Lynn is a seasoned training executive who has served as adjunct professor at University of California, Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College.  She also founded the Executive English Institute, which specialized in advancing  business English skills of global executives from Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Japan, China, and other countries.

 

In February 2008, Lynn was the guest speaker at “The Best Workplace for Women 2007” award ceremony in Budapest, Hungary hosted by the Association for Women’s Career Development in Hungary.  And most recently she was moderator of a panel on “Diversity and Higher Education” for the Conference Board. She has spoken on a broad range of topics including “Global Diversity Leadership,” “Mentoring,” “Resource Groups,” collaborative e-Learning initiatives, the integration of technology into blended learning solutions, “Biological and Chemical Terrorism” and “Biodefense Preparedness – National, State, City, and Private Sector.”

 

Lynn is an experienced film and video producer and writer, and has spent two years on international film co-productions in Paris and Rome. She has served as a judge at environmental film festivals, and been active in bringing independent films from Namibia and South Africa to USA film festivals.

 

Education:  M.B.A., Pepperdine University; M.A., Catholic University, B.A. English, Drama, Speech & Secondary Education, Longwood College; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate, University of California at Santa Barbara.

  Ashley S. Bunn

  Managing Editor, Diversity Spectrum News

Ashley Bunn is the Managing Editor of Diversity Spectrum News.  In this role, she oversees and coordinates the editorial activities of Diversity Spectrum’s various new media properties ( eNewsletter , Web Magazine , netTV & netRadio ) which produce content to enhance the knowledge base and efficacy of diversity & inclusion professionals, as well as inform the public about diverse populations and multicultural issues worldwide.

Ms. Bunn also serves as the Chief Correspondent for Diversity Spectrum and has experience interviewing executives and leaders in business, government, sports and entertainment.  Gathering global data across corporate, government, academic, and NGO sources, Ms. Bunn spearheads Diversity Spectrum's efforts to publish, webcast, and podcast original and aggregated news and information to enable all stakeholders to make more informed and better decisions.

Prior to joining Diversity Spectrum, Ms. Bunn served as the Director of Networking & Communications for the Political Science Association of Morgan State University.  She also worked for a U.S. Congressman on Capitol Hill, as well as worked for the New York Public Intrest Research Group and the Business Council of New York, where she facilitated and conducted press conferences.

  Education:  B.A., Political Science, Morgan State University.

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  Stevan A. Cisneros

  Vice-President, Public Policy Strategies

Steve Cisneros is Vice-President for Public Policy Strategies.  Mr. Cisneros leads Diversity Spectrum’s efforts to assist Fortune 500 companies, business associations, government agencies, as well as numerous women- and minority-owned businesses to leverage diversity and inclusion principles to achieve pubic policy goals, such as securing federal appropriations, grants, contracts, favorable legislation, and administrative action.

In particular, Mr. Cisneros collaborates with, and facilitates access to, African American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific American, American Indian, and female appointed and elected officials, business leaders, and community leaders. 

Previously, as an appointee of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Mr. Cisneros served as Executive Director of the Kansas Hispanic & Latino American Affairs Commission ("KHLAAC"). Serving as a liaison for the Kansas Hispanic and Latino Community and the Office of the Governor, the Commission works closely with the Kansas African American Affairs Commission (“KAAAC”) as well as other state agencies to address public policy concerns primarily in the areas of education, health, and business. 

As KHLAAC Executive Director, Mr. Cisneros was accountable to Governor Sebelius for a number of mission-critical programs and initiatives. As the principal point of contact in the State of Kansas for promoting the advancement of Hispanics in all aspects of Kansas life, Mr. Cisneros oversaw a statewide operation serving the rapidly growing Hispanic population.  Mr. Cisneros also worked to improve the reach and exposure of the KHLAAC throughout the business community at the state and local levels.

Prior to his post at KHLAAC, Mr. Cisneros served successively as Legislative and Public Relations Director for the Commissioner of Broward County, Florida and as Director of Community Outreach for the of Broward County Appraiser. 

