Speakers

Nikki Powis has over 30 years’ experience advancing economic opportunities for underrepresented and underserved populations at the local, regional, statewide, and national level. Currently Nikki is the Director of Small Business Programs for National Disability Institute (NDI). Nikki is responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of NDI’s multiple small business initiatives serving entrepreneurs and small business owners with disabilities. Her role includes championing NDI’s efforts to expand Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the entrepreneurial eco-system and supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities to start, build and grow their businesses. Nikki brings experience and passion into her work toward supporting positive change efforts.

Thomas Foley is the Executive Director of National Disability Institute, a nonprofit committed to the financial empowerment and economic inclusion of people with disabilities and their families. Trained as a tax lawyer and financial planner, Foley has more than 30 years’ experience serving the disability community by working toward greater economic inclusion. As a person who is blind, he has been an advocate and dedicated his career to partnering with other thought leaders to address the complex drivers of economic inequality and create pathways to employment and financial security for the most vulnerable communities. In addition, Foley has been instrumental in developing and influencing federal and state legislation to encourage employment and increase participation of people with disabilities in employment and wealth-building programs. He is the author of EQUITY, the first asset building book for people with disabilities. Foley has worked closely with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Department of Treasury, Federal Reserve Board and multiple financial and community development institutions to design programs and provide technical assistance to better reach the disability community. Foley received his Master’s degree from the University of California: Berkeley and earned a JD from Hastings College of the Law.

Enovia Bedford is an award-winning dynamic entrepreneurial force with 15+ years of experience in marketing, sponsorship and experiential brand activations and North Carolina's Grow with Google Digital Coach. As a Grow with Google Digital Coach, she shares her expertise to empower businesses across the state. Her expertise lies in driving profitable growth for startups and early-stage companies through innovative marketing, sponsorships and experiential activations. Her company, VettDeck, is a cutting-edge, HUB, MBE and SBE-certified agency and platform that leverages crowdsourced reviews to create valuable insights for multicultural markets that connect brands to events and is a full-service experiential marketing agency. VettDeck has conducted marketing for various public and private sector clients, including Mecklenburg County’s Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program, the Center for Digital Equity at Queens University, the City of Charlotte’s Cultural Arts Department and Charlotte Mayor's Youth Employment Program.

Martin Guerrero is a member of the Global Policy Partnerships and Community Impact team at Block, where he focuses on educational programming for businesses with partners across the globe. Martin also heads up cross-functional projects supporting Spanish-speaking and Indigenous small businesses along with many other community and third party partners. Block is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL and TBD, they share one goal: build simple tools to empower people into the economy.

Suzanne is the Accessibility Standards Lead at Airbnb, where she sets the company’s overall vision and strategy for accessibility and works with teams to execute it. Suzanne is a full-time wheelchair user after sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2011; she is extremely passionate about helping make travel more accessible. She joined Airbnb in 2017 as part of the acquisition of accessible travel startup Accomable. Recent updates to Airbnb have included ways for guests with mobility needs to more easily find and book listings that meet their needs and the introduction of the Adapted Category and Accessibility Review, a process to review and confirm accessibility features added to Airbnb listings. Outside of work, Suzanne is a very active member of the disability community and is an advocate for employment opportunities for members of the disability community and inclusive sports. She is a member of the English Adaptive Surf team.

Talibah Bayles, Founder of TMB Tax and Financial Services B.C, is a Birmingham native and renowned National Small Business Advocate. A 2021 graduate of the SBA Emerging Leaders Class, she combines grassroots enthusiasm with extensive federal experience. With over 15 years as a federal employee, Talibah has worked on Capitol Hill and with the Department of Justice, gaining insights into legislative processes and their impact on small businesses, especially in minority communities. In July 2020, she testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, advocating for minority-owned small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to the creation of the Get Bankable™ CEO Coaching Program. In May 2024, Talibah joined the Board of Directors of Small Business Majority. Locally, she serves as an Instructor at the Miles College Women’s Business Center, Birmingham Business Coach for the SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Emerging Leadership Program, PTO Board Treasurer of John Carroll Catholic High School and Board Treasurer of Davenport & Harris Funeral Home, Inc. She previously served on Birmingham’s Inaugural Small Business Council (2019-2021).

