Speakers
Ms. Punam Mathur (MC)
Ms. Punam Mathur operates her own business as a speaker, trainer and writer. She also serves as executive director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation, a private foundation that exists to advance fundamental change, primarily related to equity, civil rights and conservation. From 2009-2012, she was an officer of NV Energy, Inc., serving as vice president of people resources and as vice president of employee and community engagement. She joined NV Energy following 13 years in the gaming industry, most recently serving as an officer and senior vice president of corporate diversity and community affairs, for MGM MIRAGE, now MGM Resorts Int’l. Prior to joining the gaming industry in 1996, she had been with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for six years, holding a variety of management positions. Ms. Mathur was the founding board chair for Three Square, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating hunger in southern Nevada. She has also served on the Board of the United Way of Southern Nevada for over two decades. She has received numerous awards including induction into the Nevada Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Hall of Fame, “Humanitarian of the Year” by Junior League, a Woman of Distinction by National Association of Women Business Owners, and Woman of the Year by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada.
Mr. Jay Barnett
A native of Mississippi who was raised and currently resides in Texas, Jay is the son of a pastor and amazing mother (mama Mary) and is known for his southern charm and spiritual roots. Jay earned a bachelor’s degree in Science from Tarleton State University and holds a Masters in family therapy from North Central University. He was featured as Black Enterprise’s 2019 “BE Modern Man of the Year.” Author. Speaker. Mental Health Therapist. Life Coach. Jay Barnett is on a mission to empower, inspire, and ignite fire into the minds of men and women across the globe, helping them become their best selves. Former professional football player-turned-marriage & family therapist, Jay has more than 10 years of experience as an acclaimed youth mentor, author, and motivational speaker. He’s translated the lessons and strategies learned on the field into meaningful lessons for life and developing a winning mindset. He created a personal and social development program called the K.I.N.G. Program (Knowledge is Necessary Game) for incoming male freshmen at Texas Southern University. He also runs a non-profit, www.webuildprojects.org, to help teens transition through adolescence in excellence. Now, in his newest K.I.N.G. venture (Kindling Innovation Necessary for Growth), Jay is expanding his expertise to corporations, individuals, and groups. His online mental health and life coaching sessions allow clients to hone their innate gifts and learn supportive techniques to help individuals become the best version of themselves—both personally and professionally. Jay is also the author of several best-selling books for teens. Finding our Lost Kings and Queens; Letters to a Young Queen: Redefining Their Throne; Hello King, a widely-acclaimed book for young men and set for release, his highly-anticipated new book, Identity Crisis: A Discussion around Social Media Impact on Personal Identity.
Mr. Christopher Chatmon
Mr. Christopher Chatmon is CEO of Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO). Chatmon founded KOO and served as the first Executive Director of the African American Male Achievement (“AAMA”) for the Oakland Unified School District (“OUSD”) and was named as a “Leader to Learn From” by Education Week magazine. Chatmon was selected as a Campaign for Black Male Achievement “Social Innovation Accelerator” because he is committed to improving life outcomes for all youth and especially African American males. Chatmon is passionate about uplifting the African American community and has dedicated his career and life work to creating pathways of success within Oakland and beyond. Prior to working with OUSD, Chatmon was the Principal of an alternative high school in San Francisco, and Executive Director of Urban Services at the YMCA in Oakland for over 10 years. Chatmon started his career in education teaching history and physical education in the San Francisco Unified School District. Chatmon earned an M.A. in Education and a secondary teaching credential in Social Science from Brown University.
Dr. Calvin Mackie
Dr. Calvin Mackie is an award-winning mentor, an inventor, an author, a former engineering professor, an internationally renowned speaker, and a successful entrepreneur. His message as a mentor, author, speaker, and entrepreneur continues to transcend race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and time. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Mackie graduated from high school with low test scores requiring him to undertake special remedial classes at Morehouse College. He completed his degree in Mathematics at Morehouse in 1990, graduating Magna Cum Laude and a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. He was simultaneously awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he subsequently earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1996. In November 1999, Benjamin Hall Thomas and Dr. Mackie received a patent on a device to retrofit luggage stow bins on 737 and 757 Boeing commercial airliners. Dr. Mackie also authored four scholarly journals and is the author of the motivational book: "A View from the Roof: Lessons for Life and Business. Dr. Mackie has won numerous awards including: "President Bush Honors Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2007-02-03 and the 2002 Black Engineer of the Year Awards". Career Communications, Inc. 2006-03-30. Retrieved 2006-02-02.
Dr. Roberto Padilla
Dr. Roberto Padilla leads a district of approximately 2,000 employees, 1100 teachers, 12,000 scholars, 14 school buildings spread throughout four municipalities. Dr. Padilla holds a doctorate in Education with a focus on Urban School
Leadership. He was previously a teacher and principal for the NYC Department of Education, a member of Harvard University’s Principal’s Advisory Board, an Education Policy Fellow at Columbia University, a fellow for the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management, and a Deeper Learning Equity Fellow. He is a published author and an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz and Fordham University. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital as well as the Newburgh Armory Unity Center. He is the founding President of the New York Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (NYSALAS), and a member of the Greater Newburgh Rotary Club. Dr. Padilla was named as New York State’s Superintendent of the Year 2021. He is a life-long educator having been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, coach, and leadership consultant. Even today, he considers himself a teacher who just happens to be a superintendent.