Featured Speaker(s)

MODERATORS:
Bernadette Dunn has been driving digital transformation projects since 2001 as a thought leader in cloud solutions specializing in Microsoft platforms. She has recently combined her background in technology and communications to develop new technology as it relates to somatic intelligence. She coaches and trains employees to notice their resistance to change in connection to change management projects within organizations.

Bernadette holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications with an emphasis in Organizational Communications and Rhetorical Theory. She also holds certifications as a Microsoft Licensing and Solutions Specialist, Deep Coaching Institute Executive Coach, Meditation Teacher, Next Level Trainings Emotional Intelligence Leadership Coach, and Rheki Level 1 Practitioner.

Bernadette launched Bernadette Coaching, LLC in 2019 to focus full-time on coaching and training after consulting for 18 years in IT for several VARs. She has been a resident of Columbus, OH, since 2004 and spends a balance of time with family, friends, and her dog, Robbie Puggles. She has a passion for coaching veterans and volunteers with organizations that create awareness to anti-human trafficking, single mom resources, and empowering women and veterans.

Rhonda Talford Knight is the founder and CEO of The Knight Consulting Group, LLC, a 100% woman-owned MBE & EDGE certified business, with a focus on all aspects of driving and understanding the importance and hard impact of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace and workforce. As a consultant and a small business owner, she believes in building relationships, understanding who her clients are and learning about their specific needs in order to provide them with the best service. Rhonda and her team are passionate about people and they are committed to supporting inclusion in the workplace, which helps drive retention, engagement, and supports recruitment. She has developed two models, R.O.A.D. to RetentionTM​ and the P.A.U.S.E. StrategyTM​ to support this work.

Rhonda has over 20 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion work and is considered an expert in the field. She works with companies small and large, public and private to build and implement strategies to support diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces and the communities they serve. Coupled with understanding the client, Rhonda uses data, metrics and leading best practices to develop strategies that support �"the people” needs of an organization and to drive positive outcomes.

Rhonda holds a master's degree with an endorsement in technology and a doctoral degree in Social Studies and Global Education, both from The Ohio State University. She spends some of her spare time serving on the board of The Childhood League Center, Women in Technology International - Columbus, OH and as the board treasurer for the Women's Small Business Accelerator. A few of her most recent acknowledgments include, in 2019, receiving the Pacesetter Award from her undergraduate alma mater, Otterbein University, also in 2019 Rhonda was invited to join an elite group on Forbes Coaches Council and in 2018 was named Women Worth Watching in Diversity Journal. She is the proud mother of two strong, intelligent and entrepreneurial minded teenage girls.

SPEAKERS:
The WITI Columbus Network board is comprised of 10 compassionate individuals who embrace WITI’s goal of empowering innovators, inspiring our community and building inclusive cultures, globally. The leadership team is comprised of: Mimi Shalash, Sarah Campbell, Bernadette Dunn, Andrea Andrews, Craig Chavis, Tracy Johnson, Nidhi Allipuram, Erika Pryor, Rhonda Talford Knight and Kauser Kabealo. Please visit our leadership team page for full bios.