Making a difference in local communities.

Cigna HealthcareSM, proudly supports the NFBPA 2023 Emerge Summer Conference

on Equity and Connectivity, its South Florida Chapter and their commitment to develop, cultivate and foster Black professionals in the field of public administration.

food, shelter, and case management services for low income individuals and families within the underserved community in Miami-Dade County. As a native of Miami, Florida, she loves the beach, movies, and all sports; is an avid golfer, traveler, and swimmer. She has a younger brother who is a practicing attorney; and her parents, Michel and Marcelle Sainvil reside in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Imran Siddiqui, JD

Imran Siddiqui, JD, is a dynamic leader with a rich and proven track record in law, civic engagement, higher education, and public service. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Tech Equity Miami, he leads a $100 million funding consortium dedicated to promoting equity in the tech industry. Previously, Imran served as the Associate Vice President at Broward College, where he successfully built and launched BCEx, an award-winning accelerator and entrepreneurship center. Prior to his work in higher education, Imran dedicated over a decade to grassroots civic engagement, contributing as a founding team member of multiple startups. He also spent two impactful years as a non-residential fellow at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. Imran’s personal mission is to empower and unite communities through service, foster understanding, and drive meaningful and lasting positive change. He generously volunteers as a Board Member and advisor to numerous organizations, including the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Florida Atlantic Research and Development Authority, and Leadership Florida. A passionate athlete and sports fan, Imran also devotes his time to nurturing the next generation of leaders as a coach with the Soccer Association of Boca Raton and Boca Raton Little League. Imran resides in Boca Raton with his amazing wife Dr. Abeer Aziz-Siddiqui and their four wonderful children.

Tamara Smith

Tamara Smith is an action-oriented visionary, leader and motivator. As Associate Vice President of Strategic Implementation for Health Equity & Community Engagement at Humana, Inc., Tamara leads, develops and oversees the implementation of enterprise strategies supporting the Health Equity Organization’s mission and strategic goals. She is a change-agent, responsible for building an innovative strategic framework designed to support all lines of business in achieving health equity priorities, effectively positioning health equity as a key culture and business driver across the Humana enterprise. Given the crucial role that external community engagement plays in advancing health equity, she also is a strategic thought leader, partnering with key internal and external stakeholders to implement community, diversity, health equity and inclusion strategies— positioning Humana as an industry leader in the broader healthcare community by driving health outcomes through high profile corporate, private and public partnerships. Prior to joining Humana, Tamara served as Vice President of Community Engagement & Social Determinants of Health Strategy, Sr. Director of Strategy, Business Performance & Compliance and as Director of Community Benefit at Novant Health. Throughout her tenure, Tamara has led the charge to focus on health equity for all, through defining and capturing impact through data analysis and creative storytelling. In addition to her success at Novant Health, Tamara has over 19 years of experience across multiple healthcare sectors, including public health, corporate health and higher education. Tamara is driven by her core belief in “the power of the person,” which is what drives her personal mission in life to empower each person to create a world where health equity is not simply something we discuss conceptually, but is a world our communities actually experience. She strives to exhibit and fulfill this passion through her leadership and involvement through her work and in the community. Tamara serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Ballet and served on the Board of the Center for Exceptional Children, the Renaissance West Community Initiatives Development Committee, as Vice Chair of the Winston Salem Urban League, Chair of Girls on the Run Triad, and member of the Institute for Dismantling Racism. She was named national Top 100 Under 50 by Diversity MBA Magazine, and selected for Leadership Winston Salem, Leadership Charlotte, was a Novant Health Leadership Academy Fellow. Tamara has also been selected on a number of occasions as a national speaker for National Health Summits, Healthcare and Diversity Conferences and the World Healthcare Congress. Tamara earned her Bachelor of Science in Health & Exercise Science from Wake Forest University and earned a Master of Science in Healthcare Management & Promotion from Nebraska Methodist College. She currently lives in Charlotte, N.C. and in her free time, she loves to travel and laugh with her husband and 2 sons, sharing the gift of new experiences and being a self-proclaimed foodie.

