Inclusive Leadership Impact
2024 Awards Recipients
Join us in congratulating these Inclusive Leaders for their exceptional contributions to creating a more inclusive world.
Meet The 2024 Award Recipients
Tina Guenette
Inclusive Leader of the Year Award
Tina Guenette is a motivational speaker who currently is CEO, Founder and People Connector of her own national non-profit, RAMP (Real Access Motivates Progress). She works with all businesses, professions, government entities and first responders on all areas of communication and best practices for working to include the disability community.
She was appointed to the United States Access Board by President Biden, sits on the Governor’s Commissions on Disabilities & Aging. She is a community member of many commissions, businesses, and organizations to ensure all people—no matter their ability—are included in the conversation.
Her two best quotes “Don’t just sit there…make a difference” & “If you can’t stand up…Stand out”
The Women's Mentoring Network
Inclusive Community Team of the Year Award
Economically empowering women and their families, Women’s Mentoring Network provides the foundational skills for women to secure quality employment and pursue their educational goals.
Programs and services focus on Workforce Development, Financial Literacy, and Computer & Digital Literacy. Women’s Mentoring Network offers workshops and one-on-one assistance to adults through our E to the 4th POWER Program (Employment, Education, Economic Mobility and Empowerment).
The organization also provides services to students through its First Generation Achievement Program. Students may join their Junior Leadership Team or receive help in their Early Steps Tutoring Program. Women’s Mentoring Network does not charge for any of its services.
The staff of The Women's Mentoring Network are led by Executive Director, Lana Gifas, and include: Joanne Jean, Economic Empowerment,
Lisa Sandstrom, Program Coordinator - Norwalk,
Pilar Illanes, Program Coordinator, Naudia Blake, Economic Empowerment Program Assistant (Westchester County), and Sheri Brown, Economic Empowerment Program Coordinator.
Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown
Inclusive Champion in the Workplace
As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Brown draws on theory and practice from management,
organizations, and social movements to construct a multidimensional framework for racial equity and organizational transformation that goes beyond slogans and outdated diversity
and inclusion practices toward being highly equitable and highly cohesive.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Brown has facilitated discussions and group learning within
progressive, social justice, non-profit, higher education, and Fortune 100 organizations
about sensitive topics, such as the intersections of race/racism, gender/sexism, and privilege/class, as well as politics, democracy, and other social justice issues. She leads
processes to enable organizations to make seismic shifts and eliminate the contradictions in their rightful space by working with constituents at all levels to examine how anti-Black
racism impacts their work and how they function.
Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in Organizations and Management, an M.B.A., and a BSBA in
Finance, and is a Gestalt OSD Certified Practitioner.
Gioacchino "Gio" Amari
Inclusive Champion in the Workplace
Gioacchino Amari is the Senior Talent Attraction & Enablement Manager at SpringWorks Therapeutics, a commercial-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Stamford, CT. With nearly a decade of experience in human resources, Gioacchino is a trusted strategic business partner specializing in long-term workforce talent planning within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology life science industry.
Gioacchino holds a Bachelor’s Degree in HR Management and Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. His expertise lies in talent acquisition and talent management, where he plays an integral role in aligning HR strategies with broader business objectives. He is passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) and advocates for bringing one’s whole authentic self to work every day.
Known for his strategic mindset, positive attitude, and leadership in change management, Gioacchino is dedicated to developing into a prominent HR leader in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. His goal is to create an inclusive experience for all employees, fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Zachary Graham
Inclusive Student of the Year
Zachary is President of the Black Student Union (BSU) at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. The Black population at AU is 26% and is mostly white. Zach is also a very active member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, where he holds the office of treasurer. He recently completed a summer internship in Electrical Engineering at Barton Malow, which is a construction company. He is one of 3 or 4 Blacks out of more than 50 interns. Zachary is also an Eagle Scout.
The coordinator of Student Governance said in an article " Zach is truly a servant leader at heart...he is an outstanding student and displays maturity beyond his years..." Zach aimed to promote togetherness in black students by encouraging African American involvement in the campus activities.
Thank you to our 2024 Sponsor
