Josephine Banks, PhD is Executive Director for Talent Acquisition and Counseling Services at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She has over 20 years of experience in human resources and counseling services. Dr. Banks currently provides oversight for the Talent Acquisition Department and Employee Assistance and Counseling Center comprised of 35+ staff members providing recruitment services for the university and EAP counseling services and programs for the UAB/UAB Medicine enterprise.
Dr. Banks received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, M.A. in Community Counseling and PhD in Community Health Promotion from UAB. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Board-Certified Coach (BCC). She also serves as an adjunct instructor for the UAB School of Education Community Health and Human Services Program where she teaches courses in personal health and wellness, mental health, and stress management.
Mildred Black is a leading expert at the intersection of people and culture. She provides People+Culture strategies to the world’s most successful companies. She is the Founder and CEO of People Optimum Consulting, a minority-owned and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB).
Drawing from over two decades of experience as a senior HR leader, she empowers HR and ER leaders with human-centric, research-based solutions to improve human interactions in the workplace. She specializes in people+culture transformations, facilitated learning experiences, and professional development. She has helped thousands of leaders with strategy, labor law, diversity equity & inclusion, leadership, and workplace nuances.
Her roles as a top Human Resources executive included large, public, and private sectors. She led organizational initiatives to enhance employee experience, communications, technology, organizational development, and operational performance.
Mildred is a speaker, lecturer, and storyteller who has addressed audiences nationally and internationally. Mildred launched the People+Culture Vodcast to stimulate meaningful conversations for today’s workplace. In addition, Mildred is a media contributor. In 2021, The Wall Street Journal recognized Mildred as a Diversity+Business expert. Mildred has appeared as a contributor in The Wall Street Journal, and she has been a featured guest on ABC and Fox News. She earned her Executive MBA in Business Leadership from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from The University of Alabama. Mildred has studied business practices in Shanghai and Beijing China. In addition, Mildred has studied Strategy at Harvard Extension School. Mildred is a certified Senior Human Resources Professional through the Society of Human Resources Management and Human Resources Certification Institute.
Mildred is passionate about advancing her profession and her community. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Eta Xi Omega Chapter. She currently serves as the Past-President of the West Alabama SHRM Chapter, the Chairperson for the Diverse Business Council of West Alabama, and she sits on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. In addition, she has spent over 20 years in community organizing in service to women, children, and homeless populations. She is a member of The Impact Nation Fellowship Church where she also served over ten years as the Director of Missions and Community Outreach
Mildred is passionate about creating pathways to growth, development and healing from the negative impacts of poverty. Her volunteerism and leadership in the community has focused on amplifying diversity, equity and inclusion for individuals and businesses with diverse backgrounds and being of service to those in need. Mildred believes in the power of education, creativity, and synergy to facilitate positive change in people and cultures.
Mildred is the proud mother of two loving human beings- Raqir Black, a Morehouse man and Noa Jordan, a freshman at Howard University. Mildred’s vision is a world without barriers to human greatness. Her mission is to unlock human potential – one person at a time – to change the world.
Tracy Croom retired on January 1, 2016, with nearly 30 years of service from the City of Tuscaloosa after serving as the City Clerk for the City of Tuscaloosa since June 2008. Currently, Croom serves as the first minority Director of Procurement and Purchasing Services for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Celebrating many firsts in her career, Croom was promoted the first minority female department head for the City of Tuscaloosa. Prior to serving as City Clerk, Croom was the City’s Associate Finance Director for over 21 years making her the first female minority administrator for the city. Graduating in 1983 as a married mother with two very small children and the only minority female in her graduating class at The University of Alabama with a BS degree in International Finance and Law, she began her professional career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Birmingham Branch as the first minority woman in management. She holds the distinctions of Certified Public Manager, Certified Government Finance Officer and Certified Government Accounting Technician.
