Keynote Speakers
Mrs. Xernona Clayton
Xernona Clayton is the Founder, President and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. and Creator and Executive Producer of the Foundation's Trumpet Awards. The Trumpet Awards is a prestigious event highlighting African American accomplishments and contributions. Initiated in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting, the Trumpet Awards has been televised annually and distributed internationally . . . { learn more }
Pearl Cleage
The purpose of my writing, often, is to express the point where racism and sexism meet." An accomplished playwright, journalist, poet, and novelist, Pearl Cleage probes issues of race, sex, and love in a growing body of literary work while she reveals poignant truths about brave black women. An Atlanta-based writer, her works include five novels, a dozen plays, two books of essays, two books of poetry, and ten years of newspaper columns. . . . { learn more }
Shirley Franklin
In 2001the people of Atlanta elected Shirley Franklin, a first time candidate for public office, to serve as the 58th Mayor of the City of Atlanta. She became the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major southern city. Since her inauguration in 2002, Mayor Franklin has worked to build a “Best in Class” managed city . . . { learn more }
Shai Hall, D.D.S.
Dr. Shai Hall received a BS in biology from Daytona Beach, Florida, and her DDS degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. During her dental school years, she did an externship at a Navaho Indian reservation. After graduation, she served in the Air Force for six years in stations throughout the world. She moved to Atlanta in 2004 and opened her own practice in 2005.
. . . { learn more }
Charmaine Heard MD
Dr. Heard brings over ten (10) years of experience in serving public health programs and is currently the Medical Director for AmeriChoice’s Georgia-based disease management program serving the aged, blind, and disabled Medicaid members of Southern Georgia. Prior to joining Americhoice, Dr. Heard served as the Medical Director for the Georgia Department of Community Health – Medicaid . . . { learn more }
Lynne Perry-Böttinger, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Lynne Perry-Böttinger, M.D., is assistant professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University clinical assistant professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She is former faculty member of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yale Medical School. She is a board certified clinical and interventional cardiologist and owner of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology PLLC . . . { learn more }
Haile Mehansho PhD
Dr. Mehansho received (a) B.S. in Agriculture from Haile Sellassie 1st University, Ethiopia in 1969, (b) M.S. in Agricultural Biochemistry & Nutrition from the University of Arizona in 1972 and (c) Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1980. Dr. Mehansho was a research associate in the Department of Biochemistry at Purdue University (1980-85). In 1985, he joined The Procter & Gamble Co. . . . { learn more }
Jovita Moore
Jovita Moore anchors the daily newscast of Channel 2 Action News from 5:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jovita joined WSB-TV in 1998. Before moving to Atlanta, Jovita worked as weekend anchor/reporter at WMC-TV in Memphis, Tenn. Jovita began her career as a reporter at KFSM-TV in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1990. . . . { learn more }
Renee Roberts RN, MSN, NP-C
Renee Roberts is a Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Team Leader at Evercare Georgia, a United Health Group. Roberts provides a level of clinical focus, continuity and clarity that helps to improve health outcomes and quality of life for Evercare enrollees. Roberts is an experience nurse practitioner that has worked in subacute, outpatient, . . . { learn more }
Dr. Frederick T. Work, MD
Dr. Frederick T. Work, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in a wide array of aesthetic and reconstructive surgical procedures for the head and neck, breasts, trunk and extremities. Other areas of expertise include liposuction for body contouring, micro vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, and treatment of skin cancers. Dr. Work has a special interest in the prevention and management of hypertrophic and keloid scarring. . . . { learn more }
Kiyah Wright (Celebrity Hair Stylist)
Behind every gorgeous celebrity is a fabulously talented hair stylist. Emmy award winning celebrity hair stylist Kiyah Wright has set beauty trends and reinvented celebrities. Although Kiyah credits her beloved mother for pushing her to start in the world of hair and beauty, it was mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs that would give Kiyah her big break. News of her amazing talent spread . . . { learn more }
Aliesh D. Pierce (Celebrity Makeup Artist / Skin Therapist)
Professional make-up artist Aliesh Pierce has worked with some of the most intriguing people in the entertainment industry. Due to her genuine personality, she is consistently linked to celebrities who rely on her for every media event. Her work has been seen in commercials and music videos as well as on the runways of New York and Milan. Aliesh enjoys working in print and her work has appeared in Elle, Essence . . . { learn more }
Rogsbert F. Phillips M.D.
Her fountain pen doubles as a pager. And of course she carries a cell phone. But don't let the modern gadgets fool you. Dr. Rogsbert Frenzel Phillips is more briefcase and stethoscope than MRI. At a time in America's history when insurance companies and HMOs dictate the nature of doctor/patient relationships, Phillips is a throwback; a doctor so devoted to a cause she regularly goes on four hours of sleep and adrenaline . . . { learn more }
Goulda A. Downer, PhD., RD, LN, CNS
Goulda A. Downer, PhD, RD, LN, CNS is Founder, President, and CEO of Washington, DC-based METROPLEX Health and Nutrition Services, Inc. She is also the Principal Investigator and Project Director for the National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center (NMAETC) in the College of Medicine at Howard University. This multi-million dollar NMAETC project is mandated . . . { learn more }
Paula Mahone, M.D.
Paula Mahone, MD has been the medical director of Perinatal Services at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa since 1993. She is a maternal- fetal medicine specialist, a medical doctor who provides consultative care for pregnancy women with medical conditions that may seriously complicate their pregnancies. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Dr. Mahone received her medical degree . . . { learn more }
Celeste A. Clark, Ph.D.
Celeste A. Clark, Ph.D., has been Kellogg Company's senior vice president of global nutrition and corporate affairs since June 2006. She is also a member of the company's global leadership team. Dr. Clark is responsible for providing leadership for Kellogg's worldwide communications, nutrition marketing programs, consumer affairs and corporate administrations functions. . . . { learn more }