Stephanie Brady, Founder and Managing Director
Stephanie has provided growth and innovation leadership for some of the world’s most respected brands – in public and private sectors and across diverse impact areas – by building or revitalizing brand, campaign, program, product, partner, and channel assetsShe combines her passion for purpose and teaching with her entrepreneur mindset and extensive marketing expertise to mobilize greater trust, accelerate impact, spark collective learning, and seed sustainable growth for organizations and brands committed to making a difference in the communities they serve.
As a national speaker, facilitator, and trainer, Stephanie has presenting to groups such as Women CEO, IBM, Unreasonable Institute, Nonprofit Learning Labs, SeedCo, National Center for Social Entrepreneurs, The Conservation Fund, Boulder Startup Week, and Boulder
Earth Day. Stephanie is also the creator of Books@Work, a former syndicated Media General business columnist and Starbucks-sponsored CBS radio show featuring high-profile CEOs about the books that influence their business leadership. Stephanie is has a BS degree from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and an MBA from the University of Tampa.

Marcy has 37 years of experience coaching individuals through their next life chapter, helping them bring their best selves to work. She is passionate about aligning actions with values to create a fulfilling life. Her mission is simple—to inspire and nurture growth and fulfillment. Over the years, she has helped clients secure positions at top companies like Google, Nike, Disney, Cisco, and Accenture.
For over a decade, she taught courses such as Women in the Workforce, Practicing Happiness, Career Exploration, and Professional Development at NC State University.
She has facilitated corporate retreats, led workshops, and delivered compelling keynote addresses around the world. Her contributions have been recognized with the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence and the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Alumni Society.
Recently, she was humbled to be interviewed about her life’s work.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is certified in Career Coaching, Gallup Strengths, and Professional Leadership.

Alex Dumas empowers leaders of color to build unshakable confidence for personal and professional success. As a keynote speaker, international best-selling author, and leadership expert, he has helped hundreds of BIPOC entrepreneurs amplify their impact and influence. Known for his transformational insights and community-building expertise, Alex delivers engaging content that resonates across industries. He is a sought-after voice for conferences, podcasts, and publications, inspiring leaders to ‘speak up and stand out’ to their full potential.

Olivia is the Director, People Experience, North America at VitalEdge Technologies. With a strong passion for employee experience, she champions a “people first” strategy while fostering a results-driven, and future-focused global workforce. She is currently on a Board Member for Activate Good (former Board Chair), President, RMSHRM, Board Member for Youth Ambassadors of Service, Career Coach at Dress for Success, and Volunteer Leader for Note in the Pocket. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY and a MBA from New Rochelle, NY. She resides in Clayton, NC and besides volunteering, she enjoys traveling, drinking coffee and being the best aunt possible to her niece and nephew.

Katherine Dickinson-Garcia is the Owner and President of BaySix, a branding and imprint company, right here in downtown Raleigh, since 2005. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Meredith College in Interior Design, which she practiced for a short time. Prior to going full time at BaySix, she was a Stay-at-Home mom for 12 years. In her current role, she combines her leadership responsibilities with a strong focus on Business Development and Community Engagement. This dual role compliments her sales skills and her philanthropic heart. From non-profit partnerships and initiatives to the Space for Good, a portion of the business warehouse where she donates the use of the space to non-profits, Katherine can build her business and give back to the community.

Brandi McCarn Gerew, CAE, CMP is an award-winning nonprofit banking expert. She is a Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Financial Partners. Brandi worked in the nonprofit sector for 10+ years until she was approached about joining the banking industry. She has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) and the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credentials. Brandi is the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina’s first ever Women’s Innovation Award (where a North Carolina flag was flown in her honor). Brandi also received the Association Executives of North Carolina Young Professionals – FUEL Award in July 2020 and the Association Forum and USAE Forty Under 40® Award in August 2017 as well as a Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management in 2016 from Michigan State University. Brandi serves on eight nonprofit boards, 4 of which on the executive committee along with numerous other committees.

