
What will it take to improve diversity at conferences?
We know diversity in teams is the key to innovation and makes us smarter. This panel with Tiffany Haddish discussed ways to incorporate diversity into conferences and other public events.
We must acknowledge the systematic barriers holding back people of color from being recognized as experts.
It has long been evident that we are not doing everything we can to ensure that discussion panels, keystone speakers, and conference sessions reflect the full spectrum of talent in our communities. Too many events lack racial diversity, so we’re taking steps to help change that.
La Juana Chambers Lawson worked diligently to assemble this curated list of Black professionals who have shared their expertise and views at events.
When you scan these names, don’t only look for experts by title. Many of these speakers have both professional expertise and unique experience in community service.
Sourcing speakers outside your traditional networks means adding differences in experiences and points of view. That’s why we’ve included thought leaders, public servants, and other experts in addition to entrepreneurs.
This list can help you bring in people with valuable experience, whether it’s from running a business or by working on an issue from within a community organization.
We encourage you to look at these LinkedIn profiles for more information on each person’s background and to connect. These 100-plus names are only the beginning.
We’ll do our part by maintaining and updating this unranked, alphabetized list as submissions come in. If we missed anyone or need to correct an entry, please let us know here.
Here's a list of Black entrepreneurs and experts who can speak at your next event in San Antonio. Click To Tweet
- Born Logic Allah, Owner, 9Logic video production company
- Margaret Wilson Anaglia, Director, San Antonio Women’s Business Center and founder Al’s Gourmet Nuts
- Jada Andrews-Sullivan, District 2 Councilwoman for the City of San Antonio
- Sherrika Arch, President, Straight Line Management construction management services
- Ada Babino, Video Producer, Jezebel Filmworks and San Antonio Black Film Festival
- Amanda Bankston Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Co-Founder, MVP Vibe
- Eddie Bankston Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder, MVP Vibe
- Staci Beane, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Tekgration
- Kamilah Beltran, Founder and CEO, ADO Digital
- Robbie Bishop-Monroe, Assistant Professor of Accounting, St. Mary’s University
- Nicola Blaque, Chef and owner, The Jerk Shack
- Iman Blyther, Owner, Neatly Done San Antonio
- Stephanie Boyd, Judge, 187th Criminal District Court, San Antonio
- Nancy Brewington, CEO and RN, Hands N Harmony
- Monica Brite, CEO, B Rite Family Finance and financial literacy speaker
- Karla Broadus, President, Commonwealth Computer Company
- DeAnna Brown, Sheago Cosmetics Better Life Consultant and FwdProgress A&E Center nonprofit organization
- Celeste Alana Brown, Advocacy Manager, KIPP San Antonio Public Schools
- Lester Bryant, Financial Professional, OPES ONE HILL COUNTRY
- Marcae Bryant-Omosor, USAA software engineer and Culture & Equity-Diversity Advocate, Cybersecurity Leadership Change Agent
- Sha-Rone V Buggs-Reyes, government contracting and small business expert, board member of ThruProject, former 1st Vice Chair of the Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce
- Dianna Burns Banks, President, South Texas Center for Pediatric Care
- Willie Burroughs, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD)
- Tommy Calvert, Jr., Bexar County Commissioner
- Tommy “TC” Calvert, Sr., VP of Marketing and Advertising, KROV FM San Antonio Community Radio, Chair at Fair Contracting Coalition and President of Neighborhoods First Alliance
- Nicole Carr, Black Feminism Scholar and Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
- Paula A. Chaison-Monroe, Founder of PAM Media Outreach Urban Communities Teen Summit
- Chawanna Chambers, Director of Academics, Compass Rose Public Schools
- Karen Chattum, Owner, Poetry In Motion Publishing
- Neka Cleaver, Owner/Personality of Tha1Radio Hub
- Brandi Coleman, University of the Incarnate Word Adjunct Professor and Founder/CEO of The Lemonade Circle
- James Cooper, Jr., Business Development, Project QUEST
- Julian Dais, CEO of The Green Lab, a cannabis business development agency
