WHITNEY DAVIS

Whitney Davis joined CBS Entertainment Diversity as a Manager, December 2013. Davis manages several programs in the CBS Diversity Institute including CBS On Tour, CBS Diversity Writers Mentor Program, CBS Directing Initiative, and the widely successful annual CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase. In addition, Davis serves as a liaison between CBS Entertainment and its affiliate diversity Coalitions including The National Hispanic Media Coalition, Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, GLAAD and NAACP.

December 2011, Davis was one of three selected corporate wide to participate in the pilot class of The Emerging Creative Leadership Experience Program (ECLE) — a rigorous two year program initiated to identify and develop new leaders at CBS Entertainment.

As an associate in the ECLE program, Davis worked closely with CBS Network Entertainment Executives in Casting, The Marketing Group, Drama Development, Comedy Development, Current Programming, Daytime Programming, and Entertainment Diversity. There, she endeavored to cast, promote, and develop several CBS flagship shows, including ELEMENTARY, UNDER THE DOME, and THE TALK.

Davis began her career at CBS Network News in August 2006. In 2009, she joined the Digital Journalist Unit as an Associate Producer for the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, CBS This Morning, and CBS News.com. Davis received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kansas State University in Broadcast Journalism in 2006.

Damona Hoffman

Damona Hoffman is the Host & Dating Expert of the groundbreaking TV series #BlackLove on FYI TV (A&E Networks) and will be the host and Relationship Expert & Consulting Producer of their newest love series which premieres in 2017. Her radio show and podcast Dates & Mates airs on iHeart Radio, UBN Radio, iTunes, Stitcher and Spreaker.

A former TV executive, Damona has now made her mark in front of the camera and been featured in NBC, Fox, Animal Planet, SiriusXM Radio, People Magazine, Woman’s Day, Ebony, Essence Magazine and more.

Twitter @DamonaHoffman
Instagram @DamonaHoffman

Dr. Barbara Young

Transformation Success Coach – Consultant- Author – Motivational Speaker

For more than 25 years, Dr. Young has worked with professionals, world leaders and executives from Fortune 400 and 500 companies, academic institutions, city municipalities, health care agencies and non-profits in world-wide countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Benin and Albigon of the Ivory Coast. Dr. Young is known for her passion, high energy, and creativity. She is spiritual and dynamic. Dr. Young excites, inspires, educates, empowers, challenges, and helps individuals and organizations to create more success. More importantly, she offers success solutions and results that work. Dr. Young is the powerful “Dr. B” who has inspired to action some of the most successful people across the world who have transformed their lives today. She has received many accolades and honors regarding her work throughout the world!

Facebook.com/transformation for success
Twitter.com/Drbarbarayoung
Website: www.transformationforsuccess.com

TATIANA OUEINI

Tatiana Oueini is a Human Resources Manager for Nestlé USA, recently relocating to their Cleveland, OH headquarters from their LA based offices. For the past 4 years she has provided strategic HR leadership and support to the Nestlé Sales Division across the United States. In her new role, she provides HR leadership to Nestlé’s Technical and Production Division. Prior to that, Tatiana was a Human Resources Manager for Target Stores where she spent 3 years building her foundation in HR, in addition to gaining hands-on business experience running multi-million dollar store operations.

She has been proud to advocate for and actively engage in initiatives that promote employee engagement and development, diversity and inclusion, as well as improve the professional experience and landscape for women within her organizations. Outside of work, when she’s not finding her next adventure, Tatiana spends her time in the community and university campuses where she delivers resume and interview workshops, in addition to providing career counseling to students and young professionals. She is also a coach and trainer, sharing the philosophy of high performance and high energy to increase overall productivity and well-being. Tatiana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from UCLA.

KEYONNA MONROE

Keyonna Monroe is the CEO & Executive Director of Pretty2Me.org, a nonprofit organization that teaches young girls and women the benefits of loving themselves first. An alum of both Spelman College and USC, Keyonna worked in marketing & advertising before making her way to major television networks as an editor and journalist. She has been volunteering for several years at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles along with group and foster homes with young children.

Keyonna has been recognized as a woman with a high level of positive influence by Dean Michael Jackson (Orville Wright Middle School), Principal Aminika Readeux (John MuirMiddle School), Assistant Principal Ian Eddy (Hawthorne HS) and Rachel Jackson, Residential Coordinator St. Anne’s School and others. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of young women, and is honored to teach, guide, support and assist them with the use of her personal and professional advice as they embark on their future careers.

