Government, Social Sector & Education

Valued individuals involved in shaping public policies, providing essential services, and promoting education, tirelessly looking to improve society and empower citizens

Jen Fisher

Jen Fisher

Jen Fisher currently serves as the Assistant Vice President, Project Implementation and Support. In this role, Jen delivers leadership and implementation support for key organizational and strategic initiatives such as the College’s Strategic Plan. Jen’s experience includes creative problem-solving, facilitation, skills-based training, and strategic planning. Prior to her current role, Jen served as the Assistant Vice President of Employee Benefits at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana beginning in 2013.
Prior to joining Ivy Tech, Jen worked in the Human Resources field in the transportation industry with Republic Airways and Vanguard Services, Inc. Jen has a Bachelors of Arts from Purdue University and a Masters of Business Administration from Butler University. She is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist, a SHRM Certified Professional, a certified CliftonStrengths Coach, and Change Management Practitioner.

Jen Fisher currently serves as the Assistant Vice President, Project Implementation and Support. In this role, Jen delivers leadership and implementation support for key organizational and strategic initiatives such as the College’s Strategic Plan. ... Show more

David Rankin

David Rankin

David's distinguished career spans over four decades, ignited by his foray into the world of information technology back in 1983. He has taken on a multitude of technical and managerial roles across diverse sectors, including the private sector, Federal government, state government, and higher education. His wealth of experience and invaluable insights garnered from these diverse domains make him a force to be reckoned with.

In 1993, David joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Novell Server Administrator for Administrative Data Processing. Over the years, he proved himself as a leader, ultimately assuming the position of Assistant Dean for Information Technology and HIPAA Security Officer for the UNC Adams School of Dentistry from 2011 to 2022. David's dedication to the University and his management of information technology professionals since 1996 are testaments to his exceptional leadership and loyalty.

Education lies at the core of David's personal journey, and his academic achievements speak volumes about his commitment to excellence. A graduate of Hampton University with a bachelor's degree in Mass Media Arts, David legitimized his technical expertise by obtaining a master's degree in Computer Networking and a Post Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance from East Carolina University. Not stopping there, he solidified his position by earning a Certified Government Chief Information Officer certificate from the UNC School of Government.

In 2022, David added two prestigious and highly respected certifications to his repertoire: the Certified Information Systems Security Professional from ISC2 and the Certified Information Security Manager from ISACA.

David's passion for continuous learning and dedication to professional associations have solidified his status as a leader. He is a member of the Epsilon Pi Tau technical honor society, the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, and the Information Systems Security Association.

His affiliation with the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated exemplifies his commitment to scholarship, community and service.

David's distinguished career spans over four decades, ignited by his foray into the world of information technology back in 1983. He has taken on a multitude of technical and managerial roles across diverse sectors, including the private sector, Fede... Show more

Patrick Diehl

Patrick Diehl

HPC, Quantum Computing, HPC education, and C++.

HPC, Quantum Computing, HPC education, and C++. Show more

Patrick Henley

Patrick Henley

Patrick Henley has served as the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management with the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority for more than seven years. He has worked in various HR and Risk Management leadership roles for more than 20 years. Additionally, he teaches courses in HR, Management, & Technology at the college level. Patrick earned his bachelor’s in psychology from Kennesaw State University, a master’s in business administration from Troy University, and recently earned a doctorate in business administration at the Florida Institute of Technology. He holds both the SPHR & SHRM-SCP certifications.

Patrick Henley has served as the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management with the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority for more than seven years. He has worked in various HR and Risk Management leadership roles for more than 20 years. Additio... Show more

Omoniyi Lawson

Omoniyi Lawson

Omoniyi Lawson is a Digital Development and Communications for Development practitioner with over six years of experience leveraging technology, education, and policy to drive social and behavioural change. He is the Managing Partner at the Centre for Digital Development and Innovation Research, where he leads research and advocacy on digital inclusion, sustainability, and governance.