He was also the chief advocate and federal legislative consultant for transportation and infrastructure clients, and he additionally secured federal funding for medical and educational clients.  He also served as a legislative consultant for both public and private sector clients in matters before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies.   

In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed Mr. Cisneros as Special Assistant to Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, where he served as Communication Liaison and Special Projects Coordinator for the Secretary of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Prior to that appointment, Mr. Cisneros served in several roles in the Clinton Administration, including as Special Assistant to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He first entered public service in 1994, serving as the private sector coordinator for the White House Conference on Small Business.

Education:  B.A., Political Science, Wichita State University.

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 Margarita Anderson

 Vice-President, Global Business Strategies

 
Margarita Anderson is the Vice President for Global Business Strategies. Maggie leads Diversity Spectrum’s strategic development consulting services, presenting and delivering marketing and media services to corporations, law and consulting firms, colleges and universities, public sector institutions, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and media outlets.  Maggie is an accomplished strategy professional with twelve years of research, communications and business strategy experience.  With a JD and an MBA from the University of Chicago, and as a former Strategy Manager and Speechwriter for C-suite executives at McDonald’s, Maggie is a respected management consultant. 

Previously, at McDonald’s corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, she developed, presented, and implemented influential growth strategies and venture plans in the areas of diversity, emergent industries and global markets, market segmentation, communications, business intelligence, and corporate responsibility.  As a strategy consultant, she has conducted due diligence, business intelligence, and competitive and market/industry research for corporate and private equity clients, as she helped them explore and execute mergers, acquisitions, product/market development, and new ventures.  Maggie also has a strong track record within various political and government environments, including serving as the Mayor of Atlanta’s speechwriter while that city hosted the Olympic Games.

Maggie has demonstrated the ability to adapt to and thrive in different settings from a drug-infested ghetto in Miami, to representing the Mayor of a world-class city, to revolutionizing a basement-based startup, and to the CEO’s office of one the largest companies in the world.  To accomplish this, she has infused her business and legal experience; her world-class education; and her intelligence, creativity, and drive into all of her strategic proposals, consulting projects, and marketing and communications plans.  As a first-generation Cuban American, the teachings of her multiracial parents – the awareness of, and belief in the contributions of all races, cultures and nationalities – similarly permeate her business decisions, enabling her to offer a unique perspective and approach to the diversity challenges and opportunities facing communities and companies in a world of globalized economies and commerce. 

Maggie now adds distinctive and extraordinary value for Diversity Spectrum’s Chicago-based clients, professionals and partners by offering direct and executive level access to the company’s marketing, research, consulting and media platform.

Education: M.B.A., Economics and Strategy, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business;  J.D., University of Chicago Law School; B.A. Political Science, Emory University.

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Kelly Kowalski

Producer, Director Writer, Editor - Spectrum Films

 

Kelly Kowalski is a producer, director, writer and editor of cultural documentaries shown around the world – from mobile screenings in rural African villages to TV broadcast in America (PBS), Australia (SBS), Canada (TV Ontario, CBC), the UK (BBC) and throughout Europe (NBC Europe, ARTE Germany, NPS Netherlands, NRK Norway, ORF Austria, RTBF France, SVT Sweden, TV1 Finland, and TV2 Denmark).

Her work on ‘Master Positive’, a documentary about an HIV positive African man who makes papier-mache coffins for a living, earned her honors from the internationally renowned BANFF World Television Festival and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and was part of a series that received a Special Jury Citation at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (2001).

She has also received six Emmy nominations (2007, 2009) for documentary productions at PBS New Mexico, with two Emmy wins  (2009) for her pioneering work in new media, including her series Artisodes, documentary shorts profiling contemporary artists.

 

She has managed international media campaigns and training programs on democracy, HIV-AIDS and documentary filmmaking, working with clients including UNICEF, UNAIDS, The Ford Foundation, HIVOS (Netherlands), Overseas Development Administration (UK), and government organizations in UK, Finland, Namibia and South Africa.

