November 5-6 2020
Distinguished Speakers
DEI Lightning Round
Worldwide Persepctives From The Field
Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - 1:20 pm to 2:20 pm
Session #102
Karen Batchelor
Karen Batchelor is a native Detroiter and Regent of the Louisa St. Clair Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, better known as "DAR". Karen began researching her family history in 1976 and soon discovered a 4th great grandfather, William Hood of Pennsylvania, who fought as a patriot in the American Revolution. As a result of this discovery, Karen joined DAR in 1977 as the first known Black woman to apply for and be admitted to membership. Currently, she also serves as a DAR Vice Chair of Lineage Research with a focus on African American lineage. Karen's journey to DAR has been reported in dozens of news stories around the world, including the front page of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and appearances on Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News just this past July. She is even a final Jeopardy question. Although Karen is a passionate genealogist, she is also a licensed attorney. During her legal career, she practiced corporate law in Metro Detroit and later served as a lobbyist for MichCon, Comerica, and the Detroit Regional Chamber. Karen is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Amerisure Insurance Company, where she serves on the Governance and Audit companies. Karen loves being hot on the trail of the long dead, but not forgotten. She is descended from Puritans and patriots, enslaved and slaveowners, and even a colonial New England witch or two. She holds memberships in: • Women Descendants of Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company • The Winthrop Society • National Society, New England Women • National Society, Daughters of Colonial Wars and • Associated Daughters of Early American Witches Karen has an adult son and two young grandchildren. She lives in Downtown Detroit. |
Naftal Mwangi Kiambo
Mombasa, Kenya Naftal Mwangi Kiambo was born in Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. He attended the University of Nairobi, where he pursued courses in business management. He is a business person, married, and living with his family in Mombasa. He works in the real estate industry, focusing on property management and consulting. In addition, Naftal oversees small construction projects for low-income earners in Mombasa. Naftal's small construction projects include one-story attached homes to support young people who are starting out in life and also young families with one or two children. It has enabled them to live with decency and comfort. |
Jack Melvin, AIA
Architect/ Missionary in Honduras Jack first visited Honduras in 2010 to provide architectural and construction consultation to the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras. Shortly afterward, he was approved as a full-time missionary by SAMS-USA. He now lives in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Previously, he worked for Gund Partnership, ADD Inc, and William Rawn Associates, all award-winning architectural firms in the Boston area. Since 2012, he has served as Principal Architect for the diocese of Honduras. During this time, he has designed churches, schools, athletic fields, and retreat centers. He also managed construction projects. His concern for the poor led him to the formation of The Ministry of Presence, which provides scholarships for poor children living in remote, rural areas. In Honduras, 65% of the population live below the poverty level. The ministry helps children from elementary school to college or technical school. With advanced professional skills, the child can earn a substantially higher income than his parents. Thus the entire family can be pulled out of poverty. The Ministry of Presence also serves the needs of the family, providing pastoral care, medical assistance, and emergency aid. But most importantly, it creates long-lasting relationships. |
Enna Jimenez
Enna Jimenez is a senior IT and Business Professional with expertise in Quality Assurance Management and Team Restructuring and Transformation. Currently, Enna is the Head of the Quality Assurance team at IDEMIA, an augmented identity security organization. She has a huge passion for Diversity and Inclusion, talent engagement, and community organizations and hopes to share her expertise with corporate boards in the future. Dr. Lynn Wooten, President of Simmons University, appointed Enna as the Presidential Adviser for Alumni Engagement. In addition, Enna has joined the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Advisory Board. Most recently, the Multicultural Symposium Series Black History Empowerment Recognition Breakfast recognized Enna as one of the Black and Brown Innovators of Action Honorees in March 2020. The National Diversity Council selected Enna as one of the 2019 National Latino Leader Award winners, and she received a Citation from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on Leadership and Excellence in 2019. Enna is the Immediate Past President of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Boston Chapter, a nationally recognized Latino organization. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker appointed Enna to the Latino Advisory Commission for the State and the Commonwealth Corporation Board of Directors. She also serves on the Commonwealth Corporation Foundation Board. Enna is on the Beaver Country Day School Board of Trustee and was on the Simmons University Presidential Search Committee 2019. Enna became a Certified SAFe 4 Practitioner (SP) from Scaled Agile Inc. in 2019. In 2016, Enna completed her term as Simmons College Board of Trustee and a 3-year term as President of Simmons College Alumnae Association Executive Board. She is a 2012 graduate from The Partnership Fellows Leadership program and is a Certified Software Testing Professional from the International Institute for Software Testing. Enna earned her Bachelor of Science from Simmons College as a double major in Computer Science and Spanish and a Certificate from the Simmons Graduate School of Management Executive Leadership Program. |
Dr. Carla Carten
Dr. Carla Carten is the Executive Director, of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy (DE&I) for the Mass General Brigham DE&I Office. In this role, Dr. Carten is responsible for assisting with the implementation of MGB's four-part system-wide strategy that focuses on organization equity. Prior to joining Mass General Brigham, she served as the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UMass Medical School and Chief Diversity Officer, UMass Memorial Health Care System. She worked throughout the academic health science center to create a diversity and inclusion strategy that aligned with the mission, vision, and strategies of both systems. Dr. Carten has over twenty-five years of experience in the fields of strategic planning, diversity & inclusion, health equity, and change management. She is recognized for her success in creating cross-cultural collaborative partnerships throughout and among domestic and international organizations. Her work also includes co-launching the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Cleveland Clinic, as well as directing the Diversity Management master's degree program and establishing the Center for Health Equity at Cleveland State University. Dr. Carten holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development and Analysis from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. |