MEET THE SPEAKERS
A Virtual Interactive Summit 
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE US
The Voices of Youth and Wisdom
In A Divided America  
Friday, February 3, 2023
​FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
​4pm GMT  •  11am EST  • 10am CST •  9am MST • 8am PST
Black History IS American History


KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PANEL MODERATOR
KEITH WYCHE
​United States

Keith Wyche is a change management leader with an exceptional record of turning around underperforming operations and managing industries undergoing rapid technological or competitive change. He excels at talent development and has a consistent record of growing revenue and expanding margins as President of Pitney Bowes, Cub Foods, and ACME Markets, and was recently named to the Board of Directors for Brinks US.

Currently, Keith is the Vice President, Community Engagement and Support at Walmart. In this role, Keith is responsible for creating Walmart’s Strategy for partnering with Community Leaders, Elected Officials, and local Businesses in the major metropolitan areas where they do business. Prior to this role, Keith was responsible for operating Walmart stores in New York with over $9B in revenue and 30,000 associates.

Keith holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Cleveland State University and an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College. He is a frequent public speaker and author of “Good Is Not Enough: And Other Unwritten Rules for Minority Professionals” and “Corner Office Rules: The 10 Realities of Executive Life.” His latest book, “Diversity Is Not Enough: A Roadmap to Recruit, Develop, and Promote Black Leaders in America” was released in September 2021, and nominated for a 2022 NAACP Image Award, as an Outstanding Literary Work” as was his book “Good Is Not Enough” in 2009.


​DISTINGUISHED PANEL

SANDY HARRIS
​United States

Sandy Johnson Harris serves as the Vice President of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity (EI&D) for MedStar Health. In this role, Harris is responsible for implementing a comprehensive EI&D strategy, focusing on the multidimensional perspectives of associates across the system, addressing health disparities and inequities, and furthering MedStar Health’s mission to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. 

Harris joined MedStar Health with more than 25 years of 
experience leading global EI&D efforts, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Cook Ross, Inc., an internationally recognized consulting firm specializing in EI&D, unconscious bias, leadership training, and change management. Prior to her role at Cook Ross, she held progressive leadership roles at Sodexo, including Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion, and Vice President, Operations & Strategy Diversity & Inclusion. She also served in a variety of diversity and inclusion leadership positions at Medtronic, a global medical technology company. 

Harris has headed her own diversity consulting practice and served as the Global Diversity Center of Excellence Vice President at Thomson Corporation. Before this, she held leadership and management roles at national and global organizations, including General Mills, Cargill, Wilson Learning, Wang Laboratories, and Xerox Corporation. 

Throughout her career, Harris has served on several steering committees and advisory boards focused on EI&D. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in economics. 

AYO BARLEY
​United Kingdom

*Please note in respect to our Distinguished Speakers from the United Kingdom, some of the words spelled here are the correct spelling for those countries in the UK.

Ayo Barley is the Founder and Managing Director of Bakare Barley Ltd, a Liverpool (United Kingdom) based consultancy that works with organisations and underrepresented groups to influence strategy, policy, and practice relating to advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

Ayo has an academic background in Social Policy. She has worked with underrepresented people in community and corporate settings, including science and engineering, the Voluntary Sector, Higher Education, the National Health Service (NHS), and social care to bring about visible culture change.

Ayo has complementary business development skills, including improving financial performance through robust business strategies and income generation, and approaches EDI from a social justice, business performance, and compliance lens. 

Ayo is an Independent Advisor to the National UK Charity, Citizens Advice.

REV. TRACEY GIBSON
United States

 Tracey Gibson is the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Andersen Corporation. Tracey joined Andersen in November of 2019 and brings a solid background in Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Global Inclusion & Diversity, and Operations. She is a strong visionary and insightful leader who connects people, process, and technology to transform cultures, build capabilities, and delivers results. Prior to Andersen, she served the state of Minnesota as the Statewide Director of Recruitment, Retention, Affirmative Action, and Inclusion. Tracey spent 30 years with Cargill, Incorporated in finance, human resources, diversity & inclusion, and global community involvement. 

Tracey’s community engagement runs deep. She is the Pastor of St. Peters AME Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She supports the needs of the community in which the church is located. Tracey is also a Lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, whose principles are centered on public service.

Tracey serves on several boards, including School Readiness Learning Academy, the Board of Trustees at Luther Seminary, and The Minnesota Business Coalition on Racial Equity. 
Previous board positions included the Executive Advisory Board for the School of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University and the National Advisory Board for Science and Engineering Alliance. Passionate about empowering women, she served on the non-profit board, Women of Hope, Board chair for Richard Allen Math and Science Academy, The Conference Board – Council of Global Diversity & Inclusion, Executive Network- Council of Global Diversity & Inclusion. 

Tracey has been married to Daryl Gibson for almost 33 years, and they have two grown children, Theodore and James. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fort Valley State University, a Master’s of Divinity, and a Doctor of Biblical Preaching from Luther Seminary.  

Tracey lives by her motto and believes that she can do all things through Christ, who strengthens her.  

JABARI BUSH
​United States

Jabari Bush currently holds the position of Vice President and General Manager at Jasper Engineering in Minneapolis, MN. Jasper is one of the nation’s leading value-added distributors providing process equipment and instrumentation to a variety of industries across the upper Midwest. 

Previously Jabari served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Jasper. Prior to this role, Jabari worked with EagleBurgmann Mechanical Seals, where he was awarded Top Seller and Sales MVP. Additionally, Jabari led the company’s national Distribution Program. Prior to these assignments, Jabari held multiple Technical Sales and Sales leadership roles and currently participates in a special leadership development program that provides exposure for up-and-coming business professionals to senior-level executives throughout the Twin Cities Metro.

Jabari is from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent much of his youth in a predominantly white community. He also feels that his parents provided him with many rich and powerful lessons early in his life that have helped him with awareness and understanding of the dynamics and impacts of race.

Jabari attended North Carolina A&T University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is married and the proud father of a young daughter. He and his family enjoy boating, sledding, ice-fishing, live sporting events, bowling, and exploring the Twin Cities (Minnesota), where they reside. Jabari is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

BILL WELLS, JR
Lead Program & Panel Organizer
​United States

Bill Wells is President, W. Wells & Associates, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy development. In his work, Additionally, Bill provides customized human capital and talent acquisition & retention solutions as well. Bill also works closely with senior leaders providing coaching and guidance during culture change and transformation.
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Previously, Bill served as Vice President - Global Diversity/Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) for Traveler's Insurance. Earlier in his career, Bill held a variety of executive and general management level positions in both the telecommunications industry, including leadership roles in Human Resources, Information Technologies, Marketing, Operations, Strategic Planning, and Business Development.

Bill holds an MBA degree with a major in Marketing, a graduate certificate in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Psychology major. Bill is a life member of the National Black MBA Association, including former Chairman, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Also, Bill is married, has two sons, is a freelance writer, avid music-lover, jazz enthusiast, and enjoys golf.

Friday February 3, 2023
​FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
​4pm GMT  •  11am EST  • 10am CST •  9am MST • 8am PST