Keith Toms is a Partner in the Boston office of McCarter & English, LLP. He has extensive experience helping his clients get the most out of their IP and makes it a point to understand his clients’ business goals so he can provide incisive advice on how to transform their ideas, creativity and reputation into a sustainable and protectable business advantage. Keith regularly counsels clients on optimal strategies for securing and enforcing their trademark portfolios, both in the United States and internationally. He has advised clients on trademark selection and clearance issues in the fields of consumer products, nonprofit services, business consulting and sporting and cultural events, among others. Keith also has experience counseling clients on enforcement issues, and regularly advises on global strategies for protecting and enforcing valuable brands

Thredd Tenenbaum (they/them pronouns) is the owner and founder of Pill Joy, a company that creates pill organizers that make illness *fun!* Thredd is a queer, trans and disabled artist living in Portland, OR. They started Pill Joy in 2021 after they grew tired of their own boring pill organizer and realized fun pill organizers didn’t exist. Thredd developed a technique to decorate pill organizers with cute, creepy and whimsical themes. Their goal is to help people remember their pills and have fun doing so. Thredd sells Pill Joy creations on their website, Etsy and various stores and markets in Oregon and Washington State. 

An entrepreneur with diverse accounting experience, and a love for sharing knowledge, Manuel “Manny” Cosme is driven to help other small businesses. Manny founded CFO Services Group in 2012 to support new, small and growing organizations with scalable accounting expertise and services beyond typical bookkeeping or tax firms. With more than 20 years focus on managing finances and administration, Manny has the high-level experience and training that his clients need and want. Manny has won several awards, including the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year for District of Columbia, Washington D.C., by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Hispanic Small Business of the Year by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LGBTQ Business Leader of the Year by the Washington Business Journal and Best Accounting Firm by the Washington City Paper. He is active in the community, recently serving on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Equality Chamber of Commerce and the DC Tech and Venture Council; he is also an active member of the Entrepreneur Organization’s DC Chapter. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Latino Leaders Magazine and several of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce + Inc. Magazine Small Business Town Hall sessions. Manny holds a BS in Accounting and Economics from Saint Mary’s College of California. He enjoys living in the vibrant DC area and is an active member of his spiritual community. Down time includes video games, yoga, camping and hiking with his husband and dog.

Neena Massey is the founder and artistic director of Neena Expressions. With respect to the greater community, Neena utilizes her skills as a multidisciplinary artist and educator towards addressing unhealed wounds that manifest into autoimmunity. As a first generation Pakistani American, her performance art engages traditional South Indian ritual and ceremony with poetry, mantra and meditation that draws on diverse languages and cultures. Through integrative work, Neena creates spaces of individual and collective healing in order to amplify the potential for trauma recovery, thus unlocking genuine self-awareness and potent self-transformation based on her belief that we heal better together. She has hosted a community gathering in Denver, CO for three consecutive years. The gathering has created space for healing and transformation of displaced and gentrified communities and has a strong future trajectory.

Matthew Shapiro, founder of 6 Wheels Consulting, was born with cerebral palsy. He is passionate about disability, diversity, and inclusivity. He loves speaking to groups large and small in entertaining, enlightening and engaging ways by telling stories about his life that motivate people to make personal changes in their own lives. Matthew empowers and challenges his audiences to break free of their comfort zones by encouraging them to exceed their goals and minimize their limitations. He shares that, personally, his wheelchair was a safety net. Leaving it caused him tremendous trepidation, which meant he was not fully experiencing life. Through the persuasion of a friend, Matthew attended an event that changed his life FOREVER! He overcame his fears while placing his life in the hands of others. Since then, Matthew’s life continues to flourish and his message resonates with audiences who want to live an authentic life and level the playing field for EVERYONE! Join Matthew on your own personal journey of self-discovery.

Marlon Moore Jr., a recent History graduate from Georgia State University, is the founder of Con$cious Kid Brand, a clothing line promoting disability pride and inclusion through fashion and inspired by the lack of disability representation in mainstream media. Beyond fashion, he is a dedicated disability advocate, volunteering at camps for kids with disabilities, speaking at K-12 schools on disability inclusion and serving as a panelist across various platforms on disability advocacy and his personal experiences. Marlon co-founded the Spina Bifida Support Group of Gwinnett County and, as President of Disability Rights Education Activism Mentoring (DREAM) at Georgia State, led the organization’s growth to over 100 members while launching initiatives to improve campus accessibility and inclusion. Marlon's work is driven by a commitment to disability pride, representation and building a more inclusive world for people with disabilities.

