Candice Nash, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MANAGER AT TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA 

January 25-31, 2023

BS, Organizational Leadership and Supervision (Purdue); MS, Industrial Technology (Purdue)

Candice has more than 25 years of experience within human resources, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has worked for several Fortune 100 companies, including Motorola and Boeing. Candice was one of the first 20 employees to make the historic, headquarters move to Plano, TX with Toyota. She was instrumental in leading the launch of temporary locations, move into the new headquarters and onboarded close to 3,000 relocating and new employees. Today, Candice is a manager on the Diversity and Inclusion team; leading enterprise-wide Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and strategy development for executives within 3 of the 7 pillars at Toyota. Candice also proudly served as the Co-Chair for the African American Collaborative (AAC) North American Advisory Council – providing strategic oversight and guidance to 14 AAC chapters across North America at Toyota.

Candice is passionate about paying it forward! She has made it her mission to personally mentor students and young professionals as they transition from college into corporate America. Candice also led the launch of formal a mentorship program at Toyota.

Candice received an B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Supervision and an M.S. in Industrial Technology both from Purdue University. As an advocate of lifelong learning and remaining relevant in her field, Candice has also obtained the following certifications: Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR); Society for Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM S-CP), Prosci Change Practitioner and International Coaching Federation – AAC Coaching Certification (in – progress/near completion). Candice recently offered the exciting opportunity to serve on the executive board for the University of Michigan – Flint Graduate College of Innovation and Technology helping stand up their new graduate program modeled after her Alma Mater Purdue Polytech.

Candice gives generously of her time by regularly volunteering in the DFW area – specifically with TutorMate, Boys and Girls Clubs, Dwell with Dignity and Habitat for Humanity. She is also an advocate and volunteer with Year Up – a national nonprofit organization serving 18 - 26 year old young adults across 26 markets in the United States. She is a member of One Community Church in Prosper, TX. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and close friends. Candice also loves live music, traveling, reading and finding great Zumba classes!

TOPIC AREAS: Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Professional Consulting, Mentoring, Innovation, Connecting People

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://tinyurl.com/49au62b5

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Rodrick Glass, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT Creative Realities, Inc. 

January 31-February 6, 2023

BS, Organizational Leadership and Supervision (Purdue); MS, Industrial Distribution (Purdue); MBA (Depaul)

With an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for driving growth and profitability within startup and mid-sized businesses, Rodrick has multidisciplinary expertise in sales and business development, cultural transformations, financial and operational processes, and business turnaround. He endeavors to be a servant leader and focuses on developing talent, building strong relationships and advocating for his team and customers.

Rodrick has served as executive vice president of sales and business development with Creative Realities, a digital marketing technologies innovator, for the past 4 years. Prior to his current role he also served as founder, president and chief executive officer for Allure Fusion Media where he built a team from three employees to more than 100, expanding and contracting company operations as dictated by market conditions and stakeholder expectations to maintain profitability. Rodrick feels his greatest success has been in his ability to develop and foster long-lasting business relationships that provide customers with value and results.

While at Purdue, Rodrick was active in student life including serving as president of The Society of Minority Managers, counselor and staff resident at Harrison Hall and Cary Quadrangle, as well as vice president for Purdue Student Government. Rodrick continues to work with Purdue as a board member for the Purdue Alumni Association, and as an active speaker on campus.  Rodrick and his brother Rodney have also endowed two scholarship programs for student leaders.

TOPIC AREAS: Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Digital Marketing, Contracts, Sales, Cultural Transformation, Employee Mentorship

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://tinyurl.com/48ka8vsu

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Danny Varghese, PRESIDENT AT Fortimize 

February 15-21, 2023

BS, Computer Science and Mathematics (Purdue University)

Danny Varghese graduated from Purdue in 2005 with a degree in computer science, mathematics and a minor in psychology.  After graduation, Danny spent five (5) years working at Crowe Horwath as a developer/consultant coding in various technologies such as Java, .NET, C#. He went on to help build a technology practice at Slalom at two different locations (Chicago & Detroit). This involved hiring and leading people, serving clients, helping to sell and managing the operations. Danny is now the President of Fortimize where he manages the P&L of the business.

Danny is involved in his community teaching leadership principles to help people grow in their careers. He lives in Mount Prospect, Illinois with his wife and three children.

TOPIC AREAS: Consulting, Computer Programming, Technology Strategies, Customer Relationship Management, Sales, Team Development, Leadership

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://tinyurl.com/2p9dfmth

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Emily Liggett, BOARD MEMBER, BUSINESS COACH, AND ADVISOR 

March 1-8, 2023

BS, Chemical Engineering (Purdue); MBA and MS, Manufacturing Systems Engineering (Stanford)

Emily Liggett has an entrepreneurial spirit and is passionate about growing businesses through developing and launching new classes of technology-based products (self-limiting heaters, resettable fuses, touchscreens, clean gas turbines, high efficiency electric motors). An Indiana farm girl, she has enjoyed working for both large and small businesses in the US, in Europe, Australia and Africa.  Currently Emily serves on technology-based public, private, not-for-profit boards and impact (climate) investing.  She loves applying creativity and problem-solving skills in various organizations, in her community, at home and around the world.

TOPIC AREAS: Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Career Development, Management and Leadership Challenges, Team-building, International Work Experience, Work-Life-Faith Balance

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://tinyurl.com/yrktu3r5

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Dr. David Liggett, RETIRED VETERINARIAN AND STEM EDUCATOR 

March 1-8, 2023

BS, Animal Science (Purdue); Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Purdue); MBA (Stanford)

Dr. Liggett has served in a variety of capacities in numerous locations across the United States and the world. He practiced as an equine veterinarian before shifting his focus to veterinary pharmaceuticals and educating veterinarians and farmers around the world on proper techniques and applications for veterinary pharmaceuticals. Dr. Liggett later shifted careers again and currently teaches STEM education in schools located in underserved communities. Dr. Liggett is a prime example of being a lifelong learner and allowing his passions to guide his career choices.

TOPIC AREAS: Veterinary Medicine, Running a Small Business, Changing Careers, Transition From Veterinary Medicine to Business, Education and the Teaching Profession, STEM Fields, Work-Life-Faith Balance

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://tinyurl.com/5n635khe

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Sally Chaffin Brooks, NATIONALLY TOURING STAND-UP COMEDIAN, WRITER, AND PODCASTER

March 23-28, 2023

BS, Health Science (Purdue); Doctor of Law (University of Cincinnati)

Sally Brooks is a nationally touring stand-up comedian, writer and podcaster. Her first album, "Brooks Was Here" debuted at the top of the Apple Comedy charts. According to Pandora Radio "Sally Brooks unleashed a relentless wit on her debut album." The Laugh Button said she is "one of the hardest working comics in the business" and Axs.com called her a "rising star." Her second album, "Street Bird" came out in October 2022 with Helium Records and debuted at #1 on both Apple Music and Amazon. Showbiz Monkey called the album "a refreshing breath of fresh air," saying Sally is "fast, smart, and funny as all hell." She is the cohost of the popular podcast Dumb Love, a comedy podcast about true crime and true love. Additionally, Sally has worked as a freelance writer for over a decade, writing everything from humorous parenting essays and travel guides to branded content and social media. Her first book, a memoir about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, is forthcoming from Running Wild Press.