She has served on numerous local, state and national boards throughout her career. In 2004, under her leadership as President of the Alabama Government Finance Officers Association, the Certified Governmental Accounting Technician of Alabama (CGAT) program was developed as a training program for local and county governments, as well as school systems throughout Alabama. This training program continues today at The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies and has trained over 500 professionals since its inception. She has served and continues to serve a number of nonprofit organizations, but her greatest love is mentoring girls and women aspiring to break glass ceilings.
She is the proud mother of four amazing children: Tamara Croom, Kevin Croom, Teresa (Rodney) Bivens and Kennis Croom, and nine beautiful grandchildren Talia, Erwin Jr., Ethan, Chloe, Rocwell, Kenzie, Tinsley, Averi and Kylin. She is married to Dr. Willie Clyde and together they live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Known as a diplomat, creative risk taker and inspirational leader, Ed Fields has a breadth of leadership experience as an executive in both for profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Currently, Ed serves as Senior Advisor and Chief Strategist for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office. In his role, Ed is responsible for strategic planning, thought leadership and supporting transformative projects on behalf of Mayor Randall Woodfin, a leader whom he has supported as friend and campaign manager for his successful bid for mayor.
Previously, Ed co-founded and led “Relax, It’s Handled,” a nationally-recognized, award-winning association and event management company for eight years before selling the company.
Ed has also served in key leadership roles in major institutions such as the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and Alabama Media Group, Alabama’s largest news media organization with publications such as AL.com, Birmingham magazine, and The Birmingham News.
A transplant from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ed received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Alabama State University and earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Alabama’s prestigious Manderson School of Business. He has also received his Institute of Management (IOM) designation, a nonprofit management certification, from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is a 2018 member of the Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative as well as the Harvard Business School Young American Leadership Program.
Ed has served as a partner in diversity and inclusion for both community-driven and corporate-driven organizations, including his role as:
● Organizing Founder, Birmingham Urban League Young Professionals
● Chairman, Community Investment Network
● Chairman, Central Alabama Women’s Business Center
● Chairman, Community Investment Network
● Co-Founder, Birmingham Change Fund
● President, INROADS Birmingham Alumni Association
● Producer, Birmingham Diversity Summit
● Producer, NCCJ Brotherhood and Sisterhood Awards Dinner
● Producer, South Region Minority Supplier Diversity Conference
● Producer, MLK Unity Breakfast
● Producer, Birmingham International Business Awards
● Producer, UAB’s Minority Health & Research Center Casino Royal
Recently, Ed served as board chairman for the Community Investment Network, a national network of philanthropists with a mission to inspire and support collective giving in and among communities of color.
Ed has received numerous awards and accolades from organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Business Journal, Birmingham Business Alliance, Alabama State University College of Business Administration, and the City of Birmingham where he was named Minority Business Advocate of the Year.
Inspired Quote: “If you know from whence you come, then there really is no limit as to where you can go.”
–James Baldwin, American Novelist
Daryl is a Managing Director with KPMG Advisory Services with over 20 years of business and technology advisory experience. He brings a track record of delivering business transformation results by establishing trust-based client relationships and developing high-caliber teams. Daryl has successfully served in various executive leadership roles including practice leadership, engagement partner for large banking clients, and thought leader responsible for defining KPMG’s unique perspective around the transformational value of digital capabilities and artificial intelligence in driving profitable growth for financial services institutions.
Daryl is native of Birmingham where he graduated from Vestavia Hills High School. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from The University of Alabama majoring in Marketing and Computer Science. He also earned an MBA from The Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Prior to joining KPMG in 2016, Daryl was a Managing Director in Accenture’s Credit Services practice where he served as account lead for the firm’s BBVA Compass relationship amongst other roles.
Daryl is active within his community serving in various capacities including The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute board of directors, the Alabama Capital Network advisory board, the Leadership Birmingham alumni council, and the United Way of Central Alabama board of directors.
