FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Allison Ebner

Allison has a passion for helping organizations create powerful people processes and building exceptional workplaces! Her background includes roles that encompass HR, recruitment and corporate branding including talent acquisition, workforce planning, employee engagement and labor trends and compliance. As President of The Employers Association of the NorthEast, she leads their team of HR and Learning & Development professionals as they deliver best practices around compliance, employee relations, effective employee engagement strategies and employee development initiatives. Allison is a current Board Member and Past President of the Human Resource Management Association of Western New England, a Board Member for the Massachusetts State Council of SHRM, Vice President of the Board for the Mason Wright Foundation, President of the Board for MassHire Springfield and the Chair of the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Legislative Steering Committee. She is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and she completed the Mini MBA Management Program with Bentley University.

David O’Brien

David’s Human Resources and Organizational Development consulting career spans 30 years and includes key leadership and P&L responsibility within a variety of industries including, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Financial Services. In his current role, David is responsible for providing Leadership and Team Effectiveness training, coaching and consulting services to organizations throughout the United States.

Prior to launching WorkChoice Solutions, LLC in 2000, David spent ten years with Lee Hecht Harrison, a global provider of business to business consulting services. In his role as Senior Vice President & General Manager, he was responsible for directing workforce management and executive development consulting initiatives at a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Before joining Lee Hecht Harrison, David spent five years with Oak Technologies, a regional provider of Human Resource consulting services. In his role as Managing Director, David was responsible for leading training and recruiting initiatives within the high technology manufacturing sector.
David’s strong commitment to community service has resulted in him receiving several awards including Employer of the Year and Business Leader of the Year for his volunteer work. Currently, he is actively involved in several community organizations. In addition to his undergraduate education in business administration, David has completed numerous professional development programs and certifications related to his profession. He is a frequent keynote speaker on the topic of leadership excellence and has lectured at a number of academic institutions including, UConn, University of Hartford, Quinnipiac University and the University of New Haven. His first book, The Navigator’s Handbook, 101 Leadership Lessons for Work & Life is available on-line and in bookstores nationwide. His second book, The Navigator’s Compass, 101 Steps Toward Leadership Excellence had a nationwide release in 2016 and is also available wherever books are sold. Additionally, his articles have appeared in a wide range of local, regional and national publications and his case study, Leading Change from the Top Down is featured in the global MBA text book, Leadership Learning from Real World Cases.

Erica G. Bradley

Erica G. Bradley is dedicated to the community she has lived in for her entire life and is committed to making it a better place for all. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College.

Erica is currently the Manager of Community Philanthropy at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, where she is responsible for designing, managing, and implementing the strategy to increase diverse donors and prospects within The Foundation’s comprehensive and ongoing development program.

She is a proud member of the New Haven Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, where she has served as the Philanthropy Committee Chair, is a long-serving Trustee and Treasurer of her beloved church, St. Matthews UFWB Church in New Haven, was the inaugural Board Chair for Urban Community Alliance, is a Board Member of the Delta Foundation of Greater New Haven, was the Nominating Chair for the New Haven Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and past president of Elm City BNI (Business Network International.

Erica is the author of the children’s book Don’t Start Dinner Without Us, which highlights, in a whimsical way, the importance of a healthy diet filled with colorful fruits and vegetables for young people and is the creator of How Do You Eat an Elephant? a Facebook awareness group to uplift women financially.

Erica and her husband, Frankie, also own Crimson World Travel, a luxury travel company specializing in personally curated travel experiences according to their client’s desires for destinations worldwide, and are the proud parents of their daughter, Zaria, a senior in high school who will attend college in the fall of 2024.

Jonathan B. Orleans

Businesses large and small seek Jonathan B. Orleans’ thoughtful, practical advice and effective advocacy in employment matters. Jon chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Law practice, and has 35 years of experience representing businesses, nonprofits, and individuals in disputes arising out of employment contracts and restrictive covenants, and in cases arising under federal and state anti-discrimination and wage/hour statutes. Jon advises his clients on compliance with laws and regulations and in the development and application of personnel policies. He negotiates and prepares employment contracts and separation agreements. He offers anti-harassment and other training programs to clients of the firm.

Jon also advises colleges, universities and independent schools concerning both employment-related matters and compliance with Title IX and other statutes regulating campus sexual misconduct and intercollegiate athletics. Jon investigates campus discrimination and harassment complaints, and defends schools in litigation arising out of such matters. He co-chairs the firm’s Colleges, Universities and Independent Schools practice.

Jon believes strongly in the wisdom of resolving disputes by negotiation and compromise when possible, and welcomes opportunities to serve as a mediator in employment and Title IX matters. He has also served as an arbitrator in employment cases.