Thais R. Sullivan

Thais R. Sullivan joined Valley National Bank – Florida Division in September 2015, as the Vice President, Regional CRA/Commercial Lending Officer for the State of Florida. In December 2018 she received a promotion to First Vice President. In her role FVP/Regional CRA Officer she assisted Valley National Bank - Florida in achieving their CRA goals and the Bank receiving an overall “outstanding” rating. On April 21, 2021 Thais was promoted to Senior Vice President/National Director of Community Lending. This position will afford her the opportunity to focus on minority and women owned businesses in New York, New Jersey, Florida and AL in need of a trusted financial partner to assist them achieving their business goals. Thais graduated with honors in 1998, with a Bachelor of Business Degree from Barry University while working during the day, and attending school in the evenings. Thais has been in involved with the Palm Beach County Community for 30+ years, while working for various banking institutions. In 2013 Thais was recognized as one of the Most Influential & Prominent Black Women in Business in Palm Beach County by Legacy Palm Beach. As a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County in 2010, she continues to be involved with the Organization and Alumni. From 1979 to current Thais has been involved with the following organizations either through volunteering or as a Member of the Board: Neighborhood Lending Partners (NLP), SunFest of Palm Beach County, The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation, Paragon Florida, Urban League of Palm Beach County, The Anquan Bolding Foundation, The Black Chamber of Commerce, The Boys and Girls Club of Riviera Beach, The Business Loan Fund of Palm Beach County, Pompano Beach Loan Fund, LISC, Black Business Investment Corporation(BBIC), Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Collaborative, Community Reinvestment Group, Palm Beach County Finance Committee, The City of West Palm Beach, and the City of Riviera Beach. Thais enjoys reading the Bible and sharing what she has learned with others, along with traveling, and bowling with her husband (Kyle), Sons (Kyle & Brandon) and Mother (Liz).

Merdochey Taylor LaFrance

A native Miamian of Haitian descent, Merdochey Taylor LaFrance is the Director of Local Engagement for Verizon with responsibility for the Southeast and Southwest Florida markets. She leads the company’s external affairs across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier, and Lee counties. She’s is also an External Affairs Advisor for the startup, LawLynx, Inc. Merdochey remains connected to the South Florida community through her active involvement in the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, Leadership Florida, City of Miami Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP), Greater Broward County Chapter of The Links,

Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Economic Club of Miami, Women in Government Relations, and the National Black Professional Lobbyists Association.

Heidi J. Voorhees

Ms. Voorhees has more than 35 years’ experience in executive recruitment, general management consulting and local government administration and is the co-owner and President of GovHRUSA, and GovTemps USA, a temporary staffing business. GovHR has worked in 44 states conducting more than 1200 recruitment and selection processes. GovTempsUSA has provided temporary staffing services in 22 states, assisting hundreds of local governments with their interim and long-term staffing needs. Ms. Voorhees spent 19 years in local government including ten years as the Wilmette, Illinois Village Manager. Ms. Voorhees is a founding member of the Legacy Project, an organization in Illinois dedicated to the advancement of women in local government. She is a frequent speaker on current workforce issues and demographics at state and national conferences.

Donnell Williams

Mr. Williams is responsible for supervising business development and plan service to all Mission Square Retirement plan sponsors for the District of Columbia retirement plans. He is supported by a team of 5 Retirement Plans Specialists, an Administrative Assistant, a CFP and more than 60 Investor Services Representatives at ICMARC headquarters in Washington, DC. Retirement Plans Specialists provide on-site service and support for plan sponsors and their participants. Before joining ICMA-RC in September 2015, Mr. Williams was employed as a Team Leader of the Local DC retirement Team for Voya Financial Services for over a decade where he was responsible for client relations, employee education, and fiduciary oversight of retirement plans for the government of the District of Columbia. Previous to that he has worked extensively with Defined Benefit, 401(a), 457, 403(b), 401(k), and IRA plans as a Customer Service Supervisor for ING. Mr. Williams received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Auburn University, in Auburn Alabama. He is also a veteran of the US Air Force, servicing the Connecticut Air National Guard from 2000 – 2005. He currently hold numerous securities licenses.

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has appointed Cornell Wesley to serve as the new director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO). IEO is the principal economic development department for the city of Birmingham and the premier destination for small businesses. It is responsible for creating economic vitality through innovation and inclusive growth Wesley, a native of the Titusville neighborhood and graduate of A.H. Parker High School, previously served as the Economic Development Representative for Oklahoma and North Texas for the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. In that role, he managed more than $20 million in federal investment, yielding a $1.5 billion impact in private investment and creation of more than 4,000 jobs. “Cornell Wesley not only has a proven track record of growing business, he understands the needs of his hometown,” Mayor Woodfin said. “His love of community and his passion for economic development makes him the perfect fit for this role. He’s a proven connector who will make major strides for our community.” “As someone who is a native of Birmingham, I’m uniquely positioned to understand where both challenges and opportunities lie in growing our city. I’m eager to carry out the Woodfin administration’s pledge to stimulate both small business growth and economic opportunity throughout our city,” Wesley said. Wesley is Morehouse College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Wesley holds certifications in management, economic development and entrepreneurship from several universities and economic development institutions across the country. He also has been recognized as “Top 40 Under 40” by Oklahoma Magazine and Oklahoma Journal Record and is a past fellow of the Delta Entrepreneur Network.