Keynote Speaker

Dr. Susie Hansley is a keynote speaker, stress resilience expert, and award-winning storyteller. Susie helps teams and organizations achieve their goals without burning out. Her TEDx talk earlier this year revealed how one overlooked biological response holds the key to both individual stress regulation and thriving workplace cultures. A first-generation Mexican American ADHDer and proud geek, she holds a Ph.D. from Brown University and an M.S. in Technical Communication from NC State.

President
The Loading Dock and Founder of Scale Simple

Purpose and impact are woven into Jessie Hathcock’s DNA. For over 20 years, she has led in education, nonprofits, and the business community; always with a heart for helping people reach their innate potential.

Co-Founder and CEO
Playful Campus

Paul Miller is Co-Founder and CEO of Playful Campus. A professional comedy juggler and facilitator, he has performed for Disney Cruise Line, off-Broadway, and for companies across the country. Known for his improvisational style and contagious energy, Paul creates inclusive, interactive experiences that quickly put attendees at ease and invite full participation. In 2017, he created the Flop Ball to make play-based engagement accessible for trainings, team building, and events.

Dual Board-Certified Physician and Fractional Wellness Officer
Success Curated LLC

Dual Board-Certified Physician, Top Podcast Host, and TEDx Speaker Dr. Amna Shabbir brings extensive experience in executive wellbeing, leadership, and performance. As a Fractional Wellness Officer, she partners with leaders to design high-performing cultures that foster trust, engagement, and sustainable results.

Professional Speaker & Recording Artist
Lightning Strike Entertainment LLC

Chris Hendricks is a transformational speaker and professional recording artist who combines leadership insight, lived disability experience, and live music to help organizations build trust, resilience, and meaningful connection in the workplace.

Rooted in faith, fueled by purpose, and a commitment to impact, Alex Dumas embodies what it means to be a “do-gooder.”

Regional Director of External Affairs
AT&T North Carolina

Kathleen Evans is Regional Director of External Affairs for AT&T North Carolina, representing the company in the greater Charlotte region. With 28 years of telecommunications experience, she leads government relations and works with area government, business, and community leaders to advance policies that support investment in next-generation broadband infrastructure and improve quality of life across North Carolina.

A graduate of Leadership North Carolina (2020) and Leadership Winston-Salem (2013), Kathleen serves as Vice Chair of the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and sits on the Advisory Council of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and the Executive Board of the Urban League of Central Carolinas. She is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Charlotte

Kathleen has been recognized for community and disaster-response leadership, including AT&T’s 2018 National Celebrate Award following Hurricane Florence and a 2017 Bronze President’s Volunteer Service Award. She holds a B.S. in Marketing and Finance from Syracuse University and an Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin, and she is a graduate of AT&T’s Lift and Connect program.

Originally from Camden, New Jersey, Kathleen lives in North Carolina with her husband, Ron, and their rescue dog, Pebbles.

Keynote Speaker
Executive Director, Global ESG and Regulatory
Lenovo

Mary leads the corporate organization responsible for driving Lenovo’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Regulatory Compliance programs. In her role, Mary advances Lenovo’s ESG strategy, performance and governance through her regulatory expertise, vision and passion for sustainability. Under Mary’s leadership, Lenovo became the first PC company with SBTi- validated net-zero targets and has garnered industry-leading ESG recognition including AAA ratings from MSCI. Mary oversees programs supporting the transition to a circular economy, climate change mitigation, ESG risk management and regulatory disclosures. Mary is most proud of her success in developing a diverse and thriving team focused on promoting meaningful and lasting change, establishing strong ESG governance structures and KPIs, building robust compliance programs in a highly dynamic regulatory environment, and supporting award-winning ESG reporting.

Mary began her career as an engineer with IBM’s Corporate Environmental Affairs organization within its Engineering Center for Environmentally Conscious Products. She then served as the Environmental, Health, and Safety Risk Manager at MIT before joining Lenovo. Her commitment to building organizations dedicated to sustainability and compliance has been the touchstone of her career. Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy and a Master of Environmental Management in Resource Economics and Policy, both from Duke University.

Executive Director
Activate Good

With a diverse career spanning multiple states and areas of focus, Rose brings over 13 years of leadership and dedication to the Activate Good team, where she currently serves as Executive Director. Her journey into the nonprofit world began with a leap from education and has since included directing programs that support youth development and volunteerism in Wisconsin, New York, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Rose also serves on the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, helping to champion civic engagement and strengthen communities across the state. A proud Clemson University alumna who “bleeds orange,” Rose is passionate about building connections and creating impact through service.

Since 2008, she and her husband have called Clayton, NC home, where they’re raising three teenagers along with a few beloved pets.