Speakers and Performers 2024

Chris is a speaker, author, and consultant with a message that is inspiring students across the country. His unique blend of humor, knowledge, and energy provide high impact moments with results that last long after the presentation. After overcoming challenging circumstances in his hometown of Chicago, Chris went on to serve in several leadership roles in college. He served as Chapter President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a Resident Assistant, NPHC President, IFC Board Member, TRiO/Upward Bound counselor, NAACP College Chapter President, RA Leadership Council, a member of Texas State Universities Honor College, and Co-coordinator of the Texas State African-American Leadership Conference. Chris graduated from Texas State University where he majored in International Business & Political Science. Professionally, Chris enjoyed a career as a Recruiter/HR professional having worked for two Fortune 500 companies. Chris' most important accomplishment is being a husband, father, and active member in his community. Chris has delivered talks to all types of crowds, including two of the largest High School districts in the country, national conferences, Fortune 500 companies, and colleges and universities of every shape, size, and hue. He doesn't always give speeches but when he does they're your favorite speeches' favorite speech!

Kristen Knox is the CEO at Microbiologics. Inspired and motivated by making a positive impact on human lives, Kristen has centered her career on the healthcare industry. She brings that passion to building and maintaining a purpose-driven company culture. She has spent her career at global companies including Mayo Clinic, Ottobock Healthcare, Coloplast, Data Sciences International, and ACIST Medical Systems. Kristen is committed to diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging and founded EDGE, a female-led forum that supports women in their leadership journey.

Outside of work, Kristen loves travelling and exploring the world with her husband and two sons. Her favorite place to visit is her lake cabin in Northern Minnesota. She enjoys all things fitness, especially strength training and yoga. Kristen also reads, or listens to, over 100 books each year. Her personal mantra is to “Be Kind. Work Hard. Have Fun!”

May yer (“mine-za”) Thao is the President and CEO of the Hmong American Partnership (HAP) and its national subsidiary, the Hmong National Development, Inc.

HND was the very first Hmong American community’s national nonprofit organization, whose mission is to empower the Hmong community to achieve prosperity and equality through education, research, policy advocacy and leadership development. HAP is the largest Hmong-founded, Hmong-led local nonprofit in the nation whose mission is to empower the community to embrace the strengths of their cultures while achieving their potential by providing holistic, wraparound services that move people from poverty to prosperity. HAP was honored in 2023 with a Mackenzie Scott gift of $2 million for the impactful work they do.

May yer’s career spans many years of investment in community and bridge-building across multiple sectors. For over a decade, she has elevated the visibility of the Hmong, Southeast Asian, and immigrant/refugee communities in the midwest.

Prior to her leadership at HAP and HND, May yer was the Governor-appointed Assistant Deputy Director for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). In this leadership role, May yer advanced the Authority’s equity, diversity and inclusion and culture strategies to impact all areas of WHEDA, including organizational infrastructure, leadership pipeline development, procurement and emerging developers. In her two years’ tenure, May yer grew WHEDA’s supplier diversity commitment by 150%, drove WHEDA strategy to build capacity in Wisconsin’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), and led efforts to support emerging developers of color.

May yer gained her visibility and influence when she rebuilt the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC), a statewide CDFI, deploying the most business microloans to Hmong, and other diverse businesses, in its history: over $2 million in microloans deployed while leveraging over $10 million in community financing to diverse-owned businesses. Through her leadership, she not only put HWCC, but also put the AAPI community, on the map of Wisconsin’s economic development world.

May yer is a co-founder of ElevAsian, a professional group in Milwaukee founded with the sole mission to elevate Asian Americans in the Milwaukee area. Through ElevAsian’s efforts, numerous AAPI professionals have been recognized with various honors and representation on boards and committees. In addition, Milwaukee AAPI communities are now represented and included in increased city and community efforts and initiatives.

With the rise of anti-Asian hate, ElevAsian led the way in raising awareness of this impact in Wisconsin’s AAPI communities. This work then led to May yer co-founding the AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin, bringing over 20 statewide AAPI nonprofits together to advocate for AAPI communities in Wisconsin.

May yer is recognized as a dynamic visionary and performance-driven servant leader with high integrity, a commitment to community first, and an exemplary leader that transcends boundaries. Her work to  elevate Asian American communities and other communities of color has resulted in many awards, including the 2019 Governor's Community and Economic Development Leadership Award, the 2020 Inaugural Wisconsin's Most Influential Asian Americans by Madison365, and the 2021 Woman of Influence-Public Policy by the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Marvin Lyman is a distinguished Housing Development Finance Professional with a proven track record of successfully securing public and private project funding. He currently serves as the Principal at Equitable Development Partners, LLC, and as a Development Manager with CJR Development Partners in Washington, D.C., where he leads the Kansas City Office.

Lyman is a dedicated advocate for equitable solutions and is widely recognized as a knowledgeable holistic real estate developer and business consultant. He provides invaluable assistance to both aspiring and seasoned developers and entrepreneurs, empowering them to advance their projects effectively.

One of Lyman’s recent significant achievements was his role in organizing and implementing the Heartland Equitable Development Symposium, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. This symposium brought together key stakeholders, including governmental agencies, private equity firms, enterprise businesses, philanthropic organizations, banks, social impact capital, local Black developers and entrepreneurs, and national Black Developers with the aim of driving Black-led economic and real estate development in the planned $4B Prospect Corridor.

