2022 Diversity Summit Digital Program

Thursday July 14, 2022

WELCOME

Please use this interactive program to view the schedule, sessions, speaker details, and more.

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About

Diversity Team

Agenda

Speakers

Diversity Awards

Be the Change

Be a Better Employer

Be a Better Retailer

Be a Better Community Partner

#HEBDiversitySummit Slack Channel

Partner Survey

Submit Questions Here!

Hosted by the H-E-B Diversity & Inclusion Department, the Diversity & Inclusion Summit is a day of education, conversation, and connection.

Partners are invited to learn about diversity, receive Diversity awards, and inclusion trends and topics from H-E-B leaders, local and nationally recognized experts.

The Summit provides a platform that sparks important dialogue, brings diversity education to the forefront, and generates awareness among Partners on diversity topics that impact our business and communities we serve.

Click HERE to learn more about the Diversity Awards.

Click HERE to post in our LIVE #HEBDiversitySummit Slack Channel.

Please learn how to download Slack HERE. Have questions? Contact the Diversity & Inclusion Department at diversity@heb.com.

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Meet Group Vice President (GVP) of Public Affairs, Diversity & Environmental Affairs

Winell Herron Go Back to Main Menu

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Meet the H-E-B Diversity Team!

James Harris Sr. Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity Go Back to Main Menu

Elisa Cuellar

Crystal Royal

Andrea de la Cruz

Diversity & Inclusion Manager

Supplier Diversity Manager

Diversity & Inclusion Specialist

Alyse Gamble

Christa Aldrich

Digital Content Specialist

Literacy Program Manager

Sheila Jackson Sr. Coordinator, D&I, Supplier Diversity

Morning Agenda Click here to go back to main menu.

8:30 – 9:00 AM Check-In, Coffee & Light Breakfast 9:00 – 9:30 AM Opening Remarks 9:35 – 10:20 AM Speaker: Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin 10:25 – 11:10 AM Speaker: Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez 11:10 – 11:20 AM Break 11:20 – 12:05 PM Speaker Panel: San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired Go to Afternoon Agenda

Afternoon Agenda Click here to go back to main menu.

12:05 – 12:40 PM Networking Break 12:45 – 2:00 PM Innovation & Lunch Experience 2:00 – 2:10 PM Break 2:10 – 2:40 PM Diversity Awards 2:45 – 3:45 PM Speaker Panel: Be the Change 3:45 – 4:20 PM Closing Remarks 4:20 – 4:30 PM Go to Morning Agenda

Surprise!

Featured Speakers Click on a speaker for more details.

Councilman District 2 Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (SA)

SA Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired Panel

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Ret. USAF Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin (UTSA)

H-E-B Be the Change Panel

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Featured Chef on Dining Experience Matthew Davis, H-E-B Culinary Training Manager

Matthew Davis or "Chef Matt" is the Culinary Training Manager for the H-EB Culinary Academy in San Antonio. In his role, he educates employees (called “Partners”) in the culinary arts and sciences. As H-E-B is primarily known as a food-based grocery retailer, Chef Matt believes that the more knowledgeable, passionate, and skilled his fellow Partners are when it comes to food, the stronger and more impactful H-E-B can become in shaping the dietary landscape of Texas. When he’s not in the kitchen teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family. A novice apiarist and terrible gardener, Davis is convinced that this is the year he will finally be able to keep his bees happy and his tomatoes alive.

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Jalen McKee-Rodriguez San Antonio District 2 Councilman

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is an educator who has committed to serving and empowering the community through representative policy-making. As the son of two veterans, and the oldest of three children, he was raised to value service to others, empathy, and integrity.

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Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)

Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin is the Military Liaison and Associate Provost for Veteran and Military Affairs at UTSA. Firmin coordinates and integrates support services at the strategic level for veteran and military affiliated students. Lisa is also the Founder and CEO of Carrington Firmin LLC which provides consulting services in the areas of Leadership, Veterans, Transition and Diversity and Inclusion. Check out her leadership philosophy guide HERE.