Daryl is married to the Honorable Shera C. Grant. They have a thirteen-year-old daughter and ten-year-old son. They are members of Trinity Baptist Church where Daryl serves as a Deacon. Daryl is also a member of the Alpha Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Kenneth Kelly serves as Chairman and CEO of First Independence Corp. and First Independence Bank, a minority depository institution based in Detroit, Michigan. He is a respected leader in the banking community. In four years of his leadership, the corporation has doubled in book value. Kelly serves on the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association, the voice of the nation’s $20.3 trillion banking industry. He was elected as a director of the Michigan Bankers Association in June 2021. He served as chairman of the National Bankers Association 2018-2020 representing minority banks. From 2018-2020, Kelly served on the Federal Reserve of Chicago Bank Seventh District Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC). Kelly was also selected in 2018 to become a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman’s Advisory Committee on Community Banking which is charged with providing advice and recommendations to the FDIC on a broad range of community banking policy and regulatory matters. He has testified as an expert witness before the U.S. Congressional House Financial Services subcommittee and has provided input to the full committee of House Financial Services during its COVID19 listening session and provided guidance to the White House and Secretary of Treasury.
Kelly serves as the chairperson of the Auburn University Engineering Alumni Council. In this role, he works with a successful group of alumni including many CEOs to assist the dean of the college with research and development, fundraising, and academic achievement, where he is the first African American to hold this position. In 2019, the dedication of the new Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center included the naming of the Kenneth Kelly Engineering Academic Excellence Program Reception Area. Kelly was Auburn University’s Commencement Speaker on April 30, 2021.
Prior to banking, Kelly enjoyed a 27-year career as an electric utility business leader in numerous roles within Southern Company. His last role entailed negotiating acquisitions of large renewable solar projects valued at $3.4 billion in partnership value. In 2018, Kelly was inducted as the 137th Distinguished Auburn Engineer. In Feb. 2020, he was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. The NYSE honored Kelly through the ringing of the opening bell on Dec. 14, 2020, as chairman of Grow Michigan II. In May 2021, Crain’s Detroit named him a Notable Executive in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Kelly is the author of Prepared Before I Let Go, and owner of MyLegacyItems.com, a web-based application to manage your last will, healthcare directive, and power of attorney. In October, the FDIC approved First Independence Bank to open a branch in Minneapolis as the only black-owned bank in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul after the death of George Floyd.
Kelly grew up in Eufaula, Alabama, received an electrical engineering degree from Auburn University, and completed the executive MBA program at the University of Alabama.
President, PROJECTXYZ and CEO, BizTech
Drawing on 28 years of business experience, Larry Lewis serves alongside his wife, as President of PROJECTXYZ, Inc., a woman-owned small business headquartered in Huntsville, AL. PROJECTXYZ has grown into a diversified operation company with core capabilities in Logistics, Alternative Energy, Foreign Military Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Information Technology. Mr. Lewis has developed a diversified portfolio of companies underneath PROEJCTXYZ. In 2019, Lewis partnered with the Food Network’s Darnell SuperChef Ferguson to open Superhero Chefs in downtown Tuscumbia. Recently, PROJECTXZ purchased a 68,500 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Muscle Shoals, AL saving 137 jobs in the area. PROJECTXYZ also purchased WTZT Television, a broadcast TV Station covering North Alabama.
Mr. Lewis is heavily engaged in the startup community serving as CEO of BizTech. He is passionate about opening up access to investment capital to those startups in need of funding. He was instrumental in developing the Angels of North Alabama (ANA), an organization that matches entrepreneurs with potential investors.
Mr. Lewis was appointed by the City of Tuscumbia to serve on the Shoals Economic Development Authority (SEDA). This organization provides economic development and work force development services. Mr. Lewis is also Advisory Board Chair for Alabama A&M’s RISE Foundation, an organization that promotes commercialization and business development of the University’s technology and technical capabilities.
Mr. Lewis serves on the board for the Business Council of Alabama; Past Board Chair for the United Way Huntsville/ Madison County; Entrepreneurial Co-Chair Committee of 100 Launch 2035 Initiative; Board Member for The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship; Board Member for the Faith Initiative.