- Steven Darby, Creative Director, HeavyHeavy
- Beatrix Davis, CEO, The Legacy Firm
- Cheryl Davis, Dr. Cheryl Davis Family Dentistry
- Brian Dillard, Chief Innovation Officer, City of San Antonio
- Angelica Docog, Executive Director at the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) of the University of Texas – San Antonio
- Harriet Dominique, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs at USAA
- Raven Douglas, Deputy Director, Project MOVE
- Tracie Edmond, CEO, CAVALRY and Professor, University of the Incarnate Word
- Anthony Edwards, African American Arts advocate and civic leader, board member of the Witte Museum and San Antonio Museum of Art
- Tiffany Edwards, Owner, T.C. Fitness and a NASM Certified trainer and nutrition specialist
- Deyla Elliott, Program Specialist at UT San Antonio, Certified Health Coach, and FemCity San Antonio Collective Leader
- Ashley Evans, Professional photographer
- Erika Forbes, Founder and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Culture CrossOver, entrepreneurial culture for women
- Erik Ford, Digital Director, HeavyHeavy
- Ivory Freeman, Financial Services Professional, NYLIFE Securities
- Mikala Gibson, Actress (Fear The Walking Dead, Dawn, and more)
- Charles Gentry, Professor of African American Studies, UTSA and Founder and Director of Programs and Administration, Teatro Anansi
- Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Texas House of Representatives District 120
- Paula Gold-Williams, President and CEO, CPS Energy
- DW Goodloe (Dat Mayne DeeWayne), Filmmaker and Owner of Good Visualz Productions
- Demetrius Gordon, CEO and Founder, Jamaica Jamaica Cuisine
- Billy Gordon, President, Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers Association
- Jackie Gorman, Senior Partner at Allen Austin and Managing Partner and CEO and Ivy Consulting
- Karen Grace, CEO, Grace Star Media Group
- DL Grant, Manager at the San Antonio Public Library Carver Branch, and San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum Research Committee Chair
- Tiffany Grant, Chief of Staff, San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD)
- Tracey Groomes, President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, San Antonio Chapter and Scrum Master at Brit Incorporated
- Glen Guyton, keynote speaker on Diversity and Inclusion
- Nias Harris, globally recognized pan-African scholar
- Rosalind Harris, Entrepreneur Coach and Independent Consultant for Start-up Nonprofits and Grant-writer
- Erynn Haskins, Development Manager, City Year San Antonio
- Rachel Hathaway, Vice President and Community Relations Manager, Bank of America
- TJ Haygood, founder, CEO and SVP of Sales & Marketing for Get Inclusive Vacations and expansion coach and marketing representative for PlanNet Marketing
- Bennett Hendrix III, cybersecurity expert, author, and speaker
- Christopher C. Herring, Sr., Executive Director, Global Chamber of Commerce San Antonio
- Ben Hodge, CEO and Product Owner, EEVET, Inc.
- Charles Hood, Fire Chief, City of San Antonio
- Paul Hoskins and motivational speaker and Michelle Hoskins, Owners, Urban Air Adventure Park
- Yolanda Huff, Judge, County Court 12, San Antonio
- Adrian Jackson, Subject Matter Expert (SME) on crisis communications and Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications, St. Philip’s College
- Gylon Jackson, Chief Idea Architect, Big G Labs digital media firm
- Deborah Omowale Jarmon, Executive Director, San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum
- David E. Johnson, Owner/Principal, TranformEd Consulting
- Marcel Johnson, Vice President for Business Development, Port San Antonio
- Naomi Sumthin2Say Johnson, founder of the San Antonio Kwanzaa Commission
- Tiffany Jones-Smith, CEO, Texas Kidney Foundation
- Tuesdaé Knight, President and CEO, San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE)
- Antoinette Lakey, Founder and Artistic Director, Teatro Anansi and Community Partnership Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA
- Delores Lenzy Jones, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CPS Energy
- Kelly Lampkin Principal Consultant, FUNMISE IT consulting services and Vice Chair of The Boardroom Project
- La Juana Chambers Lawson, CEO and founder, Tacit Growth Strategies and former president and chair of the Alamo Project Management Institute (Alamo PMI) board of directors and San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM)
