STAR BOBATOON

Senior Consultant, Speaker, and Trainer,

New Point Strategies LLC

“Engaging, knowledgeable, entertaining and impactful”

These are the words most often used to describe accomplished attorney, dynamic trainer and award-winning speaker, Star Bobatoon. Star has joined the NewPoint Strategies team in 2020 as a Senior Consultant, Speaker, and Trainer.  She has extensive expertise in the entire range of Diversity/Equity/Inclusion and other “high-risk” issues such as Sexual Harassment, LGBTQIA+, and Implicit Bias.

Star’s background in employment law gives her valuable insight into HR and corporate communication issues. With over a decade of performance on stage and screen, Star delivers that insight in a high-energy and engaging style. Star has facilitated over 6000 hours of training in 47 states covering a variety of topics. This expert trainer leaves her audiences and clients informed, inspired and equipped with the practical skills necessary to achieve higher levels of personal and professional excellence.

As a Diversity Attorney, Star worked with Fortune 500 companies to ensure their diversity programs achieved their mission while staying in legal compliance. Before that, Star’s law practice focused on harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination cases in Federal and State courts. Star leveraged her legal background as consultant with an HR company where she conducted investigations, facilitated training and coached executives relating to diversity, workplace harassment, discrimination, and employee misconduct. Through her company, Star Consulting, LLC, Star continues to leverage her background to help organizations develop policies and procedures, improve performance and avoid litigation.

In order to master her communication and training skills, Star trained and shared the stage both nationally and internationally with motivational icon Les Brown and eventually managed his speaker training program. She then honed her skills as a contract trainer for a national training company where she became the top trainer in sales and performance. Star has also shared the stage with celebrities such as Maria Shriver, Suze Orman and former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Star earned her law degree from UCLA Law School and graduated Magna cum Laude from California State University. She gave up practicing law and began her speaking career as an advocate for parents with children with special needs after her own child was diagnosed with a life-altering disease. This is when she authored her first book, “I Hate Muscular Dystrophy: Loving a Child with an Life-Altering Disease.” Star’s second and third books, STARPoints: Illuminate Your Life, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 are compilations of short motivational messages designed to uplift and inspire.

While Star works with corporate, association and individual clients on HR and legal topics, communication and presentation skills, and leadership, her passion for empowering and inspiring people to be their best selves, spills over into everything she does.

ZIZ ABDUR-RA’OOF

Senior Presenter/Trainer,

New Point Strategies LLC

Ziz Abdur-Ra’oof is a Senior Presenter, Consultant and Trainer for NewPoint Strategies LLC. Ziz is the NewPoint lead on training for Racial Equity and Social Justice projects. Ziz speaks with passion to NewPoint clients on what it takes to achieve racial healing. He is a former NFL Wide Receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs turned Entrepreneur (4-3 Forty, LLC), guiding Industry leaders and educators to achieve peak performance in the 21st century. Author of “Accelerate, A guided Playbook for Young Dreamers, Scholars, Artists & Athletes”, he uses his Performance Coaching Skills to shift thinking, reframe leadership concepts and increase performance levels by playing to win. As a former pro athlete with three decades of performance coaching experience, Ziz serves as an Outside Consultant to Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) in their office of Equity. He works with students, teachers and various sports teams in team building, culture, diversity and inclusion work. From 2017 to present, Ziz has been intricately involved with school administration, teachers, parents and key stakeholders in dealing with specific issues such as race and implicit bias at various middle and high schools in the AACPS school system. He has been involved in panel discussions as well as book studies on White Fragility. His specific areas of focus include: Performance Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. In 1987, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. In 2001, Ziz completed his training from The Coaches Training Institute and is a Certified Coach through International Coach Federation.

MARIA CARRASQUILLO

Senior Consultant and Trainer,

New Point Strategies LLC

Maria Carrasquillo is a seasoned organizational effectiveness practitioner providing human capital consulting services in areas of leadership development, performance management, and corporate   learning. For over fifteen years, Maria has provided high-impact strategy development, process improvement efforts, leadership coaching, team building, change management, and strategic planning in the private, non-profit, and government sectors. Maria is a trusted business partner with extensive experience championing diversity and inclusion efforts that has improved employee engagement and optimized performance. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and has been able to use her language and intercultural skills to bridge gaps and bring people together for success.

Her training sessions are highly engaging and interactive as she integrates blended learning solutions with advanced facilitation to enable participants incorporate their new learning quickly and efficiently. Maria’s coaching portfolio includes working with accomplished organizational leaders seeking career transition, strengthening organizational leadership, and team coaching. In her coaching sessions, Maria is grounded in helping clients reach their purpose, vision, and goals. Her coaching addresses issues of being and not just issues of doing, because she believes that leadership requires presence, authenticity, courage, and the capacity to manage oneself in the face of ambiguity.