A member of the Internet Society and a Fellow of the Nigerian School on Internet Governance, Omoniyi actively contributes to discussions on AI, data governance, and digital sustainability. His research on Technology-Led Greenhouse Gas Emissions (THGE) in Nigeria explores the environmental impact of digital transformation and the role of AI and data governance in fostering sustainable digital infrastructure.

He is also the Founder of DigiShield, an initiative protecting young people from online harm, and a member of the HundrED Academy, where he evaluates global education innovations. Recognized as a top 10 finalist in the USAID Youth Well-being Prize (Digital Harm category), Omoniyi has worked with organizations like UNESCO and IGF, shaping digital strategies that promote resilience, inclusion, and sustainability.

Omoniyi Lawson is a Digital Development and Communications for Development practitioner with over six years of experience leveraging technology, education, and policy to drive social and behavioural change. He is the Managing Partner at the Centre fo... Show more

Devin Baldwin

Devin Baldwin

Devin Baldwin, a seasoned WebXR developer, educator, and innovative 3D content creator, brings a unique blend of technical proficiency and creative acumen to the digital realm. Specializing in harnessing technology to manifest creative visions, his work primarily focuses on redefining user experiences.

Devin's impressive career trajectory includes pivotal roles at industry titans like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Samsung Research of America, Intel, and Meta, leading groundbreaking projects that have left indelible marks.

As the Lead Instructor at STEM Tank, he empowers 6th to 12th-grade students with knowledge of emerging technologies like AR, VR, and MR. His enlightening presentations inspire future developers by interweaving technology, creativity, and education.

Passionate about bridging the digital divide, Devin is committed to addressing disparities within the Black and Brown Community, fostering an inclusive future for technology.

Devin Baldwin, a seasoned WebXR developer, educator, and innovative 3D content creator, brings a unique blend of technical proficiency and creative acumen to the digital realm. Specializing in harnessing technology to manifest creative visions, his w... Show more

Jennifer Buchholz

Jennifer Buchholz

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, coach, and engaging geek Jennifer Buchholz has worked in higher education, training, and development for over 20-years. When she realized that traditional methods weren’t helping her students thrive—she founded Excel & Flourish in 2012. Based in Milwaukee, Excel & Flourish helps organizations and teams improve productivity and reduce frustration with Microsoft products through fun technical skills training. The result? Amped-up collaboration and better success across every aspect of their business and work.
Her background includes a Masters in Human Resource Development and a Microsoft® Teams Adoption Specialist and is a Microsoft® Certified MOS Expert and Master as well as a Microsoft® Certified Trainer.

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, coach, and engaging geek Jennifer Buchholz has worked in higher education, training, and development for over 20-years. When she realized that traditional methods weren’t helping her students thrive—she founded Exce... Show more

Anthony Ikubuwaje

Anthony Ikubuwaje

I am a legal researcher and technology law specialist with expertise in artificial intelligence regulation, data protection, and digital governance within common-law systems. I hold an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester and an LLB from the University of Abuja.

My work examines how emerging technologies such as AI-driven decision-making, automated systems, and large-scale data processing interact with legal accountability, privacy rights, and regulatory compliance. I am the author of Basic Principles of Contract Law in Nigeria and Artificial Intelligence and the Law in Nigeria: Foundations, Regulation, and Practice, and my writing is aimed at legal practitioners, policymakers, regulators, and technology professionals.

I regularly engage in academic presentations and seminar-style lectures and am keen to contribute to professional discussions, panels, and speaking engagements on the future of law, technology, and innovation.

I am a legal researcher and technology law specialist with expertise in artificial intelligence regulation, data protection, and digital governance within common-law systems. I hold an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leices... Show more

Leyonce Baha

Leyonce Baha

Je m’appelle Leyonce Baha. Je suis entrepreneur, spécialiste en marketing et communication, ainsi qu’agent publicitaire. Je suis CEO des ETs ZOE, fondatrice de VoiceTPOT Empower, et leader principal de VoiceTPOT TV Média.

