Senior Manager, Genentech

South San Francisco, CA

Alex has spent nearly 15 years in the philanthropic ecosystem, working both as a fundraiser for nonprofits and now as a funder with Genentech. Currently, Alex leads key components of Genentech’s Diversity in STEM giving portfolio, aimed at creating a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce through investments in educational interventions to both support students from historically excluded backgrounds to succeed in the current system as well as to change the system itself. Specifically, Alex is responsible for Genentech’s K-12 Diversity in STEM giving portfolio as well as leading the strategy for the Genentech Foundation, which focuses on Diversity in STEM at the undergraduate level.

Outside of work, Alex is also the Chair of the city of Brisbane’s Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, and Accountability (IDEA) committee. She has a BA in Ethics, History, & Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and an MS in Philosophy & Public Policy from the London School of Economics.

Founder, Hero Digital

Oakland, CA

Dave Kilimnik is a technology services entrepreneur and executive leader. In 2014 he founded Hero Digital, a digital experience consultancy, and served as its CEO until 2023. Dave now serves on Hero’s Board of Directors and drives the company’s corporate development strategy through strategic alliances and M&A. During his tenure as CEO he led the company’s growth path from inception to over $100M in revenue and 500 employees globally. Dave is a passionate business builder and believes in the power of entrepreneurship to create economic opportunity and social mobility. Dave has a BA in Biology from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Babson College.

Vice President for Educational Innovation and International Programs, Kansas City Kansas Community College

Kansas City, KS

Dr. Fabiola Riobé is an accomplished international executive, industry expert, and education advocate passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and social impact. She has led successful initiatives in workforce development, skills-based training, and digitalization, bringing together experts to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders in education, business, and government.

Dr. Riobé is a pioneer alum of the African Women's Economic Consortium, facilitating workshops and thought circles to promote socio-economic development and leadership cultivation. Featured in the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) for her outstanding contributions to business incubators, Fabiola is the founder and CEO of Kids Global University, committed to preparing youth to be civically engaged through global competency development.

Her outstanding work has earned her international recognition, including the 2023 Women of Leadership and Vision Award, and has inspired and impacted the lives of many.

Dr. Riobé serves on many community advisory boards and is committed to greeting avenues to intergenerational wealth.

Associate Professor, Norco College

Norco, CA

Farshid has a Masters in Architecture who believes in transformative learning through making. He has worked for various engineering and design companies from Toronto, Canada to Santa Monica, CA.

Farshid taught Technical Design and CNC Machine Technology Programs to incarcerated students in Washington state colleges including Pierce and Grays Harbor for 8 years, where he developed a makerspace in Stafford Creek Correctional Center. He has helped students to develop their ideas, document them, build prototypes and patent them. Farshid has been teaching at Norco College since 2018, He is the lead faculty on developing Norco's Makerspace, teaching drafting and design courses on how to bring ideas on paper, CAD and to build a prototype.

President, Tennessee College of Applied Technology

Knoxville, TN

Kelli Chaney is the President of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville. Prior to being approved as president, Chaney was the dean of career education and workforce development at Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonburg, Kentucky, since 2016.

Chief Workforce Innovation Officer, Yavapai College

Prescott, AZ

Kimberly Moore has spent over two decades in the workforce development and innovation arena. She currently serves as the inaugural Chief Workforce Innovation Officer at Yavapai College, where she was tapped to lead the new Division of Workforce and Innovation and Economic Development. Prior to joining Yavapai, she served as the VP for Workforce Innovation at Tallahassee Community College where she gained a reputation as a leader in workforce and innovation locally, statewide and nationally, She also served as the Chief Executive Officer of WORKFORCE plus, the regional economic and workforce development body, prior to entering the education arena.

Strategic Advisor

Boston, MA

Lisa Butler is a strategic advisor, educator, and board leader. She has delivered strategy and marketing advisory services to innovative organizations of all types, helping executives and boards to move their missions forward. Lisa brings over 30 years in marketing, product development, and management roles to her advisory work, primarily in start-up environments. Along the way, she’s gained exposure to a range of markets including hardware, software, security, and health analytics; plus education, health care, and social services. Lisa’s current board roles include serving as Director of Corporation Service Company, a global information services firm, as well as non-profit director roles for the Boston-based College for Social Innovation, and the NH MAXT Makerspace. On the “side,” Lisa is pleased to share her career experience with students as an adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurial marketing at UNH’s Paul School of Business and Economics.

Lisa holds a Masters in Management from MIT’s Sloan School and earned a BA, cum laude, with Distinction in American Studies, from Yale University.

Executive Director, STE(A)M Truck

Atlanta, GA

Dr. Marsha Francis is an accomplished educational leader and Executive Director of STE(A)M Truck, a fleet of mobile makerspaces providing youth and educators with opportunities to engage, create, and learn using STEAM-driven curriculum and real tools and technologies. With over 15 years of experience, she is dedicated to promoting educational equity and has been nationally recognized as one of Education Week's 2020 District "Leaders to Learn From." Dr. Francis is committed to improving STEAM education in Title I schools after observing a lack of high-quality science instruction during her student teaching. Her Spelman College senior thesis focused on improving science instruction in Title 1 schools, while her Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Georgia explored how race and gender limit exposure to high-quality science instruction.

As a former elementary teacher, faculty member at Spelman College, and district administrator, Dr. Francis brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. She has taught Math and Science methods to teacher candidates and understands the needs of novice teachers and equitable learning environments. Dr. Francis is currently leveraging corporate partnerships with industry giants like Micron Technology and Amazon to provide high-quality STEAM opportunities through Maker Education for the youth of Metro Atlanta.

President & Treasurer, Arconic Foundation

Pittsburgh, PA

Ryan Kish is President and Treasurer of Arconic Foundation, a corporate grantmaking foundation whose mission is to enhance education, promote environmental sustainability, and advance social equity by investing in nonprofit partners. Ryan oversees grantmaking in excess of $8 million per year, which is invested in over 130 grant partners that work in 20 communities across 7 countries.

Ryan is responsible for executing the Foundation’s mission, conducting effective grantmaking, managing scholarship and employee donation matching programs, coordinating local giving at Arconic locations around the world, and, as Treasurer, overseeing financial processes and ensuring the Foundation’s long-term financial sustainability.

Ryan currently serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Greater Pittsburgh and is a member of various nonprofit advisory boards.