SPEAKERS

CO-FOUNDER & CEO (AMERICAN VETERANS GROUP)

Ben Biles is the co-founder and CEO of American Veterans Group, a social-impact investment bank that provides philanthropic support to Post 9/11 military veterans nationwide.

Since it was established in 2018, AVG has donated $337,785 to 27 veteran-focused non-profit organizations in 33 U.S. cities. AVG’s philanthropy has directly benefitted more than 1,700 veterans to date, with its primary focus being on helping veterans transition to civilian life, mitigating the rates of veteran employment and suicide, and eradicating inequalities between veterans and their non-veteran peers. American Veterans Group is Wall Street’s first and only public benefit corporation.

Mr. Biles is a sought-after speaker, writer and panelist on veterans issues, ESG investing, diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, and diversity supplier relationships.

PRESIDENT & CEO (CANADIAN ABORIGINAL AND MINORITY SUPPLIER COUNCIL)

Cassandra Dorrington and her team lead the charge of championing business relationships and economic growth of the Canadian supply chain through the inclusion of Aboriginal and Minority suppliers. During her tenure, Cassandra has been focused on expansion of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) brand, both nationally and internationally. This has resulted in significant growth and impact in the Canadian marketplace.

Known for her involvement in both the business and community environment, Cassandra has been named one of Diversity Canada’s Influential Women in Diversity and HR. She sits on the Supplier Advisory Council for the Procurement Assistance Canada PAC) for the Government of Canada, Elevate International, and Dalhousie University Board of Governors.

With over 500 certified suppliers, 130 plus corporate members and more than $8 Billion in diverse spend, CAMSC is a proud member of both Supplier Diversity Alliance Canada (SDAC), the single voice for supplier in Canada and Global Supplier Diversity Alliance (GSDA) promoting supplier diversity across the globe with sister councils in Australia, China, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

PROCUREMENT ADMINISTRATOR (COUNTY OF ALAMEDA)

Detra Dillon is the Procurement Administrator for the County of Alameda. As an accomplished professional with more than 16 years of procurement experience in public and private entities, Detra is known for leading emergency operations procurement responses, strategic planning, procurement compliance, and operational development. Prior to the County of Alameda, Detra was the Manager of Purchasing with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Manager of Contracts with Stanford University, and Contract Administrator- Bus Maintenance with San Mateo County Transit District.

Detra holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Francisco State University.

DIRECTOR OF JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION (B LAB)

Dr. Ellonda L. Williams is the Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) at B Lab, a non-profit organization that has a collective global vision of an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet. In this role, she works collaboratively to create a healthy, inclusive, antiracist culture for all employees and oversees B Lab's JEDI strategies.

Working with the People & Culture team to implement the initiatives and policies necessary to foster equal employment opportunities and a psychologically-safe space. She supports the mission at B Lab by serving as a subject matter expert on JEDI at conferences, professional associations, and business meetings while creating learning opportunities and experiential dialogue for growth and application for staff and community. Additionally, creating and sharing resources on relevant global and local maters around JEDI across, governance, culture, facilities, and operations.

DIRECTOR, PPO AUTOMATION & PROGRAMS (AUTODESK)

Holly Brewster has been with Autodesk for more than 5 years. She is the Director of PPO Automation and Programs which includes Responsible Sourcing where they focus on Supplier Diversity and Sustainable Purchasing. Her team is also responsible for citizen developer Automation across Finance and Insurance and Risk Management across Autodesk. Holly previously served in various roles at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, including Procurement Director and head of the agency's Historically Underutilized Business program.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (BSR)

Jessica is an Associate Director at BSR, an organization of sustainable business experts that works with its global network of the world’s leading companies to build a just and sustainable world. She leads BSR’s work on Equity, Inclusion, and Justice with Technology Sector Companies, and has a background in social impact, economic inclusion, and responsible sourcing strategies. She managed the Global Impact Sourcing Coalition, a global network of businesses that aimed to create jobs for those most in need through the power of procurement and global supply chains. Previously, Jessica worked at Fair Trade USA, where she designed, implemented, and managed certification programs in agricultural supply chains and helped companies execute their responsible sourcing strategies. Jessica holds a Certificate in Social Enterprise and Poverty from HEC Paris. She holds a B.B.A. in International Business, a B.S. in Accounting, and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Akron.

