In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo speaks with Nedra Dickson, Managing Director of Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability at Accenture, discussing the concept of legacy and the impact of supplier diversity. They explore how collaboration, mentorship, and inclusivity can create meaningful, long-term success for small businesses and communities.

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In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo speaks with Nicole Schlinger, CEO of CampaignHQ, about the importance of voting and its impact on both local and national elections. They discuss how to approach political discussions with empathy and understanding, especially in business settings, and how leaders can model constructive dialogue even when ideologies differ.

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In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo sits down with Tony Hill, managing partner of Edwards & Hill Office Furniture, and Dr. Shawne Duperon, CEO of ShawneTV and creator of Project Forgive. Together, they explore the concept of the "nice racist," the challenges of addressing microaggressions, the importance of community dialogue, and the complexities of navigating tensions in diverse communities.

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Allyship plays a crucial role in fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces. Host Betsy Cerulo is joined by Shanae Murray, Chief of Administration and Performance Management for the Maryland Aviation Administration, and Patrick Mutch, CEO of Chase Brexton Health Care. They discuss their personal journeys into allyship, the importance of supporting diverse communities, and tangible ways their organizations advocate for equity and inclusivity.

About the guests:

Shanae Y. Murray is the Chief of Administration & Performance Management of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) – MDOT, also known as the Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International Airport & Martin State Airport. Shanae is responsible for providing advice to the CEO and the Executive Management Team regarding all administrative, human resources, diversity, equity & inclusion, safety & risk management, training, and organizational development matters. Shanae is responsible for ensuring compliance with and enforcement of all federal, state, local government, legal, regulatory, and policy/procedural requirements. She ensures that the actions of MAA are aligned with MAA-MDOT’s vision, mission, and strategic plan, including the delivery of learning programs and curriculum in support of the organization’s integrated talent management strategies. Shanae has 30 years of diverse experience in various leadership roles in several industries: Banking, Healthcare, IT, HR Consulting, Retail Sales and Transportation. She is an active community participant and is involved in several organizations whose focus has been to develop talent, mentor youth, and provide access and opportunities for disadvantaged and underserved communities. Shanae is a proud native of Baltimore City and graduate of the Frederick Douglass Senior High School. Shanae has a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management from Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore Maryland) and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix (Columbia Maryland). She is also a graduate of the Associated Black Charities Leaders2000 Plus, “Sankofa” Class and an Alumni of the Kaiser Permanente Institute for Equitable Leadership. Shanae was awarded one of Maryland’s TOP 100 Women by the Daily Record in 2021.

Patrick F. Mutch is a well-respected health care executive and leader who joined Chase Brexton Health Care as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2017.

His professional career spans over five decades and includes roles as the chief executive officer of health care systems in Baltimore, Prince Georges County Maryland, and Boston. He is committed to organizations with strong missions to serve the health care needs of their communities, especially under resourced communities.

Patrick has experience in leading integrated healthcare delivery systems that include the current Federally qualified health center organization, hospitals, and hospital medical group practices. The systems have varied in size and ownership from nonprofit local community to national Catholic and national for-profit systems. He has led culture transformation, developed strong leadership teams and clinical programs, and initiated lasting partnerships with academic medical centers, universities, managed care organizations and many other community organizations.

He has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Health degrees, specializing in health care administration, from the University of Pittsburgh. Patrick is also active in the community, serving in church and civic associations. He has directed the MBA/MPH Capstone course for the Hopkins Carey School of Business. He is married to Amy Mutch, a nurse practitioner; they have two children and six grandchildren.

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In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo talks with Lynn Lafy, the HR Consulting Team Lead at AdNet, and Sydney Blondell, Administrative Coordinator at AdNet and an indie author in a disabled community. They share their experiences as women with invisible disabilities, in and out of the workplace, and discuss the importance of education and compassion as forms of support.

About the guests:

Sydney Blondell is a queer and disabled author, best known for her book The Stars in My Heart – an OwnVoices disability representation YA trilogy. She holds two bachelor's degrees in English and Professional Writing from Bridgewater College. Sydney is also the Administrative Coordinator at AdNet.

Lynn Lafy has spent her career specializing in Human Resources in industries such as oil, roofing, and now staffing. Lynn previously worked with AdNet in the late 1990’s in an operations role and now serves as AdNet’s HR Consulting Team Lead. Lynn has dealt with chronic illnesses for most of her life, and it is a passion of hers to ensure the disabled community is being fairly treated in the workplace.

