national program for the Asian American LGBTQ+ community, and is co-host of the Pride Talk podcast. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he has lived in various countries, including Spain and Germany. David loves to travel and is obsessed with live theatre. He recently returned to school to study his first passion for fashion design and presented his debut collection at Kansas City Fashion Week's 2022 Spring/Summer Runway Show. |
The Inclusion Summit is hosted by
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City 1 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, Missouri 64108 Surface and covered parking available. Photo ID required for Security check-in, Virtual attendees will participate via Zoom |
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CONTACT USCenter for Disability Inclusion
139 South 44th St PO Box 23 Boystown, NE 68010 mwalls@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org Platinum Transparency Seal 2022 from Candid
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