Membership Breakfast
2023-04-19 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center - Independence 19677 E Jackson Dr, Independence MO 64057
Don't forget to wear blue! April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Help spread awareness and show support by wearing blue to the event for a group photo!

Our regularly scheduled meeting day, just with a new twist - come join us for the April Membership Breakfast! This month we will be featuring a panel for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by partnering with our friends at West iNd Connection.

HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DEI PANEL???

Members have an opportunity to ask questions based around DEI in the workplace. Members may submit questions they would like to ask the panel in advance online.

Please click the button below to submit your question(s).

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION(s) TO THE PANELISTS

PANELIST BIO'S

Dr. Andrea Hendricks

For over 25 years, Dr. Andrea Hendricks has been an executive who provides strategic vision, inspiration, and focused leadership for the development and implementation of key initiatives connected to Human Resources (HR) and Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) programs designed to strengthen commitment, intention, and culture. Experienced and successful in academic, corporate, and nonprofit environments. Career history of being tapped to establish and build new D&I programs and strengthening existing ones. Throughout her career, Dr. Hendricks has been a catalyst for positive change, with a focus on driving programs and services to create shared vision and alignment of D&I strategy with an organization's overall objectives. Currently, she is the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for TICO Productions. Tico Productions/Tico Sports, is a full-service, national multimedia production and bilingual marketing company that developed a Spanish-language broadcast and community engagement platform for professional sports teams, including for the Kansas City Chiefs. Her past executive leadership roles in HR/Diversity were held at UMB (SVP, Diversity), Federal Reserve Bank (VP, Deputy Director, DEI) and Cerner (Chief Global DEI Officer).

Dr. Hendricks earned a doctorate in educational psychology and policy analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Kansas State University in human development and counseling psychology. She has two diversity certifications: SHRM and Yale University.

In 2019, Dr. Hendricks authored "The BIG Journey: Bold Inclusion for Greatness", a blueprint to empower business leaders and help them build capacity around diversity and inclusion and create positive organizational change. A respected, and highly sought-after public speaker, Dr. Hendricks has presented her expertise and thought leadership at conferences, seminars, workshops, and other symposia nationwide. She has been recognized with countless awards for her contributions, including the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Power of Diversity ACE Award, the Black Health Care Coalition Equity Award, Black Achiever Leadership Award, and the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce Heart Award, 2021 Top 50 Multicultural Leaders, and 2021 Ten Most Empowering Women in Business to name a few.

She serves on numerous boards throughout the years. Currently, she is a member of the YMCA Board of Directors, National World War 1 Board of Trustees, United Way Board of Directors and KC Rising to name a few. In addition, she is a member of the Greater Kansas City (MO) Chapter of Links, Inc and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, KCBJ Women Who Mean Business and the Greater Kansas City Chamber Executive Women's Leadership Council.

JON-MICHAEL RICHARDSON

JON-MICHAEL RICHARDSON - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, West iNd Connection

JM is an accomplished corporate-to-retail strategist. He is a values-driven leader, featuring an exceptional track record with 5 global brands. He has a solid foundation in Program Management and brings a combination of skills, including team leadership & development, business strategy, sales operations and creating best-in-class customer experiences. JM joined WiNc in 2020 as an Executive Board Member. His focus on marketing, social media, and technology enabled West iNd Connection to bring our ideas to life in a way that engaged the community, created good vibes, and helped us achieve success in opening the WiNc Inclusion Center in 2023. JM is an avid movie watcher and enjoys vintage shopping with his husband Gary and son, Wyatt.

Michael A. Gonzales

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Co-Founder, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consortium, Professor of DE&I and former Leader of Hallmark's Corporate DE&I Strategy

Michael is the principal and owner of NE&E consulting and travels the country as a consultant to corporations and non-profits, he is a coach for executives and DE&I professionals. He is also a speaker, panelist, interviewer, and advisor on DE&I topics impacting business and workforce imperatives. As the former corporate leader of Hallmark's DE&I department, he was responsible for Hallmark's DE&I's strategies and objectives, their internal and external collaborations, partnerships, and compliance. He was responsible for the execution of the DE&I's priorities regarding, workforce, workplace, marketplace, and community. Michael was also responsible for the company's seven Employee Resource Groups, (ERG's).

He is a co-founder of the Diversity & Inclusion Consortium, a national organization of over 500 DE&I practitioners and advocates hailing from 39 states 67 cities including four international cities, Toronto, Canada; London, England, Hanoi, Vietnam and Mumbai, India. The Consortium was created when he saw a need for collaborative thought and problem solving. The main objective of the Consortium is to share best practice and to provide each other insights and support regarding DE&I opportunities and challenges in a safe environment.

Michael is a frequent lecturer on university campuses advancing student knowledge and appreciation for DE&I not only for their college experience but in preparation for their professional career. When time allows he assumes the role of professor teaching a course on diversity, inclusion and equity.

He currently serves on 9 national, regional and local boards and councils

Michael is skilled in the areas of executive and DE&I professionals coaching, assessment & consulting, speaking & presentations, building critical relations, innovation and resourcing, business collaboration, employee relations, diverse and cultural understandings, compliance metrics and program management.

Emcee - Thad McCullough

Thad set off after High School to become an actor! He went to Chicago to audition for the Depaul University Theater program. At that time, he was put on the waiting list for the fall semester. An housing application was received, but no acceptance letter ever arrived. So, he decided to attend cosmetology school. In 2004 Thad started his career at B-Vogue Salon & Gallery which has evolved into a great philanthropic journey. Being inspired by Paul Mitchell Systems to care globally and live locally, the journey began with back to school haircuts and raising funds to purchase a new kiln for a local grade school. Then in 2013 Thad created a fundraiser to celebrate his birthday called, Thadapalooza. Thadpalooza was created to support the local LGBTQ+ community and to date has raised just under $50,000! In 2018 the evolution continued as Thad became a co-founder of the non-profit, West iNd Connection(WiNc). Now WiNc is opening the WiNc Inclusion Center, the first LGBTQ+ center in Independence.
