The first of its kind event for ACI brought together change agents from around the region to connect with one another to share key strategies for moving conversions forward about diversity, equity and inclusion on our campuses, in our communities and in our boardrooms. (Past event.)
Thursday, April 11, 2024 Saul Ewing 161 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60601
Vice President, Economic Development, Obama Foundation
Marquis Miller is Vice President, Economic Development, joining the External Affairs team in a new role focused on the Obama Foundation’s public economic impact commitments to our neighborhoods and with our civic and community organizations.
He previously served as Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Foundation, as the principal advisor to the Executive Leadership Team on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. He provided strategic and programmatic leadership for all staff diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including the creation of a framework for tracking, reporting, and communicating diversity, equity, and inclusion metrics and progress using learning and development.
A veteran leader of business, civic and community organizations, Marquis has a demonstrated record of success in the field of organizational change management, strategic planning and institutional advancement. Marquis joined the Foundation from the City of Chicago where he served as the City’s first Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). As CDO, in the Office of Equity and Racial Justice, Marquis was tasked with supporting the City’s strategic human resources activities, diverse vendor initiatives, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and the work of the Chief Equity Officer in policy and systems development.
Prior to joining the City, he served as managing principal of The Business Mosaic, LLC, and held vice president and business leadership roles at the National Minority Supplier Development Council, SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc., Chicago State University, the Chicago Urban League, the United Negro College Fund, and The Ohio State University. Marquis is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP), as recognized by the National Diversity Council, and is a board member or advisor to several community and civic organizations, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Reading Between the Lines, Founders of Color and Trinity United Church of Christ. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BS) from The Ohio State University, and completed the National Urban Fellows America’s Leaders of Change executive leadership development program at the University of Kansas (KU) Public Management Center.
Liz Gross
CEO, Campus Sonar
Liz Gross is the founder and CEO of Campus Sonar, a higher ed consulting firm that partners with campuses to enact changes informed by digital and social intelligence. Her team empowers leaders with insights from online conversation and social listening data to align and elevate campus strategies in brand and reputation management, presidential digital strategy, and enrollment management for the clients they support. Liz is an award-winning speaker, author, and strategist who was named a 2018 Mover and Shaker by Social Shake-Up Show and a finalist on GreenBook’s 2019 GRIT Future List. She has delivered top-rated talks at SXSW, SXSW EDU, the American Marketing Association Symposium, the Carnegie Conference, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and others; and is the author of two indispensable guides for higher ed: The Higher Ed Social Listening Handbook and Fundamentals of Social Media Strategy: A Guide for College Campuses.
Liz has more than 15 years’ experience in higher education, spanning the private and public sector (including the University of Wisconsin campuses in Milwaukee and Waukesha). Since 2013, she’s focused on driving social listening forward as a source of business intelligence in higher education. She received a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education at Cardinal Stritch University, a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership from Marquette University, and a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Shannon Fuller
Vice President of Talent, Health Care Service Corporation
A leader and innovator in linking business decisions with people strategies, Shannon Fuller has built a career exemplified by excellence in partnering with all business areas to bring about effective change. He considers himself a fully immersed business partner but also someone who understands HR exceptionally well. Shannon’s HR career commenced after a chance meeting and unexpected opportunity.
After being offered the chance to shadow a mentor in HR, he was hooked. This led to a highly successful 15-year tenure at Pepsico’s Yum Brands division, where he was promoted multiple times to drive major HR initiatives and business strategies. And he hasn’t looked back! In fact, in every leadership position he’s held over the past 20+ years, Shannon has championed HR innovation. At Pepsico, he was one of the leaders who launched a new business training model that still prospers today. At BestBuy, Shannon spearheaded the revitalization of Sup University – a learning and development program for frontline leaders – which eventually brought him to Chicago to oversee a $600M division where his staffing strategy resulted in a 30% spike in sales. Additional HR leadership successes include re-shaping an HR business partner model for Walgreens, which redefined how HR walked alongside the business. Similarly, for BlueCross Blue Shield of Illinois, Shannon reshaped the enterprise’s HR business partner model as a senior HR leader while fostering relationships with colleges across Illinois to establish a new internship program.
Known for his energy, enthusiasm, and forward-thinking strategies, Shannon’s HR career has advanced him into roles at large, global brands across various industries. He has worked for major Fortune 50 and Fortune 250 companies and directed large-scale HR initiatives spanning succession planning, leadership training, organizational design, and workforce planning for companies with 200k+ employees.
Over the years, Shannon’s passion for HR, business strategy, and employees has never wavered. He thrives at orchestrating successes ‘behind the scenes,’ deftly supporting and enabling critical business decisions. In addition, Shannon is an executive coach with Lee Hecht Harrison executive coaching firm and sits on several boards including Girls Scouts for Chicagoland and NW Indiana and Utmost U. Shannon holds both an undergrad and graduate degree in Business Administration.