MANAGER OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE (BSR)

Jillian is an award-winning public servant with ten years of expertise in intersectional diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and community education initiatives. She has specific expertise in global and domestic immigration, human diversity and cultural identity, DEI curriculum development, global and domestic trust-based grantmaking, and non-profit operations. In her current role at BSR as a Manager of Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, Jillian brings member companies into equitable practice through BSR’s Center for Business and Social Justice.

Prior to joining BSR, she was the Manager of Family and Community Inclusion within the Diversity & Inclusion-Global team at YMCA of the USA. In this role, she developed and expanded equity initiatives for underserved populations across 10,000 communities, specializing in operationalizing domestic and global equity policies and strengthening cross-sector partnership development. Additionally, she provided oversight to the YMCA’s national AmeriCorps VISTA Immigrant & Opportunity Youth Initiative and served on the national LGBTQ+ Steering Committee. She studied Leadership & Psychology of Human Services at Grace Christian University.

CANADIAN LEADER, ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL GOVERNANCE SERVICES (ESGS) SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES (EY)

Lori successfully earned SCMP and CSMP designations and promotes sharing of best practices to build inclusive and sustainable Supply Chains. Lori is involved with many of Canada’s advocacy councils to actualize growth and development opportunities for Indigenous and Minority Suppliers resulting in opportunities and value for all.

SR. MANAGER, BUSINESS DIVERSITY & SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY (TIAA)

Tiffany Keaton is the Sr. Manager and Head of Business Diversity & Supply Chain Sustainability at TIAA. With more than five years of supplier diversity experience, she leads a team that is responsible for developing and engaging certified, diverse suppliers to integrate them into the corporate sourcing and procurement processes. Her team also manages and oversees the increase of diverse spend, aligning goals with executive leadership, ensuring awareness and inclusion of diverse suppliers.

Tiffany is responsible for leading and driving the expansion of the global supplier diversity and supply chain sustainability program across India and the UK. She led a team in conducting an Economic Impact Analysis to identify positive social impact in job creation and income within communities served.

Throughout her tenure, Tiffany has progressed the company’s global procurement human rights initiative by educating vendors and revising contracts to include language on inclusivity and supply chain sustainability. She helped drive entrepreneurial and economic development through scholarships with institutions such as Tuck Diversity Business Programs at Dartmouth College, and she improved sustainability efforts by developing policies and operating procedures, by forming metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Prior to joining TIAA, Tiffany was and remains the principal whole woman coach at Tip Jones Global and founder of the exclusive membership club for multi-hyphenate, Black women entrepreneurs, OwnHers.com.

Tiffany serves on the Advisory Board for The Tuck Diversity Business Programs at Dartmouth as well as Board Chair of the Charlotte LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce. She founded The Tip Jones Startup Scholarship, providing micro-grants, coaching and marketing support to aspiring Black women entrepreneurs. She served as a member of the Mooresville, N.C. Mayor’s Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce, and was the founder and editor of POSE Magazine, a lifestyle magazine where she featured and interviewed the late Dr. Maya Angelou, famed actor Michael Jai White, Salt ‘n’ Pepa’s DJ Spinderella and other notable celebrities and entrepreneurs.

Tiffany studied psychology at Morgan State University and business management at Capella University. Born and raised in Bronx, N.Y., she currently resides in Mooresville, N.C., with her big family including her husband, two birth babies, one fur baby, her mother and mother-in-law. She also has three adult bonus babies.