As Vice President of Federal Programs at TEDCO, Kim connects businesses with federal research labs to turn scientific discoveries into economic opportunities across industries like cybersecurity, manufacturing, renewable energy, health sciences and robotics. With a background in supporting the Department of Defense, Kim served in the U.S. Air Force in Europe and worked with various military and defense agencies. Before joining TEDCO, she led the Maryland Defense Technology Commercialization Center, educating businesses on technology transfer. Kim’s experience includes founding companies, managing a tech incubator and conducting economic studies. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Lorinda Gonzalez-Santana, owner of Remy's Consulting, specializes in grant writing and nonprofit consulting. She holds degrees in English Writing, Business and Communication, along with certifications as an AGWA Certified Grant Writer and Grant Writing Specialist. With over a decade of experience, Lorinda has taught grant acquisition workshops to more than 10,000 students. She is dedicated to helping nonprofits succeed and excels in managing diverse, collaborative online teams.

John Lawson is one of the most trusted and experienced eCommerce professionals in the industry. He is a three-time Amazon #1 best-selling author, entrepreneur and international speaker. In 2011, he established The Ecommerce Group to share his knowledge with other entrepreneurs. Lawson is the founder and chief marketer at ColderICE Media and is celebrated as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Small Business Marketing.

Katie Auchenbach is the Web Manager for National Disability Institute (NDI). She brings over 10 years of experience in web communications, graphic design, social media management, email marketing and digital accessibility to her role. Outside of her work for NDI, Katie is the owner of her own small business that provides web design and branding services. She has worked with a variety of nonprofits and small businesses, including animal shelters, athletic teams, consulting companies, interior designers and photographers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Susquehanna University.  

Artura Taylor is the President & CEO of Taylor Distribution Group, LLC (TDG Scientific), a Tier 1 Diverse Integrated Solution Provider specializing in lab equipment, chemicals, safety and PPE. With 30 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, she is a graduate of SMU and a former Regional Vice President at a Fortune 100 company. Under her leadership, TDG has secured over $20M in contracts across life sciences, wastewater treatment, education and pharmaceuticals, partnering with top manufacturers like ThermoFisher, VWR/Avantor and Thomas Scientific. Known for reducing procurement costs and delivering operational excellence, TDG ranks in the top 95th percentile for customer satisfaction according to Dun & Bradstreet. Artura’s achievements have earned her participation in elite programs like the Tuck Minority Executive Business Program at Dartmouth and the SBA Executive Entrepreneurship Program. She was also one of 20 women selected for the inaugural Women in Oil and Gas class, sponsored by WBENC, Shell and Exxon. TDG has been recognized with awards such as the 2022 Supplier of the Year by Disability:IN and the 2020 Outstanding CEO in Texas nomination by WBENC. Artura continues to drive TDG’s national growth while championing diversity and inclusion in business.

Katie Davis is the Sr. Program Manager for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready within Verizon's Responsible Business team. In her current role, she leads the company's flagship initiative to support diverse entrepreneurs for success in the digital economy. Previously, Katie created and launched the Verizon Forward for Good Accelerator, an initiative to support start-ups leveraging advanced technology to drive meaningful social impact. Katie led the program through its inaugural cohort, Climate Justice, as well as its Disability Innovation cohort. Katie is passionate about identifying and implementing opportunities that deliver social impact and business value and creating inclusive innovation systems.

Dr. Samantha Scott is the Founder and CEO of JuneBrain Dr. Scott obtained her BS in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California. With more than 15 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to developing medical devices that diagnose and treat retinal diseases. Dr. Scott also uses neuroimaging and ophthalmic imaging techniques to track functional and structural changes that provide data for medical treatment. Dr. Scott’s passion for the eyes and brain stems from her own personal experience. In 2017, she was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder and experienced the challenge of communicating changes in her disease to healthcare providers between clinical visits. This inspired her to launch JuneBrain. She has since built a team of brilliant and diverse individuals who share her passion for improving the quality of life for neurological and retinal disease patients.

