Speaker Biography
Cierra Belser headshot Cierra Johnson-Belser is a mother, vocalist, arts advocate, SHRM volunteer, and workforce development guru. Currently, Cierra is active with the Southern Automotive Women’s Forum, SHRM Montgomery, ALSHRM Leadership Council, and a board member for the Alabama Arts Alliance.  Aside from being the mother of a 15-year-old pageant queen and a 12-year-old future Baseball star, she enjoys working as a career coach and helping individuals with perfecting their resumes and teaching them the interview skills to help them land their dream job. Cierra Johnson-Belser has a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
Lisa Blackmon Lisa Blackmon is a veteran business owner with more than twenty years of experience as the managing attorney at Blackmon & Blackmon, LLC and founder of Lifechangers International, a training, speaking, and coaching organization. Having extensive expertise in real estate law and a love for teaching, she makes it her mission to educate and encourage clients to invest in personal development and expand their wealth portfolios through real estate investing. She serves as a leader in her local assembly, as a member of the Executive Board for Jimmie Hale Missions, and as a member of the Volunteer Lawyers Program.
Michele Coley Michele Coley is the only African American female Allstate Agent in the state of Alabama with agencies in Tuscaloosa and Hoover Alabama with 6 employees. She holds a Business Administration degree from Stillman College. She serves on the West Alabama Chamber Executive Board and is the 2023 Chair-Elect. She has been appointed to the city of Tuscaloosa Elevate Advisory Council, Tuscaloosa Personnel Board, Zoning Board of Adjustments as a Supernumerary, and the Mayor’s Advisory Council. Michele is also President of the University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies Board of Visitors. She serves on the Executive Board of Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority. Michele is very passionate about young people and their education. She mentors and sponsors reading/positive behavior initiatives at several city and county schools.
Kinsey Diegan Kinsey Diegan is Director of HR Business Services with Marvel HR and is SHRM-SCP certified with 6+ years of progressive Human Resources experience across multiple industries. Her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are in Organizational Communication and Leadership, and she holds certificates in Organizational Dynamics and Human Development and Leadership (HDL). She is also a Predictive Index Certified Partner.  She currently works alongside 22 organizations’ operations teams to provide human capital strategic alignment.
Susan Hale Susan Hale’s entire career has been dedicated to helping people develop their leadership, business, and computer software skills through high-quality learning programs. She has the unique ability to relate to and teach various students from production personnel to frontline leaders, corporate professionals, and executive team members. She has a strong understanding and ability on how to increase employee & organizational morale and skillsets. She also understands the importance of their impact on organizations. Her whole career has been dedicated to high-quality adult learning. Susan Hale has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Ball State University.
Chance Hallmark Chance Hallmark, Vice President of Membership Development, has worked for America’s First Federal Credit Union for 30 years. He has a passion for teaching financial wellness and encouraging individuals to take small steps in making financial progress in their personal lives. Chance will share stories from his experience with his own finances as well as ideas he has learned from others.
Lisa Hammett Lisa Hammett is a life and wellness coach, specializing in helping stressed and burned-out business owners and executives create balance in their life, manage stress and anxiety, and get healthy. She spent 26 years in the corporate retailing industry.  She was the stressed, burned-out, unhealthy individual she now serves.  After leaving the corporate world in 2005, she started her wellness journey, losing 65 pounds.
Matt Hollub Matt Hollub serves as Interim Director for the University of Alabama SafeState program and is the Program Manager of the OSHA 21(d) On-site Consultation service for the state of Alabama.  He has over 35 years of industrial hygiene and safety experience including field services, training development/delivery, team management, and governmental relations. He holds a BS degree in Mineral Engineering from the University of Alabama and an MS in Occupational Safety and Health from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Andrea Lewis Andrea Lewis is a certified and award-winning professional with more than 20 years of progressive leadership, coaching, and business ownership experience in the field of human resources, customer service, and training. She is the creator of The Great Facilitator Institute©.  Her firm facilitates Talent Assessments and coaching to individuals and organizations that value the importance of self-awareness and helps to build a development plan for growth. Andrea Lewis attended Alcorn State University and has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
Lance Lieb Lance Lieb has spent 13 years in the financial services industry as a managing leader, Learning and Development Facilitator, and Employee Relations consulting professional. Lance holds an undergraduate degree in International Business from Troy University where he was a collegiate athlete, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama. Lance holds a Senior Certified Professional Credential from SHRM.
