About Us
Meet the 2011 Diversity Roundtable Board
President - Lori Morgan
Vice President - LaTricia Hill-Chandler
Treasurer - Ed Santiago
Secretary - Sharon Wardrip
Marketing Director - Dawn Jones
Membership Director - Bruce Burking
Professional Development Director - John Henning
Historian - Tamiko Razika
Board Members-At-Large - Dr. Quay Kester, Kashif Khan, Cinda Terry
DRTCI Board Member
Board Position – President
Lori A. Morgan is CEO of Morgan Multimedia, LLC, an Indianapolis-based marketing firm specializing in diversity, event planning and media relations. Ms. Morgan has served in numerous capacities in the not-for-profit sector. Her experience with youth has included volunteering as mentor and reader for grades 1st thru 5th at Nora Elementary as well as being involved in mentor recruitment for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She specializes in projects that benefit youth and the disadvantaged. Ms. Morgan seeks opportunities that will utilize her extensive expertise in the areas of community outreach, event planning and developing diversity initiatives. Ms. Morgan has received numerous awards in recognition of her community involvement. She maintains memberships in Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis Symphony Women’s Committee, the NAACP, Urban League of Greater Indianapolis and the Rainbow Push Coalition.
Diversity Quote to Remember – “Diversity issues are my passion. The idea of including people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds to create intriguing dialogue excites me!”
DRTCI Board Member
Board Position – Vice President
LaTricia is the Director for Supplier Diversity for the Indianapolis Public Schools. She has held this position since April 2007 as being the first to hold this position. This position was created jointly by the Indianapolis Public School Board of Commissioners and IPS Superintendent Dr. Eugene White. Her responsibilities include increasing minority and women owned business participation in the procurement processes within the district of IPS . She is also responsible for outreach, community involvement, and awareness/education to the district. LaTricia’s role reports to Dr. White.
LaTricia is the former Director of Business Diversity and Compliance Programs for Indiana University. Her role supported all campuses of Indiana University; however she had dual offices on both Bloomington and IUPUI campuses. She held this position from May 2004 – April 2007. Before joining Indiana University, she was the Diversity Procurement Manager at Cummins Inc., Columbus, Indiana. LaTricia was the first to hold this position at Indiana University and the first to hold this role in the State of Indiana for any higher education institution. She holds a BS in Marketing from HBCU LeMoyne Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee and a Masters of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan, Indianapolis. LaTricia is a 2008 graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy of Greater Indianapolis; American Institute for Managing Diversity Inc.LaTricia has been a guest speaker for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s International Trade Bureau in Chicago, IL. She has also been featured as Who’s Who in Black Indianapolis, 2005 and 2006. LaTricia serves on the Board of Directors for Kids’ Voice of Indiana, on the Executive committee of the HUsB (Historically Underutilized small Business) Coordinators, a Board member of youth B.L.I.N.G (Building Leaders in the Next Generation) program and a member of the Wishard Foundation Development Committee. Recently, LaTricia was named the Board Member of the Year for B.L.I.N.G.
LaTricia is an active member of the Puritan Missionary Baptist Church and married to Derrick Chandler. She is also a proud parent of little Miss Dyllan Chandler.
DRTCI Board Member
Board Position – Treasurer
Edward (Ed) Santiago is currently employed as a Senior HR Business Partner at the Finish Line and has served as the treasurer of the diversity roundtable since January of 2009.
Ed has served in a variety of leadership and staff roles during his career. He most recently served as the manager of diversity at Sallie Mae’s Indiana centers and graduated from the Diversity Leadership Academy of Greater Indianapolis in the summer of 2008. Ed served proudly for over 10 years with the United States Army. Ed has a bachelor’s degree in Management and is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Ed spends his spare time helping in his community. He serves on the board of the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside and his Neighborhood Association. He is also a volunteer Cub Master and coach in youth baseball and basketball programs.Why is the Diversity Roundtable an important part of his life:
“Understanding differences and finding common ground have been with me since early childhood growing up in New York City. My goal with the roundtable is to continue on this journey of understanding to improve our community and organizations within central Indiana.”
