Clare Bertrand is the Executive Director of Career Strategy and Employer Partnerships at College Board, leading efforts to develop industry and employer partnerships that align education with workforce needs. For over two decades, Clare has worked to bridge education and career, with a focus on leveraging policy, practice, and technology to expand economic mobility for young adults. Clare has an M.S.Ed. in Education Entrepreneurship from University of Pennsylvania.

Donna Brake serves as the Manager of Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Donna utilizes the knowledge gained in her 10-plus years of experience in workforce development to support the MDHEWD’s vision of “Every Missourian empowered with the skills and education needed for success.” She leads a team dedicated to fostering the growth of registered apprenticeship as a career pathway by working closely with an incredible group of apprenticeship partners statewide which have led Missouri to be a top state in the nation for apprenticeship activity. Donna also serves as the President of the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) and has been an active member on the MAWD board since 2019.

Eric Brown is the HR Consulting Services Manager of HR Consulting services at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). In this role, he is responsible for providing education, tools, and support that enriches the client experience. To accomplish this, he collaborates with producers and colleagues to solve client problems related to human resources. These areas include outsourcing, talent acquisition, compensation, operational reviews, human resource strategy, workforce planning, and projects such as employee handbooks.

Before joining MMA, Eric led projects for the world’s largest home services franchisor. While there, he gained experience helping business owners grow profitable companies and integrate systems and technologies to improve the consumer and employee experience.

Deonne Christensen, President & CEO at Mazuma Credit Union, is driven by a desire to make a positive impact and ensure that her organization, team, members, community, and family are growing, thriving, happy, healthy, and able to contribute to a bigger purpose.

Deonne has been in the financial industry for over 33 years, the last 13 at Mazuma, and embraces opportunities to elevate the culture, create meaningful experiences, immerse in the community, and ensure that all business objectives are tied to the Credit Union philosophy of People Helping People.

Deonne is known for her transformational leadership style and her focus on aligning teams, technologies, and financial strategies to create the momentum that Mazuma has experienced. Deonne’s leadership style has been described as “values-based, people-centered leadership,” always supportive, collaborative, and caring immensely about helping her teams grow and succeed individually as Mazuma grows and succeeds as a collective organization.

Deonne attended the University of Nevada, Reno, is a graduate of the prestigious Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Management School, where she graduated with High Honors and was inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame, and received her Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation from Cornell, Wharton, and Darden through the Credit Union Executive Society’s (CUES) CEO Institute.

She has been named a Kansas City Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree in 2020, was a recipient of the Ingram’s Women Executive (WEKC) Award in 2021 and was selected as one of the Top 50 Women Chief Executive Officers of 2024 by Women We Admire Magazine.

Deonne is very active in her professional and personal communities, serves on several boards, and supports dozens of local and national organizations including the Mazuma Foundation Board, CU Holding Company Board, CUES Board, Cornerstone Foundation Grants Committee, United Way of Kansas City, Big Brothers Big Sisters KC, Boys and Girls Club, the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS), Reconciliation Services, Harvesters, KC Pet Project, Rose Brooks and New House Domestic Violence Shelters, World Council of Credit Unions, Global Women’s Leadership Network, SOAR Special Needs, Ronald McDonald House, UMKC, SportingKC, the Kansas City Current.

Deonne and her husband Travis also stay busy with their four quickly growing children, farming on their land, and making memories with their family, friends, and neighbors.

Kellie Ann Coats was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Missouri Women’s Council in October of 2017. In this role, she leads the council’s efforts to support and advocate for women owned businesses throughout the state of Missouri.  Currently, her duties are focused on workforce development programing that serve justice-involved women in state correctional facilities.

Prior to joining the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Kellie Ann served in various fundraising capacities spanning a decade at the University of Missouri. Most recently, she held a leadership role at MU Health Care promoting their mission and vision through fundraising and advocacy.

She is a graduate of the Missouri Chamber Leadership Class of 2019, Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge Class of 2018 and Columbia Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2013. Kellie Ann has served as a member of the Hawthorn Bank Business Leaders Council since 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Missouri. Kellie Ann lives in Columbia, Missouri with her husband, Derek and son, Carter.

Part educator, part problem-solver, Dr. Lance Coffman brings together academic knowledge and practical experience in his role at efactory’s Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University. Over two decades, he’s had the opportunity to work with businesses of various sizes across national markets, learning valuable lessons along the way.