Ma carrière se concentre sur le marketing digital, les nouvelles technologies et la communication, avec un accent particulier sur la puissance transformatrice de l’intelligence artificielle. Mon objectif est de stimuler la croissance économique mondiale tout en promouvant l’éducation et la transformation sociale, notamment chez la jeunesse.

Je m’appelle Leyonce Baha. Je suis entrepreneur, spécialiste en marketing et communication, ainsi qu’agent publicitaire. Je suis CEO des ETs ZOE, fondatrice de VoiceTPOT Empower, et leader principal de VoiceTPOT TV Média. Ma carrière se concentre ... Show more

Francisca Márcia Gomes Sampaio

Francisca Márcia Gomes Sampaio

Apaixonada por pessoas, agilidade, gestão e conhecimento. Com mais de 20 anos de experiência em tecnologia e transformação organizacional, atuo no SERPRO — a maior empresa pública de TI do mundo — onde já contribuí em diversas frentes: transformação ágil, gestão ágil, experiência do usuário (UX), LGPD, técnicas de facilitação e, atualmente, como gestora do time Sinergia, apoiando o desenvolvimento de lideranças inspiradoras e a construção de times de alto desempenho.

Doutoranda em Engenharia de Software pela UFPE, sou também especialista em Gerência Estratégica da Informação (UNIFOR - 2004), mestre em Informática Aplicada (UNIFOR - 2008), MBA em Gerência de Projetos (FGV - 2012), pós-graduada em Psicologia Positiva, Ciência do Bem-Estar e Autorrealização (PUCRS - 2021), MBA em Liderança, Inovação e Gestão 4.0 (PUCRS - 2022) e pós-graduada em Psicologia Organizacional e Gestão de Pessoas (PUCRS - 2024).

Certificada PMP desde 2005 e Personal Coach pela SLAC, atuo também como professora em cursos de pós-graduação e palestrante em grandes eventos de agilidade, como Agile Trends, Agile Trends Gov, TDC, Agile Brazil, entre outros. Sou ainda partner do Coletivo Ação no Workshop Team Facilitator.

Movida por propósito, sigo em constante evolução pessoal e profissional, acreditando que ambientes de trabalho felizes, colaborativos e humanos geram, naturalmente, os melhores resultados.

Apaixonada por pessoas, agilidade, gestão e conhecimento. Com mais de 20 anos de experiência em tecnologia e transformação organizacional, atuo no SERPRO — a maior empresa pública de TI do mundo — onde já contribuí em diversas frentes: transformação ... Show more

Mija Rabemananjara

Mija Rabemananjara

Née à Madagascar, Mija Rabemananjara a grandi à la Réunion, à Bordeaux, en
région parisienne et décide de tenter l’expérience de l’Amérique du Nord en Septembre 2019 en
s’installant au Québec. Avec une forte expérience dans l’IT, elle devient coach agile en 2015 et
construit 2 cursus de formations :
 Devenir coach agile Agilopathe®
 Devenir un manager/gestionnaire agile avec Montessori Extended®

Son ambition est d’accompagner les organisations vers plus d’auto-organisation et au-delà pour
plus d’engagement, plus de performance, plus d’innovation, pour une société plus saine.

Sur son site http://lesagilopathes.com vous retrouverez ses publications, des vidéos de ses
conférences précédentes, la description de ses offres et les événements à venir !

Née à Madagascar, Mija Rabemananjara a grandi à la Réunion, à Bordeaux, en région parisienne et décide de tenter l’expérience de l’Amérique du Nord en Septembre 2019 en s’installant au Québec. Avec une forte expérience dans l’IT, elle devient coa... Show more

Rachidi Djibo Issa

Rachidi Djibo Issa

Rachidi Djibo Issa est titulaire d’un Master en droit privé et possède des certificats en éducation en situation d’urgence et en prévention des violences basées sur le genre (VBG). Il cumule une expérience pratique significative dans le domaine de l’éducation et de la protection de l’enfance, ayant exercé en tant que superviseur éducation dans des contextes de crise.