DRTCI Board Member
Board Position - Membership Director
Bruce is the Training and Employee Relations Specialist in the Human Resources office at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. In that role, he is responsible for employee training and development, policy development, managing employment related legal issues, and employee communications. He also serves on the University's Diversity and Equity Committee, its ADA Advisory Committee, and recently on its Campus Climate Task Force on Faculty, Staff and Students of Color. He also staffs its Hourly Support Staff Committee and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management as well as the Membership Chair of the DRTCI.
Why is the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana an important part of his life:
"I've been involved in diversity issues in many roles over the years including my tenure with the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, the Indianapolis Private Industry Council, the Homeless Initiative Program and the Community Centers of Indianapolis. So maintaining contacts and establishing networks in support of diversity initiatives is personally very rewarding to me as well as beneficial to my employer."
Board Position - Secretary
Sharon M. Wardrip, SPHR is the Indianapolis administrator and national attorney recruiter for the 35 offices of labor and employment law firm Ogletree Deakins, and serves on the firm's diversity committee. In her current role, Sharon manages the human resources, marketing, finance, technology and facilities for the Indianapolis office. She is also a frequent facilitator for PHR/SPHR certification classes.Previously, Sharon held senior executive positions in banking and insurance, directing the areas of human resources, training and administration, with a dual role as affirmative action officer. She conducted training on topics including diversity, sexual harrassment prevention, stress management and strategic planning.
Sharon has served on other local boards, including HRACI and has volunteered for numerous nonprofits, such as Julian Center, Training, Inc. and WFYI’s IRIS program for reading impaired.
Sharon’s involvement in diversity issues began early, as she was honored to be part of the first integrated graduating class at Crispus Attucks High School. Her family and business relationships include a rich tapestry of individuals from diverse racial, religious and sexual orientation backgrounds.
As a DRTCI member for over two years, Sharon values both the academic and practical nature of the programs and networking that Diversity Roundtable provides.
Why is DRTCI an important part of Sharon’s life:“Discovering new ways of thinking about our many differences helps us better appreciate the value in each individual. That foundation is crucial to achieving our personal and professional best.”
DRTCI Board Member Board Position - Professional Development Director
John K. Henning is an attorney with the Indianapolis office of Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Named one of Indiana’s Rising Stars for 2009, 2010 and 2011, John helps employers navigate the complex federal and state regulatory framework that governs the employer-employee relationship. His practice also involves representing employers and companies in both federal and state courts, concentrating his practice in restrictive covenants and all types of employment‑related claims. To better serve his clients and ensure that he understands their issues, John speaks and writes often on employment/legal issues that affect HR professionals and the companies they serve. The topics covered in these presentations include legislative developments, diversity-related issues in the workplace, the amendments to the ADA and FMLA, religious discrimination claims, the interplay between the ADA, FMLA and workers’ compensation laws, and work leave issues. Twice a year, John also teaches an introductory-level two-day course at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on legal issues facing HR professionals. John devotes a significant amount of his time to handling pro bono matters and getting involved in community affairs. He actively serves on the Board of Directors for Diversity Round Table of Central Indiana, Kids Voice of Indiana, and Blue River SHRM. He was a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association’s 2009-2010 Bar Leader Series course.
DRTCI Board Member Board Position - Director of Marketing
Email the Director of Marketing
Dawn Jones is a senior account executive with Radio One Indianapolis with 21 years of marketing and advertising experience. She began her career in Peoria IL with WBGE-FM where she held various positions including Account Executive, Director of Sales and Station Manager. Following WGBE-FM, she held Senior Account Executive positions at different clusters in the Raleigh, North Carolina market. In 1998, she was recognized as a Radio Ink Magazine Red Hot A.E. In 2001, she received the coveted Radio Ink’s Radio Wayne Streetfighter of the Year Award and in 2004 she was recognized as a “Radio Foremother” by Radio & Records Magazine. Dawn then joined the Beasley Broadcasting family and was the Local Sales Manager for Fayetteville’s WZFX-FM and WUKS-FM, during which time she was responsible for managing and training the stations’ sales departments. In 2004, she was promoted to Non-Traditional Sales Manager/New Business Development & Trainer. Her career then moved her back to Raleigh to join the Radio One organization as a Senior Account Executive and then Non-Traditional Sales Manager. In an effort to be closer to family, she then joined the Radio One family in Indianapolis in March 2009.
