2007 Panelists			Print this page
		Main Speakers Panelists, B-J | Panelists, L-Y
		Panelists, B-J
				Melanie Barstad President, Women's Health Initiatives Medical Devices and Diagnostics Johnson & Johnson Session: “Solving Business Problems Through Creative Partnerships” Melanie Barstad is President, Women’s Health Initiatives for the Medical Devices & Diagnostics sector of Johnson & Johnson.  Her responsibilities include defining growth, partnership, and advocacy roles in the women’s health arena across the sector.  In addition, Ms. Barstad serves as co-chair of the Johnson & Johnson Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), an effort dedicated to increasing the number of women in leadership positions across the corporation and developing their leadership competencies. Ms. Barstad began her career with Johnson & Johnson in 1986 and has held numerous positions in sales, marketing, product development and general management, including assignments at Johnson & Johnson Medical, ETHICON, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. Before joining Johnson & Johnson, Ms. Barstad worked for Procter & Gamble and Pitney Bowes in sales and sales management. Ms. Barstad holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University and has completed the Senior Executive Development Program at Columbia.
				Cristina Benitez President Lazos Latinos Session: “Leveraging Your Network/Affinity Group to Reach Customers” For two decades, Cristina Benitez has developed a wide range of branding and marketing programs that target the growing Latino population in the United States. In 1998, she founded Lazos Latinos, a specialty Hispanic, strategic branding and advertising company based in Chicago. In 2005, Lazos Latinos added “Latinization” to help Fortune 500 companies understand and develop their Hispanic employees. Formerly senior vice president of ethnic marketing at DraftWorldwide, Ms. Benitez directed Hispanic direct marketing campaigns for Sprint, AARP, PacifiCare, HFC and Miracle-Ear. Cristina’s prior Hispanic advertising experience was in New York at FOVA, Grey Advertising’s Hispanic marketing group, where she served as vice president, account services. Her expertise across all aspects of advertising, her passion for Latino Leadership Development and her culturally diverse background as a bilingual native of Florida, make her an invaluable and highly successful motivational speaker. Ms. Benitez lives in Chicago and is very active civically as a Board Member of The Chicago Public Library, The Gateway Foundation, The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, Luna Negra Dance Theater, and serves on the Audience Development & Diversity Committee of the Museum of Contemporary Art. She teaches courses on Hispanic marketing at Columbia College Chicago and is a frequent speaker at national conferences on, “Trends in the U.S. Hispanic Market” and “The Latinization of the United States”. In 2007 she wrote her first book, Latinization…How Latino Culture is Transforming the U.S. published by Paramount Market Publishing.
				Stephanie Blackwood Co-Founder, Managing Director Double Platinum Session: “Leveraging Your Network/Affinity Group to Reach Customers” In September 2001, Stephanie co-founded with Arthur Korant Double Platinum, a full-service marketing communications agency that specializes in the gay and lesbian market and is affiliated with the Publicis Groupe, a global network of nearly 1,000 marketing agencies. Double Platinum’s award-winning work has supported brands of Fortune 500 clients, including Allstate, IBM, ING, Lexus, Procter & Gamble, Pernod Ricard USA, Nationwide and PricewaterhouseCoopers, among others, and highly respected nonprofits such as The Gill Foundation, GLSEN and Lambda Legal. Stephanie had previously started or partnered in three other GLBT-focused businesses:  Spare Parts (1995), Blackwood and Friends Public Relations (1991) and the New York office of The Advocate, where she was associate publisher and vice president of the nation’s oldest LGBT magazine. Stephanie speaks frequently at seminars, workshops and universities on GLBT marketing best practices.  Among this year’s engagements have been the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference, the International Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Summit in Barcelona, AARP Conference on Aging and Diversity and the Pride Company Conference in Amsterdam.
				Susan Brennan Director, Manufacturing Business Office Ford Motor Company Session: “Creating Opportunities for Leadership Development” Susan Brennan is director of Manufacturing Business Office, Ford Motor Company, a position she has held since February 2006. In 2005, she was named by Automotive News as one of the “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.” Previously, Brennan was director of manufacturing with responsibility for Wixom Assembly Plant, Michigan Truck Plant, Wayne Assembly Plant and Twin Cities Assembly Plant. In addition, she had had responsibility for St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Canada and Edison Assembly Plant in New Jersey. Before joining Ford in 1995, Brennan managed a Douglas & Lomason plant. She also held an environmental and safety position, spent five years as a chemical and biological researcher and conducted a breast cancer epidemiological study at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, and was a pharmaceutical researcher for Hoescht-Celanese in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ms. Brennan holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska.