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SA Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Established in 1933, the San Antonio (SA) Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired began with the vision of one individual, Dr. Henry Wyneken, who wanted to organize a program to serve the blind in our community. SA Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired serves to empower the lives of the blind and visually-impaired. Through the employment in their manufacturing plant, military stores, and programs/services, those with disabilities live productive lives with dignity…turning dis-ABILITY into ABILITY.

Submit your questions here

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Cindy Watson President and CEO of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired

In August 2021, Cindy began leading the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision impaired as the first blind and female president and CEO. The San Antonio Lighthouse is one of Texas’ largest military apparel manufacturing operations. About half of the 450 employees are blind or vision impaired. Cindy has led an ambitious strategic plan in her first year at the Lighthouse that focuses on diversifying the manufacturing plant product line and creating upward mobility for the employees who are blind and vision impaired.

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Michael Guajardo

Assistive Technology Department Supervisor, San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

As supervisor, Michael leads a team of assistive technology specialists who provide training and evaluation services for blind and vision impaired individuals, helping them accomplish their vocational goals and gain independence.

Michael is blind as a result of an eye condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, which he has dealt with since the age of nine.

Despite the challenges that come with a blinding eye disease, he successfully earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Texas A&M University Kingsville and a master’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Northeastern University.

Some of Michael’s interests include creative writing, playing guitar, singing and drinking a good margarita.

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LaKisha Holmes

Rehabilitation Trainer, San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired LaKisha Holmes joined the San Antonio Lighthouse as a rehabilitation trainer in the Children and Youth Department in August of 2021.

For the last 12 years, LaKisha has served people who are blind as a braille instructor, residential counselor, assistive technology instructor and now as a rehabilitation trainer.

Earning a bachelor’s degree in Family and Life Course Sociology from Georgia State University in 2015, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University Health Science Center. In her spare time, she enjoys playing baseball for the blind with her partner of five years, recording her blind mom’s podcast with her two best mom friends, and introducing women to a new way to self-care with her dry nail polish strip business.

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Samantha Moreno H-E-B Disability Bridges Program Manager, Panel Moderator Samantha Moreno is the Disability Bridges Program Manager at H-E-B. Her profession started 8-years ago in Store Operations and transition into HR recruiting. Her purpose has been providing an inclusive culture in creating opportunities for Partners and Candidates with disabilities.

Samantha has overseen the Store Recruiting Operations for Disability Bridges for the past 3 years. The mission of Disability Bridges is to make the lives of Texans with disabilitiesbetter by providing opportunitiesand removing barriers for Partners with disabilities to optimize their ability to contribute to H-E-B’s success.

Samantha holds a Master’s in Business Management from Texas A&M International University. Currently, she is enrolled in the American Sign Language and Interpreting program in San Antonio College.

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Diversity Awards Click HERE to view the Diversity Award Winners at 2:15 P.M.

The Diversity Champion Award is given to a Partner that is currently serving in the role of Diversity Champion and has gone above and beyond the standard expectations of a champion.

The Diversity Advocate Award is given to a Partner who has made a significant contribution through support and/or advocacy to their regional council in carrying out diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives.

The Corporate Excellence Award is given to a member of the Corporate Diversity Leadership Council or a partner who serves as an ambassador and is selected by the Diversity Department. This Partner has provided vision and leadership to help execute CDLC signature events, strategic initiatives and company programs like Be the Change.

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Speaker Panel: Be the Change Click on a speaker for more details.

Winell Herron, GVP of Public Affairs, Diversity & Environmental Affairs

Monica Amiri, GVP of Grocery Procurement, Merchandising & Sourcing

Mayerland Harris, GVP of Talent at H-E-B

Submit your questions here

Click HERE for more on Be the Change.

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Winell Herron Group Vice President (GVP) of Public Affairs, Diversity & Environmental Affairs

Winell Herron serves as the Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental affairs for H-E-B, leading strategy and initiatives across Texas. A native of Austin, Winell has made Houston her home for more than a decade. She began her H-E-B career in store operations and has held many positions including unit director, service team leader, director of workforce diversity, vice president of customer service, and group vice president of diversity and people development before her current position. Winell actively serves the community through her roles on numerous boards and is a strong advocate of organizations that support diversity and inclusion – especially in the areas of education, equity and empowerment.