Jon’s service to the bar and the community has included: chairing the Local Civil Rules Advisory Committee of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut; serving on the Federal Grievance Committee; co-chairing the Federal Practice Section of the Connecticut Bar Association; chairing Board of Directors of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, membership on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and serving as Legal Advisor to the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut. In 2011-12, Jon taught Civil Procedure as an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Luis B. Pérez

Luis B. Pérez, LCSW is the President and CEO of Mental Health Connecticut. His broad background includes age-specific clinical and cultural competencies for working with child, adolescent, and adult populations and their families. With leadership positions both in the private and public sectors, Luis has a proven track record in behavioral health outcomes-based management, strategic planning, network development, public policy, and fundraising.

Since joining MHC in 2013, Luis has led a transformation of MHC that has included an investment in reliable systems and structures that have allowed the organization to deepen its impact, improve outcomes, and support innovation by utilizing data and informed systems to guide policy and enhance program development.

Luis is currently the Board Chair for the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (“the Alliance”), serves as a board member and Corporator for the American School for the Deaf, and is a part of The New England Advisory Team (NEAT), comprised of key stakeholders from across the region to help identify priority need areas and guide the training of The New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC). Recently he joined the steering committee of the newly formed CT Collaborative to End Loneliness.

Luis has served on over 30 boards, task forces, and committees over his career. He also recently served on the board of Mental Health America (MHA)and continues to serve on the Affiliate Relations committee.

Nyaunu Stevens

Nyaunu Stevens is the Director of Programs for the National Conference for Community and Justice. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and brings with her over two decades of experience as an educator and 15 years of experience in the world of social justice advocacy. Trained as an actress and an academic, Nyaunu is a powerful presenter and facilitator. She has worked with people of all ages, from preschool to adult, and with people from a myriad of identity backgrounds. She has served as a Lead Teaching Artist with Cleveland Public Theater where she worked to bring theater education
to marginalized youth on their own territory. She spent years at The Cleveland Play House as an instructor and in collaboration with Project Act’s The Reading Company staging children’s books for children experiencing homelessness in an effort to foster their literacy skills. She has also taught in the fields of Sociology and Women’s Studies. She holds a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Theater from Cleveland State
University where she was graduated summa cum laude. She is a subject matter expert in Sociology of the Body, Fat Studies, and Race, Class, and Gender

Andréa Hawkins

Andréa Hawkins is the Founding Partner of Leading Culture Solutions, a boutique consulting firm serving organizations primarily in six practice areas: Strategic Planning, Organizational Effectiveness, Culture Transformation, Leadership Development, Interim Leadership, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Andréa approaches leadership with a unique blend of emotional intelligence and strategic consulting that helps organizations build employee- and customer-based solutions by linking innovation with culture.

She has 20+ years of experience in executive leadership roles and leading teams in Finance, Operations, Product Development, IT, Marketing, and Learning at Fortune 100 companies across Healthcare, Finance, and Insurance. Andréa brings her for-profit expertise to the non-profit arena to help organizations expand and build capacity.

Andréa’s commitment to increasing organizations’ business competencies and her aptitude in navigating complex challenges led her to launch Leading Culture Solutions in August 2019. She brings a consultative approach to mid-sized growth companies that are looking to advance business outcomes at scale. To date, Leading Culture Solutions has helped organizations build and integrate business strategies broadly throughout their structures, systems, and teams.

Understanding the importance of giving back, Andréa is an active member of her community. She is the Immediate Past President of the Board of Trustees for The Amistad Center for Art and Culture, where she has been a volunteer for more than 23 years. She is the Membership Committee Chair of the Human Resource Leadership Forum and previously served the YWCA Hartford Region’s Board.

Meg Bard

Meg Bard is the Executive Director of Shine Your Light CT (SYL), which supports and inspires communities to unleash their creativity and build confidence by providing opportunities that promote self-expression. SYL partners with organizations throughout Connecticut in efforts to give individuals a voice through the Arts and movement.

Meg has a passion for serving individuals and communities throughout the state of Connecticut by providing accessible, creative experiences for underserved populations. Since 2015, she has envisioned Shine Your Light CT as a nonprofit organization and has worked in the nonprofit sector ever since she graduated college in 2012.

What makes your light shine?
My supportive and loving fiancé that balances me. Seeing people happy and doing what they love makes my light shine!

Mary Kay Curtiss

Mary Kay provides audit services to a wide range of nonprofit
organizations, including private and community foundations,
membership- and admission-driven organizations, human
service agencies, healthcare providers, and educational
institutions. Mary Kay’s experience includes auditing nonprofit
organizations subject to the compliance and reporting
requirements of both Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Act.
Mary Kay is the New England Growth Network Industry Leader for Nonprofit, working with our Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey offices to build a solid team from recruitment, training and fostering growth. 24 years of experience.Technical experience: Audit and accounting, financial statement audits, single audits, tax compliance.