Maria holds a Master’s in Business Management from Bowie State University in Maryland and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Additionally, she holds industry credentials as a Certified Professional Facilitator from the International Association of Facilitators, Prosci Change Management Certification, and an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Maria is trained in various behavioral assessment methodologies and qualified to use  MBTI, Leadership Versatility Index, HBDI, EQ2.0, DiSC, Hogan, and Conflict Dynamic Profile.

DAMOND HAYNES

Lead Consultant on Racial Equity,

New Point Strategies LLC

Damond Haynes (he, him) is a Brooklyn-based educator and facilitator focusing on anti-bias, anti-racists, intergenerational community building, and youth development. Damond is interested in holding space for brave discussions about exclusion, privilege, and healing.

For the past 15 years he’s worked with nonprofits and local government agencies to provide impactful direct service to their clients and staff of all levels and demographics.  A few of Damond’s clients include the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The Police Athletic League, New York City’s Department for the Aging, New York City’s Department of Education, and The Human Root.

As an Equity Practitioner for The Human Root, Damond provided trauma-informed professional development training, consultation, and in-depth partnerships with the school’s educators and families. His focus was accountability and long-term strategy. He’s also created and facilitated college and career, professional development and life skills workshops for teens throughout the New York City area.

Damond has worked with the New York City’s Department for the Aging’s Family Resource Center. He’s delivered intergenerational workshops focused on community building to seniors and youth within New York City Housing Authority communities participating in the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety program. Damond has presented at multiple conferences and has also provided fun, equity based workshops to students enrolled within New York City’s Department of Education and private academic institutions.

Before he began focusing on DEI, Damond was an Event/Program Coordinator for The New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Studies, he eventually transitioned to working within it’s Scholars Program guiding teens through the program’s extensive academic year centering historical literacy through college-style lectures and multimedia presentations.

Damond has presented at the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence conference focusing on healthy relationships and gender roles, he’s served on multiple boards, and is certified in Cornell University’s Parenting a Second Time Around(PASTA), a facilitator training for professionals working with grandparent/caregiver relatives. He graduated with a BA in Sociology/Black Studies from SUNY, New Paltz.

MURIEL GRIMMETT

Senior Consultant and Trainer,

New Point Strategies LLC

Muriel Grimmett is a Senior Consultant/Trainer with NewPoint Strategies.  She works with NewPoint clients on a wide range of issues including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Assessment, and Evaluation.  Her research agenda focuses on the assessment and evaluation of educational opportunity programs.

Dr. Grimmett has developed and led TRIO Dissemination Training workshops (via grants from the U.S. Dept of Education).  She has expertise in building creative partnerships and increasing the capacity and performance of professionals and organizations.

Presently, Grimmett serves as a consultant to the Pre-College Programs at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where she plans and executes leadership development workshops for youth and conducts diversity climate assessments and focus groups. As an adjunct faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University (N.J.), Grimmett teaches graduate students the N.J. statutes related to bullying prevention and the protection of minors and diversity, inclusion, and engagement in the classroom.

She has held administrative and teaching positions at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (Director of the Special Services for Disadvantaged Students), Carleton College (Director of Multicultural Affairs), Rutgers University (University Director of Student Academic Support and Achievement, now renamed, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement), The Pennsylvania State University TRIO Training Institute (Trainer for Assessment and Evaluation), and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (Deputy Executive Director for the largest contingency of diversity programs in the country).  Her portfolio included leading national training initiatives in evaluation, assessment, diversity, and inclusion. Grimmett is the recipient of the Association for Equality and Excellence in Education’s Award of Excellence and has won recognition for outstanding service to the National Ronald E. McNair Community for her work as a champion in diversifying the ranks of the professoriate in American Higher Education.   As a part-time lecturer in the Africana Studies Department at Rutgers University, she teaches courses on women’s history and civil rights.  Known for teaching about “The history of black education in the U.S.,” she works tirelessly to promote graduate studies.   A consultant and trainer in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and not-for-profit agencies such as the United Way and Dress for Success, she shares Sean Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens with students.

Dr. Grimmett earned her B.A. in sociology with a business concentration and a M.S. in counseling/social welfare from Southern Illinois University.  She earned the Ph.D. from St. Louis University with an emphasis in higher education.

THERESA SHEETS

Diversity and Inclusion, Harassment Prevention, and Conflict Management Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Theresa Sheets is a Senior Consultant/Trainer with NewPoint Strategies who works with clients on a range of issues covering Diversity and Inclusion, Harassment Prevention, and Conflict Management.  Her work includes the design and delivery of online training programs for NewPoint’s clients in the corporate and not-for-profit sector and the ability to address the full training cycle, from conception to evaluation.