				Joan M. Buccigrossi Director, Diversity and Inclusion Kellogg Company Session: “Positioning Your Company as Culturally Competent” Joan Buccigrossi is Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Kellogg Company.  She is formerly an organizational consultant with a BS degree in Education and training in organizational development from NTL Institute.  Currently, Ms. Buccigrossi is a Ph.D. student at Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA in the area of Human and Organizational Systems and Development.  Joan has worked with a number of organizations that value diversity and inclusion, to create workplace cultures where all people can perform their best work for the mutual benefit of the organization and the individual.  Her work with Kellogg Company is in the area of Education and Awareness, and as a Consultant to the Business Units. Joan has worked with managers and CEO’s from high tech companies, research and development organizations, manufacturing concerns, communities and non-profit organizations.  Her clients include, Plug Power, General Electric, Big Brother Big Sister, The Research Foundation of SUNY, Bellevue Women’s Hospital, CWCC Benton Harbor/St. Joe, MI and Whirlpool Corporation.  Drawing on a wealth of valuable experience as a corporate project manager, a film and video producer, a business owner, and an organizational development consultant, Ms. Buccigrossi is an executive coach and group facilitator.
				Rod Christmon Associate Director. North American Diversity Kraft Foods Session: “Improving Employee Retention by Creating a Culture of Inclusion” Rod Christmon, Associate Director North America Diversity for Kraft Foods, has over 14 years of Human Resources experience. He is currently responsible for supporting the execution of the company’s Diversity strategies in North America. Rod joined Kraft in April 1998 as a Human Resources Manager at the Glenview R&D facility. He has held a number of positions in Human Resources. In 2000 he was named Sr. Human Resources Manager for Headquarter Operations responsible for Systems, Engineering and Strategy. Two years later in 2002, Christmon was named Human Resources Manager for Niles Bakery. In January 2005 he was named Sr. Manager for Diversity and Compliance. In March 2005 he was named Associate Director North America Diversity. Prior to joining Kraft, Rod worked for Commonwealth Edison in a variety of Human Resources positions in Chicago and Peoria, Illinois. Rod received a B.S. in Psychology from Florida A&M University. Rod lives in Oak Park, IL with his wife Rosalinda, son Diego, 5 and daughter Mia, 2. He likes to garden, spend time with his family and travel.
				Steve Corbin Manager, Human Resources Bristol-Myers Squibb Session: “Playing a Critical Role in the War for Talent” Steve Corbin is a Manager, Human Resources for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Steve joined the company in 2004 and spent two years rotating through HR roles in many different parts of the company, including a 6-month stint in the Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. Currently he provides HR Generalist support to primarily sales and marketing teams in the ConvaTec division in Skillman, NJ. Since 2005, Steve has served as Co-Lead of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Affinity Group (GLBTA Affinity Group). In this role, he has helped to shape the discussion of GLBT issues at BMS and has been a voice advocating the business benefit of diversity and the important role that affinity groups play. Steve also represents Bristol-Myers Squibb in a consortium of GLBT Affinity Group leaders from Pharmaceutical companies with operations in the Northeast. Steve holds a B.S.E. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota. He loves traveling, reading, eating good food, drinking good wine, and spending warm summer days at the Jersey Shore.
				Chris Crespo LGBTA Inclusivenss Strategy Leader Ernst & Young LLP Session: “Aligning Your Mission and Goals with the Business” Ms. Crespo is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies (LGBTA) Inclusiveness Strategy Leader at Ernst & Young LLP for the US and Canada.  A graduate of West Virginia University, she began with EY more than 18 years ago as a tax professional and transitioned into human resources focused on tax career development and inclusiveness.  Chris strategically teams with gender, flexibility, ethnicity and disability leaders on the Inclusiveness & Flexibility Council and leads the bEYond (LGBTA employee resource group) Network and Steering Committee which she co-founded.  She works with global and local EY leadership to raise awareness and educate on LGBTA issues and inclusiveness while helping EY team externally with the LGBTA community to attract, motivate and retain LGBT talent at EY.  As a result of these efforts, she was presented with the firm’s first Americas Chairman’s Values Award. Chris with her partner of 23 years and their 9 year-old triplets, reside in Western Pennsylvania where they enjoy life on the farm complete with their favorite animals.  She can be contacted at chris.crespo@ey.com or 412.644.5361.