He received his BS degree in Technical Industrial Management, and his MBA in Strategic Planning and Finance from the University of Alabama.
Kelsi Long is a native of Madison, Alabama, and an attorney at Balch & Bingham LLP. She focuses primarily on corporate and data privacy and cybersecurity within the technology and energy sectors. She enjoys working with her Balch Business Boost clients, where she is able to assist minority business owners with transactional legal issues. Kelsi received her JD, MBA, and BS in accounting from the University of Alabama. Prior to attending law school, Kelsi worked in public accounting with clients in the fintech, biotech, and hedge and mutual fund industries.
Currently, Kelsi is a member of Leadership Alabama Initiative Class V, Rotaract Club of Birmingham, and The XXXI. Also, she is a fellow of the Blackburn Institute, a volunteer with Girls, Inc., and a mentor in the Culverhouse DEI Mentorship Program. In her spare time, Kelsi enjoys traveling, working out, volunteering, reading, and sporting events.
Kelly Landry Mehrtens is the Executive Director of The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA). The Trust’s mission is to support NFL players as they live their purpose beyond football.
Mehrtens is responsible for managing and marketing a wealth of services organized as pillars. She works with a dedicated staff and world class providers to connect players to these top-notch services. Mehrtens and her team continue to create hugely successful engagement events to further build upon an unrivaled holistic approach with members of The Trust. Prior to her ascent, she served as Managing Director, a position she assumed in 2016.
Before joining The Trust, Mehrtens was the Deputy Director of Athletics/COO at the University of Maryland where she was a member of the executive leadership team. During her time at Maryland she had various responsibilities, including leading the day-to-day operations, oversight of an $80 million budget and serving as the primary administrator for football. Mehrtens also helped oversee the transition of the University from the ACC to the Big Ten Conference.
Mehrtens’ experience in sports administration, budget development, marketing, branding and fundraising has also touched the athletic programs at Northeastern University, The University of Miami, The University of Illinois, The University of Kansas and The University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she was Director of Athletics. Further, her leadership has led to positions on several NCAA and Power 5 Conference Committees.
Mehrtens serves on the board of directors for USA Football, the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As a board member, she helps guide and help the independent non-profit establish important standards and programs to advance, unify and grow the sport for the good of youth, high school, and adult amateur players.
A native of Panama City, Florida, Mehrtens received her B.S. in Accounting from The University of Alabama where she was an All-American discus thrower and member of the track team. She culminated her throwing career with a 4th place finish in the 1992 Olympic Trials. Her graduate degree in Higher Education hails from the University of Illinois.
Dr. Del Smith is passionate about using business principles to address health inequities that have long plagued communities of color. He is the co-founder and CEO of Acclinate, a growing digital health company on a mission to improve health equity through inclusive research. Del’s career spans healthcare, IT, government, and higher education. He earned his Ph.D. In Management from the University of Alabama and spent seven years as an HBCU business school dean prior to co-founding Acclinate.
Isaiah Young is a dedicated higher education professional with years of experience spearheading and facilitating career focused initiatives that help college students prepare for life after graduation. Currently serving as the Associate Director of Career Services for the Manderson Graduate School of Business, he has worked tirelessly to increase the professional acumen of all students he encounters.
Isaiah holds two masters degrees from the Capstone. The first was in Consumer Quality Management and the most recent in Business Management. Undertaking both of those programs has enhanced his ability to not only evaluate current processes for performance improvement opportunities but to also assess events, initiatives, and procedures through the lens of providing value to his clientele- the students!
Previous stints working for both nonprofit and public service organizations have formalized his personal creed of helping others- regardless of their ethnicity, background, or socio-economic status. Practitioner of servant leadership, Isaiah coaches, educates and advocates for his students in his expertise areas of resume and interview preparation, compensation negotiations, and career search strategy.
Aside from work, he is a committed family man and father who loves sports and enjoys woodworking as a hobby.