Eleversity

Stephanie is a visionary architect of brands and businesses. With a Midas touch for transforming brands, she has orchestrated groundbreaking partnerships with global titans like Pepsi, Universal Studios, and Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. She is the Co-Founder of Moxie Creative Studios, leveraging her strategic marketing acumen to propel businesses worldwide, generating over $40 million in growth.

A passionate advocate for diversity and innovation, Stephanie is a driving force in the marketing industry and a catalyst for change in her community. As the architect of Upstate New York's Minority & Women Owned Business Summit, she fosters a thriving ecosystem of empowerment and opportunity. Her commitment to uplifting others is evident in her leadership roles across various organizations, including Rochester Global Connections, Champion Academy, Miss Julie's School of Beauty, and the New York New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council.

Stephanie's journey is a testament to the power of vision, determination, and a heart for community. She is a living embodiment of the limitless potential that arises when
business acumen meets a profound intention to make a positive impact.

Raquel Lowry, MSM is a servant leader with 12-years of leadership and management experience, and 11+ years of experience in Human Resources, Benefits and Wellbeing. She is currently the Sr. Benefits and Wellness Program Manager at Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCS) where in this inaugural role she is strategic in her oversight, development, and implementation of policies and procedures that align with the organizational mission and values to retain staff, and support internal and external customers. Raquel worked at Mary Cariola Children’s Center in the inaugural role of Benefits Manager, where she overseen the implementation of the COVID-19 policy, during the pandemic, and streamlined the Leave of Absence process agency wide.

Raquel is also the Owner and Creative Designer of Raquel Denise Handbags (RDH). RDH specializes in handbags and accessories, featuring high-quality, stylish items designed and curated by Raquel Denise. RDH emphasizes quality, contemporary styles, and inclusivity, which caters to diverse preferences and body types, promoting cultural diversity and affordability. Within five years, RDH has developed a loyal customer base, with designs typically sell out in 2 to 3 weeks.

Raquel Denise Handbags is actively engaged in various philanthropic endeavors, including collaborating local non-profits to design handbags/totes and sponsoring over three hundred bags/totes to date. Raquel is 2024 Rochester Business Journal Forty under 40 honoree and a 2025 Rochester Business Journal Women of Excellence Honoree; she received a 2024 Mayoral Recognition and received a 2025 Recognition from Rochester City Council and is a 2025 Urban League of Rochester Black Business Spotlight.

Jamie Warren is an accomplished human resources executive with over 20 years of experience leading inclusive workplace initiatives and driving organizational transformation. She currently serves as the Director of People & Culture at Heritage Christian Services, where she leads efforts in inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA), while enhancing the overall employee experience.

Her career began in education as a bilingual special education teacher, advocating for Spanish-speaking students with disabilities. Inspired to create lasting, systemic change, she transitioned into human resources, serving in leadership roles across school districts, nonprofit organizations, and municipal government.

Jamie has shaped policies, labor agreements, and workplace practices that center fairness, opportunity, and respect. Her work has impacted organizations such as Rochester City Schools, Buffalo Public Schools, the City of Rochester, and Foodlink—each time advancing equity, improving systems, and strengthening workplace culture.

At Heritage Christian Services, she focuses on bridging the gap between frontline and office staff, promoting leadership diversity, and developing strategies that support retention, career advancement, and equitable compensation.

A passionate advocate, educator, and speaker, Jamie Warren empowers leaders to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into every level of their organizations—proving that DEI is not only the right thing to do, but a strategic driver of success.

Latesha Fussell is a dynamic leader and advocate for equity, inclusion, and social justice with over a decade of experience in higher education, diversity programming, and organizational development. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

In her role as Director of DEIB and Leadership Development at Hillside Family of Agencies, Latesha designs and implements transformative strategies that promote equity and inclusion across organizational systems. She has held leadership positions at prestigious institutions like Cornell University and Stonehill College, where she developed initiatives to enhance retention, foster cultural humility, and address systemic inequities.

Latesha's expertise extends to trauma-informed care, cultural competency training, and supporting marginalized communities in navigating spaces historically not designed to serve them. She is an accomplished presenter and facilitator, delivering workshops on anti-racism, microaggressions, and cultural humility nationwide.

