Conference Agenda

In today's global business world, supplier development is a crucial driver of innovation, resilience, and growth. Moving beyond assumptions to measurable impact is key, and data-driven decisions are essential. This session explores how to use analytics, metrics, and other valuable insights to build engaged global supply chains.  

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the Landscape: Gain a deeper understanding of the current global supplier environment and the strategies organizations are employing to maximize positive outcomes.
2. The Power of Data: Explore key analytics, metrics, and benchmarks that validate and strengthen the business case for supplier development.
3. Data-Driven Success: Learn best practices for ensuring long-term success of global supplier development initiatives.

Walk the meeting space at the Gaylord Palms to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 2.

The Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable, a collection of employers committed to neurodiversity-focused hiring initiatives, is hosting an event designed to provide valuable insights and strategies for embracing neurodiversity in the workplace. Join us for presentations that include research on evidence-based framework for neuroinclusive workplaces, a deep dive on how to build a successful neurodiversity hiring program, how to foster an inclusive workplace culture and discuss person-centered workplaces, as well as how to support all of these efforts. Following the presentations, there will be time for organizations to network, set goals, share success stories, and encourage neuroinclusion.

(Open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs)

Join us for an impactful four-part series designed to provide important content around current issues, pain points and provide a space to take in valuable business and legal led updates as well as focus on leadership, business strategy and learnings from Venture Capitalist.

From WithIN: Transforming LEADERSHIP Pain into Strength (1-1:45pm EST)

Sarah Skidmore, Founder, The Leadership Hospital

In this executive session, DOBE participants will explore four critical dimensions of effective leadership and evaluate these areas within the context of their own businesses. Through guided reflection and interactive group discussions, leaders will uncover key leadership "pain points" and begin mapping practical strategies to address them, considering current external factors and the evolving business climate.

This session is designed to reveal hidden blind spots and introduce a framework for strengthening leadership at both the personal and organizational levels. Attendees will leave equipped with clear insights and actionable strategies to elevate their leadership performance in uncertain times.

INNOVATION, Efficiency and Trends: AI for All: Streamlining Your Business with Copilot and Agent (1:45-2:30pm EST)

Laurie Allen, Senior Accessibility Technology Evangelist, Microsoft
Blake Baxter, Senior Account Technology Strategist, Microsoft

Discover how disability-owned businesses of all sizes can harness the power of AI to boost productivity, automate tasks, and spark innovation. This session will walk you through practical, accessible ways to start using AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and AI agents to simplify your workflow, save time, and grow your impact.

Start with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: Use free AI tools in M365 Copilot Chat to draft emails, summarize documents, and generate content.

Build with Microsoft 365 Copilot: enhance productivity by embedding AI into your daily workflow - summarize meetings, generate reports, and create presentations.

Ideate with Agents: Use AI agents to automate self-service and streamline workflows—no coding required.

GROWING your Business: Looking beyond traditional funding sources? (2:30-3:15pm EST)

Reid Jewett Smith, VP Research & Policy, Disability:IN

Brittany and Rich Palmer, Adaptation Ventures

Chris Maher, Samaritan Partners

Chris McKelvy, K-Ventures

• What are your most important considerations when making an investment?

• How do VCs engage with entrepreneurs?

• What are the elements of a successful pitch?

• How do business owners and operators get connected with VCs?

RISK in today’s Business Climate: Understanding how to navigate the today’s unique business challenges (3:15-4pm EST)

Craig Leen, Partner, Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice; Co-leads the firm’s OFCCP and Affirmative Action Compliance, K&L Gates

Adriana Featherstone,Director of Legal Affairs/Assistant General Counsel, Disability:IN

(Open only to Disability:IN corporate partners)

Walk the meeting space at the Gaylord Palms to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 2.

Everyone is welcome to join us for the Disability:IN 2025 ERG/BRG Challenge finals.  Each ERG/BRG will showcase what they have done to improve accessibility for their employees, customers, or the business.

Come hear about these innovative accessibility initiatives and cheer on your favorite ERG/BRG Challenge finalist! 

Speaker:

• Stephen Peacock, VP, Provider and Product Strategy, Edelman Financial Engines
  

Building strong supplier relationships is key to a thriving business. This forum fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among procurement and supplier development leaders. Join us to explore best practices in supplier development, learn from real-world case studies, and network with peers to build valuable connections. Together, we can create more resilient and innovative supply chains.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify successful supplier development initiatives and best practices inclusive of disability.
2. Understand the impact of supplier development on disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs).
3. Discover strategies for engaging with and developing DOBEs.