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Description: In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo talks with Kathy Corbett-Welch, an Episcopal priest, and Ken Kovacs, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). They share their experiences coming out, the challenges they faced, and how it has affected their roles as clergy.

About Ken Kovacs:

Ken Kovacs, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has been the pastor and head of staff at Catonsville Presbyterian Church since 1999, and previously served congregations in St. Andrews, Scotland, and Mendham, New Jersey. Ken studied at Rutgers University, Yale Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, received his Doctor of Philosophy in practical theology from the University of St. Andrews, and is currently a psychoanalyst-in-training at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich, Switzerland. He is the author of The Relational Theology of James E. Loder: Encounter and Conviction (Peter Lang, 2011), Out of the Depths: Sermons and Essays (Parson’s Porch, 2016), as well as essays and chapters in publications that explore the intersection of psychology and theology. For fourteen years, Ken served on the board of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which worked for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ Presbyterians into full and open leadership in the denomination. He has served on the board of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA, and currently serves on the board of the Jung Society of Washington. He enjoys reading history, traveling, and all things Scottish (including haggis). Ken and his husband, Mark Dunham, live in Dickeyville, a historic mill village in Baltimore.

About Kathy Corbett-Welch:

The Reverend Kathy Corbett-Welch has been an Episcopal priest for 23 years. Prior to this she was a Neonatal Nurse, specializing in the care of acutely ill and tiny babies. Born in Boston, her work brought her to Washington, DC as the Chaplain to an Episcopal AIDS ministry. She then became Rector of St Luke’s church in Brookville, MD. She served as a Chaplain at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the MdTAP. She and Ellen, her spouse of 52 years, now live in Fayetteville, AR. They are both happily retired. 

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In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo talks with Miranda Quinn, a professional dancer with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in New York City. They both share their individual, complex experiences with grief in their personal lives, how they have coped, and how grief translates to their professional lives.

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Delve into the important topic of financial equity with a focus on advocacy, specific barriers marginalized entrepreneurs face, and unique strategies that can foster more economic opportunities. Host Betsy Cerulo is joined by Sam McClure, the Executive Director of the Center for LGBTQ Health Equity, and Aquiera Halsey, who is a board member of the Maryland LGBTQ Foundation.

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In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo discusses legacy in the context of equity and inclusion with Lisa Correno, the President and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country. They also talk about their personal journeys in finding their voices and building the confidence to speak up for themselves and others. This episode highlights the importance of understanding and recognizing each of their legacies and how it impacts the world.

Lisa Correno is the President and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country, a nonprofit organization based in California that aims to improve the lives of people in the community through education, income stability, and health programs. She was an attorney and advocate for social justice, with a focus on social justice, family violence prevention, LGBTQI and immigrant rights, and access to higher education.

Carreno has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento. She also has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of California, Berkeley.

In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo talks with Ashley Brundage, a leadership and empowerment expert, and Anne Stoner, a mother of a trans daughter and an HR consultant at AdNet/AccountNet. They discuss the journey of the transgender community, leadership, love, and support, and emphasize the importance of acceptance, understanding, and open conversations to create a more inclusive society. They also address how empowerment leads to positive business outcomes, urging people to focus on the benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Anne Stoner is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and allyship, particularly in the LGBTQ+ community. She is a Human Resource Consultant at AdNet/AccountNet and a former board member of PFLAG in Carroll County, Maryland. Anne brings her fierce commitment to creating positive work cultures and supporting marginalized individuals. She firmly believes in the power of education and empathy to foster a more inclusive society and is dedicated to being a resource for others navigating similar journeys.

Ashley Brundage is a dynamic leadership and empowerment expert, renowned speaker, and author. She started her professional journey at PNC Bank in 2011, steadily rising through the ranks to become the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. As a transgender woman, she has overcome significant challenges, including homelessness, to carve her own path and advocate for empowerment and understanding. Her book, Empowering Differences, offers invaluable insights and tools for fostering inclusive corporate cultures.

Ashley's expertise and passion for education have led her to create the Voyage of Empowerment Conference, an empowering platform that brings together individuals from all walks of life to embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth. Her thought-provoking speeches and workshops have earned her accolades as an award-winning speaker and sought-after authority on diversity, inclusion, and empowerment.