Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. They’re more than just words for us. They’re the hard-and-fast principles guiding how we build our teams, cultivate leaders and create a Chamber that’s the right fit for every person inside of it. We have a global, multicultural following—we want the Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber to reflect that. Our Chamber positions diversity, equity and inclusion as critical for business maturation and growth. We endorse the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies that advance productivity, innovation, and economic growth.

We envision a steering committee that reflects the demographics of our city and a growing membership of businesses representing the diversity of our business owners and entrepreneurs.

Tim Hogans, Chair - Power & Light

Cindy Brief, CSCCR Chamber Shane Caldwell III, Fiserv Gulie Carrington, CSCCR Chamber Donna Denton, AmTrust Bank Kate Goldman, Baptist Health Andrea Jacobs, Brodzki Jacobs Ron Renzy, Wallberg & Renzy Thomas Walker, Broward College

Want to Sponsor? Have questions? Bronze Sponsor: Email us at [email protected] Kelley Kronenberg PA Alphonso R. Jackson 13th Secretary United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

Alphonso Jackson is chief executive of A.R. Jackson Advisors, LLC. Jackson has decades of experience in housing and community development. His expertise includes development of affordable and market rate housing, handling complex urban development issues and housing finance. Jackson serves on the International Advisory Council of the United States Institute of Peace and the Board of Trustees of Howard University in Washington, DC. He is a member of the Horatio Alger Association and The Alfalfa Club.

Jackson first joined First Data in January 2015 as their Senior Advisor. Based out of the Washington, DC office, Jackson’s primary focus was to strengthen First Data’s relationships with government entities, in addition to working on public policy initiatives, and maximizing business opportunities in the sector. His extensive government experience and public service background were critical to those efforts. Furthermore , Jackson helped expand and support First Data’s many diversity efforts. He also served as a member of the First Data Corporation International Advisory Board.

In 2012, he served as Vice Chairman of Consumer & Community Banking at JP Morgan Chase in New York City. Prior to his role at JP Morgan Chase, he was the distinguished university professor and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Leadership at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.

Alphonso Jackson was appointed the 13th Secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in March 2004. Nominated by President George W. Bush, he was unanimously confirmed by the due to his strong background in housing and community development and expertise in finance and management.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Jackson was the Deputy Secretary of HUD, managing the daily operations of the $36 billion agency. Before his government service, Jackson was president and COO of American Electric Power, a $13 billion utility company in . Prior to his tenure at AEP, he was president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Dallas which ranked among the best- managed large-city housing agencies during his tenure.

He has received many notable awards and honors including: The Aspen Institute – Aspen Fellow, The National Boys and Girls Clubs of America – Chairman's Award, The National Academy of Achievement – Golden Plate Award, American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) – Lifetime Achievement Award, The Jewish National Fund, New York – National Tree of Life Award, Truman State University – Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.

Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master’s in education administration from Truman State University. He also earned a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO. He holds several Honorary degrees from Benedict College, Hampton University, Harris Stowe State University, Hiram College, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T State University, Paine College, Tuskegee University, Texas College, and Texas Southern University.

Alphonso can be reached at [email protected] Joshua Simmons is the first African-American Commissioner to be elected since the City became incorporated in 1963. He served as an intern for a law firm, where one of the partner’s served on the Finance Committee for President Barack Obama, inspiring his own political aspirations. Josh served on the City’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Multi-Cultural Advisory & Customer Involved Government committees for the City prior to being elected to the City Commission. Josh believes the City is a microcosm of the State of Florida, with great diversity. Of the City, Josh is proud of the 49 parks, multitude of events, schools and outstanding restaurants. His goal is to ensure Coral Springs remains a great, safe community for people of all ages, races & religious backgrounds. Joshua currently serves as Vice Mayor of Coral Springs.