Through efactory, Lance collaborates with business owners facing growth challenges, offering guidance informed by his own journey as an entrepreneur. His education—including a PhD from Oklahoma State University and degrees from Missouri State—has provided helpful frameworks that complement his hands-on experience.

In the classroom, Lance believes in learning by doing. Each semester, he works with alongside students on real-world business projects with local companies, finding as much satisfaction in their discoveries as in his own. Organizations throughout Southwest Missouri have kindly welcomed his input on marketing, strategic planning, and process improvement initiatives.

When work is done, Lance returns to what matters most—time spent on the family farm with his wife and two boys, where the complexity of business gives way to the simple joys of rural life and family connection.

W. Joshua Cox, DO, FACOFP, serves Kansas City University as executive dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and vice provost for Medical Affairs. In this role, he oversees COM curriculum development and execution; directs programs to enhance faculty effectiveness faculty effectiveness; ensures compliance with accrediting bodies, regulatory agencies and governing bodies; and directing medical operations for the University’s clinics and clinical partnerships in the community. In October 2025, Dr. Cox was additionally appointed interim provost, a role in which he provides leadership, vision, direction and advocacy as the University’s chief academic officer. 

Dr. Cox began his career as a family physician for the U.S. Army and in 2006 joined the KCU faculty. During his tenure at the University, he has served in a number of capacities, including professor of Family Medicine, chair of Primary Care, associate dean for Clinical Education, COM campus dean for Kansas City and most recently as interim executive dean and vice provost for Medical Affairs. 

He earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from KCU in 2000, and is residency trained and board-certified in family medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and in 2019 was awarded the Osteopathic Family Medicine Educator of the Year Award. He has served on numerous professional boards and committees, including the Board of Directors of DO Care International, the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) Commission on Education, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Congress of Delegates, and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners Standard Setting Committee. 

Dr. Jessica Dain currently serves as Superintendent of Piper USD 203. A Kansas native, she grew up in Emporia and graduated from Emporia High School and Emporia State University. Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education, a master’s degree in School Administration from Emporia State, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Louis University. Over the course of her career, she has served as a teacher, principal at multiple levels, and district administrator in Teaching and Learning, Administrative Services, and Support Services. Since 1995, she has lived and worked in the Kansas City metro area, where she has built a reputation as a collaborative, student-centered leader. Jessica is deeply committed to ensuring all students have access to Future Ready learning opportunities while supporting teachers and leaders to grow and innovate. She brings a passion for equity, excellence, and community to her role as superintendent.

Anne Einig is Senior Community Relations Manager at the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), managed by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies (FM&T). With nearly 7,000 employees in Kansas City and Albuquerque, the KCNSC provides national security through their diverse engineering, manufacturing and secure supply chain management activities. In addition, the KCNSC is dedicated to making a lasting impact by investing $1 million annually and devoting our time and skills to strengthen the communities where we live and work.

As Senior Community Relations Manager, Einig is responsible for managing investments into the community, external employee engagement, programming and implementing investment and volunteer initiatives, strategy and execution of KCNSC’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, external branding, community focused social media and community relationship management. Einig has managed a strong partnership with Grandview School Districts STEMM, advanced manufacturing, FIRST and Project Lead the Way programs.

With nearly 25 years of experience in the non-profit world, Einig has extensive expertise in program development and management, community engagement, workforce development initiatives, school district pathway implementation, corporate real-world experiences and partnership development. Talented in designing and growing organizational strategic systems, she has built community presence for multiple organizations in Kansas City, Chicago and Minneapolis.

Tim Leffert is in his third year as principal of Piper Middle School, where he leads efforts to align curriculum and programs with the Academies of Piper High School. Before joining Piper, Tim served as a principal in Topeka and assistant principal in Lawrence. He began his career teaching Spanish, ESOL, Debate, Forensics, and ACT Prep, later becoming an instructional coach for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and the district’s Center for Academic Achievement. Tim earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and brings experience from both private and public sectors into his leadership. At Piper, he is focused on ensuring that students are prepared for high school academies and beyond through strong academic and extracurricular programming. His collaborative leadership approach emphasizes staff growth, student success, and building a supportive school culture where every learner can thrive.

