Developing strong leaders and accelerating the growth of high-potential U.S. small businesses

Judy Dang founded Avid At Work to empower entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into action. Clients affectionately call her a Time Ninja. Instead of starting 57 ideas and never finishing them, clients learn to cut through the noise and focus on priorities that drive business forward. She breaks down large fuzzy projects into snackable easy bites, so that clients actually get to the finish line. Judy brings over 18 years of project management expertise from serving universities, entrepreneurs, and professional services firms. She’s appeared in Forbes and Wired magazines. Judy is the inventor of the Goal Getter Formula, a five-step process for getting clear on top priorities and the action steps to achieving them with ease and confidence. “Perfect Enough”, Judy's book for Asian-American women on breaking free of perfectionism, will be published by New Degree Press in September 2022.

Dr. Kim Davis, Founder, and Principal of Top Performance Leadership Group, LLC, is an Educational Leadership graduate in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University-Portland. Her research in Organization Development explored how practitioners of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) determine impact. She has identified a pivotal point in motivation to change. She termed the Paradigm Fulcrum ©, an emergent concept she continues to develop by integrating Transformative Emotional Intelligence (TEI) with the strengths-based AI change model for coaching and training excellence in education, business, healthcare, and personal development. Dr. Davis is a successful speaker, entrepreneur, and business consultant who served as a business leader for major corporations and is a published curriculum author. Currently, Dr. Davis serves as a public-school district administrator and adjunct instructor in a teacher development program while speaking, publishing, coaching, and consulting business and educational organizations. She is further credentialed as a certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, a certified Transformative Emotional Intelligence (TEI) coach, and a Mental Health First Aid Trainer. Dr. Davis is currently pursuing her Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credentials, which she plans to focus on Organizational Behavior Management/Performance Management.

Kevin has been principal of K.Duncan & Company, a CPA and consulting firm specializing in accounting systems, indirect rate development, cost proposals, Federal Acquisition Regulations compliance, and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) interface services to government contractors, since 1994. He specializes in supporting small business growth, including those sanctioned by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. He has prepared and submitted hundreds of cost proposals for clients.

Dr. Chris Healy, Ph.D., has 30+ years of professional experience in banking, healthcare, printing, trucking, sales, retail, manufacturing, foodservice sales, and academia. She currently is an Assistant Professor for Management at the College of Business at Utah Tech University, and she owns Healyum HR. Chris has consulted for educators, first responders, military, municipalities, and private-sector employers. Her HR practitioner experience includes Assistant Director for HR at Southern Utah University, Vice President for HR at Performance Foodservice, HR Director at Sysco, a Human Resource Business Partner for Wells Enterprises, and various HR roles for McLane Co. Chris’ education includes a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, an M.A. in HR management, and a B.S. in business, plus certifications in HR, the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist ® Program, Achieve Global, DDI, Birkman, PI assessments, Social Style Index, and Lominger competencies. Chris has taught undergraduate and graduate students for 15+ years as an adjunct, in leadership, HR, change, benefits, compensation, and HR certification. She has served on many Boards, including at the Utah State Workforce Investment Board, United Way Dixie, Color Country HR Associates, Texas Workforce Solutions of Central TX, Temple Chamber, Temple High School Wildcat Workforce Board, ESGR, and the Dixie Tech Business Advisory board.

Towan Isom is Founder, President, and CEO of Isom Global Strategies (IGS), an award-winning strategic marketing, branding, digital advertising, and public relations firm in Washington, D.C. Since starting IGS in her basement in1998 Towan has generated over $22 million in annual revenue. She specializes in executive leadership in project implementation and management with primary expertise in marketing and communications, branding, and creative services. IGS marketing and branding clients have included Nike, Comcast Xfinity, GlaxoSmithKline, the U.S. Marine Corps and Army, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and many other Fortune 500 companies and government agencies with a combined revenue in the billions. Towan is frequently invited to speak at events about marketing and branding (90 events thus far), and authored several papers on the subject, and others.