Parallèlement, il s’engage activement dans le secteur associatif en tant que responsable d’association, et contribue à des initiatives internationales en ligne comme volontaire pour les Nations Unies, mettant ses compétences au service de projets de sensibilisation, de plaidoyer et de mobilisation communautaire.

Son parcours allie expertise juridique, gestion de programmes éducatifs et humanitaires, et engagement citoyen, avec un accent particulier sur l’inclusion, la protection des enfants et l’utilisation du numérique pour renforcer l’éducation en contexte difficile.

Rachidi Djibo Issa est titulaire d’un Master en droit privé et possède des certificats en éducation en situation d’urgence et en prévention des violences basées sur le genre (VBG). Il cumule une expérience pratique significative dans le domaine de l’... Show more

Georgiana Bigea

Georgiana Bigea

Georgiana Bigea is the founder of StorytellingArchitect.Com, where she delivers creative works, workshops, and consulting for public and private purposes. She has a degree in Journalism and is currently completing her PhD research on workplace conflict. Her experience includes being a social trends analyst at an international think tank, a storytelling architect in international IT start ups, and a teaching assistant at Babes Bolyai University (Romania) and University of Fribourg (Switzerland).

Georgiana Bigea is the founder of StorytellingArchitect.Com, where she delivers creative works, workshops, and consulting for public and private purposes. She has a degree in Journalism and is currently completing her PhD research on workplace confli... Show more

Tutaleni Ilonga

Tutaleni Ilonga

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Africa game development program Mr, Ilonga created his own game studio/company called TL Entertainment whereby he created games and was successfully able to import Global Game Jam and Game Jam +, whereby together with the partnership between TL Entertainment and Game Jam+ there was a bridge built between Namibia and Brazil.

With the games that where created not proving to be profitable, Mr Ilonga would take part in a CEP program whereby he would like up with Vaughan, Veronica and Ndamono and together they would form Edu-Game Namibia to create an innovation hub around gaming to ensure that the market because sustainable around gaming and ensure future Namibian generations will be able to profit from it.

With 7 Years’ experience in Gaming Mr Ilonga has won a few awards and also became the flag career for Gaming especially at the Forbes where he and Vaughan would help Edu-Game Namibia make it to the top 3 pitch battle final. Currently Mr Ilonga together with Edu-Game are working on a curriculum to gamify the education system.

List of Achievements
Forbes 30 Under 30 Top 3 Pitch Battle Finalist 2024
Boost Up Pitch Winner 2023
Xbox Games Camp Alumni 2023
Sanlam Bridge Beneficiary 2023
CEP WINNER 2022
Game Industry Africa Awards Winner 2022
Class of 2022 Game Developers Conference SCHOLARS:

Events/Interviews I have Spoken At
Xbox Games Camp - Topic - Why Africa Is The Best Place To Invest When It Comes To Gaming
Africa Partnership For Growth Symposium - Topic - Why Investing In Gaming is Profitable
PathfindinGS -Topic - Gamifying the Namibian Education System
Africa Comicade Topic -Getting Local Businesses to Invest in Game Development
Game Jam Plus Topic -Importance of Game Jam In The Local Ecosystem
African Creative Meeting Topic -E-Sports In Africa
ESQUENTA Topic - Importance of GJ + For the Local Ecosystem
BBC World Service TV Topic - CES 2020: What’s in it for Africa?

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Afri... Show more

Ambica Dixit

Ambica Dixit

Ambica Dixit is a Principal Partner for Data, AI & Robotics at VedArc, where she leads large-scale data modernisation and AI strategy initiatives across New Zealand and Australia. She specialises in enterprise AI, modern data platforms, and agentic systems, with a strong focus on the responsible, secure, and sustainable use of AI in complex organisations. Ambica is known for guiding enterprises from early experimentation toward safe, governed, and production-grade AI adoption, ensuring strategic alignment while enabling high-quality execution across multidisciplinary teams. She works extensively with regulated sectors including energy, forestry, finance, and public service agencies, bringing together strategy, technology, and governance to deliver measurable, real-world outcomes.