Lori Lewis-Kennedy serves the Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services as Assistant Division Director leading the Reentry and Education Services team for the Missouri Department of Corrections. She has 25-years of corrections experience and a passion for reentry. Ms. Lewis-Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and in Education and Public Policy.

John represents management in all facets of labor and employment law throughout the country. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, he defends clients against employment discrimination claims brought under federal and state law. John is a knowledgeable attorney who represents employers before the NLRB on cases involving unfair labor practice charges, challenges to elections, and post-election conduct. John serves as lead negotiator for many organizations involved in the collective bargaining process. He also advises companies on employment contracts, restrictive covenants and many other employment-related matters confronting human resources professionals on a daily basis.

John serves as the Director-Elect for the Missouri Society of Human Resources Professionals (SHRM) and is a frequent guest speaker for SHRM and other HR organizations throughout the country. In his free time, John serves on the City of Chesterfield Planning & Zoning Commission, is a member of a local school board, volunteers for several non-profit boards and coaches youth baseball, football and basketball.

John is a graduate of the University of Missouri and St. Louis University School of Law with an emphasis in Labor and Employment law. Prior to joining McMahon Berger, a national employment and labor law firm, John represented corporations in cases involving insurance defense litigation. He has also served as an associate in-house counsel.

Clyde R. McQueen has served as the president and chief executive officer of the Full Employment Council (FEC) since 1987. The FEC is the managing entity and fiscal agent for two Workforce Development Boards, which serve Kansas City and vicinity, as well as the Eastern Jackson County region, impacting the community through job training, education opportunities, and economic development activities in rural, suburban and urban areas throughout five counties, covering 2,700 square miles. Before coming to Kansas City, McQueen served as the Senior Division Director of Training and Employment Development with the Texas Department of Community Affairs. Prior to that, he spent seven years as the Senior Business Development Consultant, Training/Economic Development Consultant, and Procurement Analyst with the Texas Industrial Commission, now known as the Texas Department of Commerce. McQueen served as the Chairman of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, president of Kansas City Consensus, and is presently a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

McQueen has also served as a member of the 10th District Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank. He was named the “National Job Training Professional of the Year” by the National Alliance of Business. He served on the Missouri Automotive Task Force as appointed by Governor Jay Nixon, which led to the passage of over 200 million dollars in state financial support for the automobile manufacturing industry. He was also appointed by Governor Mel Carnahan as a member of the Community Service Commission. He has been cited by the Congressional Record by Congressman Emanual Cleaver and Congressman Sam Graves. Clyde was also recognized by Ingram’s magazine as a “Local Hero” and named as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Kansas City.

Stacy Morse brings more than two decades of leadership experience in government, education, and nonprofit advocacy to her role as Executive Director of the Missouri Council on Aging (MCoA).

Her career includes 10 years in the Missouri Senate, where she served as Chief of Staff to the Senate Minority Floor Leader, leading policy and legislative initiatives that improved the lives of Missouri families. Morse also held leadership positions with the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council, where she managed federal grant programs, advanced policy reforms, and developed statewide advocacy training.

Previously, she served as Administrator of Virtual Education for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), overseeing Missouri’s virtual learning programs and expanding access to education.

In addition to her public service, Morse is an educator, adjunct professor, and published children’s author, reflecting a lifelong commitment to education, advocacy, and community engagement. Stacy also ran a regional medical office, handling all aspects of the business.

She holds a Master of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Public Policy from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Paralegal Certificate from Ashworth College.

Dr. John Nguyen is the Assistant Superintendent of Piper USD 203. He began his time in Piper as an ELA teacher at Piper Middle School, later serving as assistant principal of Piper High School and then principal of PHS for five years. He also previously taught ELA in Sarasota County, Florida and Salina, Kansas. During his time as Piper High School principal, John helped launch Kansas’s first wall-to-wall academy model, creating innovative pathways for all students. In his current role, John works alongside district staff and leaders to strengthen teaching, learning, and leadership systems across all schools. Known for his collaborative and student-focused approach, he is passionate about creating environments where students are empowered to learn, succeed, and discover their purpose.

Keara “Key” Okolo joined the Missouri Hospital Association in 2024 as Manager of Workforce Programs. She brings a dynamic background in recruiting, mentoring and youth support services to her role.

In her position, Okolo leads initiatives that strengthen Missouri’s health care talent pipeline, expand access to career exploration opportunities and support hospitals in addressing workforce challenges across the state. Her work focuses on connecting communities with meaningful career pathways, with a particular emphasis on the next generation of health care professionals.