Speakers:

• Joyce Bender, CEO, Bender Consulting
• Heather Herndon Wright, Director, Supply Chain Diversity & Sustainability, Vistra Corps
• Tiffany Jones, Senior Manager, Business Diversity, TIAA
• T.J. Lewis, Sr. Director of Supplier Development & Sustainability, Ally Financial
• Binny Mathews, Chief Procurement Officer, Accenture
• Natalie McGrady, Sr. Director, Global Sustainability & Supplier Diversity, Cargill

Taking a mature enterprise accessibility program to the next level can come with many challenges, especially if the next step involves international expansion. Success requires optimizing existing accessibility initiatives, leveraging emerging technologies, and ensuring compliance with evolving global standards such as the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and European Accessibility Act (EAA) as well as the recently updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA. This session delves into advanced strategies and innovative approaches to enhance accessibility, focusing on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices for scaling programs globally with continuity, cohesion, and consistency.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore advanced techniques for auditing and enhancing your current digital accessibility efforts, including how to identify and address gaps, streamline processes, and ensure continuous improvement while aligning with global standards.
2. Discover how innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and augmented reality (AR) can be integrated into your accessibility strategies to provide innovative solutions and enhance user experiences.
3. Learn how to implement evolving global accessibility regulations and guidelines such as the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), European Accessibility Act (EAA), and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA to ensure compliance and consistency in operations across international markets.

Speakers:

• Stephen Framil, Corporate Global Head of Accessibility, Merck
• Kelsey Hall, Head of Accessibility, ADP
• Anni Lano, Enterprise Accessibility Program Director, Honeywell
• Ada Lopez, Sr. Manager, Lenovo
• Annette Rosta, Accessibility Leader, KPMG

People with disabilities represent a powerful and underserved consumer segment, yet they can often go overlooked in mainstream marketing campaigns. A recent blog post from the United Spinal Association estimates the global spending power of people with disabilities and their family members at $13 trillion annually. This session examines how brands can develop campaigns that genuinely connect with consumers with disabilities by focusing on accessible content, intentional messaging, and harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to gather consumer insights. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover the market potential of consumers with disabilities and the behaviors and trends of this market segment.  
2. Understand how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance disability-inclusive marketing strategies and improve engagement with consumers with disabilities, including best practices for ensuring AI-powered content creation and personalization tools are accessible and bias-free.
3. Explore practical examples of brands successfully engaging consumers with disabilities and how they’ve built customer trust and loyalty.

Speakers:

• Elodie Fichet, Head of Brand Accessibility - Devices & Services, Amazon
• Jennifer Lang, VP, Marketing, Customer Experience & Insights, TD Bank
• Victoria Lim, Senior Manager of Executive and External Communications, Experian
• Kellie Mater, Chief Marketing Officer, CAI
• Lara Ziobro, SVP, Global Communications and Marketing, Weber Shandwick

Employee development programs that are inclusive of people with disabilities focus on creating opportunities for growth and skill-building while removing barriers that may limit participation. These programs are designed to accommodate employees’ diverse needs, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed in their roles and advance within the organization. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how-to create disability inclusive career development programs that are open to all employees who qualify.
2. Identify disability inclusive employee development strategies that work for business and the career growth of talent with disabilities.
3. Learn key components of inclusive Career Development Programs.

Speakers:

• Matthew Baird, Senior Staff Economist at LinkedIn
• Michele Matthai, Director, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion at Dell
• Keisha McNeil, Director of Inclusion & Head of Enterprise Education at Southern California Edison
• Chaitanya Nangia, Director - Compliance & Operational Risk Executive at Bank of America
• Ashley Young, Talen Management Lead at Humana

Disability self-identification rates are low at most companies, in most cases, less than 5 percent. It is estimated that one in four employees has a disability, but the workplace self-identification data are not consistent with the facts. Leaders make decisions and allocate resources and benefits based on internal demographics, metrics, and vocal advocacy. This session will focus on the tools and techniques that have encouraged higher self-identification rates in corporate workplaces and the resulting advances and benefits to all employees.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to develop a communication plan for global self-identification with a clear value proposition.
2. Learn the successful techniques companies use to increase their disability self-identification rates.
3. Gain an understanding of culturally appropriate messaging that resonates with employees with disabilities.