Tiffani Martin is a social tech entrepreneur, creator of the Accessible AI Quotient Framework, author and an accessibility specialist with over 15 years of experience transforming business strategies across various sectors. Known for her expertise in omni-channel strategy, she drives innovation and enhances operational efficiency through advanced automation technologies. A dedicated advocate for equity and accessibility, Tiffani supports STEM education and workforce development. She has been recognized as one of Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and as AI Innovator of the Year by the Black AI Think Tank. As a former spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association’s Black History Month initiative, her impactful work has earned her two proclamations from the city of DeSoto, TX. Certified as a Product Owner and ScrumMaster, and trained in web accessibility, she excels in applying AI and agile methodologies to bring innovative ideas to fruition. As the founder of JancynCo and VisioTech, she pioneers digital strategies to bridge accessibility gaps in product development. Despite losing her vision at 28 due to diabetic retinopathy, her resilience has driven her to champion STEM equity and accessibility. A published author of “Branding the Heart" and the upcoming book, "eyeRobot," Tiffani inspires others, as a national speaker, to embrace and transcend their differences. Living in Dallas, TX with her husband, her life story is a testament to resilience, advocacy and the transformative power of technology in cultivating inclusivity and positive change.

Brent Anderson is a recognized role model for individuals with disabilities. His humorous explanation of life on the autism spectrum is enlightening, engaging and inspiring. Brent’s popular Unintentional Humor books provide valuable information and are a must have resource for teachers, therapists and families. After struggling to find traditional employment, Brent launched his first business, Unintentional Humor, along with his mother, Linda, in 2010. Together, they wrote two books and Brent shared his story at schools, conferences and professional events. He has spoken at more than 100 events across the country. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a stop to in-person gatherings so Brent turned that challenge into an opportunity to start another business. Embracing his love of animals, Brent began making products for cats and dogs and Pets Pizzazz launched in 2022. Brent also serves on the advisory board of Celebrate EDU, a nonprofit organization that provides entrepreneurial education to individuals with developmental disabilities. His experiences as a self-advocate entrepreneur are helping to shape the future for millions living with disabilities.

Heather Lawver is the Founder & CEO of Ceemo.ai. After helping underrepresented founders raise over $172 million in venture capital, she's automating data-backed brand, marketing and pitch creation for entrepreneurs. Ceemo is the first brand and marketing generator to guarantee ADA color contrast compliance, greatly expanding accessibility and protecting founders from risks most aren't aware of. Heather's entrepreneurial journey began when she finished high school at 12, launched her first startup at 13 and led a landmark international boycott at 16. She out-marketed a major Hollywood studio, setting legal precedent that helped shape copyright law for the Internet age. Now, thanks to her uniquely broad skill set, she and her team are building the first AI logo generator that allows founders to legally protect the brands they create with Ceemo. 

Tiffany Ruffa, founder of HRBloom Co. and Deaf HR Professionals (DHRP), has over 15 years of HR experience supporting small Deaf-owned businesses, with fewer than 50 employees, by providing tailored HR services such as onboarding, offboarding, handbook development, compliance, succession planning, strategic planning and equitable hiring practices. She also works with nonprofit agencies serving the Deaf community, collaborating with boards on governance and strategic roadmaps, while providing training. A SHRM-CP certified professional, Tiffany stays current with changing employment laws and emphasizes mentorship, having grown DHRP from three members in 2019 to 21 HR professionals across various industries. In her personal time, she enjoys hiking and spending time in nature with her husband, Val, and their rescue pug, Eva.

Abiola Haroun is a deaf chemist, writer, editor, poet, contemporary artist and fashion designer who utilizes African fabrics to create art and clothing that celebrate the joviality of African culture. She is the owner of Afrotika, a social enterprise founded in 2020 that aims to enhance the educational experience of deaf children in developing nations through the sales of her creations. Abiola was the winner of Gallaudet University’s first ever Alumni Bison Tank Contest. Abiola is an active participant in the annual Columbia Festival of the Arts and she recently made her debut at Artscape, America’s largest outdoor festival. Currently, she serves on the board of trustees for the Open Circle Hive, a nonprofit collective of disabled visual artists that promotes the arts and art accessibility in the disability community. She is also a member of the board of trustees for the Andrew Foster Foundation, which cultivates educational equity for deaf African children and young adults. Abiola’s past exhibitions include the prestigious Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture’s “Wax Print” and the Visionary for the Creative Arts “Deaf BIPOC Art Exhibit’.  This fall, Abiola will be featured at the world renowned Guggenheim Museum in New York City as part of the “Ekphrasis in Air” exhibition that connects poetry to visual art.