With nearly 15 years of media-making experience abroad, Ms. Kowalski is accustomed to working under extreme physical and logistical conditions in foreign remote regions and conflict zones, and has a directorial style that is exploratory with comedic charm and plenty of character empathy.

Education: B.A., International Development Studies, University of California at Berkeley.

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Allison Johnson

Newscaster, DS netTV and netRadio

 

Allison Johnson is a multi-lingual newscaster for Diversity Spectrum netTV and netRadio. With strong experience and connections in over 100 countries and fluent in 5 languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian), Ms. Johnson has provided on-air commentary for several major media outlets broadcasting in South America, Central America, Mexico and the United States.

Additionally, she has over 16 years of successful public and private sector experience in global corporate social responsibility; international business development and trade missions; fund raising; strategic, political economic and financial analysis, and program management. She has worked as a consultant to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, several non-profit institutions and foundations, McKinsey & Company and other Fortune 500 companies around the world.

Education: M.B.A., Harvard Business School; M.A., Public Administration (M.P.A), Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; B.A., with Honors and Distinction, Stanford University.

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Jack W. Gravely, a veteran broadcaster with over 15 years of experience, hosts The Gravely Report on Diversity Spectrum netRadio and contributes to Diversity Spectrum netTV. From May 1983 to June 1987, Jack produced and aired a 90-second commentary on WRVA-AM radio twice weekly. In November 1989, CNN and Richmond’s NBCTV affiliate retained Jack as an election night commentator and political analyst along with Dr. Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia to cover the historic election of L. Douglas Wilder as Governor of Virginia.

From September 1996 to April 2002, Jack hosted an award winning 3-hour talk show in Richmond, Virginia on WRVA-AM. In April 1997, “The Jack Gravely Show” was awarded the Metro Radio News Promotion Award by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters. One caller stated that “Jack’s show simply sizzled every Saturday night.”

Mr. Gravely has been a guest on the Today Show, Nightline, Crossfire, Good Morning America, The Bill Moyer’s Journal, The Tony Brown Show, C-Span, CBS Morning News, and the Bev Smith Show. He was a frequent guest panelist on local public affairs shows across the Commonwealth of Virginia and the country.

His letters and speeches have been published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Richmond Afro-American, The Free Press of Richmond, The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, and The Washington Post.

Mr. Gravely has an extensive background in Public service, civil rights, management consulting, public speaking, university teaching and volunteer service. He was the State Director, Virginia NAACP, Chair, Board of Director and Special Assistant to the National Director. He was appointed Director of the Office of Diversity, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by Chairman William E. Kennard. He has testified before U.S. Congressional committees, Virginia General Assembly committees, and has appeared before policy-making boards at the local, state and federal levels.

Education: J.D., University of Virginia School of Law; B.S., History and Government, Fayetteville State University.

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Ghizlane Akhouti

Newscaster, DS netTV and netRadio

 

Ghizlane Akhouti, a multi-lingual newscaster for Diversity Spectrum netTV and netRadio, is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. Ms. Akhouti hails from Morocco, where she gained considerable on-air experience as a co-host, announcer, and voice-over specialist for radio and television.

Her notable achievements include hosting a weekly call-in program for Radio FM in Casablanca, Morocco, as well as conducting focus groups and on-the-street interviews. She served as the press agent for Un regard au dela de l’art (A Vision Beyond the Art), that featured exhibition and sale of artwork produced by physically challenged persons. In addition, she worked as a reporter for a Moroccan monthly women’s magazine, covering cultural events, exhibitions, fashion shows, and celebrity concerts. Testament to her marketing skills, Ms. Akhouti managed advertising and public relations activities for a multi-day automobile rally sponsored by the Moroccan royal family in the Sahara Desert.

Education: B.A., Marketing and Advertising, Universitè de Communication et de Publicitè, Casablanca, Morocco.

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Debbie Smith Rayford

Broadcast Host, DS netTV

 

Debbie Smith Rayford hosts Diversity Dialogue a popular Diversity Spectrum netTV program co-produced with Discovery Communications and filmed at the global headquarters for Discovery Communications.

