CAREER & NETWORKING FAIR (IN PERSON)

Charise Reid, SPHR, brings over 15 years of human resources leadership to …her role as Vice President of Human Resources and Support Services and Chief Inclusion Officer at the Cleveland Institute of Art. As a key member of the executive team, she manages recruiting, benefits administration, diversity and inclusion initiatives, employee engagement, performance management, Title IX compliance and facilities operations. Her strategic approach has aligned human capital strategies with the institution’s mission to empower creativity and innovation, and she led the development of a transparent compensation philosophy that improved pay equity and market competitiveness. Known for driving transformational change and cultivating equity-focused workplaces, Charise has chaired a diversity council and spearheaded DEI initiatives that enhanced representation across the organization. Her talent management expertise has strengthened retention and engagement through innovative onboarding and peer recognition programs. Beyond her institutional roles, she mentors aspiring professionals with College Now, serves on the Northeast Ohio Collaborative for Nonprofit HR Professionals steering committee and chairs the Total Rewards Committee for the Cleveland Society for Human Resources Management. Charise holds a Master’s in Human Resources Management from Keller Graduate School, a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Capital University and is a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources.

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Charmaine Brown is a powerhouse entrepreneur, executive coach, and …business strategist with nearly 30 years of corporate experience and almost a decade running two transformative businesses. She is the founder of Connexions Consulting, where she partners with mission-driven organizations to design bold strategies and implement high-impact solutions. She also leads Simply Living Me, a brand and community built to support women of color leaving corporate life to launch and grow their own ventures. Charmaine specializes in helping women gain clarity, confidence, and cashflow through retreats, coaching programs, and her signature Simply Launch™ framework. With her unique blend of warmth, wit, and wisdom, Charmaine shows her clients how to build businesses that honor their values, spark joy, and deliver results. When she’s not mapping out million-dollar strategies, you’ll find her sipping cocktails, spending time with her family and friends, or pouring into the women who dare to dream bigger.

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Erica Merritt (she/her) is a leadership coach, joy architect, and organizational …development strategist, as well as the visionary behind both Equius Group and The Sweet Life Collective. A Gestalt-trained leader with more than two decades of experience, Erica is known for helping people and organizations imagine what’s possible, navigate hard truths, and build the conditions where all can flourish.
As the Founder and President of Equius Group, Erica brings over 20 years of experience coaching leaders and professionals across sectors. She specializes in helping individuals navigate career transitions, clarify their leadership vision, and grow with confidence. Her coaching approach is grounded in positive psychology, Gestalt theory, and inclusive practices, supporting clients not only in achieving their goals, but doing so with authenticity and purpose. Whether reviewing a resume, refining a LinkedIn profile, or offering strategic guidance, Erica provides practical insight and meaningful encouragement. Through Equius Group, she partners with organizations to strengthen leadership, grow capacity, and transform culture—with equity and humanity at the center. Her work bridges insight and action, creating brave spaces for people to stretch, heal, and lead. As the founder of The Sweet Life Collective, Erica helps individuals design lives rooted in intention, joy, and community. Whether guiding a team through systems change or supporting someone in reclaiming their joy, Erica leads with warmth, wisdom, and the belief that the sweet life isn’t just a dream, it’s a practice.

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Jared Daly has a BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice and his …MA in Organizational Psychology. He currently works for The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, as the Regional Coordinator of Workforce Development. In his role, he assists local organizations in implementing disability inclusion initiatives to hire, onboard, train, and retain individuals with disabilities. Jared is the founder of The Employment Collaborative of Cuyahoga County (ECCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group consisting of over 80 local organizations. The ECCC works to efficiently connect the local business community to a diverse talent pool of job seekers with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Jared is also the President of The Cleveland Society of Human Resource Management, helping lead a talented group of volunteers dedicated to educating and advancing the local HR community.

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Mary Davids is the owner of D&M Consulting Services, LLC, a minority-owned …and woman-owned career and human resources strategy development firm created to help ambitious entrepreneurs, business professionals, and organizations supporting career and personnel development initiatives.
Mary specializes in helping you send a clear message about your business needs and leveraging your human resources to create a sustainable business.
Her clients are business owners, leadership professionals, philanthropists, public speakers, relationship experts, financial strategists, business consultants, and other corporate professionals.
Mary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management, and a Women in Entrepreneurship Certification from Cornell University.
Mary is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and Legacy Magazine most recently recognized her as one of their Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and Industry.