With a passion for equity and empowerment, Okolo brings energy and innovation to her work, inspiring both colleagues and partners to think differently about workforce development. She is known for her ability to build partnerships, create accessible on-ramps to health care careers and champion programs that foster long-term impact.

Okolo serves as a connector between education, workforce and health care systems. Her career reflects a deep commitment to helping individuals and communities thrive through purpose-driven work and discover their potential and path forward.

A Kansas City, Kan., native, Okolo holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Lincoln University of Missouri. She is a member of the Missouri Society of Healthcare Human Resources Administration and the HEALS Advisory Board. 

Bethany Orban Chew serves as a Senior Director at The DeBruce Foundation, focusing on partnership strategy and community engagement. She brings deep expertise in cross-sector collaboration, working to align employers, educators, and public agencies around scalable solutions that expand access to economic opportunity.

Prior to joining The Foundation, Bethany led partnerships at Merit America, where she built and scaled national revenue streams to support working adults in accessing upwardly mobile careers. She developed strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations.

Bethany began her career in chamber-led economic development, working in Tennessee and later in Washington, D.C., supporting regional workforce initiatives and national best practice sharing. Throughout her career, she has remained focused on building equitable pathways to opportunity and strengthening communities through strategic partnerships.

Now based in Kansas City, Bethany brings a national perspective to local impact. She leans into her top Agilities of Serving and Caring, Selling and Communicating, and Managing to build coalitions and drive meaningful outcomes.

Jasmine Owens is a dedicated advocate for workforce development whose journey began in the fast-evolving world of cybersecurity. During her time as the Workforce Development Coordinator for the CyberUp apprenticeship program, Jasmine discovered her calling not only in empowering organizations to build resilient cyber defenses but also in nurturing the next generation of cyber talent.

Driven by her firsthand experience navigating the cybersecurity landscape, Jasmine has made it her mission to illuminate pathways into the field for high school students, college interns, and career changers. Recognizing that the future of the digital world depends on diverse, well-prepared professionals, she passionately speaks to audiences about the vast possibilities within cybersecurity, demystifying the industry and highlighting the crucial skills needed to thrive.

Jasmine’s outreach is characterized by authenticity and empathy, as she openly shares her career journey and the lessons she has learned along the way. Her ability to connect with aspiring professionals comes from her belief that opportunity, guidance, and real-world insight can spark transformation. Whether mentoring one-on-one or addressing large groups, Jasmine’s message centers on resilience, continuous learning, and the power of embracing new challenges.

Through her leadership and advocacy, Jasmine Owens is shaping the future of cybersecurity—one story, one student, and one success at a time.

As the Executive Director of the Missouri Works Initiative, a nonprofit sponsored and supported by the Missouri AFL-CIO, Megan Price leads five Apprenticeship Ready Programs, which have successfully placed over 400 individuals into life-sustaining careers in the skilled trades through Registered Apprenticeships. She leverages Missouri State workforce and joint-labor management board memberships and community partnerships to address barriers preventing individuals and the state from reaching their full economic potential.

Having previously served as a Chief of Staff in the Missouri State Senate, Megan brings her workforce development policy and mastery of governmental challenges to support the state in addressing its skilled workforce shortage, aligning the mission of policymakers with that of the labor movement, to forge a path for Missouri as it becomes a leader in apprenticeship expansion.

Megan was raised in southwest MO and earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics and management at Webster University in St. Louis. These experiences guide her strategy at MWI as it expands the pathway to construction careers through growing and improving Apprentice Ready Programs.

Josh Santiago has dedicated more than 15 years to helping organizations transform, accelerate growth, and unlock long-term value. As the Founder, and Managing Partner of Santiago & Company, a management and strategy consulting firm headquartered in Kansas City, he has led clients through complex transformations that have delivered over $1.15 billion in EBITDA enhancement. Under his leadership, his previous firm earned recognition as a 5x Inc. 5000 winner, a testament to the measurable impact of his work and the sustained results achieved for clients.

With global consulting experience spanning industries such as technology, automotive, telecommunications, consumer goods, oil and gas, aerospace, and the public sector, Josh has worked with organizations of all sizes, from Fortune 100 leaders to mission-driven nonprofits. His expertise lies in enterprise technology transformation, including AI adoption, strategy architecture, business modernization, and operational optimization, as well as guiding strategic initiatives that drive growth and digital acceleration.