- Elexus Liggins, Moki and Outreach Coordinator, School’s Out Hackathon
- Brandon Logan, President, Rotary Club of San Antonio
- Monique Long-White, Economist and Project Manager, UTSA Technology Commercialization Center
- Adena Loston, President, St. Philip’s College
- Michelle Lugalia-Hollon, Director of Initiatives and Partnerships, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
- Baba Aundar Ma’at, Owner of Melaneyes Media, Ma’at Marketing and KuumbaNia, filmmaker and writer
- Shalonda Mack, Founder, LVES Sexual Trauma Recovery Program
- Jordan Maney, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, All The Days
- Mario Marcel Salas, Civil rights leader for over 30 years, author, and former City Councilman District 2, City of San Antonio
- Diamond Mason, writer and performance artist
- Cornelius Massey, Real Estate Agent, Redefy Real Estate
- Bijo Mathew, Director, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute for Economic Development and Associate Regional Director at South-West Texas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
- Nakita McClure, Life enrichment assistant at Autumn Leaves Memory Care and poet
- Renee Joy McGhee, Alamo Colleges Workforce Development Instructor and Owner of King’s Glory Enterprises Inc – IT~N~TeleCare – Inspirationally Yours
- B Michele, CEO and Branding Coach, B Michele Branding Agency
- Lou Miller, Chief of Staff, Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan and past president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio
- Taylor Mobley, Lifestyle Producer, WOAI and KABB
- Jeneea “The Fire Starter” Moore, poet and host of The Fire Starter Show
- Kevin Nabors and Kela Nabors, founders and owners, Organically Bath and Beauty, a line of vegan beauty products
- Shokare “Sho” Nakpodia, Owner of the Mighty Group and founder of DreamWeek
- Shetigho Nakpodia, Founder, Pastor, and Owner of Redeemer’s Praise Church and The Love Community Center
- Nadia Noel-Anglade, Founder, the Networking Embassy and professional speaker
- Sierra Parker, CEO and Founder of Queening in MY Purpose Women’s Nonprofit Organization and Host of Tea Time with Q.i.M.P.
- Cassandra Parker-Nowicki, Executive Director, Carver Community Cultural Center
- Christian Reed-Ogba and Uchennaya Ogba, Founders of EHCÜ Public Relations
- Yinka Ogunsanya, Vice President of Operations for Maaco and Business Strategy & Planning Speaker
- Bonita Owens, CEO, Founder of the Amazing Women Network and speaker, trainer, coach, author
- Alicia Perry, and Walk Development Specialist at National MS Society and SAISD Board member
- Keely Petty, Founder and CEO of Kick-Start Your Life Coaching and professional keynote speaker
- Rita Phillip, Managing Director, Business Diversity and Workforce Development, Texas High-Speed Rail
- Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, African American art advocate, and civic leader
- Tia Prescott, Owner, Tia’s Beauty Supply
- Katherine Pruett, Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Ethical Style Journal
- Jason Pulliam, U.S. District Judge at Fourth Court of Appeals
- Gloria Ray, lifelong D2 resident and native of San Antonio
- Margaret Richardson Taylor, Professor of Government at Alamo Community Colleges District – San Antonio College (SAC)
- David Robinson, Jr., Founder, Blueprint Local community investing firm and Admiral Capital Group
- Mills Carnell Rodgers, author and speaker for schools and first-generation programs
- Shantana Robinson, Owner, MFAD Creative Group management consulting
- Walter Rogers, Transition Coordinator, U.S. Government Warrior Transition Battalion
- Dorinda Rolle, President, Rolle and Associates
- Vicky Romero, Learning and Development Leader, Plumquest, LLC and President-Elect 2020 Association of Talent Development (ATD) San Antonio
- Mycheryl Russ, Owner and Chief Creative Officer, Chak Therapy vegan product line
- Mecca Salahuddin, Strategic Planning and Performance Excellence, Alamo Colleges District
- Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, San Antonio Poet Laureate, musical artist/healer and poet
- Lawrence Scott, Executive Director of the Community for Life Foundation, Founder, Strengthening Educating Navigating Developing SEND and Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
- Michelle Garcia Shaw, Associate at Curney Farmer House Osuna & Jackson, P.C.