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Alan K. Nevel serves as CEO and Managing Partner of INTETHIQ,…a leading firm specializing in management consultancy and professional services. INTETHIQ is committed to equipping businesses with the tools they need to navigate transformative shifts in culture, leadership, talent, and digital platforms.
With over three decades of impressive leadership experience, Alan has a proven track record of driving inclusive systems, fostering equitable workplace cultures, and implementing value-generating programs at global Fortune 500 companies. Beyond his operational expertise, Alan has also served as a trusted advisor, coach, and mentor to numerous C-suite leaders worldwide, helping them refine their strategies and leadership approaches to achieve success in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Prior to launching INTETHIQ in 2023, Alan held the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Equity and Community Impact Officer at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio. In this role, he developed and executed a community-centric, patient-focused strategy to advance healthcare equity. Alan worked across sectors to dismantle healthcare disparities and championed a comprehensive vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion at MetroHealth. His leadership extended programmatically and administratively across departments, initiatives, and community partnerships, addressing systemic inequities impacting patients, employees, and the broader community.
Alan joined MetroHealth in 2018 as SVP, Chief Diversity and Human Resources Officer after having served as VP, Global Diversity and Inclusion for Thermo Fisher Scientific, a $40 billion global life science solutions, specialty diagnostics and laboratory equipment company with over 100,000 employees in 60 countries. Prior to Thermo Fisher, Nevel held key positions in Diversity and Inclusion, HR Strategy Delivery, Talent Development, and Organizational Change Management roles at L Brands and Victoria’s Secret, two high-profile fashion retailers headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
Alan’s career began in R&D and manufacturing at Sherwin-Williams Company before transitioning to a successful management consultancy role with Accenture. Over the years, his ability to coach and guide senior leaders has been instrumental in shaping organizational success globally.
A highly sought-after speaker and educator, Alan holds a B.A. from Cleveland State University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management (WSOM), where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the WSOM Online Healthcare MBA Program.
Alan serves on numerous local and national boards, including The Cleveland State University Foundation, Urban League of Greater Cleveland, CHC-Creating Healthier Communities, and the National Society of High School Scholars. As part of his passionate commitment to education and giving back to the community, he established the Alan K. Nevel and Family Scholarship Endowment for underresourced students attending his alma mater, Cleveland State University in 2020.

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Anthony W. Scott, Esq. (“Tony”) has worked for the City of Cleveland, Ohio …since 2013. He presently serves as the Assistant Director of the Department of Community Development.
In June 2025, Tony was nominated by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne to serve as the Director of Housing and Community Development for Cuyahoga County. His nomination is currently pending confirmation by the Cuyahoga County Council.
He also owns and operates I.S.I. Consulting, LLC, a consulting practice dedicated to providing professional and personal development services and legal/business consulting for small businesses and non-profit organizations. A published author, Tony has released two books: Unlocking Potential: Tips, Strategies & Insights for Young Black Professionals and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: You Belong at the Table!
Upon graduating from Shaw High School in East Cleveland, Ohio, Tony served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for eight years during Operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and several other deployments. Upon his Honorable Discharge, he returned to Cleveland. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in English (2003), a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (2007), and his Juris Doctorate (2009) from Cleveland State University’s College of Law, respectively. He passed the State of Ohio Bar exam and is admitted to practice law in Ohio and the Northern District of Ohio.
Tony is actively involved in numerous community service organizations. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., currently serving as Assistant 4th District Counselor and formerly as the Zeta Omega Chapter’s Basileus (President). He is also the President of the Zeta Omega Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees and as Governance Chairman for the Black Professional Association Charitable Foundation (BPACF), oversees the Norman S. Minor Bar Association (NSMBA) Mentoring Committee, and serves as Housing Chairman for the Cleveland Chapter of the NAACP.
In recognition of his community service, Tony has received the Zeta Omega “Chapter Man of the Year” and “Omega Man of the Year” awards. He has been featured in Who’s Who in Black Cleveland and Kaleidoscope Magazine’s “40 under 40.” He was also named a “Mover and Shaker” by Code M Magazine. In 2025, the Cleveland State University College of Law’s Black Law Student Association honored him as “Alumni of the Year,” and most recently, Case Western Reserve University College of Law’s Black Law Student Association presented him with the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Leader Award.

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Kim Jenkins is the Founder and President of Kim Jenkins Enterprises …– a conglomerate of individual business ventures. She is also the CEO of The Kim Jenkins Experience, a multifaceted strategic advisory company that provides coaching, consulting, and learning solutions for individuals, organizations, and corporations. She is also the author of Undaunted Aspiration – Lessons of Curiosity, Courage, Authenticity, and Purposeful Intention. Kim is renowned for her work and has become a sought-after speaker on a number of business topics. https://www.thekimjenkinsexperience.com/.
Kim recently served as the Special Advisor to the CEO of Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc). In this role she provided strategic guidance and operational advisement to optimize value creation for clients, communities, and stakeholders.
Prior to launching her business, Kim Jenkins was the Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIE&B) at PayPal. In this role, Kim was responsible for ensuring all of these guiding principles were deeply embedded within the organization’s values and reflected in the company’s commitments to employees, customers, communities, and stakeholders. She worked diligently to design and guide PayPal’s global DIE&B strategy, and was integral to the development and implementation of values-led initiatives companywide. She employed a global perspective to this work, with an intentional focus on inclusive talent acquisition, equitable talent and product development, employee retention, corporate culture, shareholder interests, and overall employee engagement efforts.
Prior to joining PayPal, Kim served as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Key Bank and was responsible for enterprise strategies to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce, workplace and marketplace. Kim is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with many years of experience in accounting, finance and capital markets leadership roles (rising through the ranks from analyst to CFO) at KeyBank, Bank of America, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan Chase. Refer to Kim’s LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimjenkinscpa/
Kim currently serves as a strategic advisor to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. She previously served on their Board of Trustees, where she was on the Executive Committee as Treasurer, Chair of the Finance committee, and co-chair of the Audit committee. She also completed a five-year term on the Board of Directors of the Greater Cleveland YMCA.
Kim earned a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University – Newark. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is Six Sigma certified. Kim loves to travel globally, read, and shop.