 

As Vice President of Diversity for Discovery Communications, LLC, the global real-world media company, Debbie Smith Rayford is the first senior manager dedicated to the company's diversity efforts. She is responsible for advancing Discovery's diversity initiatives in the U.S. and the 20 other countries in which it has full-time regular employees.

 

Rayford has more than 20 years of diversified professional business experience with strong emphasis in diversity management, banking, minority business issues, the federal legislative process, and venture capital investing. Before joining Discovery, she served as executive director of the Walter Kaitz Foundation. She also handled diversity at the International Franchise Association. She has received numerous awards for her work and service.

Education: MBA, Howard University; B.A., Elementary and Special Education, Catholic University of America.

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  Yuri Tadesse

  International Trade Specialist

 

Yuri Tadesse is a contributor to Diversity Spectrum. A seasoned international crisis negotiator and business transactions executive, Mr. Tadesse serves as Vice President, International Business Development for GoodWorks International. Prior to joining GoodWorks International, Mr. Tadesse was the Founder, President & CEO of Vintage Consult International. Specializing in international business consulting, the firm offered advice, contacts and linkage necessary for smooth and successful business transactions with governments and private and public sector organizations around the world.

Previously, Mr. Tadesse also served as the Director for International Affairs and Senior Advisor to Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. (Founder, President & CEO, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Special Envoy for Africa for President William J. Clinton and Civil Rights Leader).

Mr. Tadesse has facilitated discussions between conflicting parties in the former Yugoslavia, Nigeria, The Congo, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Togo, Liberia, and his native Ethiopia, among other countries. In addition, he has participated in several international trade and diplomatic missions, encouraging U.S. businesses to explore options for economic development in other nations. He has organized a seminar on conflict resolution in democracies for members of several African parliaments, and secured opportunities to observe elections in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Togo, Liberias, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Djiboti. He is fluent in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Amharic.

Education: M.A., Political Management and International Relations, The George Washington University; B.A., International Affairs, cum laude, The George Washington University.

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Lynnette Estoperez Ecraela

International Development Specialist

 

Lynnette Ecraela, specializes in international development policy, micro-finance, and global social responsibility projects for Diversity Spectrum.

 

She acquired her extensive professional training in law, management, accounting and politics in her native Philippines. While posted at the Land Bank of the Philippines, an affiliate of the Asian Development Bank, she facilitated training and seminars on cooperativism, sustainable rural development, and micro-financing, as well as worked with the Integrated Rural Financing Program.

She also conducted extensive field research and drafted reports on the political, economic, and social status of women and the indigenous populations of the Philippines, as well as drafted reports on the socio-economic impact of multi-purpose cooperatives as business organizations.

 

Additionally, she has served as a research assistant for an Asian data search company, where she prepared technical abstracts and summaries of scientific, engineering, medical, and legal manuals, journals, magazines, and books. She has also edited and transcribed several Spanish textbooks.

Education: MBA Candidate, Trinity University; L.L.B.Candidate, San Beda College of Law, Manila, Philippines; B.A., Political Science and Management (Double Major), University of The Philippines.

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Janine Ting Jansen

Social Media Maven

 

Janine Ting Jansen co-manages Diversity Spectrum social media properties and writes a blog for the Diversity Spectrum web magazine,

 

Ms. Jansen has years of global legislative expertise having worked in a variety of research and planning capacities for a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Member of the United Kingdom Parliament, several law firms, and non-governmental organizations. Her work has included creating a research database to track election trends of women in the United States, drafting public policy research reports, and developing a research methodology to track demographic trends in the United States.

Ms. Jansen is the current President of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Alumni Chapter in New York City where she organizes outreach events for high school and college students as well as networking events for alumni. Her areas of expertise include the following: barriers that affect Latinas in their pursuit of a higher education, women's issues, education, housing and racial disparities.

