Sean Yoes was born, raised and currently resides in West Baltimore. He has been a professional journalist since 1989; honored by the Association of Black Media Workers (ABMW), the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association (MDDC), Baltimore City Paper and Baltimore Magazine.

Christopher R. Lundy, Esq. serves as the inaugural Director of the Mayor’s Office of Small & Minority Business Advocacy & Development in Baltimore. With a background in litigation, he enforces MWB Program requirements and has successfully imposed historic sanctions on non-compliant contractors. Under his leadership, MWBOO has emphasized communication, transparency, and partnership, fostering growth and accountability while championing the vital role of minority and women-owned businesses in Baltimore's development.

 Chandra Smith, an IT engineer and 508 compliance officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, defied the odds two years ago by overcoming triple amputations and a stroke. Crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2024, she fearlessly advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities, leaving a profound impact in their fight for equality.

Major Derek J. Loeffler, Commander, Education & Training Section, Baltimore Police Department. Derek Loeffler serves as a Major with the Baltimore Police Department and has been with the agency since 2006. He started his career as a patrol officer in the Southeastern District. Major Loeffler is the Education & Training Section Commander overseeing entry-level and in-service training and BPD’s co-responder model Crisis Response Team.

Dr. LaMarr Darnell Shields dedicates his life to inspiring adults and youth alike to pursue a higher purpose, achieve sustainable value for long-term success, and cope with adversity in order to create opportunities in their personal, professional and spiritual lives.

Faith Leach was appointed by Mayor Brandon Scott to serve as the City’s second and first woman Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Leach manages the day-to-day government operations across the entire city enterprise, ensuring the effective, efficient, and equitable delivery of city services.

In January 2022, Ebony M. Thompson joined the Baltimore City Department of Law as Deputy City Solicitor. Appointed by Mayor Brandon M. Scott, in her role as Acting City Solicitor, Ebony represents and advises the Mayor, City Council, City Administrator, boards and commissions, department directors, and employees in their official capacities.

As President of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Terri Freeman has helped steer the institution through one of its most challenging periods, navigating the impacts of the global pandemic and reaffirming its value propositions as a centerpiece to the state’s cultural offerings; an anchor institution in Baltimore City; and a public square for conversations on art, history, culture, and community.

Maria Harris Tildon is vice president for government, community and economic partnerships for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine where she spearheads Johns Hopkins’ legislative, regulatory and community engagement, including our signature economic inclusion initiatives in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Florida. In this role, she leads efforts to build and strengthen Johns Hopkins’ relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, policymakers, business and community leaders, and neighborhood residents.

Teneele Bailey is a south Jersey girl, living and working in a Maryland world as a maternal health professional who is dedicated to eliminating maternal and child health disparities experienced by Black women, children, and families. Currently, she serves as Maternal Health Coordinator with Baltimore Healthy Start and project team member of the Baltimore Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative, funded by Merck for Mothers.

Andre M. Davis served for thirty years as a judge on four courts: the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States District court, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, and the Maryland state District Court. Before his appointment as a judge, he had served as an appellate attorney for the Civil Rights Division for the U.S. Department of Justice and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Baltimore.

Mr. West is an award-winning, nationally recognized subject matter authority in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, having worked, lectured and written extensively on diversity, equity and inclusion issues impacting businesses and the legal profession. He has lectured at the George Mason Antonin Scalia School of Law on corporate leadership and diversity and was retained by the school to develop the first of its kind curriculum on corporate diversity, equity and inclusion.

Tanyka M. Barber is UMBC's inaugural vice president for institutional equity and chief diversity officer. Barber frequently writes about Title IX topics, sharing best practices. She also serves in leadership roles, such as on the advisory board for the Association of Title IX Administrators and on the board of directors for Community Law in Action, a Baltimore-based nonprofit focused on helping young people become leaders and advocates for positive community change.

In the 21st Century, Valorie LaCour is committed to strategic and tactical solutions to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure through efficient and effective organization and the use of innovative financial tools for reducing operating expenses, advancing third party partnerships, workforce management and best in class customer service.

Ms. Stephenie Horton joined the HABC team in October of 2018 as the Senior Compliance Manager. She was promoted in September of 2021 to Senior Vice President of Fair Housing, where she is responsible for supervising the agency’s compliance with federal, state, and local fair housing requirements. Stephenie Horton has worked in the public housing industry for over 25 years.

Deena Joyce, serving as Chief of the Office of Boards and Commissions (OBC) in Baltimore since 2017, oversees the city's unique procurement process for Prequalification of Consultant and Contracting Firms on projects exceeding $50,000. With over 20 years of experience in Small, Local, Minority Business Enterprises, Contract, and Project Management, Deena champions DPW’s Small Business Development Training Program, advocating for equity and inclusion. Recognized for her Unbundling Initiative, she breaks down barriers, fosters mentoring, and promotes fair opportunities, ensuring OBC's commitment to excellence and social advancement in Baltimore.