Eleversity

Dr. Wanda Cooper is a workplace wellness consultant, former nonprofit executive and host of the LIFE Podcast. With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience and a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of South Carolina, she specializes in helping organizations build sustainable, high-performing teams while addressing the root causes of workplace burnout.

Drawing on extensive research, Dr. Cooper developed the LIFE Blueprint™ (Learn, Inspire, Flourish, Evolve), a framework designed to help organizations move beyond traditional wellness initiatives and create long-term cultures of well-being. Her work focuses on the eight dimensions of wellness and the systemic factors that contribute to employee exhaustion, including chronic stress, hypervigilance and the effects of weathering. Through consulting and speaking engagements, she helps leaders implement equity-centered strategies that improve both employee well-being and organizational performance.

Dr. Brian Watkins is a surgeon, educator and healthcare leader with expertise in surgical quality, provider well-being and medical education. Since 2020, he has served in several leadership roles at Rochester Regional Health, including attending surgeon, director of surgical education, surgical quality officer and lead of surgeon peer support.

A recognized advocate for physician wellness, Dr. Watkins serves as a well-being ambassador at Rochester Regional Health and is a member of the American College of Surgeons’ Surgeon Well-being Coalition. He also contributes to national advisory councils and quality verification programs through the American College of Surgeons.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Watkins has taught at institutions including the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology and LECOM. He is dedicated to advancing surgical education, improving patient outcomes and supporting the well-being of healthcare professionals.

As vice president of people operations at Heritage Christian Services, Jona Wright leads human resources technology, workforce analytics and employee services, focusing on building scalable, efficient and person-centered systems to enhance the employee experience.  

She has more than 15 years of leadership experience in people operations and human resources across large, multi-site organizations. Her background includes systems optimization, process redesign and overseeing service delivery models supporting workforces of up to 6,500 employees.  

Wright holds a Master of Science in Administration and a Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership and Organizational Development from St. John Fisher University, along with certifications in leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, and psychological safety

Wende Knapp is a business-minded employment attorney and trusted advisor with extensive experience leading global employment law and human resources functions. In 2025, she returned to Woods Oviatt Gilman to lead the firm’s Employment Law Practice Group.

Throughout her career, Knapp has advised organizations on employment law, workplace compliance, risk management, organizational strategy and human resources initiatives. Her expertise spans labor and employment matters, corporate transactions, policy development, ethics and compliance, talent management, compensation planning and workforce strategy across multinational environments.

A respected leader in the legal and business communities, Knapp has received numerous professional honors, including recognition as a Leader in Law and a Power 50 Law List honoree. She is also actively involved in civic and nonprofit leadership, serving on boards and committees that support professional development, community engagement and women's leadership initiatives.

Dr. Davné McGee, LCSW, is director of programs for the Penfield Central School District, where she leads districtwide initiatives focused on wellness, engagement, mental health and sustainable systems of support for students and staff.

With more than a decade of experience in education, healthcare and community-based settings, Dr. McGee is recognized for her expertise in trauma-informed leadership, organizational wellness and social-emotional systems development. Before entering district leadership, she worked as a social worker across educational, healthcare and residential treatment environments, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges facing helping professionals.

In addition to her leadership role, Dr. McGee maintains a private therapy practice specializing in trauma-informed care for adolescents and adults experiencing chronic stress, trauma and burnout. A licensed clinical social worker, she is committed to helping organizations create cultures that promote psychological safety, resilience and long-term well-being.

Deborah Campbell currently works as the director of Eleversity, a division of Heritage Christian Services dedicated to next level workforce education. She is a training facilitator and accomplished executive with a history of progressive accountability and consistent achievement. She brings over 20 years of experience serving as director of workforce development and disability services programs in the nonprofit sector and has worked in government HR and training management. Campbell is committed to delivering trainings on cultural humility, as well as promoting and developing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Campbell has sat on several boards. She has a Master in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College.