Speakers
Anthony K. Jones
Retired Senior Executive Vice President/Operations
CommonSpirit Health
Keynote
Anthony K. Jones
Retired Senior Executive Vice President/Operations
CommonSpirit Health
Dean’s Advisory Board Member
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Anthony K. (Tony) Jones is a retired healthcare executive and currently serves on the University of California Irvine (UCI) Foundation Board of Trustees and the UCI Paul Merage School of Business Dean’s Advisory. He formerly served as Senior Executive Vice President of Operations of CommonSpiritHealth, a $36 billion healthcare company with 142 hospitals and employing 150,000 associate. Previous to CommonSpirit Health, he served as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating officer of Catholic Health Initiatives, a $16 billion healthcare company with 103 hospitals and employing 90,000 associates. Tony’s roles throughout his 40 year career involved performance improvement in the key areas of strategy, operations, finance and quality.
He earned his master’s in Health Administration from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a bachelor’s degree in Business from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.
Kenetta Bailey
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Clear Channel Outdoor Americas
Panelist
Kenetta Bailey
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA)
PANELIST
Kenetta Bailey is Senior Vice President of Marketing for Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA). In her role, Kenetta takes the lead on crafting and telling the CCOA story. She’s responsible for product marketing, creating insight-driven sales programs, and for how the company uses its sales presentations, website, social media and digital marketing to drive leads and revenue opportunities.
Prior to joining CCOA in November 2019, Kenetta held senior marketing roles at companies including Sony Music, NBC Universal’s Telemundo, AMC Networks, TV One/Comcast, GroupM, and CBS Radio. In addition to her corporate work, Kenetta has taught as an adjunct instructor of marketing and communications at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Kenetta holds a B.S. and M.S. in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.
Lisha Bell
Economic Opportunity Fund Manager
PayPal
Panelist
Lisha Bell
Economic Opportunity Fund Manager
PayPal
PANELIST
If “pay me in equity” was a person, it would look like Lisha Bell.
The Queen of Deal Flow and dishing venture dollars is known in part for the brains behind the PayPal $500 Million Dollar Fund that was generously distributed to Black-owned and Brown-owned businesses subsequent to the George Floyd hearings.
Her extensive background as a capital allocator (aka Tech money “Spenderella”), includes Pipeline Angels, BLXVC Inc., Black Girl Ventures, and Women of Color Capital Collective, is just a snippet of what she brings to her current role as a change maker for PayPal Ventures.
She’s a force to be reckoned with out in these Silicon Valley streets and works with Queens of Capital Mastermind. Lisha is featured in Chapter 9 of “Fearless Finances” where she shares resources on how you can potentially strike oil in this start-up game.
Although wealth is quiet, she is going to bring the noise on how you can make millions as an investor in this start-up business game.
Joaquin Gentry
Deal Advisory Practice
KPMG
Panelist
Joaquin Gentry
Joaquin Gentry
Deal Advisory Practice
KPMG
PANELIST
Joaquin is a technology professional with more than 20 years of experience in technology strategy, mergers & acquisitions, software development, and digital transformation. He leads and advises domestic and global clients’ buying, selling, and transforming businesses through strategic initiatives. Joaquin has a passion to help others live fulfilling lives by pursuing their purpose and dreams.
Garnet Heraman
Co-founder + Managing Partner
Aperture Venture Capital
Panelist
Garnet Heraman
Co-founder + Managing Partner
Aperture Venture Capital
PANELIST
Garnet Heraman is an investor with 20+ years experience funding innovation + inclusion. He is co-founder + managing partner of Aperture Venture Capital, a fintech x diversity fund backed by multiple F500’s, including BofA, Progressive Insurance, PayPal, Truist and FIS. Garnet is a graduate of Columbia University, NYU and the London School of Economics. Born in Trinidad +Tobago into a multiracial family, he lives in Laguna Beach with his wife and a spoiled rescue dog.
