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Bios:
Andrew Lee Dirks is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He attended Haven High School in Haven, Kansas, and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2008. He is now a leading realtor within the Michigan area.
Shireen was launched into the diversity and inclusion arena because of my own personal story of being a mother of a child who is deaf.
Shireen's passion to help my child led to more than 12 years of experience creating, accelerating, and delivering diversity, learning, and inclusion projects, programs, and relationships. The lived experience of launching and scaling organizations helped develop my strengths as an innovative and strategic executive.
Rubelyn Chu is the Co-Founder of Access2. She holds an MBA from Northwest
University and a Certificate of Business Consultation and Development from the University of WA, Foster School of Business. Rubelyn is part of the Alumni Advisory Board and Advisee in the Entrepreneurship Program at Northwest University and is a mentor to local high school and college students and in the local startup community. When she isn’t working, she can be found in the gym, going on road trips/traveling or with family and friends.
Deondre James, a veteran, Dre focuses on creating opportunity and disrupting
bias in the professional world by planning and creating unique platforms that help ensure equity for veterans and minorities in multiple spaces. During his spare time, Dre likes to spend time on road trips and family.
Jason Cavness is a retired US Army Officer who served for over 25 years, including 8 as an enlisted member. He has previous experience being a startup founder with another company he founded, MyUnfold. He is currently the Founder of CavnessHR, which delivers HR-based solutions to US companies with 49 or fewer through an HR platform along with an HR business partner. He also hosts, "The Jason Cavness Experience", where he talks to Small Business Owners, Founders, and other Interesting People. He has also taken on the role of Seattle City Leader for Bunker Labs, a national Non-Profit that helps to Inspire, Equip, and Connect the Military Community to Entrepreneurship. His personal motto is "Be Great Every Day". He does his best to add value, help solve problems daily, and to help others become better. Jason has a Master's in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and is SPHR certified.
Roy has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development, and strategic planning, having worked at Deloitte Consulting, Oakwood Healthcare (now Beaumont), Trott Law (formerly Trott & Trott), St. Joseph Mercy Health System, and Kerr Russell, PLC. He has been heavily involved regionally and nationally in the Legal Marketing Association as a board member, content expert, and presenter. He currently serves as treasurer for the Legal Marketing Association’s International Board of Directors. Roy was named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Unsung Legal Hero” in 2018. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Wabash College, and holds two masters degrees: an MA in theatre from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He is a graduate of Leadership Detroit and Leadership A2Y, was a governor-appointed member of the Michigan Council of Labor and Economic Growth, and was appointed to the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association Board of Governors in 2012. He served as an at-large member of LMA’s Midwest Regional Board, served on the advisory committee for Strategies Magazine, and was a member of the Social Media SIG steering group. He has been involved on the following nonprofit boards and committees: First Step, Michigan Quality Council, National MS Society, ASPCA, Wabash College Southeast Michigan Alumni Association, Penny Seats Theatre Company and the Spotlight Players. He currently sits on the boards of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, Royal Starr Film Festival, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, and encoremichigan.com. He is a published author with two books Reel Roy Reviews, Volumes 1 and 2.
Andrea Schotthoefer is the Vice President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. She is a graduate from Wayne State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a major in Public Relations. While earning her degree, Andrea worked at Greektown Casino as a Communications Coordinator. Shortly after graduating, she accepted a position as a Public Relations Specialist for Nedd Worldwide in Detroit. In 2004, Andrea joined the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator. She then left in 2007 to stay home with her three small children. Prior to rejoining the Foundation, she managed many special events for the private and nonprofit sectors. Andrea and her husband, Brian live with their three children, Olivia, Jackson, and Isabelle. Her interests include spending time with her family, baking, reading, and laughing. "I have the pleasure of working with a great group of people here at the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. Everyone at the Foundation is truly committed to helping others. I am proud to be part of the team!"
Nick Mattar is active in Michigan's digital marketing community, wearing many hats and constantly working to stay on top of new trends. He teaches digital marketing at the Wayne State Ilitch School of Business and is the director of marketing at Wayne State's Graduate School. Additionally, he is the founder and CEO of Digital Detroit, working with businesses to upskill their marketing teams. Nick is in the process of publishing his first textbook on content marketing, to be completed in 2022.
Tej Yale is the Founder/CEO of ThinkImpact Inc, which was founded in June 2017 and ThinkHelping, a non-profit within ThinkImpact. ThinkImpact Inc. is based out of Rochester Hills, Michigan and works with organizations to help expand their digital footprint. In addition to helping companies expand their digital presence, ThinkImpact Inc. also provides Graphic Design, Website Development, Project Management/Coordination, Marketing Consulting, and Event Promotion.
Tej recently won the Young Alumni 10 within 10 Award from Oakland University, which recognizes business leaders that are making an impact in the local community. As a result of winning this award, it has opened doors for the company, such as a partnership with the local mayor’s office, being a keynote speaker at the Michigan Fashion Summit – and also getting featured in the local press.
The company serves a wide array of clients in various industries – Tech, Diversity/Inclusion, 3D printing, Medical Technology, Property Management, AGV/Robotics, Staffing/Recruiting, Renewable Energy.
ThinkHelping works with local nonprofits providing marketing-related services but at a much cost effective rate, and really prides itself on making an impact in the community. In the short time that this non-profit was found, ThinkHelping has secured clients in the Michigan area.
Loren "LOJO" Hicks is a clothing designer & the Founder of Michigan Fashion Week, Loren has an extensive fashion background that ranges from fashion publications to modeling and styling for top photographers across the world! Born and raised in the Detroit area, LOJO is known for her keen eye of fashion and her love for making all her clients look good. Although LOJO holds a bachelors degree in Statistics, from Grand Valley State University, she has chosen to make fashion design her main focus in life. LOJO has had extensive training in sewing and designing, and although she’s young, her desire is to one day pass what she has learned to the next generation. Currently based out of Metro-Detroit, MI, LOJO has been busy working with her clients as well as many projects, including Michigan Fashion Week. LOJO, an award winning businesswoman and fashion designer, which includes CRAIN's Detroit Business, Michigan Chronicle as well as her designs featured at the Detroit Institutes of Arts. LOJO also has the passion to help everybody succeed. If you have a dream of owning your own boutique, start a fashion styling business, be a fashion designers, she has studied the business had has learned the keys and component for a successful organization. LOJO has been seen on Bravo's Say Yes to The Dress. Loren is a wife, and mother of two young girls.
Dr. Sheri L. Anderson has been working in the field of special education for almost 30 years. She currently serves as the Director of SPEDACTS (a non-profit special education ooperative.) She received her BA degree in Elementary Education from Southern University, Master’s degree from The Ohio State University in Educational Services and Research with an emphasis in special education, and doctorate from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN in Educational Studies (Special Education.) Dr. Anderson has ten years of teaching and leadership experience in high poverty urban schools. She has served as a Director of Special Education and a university professor. Dr. Anderson has written research articles, book chapters, and presented at local, state, and national conferences in the area of special education.
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