Latesha is deeply passionate about education and its transformative power to create opportunities and foster equity. Her commitment to education stems from a desire to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure that individuals from marginalized communities have access to supportive and empowering learning environments.

Pascale Jean Noel is the Director of Training for the ACT Institute at the Center for Evidence-Based Practices. Working with the New York State Office of Mental Health, she helps design coordinate and facilitate extensive training curricula in treatment planning, cultural Humility and awareness, engagement, working with mandated clients, and ACT core daily principles based on person centered recovery-oriented principles. The training curricula are used by 108 ACT teams, consisting of over one thousand people collectively, throughout the state. Pascale is also an adjunct lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work and Fordham University School of Social Work. At Columbia University, she teaches Adult Psychopathology and Wellness in a residential and on-line setting. At Fordham University, she teaches Assessment and Diagnosis, Clinical Seminar and Advanced Integrated Practice with Organizations and Communities from a Social Justice Lense.

Dr. Maryann Rivera-Dannert is the CEO of MRD Empowerment Solutions, LLC, which is for the Woman who’s ready to HEAL and turn her FEAR into fuel for SUCCESS. She is a speaker, author, podcast host, and certified life coach dedicated to guiding individuals on their journey from uncertainty to a life filled with purpose and passion. Her story is one of resilience and triumph, shaped by personal challenges that could have kept her stuck but instead propelled her forward.

As the author of 20+ published anthologies, and two journals, her written works serve as a source of inspiration and practical guidance. Each piece reflects her commitment to helping others navigate their own challenges. Additionally, she launched a podcast, “Fearless Fridays with Maryann,” which provides a platform for meaningful conversations about life, motivation, hope, and personal/professional growth.

What sets Maryann apart is not just her professional expertise but her personal journey as well. She faced and conquered significant challenges in life, including surviving sexual abuse, being a high school drop-out, overcoming the hardships of teenage motherhood, and enduring domestic violence. These occurrences have shaped her understanding and empathy, allowing her to connect with her clients on a deeper level. She's not just talking the talk; she's walked the walk, and she's here to help others do the same.

Maryann has a bachelor's degree from Roberts Wesleyan University, a master's from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity International University of Ambassadors (T.I.U.A.). Additionally, she is certified by the John C. Maxwell Certification Program as a Coach, Speaker, and Trainer. 

Maryann loves the beach, traveling, and spending time with her family in Rochester, NY.

Maisha Beard is a dynamic speaker, business leader, and advocate dedicated to empowering others through entrepreneurship, health equity, and personal transformation. As the founder of Mai’Mission Inc., currently in its startup phase, she is building a movement rooted in breast cancer awareness, impact, and nursing scholarships, honoring the legacy of her late mother, Nurse Cheryl Denise Moore. Inspired by her father’s survivorship, she is also expanding her mission to raise awareness about prostate cancer in Black men.

Through The Maisha Experience, Maisha uses her voice to spark change, speaking on domestic violence, breast cancer disparities, and the power of entrepreneurship. As an ambassador for Voices of Black Women with the American Cancer Society, she’s committed to ensuring more Black women participate in life-saving research.

By day, she serves as the Coordinator of Business Asset Development and Kiva Capital Access Manager for the City of Rochester, helping entrepreneurs access capital to grow and thrive. She was recently honored as an Inaugural Rochester Business Journal Women of Impact and Inclusion Honoree and featured on the covers of Rochester Business Journal and Rochester Women’s Magazine.

One of Shannon Carter’s greatest career goal achievements is to currently lead the Human Resource and Learning & Development initiatives for the Northland Workforce Training Center. She is also a proud and dedicated community partner for the Health Education Project, where she has taken on new levels of advocacy for our marginalized communities regarding healthcare. As a published author, and a recording artist, Shannon ministers healing and wholeness in a practical and effective way.

She serves not only as a Bible teacher, and gospel preacher, but she is prolific and impactful in the secular circuit as a trainer and motivational speaker. Shannon’s experience as a trainer in the corporate arena opened her eyes to her passion for speaking and teaching, and she has never turned back. Shannon also advocates for, and mentors new foster/adoptive parents, as they struggle to navigate raising whole and healthy children. No matter how many accolades Shannon receives, or titles she wears, her greatest honor is that of being called “Mommy” by her two princesses Genesis and Syria.