Maronya Moultrie
COO & General Counsel
IMRI & Founder of SweetTierra
Panelist
Maronya Moultrie
COO & General Counsel
IMRI & Founder of SweetTierra
PANELIST
Maronya Moultrie currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Information Management Resources, Inc., a cybersecurity and IT business supporting federal, state & local, and commercial entities. She also serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Cytellix Corporation, a Board Trustee for Chapman University, and a Board Member for the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley. Most recently, Ms. Moultrie launched SweetTIERRA LLC, a lifestyle community for Black women focused on relationships, motherhood, spirituality, travel, wellness & beauty all alongside SweetTIERRA’s collection of natural and organic skin care products. Ms. Moultrie holds a Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctorate from The University of Chicago Law School.
Jaune Odombrown
CEO
Smartpreneur
Panelist
Jaune Odombrown
CEO
Smartpreneur
PANELIST
Jaune Odombrown served in the United States Marine Corps from 2004-2013 as Lead Administrations Chief of 4,050 personnel from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and NATO. After his military service, he earned an Entertainment Business Bachelor’s degree from the Los Angeles Film School, a Business Management degree from Argosy University and obtaining a Master’s degree in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Full Sail University in Florida. He is the founder of Smartpreneur, serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence and Director of the Blackstone LaunchPad Program at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center.
Dianne Whitfield, MSW
Chief Human Resources Officer
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Panelist
Dianne Whitfield
Chief Human Resources Officer
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PANELIST
Dianne Whitfield is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic candidates to address highly prevalent diseases with limited treatment options. Dianne brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources, including over a decade of life sciences industry management and leadership. Prior to joining Tarsus, Dianne served as Vice President and Head of Human Resources for Evolus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOLS), where she led efforts to support the commercialization of the start-up company’s first approved product. While at Evolus, she focused on recruiting top talent, building a positive culture, and fostering an effective employee experience in order to drive engagement and business results.
Dianne holds a BA in psychology and social behavior from the University of California, Irvine and a Masters in social work from California State University, Long Beach.
Emerald Woodberry
Director, Space & Presentation
Target Corporation
Panelist
Emerald Woodberry
Director, Space & Presentation
Target Corporation
PANELIST
Emerald Woodberry leads a global team for innovative in-store experiences, like Ulta Beauty @ Target. She is a dynamic leader with experience managing multimillion-dollar category portfolios. She has experience in launching exclusive brand partnerships, product management, supply chain, and merchandising. Her work is evident in the transformation and amplified assortment relevance in categories like Textured Haircare.
Kevin Bradford
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
Moderator
Kevin Bradford
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
MODERATOR
Kevin D. Bradford is a professor of teaching at the Paul Merage School of Business and has been at UCI since 2016. Kevin was recently appointed the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at the Paul Merage School of Business. Additionally, he was recently named an Inclusive Excellence Professor for UCI. Kevin’s academic experience includes a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida.
Ian O. Williamson
Dean
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
Moderator
Ian O. Williamson
Dean
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
MODERATOR
Ian O. Williamson was appointed dean of The UCI Paul Merage School of Business on January 1, 2021. Prior to joining the Merage School, he served as pro vice-chancellor and dean of commerce at the Wellington School of Business and Government at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Williamson received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in business from Miami University. He has served as a faculty member at Melbourne Business School, Rutgers Business School, the Zurich Institute of Business Education, the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and Institut Teknologi Bandung.
Tonya Williams Bradford
Associate Professor and Inclusive Excellence Term Chair
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
Moderator
Tonya Williams Bradford
Associate Professor and Inclusive Excellence Term Chair
University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business
MODERATOR
Tonya Williams Bradford is Associate Professor and Inclusive Excellence Term Chair Professor (2021 – 2024). She earned her PhD (as well as her MBA and BA) at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on rituals and identity across phenomenon including gifting (e.g., registry, organ, charitable), relationships with money, communities (e.g., tailgating and support), acculturation, and consumer-brand relationships.