Anita Nielsen is the best-selling author of “Beat the Bots” and President of LDK Advisory Services. Using 20+ years of knowledge and trench experience in sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship, Anita helps business leaders develop high-performance sales cultures and sales teams that deliver unprecedented growth.Her proprietary Psyched2Sell Master Class teaches sellers to recognize the psychology, and logical and emotional drivers of buyers’ decisions so they create value propositions to win prospects’ hearts and minds, and close deals.Anita is committed to elevating women in sales, and serves on Boards for The National Association for Women Sales Professionals, and The Institute for Excellence in Sales, Women in Sales Leadership Forum. Plus, Anita helps grow future business leaders through her work as a Sales Coach for entrepreneurial sales students at the Harvard Business School. Anita has also been named one of Salesforce.com’s “29 game-changing sales Influencers to follow in 2022.”

All leaders face the same problem: limitations. Some experience this through limiting beliefs, while others face limitations in experience, staff, proper accountability, or an access to capital. By focusing on the four M’s of business: Mindset, Management, Marketing, and Money, Justin helps business owners identify their limitation and overcome it. His clients learn to think like a business owner, instead of an employee; develop and lead people well; reach their target audience; and build longterm wealth. Justin serves his clients by helping them live inspired and passionate lives that enables business owners, entrepreneurs, and world-changes of all types to leave a legacy of influence and impact on the world. He lives in Bakersfield, California with his five favorite people in the world: his wife Elise and four spectacular kids. An avid reader and outdoor lover he is always up for the next adventure life has for him.

Michelda Johnson is an Operational Strategist, Franchise Consultant, and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in transforming businesses into successful franchises using her proprietary S.C.A.L.E. Methodology. A former multi-unit franchise owner, Michelda excels in strategic planning, project management, and efficient analysis for seamless product implementation. She helps CEOs streamline operations, drive growth, and achieve sustainable profitability. Michelda is a dynamic speaker and sought-after keynote presenter, known for engaging commentaries and videos. Her passion for mentorship and servant leadership is reflected in her board memberships and philanthropic efforts. Her accolades include Mentor of the Year for Economic Empowerment by the 100 Black Men, Community Leader of the Year by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and the Forbes Next 1000 Award.

Samí is the President and CEO of URBANDER, a communications agency dedicated to transforming businesses to advance humanity by fostering trust between companies and their diverse stakeholders. URBANDER excels in creating relevant multilingual multimedia programs and serves as an extension of corporate teams in marketing, diversity, human resources, and social responsibility. With over 28 years of experience in Public Relations, Marketing, and Publishing, Samí is a leading expert on the U.S. Hispanic market, having previously created the first Spanish-language media effort for a U.S. Presidential candidate, which successfully engaged the Hispanic vote in 1996.

Under her leadership, URBANDER has received numerous accolades, including the Orlando Business Journal’s 2020 Diversity In Business “Helping Hand” Award. Samí has also hosted the award-winning podcast “I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY,” which has earned multiple Telly Awards for its social impact. An advocate for underrepresented communities, she founded SOS Orlando in 2017 to support socio-economic mobility initiatives and leads various nonprofit efforts. Recognized as a 2022 Central Floridian of the Year Finalist by the Orlando Sentinel, she serves on several prestigious boards, including the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce and UnitedLatinas. Balancing her professional commitments with family life, she enjoys time with her husband Scott, their teenagers, Pedro and Catalina, and their Lab/Pit mix, Oreo.

Robert Bachle is a digital marketing and communications expert, helping brands to leverage digital media to communicate profitably and effectively with their prospects and customers. His focus is digital marketing strategy, analytics, and search engine optimization – specifically, determining how best to instrument efficient and effective cross-channel digital marketing campaigns, and using data-driven insights to optimize targeting, digital content, and website conversions.

Bob has built and led marketing teams in large marketing organizations, and led digital marketing and transformation efforts for clients including Cisco, IBM, Citibank, Prudential Insurance, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, Marriott International, Emirates Airlines, DHL, General Motors, Samsung, and Microsoft.

Bob has spoken about digital marketing effectiveness at industry events, maintains a blog about digital marketing trends, and has garnered industry recognition through the Effie and Webby awards. Bob holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washington University in St. Louis.

Aaron Hall is a seasoned business attorney based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with over 15 years of experience helping business owners navigate complex legal challenges. His expertise spans employment law, intellectual property, litigation, and general business law. Recognized for his legal excellence, Aaron has been named a Minnesota Super Lawyer and one of America’s Top 50 Lawyers, underscoring his commitment to delivering exceptional results. A thought leader dedicated to empowering clients, Aaron shares valuable legal insights on YouTube and his blog. He holds a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.