Josh is also a sought-after global speaker, having delivered keynotes and executive sessions in London, Dubai, Amsterdam, Denmark, Lisbon, Bangkok, Oman, and across the United States. His talks have focused on enterprise AI strategies, digital transformation roadmaps, partner ecosystem development, and market growth acceleration. Beyond consulting, he is a retired award-winning photographer, avid reader, and pilot, bringing creativity and perspective to both his professional and personal endeavors.

Dr. DeLano J. Sheffield is a workforce strategist whose career sits at the intersection of individual purpose, economics, education, and vocation. He holds a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree, and a Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation from Fuller Theological Seminary. His professional background includes leading workforce innovation initiatives through the Artemis Institute at MoKan Goodwill, where he connected underserved populations to emerging technologies. Currently, he serves as Employer Engagement Manager at Great Jobs KC / KC Scholars, developing and strengthening partnerships with employers to align education and training pathways with regional workforce needs, creating opportunity-rich career pipelines that fuel both individual advancement and economic growth. He is also the Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas, where his leadership emphasizes helping people discern their calling while also providing practical workforce programs that support pathways to meaningful work.

Marie Stacks serves as the Director of Public Sector for UST – Xpanxion, a global digital technology company dedicated to empowering organizations with transformative solutions. With over a decade of hands-on experience in organizational change, operations, and strategy, Marie specializes in guiding teams through complex transitions. Her expertise spans multiple sectors, including healthcare, technology, and the public sector, with a proven track record of helping organizations around the globe build robust foundations and bridge operational gaps for sustainable growth.

Marie holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh and an MHSA from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Currently residing in Chicago, she is passionate about helping organizations navigate the complexities of digital transformation to achieve impactful outcomes for their communities.

Polly Vader is in her 22nd year of education and currently serves as Coordinator of Real World Learning (RWL) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Piper USD 203. She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University, an M.S. in School Counseling, and an Educational Administration licensure from Emporia State University. An active member of the Association for Career and Technical Education, Polly has been recognized as the 2019 Varsity Brands School Spirit National School Counselor of the Year, the 2024 Real World Learning Coordinator of the Year by the Ewing Kauffman Foundation, and a nominee for the K-ACTE CTE Administrator of the Year Award. Deeply committed to the Piper community, she and her husband, Jeb, are raising three children—Brecken, Britt, and Rhett—who attend Piper Middle School and Piper Creek Elementary. Polly is passionate about expanding opportunities for students to connect learning to real-world experiences.

Susan Wally is the founder, President, and CEO of PREP-KC (Partnership for Regional Educational Preparation – Kansas City), a nonprofit intermediary organization established in 2006 to develop scalable college and career pathways for students in urban schools across Kansas City’s bi-state region. PREP-KC designs and supports innovative partnerships between urban educators, employers, and higher education leaders to demonstrate that “your zip code doesn’t have to predict your college and career opportunities.”

Sue Willcox, Ph.D., joined Rockhurst University — a Catholic, Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri — as provost and vice president of academic affairs in 2023. Prior to coming to Rockhurst, Willcox spent 22 years in administration at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, where she served in roles that included provost and vice president of academic affairs, vice president for institutional effectiveness and information services, vice provost and associate vice president of academic affairs. She also has experience in the higher education accreditation field, serving as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. She began her career as a special education teacher in a public school setting before joining the mathematics faculty at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. She earned her Ph.D. with a focus on mathematics education and statistics at the University of Kansas.

Jill Williams joined the Missouri Hospital Association in 2016 and serves as the association’s Vice President of Workforce Development. In this role, she draws on over 20 years of human resources and workforce development experience.

Williams align health care workforce planning efforts across the state of Missouri through collaborative partnerships and stakeholder engagement to address recruitment and retention of the health care workforce. She initiates and implements workforce projects and programs that address Missouri hospitals’ workforce needs and manages the facilitation and continuous improvement of nurse expansion initiatives.

Williams has been appointed to the Missouri Workforce Development Board and the DESE Career and Technical Education Advisory Council.  She is a member of several healthcare and human resources groups, committees and organizations. 

Williams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a master’s degree in education with emphasis in career and technical education. She is SHRM-SCP certified.