Ambica Dixit is a Principal Partner for Data, AI & Robotics at VedArc, where she leads large-scale data modernisation and AI strategy initiatives across New Zealand and Australia. She specialises in enterprise AI, modern data platforms, and agentic s... Show more

Vered Robinzon

Vered Robinzon

Agile Organiziational leader and manager, Certified board facilitator with TAB (The Alternative Board) and a graduate of the StratPro leadership and strategy program, bringing over 20 years of experience in establishing and leading corporate training and education centers. Skilled in managing cross-cultural educational initiatives across Eastern Europe and North America, with a strong background in organizational development and leadership.

Currently serves as Deputy Head of the pioneering Education Authority and Director of Business Development at Sheba Medical Center, consistently ranked among the world’s Top 10 hospitals. Leads innovation processes, organizational learning and strategic growth initiatives and played a central role in establishing the Education Authority as a trailblazing organizational unit within the medical center.

Dedicated sports enthusiast with a particular passion for the English Premier League and an Executive Board Member of The Association of Independent Sport Organizations,
contributing energy, curiosity and a people-centered approach to every professional role.

Agile Organiziational leader and manager, Certified board facilitator with TAB (The Alternative Board) and a graduate of the StratPro leadership and strategy program, bringing over 20 years of experience in establishing and leading corporate training... Show more

Priyal Jain

Priyal Jain

Priyal is the Founder of Hirednex and a seasoned HR professional turned Employability Skills Trainer. With a solid background in Human Resources, Priyal brings deep insights into what employers seek in candidates beyond technical knowledge. As part of CSR initiatives like UN Women, Priyal has led impactful job fairs and soft skills training sessions across educational institutions. Currently championing the use of Microsoft Copilot in soft skills development, Priyal combines HR acumen with AI-powered tools to empower students and job seekers with essential, real-world workplace competencies.

Priyal is the Founder of Hirednex and a seasoned HR professional turned Employability Skills Trainer. With a solid background in Human Resources, Priyal brings deep insights into what employers seek in candidates beyond technical knowledge. As part o... Show more

Ashley Stallings

Ashley Stallings

Hey there—I’m Ashley, the voice behind Audibly Ashley. I’ve spent over a decade in the nonprofit world, building things from scratch, standing up for kids and families, and cheering on the helpers who make it all happen.

In addition to founding and running Upper Valley Child Advocacy Center, I speak, consult, and create space for people to rediscover their why—especially when the work gets heavy. I’m all about heart-led leadership, honest conversations, and reminding folks they don’t have to lose themselves to make a difference.

If you’re into purpose-driven work and real talk—let’s connect.

Hey there—I’m Ashley, the voice behind Audibly Ashley. I’ve spent over a decade in the nonprofit world, building things from scratch, standing up for kids and families, and cheering on the helpers who make it all happen. In addition to founding an... Show more

Jennifer Mason

Jennifer Mason

Jennifer Ann Mason is the Vice President of Workforce Transformation and Learning at Planet Technologies, where she leads the Evolve 365 team as they help transform organizations and agencies through user adoption and various learning activities, including customized adoption playbooks, training videos designed for internal business processes, ongoing learning campaigns and personalized Champions Programs. Helping organizations adjust how they approach learning as they move forward with digital transformation and change the way they work.

Jennifer has been awarded the Microsoft MVP over 10 consecutive years and is a nationally known speaker at worldwide conferences. She is the author of over 6 SharePoint Technical Books and helps lead and coordinate the local user’s group in her hometown. The Microsoft Community is a big part of Jennifer’s interest and you can often find her at local events, community forums or working behind the scenes to coordinate various Diversity & Inclusion conference tracks.