Currently working with schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Keyonna has seen the change she has made in the lives of many girls. She has spoken on empowerment panels at the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES), Hawthorne High School, Washington Prep High School, and Santa Monica College. In addition to being a mother, Keyonna is a published children’s book author. She has worked with organizations such as Good Shepard Shelter, St. Anne School, Camp Showbiz, the Cultural Arts Leadership Exchange (CALENOW), BlackBusinessWomenRock, the YMCA, and the Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles.

To learn more about Keyonna, feel free to visit her website www.pretty2me.org, facebook: Pretty2MeLYF

Adrienne Reed

Purpose driven and determined to make a difference, Adrienne Reed is committed to planting possibility and inclusion all around her. After ten years in the financial services industry with two of the world’s top 25 Fortune 500 Financial Institutions, Adrienne left corporate America to join the world of entrepreneurship. Adrienne is now the proud President of Hamba LLC—a multifaceted consulting and project management firm committed to expanding the reach of change agents for diversity and inclusion. Her clients include non-profit organizations, corporations and everything in between.

Adrienne has established herself as a diversity champion within greater Los Angeles and is quickly expanding nationally. She has diligently increased her level of influence by being an active mentor, community activist, true cultivator of relationships and seeker of knowledge. It is her commitment to purpose, big personality and experience in navigating corporate America that has guided her success. With her an innate passion for diversity and organizational excellence applied to everything she does, there’s no telling where she will stop!

Adrienne is a member of Rotary International, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (survivor), NAACP, NAWBO, LAULYP, and GLAAACC. She also loves international travel and has visited over 15countries in the last four years!

Liz Stevenson

Liz Stevenson is a native Texan who’s been won over by the beach and mountains offered in Southern California. She studied Organizational Dynamics and Political Science at the University of Oklahoma and proceeded to begin her career in Human Resources. Having worked in both the for-profit and non-profit sector, Liz brings over ten years of HR experience and a focus on big picture strategy to her work. She believes that employees and organizations succeed when the right people are working on the right things. She recently completed her MBA at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California Irvine, and enjoys running, being outside, time with family & friends, and volunteering in her free time. She serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Professionals in HR Association (PIHRA) as the Vice President of Emerging Professionals and Students. She is incredibly passionate about diversity both inside and outside the workplace, and is honored to be a part of this discussion.

Brian Williams

Brian K Williams. Esq., serves as President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern California, one of the nation’s preeminent educational programs for youth. Prior to joining Junior Achievement, Brian K. Williams Esq., served as the executive director of the Southern California Leadership Network (SCLN). Williams also maintains a law practice, the Brian K. Williams Law Group. Prior to joining the SCLN, Williams served as the Director of Government Affairs for the Southern California Association of Governments. Williams served for 11 years as an Assistant City Attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office where he handled thousands of criminal and civil matters and tried more than 100 cases. When Los Angeles City Attorney James K. Hahn was elected Mayor of Los Angeles, Mayor Hahn appointed Williams as his Deputy Mayor. Williams served for four years as the Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles for Transportation, Environment, and Infrastructure. Upon leaving the Mayor’s Office, Williams was appointed the Assistant City Manager for the City of Pasadena, where he oversaw the police, fire, planning, water and power, and human resources departments

Williams, a two-time UCLA Chancellor’s Marshall, earned a B.A. in Political Science at UCLA and received a Juris Doctorate from the UCLA School of Law. Williams is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Boule’, the Pacific Council and numerous other organizations. A native of Southern California, Williams is married and has two outstanding sons.

Grant Doster

Grant Doster, M.B.A., is a Consultant and trainer with over 25 years in the financial services, CPG, advertising, and entertainment industries including general management for Pepsi, Miller Brewing, and VP Global Sales/Marketing for Disney Consumer Products. He is a public speaker, facilitator, adjunct professor at University of California, University of Redlands, lecturers at USC and other corporate venues. Currently Mr. Doster is Senior Vice President Talent Development for the Western Region of Lee Hecht Harrison.

Grant Doster / SVP – Talent Development
E: grant.doster@lhh.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantdoster

MIR HARRIS

Mir Harris came into the music industry at a very young age. She began with an internship at labels Virgin Records, Interscope and Universal, which solidified her love of music and business, putting her on the fast track as an entertainment industry professional. She attended the University of California, San Diego where she received her BA in Political Science and Communications and is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC.