LaKisha N. Williams is the Director of #DegreesNYC, a data-informed collective impact movement co-lead by young people to achieve education equity in New York City. As such, she represents #DegreesNYC and Goddard Riverside on many groups, including the Government Relations and Human Relations Committees of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling, the National College Attainment Network's Policy Council, and the NY Education Equity Coalition. She serves on the New York State Poor People’s Campaign’s Coordinating and Faith Committees, where she organizes moral fusion direct action against systemic racism, poverty, militarism and ecological devastation.

She was honored with the United Neighborhood Houses' Award for Achievement in Civic Advocacy in recognition of her social justice work. She is the Youth & Young Adult Minister at Antioch Baptist Church in Harlem as well as for Women of Virtue, Honor and Purpose Ministries. She is the President of the Reverend Dr. John L. Scott Associate Ministers Auxiliary of the United Missionary Baptist Association of Greater New York and Vicinity and is a Captain of the NYS Chaplain Workers Taskforce, Inc. Williams holds a BA from William Smith College and a Masters of Divinity from the Union Theological Seminary of New York.

Latise Hairston is a radiant force—a devoted mother, doula, coach, poet, and community healer—who lives and leads by the spirit of Sawubona, a beautiful Zulu greeting that means, “We see you.” Latise brings this deep seeing into every space she enters, holding people with compassion, truth, and joy.

A true global citizen, Latise has traveled to over 30 countries, immersing herself in diverse cultures and soaking in wisdom from around the world. She once served as the Global Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for an international organization spanning those same 30+ countries, where she led transformational culture change initiatives—including for a multi-billion-dollar hospitality brand.

Latise is the visionary Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Harvesting Opportunities with People Everywhere, LLC and The Abundant Life Doula. Her heart beats for healing justice—supporting individuals and communities in recovering from the trauma of racism while disrupting systems of oppression. She's also an adjunct faculty member at Fielding University, where she helps shape the next generation of change leaders.

Her academic roots run deep: she holds two master’s degrees (one in Counseling & Human Services, the other in Creativity & Change Leadership) and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy with a focus on Organizational Behavior and Development. Latise’s work beautifully weaves together neuroscience, somatics, African-centered healing, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, change theory, conflict transformation, and transformational leadership.

At her core, Latise is a truth-teller, bridge-builder, and liberator who believes that healing is possible, joy is our birthright, and abundance is our legacy.

Curtis is a versatile and dynamic who has spent almost three decades professionally and personally dedicated to serving a diversity of communities in a variety of ways. He served 13 years on Erie City Council where he served as Council President for two years. He has also served and continues to serve on several community and nonprofit boards over the last 26 years. Mr. Jones has served as the Chairman and member of the Enterprise Development Fund, Erie County General Authority, and multiple other Economic Development Boards and Authorities.

Curtis is currently with the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership team as the Director of Government Affairs. This is another opportunity to share his wide range of professional and personal experiences with the Erie Region and beyond. He is currently serving as a Commissioner for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, PA Advisory Committee for Inclusive Procurement (PACIP).

He is a member of the BIPOC Coalition on Mental Health in Erie, PA., and was recently appointed as a member of the PA. DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board. Curtis also sees his role as a connector, not just for businesses and elected officials but for historically underrepresented people to the opportunities that are available to empower our entire community to progress and be great.

Lee'a is the COO and Co Founder of the Corporate Class, a Director in Customer Care and the previous Program Owner of the IT Intern Program. Erie Regional Growth Chamber and Partnership’s 2023 emerging Leader nominee. Lee’a has successfully executed a 40 student internship program– the primary pipeline for new IT talent for one of Erie's top Fortune 500 companies. Lee'a lends her support to aid in establishing similar programs in Erie.

Heather is the CEO/Co Founder of The Corporate Class. She is an insurance professional, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, an entrepreneur, mother, wife, Television Co-Host and 2022 Erie Reader 40 under 40 honoree. Over the last 20 years she has lead diverse and dynamic teams ,and worked with some of the best, most impactful S&P/fortune 500 companies across Corporate Canada, Corporate America and into China.