Jennifer has been with Planet Technologies over 5 years and is looking forward to the future of the government workplace. The changes of the cloud are being felt more and more every day and the journey of adoption for many agencies is just beginning! Being able to help various agencies do more and do things differently is just a small thing that gets her excited! From helping them transition from paper or excel forms to PowerApps and Power BI or to Teams and SharePoint from email – all changes big or small that help people work more efficiently are foundations worth celebrating in Jennifer’s mind!

In her spare time, you can often find Jennifer traveling all over the US with her husband Corey and her pup Bowser. From the beaches to the mountains to the vineyards, you just never know where they might end up for a few days!

Jennifer Ann Mason is the Vice President of Workforce Transformation and Learning at Planet Technologies, where she leads the Evolve 365 team as they help transform organizations and agencies through user adoption and various learning activities, inc... Show more

Ruth Samuel

Ruth Samuel

She is a result-driven tech lover, passionate about community building, advocate for women in Information Technology, promoter of gender equality in STEM, Google cloud enthusiast, Program Manager who enjoys traveling and meeting new people, developer advocate in the making and hey! She is a music LOVER.

She is a result-driven tech lover, passionate about community building, advocate for women in Information Technology, promoter of gender equality in STEM, Google cloud enthusiast, Program Manager who enjoys traveling and meeting new people, developer... Show more

Andrew DeMuth

Andrew DeMuth

Passionate about all things leadership, Andrew speaks throughout the country to both public and private sector audiences. His philosophy centers around the concept that, as leaders, we owe our people nothing less than the most exceptional leadership possible.

For the past eight years, Andrew has served with the Attorney General’s Office as the manager of the law enforcement DNA collection program known as CODIS, overseeing the process for more than 500 participating law enforcement agencies. Before that, he served with a municipal police department for 25 years with 18 of those years in various leadership roles.

Andrew is a graduate of the IACP Command and Leadership Academy and the basic and advanced Penn State Police Executive Development programs. He has a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Andrew is a recipient of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Excellence in Leadership Director’s Award and numerous other awards throughout his career, including the Medal of Valor from the New Jersey State PBA.

Passionate about all things leadership, Andrew speaks throughout the country to both public and private sector audiences. His philosophy centers around the concept that, as leaders, we owe our people nothing less than the most exceptional leadership ... Show more

Anne Dhir

Anne Dhir

Anne is a service designer and creative strategist.
She is passionate about achieving sustainable growth by tackling complex systems and balancing the interests of organisations, customers, staff, and the planet. She helps organisations find the path from intention to delivery and learn to design for themselves.
She is a ‘design magpie’, sharing insights across sectors and pushing the boundaries of design by learning from other disciplines.

Anne is a service designer and creative strategist. She is passionate about achieving sustainable growth by tackling complex systems and balancing the interests of organisations, customers, staff, and the planet. She helps organisations find the pat... Show more

Soorya Narayan Satheesh

Soorya Narayan Satheesh

Soorya Narayan Satheesh is a distinguished technology leader and former Indian Forest Service Officer who combines extensive public service experience with cutting-edge technical expertise. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Information Management Systems program and recipient of the prestigious James R. Chen Award, Soorya brings over six years of experience in developing innovative information systems. As Deputy Conservator of Forests (Information Technology & Statistics), he earned a prestigious state-level award from the Government of Tripura for developing cutting-edge information systems that transformed forest management practices. His expertise spans full-stack development, data engineering, and machine learning, with a proven track record of developing award-winning solutions that bridge the gap between environmental management and digital transformation.

Soorya Narayan Satheesh is a distinguished technology leader and former Indian Forest Service Officer who combines extensive public service experience with cutting-edge technical expertise. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Information Management Systems p... Show more

Aliu Toheeb Olaitan

Aliu Toheeb Olaitan

Aliu Toheeb Olaitan is a Tech Educator, Innovator, and the Lead Partner at Bravpuls Technologies. With expertise in Blockchain, AI, and Web Development, he is passionate about emerging technologies and their intersection with education and community development, empowering individuals to embrace tech-driven solutions for a sustainable future.