Mir began her professional career at Capitol Records as an Executive Assistant to former President, Lee Trink. This led to other opportunities at Giant Step Records, KYA Entertainment, management firm AAM (Advanced Alternative Media) and music supervision for Elemental Music and Nickelodeon’s “How To Rock”. Most recently, Mir Harris worked as the Director of A&R at Compound Entertainment where her duties included consulting for artists Ne-yo, Sonna Rele, Candice Boyd and Ravaughn Brown.

In early 2013, Ms. Harris joined ASCAP as the Associate Director of Rhythm & Soul/Urban in their Los Angeles office. She is charged with maintaining membership as well as cultivating new member relationships. When asked to describe her role and goals for ASCAP, she says, “I personally am taking it upon myself to help revitalize the LA music creative & cultural scene. My goal is to return us to a state of healthy creative competition and support as well as raising the bar in urban music.” She did just that establishing programing, events and stages for the songwriter and producing community.

Deciding that she wanted to join her social activism with her career, she is currently venturing out on her own. She administrates her own company, Music And A Dream Productions LLC, where she serves as a consultant, manager and advocate for artist development as well as content curation & project branding. Mir wholeheartedly believes artists have a responsibility to push the culture and wants to help teach them how.

Angelica Urquijo

Angelica Urquijo is a seasoned, bilingual marketing and public relations professional who has utilized her “Out of the Box” strategy for the last 10 years to lead public relations, social media, multicultural marketing and community and government affairs initiatives for major non-profits, financial institutions, healthcare providers, government entities, labor and professional organizations, universities, consumer goods companies and professional athletes.

She is the founder of The Imagen Group, a consulting practice that specializes in developing marketing and communications strategy for organizations that want to reach the Hispanic consumer.

Angelica knows the importance of connecting with your audience. She spent 10 years in front of the camera as a reporter and news anchor. As the lead anchor in California and Nevada, she was recognized for being instrumental in helping the news outlets attains the highest ratings in the Country among key demographics.

As a bilingual professional, she has been able to connect with diverse audiences and communities to address controversial issues, diffuse negative messages and work effectively as a spokesperson for mainstream and Spanish language media. Serving as an ongoing national media spokesperson appearing on Spanish language radio and television to include: Univision TV and Radio, Telemundo Azteca America and CNN Latino.

Angelica earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business Administration and completed numerous specialty programs in Marketing, Public Relations and Broadcast Journalism from The University of California, Los Angeles.

Over the years, she has also been actively involved as a member of the advisory board for community groups dedicated to improving the lives of underserved children and women –promoting education, health and professional development. Serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of America-LA Chapter as Diversity/Multicultural Chair and The National Latina Business Women Association-LA Chapter.

Marlene Braga

Marlene Braga is a programming executive who specializes in unscripted production and writing. Throughout her professional career, she has worked for The History Channel, ABC News, PBS, Univision, A&E Networks, the Cuba Network, and Azteca America.

Currently, she serves as an organizer for the Hilary Clinton Campaign. In addition to her work as an outreach organizer for the Latino community, she also serves as Executive Producer and Principal for Women on the Verge Productions.

Lanee Griffin-Carroll

A wife and mother of two beautifully intelligent girls, this upcoming year, marks the tenth anniversary of LaNée Griffin-Carroll’s professional career in television.

Passionate about creating content and storytelling, LaNée recently left her television Executive position of 4 years at NBC, to develop and produce television for the masses. Staying close to her NBC family LaNée currently serves as a development executive, and producer on EndemolShine’s new NBC ordered dance series with Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan-Tatum.

While at Universal Television LaNée served as the assigned studio exec for series such as the Emmy award-winning ‘Hollywood Game Night (S1, 2, 2.5 & 3)’, ‘I Can Do That,’ ‘Last Comic Standing,’ ‘The Winner Is,’ and more. During her transition to NBC proper, she helped to oversee series such as ‘The Biggest Loser’ and ‘Running Wild with Bear Grylls’. With the ability to multitask, LaNée worked on both current series and shows in development where she most recently helped develop the new and highly anticipated Jennifer Lopez dance show entitled ‘World of Dance.’

LaNée Griffin-Carroll began her professional career at VH1, where she was as hired as an Executive Assistant on her college graduation day from California State University Northridge (CSUN) where she received a bachelor’s degree in Television Development & Production. She thrived in her role at VH1, and was later promoted to development coordinator where she had the opportunity to help establish a new & successful development department called ‘VH1 Creative Labs’.

With an old school work ethic and a determined millennial mindset, LaNée enjoys generating new content to meet the ever changing landscape of television. From game and competition formats to scripted and docu-series; she is turning over every stone to find the next big idea and produce a show that would make her girls proud!