Aletha Akers

Dr. Aletha Akers is a faculty member at PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and an adolescent gynecologist and medical director of Adolescent Gynecology Consultative Services in the Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine at CHOP. Aletha also leads a research group that assesses strategies for improving access and quality of reproductive health services for adolescents.

Adam B. Landau

Adam B. Landau, CAIA serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Permit Capital Advisors, LLC. He is responsible for formulating and implementing the firm's investment strategy.

Prior to joining Permit, Adam served as Managing Director at McCabe Capital Managers, Ltd., working there from 1997 until 2011. Adam oversaw the integration of McCabe Capital's advisory efforts. This covered a rigorous process focused primarily on the various aspects of investment due diligence. Adam worked to optimize the structure of client portfolios to maximize the expected level of risk adjusted return. He served as one of two portfolio managers on three fund of funds products, including a hedge fund of funds and a socially responsible investment fund of funds, offered to clients of a number of major insurance carriers. Prior to joining McCabe, Adam spent four years at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DU) where he worked with both retail and institutional clients to develop asset allocation plans and construct appropriate equity and fixed income portfolios.

Adam received his M.B.A. {Finance) from Saint Joseph's University and a B.A. (Economics) from Rutgers University. He holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Philadelphia. Adam serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at C.B. Community School, a private high school dedicated to students from foster care, and the Board of Directors of Bancroft, an organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania, an interdisciplinary effort of Penn's Schools of Social Policy & Practice, Law, Medicine, and Nursing, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, focused on child welfare reform. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of The Committee of Seventy.

Anita Lewis

Anita M. Lewis sharpened her professional skills working in the non-profit, advertising, media, policy, government affairs and healthcare industries for over 20 years. Currently representing AmeriHealth Caritas as the Director of Government and External Affairs for the state of Pennsylvania, Anita serves as an advocate to protect and promote access to health care.

She works with staffers and members of the general assembly to avidly and consistently create policy that assures the state’s most fragile residents of the Commonwealth are provided seamless, quality coordinated health care services.

Prior to joining AmeriHealth, Ms. Lewis was the Legislative Program Manager at Health Partners Plans to partner educate and partner with federal and state legislators representing Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties regarding health care issues impacting their constituents.

While working for Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Hughes she served as the Communications/ Public Relations Liaison. In this role she promoted the Senator’s activities, community events and pitched policy initiatives to the press. Hosted press conferences (both in the Capitol and within the district) to highlight the Senator’s accomplishments, including higher education preparation and other funding opportunities specifically, Pennsylvania’s first $1 million allocated for HIV testing and education programs.

Along with being one of the founding members and past president of the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society (BPRS), Ms. Lewis was acknowledged as a member of the first installment of professional women recognized as Young Women Making a Difference, an initiative developed from Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s Women’s History Month event, Women Making a Difference Awards. She was acknowledged as a Philadelphia Leader in the Philadelphia Tribune Newspaper’s Most Influential Philadelphians and Philadelphia Leaders for multiple years and 2005 recognized as one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

She received her undergraduate degree from Temple University School of Journalism and obtained her Masters in Communication Research from the University of Akron in Ohio.

Ashlie Thornbury

Ashlie Thornbury leads Campus Philly’s Partnerships team, which generates and fulfills partnerships that provide valuable opportunities for thousands of college students. Ashlie joined Campus Philly in 2011 where she directs career programs & events. She launched the Corporate Membership Program in 2012, which she continues to oversee and grow in addition to many successful local and national marketing partnerships.

Prior to joining Campus Philly, Ashlie was also part of the advertising teams at Visit Philly, the city’s tourism marketing office, and Brownstein Group, the oldest creative ad agency in Philadelphia.

Nationally, Ashlie serves on the American Brain Tumor Association’s Volunteer Advisory Council. Since 2007, every fall, she plans and produces an annual 5K fundraiser to benefit that organization in memory of her aunt, Amy.

Ashlie graduated from Temple University in 2003 with a degree in Art.

Celeste Collins

Celeste is the Chief Human Resources and Inclusion Officer for Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC). Since 2005, she has been responsible for the strategic HR leadership and direction for one of the largest regional nonprofit public health organizations in the nation. Celeste is a key member of the senior leadership team at PHMC, participating in and contributing to decisions that effect the overall future direction of the organization.