Theresa approaches training design and delivery with a mind for organizational development, by equipping every individual and team with knowledge and tools to connect perspectives and behaviors to outcomes, empowering people to become cooperative agents of change.  She has served in training and development leadership and consulting roles in the private, healthcare, nonprofit, government, and education sectors, where her work has included professional development across a range of professional levels, curriculum design, program assessment and evaluation.  Her dynamic facilitation is enriched by a B.A. in Communication alongside engaging and interactive training delivery on additional topics such as culturally sensitive and empathetic communication, service recovery, and leadership tools.

Theresa mostly enjoys leading training initiatives that motivate and galvanize stakeholders around a shared vision, similar to her management of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Service Excellence program, where she facilitated more than 820 hours of training for over 14,500 executives, faculty members, clinicians, and professional staff.  She holds a Master of Science degree specializing in Training and Performance Improvement, is currently working toward an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management, and looks forward to continued opportunities to help clients achieve their performance improvement objectives through facilitation, training, and professional development.

MARIA MORUKIAN

Diversity Inclusion Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Maria Morukian is a Senior Consultant and Trainer for NewPoint Strategies. She is a NewPoint leader on Gender and Diversity/Equity/Inclusion issues in the workplace. Maria has over 15 years of experience as an organizational development trainer, consultant and coach, specializing in diversity and inclusion best practices and high-risk employment issues such as harassment prevention and anti-bullying strategies. She works with federal, corporate and nonprofit organizations, helping everyone from aspiring leaders to senior executives, to build strong, healthy, inclusive organizations. She currently leads NewPoint’s work on Unconscious Bias with several government and non-profit organizations. She has delivered successful webinars on implicit bias to CCAR, HUC, Reform Congregation search committees, and also presented at the Reform Conference on Conscience in Washington DC.

Maria’s clients include the Department of State, Department of the Navy, Marine Corps, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, General Services Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of the Treasury, Department of the Interior, Library of Congress, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Agency for International Development, Spitzer Auto World, Lorain Public Schools, Syngenta Seeds LLC, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and Delta Airlines.

Maria formerly served as the Practice Director for Leadership and Management at Management Concepts, where she led efforts to develop in-person and virtual training and consulting solutions, including a number of diversity and inclusion focused projects.  Maria also served as a leadership development specialist for the U.S. Department of State, where she provided training, coaching, and consulting on leadership skills, diversity, inclusion, employee relations, EEO, and global diversity and cultural competence. She also served as an EEO Counselor during her five-year tenure with the Department.

Maria served as the Executive Director for the National Multi-Cultural Institute, where she led efforts to develop and deliver customized organizational change initiatives focused on diversity, inclusion, anti-discrimination and harassment, and global diversity competency, for organizations ranging from the International Monetary Fund to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Maria currently serves on the faculty of the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Executive Institute, where she trains and coaches senior executives in the federal government on leadership, with a particular focus on building diverse, inclusive, and innovative teams and organizations. She currently leads a number of diversity and inclusion training and consulting efforts, partnering with the OPM’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and providing anti-bias training across federal government.

Maria is currently an adjunct faculty at American University’s School of International Service, leading graduate courses on intercultural competence, diversity and inclusion. She previously served as adjunct faculty at George Washington University teaching cultural competence training design.Maria earned her dual Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan in Organizational Studies and Spanish and Master’s in International Communication from American University. She regularly presents at conferences, including the Training Officers Consortium, Federally Employed Women, and Blacks in Government, on issues of diversity and inclusion.

DR. E. BEVERLY YOUNG

 Police Consultant

New Point Strategies LLC

Dr. E. Beverly Young is a leader in the NewPoint Police Consulting Practice serving as an Adult Learning Strategies Consultant specializing in curriculum development for police and law enforcement, course presenter, researcher, and educator. She offers an extensive background in the police profession, achieving promotion through the ranks to Lieutenant. Uniformed and civilian experiences include serving on hiring and promotion panels, critical incident review panels, advisory councils, monitoring settlement agreements involving police academy operations, course content review with editing, designing training on implicit bias, DEI, racial de-escalation.

In 2014, Dr. Young founded and became Executive Director of EbevyYG Learning Solutions, LLC, a black female owned company specializing in curriculum and instructor development, focused on police, law enforcement skills to strengthen workforce development. She teaches the importance of diversity, impartial policing, identifying bias, and communicating effectively.

Dr. Young completed a Doctorate in Adult Education Leadership degree at Walden University, masters and baccalaureate degrees at Temple University, along with several instructor certifications.   When invited, Dr. Young serves as a Proposal Reviewer for the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education.