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Lakeisha brings six years of dedicated service to Cuyahoga County, currently serving …–as a Career Services Coach with the Cuyahoga Works department at Cuyahoga County Public Library. With a bachelor’s degree in communication from John Carroll University, Lakeisha has held various roles throughout the county system, gaining valuable experience that enhances their ability to guide clients toward meaningful career opportunities.
Committed to excellence in customer service, Lakeisha approaches each interaction with professionalism and dedication, striving to deliver exceptional service to clients at the highest level. Her diverse background within the county system provides unique insight into the resources and pathways available to job seekers and career changers in the community.

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Ebony is a Career Services Supervisor for Cuyahoga Works Job & Career …Services @ Cuyahoga County Public Library. She has been with the organization for 15 years. Before then, she worked in different roles at Kent State University’s Center for Disability Studies, Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, and the Office of Accessibility Services at the University of Akron.
Ebony holds a Master’s degree in Education with a major in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University.
Over the years, Ebony has earned a myriad of professional certifications, including Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner, Digital Brand Strategist (CDBS), and Microsoft Office Specialist—Word (MOS Word). Her latest goal is to sit for the National Counselor Exam, which will lead to a License as a Professional Counselor in Fall 2025.
Ebony has an extensive background in disability services, family life education, child abuse and neglect, career counseling, career development and planning, assessment and evaluation, resume and cover letter writing, professional social media content management, workforce trends and issues, and college and career readiness.
As an advocate of people and change, Ebony takes pride in providing everything from time to resources to a listening ear to a word of advice, or a word of encouragement to her clients.
Her life’s journey and work have always been to see others realize their utmost potential so that they can reach the highest height in their respective life venture.

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Deborah Bibb brings over 25 years of experience in higher education, with …a distinguished career spanning both public and private institutions. She has successfully guided students from more than 40 countries, drawing on her extensive expertise in academic administration and teaching —including admissions, career services, student life, academic affairs, and diversity initiatives—across undergraduate and graduate business programs.
Her foundation in business education, paired with corporate experience, gives her a unique perspective in coaching students and professionals alike as they navigate both academic and career pathways.
A proud Clevelander, Deborah earned both her undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems and her MBA from The Ohio State University. She is a Washington Campus Fellow of Georgetown University, a HERS Leadership Institute Fellow at Bryn Mawr College, and a graduate of the Executive Leadership Development Experience (ELDE) at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Deborah is a founding member of the Columbus Chapter and past president of the Cleveland Chapter of the National Black MBA Association. Her board service includes the Consortium of African American Organizations (former Chair), A Cultural Exchange, and currently, Towards Employment and the advisory board for the Pink Party. Her volunteer work includes organizations such as “I Know I Can,” UNCF, and The Youth Investment Club at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, where she serves as Financial Recording Secretary.
Deborah is a recipient of the Kaleidoscope Magazine’s 40 Under 40, an Honorable Mention for the President’s Service Award and Innovative Staff Award (Weatherhead) at Case Western Reserve University, the Outstanding Staff Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at The Ohio State University, and four-time recognition as MBA of the Year by the National Black MBA Association (Cleveland Chapter).
Deborah brings deep insight, authenticity, and a proven commitment to empowering others through professional development.

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Ben is a Career Services Coach for Cuyahoga Works Job & Career Services …@ Cuyahoga County Public Library. He has been with the organization for over 4 years. Prior to that, Ben worked at Mentor Public Schools, Kent State University-Geauga Campus, Cleveland State University along with various business and non-profit organizations.
Ben’s background is widespread with strong knowledge of career coaching, career development and planning, workforce trends and issues, accessibility/disability services, mental health, academic support services, college transition, conflict management, tutoring, training, teaching in-person and online in K-12 as well as college classrooms.
Ben graduated from The University of Toledo with a Master of Education in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education and Recreational Administration. Additionally, Ben also obtained professional certifications in Disability Studies & Community Inclusion, Career Transition Coach, Hidden Job Market Coach, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner, and Train the Trainer.

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