Dawn’s community involvement ranges from review boards for the United Way, a board member for the Tri-County Urban League (Peoria) and various positions on boards for marketing and media organizations. Dawn is currently an active board member serving as Vice President of the Drug Free Marion County and a member of the New Beginnings Fellowship Church. Dawn is also the proud mother of her 6 year old son, DJ.
Dawn believes that diversity means inclusion of every one regardless of race, creed, gender, status, employment or education. The sum of a whole is a reflection of its parts and by including more diverse parts the sum is greater by the input of its diverse members.
DRTCI Board Member
Board Position – Historian
Tamiko is a Senior Employment Administrator with Citizens Gas & Coke Utility Human Resource Department. Tamiko began her career at Citizens Gas in the Training & Development Department in 1998 and currently manages the recruiting efforts for entry level, technical and professional positions across the Utility. Due to her passion for diversity initiatives, she has been instrumental in coordinating the Diversity Action Council at Citizen’s, and has been a member of the Diversity Roundtable since 2002. She is a 5-year certified Talent Selection Training Facilitator specializing in Behavioral Interviewing Techniques and also serves as the President of the Purity Class at Sanders Temple COGIC where she volunteers and provides a variety of services to youth ages 13-17. She has also served on the Advisory Board of Training Inc and has been newly appointed to the Board of Trustees at Sanders Temple Church. Tamiko is an active member of the Indiana 2nd Jurisdictional Gospel Choir and is working on their first CD project to be released this summer.
Diversity Quote to Remember – “My values and diverse background provides a strong foundation that will continue to make a positive impact at home, work and in the community.”
DRCI Board Member
Board Position – Controller
Email the Controller
Deb McCloud is Vice President and Controller with United Student Aid Funds, Inc. She has been with USA Funds for 21 years and is currently in charge of the Accounting and Treasury functions for the nation’s largest guarantor of student loans. Deb became involved with the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana in 1999, while also serving on the first Diversity Improvement Team at work. Deb has served as Treasurer off and on during her tenure with the Roundtable and has provided all bookkeeping and tax reporting services to the Roundtable on a volunteer basis since 2000. Deb has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration, both from Indiana University and she is also a CPA. Deb serves as the Chair of the Board for the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Inc. which was created January 1, 2007 as a result of the merger of 5 Girl Scout councils in central Indiana. Deb also served as co-chair of the realignment committee responsible for completing the merger and had served previously for 4 years as the Board Chair of the Girl Scouts of Hoosier Capital Council, Inc. Deb has also served on the Board and Finance Committee for the Lawrence Township School Foundation and does volunteer work with the women’s group at Castleton United Methodist Church.
Diversity Quote to Remember – “My management philosophy and various volunteer efforts all stem from my strong desire to help each and every individual. I’d also try to find the special gifts, talents and abilities each unique individual has been given then to help that individual be able to live to their full potential, enjoying all the blessings available to them.”