Kristina Hurlburt grew up in Alaska, where she went on to study aviation and earn her pilot’s license at the University of Alaska and serve in the Alaska Air Guard. Enamored by the desert's allure since childhood, she fell in love with the Southwest and traded snow for sun, making Arizona her permanent home. Kristina has worked in several industries in pursuit of knowledge and experience, including previously founding an apparel customization business producing branded merchandise for fitness centers around the U.S. Now, as a passionate real estate agent and advisor, she channels her love of the Southwest into helping others discover the unique beauty of Arizona and how to build wealth for themselves and their family through real estate. When not guiding clients, she is often hiking and exploring the desert with her three dogs.

Ciara Ladroma is a Senior Associate with Griffin-Hammis Associates. Ciara provides training and technical assistance around customized employment, supported employment, self-Employment and building social capital. Before joining Griffin-Hammis Associates, Ciara served as the Director of the Iowa Women’s Business Center. She is a former career coach with Des Moines Area Community College. Ciara also served as an employment specialist and employment coordinator for a community-based rehabilitation agency. She is skilled in training others in negotiation, networking and relationship building.

Angad Sahgal is the founder of LetMeDoIt, an innovative platform designed to drive economic engagement, equitable healthcare and social inclusion for people with disabilities. As the first founder with an intellectual disability selected for the Techstars Impact program, Angad is leading groundbreaking work in the disability space. He is also a winner of the MainStreet Fund pitch competition at Georgia State University. Through his lived experiences, Angad brings a unique perspective to creating solutions that foster independence and opportunity for people with disabilities. Angad is also the founder of Chai Ho Teas, retailing tea and tea blends from India. Following his passion of teas and sharing the joy of tea with everyone, one cup at a time.

Amit Sahgal is the co-founder of LetMeDoIt, a pioneering platform dedicated to driving economic engagement, equitable healthcare and social inclusion for people with disabilities. With nearly three decades of corporate experience, Amit brings strategic expertise to solving the financial exclusion and systemic isolation challenges faced by the disability community. His deep understanding of business, paired with his lived experience as a caregiver, has shaped LetMeDoIt into a solution that empowers individuals with disabilities while forging key institutional partnerships to unlock economic opportunities. Partnering with his son, Angad, Amit firmly believes that true change requires leading by example.

Yusef Battle is a “Dadpreneur” and co-founder of Cookie YAY, an all-natural, small-batch baking company he started three years ago with his 10-year-old daughter. Together, they create gourmet treats including vegan, gluten-free, low-sugar and classic varieties, bringing high-quality options to corporate and government celebrations and meetings. Beyond the kitchen, Yusef is passionate about empowering youth through the Maryland Youth Business Initiative (MYBi), which Cookie YAY supports with a portion of its proceeds. MYBi engages young people ages 6 to18 in real world entrepreneurship, offering opportunities through business fairs, pitch competitions, internships and mentorships. With more than 20 years of experience as a clinical exercise physiologist, Yusef blends his focus on wellness with a commitment to helping the next generation build purpose driven businesses that promote both financial independence and healthy living.

Irene Grimes, Airbnb Host

Born in Greece, and raised between Greece and Austria, Irene Grimes developed a passion for hospitality leading her to pursue extensive training in the industry. After moving to the United States as an adult, Irene enlisted in the Army where she proudly served and completed several tours of duty. After transitioning from military life, she settled in Fayetteville, NC, where she met her husband, Charlie, an Air Force veteran. Together, they embarked on a new journey as landlords, acquiring and managing several single-family homes. Five years ago, they expanded their vision by converting one of their properties into a short-term Airbnb rental, with a mission to provide an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone.  Irene and Charlie are passionate about ensuring their rental properties are a safe and comfortable place for all guests, regardless of age, ability, sexual orientation or lifestyle. Committed to fostering community, Irene also serves on her county’s Board of Elections, contributing to the civic health of her local area. Through her work in hospitality, and her active involvement in the community, Irene continues to live by the values of service, inclusivity and making a positive difference wherever she can.