Education: M.A., Urban Policy Analysis and Management, The New School; Graduate Certificate, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston; B.A., English Communications and Political Science, Emmanuel College.

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Czarina Biton

Social Media Maven

 

Czarina Biton co-manages Diversity Spectrum social media properties and writes a blog for the Diversity Spectrum Web Magazine, 

 

Ms. Biton specializes in health education, research, policy advocacy, outreach and communications. As a Program/Communication Associate with Community Catalyst, Ms. Biton works on organizational development, environmental assessments, educating consumers on the difficulties of the heath care system, health care disparity related research, and communications infrastructure. Within Community Catalyst, she is also a member of the Diversity Committee, a team that helps build systems and protocols to improve employer hiring practices and increase diversity within the workforce.

In her spare time, Ms. Biton works on an effort known as FACES Philippines to fundraise for the Philippine Cancer Society and increase awareness on the issue. She is also knowledgeable of many public health issues such as tobacco control, diabetes, emergency preparedness and nutrition/wellness and was recently chosen as a Boston Cares Civic Leadership Institute fellow for her dedication to philanthropy, volunteerism and civic engagement.

Education: M.P.H., Public Health, Boston University; B.A., English, University of California, Santa Barbara.

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   Education: B.A., Translation and Interpreting, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Canary Islands, Spain.  

 

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Walter Buffalomeat

Intern

 

Walter Buffalomeat is of Keetoowah Cherokee and Cheyenne descent.  He will be a senior in the fall of 2008 at the University of Oklahoma.  He is working toward his Bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies with an emphasis in indigenizing education.  This process puts more emphasis on culture, immersion, with consideration on styles of learning and discipline.  While contemporary schools encourage individual students to do their best, the indigenous style encompasses encouraging success of the whole group of students, or the community.

 

Mr. Buffalomeat recently was elected as the President of the Native American Student Organization, which is the second oldest student organization at the University of Oklahoma.  Last year, under the direction of Buffalomeat, the group sponsored a stomp dance, a fall and a spring Powwow.  He also was a member of a Native American Fraternity, Sigma Nu Alpha Gamma.  The fraternity began four years ago and sponsors a large stickball tournament which draws participation from Indian colleges across the United States.

 

Mr.  Buffalomeat is a Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient.  The Gates Millennium Scholars program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a 1 billion dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Mr. Buffalomat plans to get his Master’s Degree in Education, then go on to get his PHD in Education.  His goal is to further tribal people’s efforts to sustain governments, economies, and education systems which will enrich the quality of life for his tribe. 

 

 Education: B.A., Native American Studies, University of Oklahoma.

 

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 Pawnee Crabtree

 Intern

 

Pawnee Crabtree is a college student from Salina, Oklahoma and the former Miss Keetoowah Cherokee. She is the youngest of three   children and one of the first in her family to go to college. She has just completed her first year at Northeastern State University, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a historic institution located at the site of the Cherokee Female Seminary, built in 1890.

 

Ms. Crabtree is majoring in Nutrition and hopes to become a Dietitian. This goal is an important one, as she wants to help Native Americans who suffer from diabetes and be pro-active to teach others, especially young people, how to prevent this deadly disease.

 

Ms. Crabtree served as an ambassador of her tribe as the 2007-2008 Miss Keetoowah Cherokee, representing the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma. She has attended numerous events on behalf of the tribe, including Powwows, Parades and Special Events.  She is a role model to Keetoowah Cherokee youth, and has assisted with various culture camps, veteran and elder programs.

 

Ms. Crabtree actively performs community service with the Native American Student Association of NSU, Youth and Elder Seven Clans of Fire Cultural Organization, and other Cherokee Community Organizations throughout the Keetoowah Cherokee nine districts in Northeastern Oklahoma.

 

Pawnee is a member of the Little Rock Baptist Church near Locust Grove, Oklahoma. She enjoys playing basketball, softball, and volleyball. She likes spending time with her friends and family and enjoys meeting new people.

 

Education: B.S., Nutrition, Northeastern State University.