Lyman is a strong proponent of advancing economic empowerment within Kansas City's Black community. In 2019, his contributions as a Board Member for University Health earned him the prestigious Missouri Hospital Association Trustee of the Year Award. As a Board Member and Vice Chair for Academie Lafayette French Immersion Charter School, Lyman played an instrumental role in expanding the Cherry Street Campus, constructing the Oak Street entrance, and acquiring the former Derrick Thomas Academy to foster more diverse enrollment. These efforts led to a new public high school option and a 10-year charter renewal for the school, marking a historic achievement in the state of Missouri.

As a former executive board member of the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority (PIEA), Lyman evaluated more than $2 billion in economic development projects, contributing to the revitalization of Kansas City's downtown area and Crossroads District. His advocacy for stronger community benefits agreements has been instrumental in benefiting disinvested communities. Marvin Lyman's unwavering commitment to equitable solutions and economic empowerment has resulted in numerous successful projects that drive positive change in the community. He also serves as a volunteer Business Coach with the Kansas City Nonprofit, Kansas City G.I.F.T., where he remains dedicated to fostering positive change in the community. In addition to his professional achievements, Lyman is a devoted father and husband.

His greatest joy is seeing his children flourish intellectually, socially, more importantly, spiritually in their compassion for people. Currently, Marvin Lyman is a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the Health Forward Foundation, where he continues to advocate for community health and well-being, particularly in disinvested communities. He is a graduate of St. Cloud State University, where he earned the coveted SCUS President’s Leadership Award, and he is also a cohort of the Rockhurst University Executive MBA program, with his graduation expected in the Class of 2025.

Madison Lyman is a distinguished and accomplished individual, currently serving as a senior at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City. A devoted community leader, Madison has dedicated two years to the role of Writer in Community Programs Leader at the Kansas City Defender, a nonprofit news outlet focused on the city's Black residents. She also holds the prestigious position of Student Representative on the Mayor's Reparations Commission for the city of Kansas City, showcasing her commitment to social justice and community advocacy.

At just 17 years old, Madison is the founder of the Black Student Solidarity Coalition, a testament to her leadership and dedication to empowering Black students in Kansas City. She plays a pivotal role in amplifying the voices of young people, recognizing the importance of their involvement in discussions surrounding reparations for Black Americans.

Madison's involvement in civic affairs extends beyond her advocacy work. She recently served as the spokesperson and a key organizer for a student-led protest at Lincoln Prep, addressing issues of institutional racism, racist acts, and ineffective school management. Her activism highlights her courage and determination to bring about positive change within her school community.

In addition to her advocacy and leadership roles, Madison is an accomplished journalist, contributing to two newspapers, The Kansas City Defender, and The Next Page KC. She is recognized for her prolific writing and poetic abilities, demonstrating a passion for storytelling and communication. Madison is fluent in three languages—English, French, and Mandarin—a testament to her diverse skills and global perspective.

Madison's academic achievements are reflected in her acceptance to prestigious institutions such as the University of Loyola-Chicago, DePaul University, Morgan State University, and the University of Kansas. She aspires to major in Urban Planning and minor in Anthropology, showcasing her commitment to understanding and positively influencing urban environments.

Beyond her academic and advocacy pursuits, Madison is actively involved in community service, contributing to family volunteer and cookout efforts to help those in need. Her commitment to humanity is further evident through her role in the media department at her church, where she engages with the community and spreads messages of compassion.

Madison Lyman is a conscientious and compassionate young woman, embodying the qualities of a dedicated community leader, advocate, journalist, and scholar. Her multifaceted talents and unwavering commitment to social justice mark her as an inspiring force for positive change in her community and beyond.

Ubah Ali joined WCCO-TV as a reporter in September 2023. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya and grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. She makes history in Minnesota as the first Somali-American TV reporter in the Twin Cities.

After earning her degree at St. Cloud State University, she returned to Rochester and worked at KTTC and FOX47 as a reporter. Her passion eventually took her to TMJ4, and NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In her free time, you can find Ubah at a concert, traveling the world, and spending time with her parents, siblings, and her first niece.

Dr. Tademe is a renowned speaker on racism and the toxic “isms,” xenophobia, imperialism, Pan Africanism, and emancipatory multicultural education, and a past keynote presenter for the Power in Diversity Leadership Conference as well as the Pan African Student Leadership conference and the Ethnic Studies Conference at Minnesota State University - Mankato.  

He has been recognized as “Professor of the Year” numerous times at St. Cloud State University, actively serves as advisor to several student organizations on campus, and was the co-founder of the Faculty and Staff of Color Caucus at St. Cloud State University.

Beth Berila, Ph.D., (she/her) is the Director of the Gender and Women's Studies Program and Professor in the Ethnic, Gender, & Women's Studies Department at St. Cloud State University. She is a speaker, author, consultant, and coach whose work blends intersectional feminist leadership, embodiment, and deep social justice transformation. She is the host of the ChangeMaking Connections podcast, where she talks with change leaders about the joys and challenges of working for social justice. Learn more at https://www.bethberila.com/