- Will “Cruz” Shaw, Associate Judge, 436th Judicial District Court, San Antonio
- Tracie Shelton, Founder, Alamo Kitchens and Senior Business Advisor at the UTSA SBDC
- Liz Simpson, executive coach, professional speaker, and owner of Stimulyst, B2B Sales Coach for Women
- Jacqueline Smith, CEO, The Jacqueline Smith Foundation
- Tamara Smith, philanthropist, basketball player, CEO of Children Core Connection
- Ya’Ke Smith, Film Director at Exodus Filmworks and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The University of Texas’ Moody College of Communication
- Rockie Gilford Stepter, Community activist and Fellow at New Leaders Council – San Antonio
- Danielle Campbell Steans, Director, San Antonio Ballet School and San Antonio Youth Ballet
- LaShawn Stewart-Baylor, President and CEO, Integrated CM Solutions
- Kirsten Thompson, Creative Director, celebrity stylist, serial fashion award winner
- Laura Thompson Owner and General Manager at The African American Network (TAAN TV)
- Jordan Mischel Thomas, Project Manager, The MightyGroup and Community Development, Family Service Association of San Antonio
- Grace Uzomba, Judge, County Court 2, San Antonio
- Renee Watson, Director, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department – Bexar County
- Tracy Watts, Grant Director at St. Philip’s College, Board Member of the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund (SAAAACF) and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM)
- Morjoriee White, Homeless Administrator, City of San Antonio Department of Human Services
- Tivy Whitlock, President, Nobles Institute
- Antonio Wicks, Financial Literacy Coach and Distribution Advocate
- Dorian Williams, Learning and Development Manager, San Antonio Area Foundation
- Maria Williams, Owner, Majestic Events by Maria and former 2nd Vice-Chair Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce/Former Carver Community Cultural Center Board Member
- Frederick Williams, author, retired Adjunct Professor, UTSA
- Derrick Wilson, Founder and owner of the Lion’s Den and Power Factor Entertainment Group
- Malii Watts Witten, Founding Principal, Trainer and Management Consultant at EngageBetween
- Veronica Shields Witter, McDonald’s Franchisee
- Bria Woods, Executive Producer of Digital KAVU-TV and Founder of Glo App
For more listings of Black-owned businesses in San Antonio, please consult the following resources:
- African American Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio
- Bexar County maintains the African American Business Enterprise directory
- Tha1 Radio Hub regularly distributes and updates a listing of African-American owned businesses in San Antonio, the Black Business Directory in San Antonio
- The Texas Black Pages is a listing of African-American-owned businesses
Did we miss someone? Know a Black entrepreneur in San Antonio who is a great speaker and should be on this list? Please let us know here or post a comment below. We’ll update this list with your additions.
Guest author La Juana Chambers Lawson is CEO and founder of Tacit Growth Strategies and former president and chair of the board of directors of the Alamo Project Management Institute (Alamo PMI) and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM).
Featured image is of an African American entrepreneur reading a business publication. Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash.
As a D&I professional, I would love to be included on this list.
Glen has made it his mission to help organizations and individuals understand how to navigate the complex nature of culture. Whether you’re an organization looking to improve profitability and productivity or an individual trying to navigate the culture in which they live, Glen can help you evaluate your goals and increase your cultural competency. You’ll improve profitability, increase productivity, lead with innovation and value the dignity of all people.
Added, thanks for letting us know!
Morgan Shannon Taplin should be on this list as well.
If you would please send me more information, I’d appreciate it, I couldn’t find this person on LinkedIn, thanks!
The problem with this list is people believe it to be a good list outside of the African American community. We developed and continue to produce the National Award Winning Blackbook Directory and Yearbook. The largest and most comprehensive directory in South/Central Texas. http://www.blacksinsantonio.com. The investment has been made in the community long before some of theses people considered starting a business. Please don’t miss represent our people! We will hold you accountable! #Blackvideonews #Blacksinsanantonio #BlackMedTexas #BlackChurchesinTexas #BlackImpactSAB #BlackbookStudiosInc
This article was never designed to be a business listing or directory. Our intent was to provide a speaker list of thought leaders and experts. We firmly believe that:
“Sourcing speakers outside your traditional networks means adding differences in experiences and points of view. That’s why we’ve included thought leaders, public servants, and other experts in addition to entrepreneurs.”
Thank you for letting us know about the Blackbook Directory and Yearbook, we can add a working link (this link is broken) to the list of four other black business directories already included in this article.