Aliu Toheeb Olaitan is a Tech Educator, Innovator, and the Lead Partner at Bravpuls Technologies. With expertise in Blockchain, AI, and Web Development, he is passionate about emerging technologies and their intersection with education and community ... Show more

Zoey Mills

Zoey Mills

Zoey Mills is a Manager of Adult Services at Worcester Public Library. In 2022, she moved from Philadelphia, PA to Boston, MA. Zoey has been a librarian for almost 10 years, having spent a majority of her time in Southeastern Pennsylvania libraries. Now, she considers herself a Massachusetts Librarian (as she tends to sprinkle “wicked” into her vernacular). In her spare time, she likes to explore restaurants and breweries with her girlfriend and spends way too much time and money on paper crafts.

Zoey Mills is a Manager of Adult Services at Worcester Public Library. In 2022, she moved from Philadelphia, PA to Boston, MA. Zoey has been a librarian for almost 10 years, having spent a majority of her time in Southeastern Pennsylvania libraries. ... Show more

Katrina Johnson

Katrina Johnson

Katrina R. Johnson, EMBA
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Horizon Outreach

Katrina R. Johnson, EMBA, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Outreach, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2010 with the mission: “Giving Everyone A New Start.” Horizon Outreach provides employment, workforce development, reentry services, housing assistance, and fatherhood/parenting education to strengthen families and support economic mobility.

Ms. Johnson is a United States Air Force Veteran and a 2008 Executive MBA graduate of Auburn University. She has over 35 years of combined corporate and nonprofit experience, including overseeing $320 million in corporate finance portfolios and leading high-quality fatherhood programming. She is a sought-after keynote speaker for college commencement ceremonies and local graduations throughout the Houston region, delivering motivational messages that inspire future leaders.

Ms. Johnson has over 35 years of combined corporate and nonprofit experience, overseeing $320 million in corporate accounts and leading high-quality fatherhood programming. Under her leadership, Horizon Outreach has secured and successfully managed more than $15 million in federal and private funding, serving over 12,500 families and individuals, including more than 9,000 fathers and 3,500 veterans. She has also been sought out by federal grantors to provide technical assistance to other grantees to strengthen workforce development programming.

Horizon Outreach provides reentry services and workforce development support to fathers throughout the Houston area. Horizon Outreach provides fathers in Houston, Texas with a “New Start” through fatherhood education, workforce training, and industry-recognized credentials—including Forklift, Flagger, Commercial Truck Driving, and TWIC—supporting sustainable employment and strengthening long-term family stability.

Horizon Outreach has been recognized for reducing recidivism among reentry fathers, reducing homelessness among veteran families, and increasing access to permanent affordable housing for vulnerable populations. Accolades include a Congressional Certificate of Recognition, two City of Houston designations (Horizon Eagle Day & Horizon Outreach Day), and Mayoral recognition for reducing veteran homelessness. Nationally, Horizon Outreach received the “Earkle Award” for Elevated Session Attendance.

Ms. Johnson has also served as Team Captain for Houston’s Annual Homeless Count, supervising over 500 volunteers to identify and provide resource access to homeless veterans, families, and children. She enjoys serving others, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Katrina R. Johnson, EMBA Founder & Chief Executive Officer Horizon Outreach Katrina R. Johnson, EMBA, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Outreach, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2010 with the mission: “Giving Everyone A... Show more

Dr. Amanda Fernandez

Dr. Amanda Fernandez

Dr. Amanda Fernandez is a seasoned education leader with a dynamic career spanning traditional district and county office roles, charter schools, and higher education. She brings extensive experience in designing and leading programs that elevate student achievement, educator development, and organizational effectiveness.

Dr. Fernandez has successfully led cross-functional departments, developed teacher mentoring programs, and collaborated with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) as part of a multi-industry task force to design innovative credentialing pathways. Her work reflects a deep commitment to building sustainable systems that support both teaching and leadership pipelines.

