NEXT GENERATION CONFERENCES


Minority leaders in business sharing their
expertise with the next generation



About Our Conferences





Many organizations hold conferences intended to educate college students and recent graduates about their respective industries. Most of these events invite minority professionals to lead and participate in panel discussions on Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Race Relations. However, very rarely are they slated to discuss their area of expertise. When one looks at the other subject areas of the event such as Marketing, Operations or Sales, an overwhelming majority of presenters and panelists are not minorities. There are a plethora of successful minorities in a wide variety of business disciplines who are not asked to speak about their area of expertise. This lack of minority representation sends a message to college students about the industry’s lack of racial inclusivity.

Next Generation Conferences is changing that. We will NOT have panel discussions on DEI or Race Relations. However, we WILL have minority speakers and presenters eager to discuss their specific

area of professional expertise.



The Organizers



JOEL GRAY



Has over twelve years of experience in both professional and collegiate sports. Currently serving as the Manager of Community Outreach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gray is responsible for proactively identifying and developing partnerships with the community-at-large,with a focus on diverse populations. In addition, Gray serves as Director of AfricaBookBagz,

a not-for-profit ministry that educates youth cross-culturally to become leaders in America and Africa by empowering them through the love of Jesus Christ. He is a part of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Leadership Development Initiative Cohort XXVIII, New Pittsburgh Courier’s FAB 40 Class of 2019, WHIRL Magazine’s 20 in Their 20s Class of 2018, is a featured story in Young Black Pittsburgh (YNGBLKPGH) by Brian R. Burley, and in 2017 was recipient of the Young Gifted & Black Award.



LEON THOMAS



Is President of Leon Thomas & Associates, a company specializing in webcast and podcast production and virtual event management. Before founding Leon Thomas & Associates, he served in various capacities with several hotel brands and management companies. He began his 35-year hospitality career as a line-level employee and advanced through the ranks to hold many management positions in the hotel business. Ultimately, he would become a member of an ownership group. Leon was also a high school Basketball Coach and Athletic Director. He is a USA-Racquetball Certified Coach and runs one of the largest youth racquetball programs in the country; a non-profit focused on giving more kids access to racquetball.



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