Chevara Orrin is an award-winning diversity and inclusion practitioner, social entrepreneur, published author, social justice activist, independent filmmaker, and dynamic public speaker. Her work and passion live at the intersection of gender parity, racial equity, LGBTQ equality, and arts activism. As a diversity and inclusion principal strategist for The Winters Group, Inc., Orrin specializes in devising and facilitating leadership and employee learning sessions on improving cultural agility and work climate, developing comprehensive organizational strategies, building marketplace D&I brand awareness, and developing Business Resource Groups (BRG). Orrin has been recognized by the White House and the Human Rights Campaign as a leader, advocate and ally for the LGBTQ community, and featured in publications including The Washington Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tikkun Magazine, and The Feminist Wire.

Rene Cantu brings 20 years of non-profit management and marketing experience. Most recently, he served as the Director of Membership, Communications and Resource Development with Leadership Broward Foundation, & as Director of Membership and Business Development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. While in these positions, he worked diligently to build his network of business and community leaders, & strategic partners in order to further the mission of both organizations. Rene holds his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. His community involvement has included serving on the board of Latinos Salud (Wilton Manors, FL) & is a current member of Riverwalk Trust, The Pride Center’s Founders’ Circle, and is a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi, Leadership Houston and Leadership Broward. He has delivered the commencement address for Sanford Brown College (2011), Westwood College (2012), & his alma mater, West Oso High School (2016). Carla Harris is the Managing Director of The People Institute and has more than two decades of executive & leadership coaching. Her greatest strength is helping people build greater bonds by helping them see the perspective of others. Carla believes that professional development is the key to making people the best they can be. Her teaching style includes having meaningful conversations in lively, thought-provoking ways. Ms. Harris created the Racial Awareness & Cultural Equity Town Hall & the Diversity Challenge which is a call to all companies, institutions, agencies, and for- and non-profit organizations to accept the challenge to create a racially diverse 21st Century Workplace. She is also the author of FaithWorks: an Innovative Approach to Workforce Development which takes a deep dive into the humanitarian delivery of social services and is one of 20 authors in the anthology, Women of Courage.

Leslie’s current role is Senior Vice President of Inside Sales for Fiserv. Her team is responsible for direct sales in the B2B model. Under her leadership, the team has consistently delivered revenue growth, realized expense reduction and maintained high employee morale. Leslie Pearce leverages over 20 years of success in multiple facets of sales. Her achievements include sales leadership, global sales management design, and sales process leadership that optimize sales resources while exceeding client expectations by partnering on consultative sales solutions. Leslie brings the unique mix of engineering and finance that enhances her ability to understand and meet client business requirements while delivering revenue & profit objectives. She earned her Master’s degree in Business at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Upon graduation, Leslie joined IBM as a Mainframe Systems Engineer in the financial sector. Her passion for her customers, employees and product portfolio enabled her to take on multiple sales leadership roles including Vice President Global Software Sales, Vice President North America Inside Sales and Director of Global Sales Center Delivery.

Neil H. Wilcox serves as Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO at Fiserv, Inc. He joined Fiserv in September 2020 & is engaged in day-to-day operating issues across the organization, working closely with the Fiserv leadership team on a wide range of operational effectiveness initiatives. Neil also serves as a co-sponsor of Fiserv’s Black Leadership Council. Most recently, Neil served as interim General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer at USAA, Board of Directors & Executive Council. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, Enterprise Shared Services Counsel at USAA. Prior to USAA, Neil was Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel as part of the First Data legal team. He serves on the boards of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and New York's Hale House Center, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. Neil received his undergraduate degree from Duke University & his Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. About Our Presenting Sponsor:

Since 1984, Fiserv has been focused on partnership and possibility. The small business owner ready to meet another busy day. The young home buyer on the way to her first real estate closing. Roommates splitting the monthly expenses. The banker wiring funds for a client's business expansion. Life moves fast. And as it does, we know most people aren't thinking about "financial services." But we are. We help people and businesses move money and information every minute of every day. Our solutions connect financial institutions, corporations, merchants and consumers to one another, millions of times a day, behind the scenes, reliably and securely.

We're Fiserv, a global leader in Fintech and payments enabling innovative financial services experiences that are in step with the way people live and work today. We proudly serve clients in more than 100 countries, so their customers, members and consumers can move money when and where they need it, at the point of thought.