				Denise C. Evans Marketing Executive, Market Development IBM Corporation Session: “Leveraging Your Network/Affinity Group to Reach Customers” Denise Evans is a marketing executive for IBM Market Development, based in Somers, New York. In this capacity, she leads an organization responsible for implementing IBM's strategy for, and marketing to businesses owned or operated by Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Women in the Americas. This strategy has expanded to include women owned and women led businesses in select global markets. She is an executive with extensive experience in sales, marketing, management and business process engineering in the information technology industry.  Ms. Evans’ previous positions, with U.S. and worldwide responsibility, include Director of e-business for the Enterprise Systems Group, Director of Global Customer Loyalty, ibm.com Director of eRelationship Marketing, Distribution Channels Marketing Manager for IBM Global Financing, and Americas Project Director of e-business on demand followed by Security Solutions Marketing.   Denise is a graduate of Brown University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and economics.  She holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  She has held leadership positions in several non-profits, including the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.  She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Excellence in Education, a member of the Board of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, a board member of the Asian Business Council and a committee leader for the Native American Chamber of Commerce.  Denise has been featured in the Miami Today Newspaper and the Minority Business News Magazine.  She resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is married and has one daughter.
				Erby L. Foster, Jr. Director, Diversity & Inclusion The Clorox Company Session: “Becoming a Partner in Product Development” Erby L. Foster, Jr. is director, Diversity & Inclusion, for The Clorox Company, where he advises senior management and the board of directors on the Company’s diversity strategy, employment-branding initiatives, and manages employee resource groups.  Foster is a CPA with 15 years of experience creating and implementing business strategies that increase customer satisfaction, drive profitable growth, and expand market share. Erby has played an important role in building strategic alliances to help companies achieve diversity business goals.  In 2000, Foster was elected National President & CEO, National Association of Black Accountants, Inc.  A native of San Francisco, California, Foster has been featured in Black Enterprise magazine, Illinois CPA Society, the Wall Street Journal, and worked with CFO magazine on the May 2001 cover story – The Illusion of Inclusion.
				Stacey Gibson Senior Director, Work/Life & Diversity Bristol-Myers Squibb Session: “Playing a Critical Role in the War for Talent” Stacey Gibson is Senior Director, Work/Life and Diversity Programs, for Bristol-Myers Squibb. She is responsible for work/life, diversity, employee assistance and human resource policy for the company’s 17,000 U.S. employees. Under her leadership, Bristol-Myers Squibb has accomplished many things, such as building four on-site child development centers, launched a companywide initiative on workplace flexibility that supports 12 percent of its U.S. workforce with a variety of flexible work options and developed numerous elder care services, including onsite geriatric counseling and in-home assessments and services. Gibson also has responsibility for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s diversity agenda. She develops change management initiatives and programs to ensure that the company attracts, engages and retains a high caliber and diverse global workforce.  Under her leadership, Bristol-Myers Squibb supports 5 affinity groups, diversity councils and diversity training and diversity communication. She holds a BA in Sociology from Hofstra University and an MBA in Human Resources from Pace University. Gibson and her husband, Sid, have been married for over 25 years. She is stepmother to Cassandra and grandmother to William, 6, and Dana, 2. She owns three dogs - Sam, Luke and Mollie.
				Ed Glasscock Manager- US IT Field Services Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP Session: “Developing and Sustaining an Energized Membership” Ed Glasscock is the Manager of U.S. Information Technology for the Washington Metro office. He also serves as the lead for the Washington Metro Market GLBT Diversity Circle and was integral in the development and implementation of the GLBT employee resource group in our market. Ed currently serves on the Out & Equal D.C. Affiliate Council as Secretary and is actively involved in development and programming strategy for Out & Equal in the Washington Metro area. Ed is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he received his B.S. in Marketing Management. Ed leads PricewaterhouseCoopers' presenting sponsorship involvement with Junior Achievement in the Washington Metro area, championing the fund-raising effort for the annual Junior Achievement Bowl-a-thon.
				Manshi Joisher Vice Chairperson of Multicultural Resources Network (MRN) MetLife Session: “What's Your Ally Quotient?” Manshi Joisher is the Vice Chairperson of the Multicultural Resources Network (MRN) – one of MetLife’s three Affinity groups. She joined MetLife in 2004 and has been involved with MRN for two and half years. As Vice-Chairperson, she is responsible for leading the seven separate chapters of MetLife throughout the United States. Manshi’s passion of helping others by giving them the tools to empower themselves is what drove her to get involved with MRN. Since joining MRN, Manshi has overseen numerous initiatives to increase the number of MRN chapters throughout MetLife and increase membership and attendance at MRN Events. In addition to Manshi’s MRN responsibilities, she is a Manager in the Investments Data Management team responsible for the integrity of the data going in and out of the Investments Organization of MetLife. Manshi received a B.S. from Ramapo College of New Jersey and was the first student in the college to finish her four-year degree in two years.
				Panelists, page two
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