Diana Nickole Graham (DNG), MPA, MBA, is a recognized authority in
leadership, workforce strategy, and human capital development. A decorated
Army Combat Veteran, global speaker, and business strategist, she delivers
high-impact solutions that drive organizational success.
With dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public
Administration, a Political Science background, and an extensive track record
of driving organizational success, Diana empowers executives, teams, and
institutions to break barriers, build influence, and achieve sustainable
results.
Diana began her military service in 2000, later deployed to Operation Iraqi
Freedom in 2005 as a Battalion-level Patient Administrator. She now
channels her expertise in strategic leadership, workforce innovation, and
executive advisory services, helping corporations, government agencies, and

institutions strengthen leadership, enhance communication, and build high-
performing teams that lead to better morale and retention within the

workforce.

Crash is an experienced real estate and marketing professional who has the pleasure of helping families and business owners with their real estate needs. His personal knowledge of the Triangle market, neighborhoods, real estate trends, and home values have helped him stay in-the-know for all his clients. In this capacity, he had the opportunity to finely hone his negotiation and research skills to complement his marketing career of over 25 years, which includes various roles within real estate, corporate, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors. Crash’s successes have been garnered through a combination of knowledge, networking, research, and good old-fashioned hard work.

Crash’s clients have used words to describe their interactions with him such as trust, communication, market knowledge, and a great understanding of luxury real estate.

One of his many valuable assets is a vast personal and business network. He is exceptionally well-connected locally, regionally, and nationally. Within his network can be found other real estate agents, business owners, C-Suite executives, restaurant owners/chefs, venture capitalists, non-profit leaders, TV/radio personalities, municipal leaders, and many fellow entrepreneurs. In addition to real estate, Crash is also Publisher for Triangle Downtowner Magazine, the area’s longest-running monthly publication, and consistently leverages its broad reach to assist his real estate clients.

Crash currently serves on the Raleigh Chamber Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors for the Wake County Women’s Center, State Capitol Foundation, Glenwood Neighborhood Collaborative, and Triangle ArtWorks. He is a long-standing member of Shop Local Raleigh, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, NC Association of Realtors®, Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors®, and three other local Chambers of Commerce. I’m honored to donate 10% of my real estate commission to a local charity of your choice. Let’s pay it forward together!

Crash has one son, Colton and he is an accomplished writer, photographer, and art collector. He always finds time for local non-profits, networking, mentoring, friends, and family. Crash would be honored to work with new clients on their real estate needs.

Jessie Hathcock is the President of The Loading Dock, where she’s on a mission to build thriving communities, create inspiring workspaces, and help businesses grow in meaningful ways. With a knack for turning big ideas into action, she’s led The Loading Dock through rapid expansion, built strong teams, and crafted spaces where people love to work.

When she’s not dreaming up new ways to connect people and businesses, you can find her spending time with her family, adventuring outside, or cooking up something delicious in the kitchen.

Originally from the D.C. area, Cheryl is a strategic executive with deep
expertise in IT, healthcare, and biotechnology. With a foundation in
biology from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and
a Master of Science in Public Health from Meharry Medical College, Cheryl
blends technical acumen with strategic vision to help organizations navigate
global complex challenges.
She launched her career at Cerner Corporation, where she quickly
distinguished herself as a leader in healthcare IT. Over the years, she has
built a reputation for spearheading high-impact initiatives that optimize
operations, improve efficiencies, and accelerate growth.
As the Founder and CEO of Howard Consulting, a boutique consulting
firm based in Raleigh, NC, Cheryl partners with corporate organizations to
drive strategic transformation, operational excellence, and IT optimization.
Leveraging her PMP and Prosci® Change Management certifications, she
specializes in designing and implementing tailored strategies that enhance
organizational agility and performance.
Before launching Howard Consulting, Cheryl was the Director of IT
Strategy at Gilead Sciences, where she played a pivotal role in optimizing
the company’s drug development lifecycle—spanning discovery,
manufacturing, and commercialization—supporting over $30 billion in
annual revenue.
Beyond her professional work, Cheryl is passionate about mentorship,
leadership development, and community engagement. She serves on the
Board of Advisors for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and
actively supports organizations like the Girl Scouts and the Junior League
of Raleigh.
Outside of work, Cheryl enjoys Pilates, yoga, reading, traveling, and
spending time with her family. She resides in Raleigh with her husband and
two dogs, while her young adult daughter pursues her career in NYC.