Speakers:

• Miguel Castro, Global Director, Strategic Inclusion and Workplace Accessibility at SAP
• Ashley Darnell, Senior Director of Global DEI at Boston Consulting Group
• Manisha Mehrotra, Head of Inclusion, Europe Middle East and Africa and Americas at Bloomberg
• Reggie Miller, Culture & Inclusion Officer at GE Vernova
• Kristen Watkins, Americas Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Kearney

This session explores how innovation in web and mobile technology can create truly inclusive digital experiences for everyone, including people with disabilities. We'll cover the foundational principles of web and mobile accessibility and why they're more critical than ever in today's digital landscape. As technology rapidly evolves, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), we'll examine how innovation can be harnessed.

Learning Objectives:

1. WCAG Updates: We'll go over the newest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and explore how to implement them across your digital platforms.
2. Accessibility Challenges & Innovative Solutions: We'll identify common web and mobile accessibility barriers and delve into cutting-edge solutions, including emerging technologies and design approaches, to ensure your platforms are usable by everyone.
3. AI and Accessibility: We'll look at how new technologies like AI and machine learning affect accessibility and how they can be used to improve both user experience and efficiency.

Speakers:

• Jennison Asuncion, Head of A11y Engineering Evangelism at LinkedIn
• Andrew Holbrook, Chief Accessibility Officer at Wells Fargo
• Francis Hyatt, Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer at Liberty Mutual
• Jake Konerza, Senior Director Digital Accessibility at Target
• Shelby Mitchell, Senior Manager, Digital Accessibility at Discover

Strong business connections are more critical than ever as Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) are increasingly called upon by senior executives and business segments for insights on how to recruit, hire, develop, and market to employees and customers with disabilities. This session provides best practices for identifying and leveraging the talents, expertise and leadership of disability E/BRG executive sponsors.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover how to identify executive sponsors that can help disability E/BRGs in setting goals that are aligned to organizational key performance indicators.
2. Discuss how executive sponsors can model cultures of trust and transparency which empower disability E/BRG members to speak from their experiences and champion innovation.
3. Explore different methods disability E/BRG leaders deploy when engaging their executive sponsors as thought partners and champions for their E/BRG strategies and programming.

Speakers:

• Julie Colwell, Managing Vice President, Human Resources and ARG for PwD Executive Sponsor at Marriott
• Lynne Davis, Senior Manager, Supplier Relations at Toyota
• Paul Gennaro, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at New York Life
• Sundeep Reddy, EVP & Chief Accounting Officer at Salesforce
• Cynthia Vodopivec, SVP - Environmental, Health & Safety at Vistra Corp

Walk the meeting space at the Gaylord Palms to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 2.

This session is all about making retail spaces accessible and welcoming to everyone, including people with disabilities. We'll explore how to design physical spaces so they're inclusive and easy for everyone to use.

Learning Objectives:

1. Universal Design: We'll cover the seven key principles of universal design and how to use them in stores to make them accessible and user-friendly for both employees and customers.
2. Latest Trends & Best Practices: We'll look at the newest trends and best practices in making physical spaces accessible, including entrances, hallways, restrooms, seating, signs, and even how staff can be trained in disability etiquette.
3. Removing Barriers: We'll discuss common accessibility problems in stores and learn practical solutions to fix them, so people with disabilities can move around and interact more easily.

Speakers:

• Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director, Office of Belonging at Walmart, Inc.
• Everette Bacon, Chief, Blindness Initiatives at Aira
• Stephen Cluskey, CEO at Mobility Mojo
• Kristin Hohn, Head of Disability Inclusion & Accessibility at Eli Lilly and Company
• Monica Reha, Director, Accessibility at Edward Jones

In today's global business world, supplier development is a crucial driver of innovation, resilience, and growth. Moving beyond assumptions to measurable impact is key, and data-driven decisions are essential. This session explores how to use analytics, metrics, and other valuable insights to build engaged global supply chains.  

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the Landscape: Gain a deeper understanding of the current global supplier environment and the strategies organizations are employing to maximize positive outcomes.
2. The Power of Data: Explore key analytics, metrics, and benchmarks that validate and strengthen the business case for supplier development.
3. Data-Driven Success: Learn best practices for ensuring long-term success of global supplier development initiatives.

Speakers:

• Wade Colclough, Global Senior Director, Supplier Empowerment at Avantor Inc.
• Joyce Eggers, Global Lead Supplier Diversity at Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA
• Hannah Kain, President & CEO at ALOM
• Dominique Sellers, VP, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Paramount
• Raul Suarez-Rodriguez, Executive Director at Merck

A growing number of countries are implementing numerical mandates for disability hiring. These mandates establish a baseline requirement for businesses; however, compliance often raises awareness of disability inclusive benefits and motivates companies to meet and go beyond minimum standards to hire and retain talent with disabilities. This session highlights best practices from businesses that are meeting and exceeding in-country hiring mandates, and how they are recruiting and supporting employees with disabilities in those countries.

