Dr. Shanel Lu, DBA is often referenced as energetic, vibrant, a strategic business-minded consultant, and an expert storyteller with extensive knowledge in Human Capital Planning, Leadership and Professional Development, Strategic Workforce Planning, Diversity & Inclusion Data Analytics, Organizational Effectiveness and Personal/Career Development coaching/training.

Dr. Lu's motivational speaking career began with the Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. She is passionate about developing a platform that engages women around hot topics of real beauty, increasing self-confidence and positive self-esteem. Dr. Lu is an advocate for women empowerment, and promoting and celebrating diversity within the workplace. Today, Dr. Lu continues to promote diversity through her volunteer work as a BOD Member with the Asian American Government Executive Network (AAGEN), and Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC). She also extends her time through Junior Achievement USA that inspires and encourages youth entrepreneurs.

Dr. Lu is a human capital consultant with experience managing HR service delivery goals that deploys HR system-based integration projects She is a dedicated HR business partner with key stakeholders to determine areas of opportunity within process optimization; developing solutions to continuously improve and streamline processes and to develop value added enhancements. While she continues to provide strategic and executive consultation, she supports and contributes to the HR Strategic Planning process by recommending process improvement, and change management techniques to ensure managers and employees are equipped to meet the organization’s business goals and mission.

Cynthia W. Simmons
NASA

Cynthia Simmons serves as the Chief of the Instrument Systems & Technology Division in the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Applied Engineering & Technology Directorate where she leads more than 220 engineers and technicians. She has a diverse careerin spaceflight work from service in the Air Force to becoming a NASA engineer. From 2000 to 2009, she provided thermal design and systems engineering support as a NASA contractor for several instrument and spacecraft projects including the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Global Precipitation Measurement and Curiosity’s Sample Analysis atMars. Prior to NASA, she worked classified spacecraft programs for the Department of Defense and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. She was then Director of Engineering for Edge Space Systems, Inc. until March 2010, when she was recruited into civil service to lead Goddard in-house instrument teams as an Instrument Project Manager where she has managed teams of up to 250 memberswith budgets up to $450 million.

Ms. Simmons remembers her fascination with space started early in life watching TV shows like Star Trek. Watching the first moon landing gave her more reason to dream of designing spaceships like the Starship Enterprise where she imagined traveling in space spending a lifetime exploring. Yet, she had no knowledge of NASA or any idea of how to ‘get there’ until she attended the U.S. Air Force Academy. She began her aerospace engineering career in 1982 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after graduating in the 3rd class with women. She was distinguished with the Air Force Commendation and Meritorious Service Medalswith formal recognition by the Under Secretary of the Air Force. In 1987, she received an Honorable Discharge, and continued work on classified payload designs for Unisys Corp until 1989 when she took time out to become a ‘stay-at-home’ mom. Still dreaming of space, she resumed her career in 1996 working in the commercial space industryfor the Iridium Program, and supported 15 launches that placed 76 satellites into orbit within one year. She designed and implemented a new technique for on-orbit assessment of subsystem performance in a Low Earth Orbit, multi-satellite, cross-linked constellation with 24/7continuous real-time downlinked data.

EXPERIENCE

Ms. Whittemore brings 35 years of Department of Defense (DOD) experience, and over 20 as a Senior Executive to Grant Thornton. She has substantial experience in Strategic Planning, Financial Management, Logistics, Change Management, Executive Talent Management and Leadership. She served as the Senior Civilian Executive for Program and Resource Management for the U. S. Marine Corps, Senior Civilian in U. S. Pacific Command, Chief of Naval Operations representative for Base Re-Alignment and Closure (BRAC) development, and Senior Civilian for Navy Fleet Readiness and Logistics in both Peace time and War (Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom). Ms. Whittemore currently provides executive leadership for the Security & Defense Strategic Business Unit with responsibility for service delivery, operational execution, and business development across the Department of Defense.

Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Ms. Whittemore was the Assistant Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Programs and Resources. She served ten years with the Marine Corps, 20 years with the Navy, and five years in various Joint positions.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ms. Whittemore leads Grant Thornton participation in the American Society of Military Comptrollers (past Washington Chapter President), Navy League of the United States and Military Order of the Carabao.

EDUCATION

CLICK HERE TO VIEW HER BIO ( PDF )

Patrina Clark is founder and president of Pivotal Practices Consulting (Pivotal), a talent leadership consulting firm that works collaboratively with senior leaders to maximize performance at every organizational level. Patrina is a trusted advisor on a broad range of human performance issues and has broad and deep expertise in human resource development and talent leadership strategies. Pivotal, which is headquartered in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area, employs a cadre of experts and authorities who can support government and business leaders in increasing employee engagement, improving internal processes, and boosting organizational performance. Pivotal was one of only 16 firms to receive the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Small Business Achievement Award.

Prior to launching Pivotal, Patrina performed with distinction for 25 years in five federal agencies – U.S.Government Accountability Office (GAO), Federal Election Commission (FEC), Department of Navy, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Patrina’s last federal position was Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) for GAO. A career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Patrina received numerous awards and commendations during her government career, including the Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and a Hammer Award from the Partnership for Reinventing Government. Since moving to the private sector, Patrina received the SmartCEO Brava Award, Enterprising Women of the Year Award, and Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Active in the community, Patrina is Chair of the Board of Directors for Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School and serves on the Board of Directors for the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce. Patrina is also an Advisory Board Member for Enterprising Women, the voice of women entrepreneurs with a global reach in 185 countries. Active in public sector thought leadership activities, Patrina is a contributing author to the ATD Public Manager Journal. She also served as a Presidential Rank Award Board Member in 2014 and 2016. She is a member of Executive Women in Government (EWG) and African American Federal Executives Association (AAFEA). Patrina is the creator and moderator of the LinkedIn group “Public Service Excellence,” which has more than 4,000 members. Patrina is currently enrolled in the Executive Leadership Doctoral Program in Human and Organizational Learning at The George Washington University. She completed graduate studies and programs at Harvard, Cornell, Georgetown, George Washington University and the University of Maryland. Other professional affiliations and certifications include: Human Capital Institute Human Capital Strategist; HR Certification Institute Senior Professional in Human Resources; Senior Certified Professional; and Neuro Leadership Group Results Associate Certified Coach.

Karen Ward
co-founder Beyond Two

Karen Ward is the co-founder of Beyond Two with her husband Danzel Ward.

Beyond Two conducts customized training and speaking engagements.

Karen is a dynamic speaker and Certified Personality Trainer. She presents speeches, workshops, and seminars to businesses, non-profit groups, ministries, retreats and organizations. Her high quality, high content, high energy Personality programs are delivered in a humorous, down to earth style that everyone will relate to and remember.

Prior to becoming a full-time professional speaker, Karen had approximately 25 years of corporate experience as a highly successful trainer and manager. She was the founder and former Executive Director of “The Daughters of Destiny, Inc.” training and mentoring program, she was able to merge her passion for teaching youth and adult groups with her desire to train the “Personalities” and help foster healthier relationships. Karen is currently writing two books, one on Parenting the personalities and the other on Personalities and infidelity.