Heidi Brockmann Demarest
Director, American Politics Program, US Military Academy, Department of Social Sciences Industry: Military
Heidi is currently teaching American Politics at West Point. She is interested in continuing to pursue a successful military career and learning as much as possible about how to leverage her experience into a meaningful and fulfilling leadership role in her organization. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and Government from Harvard University and her dissertation was entitled: "The Budget Paradox: Simultaneous Stability and Volatility in the Army's Budget".
Heidi Brockmann Demarest
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Marieli Colón-Padilla
Managing Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Industry: Communications, Marketing
As Managing Director, Marieli is accountable for developing the overall integrated marketing communications, member engagement strategy and integration of the transparency strategy for the Federal Employee Program (FEP), the largest nationwide carrier in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, OPM Multi-State Plan Program and Medicare. Marieli has more than a decade of expertise reaching Latino consumers through marketing efforts for the nonprofit sector, bilingual and monolingual education for Latinos on social and welfare issues, and bilingual media relations.
Marieli Colón-Padilla
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Kameka Dempsey
Founder & CEO, DK Leadership Strategies, LLC.
Strategic Advisor - Talent, BlackRock Industry: Consulting
Kameka is head of strategic design and facilitation for executive leaders at BlackRock and head of executive coaching in the Americas. She partners with business leaders to deliver their business and talent strategy and objectives through off-sites, team/individual development, and assessments. Kameka returned to the private sector from her appointment in the Senior Administration of Yale University where she was also on the teaching staff of the Yale School of Management.
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Maya Enista Smith
Executive Director, Born This Way Foundation Industry: Nonprofit
At Born This Way Foundation, led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, Maya helps foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. The mission of Born This Way Foundation to support the wellness of young people and empower them to create a kinder and braver world. Maya was awarded the competitive Prime Movers Fellowship of the Hunt Alternatives Fund. The Prime Movers Fellowship is a multi-year fellowship program for emerging and established social movement leaders working at the national level.
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Katherine G. Minarik
General Counsel - Americas, Dyson Industry: Legal
She is the author of Word Games: Language, Intent, and Gender Discrimination Law Under the New Court, 1 Harv. L. & Pol’y Rev. 267 (2007) and co-author of Direct and Cross-Examination of a Patent Damages Expert, PLI Patent Litigation 2011 (forthcoming Oct. 2011). Katherine received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif. During law school, Katherine launched the American Constitution Society’s national law student writing competition and co-founded the first reproductive rights law school clinic in the country.
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Melissa Fitzgerald
Director, Advancing Justice, Justice for Vets Industry: Nonprofit, Entertainment
Melissa Fitzgerald joined Justice For Vets, a division of National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) as its new Senior Director, she will be expanding her role at NADCP’s and leading the soon to be launched global initiative to lead justice reform called, Advancing Justice. She is best known as a dynamic actress, producer and social activist. Her acting career has included film, theater and television in New York and Los Angeles. She is best known for playing the role of Carol on NBC’s award-winning political drama The West Wing.
Melissa Fitzgerald
Cotrane Penn
Executive Director of Student Wellness and Academic Support, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Industry: Academia
Cotrane earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. Her studies and research focused on the achievement of African-American students and the influence of parental involvement on school outcomes. Cotrane is a recipient of the American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship Award and UC Berkeley’s Graduate Opportunity Fellowship. Following graduate school, she worked as a school psychologist in California and North Carolina.
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Sophia Lopez
Founder, Kaleido Industry: Technology
Sophia has an engineering degree from Harvard University, an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and has worked previously in strategy consulting, finance, consumer packaged good marketing, and in a variety of international marketing, technology and education roles in the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Sophia is the recipient of IBM's Software Top Gun Award, IBM's Hardware Top Gun Award, IBM's Global Services Top Gun Award, and GSS Top Award Sales Skills Performance (Distinction).
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Jessica Robinson
Ambassador, PurePoint International Industry: Cybersecurity
Jessica is the Founder and CEO of PurePoint International. She provides training for leaders on preventative crisis management strategy plans and recommendations, expert recommendations on security concerns, and she develops relationships with local and federal Law Enforcement and other corporate stakeholders to resolve security concerns and to increase financial goals. Ms. Robinson has served on the board, or committees, of numerous non-profit organizations including, Washington DC Police Foundation - Women’s Committee, National Black MBA Association - Philadelphia Chapter, Opportunities PA, and the International Organization of Black Security Executives – Student Education Committee.
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Dr. Melissa Simon
Founder and Director, Center for Health Equity Transformation, Northwestern University - The Feinberg School of Medicine Industry: Medical
She is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and the Director of Patient Navigation at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Having worked in many developing countries, she is an ardent advocate of partnering with her patients to achieve optimal health and believes in the power of culturally relevant and literacy appropriate behavioral health services interventions to improve health. Dr. Simon holds a strong research interest in leveraging research to empower, improve the health, and advocate for low income, medically underserved women across the lifespan.
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Amita N. Vyas
Associate Professor, Director of Maternal and Child Health, The George Washington University
Co-Founder, Global India Fund Industry: Academia, Nonprofit
Amita’s work focuses on women’s and adolescent’s reproductive health. Currently, Dr. Vyas is conducting research on teen pregnancy prevention, nutrition and physical activity, coping and risk behaviors among HIV positive urban youth, and health care access and behaviors among South Asians living in the Washington DC metropolitan area. In 2007, Dr. Vyas founded the Global India Fund, a non-profit organization committed to inspiring global philanthropy by providing secure and transparent giving options to individual and corporate donors.
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Kate Thornton Buzicky
Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Industry: Legal, Military
Prior to her current position at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, she deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 1st Cavalry Division headquarters. While in Baghdad, she worked as a legal advisor to the military intelligence, military police, and field artillery officers in her division. Her practice ranged from ensuring that all deliberate targeting of insurgent groups in the city of Baghdad complied with the law of armed conflict to providing legal advice on the safe and orderly release of the thousands of detainees held in US facilities. Kate received the Bronze Star Medal for her work in Baghdad.
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Elizabeth Young McNally
Partner, McKinsey & Company Industry: Consulting
Elizabeth Young McNally is a Partner at McKinsey & Company’s New York office, where she is also a member of the financial services practice. Previously, she spent eight years in the active duty Army. During that time, Liz served two tours in Iraq, including a year as the speechwriter for General David Petraeus, the commander of military forces in Iraq.
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Victoria Tung
Director, Government and Public Affairs, Texas Instruments Industry: Government, Technology
Victoria recently received the Leadership Education for Asian Pacific David Barclay Leadership Award. Victoria was listed as one of Capitol Hill’s top staffers in the National Journal’s “The Hill People” and received the Kellogg Health Scholars Minority Health Award. She has also been active in her community through her work and leadership with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association, Asian American Action Fund-Young Professionals Group, Everybody Wins Reading Program and the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum.
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