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Monica Amiri Group Vice President (GVP) of Grocery Procurement and Merchandising and Sourcing

Monica Amiri is the Group VP for the Grocery Procurement and Merchandising team and recently added Sourcing to her responsibilities. She has over 23 years of experience in the Grocery retail environment. Born and raised in San Antonio, she began her career in H-E-B’s stores in the Store Management Training Program.

After spending four years in the stores and a stint in each department she left to continue her development on the manufacturing and distributing side of the retail equation.

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Mayerland Harris Group Vice President (GVP) of Talent at H-E-B

Mayerland Harris is seasoned leader with over three decades of combined Human Resources and store operations experience in the grocery retail industry. As the Group Vice President of Talent for H-E-B, Mayerland leads the strategic functions of Human Resources. This includes total company compensation, talent acquisition, onboarding, talent and leadership development, training, succession planning, people data and analytics, and employee connection—including the DEIB function.

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Be the Change H-E-B was founded on the unwavering belief that Each and Every Person Counts. Through our Be the Change initiative, H-E-B pledges to do our part to advance equity and inclusion across our great state.

Be the Change builds upon our established Diversity and Inclusion framework driving us to be a better employer, retailer and community partner. To amplify diverse voices, we’re proudly sharing their stories and highlighting their products and services.

Check out the Resources for Change on iDevelop HERE.

The 3 Pillars Click below to learn about each pillar.

Be a Better Employer

Be a Better Retailer

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Be a Better Employer Since 1905, H-E-B has believed that Each and Every Person Counts. We also believe in relentless dissatisfaction. At the intersection of these two dedicated commitments is a drive to constantly improve how we run our business and how we can make the lives of Texans better – from our Partners to our customers and the communities we serve.

At H-E-B, we will always strive to Be a Better Employer through our proactive departments and Partners who have internally helped build our diversity and inclusion framework. From PRG events to Diversity & Inclusion incentives, there are many ways for H-E-B Partners to be involved.

Click below to learn about each H-E-B department that falls under Be the Change: Be a Better Employer.

H-E-B Diversity & Inclusion My H-E-B Life: Partner Resource Groups (PRGs)

H-E-B Disability Bridges Go Back to Be the Change

Be a Better Retailer To Be a Better Retailer, H-E-B will always strive to amplify diverse voices. Through H-E-B Supplier Diversity (which supports events like Quest for Texas Best and Opportunity Exchange), an array of suppliers and community partners that best align with the H-E-B Be the Change initiative are identified and spotlighted on H-E-B shelves, as well as highlighted through H-E-B’s marketing efforts within the communities and stores we serve.

From Hispanic suppliers to LGTBQ+ community partners, H-E-B proudly shares their stories, their products, and services. Learn more about each featured Be the Change Supplier and Community Partners during diversity celebrations like Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and more throughout the year.

Click below to learn about each topic that falls under Be the Change: Be a Better Retailer.

H-E-B Supplier Diversity H-E-B Supplier Diversity PartnerCast Channel

Featured Be the Change Suppliers Go Back to Be the Change

Be a Better Community Partner With the drive to constantly improve how we can make the lives of Texans better; H-E-B is committed to communities we serve.

Through Be the Change, H-E-B will expand our year-round community engagement opportunities and support a wide range of diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout our communities to help drive real, lasting change. Additionally, we will continue to support organizations doing meaningful work in education, criminal justice reform, policy and legislation, and advocacy.

H-E-B Partners can find community/sponsorship events and volunteer opportunities to participate in through the resources below. .

Click below to learn about each topic that falls under Be the Change: Be a Better Community Partner.

Public Affairs

Diversity Calendar of Events

Newsroom Calendar Go Back to Be the Change

The H-E-B Diversity & Inclusion Department thanks you for joining us at the H-E-B Diversity & Inclusion Summit, a day of education, conversation, and connection.

Special thank you to all the Diversity Summit speakers, community partners, and the H-E-B volunteers who helped pull this event together to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment.

We value your feedback and would love for you to submit your insights on your experience at the Summit.

Click HERE to take the Diversity Summit survey.

Have questions? Contact the Diversity & Inclusion Department at diversity@heb.com.

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