Celeste has diverse and significant knowledge, insight and leadership in Human Resources. With a team of (18), she leads human resources strategy, policy and administration; benefits and compensation; employee relations; employment practices and procedures; and employee communications. This encompasses recruitment, selection, retention, compliance, employee learning and development, employee risk and safety, and overall talent management. She also has leadership oversight for ODL and Quality.

Cynthia Ritter

Cynthia Ritter is the Chief Financial and Administration Officer for ZogSports & ZogCulture, a community-focused recreational service company based in New York City. Prior to her current role, she was vice president at Tyco International where she held several roles, including strategic planning, operations and corporate finance. Cynthia has made a personal commitment to focus her time in organizations that have a direct social impact, particularly with girls and women. In addition to serving as the WOMEN'S WAY Board Chair, she coaches cheerleading at New Foundations Charter School, is an executive mentor for WOMEN Unlimited, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Arts Condominium and the Duttine-Cavataio Fund.

Don Forcey

Don Forcey is an IT Executive at Vanguard where he has served in various roles across Data Center Operations during his 23 years there. He earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State University and holds a Master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University. Don is active with Home of the Sparrow, Adult Care of Chester County and is on the board of WOMEN'S WAY.

Harvey Floyd II

Harvey Floyd II is an organizational psychologist, senior executive coach and university lecturer who specializes in the areas of diversity and inclusion, leading and managing complex change, executive development, and team performance. Currently, Harvey holds Lecturer positions in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Program, and the Wharton School’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education, where he teaches on Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, and Strategic Persuasion. Working primarily across Wharton’s Global Wealth Management Institute and Financial Services portfolios, Harvey is intimately familiar with the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

As an Executive Coach at the Wharton School, Harvey coaches cross-industry leaders – MBA’s to C-Suite - in signature programs including, MBA, Executive MBA, General Management Program and Advanced Finance Program, and serves as a Lead Executive Coach for the Executive Development Program. Non-teaching roles include supporting Wharton Women in Business and Wharton Male Allies as Strategic Advisor. Harvey is Adjunct Faculty in the U.S. State Department’s School of Leadership and Management at the Foreign Service Institute, and Faculty at 6 Team Conditions, alongside renowned Harvard expert, researcher, and author of ‘Senior Leadership Teams’, Ruth Wageman.

Jennedy Johnson

Jennedy Johnson is an Assistant General Counsel at PECO Energy Company. In this role she advises senior management in all areas of regulatory law, including utility and administrative law and ethics. She also represents the company in matters before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Jennedy is a Pro Bono Coordinator for PECO and also maintains a substantial pro bono practice. She volunteers with numerous organizations including the Homeless Advocacy Project, the SeniorLAW Center, the Nationalities Service Center, and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Additionally, Jennedy serves on the Boards of the Homeless Advocacy Project and Women’s Way.

She is a member of the Bars of the Supreme Court of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She earned her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Pittsburgh and her B.S. from Pennsylvania State University. Jennedy is also the proud mother of three daughters.

Joanna Otero-Cruz

Joanna Otero-Cruz serves as Deputy Managing Director for the Community Services cabinet. Within this post, Mrs. Otero-Cruz leads and oversees’ operations for 311, the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), and the Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Services and Town Watch Integrated Services. Previously, Mrs. Otero-Cruz led Pennsylvania’s oldest Latino non-profit organization, Concilio, where she oversaw the organization’s foster care services, youth development programming, and children’s health work. She serves as Pennsylvania Commissioner for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and served on the CEIBA Coalition. Mrs. Otero-Cruz holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Peirce College in Business Administration with a concentration in management.

Katie Quinn

Katie Quinn is an audit Senior Manager in the Philadelphia office of Grant Thornton, LLP. She has over ten years of experience serving publicly-traded and privately-held audit clients. Katie has assisted clients with technical accounting issues in an array of areas including, but not limited to, business combinations, consolidation and variable interest entity analysis, share-based compensation, complex debt and equity instruments and derivatives. Katie has helped clients with audit needs through all phases of their life cycle including formation and SEC registration, capital raising, investment and joint ventures structuring, consolidation, financial reporting, internal control implementation and testing, and liquidity events.

Katie is a certified public accountant in the state of Pennsylvania and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh.