Currently serving as Chief Fiscal Officer for a network of charter schools, Dr. Fernandez oversees financial operations, strategic budgeting, and alignment of fiscal resources with educational priorities. She also leads the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) process and facilitates the Parent Advisory Committee, ensuring inclusive engagement and data-driven decision-making.

A Board Certified Coach (BCC) and ACSA Leadership Coach, Dr. Fernandez is passionate about empowering education leaders to create cultures of trust, learning, and impact, where feedback is valued, teams are developed, and every dollar advances student success.

Dr. Amanda Fernandez is a seasoned education leader with a dynamic career spanning traditional district and county office roles, charter schools, and higher education. She brings extensive experience in designing and leading programs that elevate stu... Show more

Basant Mounir

Basant Mounir

Basant Mounir is a Senior Data Scientist at the Central Bank of Egypt, Industry Expert & Mentor for MIT ADSP, AI Advisor, Angel Investor, and Speaker. She thrives on collaborating with stakeholders to bring their vision to life, learning whatever it takes to deliver the end-to-end product that revolutionizes their workflows. Mounir is an active community builder; she founded an award-winning data science school at her IEEE branch, and most recently, co-hosted Egypt's first GenAI agent hackathon. A global thinker, Mounir travels across Africa, Europe, the US, and Japan to work with and learn from their data communities.

Basant Mounir is a Senior Data Scientist at the Central Bank of Egypt, Industry Expert & Mentor for MIT ADSP, AI Advisor, Angel Investor, and Speaker. She thrives on collaborating with stakeholders to bring their vision to life, learning whatever it... Show more

Ben Jones

Ben Jones

Ben Jones is the Co-Founder and CEO of Data Literacy, a training and education company that's on a mission to help people learn the language of data and AI.

Ben is the author of ten books on data and AI, including AI Literacy Fundamentals (Data Literacy Press, 2024), Avoiding Data Pitfalls (Wiley, 2019), Data Literacy Fundamentals (DLP, 2020) and Leading in the Age of Data (DLP, 2023).

Ben also teaches data visualization at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and has presented to, trained or worked with companies, nonprofits, and government agencies around the world, including at the highest level of the US Intelligence Community.

While leading the popular Tableau Public Platform for several years, Ben recognized the large gap between people’s knowledge of data and what needed to know in order to do their job successfully. He started Data Literacy to help address this urgent need. You can read more about his founder’s story in his published journal, The Introspective Entrepreneur.

To balance out the digital side of life, Ben loves hiking and backpacking on the beautiful trails of the Pacific Northwest. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA (2000) and an MBA from California Lutheran University (2011).

Ben Jones is the Co-Founder and CEO of Data Literacy, a training and education company that's on a mission to help people learn the language of data and AI. Ben is the author of ten books on data and AI, including AI Literacy Fundamentals (Data L... Show more

Doleh Khan

Doleh Khan

I am Doleh Usman Khan, and I have been working for over five years in the fields of gender research, youth empowerment, and community development. As a Silver Medalist in Gender Studies from the University of Sindh, I have served with organizations such as FAO, Research and Development Foundation (RDF), HANDS Pakistan, and Community World Service Asia, where my work has focused on vocational training, gender equality, monitoring and evaluation, and humanitarian response.

Through these roles, I have contributed to training more than 1,300 youth and 250 women across Sindh in tailoring, beautician trades, and other livelihood skills, enabling them to achieve decent work and economic independence. My research and advocacy extend to areas such as the Transgender Protection Act (2018), domestic violence case studies, and gender-responsive development policies.

Internationally, I have represented youth voices at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (UNCC Bangkok) and the World Youth Forum, presenting evidence and success stories on gender-inclusive vocational training. I am passionate about data-driven problem solving, participatory research, and policy engagement to create sustainable opportunities for women and youth in the MENA and South Asia region.

I am Doleh Usman Khan, and I have been working for over five years in the fields of gender research, youth empowerment, and community development. As a Silver Medalist in Gender Studies from the University of Sindh, I have served with organizations s... Show more

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