DRTCI Board MemberBoard Position
Board Member-At-Large
Dr. Quay Kester's diverse career has spanned the globe in fields of educational design, media messages, marketing, health care, medical illustration/photography, cultural competency and leadership education. A specialty area includes designing and providing Diversity and Inclusion education. By bringing diverse elements together, she creates dynamic learning experiences for health care professionals, clinical educators, social service professionals, management teams, university students and faculty, not-for-profit organizations and the kids next door. She has presented at numerous national meetings. Her experience has taken her to Guatemala, Sierra Leone, the Philippines, St. Croix, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as the US and Europe. She is looking forward to teaching in Costa Rica this summer. Her doctorate from Indiana University is in Instructional Systems Technology. She has practiced as an EMT, certified Medical Illustrator and master practitioner of NLP (neurolinguistic programming.) The foundations of her work include commitments to global and systems perspectives; superb customer service; multicultural integration; creativity; collaboration; stewardship; learner-centered hospitable learning environments; resourcefulness, playfulness and humor. Simply, diversity comprises myriad ways of being. Therein, lies the complexity. Dynamics of diversity include the awareness of our own layers of “norms” that filter our perspective of “Others.” Diversity involves the relational dynamics of Others’ and our own voices, world-views, habits of mind and presence; all influenced by layers of cultures, experiences, and basic human “hard-wiring.” Differences with misunderstanding and misinterpretation have potential to evoke dissonance. Yet, how we come to embrace the differences, power/access differentials, and sense of uncertainty of expectations of “Others” can result in optimizing creativity, problem solving, positive outcomes and create a bond that builds deep trust. When trust arises, especially by working through perceived dissonance, the positive effects are deep, generative and sustainable. The effects are wide reaching: personal lives, family units, neighborhoods, work groups, organizations, communities at large and globally. Actions that reach beyond political correctness, accommodation and tolerance can be learned through gaining knowledge, awareness and skills which build confidence in being comfortable with the discomfort that signifies learning deeply about self in relation to “Others.” Diversity is. How we learn and choose to discover, examine and explore its depths determines how we can optimize the potential of humanity.
DRTCI Board Member
Board Position – Board Member-At-Large
Mr. Khan brings over 14 years of diverse civil engineering experience which includes transportation Engineering, sanitary and storm sewer management and aviation engineering in both airside and land side. His broad exposure to various disciplines within the engineering industry, which are diverse in nature yet interrelated on a larger scale, allows him to offer solutions to clients that blend various, and occasionally conflicting, elements in harmony. As the Vice President for Infrastructure Engineering, Inc., Mr. Khan spearheads all aspects of the firm’s operations including expansion into new markets as well as improving operational efficiency to better serve the clients. He oversees a staff of 60 employees spread in multiple offices across the Midwest, including Indianapolis. Mr. Khan is a licensed professional engineer in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the City College of the City University of New York and MBA from University of Indianapolis. As a partner in an MBE firm which strongly promotes professional growth and development of all employees regardless of their gender, background and ethnicity, he truly recognizes the value of incorporating ideas and contributions from a diverse group of individuals. He actively participates in various local organizations which promote similar vision and values. His most recent community leadership role has been with ACEC Diversity Committee, where he served as a member from 2006 to 2009 and as Committee Chairman from 2009 to 2010.
DRTCI Board Member
Board Member-At-Large
Cinda Terry manages space planning and interior design for Duke Realty’s Healthcare tenants throughout the United States. Cinda has served as a Diversity Ambassador for Duke Realty since 2008, recently spearheading the Indianapolis market’s initiatives in past years to win the company’s Annual CEO Award for Diversity in 2010.
Cinda has served other local boards, including US Green Building Council and the International Interior Design Association and devotes a significant portion of her time providing pro bono services to design new hospital and clinical facilities for Hopital Sacre Couer in Milot, Haiti and volunteering 8 hours each week to assist mentally challenged and elderly patients.
Cinda leverages the unique perspectives and talents of individuals she works and plays with to create opportunities and unique solutions. “Recognizing, appreciating, and respecting every individual’s values, culture, physical, and qualitative differences will enhance and enrich all aspects of our lives and our communities. One person can make a difference in the lives of others!”
Cinda recently joined the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana as a new member and looks forward to many new discoveries.
October's Presentation by Scott Hoesman of the Kaleidoscope Group, LLC is available in the Member's Only Section.
If you would like to have access to this presentation, become a member of DRTCI today!
Click on the Membership Tab above for more info