The Founders

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 For more than 35 years Deborah has utilized her instructional, administrative, consulting and coaching skills in culturally diverse environments including public and private schools, churches and the business world.  She is sought out for her expertise in training design, facilitation, employee engagement and leadership development. Deborah holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, is an executive coach and a diversity and inclusion practitioner, holding a certification in Diversity and Inclusion.  Deborah is passionate about building individuals and teams so  they make the greatest contributions in their world. 

Deb is a passionate DEI practitioner with over 15 years committed to helping leaders become more impactful by strategically prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion through process and program implementation. Deb leverages her 20 years of experience in the field of employee relations to coach leaders in the areas of performance management, leadership, training, and employee engagement. Deb is also a seasoned executive coach who enjoys helping leaders excel in their leadership roles.

 Iris is the founder and lead coach of Discovering the Missing Pieces (DMP) Coaching, LLC. She is a certified coach who offers solutions in goal setting, leadership best practices, and career planning by utilizing various assessments and providing resources, feedback, and Positive Psychology strategies. Iris is also a Project Manager with over 15 years of experience, a trainer, and a champion for Diversity and Inclusion.

Iris held the positions of Director of Service Improvement for The Daniel Group, Ltd., a consulting firm offering solutions in Customer Experience, and Electrical Engineering Project Manager for Monsanto Company. She is currently consulting with Life Anew Restorative Justice on various Equity and Inclusion projects in the City of Austin and surrounding areas utilizing her Project Management and D&I skills. Community service is important to Iris and her family; therefore, she has served numerous hours with her sons through the Young Men’s Service League, mentored young women at Success High School, and served throughout Williamson and Bell counties with the Lone Star (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Iris holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from The University of Alabama and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, Duke University. She is currently pursuing a Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University. She completed her coaching certification through The CaPP Institute. Iris is an ordained minister and serves as Director of Women’s Ministry at Greater Mt. Zion Church. She is a widow who loves to travel, dance, and spend time with her two sons.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

John 17:21 Equity and Inclusion Cohort

Austin Area Women’s Ministry Leaders

Lone Star (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

Alpha Alpha Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

Young Men’s Service League

Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Melony Gibson is a leadership and professional development specialist  who has been committed to the field of adult education, early education, and performance improvement for over 30 years. 

Melony is the founder of Engage and Lead, LLC, a professional development company that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, succession planning, employee engagement, retention, and building organizational culture.

Melony expertise includes developing strategies to support and impact the practices and procedures for learners at all levels.

She worked as an adjunct professor at several colleges in Los Angeles, California and Atlanta, Georgia. She taught course work on administration, leadership, financial acuity, curriculum, and family and community studies.

Most recently, Melony has been studying Performance Improvement Leadership in her doctoral studies and has worked as a professional developer of talent for leaders, a diversity and inclusion specialist, and a retention and engagement manager. Melony’s education and experience led her to pursue her passion of growing leaders and helping to develop organizational sustainability.

Melony has extensive experience in the following areas:

• Creating high quality training and professional development programs 
• Identifying potential and growth opportunities for employees through succession planning
• Developing strong leaders and workplace cultures
• Building inclusive teams
• Identifying organizational systems to create sustainability

The proud mother of four adult children, one grandchild, and a wonderful husband, Melony is fortunate to have a village of support as she pursues her professional dreams. Melony is the lead consultant and owner of Engage and Lead, a leadership development and training consulting company.

Effective leadership is the key to a strong workplace culture and organizational sustainability.

 Lynnette brings over 20 years of experience as an inclusion activist, DE&I strategist and business leader to the team.  She is passionate and dedicated to the mission of advocating, educating and empowering for Inclusion and belonging in the workplace.  She utilizes her marketing and management experience to create and execute DE&IB mentoring, Leadership, professional  and career development programs /events.   She received a Diversity and Inclusion certificate from Cornell University in November 2020.  Additional information https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-smith-9288722/.