Beyond his talent for sitting with all aspects of business and innovating HR offerings, Shannon is immensely proud of his people-centric efforts. He strives to transform cultures through corporate-wide people strategies and employee engagement. Ultimately, Shannon feels that employees make business possible, so integrating people strategies into business strategies is critical to helping companies grow and develop. In his recent work as an HR executive for Centene, the largest Medicaid insurer in the US, Shannon has overseen the Midwest’s complete HR strategy while guiding business leaders through the pandemic. Now back at HCSC (Blue Cross Blue Shield) Shannon is navigating the organization through ambiguity, challenge, and change, he also leads the company’s enterprise talent and workforce strategy end to end.
Shannon’s affinity for identifying barriers, stretching ideas into new concepts, and fostering partnerships in business has grown him a reputation for being strategic and forward-thinking. His goal as an executive leader is to equip both organizations and people with tactics that bring about effective change.
Tyronne Stoudemire
SVP Global Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Tyronne Stoudemire is the SVP of Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a global hospitality company with widely recognized, industry leading brands and a tradition of innovation developed over its more than 60-year history.
At Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Tyronne collaborates with senior leadership team to implement culture, talent, and marketplace strategies that leverage diversity and inclusion globally growing the enterprise wide across brand portfolio. As such, his team and internal corporate stakeholders implement diversity initiatives that include Resource Groups, mentoring programs for high potential women and people of color, a communications and public relations strategy to drive internal engagement and external brand recognition, and enhanced brand marketing effort to further focus on multicultural and LGBT audiences. He is the Co-Chair, of Hyatt’s Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion Counsel (GDEIC).
Tyronne identifies and leverages the opportunities and challenges presented by the expanding multicultural mosaic of worldviews and attitudes regarding Diversity Equity & Inclusion and performance given the increasing diversity in the workplace and global marketplace. A globally recognized executive and highly sought-after speaker, Tyronne has consulted with numerous Fortune 100 clients on diversity strategy, with insight around how organizational leaders can understand and harness the shifts evident in national and global demographic trends. Tyronne employs a unique talent that results in extraordinary benefits for individuals and organizations and has a proven ability to advance socially responsible corporate initiatives by fostering strategic relationships to catalyze international grassroots movements.
Tyronne, has received several accommodations and awards just to name a few: He was named one of the Top Executives in Diversity by Black Enterprise Magazine; and honored as one of the 50 Diversity Champions by Diversity Woman Magazine. He is also the recipient of the Top Executive’s in Diversity Black Enterprise Magazine, Who’s Who in Black Chicago: The Inaugural Edition, Thurgood Marshall College Fund of Excellence Award, Most Influence African American People Voice, Push for Excellence Award (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Scholarship Breakfast), National African American History Month by President of the United States of America, President Obama.
Tyronne is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, adjunct professor at Kellogg School of Management, serves on the Metropolitan Planning Council Broad (MPC), PUSH Excel Broad, Senior Advisor for the Music Institute, Senior advisor to the People’s Music School, Treasurer for the Arthur M. Brazier Foundation, Chairman of the Board for The Black Ensemble Theater, Gov. Pat Quinn appointed Tyronne to the board of Illinois mapping commission, Gov. JB Picketer appointed Tyronne to Chicago State University Working Group to Create an Equity Agenda for Black College Students in Illinois.
Most recently he was appointed by President Robert Isom (AA) to serve on American Airlines, founding Diversity and Equity Community Council focusing on Black travelers.
William “Toby” Eveland
Chicago Managing Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
Toby Eveland is a skilled litigator and trial advocate for clients who are involved in high-profile cases that pose a risk to their reputation and complex business disputes that could affect their viability. His courtroom experience includes successes in state, federal, and appellate courts across the country.
Toby’s nationwide litigation practice focuses on three main areas: higher education, municipal and government, and complex business disputes. He works across numerous industries and handles matters involving a range of issues such as class action defense, employment, real estate finance, tort defense and shareholder disputes. Given his results-oriented approach and national recognition, Toby is often retained when the stakes are the highest. In 2022 he successfully defended claims that sought in excess of $200 million.
In addition to his work in the courtroom, clients retain Toby because of his dedication to causes involving diversity and equality. He is a passionate civil rights advocate, dedicated DEI champion, and regular speaker and panelist at conferences.
Our Sponsors
This program has been funded through a First Opportunity Partners grant from the Council of Independent Colleges with support from the UPS Foundation.
Hotel & Parking Information
*Self-parking is available at the Government Center Parking Garage located at 181 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60601. Reserve your $20 spot online using this link.
Please note that prices are subject to change, depending on availability.
*Hotel accommodations are available at Arlo Chicago located at 168 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601, for the night of April 10th at $179 per room plus tax. Please reserve your room online using this link, before Wednesday, March 27.