Jillian Miles Massey Jillian Miles Massey is a Talent Management Consultant with a background in higher education and in industry. As an educator, she designed, taught, and facilitated university courses and career development programs in the fields of management, human resources, entrepreneurship, and organizational development. She also has experience with recruitment, selection, training, and development in a corporate setting, in particular with multinational firms. Jillian is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management and a Master’s in Business Administration. She is an SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), and a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP).
Montiqua Mathers Montiqua Mathers is a transformational HR and DE&I professional with multi-state and multi-industry experience.  She is passionate and committed to helping individuals realize their full potential and works tirelessly to remove obstacles to success.  She obtained her BA in Communication and Speech from the University of Montevallo, she holds a MSHRM from Webster University and has a certification in Training and Development from the University of Alabama.  She is certified by Development Dimensions and The Center for Creative Leadership.  Montiqua is a People Leader for a Fortune 250 company where she focuses heavily on creating an inclusive and sustainable environment where people are engaged and actively contribute to the bottom line.
Lauren Morina Lauren Morina is an attorney in the Privacy and Cybersecurity practice group at Maynard Cooper & Gale. She assists clients with privacy and cybersecurity compliance and incident response planning. Lauren also develops consumer-facing terms and policies for websites and smart device applications, assesses privacy and cybersecurity risks associated with potential acquisition targets, and represents companies in state and federal privacy and security-focused regulatory investigations. Lauren Morina has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida and her Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Mack Munro Mack Munro is the Founder and CEO of Boss Builders and is an experienced practitioner, speaker, and author who has worked with executive and management teams in companies of all types, sizes, and industries. He is the author of How to Be a Great Boss. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University He is a qualified facilitator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and has also written and developed a number of personality and behavioral assessments and online tools.
Brock Phillips Brock Phillips is an Associate in Maynard Cooper’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.  He assists clients with a broad range of labor and employment matters, including cases arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Section 1981, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family, and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and whistleblower statutes, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Brock counsels clients engaged in Department of Labor audits and investigations, as well as grievance proceedings. He also offers consultation to employers in need of assistance drafting or updating employment handbooks and policies. Brock received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as the Development Editor on the Managing Board of the Journal of Law & Politics. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University.
Matthew T. Scully Matthew Scully represents management in the area of labor and employment law. His practice is proactive, focused on managing the complex economic, legal and business decision employers must make in effectively managing their workforce. Scully has considerable experience litigating and advising clients concerning all aspects of employment law, including workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, employment policies, and managing leave. He has experience working with clients in various industries and with small, medium and large sized employers, including Fortune 500 companies. Matthew Scully has a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration. He also obtained his Juris Doctorate from The University of Alabama School of Law.
Anthony D. Sparks Anthony D. Sparks is a Training & Organizational Development Advisor for the Jefferson County (AL) Commission. In this role, Anthony helps spearhead training and development initiatives for 6,000 county employees, while also serving as chairperson for the Jefferson County Human Resources “Culture Champs”–a team dedicated to establishing and maintaining a healthy, enjoyable, & engaging culture for department employees. In addition, Anthony is also the owner & operator of his own coaching and consulting firm (Anthony D. Sparks LLC), where he works with organizations and individuals around the globe, helping them achieve “better” in areas such as personal & professional development, leadership, workplace culture, morale, and service.
Dr. Theresa M. Welbourne Dr. Theresa M. Welbourne’s expertise is in the areas of entrepreneurship, human capital management, and strategic leadership in high growth, entrepreneurial and high change organizations. Theresa is a prolific writer, well-known speaker, and she focuses on turning rigorous research into practical tools that are being used by organizations around the world. She consults with numerous organizations in multiple industries including manufacturing, high technology, telecommunications, financial services, and professional consulting organizations. Theresa runs a large-scale research study on initial public offerings (IPOs), which focuses on the development of new learning to identify the drivers of sustainable and continual firm-level growth. She also is the founder, president, and CEO of eePulse, Inc., a human capital technology and consulting firm.
Ashley Wheeler Ashley Wheeler served over 9 years in global Corporate Leadership Development at Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company before taking working for Hunt Refining Company in Organizational Development. She’s worked with people of all ages enabling them to reach their full potential through igniting a passion within them to continuously improve and find their purpose – from kids to corporate leaders. As part of her studies in best practices, Ashley accepted a 4 month internship in Christchurch, New Zealand, from which cutting-edge educational techniques were being formulated. Ashley Wheeler has a Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Education.