Katherine Koonce is the Engagement Lead at Southern Energy Management. Passionate about social and environmental impact, she focuses on solar and green building education in North Carolina communities and works on building a customer journey that empowers solar customers. She also serves on the B Local Triangle board supporting businesses and entrepreneurs that are interested in the movement and becoming a Certified B Corporation.

Kim Korando is recognized as one of North Carolina’s leading employment lawyers by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Law and Politics North Carolina Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers® and Business North Carolina Legal Elite. She is a partner with Smith Anderson, one of North Carolina’s oldest and largest law firms where she founded the firm’s Employment, Labor and Human Resources practice group.

Kim serves as a trusted advisor to public and private companies throughout the U.S. in matters of financial, reputational and operational significance. She often is retained as special counsel to conduct independent internal investigations, workplace compliance audits and workplace culture assessments, including those arising from allegations of hostile and toxic work environments.

Kim is a thought leader who frequently speaks and writes on human resources compliance and risk management issues, including establishing and maintaining legal diversity initiatives and programs, and has served on the Board of Editors for the nation’s leading employment discrimination treatise.

Marisa Madia McEvoy has dedicated her career to creating memorable events while
making an impact. As a Senior Manager, Hospitality at Wasserman, she hosts corporate
groups at marquee events and engages her coworkers and clients in community-
focused initiatives. Marisa has over a decade of experience organizing volunteer
programs, including in her previous role at the Susan G. Komen foundation where she
championed sponsors, corporate groups, and passionate individuals in uniting around
the cause through fundraising and volunteering.
Marisa is a graduate of North Carolina State University and resides in Raleigh with her
husband.

Tyler McKenney is a Senior Partner at Emendo Inc., and has been leading the US branch of the company for over 3 years, while recently sitting on the Denmark management team as well. He has a background in Manufacturing, Project Management, and Management Consulting and utilizes his skills to help organizations obtain their goals and deliver the Good Story

Anu brings technology leadership experience in data and analytics across industries. She is head of data and analytics at ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization. She is passionate about giving back and supporting diverse community needs through her personal and professional experiences. Anu serves on the board of Activate Good and chairs the DEI Committee.

Libby Richards is the Community Engagement Manager for Lenovo, North America. In her role she manages corporate giving and employee volunteering which center around access to technology and STEM education. Previously, Libby worked at the Triangle Community Foundation where she designed grant programs in the areas of early childhood literacy, arts, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarships. Libby is a graduate of Converse College and grew up in South Carolina. Libby lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two sons.

Prior to leading Plan To Action, Sertrice made significant contributions as Co-Owner & Chief Consulting Officer of Mattingly Solutions. She is also co-author of Inclusalytics: How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leaders Use Data to Drive their Work. Her dynamic consulting has benefited clients like the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Koppers, and American Humane, delivering comprehensive DEI solutions ranging from executive advising to behavioral change strategies.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sertrice is deeply committed to community service. She holds prestigious positions such as Chair of the board for Blacks in I/O, serves on the Board of Directors for the Lucy Daniels Center, the Board of Advisors for GoBe Kids, and the Radford University IO program Board of Advisors. Additionally, she contributes her time and insights to national organizations like the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority.

A respected DEI thought leader and public speaker, Sertrice has been invited to speak at prominent events like the Society for Human Resource Management, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and various city Chamber events across the United States. Residing in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband Abraham and their dog Winston, Sertrice continues her mission through Plan To Action, leveraging her deep-rooted knowledge and commitment to foster inclusive workplace cultures and drive meaningful change in DEI implementation.

Natalie Smith has been with ThinkTech Advisors for over 14 years, holding a variety of roles at the company. She is currently the Client Success Manager and specializes in account management and IT planning, ensuring client satisfaction and fostering strong professional relationships. One of the highlights of her career so far has been helping to implement the employee volunteer program at ThinkTech. Natalie holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.