MEET YOUR HOST

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Latoya Shanell
L' Shanell + Co.

Latoya Shanell, CMP is an award-winning, certified event and marketing strategist and multi-passionate entrepreneur. Latoya has a dynamic multi-disciplinary background with more than 18 years of experience in corporate meetings, events, marketing and project management across a variety of industries. She is a visionary with a “nothing is impossible attitude.” In 2008, Latoya founded L’ Shanell + Co.,  which is a full-service event management and marketing agency that specializes in corporate, fashion, brand and social events. She also hosts networking and educational experiences for entrepreneurs through her brands Lady Boss Round Table, I Am Chicago Fashion and Event Pros Unplugged. Latoya is also the founder of e-commerce shops L’ Shanell Party Boutique and Culture Boss.

Throughout her professional career, Latoya has managed hundreds of complex corporate meetings and events nationally and internationally. She has worked in various corporate marketing departments managing strategic marketing campaigns, promotional materials, presentations, website design, email marketing campaigns, trade shows and internal and client events. Latoya has also managed client accounts for global meetings and events agencies. Types of programs planned and managed include executive strategy meetings, client events, employee incentive trips, industry trade shows, hospitality sporting events, sales meetings and multi-day client conferences with event program budgets up to $2 million. 

As a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Latoya has achieved a level of experience and education that represents the industry’s highest standard of professionalism. In 2015, Latoya was named as a top event industry leader under 40 on Collaborate magazine, “40 Under 40” list, which honors the top young event industry professionals.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

MEET YOUR MODERATORS

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Jamelia Amor
Amor Foundation
*FEATURED SPEAKER

Jamelia Amor is a natural-born leader. Her name means beautiful love and she is truly that, a woman of inner and outer beauty. She is in the business of changing lives one person at a time!  Ms. Amor is a transformational coach whose personal motto is to enhance the quality of life with each encounter through strong leadership, love, compassion, and strategies that will empower you to want to do more. 

As a business consultant and coach to entrepreneurs for over 15 years, Ms. Amor has developed operational processes and teams for longevity. She currently works for a multi-billion dollar organization where she has built an entire department from the ground up. The driving force behind Ms. Amor is her purpose, which is to inspire people of all ages to not settle for the common things of life and to always seek out their individual purpose. Her purpose shows up in everything she does.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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Lesley Whitehead
Lesley Whitehead Photography

Lesley's goal as a photographer has evolved over the last 15 years with keeping a common thread of creating beautiful natural light personality-driven images. Now she’s female focused on creative entrepreneurs celebrating women with out of the box brand & lifestyle inspiring images of entrepreneurs. Lesley’s ability to bring out your “Beautiful” will help you find that sweet spot where you stand out among your competitors and make your brand unforgettable. From a mini session to a full 2-day photo shoot, she creates custom brand experiences. Based in Chicago but willing to travel, Lesley will deliver Images that Elevate Your Brand and create so much fun you’ll forget you’re being photographed.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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Audrey Woodley
Audrey & Co

B.S. M.Ed, Master Coach
MBE W/MBE Certified
The Biz Therapist & CEO of Changing Oasis, Inc. and BDMedia Inc. consulting firm and success coach. Empowering college, career women, and B2B with strategies on marketing and position to win certifications.

The Brand Therapist has several years of experience in self-publishing, not-for-profits, small business start-ups, marketing, and media.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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Keiona Wright
Wright Way Financial Services

Keiona Wright, Is the Illinois Ambassador for the National Association of Black Tax Professionals. As well as a member of the ILCPA (Illinois Certified Public Accountant) Organization. She has over 16 years of experience as a Tax Accountant. She's had the opportunity to work with hundreds of individuals and business owners. She also has experience with helping small business owners set up their businesses correctly in addition to helping small business owners maintain a professional record with extensive bookkeeping and tax knowledge.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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Bukky Garcia
Exquisite Events and Floral Design

Bukky’s passion to become an event planner comes from many years of experience helping friends and families in planning and decorating their events. She was motivated and inspired to pursue a career in event planning after pursuing a master's degree in Gerontology and Hospice Care. Her professionalism, creative mind, and overall ability to bring many clients' vision and ideas to life makes her one of the best in the wedding planning and floral design industry. Bukky was named "1 of 12 Black-owned businesses in Chicago leading the wedding industry". Her work has been featured in multiple magazines and blogs such as Marahani Weddings, Celebration Society, Chicago Splash Magazine and many more.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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K. Carlton
K. Carlton, inc

K. Carlton is an events, travel and weddings professional with over 15 years of experience combined in all three industries. She specializes in producing multilevel events along with travel curation all over the globe and wedding planning and coordination. The K. Carlton, inc brand is a 6-year-old boutique agency that prides itself on "making things happen" for all of its clients and projects. K. Carlton is a leader in the events, travel and weddings industry with a vast portfolio of work spanning the U.S. in cities such as New York, LA, Atlanta, Houston, her hometown, Chicago, just to name a few. Along with being a wife and mother of two daughters, K. Carlton is an active leader in her community where she lends her talents to various causes that support youth development, violence prevention and community health and wellness.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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Joyce Dawkins
She ROCKS It

Joyce Dawkins is the Founder of She ROCKS It Celebrating Women Who ROCK, Creator of She ROCKS It Magazine and Co-Creator of CLINK Wine and Spirits Festival. Joyce has received numerous awards and recognition for the platform she has created with her SHE brands. She ROCKS It is known for the Annual Celebrating Women Who ROCKS Awards Gala, and the Annual I AM SHE Day which is held during Women's History Month. In 2022 Joyce was the Co-Creator of CLINK Wine and Spirits Festival which is an annual Chicago-based wine and spirits festival dedicated to highlighting Women, Black, Indigenous and People of Color in the industry. On March 12, 2023, She ROCKS It will host their 1st EXPO which is an expansion of The I AM SHE Day honoring Womens HerStory Month as seen on ABC7 Chicago.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM


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Tasha Odunuyi
BORN2EMPOWERHER

Tasha's work is dedicated to equipping women with the tools to fight through the tough seasons of their lives, gracefully, while showing up as their best selves in the process.


WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

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