NATIONALLY RENOWNED SPEAKERS TO KEYNOTE 2023 DEI SUMMIT

Dr.

Shirley Davis and Miguel Joey Aviles have been tapped to serve as keynote speakers for the GTP’s 2023 DEI Summit coming up on Aug. 31 at Prairie Band Casino. Davis has worked in more than 30 countries across five continents and delivers more than 80 speeches a year, as she continues to consult, coach, and present to leaders at all levels of organizations, in a number of industries. Davis is the former Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Workplace Strategies for the Society for Human Resource Management. She has also been a featured expert for NBC’s The Today Show, USA Today, National Public Radio, The Wall Street Journal, Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, The Washington Post, and Inclusion Magazine. Also a best-selling author, Davis has earned the highest designation in the speaking industry and ranks among the top 15% of speakers worldwide. She has been recognized by multiple organizations as a leading voice for racial equity and diversity. Aviles, meanwhile, is the Founder and Chief Belonging Officer of MJA & CO LLC, a minority-owned consulting firm helping leaders leverage Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as a catalyst to increase engagement, innovation, and retention. Aviles also served as the U.S. Coast Guard’s first civilian Chief of Diversity and Inclusion. A TEDx speaker who has been featured by the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, Telemundo, the Change Management Conference, the Human Capital Institute, and others, Aviles is a DEI thought leader with more than 15 years of experience serving clients like Dell Technologies, Ferrara, University of Phoenix, Highmark Health, Peace Corps, FDIC, FDA, NIH, Department of Defense, Department of Interior, Department of Homeland Security, and more. Aviles is a graduate of the Yale School of Management, where he earned his Fostering Inclusion and Diversity Certificate, and a Professional Diversity Coach certified by the Coach Diversity Institute.

2023 Lgt Graduation

Leadership Greater Topeka held a successful gala and graduation celebration on May 4 at downtown’s Townsite Avenue Ballroom, with a fun “May the fourth be with you” theme. With 40 participants, 2023’s LGT cohort was the largest class in program history! The following three individuals were chosen to represent their class on the Leadership Greater Topeka Advisory Council: Renee Franklin, Pre-production Quality Control Specialist, Southwest Publishing and Mailing; Karina Dixon, Human Resources Manager, KBS Constructors; and Adrian Revels, Production Associate, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant. LGT also celebrated the following gala awardees: