Sharon Harrell

Certified Profession Coach, Retirement & Benefits Expert

Sharon is a dynamic and passionate speaker with over 30 years of distinguished civilian Federal Government service. Her career journey has included various positions that have placed her as a Subject Matter Expert in Federal Benefits and Retirement and Employee Learning and Development. Sharon leverages her wealth of experience to inspire and empower her audiences. As an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation, she provides transformative coaching that helps clients shift their mindsets, identify barriers, and implement actionable steps to achieve success. Certified as a Retirement and Financial Coach, she specializes in guiding individuals through life’s transitions with clarity and purpose. A DISC Practitioner and Emotional Intelligence expert, Sharon delivers impactful training that fosters personal growth and effective team dynamics. She also brings creativity to her work as a LEGO Serious Play Facilitator and LEGO Creative Coach, using innovative techniques to enhance collaboration and problem-solving. A proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Sharon combines her professional expertise with her deep love for family, music, travel, and fostering connections. Her engaging, relatable style leaves audiences motivated to embrace their potential and live their fullest lives.

Heath Carelock

Program Director & Financial Counselor

Heath Carelock is a financial educator, a 2024 national consumer economic award winner and a 2022 Maryland Financial Capability Award winner. He holds multiple national accreditations, including being a PMP®, a Certified Financial Counselor and a Certified Financial Behavior Specialist. Currently, he serves as the second-ever Program Director at the Financial Empowerment Center in Maryland and is the founder of Carelosophy Social Impact Solutions, LLC. Heath has worked on various financial counseling projects and contributed to pandemic-related initiatives. He has been a speaker at prestigious organizations, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and featured in notable publications, like the Associated Press, Washington Post, NerdWallet, MoneyGeek, and the Journal of Financial Therapy. Heath is a husband and father of three (3).

Desy Osunsade

Global HR Executive - Founder, The Onyx Truth

With over 15 years of leadership in HR, talent management, and DEI, I’ve dedicated my career to creating spaces where individuals thrive and organizations evolve. Now, as the Founder of The Onyx Truth, I’m on a mission to empower Black professionals at every stage of their journey, from education to career transitions and beyond. At The Onyx Truth, we tackle the critical challenges Black professionals face in navigating workplace dynamics, finding community, and accessing data-driven insights that inform career decisions. Our platform bridges the gap between professional development and lived experiences. For more information and resources tailored to you, join The Onyx Truth Collective on LinkedIn. I am also currently the Global Head of People and Culture at Imaginable Futures, an organization that works to drive meaningful change in education and increase access to resources and opportunities that benefit all learners.

Coach Bo

Executive Director, ComuniBuild Foundation

Barrington D. Scott II possesses over 20 years of experience across a variety of industries, with a primary focus on sales. His background includes automotive, furniture, flooring, filtration, advertising, beverages, consumer goods, and security systems. Relationship building and strong interpersonal skills have been key to his success, alongside his ability to identify and cultivate markets. Barrington consistently manages and achieves major goals for the organizations he serves, whether they are B2B, non-profits, small local businesses, or big-box retailers. Throughout his career, Scott established multiple businesses focused on the strategic management of independent companies and non-profits seeking brand development and growth. This consulting work provided him with broad exposure in varying capacities and allowed him to leverage his creative talents—specifically in graphic design, editing, production, and program development—to orchestrate partnerships that help business owners meet and exceed their objectives.

Erica M. Roberts

Certified Professional Coach | Government & Non-Profit Executive (& Advocate for Underserved!)

I am a decorated executive, business owner, and certified coach with an enthusiasm for discovering and realizing potential for others, specifically pertaining to career success and entrepreneurship. Ask me about the E-Suite Academy to achieve professional empowerment, and the HBCU Pathways Program for resources and programming for high school and college students! I can be contacted via email at [email protected] or via Facebook at @EricaEmpower.

Angela Thornton-Young

President, Greater MD Chapter of the National Black MBA Association

Angela Thornton Young is co-Founder and President of the Greater Maryland chapter of the National Black MBA Association. As a leader, her approach is rooted in the belief that authentic relations are the foundation of success. Whether guiding teams through transformation or supporting clients on their journeys, she prioritizes empathy, collaboration, and integrity. By fostering genuine connections, she helps turn vision into action and challenges into opportunities.

Erika L. Davis

CEO & Founder of Exhale Consulting, LLC

A trailblazer in many roles, with over 25 years as an engineering leader and transformation expert, Erika partners with organizations to develop talent, and engineer innovation. Erika's multifaceted federal career includes engineering, strategic planning, leadership, and organizational development. Her expertise includes leveraging strategic thought with inclusive leadership to drive change and innovation. She oversaw programs with budgets up to $20 million in various programs from Sustainable Operations to Information Management. Her exceptional conflict resolution abilities and eye for identifying inefficiencies and transforming them into streamlined processes enable her to be a valuable strategic partner for her client companies at both the organizational and individual leader levels. Erika launched her business in 2020 as a strategic partner and consultant to socially responsible organizations. Erika supports organizational alignment and the development of actionable steps to drive projects with precision and purpose. Her services include Executive Retreats, Strategic Planning, and Keynote Speaking.

Hennither B. Gant

Workforce Development & HR Leader | Community Builder

Hennither Gant is a speaker who intertwines HR and entrepreneurial expertise with entertaining stories and insightful observations. Hennither is a first generation American of Sierra Leonean descent and she credits her success in HR to her upbringing between the two continents. Backed by over 18+ years of experience, her firm, Career Image Solutions, works on behalf of companies as well as for individuals seeking fulfillment in their work- “If a company wants to grow profits, we help with the ‘people’ part.” Whether the need is recruitment or workforce development, employment compliance or staff training, Hennither is the go-to person known for her expertise and common-sense approach to problem-solving. Hennither also specializes in working with professionals to attain their dream careers by coaching working professionals transitioning to new careers. The firm identifies transferable skills and assists individuals in advancing their current career or moving into another one that better suits their talents, personalities, and needs. Her enthusiasm for effective hiring strategies and integrity-based leadership in the workplace makes her a sought-after panelist, trainer, and keynoter. Hennither is also a frequent speaker on podcasts and at events for professional groups, business schools, and HR conferences. She participates in many university career days and community outreach events to mentor returning citizens, single parents, senior citizens, and the next generation of HR professionals. Hennither has authored 4 books, sits on several boards, and has achieved acclaim as Who’s Who in America, Baltimore’s Top 40, Under 40, Inspire Maryland Finalist and Women of Power Award recipient. She was also recognized as a graduate of Leadership Baltimore County, as Dream Giver of the Year, the recipient of the Fiercest Eagle Award, and won several Leadership Awards. Hennither received her undergraduate degree from Coppin State University and received her Master’s in HR from Towson University. When Hennither is not speaking or serving in the world of work, she can be found spending time with her husband and their children. She also loves to sing, dance and listen to West African and Gospel music. When Hennither is not speaking or serving in HR, she can be found spending time with her husband and 5 children. Hennither also loves to sing, dance and listen to West African music.