Joanne Shallcross

Joanne Shallcross is a Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager for Bryn Mawr Trust. She is an important point of contact for all her Wealth Management clients and delivers personalized and meaningful solutions to connect them to their financial goals. She is particularly enjoys sharing her expertise in financial planning solutions to individuals with special needs and those planning for incapacity.

In addition, Joanne serves on the Board and is chair of the Strategic Initiatives Committee for CADES, a nonprofit organization in Delaware County that is dedicated to the improving to the lives of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and that of their families. Joanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law.

Linda Manfredonia

Linda Manfredonia is a highly respected leader and an expert in the financial services industry with deep experience in business management and leadership, risk management, and fiduciary oversight. She has a strategic perspective as well as a deep and detailed understanding of the challenges faced by businesses in growing and rapidly changing environments. At PNC, she very successfully navigated through a groundbreaking regulatory transformation and built the first line of defense infrastructure for her division, balancing regulator demands and business realities.

In addition, Linda was a leader in completing multiple acquisitions and mergers for PNC, in the Asset Management Group. Linda is well known in her industry and has been a sought-after speaker and expert with industry associations. She is an active member of the Forum of Executive Women and has served on its’ Sponsorship Committee and Public Sector Committee. She has been a member of the Fiduciary and Investment Risk Management Association and the Trust Management Association. At PNC she led diversity initiatives and an Employee Resource Group for senior women and was a member of the corporate Diversity Council.

Linda has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from LaSalle University, a J.D. and an L.L.M. in Taxation from Temple University School of Law.

Laura Belmont

Laura Belmont is General Counsel of Civis Analytics, where she advises on and supports all aspects of the business and drives legal and compliance strategy and initiatives, including relating to data protection, privacy, regulatory compliance, IP, commercial, corporate, and employment law. Prior to joining Civis, she was in-house counsel at Comcast Cable, where she was responsible for designing, implementing, and enhancing compliance and ethics programs for the Cable Division across an array of legal areas. Before that, Laura was a litigation associate at Latham & Watkins, LLP and a staff attorney at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

In Fall 2020, Laura served as a Regional Voter Protection Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party / Coordinated Biden-Harris Campaign. She volunteers with numerous organizations relating to civic engagement and equity and inclusion. She is also a member of the Forum of Executive Women and serves on its Public Sector and Women in Leadership Committees. In May 2021, Laura was named by the Legal Intelligencer as one of Pennsylvania’s Lawyers on the Fast Track for her professional, personal, and civic work to improve the legal landscape in the Commonwealth.

Laura is a member of the Bars of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and two children.

Mims Maynard Zabriskie

Mims Maynard Zabriskie is a partner at Morgan Lewis who advises on complex executive compensation and employee benefit plan matters. She counsels large publicly and privately owned businesses, including Fortune 500 enterprises, technology companies, and universities on a range of legal issues related to executive compensation governance, and employee benefit plans. She also represents executives in the negotiation of employment agreements and equity compensation, including in connection with transactions. She advises on benefits and executive compensation issues that arise during major corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, sales, IPOs, and spinoffs. Active in a variety of professional and civic organizations, she is listed in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America.

Myra Brown

Myra Brown is the CEO and owner of NWON Opportunities a MWBE Certified (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey) workforce development, recruitment, and retention management company located in Center City Philadelphia. Throughout her long and honored career Myra has been an advocate for the disenfranchised to gain sustainable and long term employment. She has held positions as Director of the Philadelphia branch of CareersUSA; Regional Business Services Director for PA Careerlink; Deputy Executive Director of a local Human Services agency; and Director of Human Resources and Diversity for the Philadelphia Orchestra Association.

Ms. Brown is a graduate of Temple University. She is a certified Professional Human Resources and has been an instrumental member of the Boards of Directors for SOSNA, Family Legacy Organization, Girls Rock Philly, The Aids Law Project of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia International Airport Capacity Enhancement Project.

Myra was recently named a 2019: Woman Up and Minority Business Leader of the Year by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Paula Crowley

Paula Crowley was recently recognized by the Real Estate Forum – Women of Influence as one of the top 45 female executives making a difference in commercial real estate. Paula is chair emeritus of Anchor Health Properties, the healthcare development and management firm she co-founded over thirty years ago. She is the former chair of WOMEN’S WAY as well as the former chair of the board of The High Company in Lancaster, Pa. Ms. Crowley currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Global Medical REIT based in Bethesda, Md. and also teaches a healthcare real estate development course in the MBA program at Villanova University.