AM Session I:
THE DEI DEBACLE How do we reset it and move forward?
Moderator: Lisa Armstrong
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Bechtel
Lisa Armstrong is Bechtel’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, leading the company’s global strategy to build a culture where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Based in Reston, Virginia, she brings over 25 years of experience at Bechtel, with leadership roles spanning HR, ethics & compliance, subcontracts, procurement, and project management.
Since joining Bechtel in 1998 as a chemist, Lisa has supported major U.S. government and commercial projects, including Yucca Mountain, the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program, and Vogtle Units 3 & 4. She has led HR and DEI initiatives across Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental business unit.
A lifelong advocate for equity and inclusion, Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Elizabeth City State University and is passionate about empowering others to thrive.
Dr. Michael Benitez Jr., Ph.D.
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Associate Professor of Multicultural Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Michael Benitez, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized educator, scholar, and leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Known for his innovative, equity-driven strategies, Dr. Benitez has spent over 20 years advancing student success, inclusive leadership, and institutional transformation at colleges and universities across the country.
He has held leadership and faculty roles at institutions including Penn State, Dickinson, Lafayette, Grinnell, and the University of Puget Sound. Since 2019, he has served as Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Multicultural Education at MSU Denver.
A TRIO and McNair Scholar, Dr. Benitez earned his B.S. and M.Ed. from Penn State and his Ph.D. from Iowa State University. He is a published author, award-winning practitioner, and currently serves on the boards of NADOHE, the Gardner Institute, and the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado.
Dr. Ben Sanders III, Ph.D.
Chief Equity Officer - City of Denver
Dr. Ben Sanders III, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Equity Officer and a visionary leader in the Denver Mayor’s Office of Social Equity & Innovation. Before his appointment, Dr Sanders served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, where he directed department-wide equity initiatives and provided invaluable strategic advisement to DOTI’s leadership. He also served as the Director of Race and Social Justice Training & Strategy for former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.
Dr. Sanders completed his undergraduate work at Hope College and received his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology, Philosophy, and Cultural Theory at the University of Denver & Iliff School of Theology.
Dr. Sanders has also served as an Adjunct Professor teaching African American Social Ethics as well as an Assistant Professor of Theology & Ethics.
Karen McNeil-Miller
President/ CEO Colorado Health Foundation
Need bio & pic.
AM Session II: Funding the Dream: Grants, Loans & Alternative Capital – Exploring creative ways to secure funding without drowning in debt.
Moderator: Benilda (Benny) Samuels
CEO, AYA Foundation
Benny Samuels is a seasoned multicultural leader in health, human services, and social change, currently serving as President of AYA Foundation, Colorado’s first Black-serving community foundation focused on closing the wealth gap.
With over 35 years of experience, Benny has led transformative initiatives to advance equity and self-sufficiency for communities of color and those furthest from opportunity. Her impact includes launching the Colorado Family Planning Project, which reduced unintended pregnancies by 40%, and leading Community Voices, a national health access initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. As COO and CMO of Nurse-Family Partnership, she oversaw a $56M investment to expand services to thousands of low-income first-time mothers nationwide.
Benny holds degrees from Denver University and CU Boulder, and has worked extensively in and with philanthropy. She’s a champion for children, Black men, and families impacted by poverty and systemic barriers.
Born in Panama and a longtime Colorado resident, Benny enjoys paddleboarding, hiking, and traveling. She serves on the Colorado Outdoor Equity Board and Rose Hospital advisory board, and is a recipient of several honors, including Colorado’s Top 40 Most Powerful Women, the Madam CJ Walker Award, and the “Sweetest” Community Award.
Denise Burgess
President/ CEO
Burgess Services, Inc.
Denise Burgess made history as the first African American Board Chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce in September 2017. Recognized among the Top 25 Most Powerful Women by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, she also received the Davide E. Baily Small Business Advocate Award, among other accolades. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Northern Colorado, Denise initially pursued a career in broadcast management before joining her father, Clyde Burgess, in 1994 at Burgess Heating and Air Conditioning. Following her father's death in 2002, she transformed the family business into a national construction management powerhouse.
Under her leadership, Burgess Services secured significant projects like the Denver Justice Center and the Westin Hotel at Denver International Airport, and a landmark $39.6 million contract at DEN, the largest ever awarded to a black-owned business.
Haroun Cowans
Founder & Managing Principle Goshen Development
Haroun is a prominent social, financial, and philanthropic leader with over two decades of experience leading development and investment in the Five Points District of Denver, Colorado. Haroun is responsible for Goshen Development’s operations, client relations, partnerships, business development, and strategic leadership. He has held many leadership positions in real estate and finance but considers his greatest passion his work as an associate pastor at Church in the City – Beth Abraham.
Maxine E. Harris MBA, MCA, ESG
Founder, President & CEO
Maxx Impact Group
Maxine (Pryor) Harris is the Founder and President of Maxx Impact Group, a consulting firm dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for supplier diversity, corporate culture, social responsibility, and community impact.
