Eleversity

Desmond Jackson is a dedicated healthcare leader committed to advancing quality care with empathy, compassion and excellence. He currently serves as deputy executive health director at Monroe Community Hospital, bringing a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in healthcare administration.

Holding a master's degree in health administration from Roberts Wesleyan University and an LNHA license, Jackson is well-prepared to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare. Rooted in Rochester, NY, he embraces his community while leading with the principles of servant leadership—inspiring teams to deliver exceptional care while keeping empathy at the forefront.

Guided by the values of integrity, compassion and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Jackson’s mission is clear: to serve others while empowering them to achieve excellence in every aspect of life. His expertise spans mediation, operations management, process improvement and quality leadership, making him a versatile and solution-driven professional who consistently drives efficiency and positive outcomes.

In every endeavor, Jackson exemplifies a steadfast commitment to improving healthcare systems and enhancing the well-being of those he serves. His unique blend of expertise, values and personal interests makes him a respected and influential leader in healthcare.

Dr. Wanda Cooper is a premier workplace wellness consultant, former non-profit executive, and the host of the LIFE Podcast. With over 25 years of executive leadership experience and a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of South Carolina, she has mastered the art of building sustainable, high-performing teams. Drawing from her extensive research on workplace burnout, Dr. C created the proprietary LIFE Blueprint™ (Learn, Inspire, Flourish, Evolve). This framework addresses a vital truth in the modern labor market: burnout has transitioned from an individual health concern to a critical organizational risk. Dr. C’s expertise is rooted in creating harmony across the eight dimensions of wellness: intellectual, occupational, physical, social, spiritual, emotional, environmental and financial.

She specializes in deconstructing the systemic drivers of exhaustion, including the physiological impacts of "weathering" and hypervigilance. By doing so, she helps executive leadership transition from equality-based wellness to equity-centered sustainability. Through her consulting and speaking engagements, Dr. C proves that true performance isn't about working harder, it's about living intentionally.

Chuck Collard is the regional vice president of western New York operations and advancement at Heritage Christian Services. In his time at Heritage Christian, Collard has overseen the growth of services and strengthened relationships in the Buffalo area. He is committed to learning, wellness and creating a best-in-class work experience for his team. Before coming to HCS, he worked as vice president at Advanced Care Physical Therapy, where he opened new offices, grew the business and saw improved patient satisfaction. Before that, he led departments at Independent Health and in the telecommunications field. He also served as a business development consultant at Athenex Pharmaceuticals.

Collard is a board member at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and is actively involved in a number of western New York charities, including the Courage of Carly Fund, which he co-founded with his daughter Carly in 2000.

Collard earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services at Elon University.

Marcus Elliott supports staff members as a success coach at Heritage Christian Services. In his role, he serves as a private resource for any employee who is dealing with personal barriers which may affect their ability to be successful at work. The goal of the success coach is to connect employees to the resources that they need to lessen the worry and stress of balancing work and life. Elliott has 15 years of experience in the human services field where he has worked to assist other to manage and overcome daily life challenges, including physical and mental health barriers. He holds a degree in human services and is a certified chemical alcohol substance abuse counselor.

Regina Grice, MS, SHRM-CP, has over six years of experience in human resources within nonprofit and educational organizations. She currently serves as the director of human resources at Allendale Columbia School, where she leads institution-wide initiatives including employee relations, benefits strategy, policy governance, performance management and organizational risk mitigation.

Grice is known for her ability to translate vision into operational reality—designing systems, guiding leaders through change and ensuring alignment between values, people and outcomes. She regularly partners with senior leadership and boards, navigating complex organizational challenges with clarity, discretion and sound judgment.

Prior to her current role, Grice held HR positions in higher education and nonprofit sectors, where she led efforts to strengthen performance management, improve recruiting processes and establish policies that promote fairness, consistency and accountability across organizations.

Grice holds a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Human Resources from Stony Brook University.

Her leadership philosophy centers on what she describes as executive discernment—the ability to think clearly under pressure, recognize patterns and make decisions with integrity. She approaches workplace wellness and equity through structure and leadership, recognizing that employees thrive in environments where expectations are clear, systems are consistent and people are treated fairly in practice.

In addition to her professional work, Regina serves on the boards of GCCS, Family Promise of Greater Rochester and Rise Up Rochester, Inc.

Jawaid Samadey serves as director of total rewards at Heritage Christian Services where he leads the strategy and execution of compensation, benefits and reward programs to support organizational goals and mission alignment.

With more than 12 years of experience in human resources, Samadey specializes in compensation, benefits, and HR analytics. He has held roles at Ascension, Monro Inc., and the United Nations Development Program, contributing to data-driven total rewards strategies across diverse organizational settings.

Samadey holds a master’s degree from the University of Sheffield and a graduate diploma in business administration. He is also certified by both HRCI and SHRM, reflecting his commitment to excellence in the field of human resources.

As vice president of equity and compensation at First American Equipment Finance, Betsy Truax leads reporting, analytics and engagement strategies that strengthen payroll and human resources operations. Since joining in 2015, she has championed fairness, compliance and inclusive practices.

With more than 21 years of experience, Truax blends technical expertise with compassionate leadership. She holds a bachelor of science from SUNY Brockport and a wide range of professional credentials, including SHRM Certified Professional, Professional in Human Resources, Certified Payroll Professional, Certified ScrumMaster, and a DEI in the Workplace Certificate. Her advocacy for Employee Resource Groups has significantly advanced the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Truax’s impact has been recognized through several honors, including the City National Character Award, First American Chairman’s Award Finalist, National HR Association Rising Star Honoree and Rochester Business Journal Impact and Inclusion Honoree.

Rooted in Henrietta, NY, Truax is a crafting enthusiast, fearless foodie and reigning family game night champion who embraces the joyful chaos of parenthood. As a proud first-generation Asian American, she celebrates her Chinese, Thai and Laotian heritage both at work and in her community.

Jay Shiner is passionate about helping people of all abilities achieve their wellness goals. He is the former Major League Baseball strength and conditioning coach for the Baltimore Orioles and also spent several years in the minor leagues, including the Rochester Red Wings. Jay currently operates Innovative Wellness Center in Webster. His formal background is in education and sports medicine. Shiner continues to work with Rochester Police Department, Rochester City School District and Rochester Parks and Recreation and has volunteered for more than 10 years administering Cal Ripken Badges for Baseball and supporting the Faith in Blue program for Rochester city youth.

Charles D’Agostino, PT, is a physical therapist at the University of Rochester. D’Agostino graduated from Gannon University in 2007 and started working at the University of Rochester in the Department of Orthopedics Sports and Spine Rehabilitation group in 2008. Since 2015, D’Agostino has been the coordinator for the UR Medicine Orthopedic Health Program which was designed to mitigate the risk of musculoskeletal injuries of clinicians through screenings to stratify injury risk based on impairments and then implement targeted interventions. Since conception, he has coordinated the program with multiple Rochester area businesses and studied the results for process improvement.

Deborah Campbell, MSL currently works as the Director of Eleversity, a division of Heritage Christian Services. 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 the Director of Workforce Development and Disability Services Programs in the nonprofit sector and has worked in government HR and training management. Ms. Campbell is committed delivering trainings on cultural humility, promoting and developing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Ms. Campbell has sat on several boards. She has Masters in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College.