Learning Objectives

1. Gain insight into a sample of countries around the globe that have disability employment numerical government mandates and an overview of requirements for employers operating in these markets.
2. Learn best practices for how to source disability talent in markets with numerical government mandates and strategies for how to create a disability inclusive culture that is supportive for new hires and existing employees who newly disclose.
3. Explore how to go beyond compliance with numerical government mandates to establish stretch goals focused on exceeding government requirements and the organizational commitment required to lead in this area.

Cutting-edge companies are increasingly creating competitive advantage by leveraging innovative design principles and emerging technologies to develop inclusive and accessible product experiences that delight all customers. A deep understanding of universal design principles, tactile features, and how to integrate assistive technologies to improve accessibility are essential for staying ahead of the curve of today’s rapidly evolving product life cycle. This session will explore the latest trends and advancements in accessible design, accessibility enhancements for packaging, and other customer-facing products, technology, and service innovations.  

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of the latest trends in accessible product and package design, including the use of universal design principles, tactile features, and easy-open mechanisms, that can effectively enhance the customer experience for all users.
2. Discover how to implement accessibility enhancements in packaging and other customer-facing products, including the benefits of incorporating features such as high-contrast colors, clear typography, and audible cues to make products more accessible and user-friendly.
3. Gain insights into how emerging technologies, such as QR codes and the ability for people with disabilities to set up devices out of the box, can be integrated into accessibility strategies to provide innovative solutions and enhance the overall customer experience.

Speakers:

• Sumaira Latif, Company Accessibility Leader at Procter & Gamble
• Megan Lawrence, Senior Director, DEI, Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at NIKE
• Fred Moltz, Chief Accessibility Officer at Verizon
• Christy Vanek, Director, Global Accessibility at Otis
• Chris Yoon, Product Manager, Product Equity at Uber   

Marketing events can be powerful brand touchpoints, however what’s intended to be a brand-building activation can quickly have negative reputational effects if the event is not accessible and inclusive for all. Event design, content accessibility, and on-site accommodations are all key considerations for ensuring that your brand experiences bring everyone to the party. This session explores best practices in designing and executing marketing events that authentically engage and include people with disabilities. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key accessibility factors for in-person, virtual, and hybrid marketing events, including vendor and budget considerations.   
2. Learn how to integrate disability inclusion into event planning, from speaker selection to pre- and post- event communications. 
3. Explore practical examples of inclusive marketing events, attendee feedback, and the impact on brand perception.

Speakers:

• Gwennie Cheung, Associate Director, Marketing Communications at Accenture
• Apoorva Gandhi, Sr. Vice President, Multicultural Affairs at Marriott
• Michael Nesmith, Creative Director at Amazon
• Yuval Pritz, Industry Marketing Manager at UKG
• Amy Wood, Accessibility Manager, Events, Real Estate/Travel at Salesforce

Most internet traffic today is from mobile phones, so getting accessibility right for your company's mobile app is especially important. Yet building an accessibility program for mobile apps is different from building one for websites and web apps. Join Evinced to learn more about what to expect, how mobile accessibility differs from web accessibility, and what sorts of tools and processes are helpful in building an organization and culture that produces accessible mobile apps.

The Disability:IN Awards Celebration is a fun, reception-style event with music and dancing. There is no formal sit-down dinner.

Speakers:

• Jill Houghton, President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Wil Lewis, Global Chief Inclusion, Belonging & Talent Acquisition Officer at Experian

Embedding accessibility into everything you do is key to a thriving business. This forum fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among accessibility professionals. Join us to explore best practices in accessibility, learn from real-world case studies, and network with peers to build valuable connections. Together, we can create more accessible and innovative companies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify successful accessibility initiatives and best practices that are scalable across industries.
2. Discover strategies for charting the course ahead and accelerating your company’s accessibility journey.
3. Learn how to foster cross-functional collaboration, measure and report impact, and engage across the enterprise to further accessibility initiatives.

Speakers:

• Marcia Dukes, Inclusion Consultant at MassMutual
• Leslie Johnson, Head of Enterprise Accessibility at Bank of America
• Steve Nelson, Accessibility and Belonging Program Manager at Alaska Airlines
• Craig Radford, CEO at 360 Empower Consulting
• Ryan Wieland, VP, Digital Accessibility Sales at Allyant
• Ayelet Winer, Head of Accessibility Resource Center at T-Mobile