A gifted strategist, Maxine excels at developing socially responsible programs that benefit clients and support historically underutilized businesses, underrepresented communities, and disenfranchised individuals. She has been honored with several awards for her contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials "Emerging Leader of the Year" and other accolades from organizations like the Colorado Black Women for Political Action and the National Council of Negro Women.
Maxine is known for her emotional intelligence and ability to inspire and motivate, leaving a positive impact on everyone she meets and encouraging them to reach their full potential.
Rico Nelson
CEO
Civil Technology, Inc.
Rico Nelson is an accomplished executive with expertise in organizational development, talent recruitment, and strategic business leadership. He has a proven track record of driving revenue growth and operational improvements in roles such as the Senior Executive Vice President of Organizational Development at MassMutual Colorado and various leadership positions at Wealth Strategies Group.
Rico is currently the CEO and President/Owner of Civil Technology, Inc., a Denver-based civil engineering and construction management firm. Here, he has focused on stabilizing the company and driving new business initiatives. Additionally, Rico serves as President of the COMTO Colorado chapter, demonstrating his commitment to leadership and community engagement. Throughout his career, Rico has excelled in high-stakes environments, developing solutions that enhance profitability and shareholder value.
Aikta Marcoulier, Region VIII Administrator, Small Business Administration
Aikta Marcoulier manages SBA operations across six states as Region VIII Administrator. She started at the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in 2012, previously worked with Professional Bull Riders, Inc., and developed the Cyber: Cover Your Assets program.
Marcoulier is active in leadership roles across multiple boards, including the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak Workforce Development Board. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and undergraduate degrees in economics and psychology from the University of Iowa.
Suzanne Arkle, Panel Moderator
Suzanne Arkle is a nationally respected Subject Matter Expert in Business Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with a track record of driving organizational change through DEI initiatives. As an advisor on infrastructure projects, she has directed over $4 billion to diverse and small businesses. In 2020, she launched CapBuild, a platform that has financed 32 firms with $17 million, earning recognition from the US Department of Transportation.
Raised in Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Suzanne's early experiences in her family's grocery business fueled her passion for community and finance. After earning her BA in Urban Studies and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from UCLA, she began her corporate career at Citibank and Exxon. Today, she is the President and CEO of ZANN, Inc., specializing in Business Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, with expanded offerings in airport concessions, reflecting her Black Wall Street roots.
PM Session III: DEI Unpacked: Rethinking Diversity in Today's World—Is It Still Relevant?
Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth & Kevin Edwards discuss Pivoting from Diversity & Inclusion to Belonging
Kevin Edwards, PE, MBB
Corporate Supplier Engagement Manager, Bechtel Corporation
Kevin will oversee supplier relationship management, category management, and supplier diversity within the supply chain function. He will coordinate with projects and GBUs to deliver consistency, synergy, and a better supplier experience while fostering win-win long-term relationships with suppliers and contractors.
Enhancing our relationships with each of our suppliers collectively is a critical element for realizing continued excellence. To develop these important partnerships, Kevin will lead, but not limited to, the following key components to manage and build long-term supplier relationships: strategic supplier relationship model, category management and market watch outlooks and insights, and diverse supplier partnerships.
Before leading the supplier engagement program, Kevin led the Corporate Diversity and Inclusion office as the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Prior to his diversity and inclusion assignment, Kevin led the Quality and Six Sigma Infrastructure functional team and other Corporate EPC quality roles, while also serving as the field engineering manager (PFE) for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project in Virginia. Kevin has also served in roles including lead field engineer, lead resident engineer and project engineering. Kevin was promoted to Principal Vice President in April 2022.
Kevin has a Master of Engineering in environmental engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Rutgers University.
Elbra M. Wedgeworth
Founder and President, Casel and Associates, LLC.
The Hon. Elbra M. Wedgeworth, a native of East Denver, has over 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. She has held roles in all three branches of Denver City Government: City Council, the Auditor's Office, and the Mayor's Office. Elbra was elected as the District 8 City Councilwoman in 1999 and served as Council President from 2003 to 2005. She worked as the Director of Philanthropic and Government Affairs at Denver Health before returning in 2007 as Chief Government and Community Relations Officer, securing a $75 million bond for the Denver Health Outpatient Medical Center in 2017.
Elbra played a pivotal role in Denver hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a historic event as the largest of its kind in the region since 1908 and marked her as the first African-American woman to chair a Host Committee. Recognized for her public service and leadership, she has received numerous awards, including being named one of Colorado's Most Influential Women by the Denver Post in 2012 and being inducted into the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2019, she was honored with the Legacy Award from the Denver Business Journal for her significant local contributions.
In addition to her public roles, Elbra has served on several boards, including the Denver Union Station Project Authority and the Downtown Denver Partnership, and was the first woman of color on the Board of Trustees for FirstBank, Colorado. Since retiring in 2019, she founded Casel & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in Community Engagement, Leadership Resources, and Diversity and Inclusion.