Dr. Young’s recent police projects include:

• Course Content Reviewer for the International Association of Directors of Law

Enforcement Standards and Training

• Police-Community Relations Survey & Analysis for Lower Merion Township Police

Department as consultant to Major Ben Brooks Consulting

• Curriculum Writer, Project Team Leader for Force Concepts, Inc.
• Subject Matter Expert developing instructional content for police academy courses

requested by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Police Training Committee.

• Municipal Police Officers’ Education & Training Commission in Harrisburg, PA

Dr. Young is Adjunct Faculty for the Public Agency Training Council located in Indiana and served as Adjunct Faculty for the Eastern University Campolo College of Graduate & Professional Studies in Pennsylvania.  Police courses developed and presented:

• Recruiting Minorities amid Police Reform
• Reclaiming the Narrative about Police Service
• Leadership Response to Bias Communication
• Identifying Implicit-Explicit Bias
• Acknowledging the Existence of Bias
• Linking Organizational Culture to Implicit Bias
• Recruiting Minorities- Countering the Ferguson Landscape
• Leading People-Managing Insensitivity
• Understanding and Modeling Sensitivity

As a part of the International Association of Directors for Law Enforcement Standards and Training Instructor Development series, Dr. Young was recently invited to present a webinar titled, Creating Bias-Free Training.

Dr. Young is the author of a three-part book series written under the overarching theme Social Change through Training and Education. Recently published workbooks she titled, “Acknowledging the Existence of Bias Workbook and Self-Assessment” and “Linking Organizational Culture to Implicit Bias Workbook.”

DR. KAREN M. WALKER, LTCOL (USMC, RET.)

Organizational Psychologist & Lead Psychometrician Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Dr. Karen M. Walker, LtCol (USMC, Ret.) is an Industrial/Organizational psychologist and Lead Psychometrician for NewPoint Strategies where she has served as a behavioral expert at all levels of government, private, commercial, academia and non-profit sectors.

Dr. Walker served three deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and retired from the United States Marine Corps as a well decorated Lieutenant Colonel. LtCol Walker served as a Command and Control Officer, Training Officer, Equal Opportunity Representative, Victim Witness Advocate, Sexual Assault Prevention Response Victim Advocate, Diversity Recruitment and Retention, Public Affairs, Congressional Affairs liaison working with the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps for Task Force Respect and several other designated programs for enhanced diversity, equity, and inclusion that were mission essential within the Department of Defense.

Dr. Walker has an extensive background in government and corporate industries, academia, as well as being an entrepreneur herself. Her experiences range from the Department of Defense, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, Synergy Learning Institute, Final Notice Investigative Services Group, University of New Mexico, Ashford University, KW Productions.

Her specific areas of expertise include:

• Policy and Curriculum Development
• Cultural Diversity and Individual Differences
• Gender Stereotyping
• Personnel Psychology
• Group Work and Cohesion
• Conflict Management and Interpersonal Communications
• Executive Coaching
• Leading Organizational Change
• Psychometrics: Assessment and Measurements, Surveys, Applied Behavioral Science, and Statistical Analysis

Dr. Walker has co-authored one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 60 Leadership books for women: “Leading by My Ponytail…”

RAE CHALOULT

 Diversity Inclusion Expert, Harassment Prevention, and Sexual Violence Prevention

New Point Strategies LLC

Rae Chaloult is a Senior Consultant with NewPoint Strategies.  She works with NewPoint clients on a range of issues covering Diversity and Inclusion, Harassment Prevention, and Sexual Violence Prevention.

Rae is a consultant and trainer with expertise in diversity and inclusion, racial equity, interpersonal violence, strategic planning, leadership development, restorative justice, institutional betrayal, and organizational mitigation.  Her years of experience include leadership and consulting roles with organizations in the non-profit and higher education sectors. Rae’s most previous role was as the Associate Director of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Rae is the Associate Director of Implicit Bias Training for March of Dimes’ National Office.

Rae is a notable national keynote speaker on topics of the intersection of sexual violence and racial violence and provides training mitigation and mission strategies to create cultures of equity. Rae has worked at a variety of different higher education institutions as a prevention and DEI trainer and leader, including Michigan State University and University of Pennsylvania, where she trained over 10,000 individuals and executive leadership. She has also been a featured educator at the National Conference Sexual Assault Conference and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Strategies Conference training up to 500 individuals per conference plenary session.

In Rae’s current role as Associate Director of Implicit Bias at the March of Dimes, Rae delivers training and consultation to healthcare institutions across the country on systemic racism, implicit bias, organizational climate, and mitigation strategies at the individual, interpersonal, and institutional level of change.

Throughout Rae’s experience working in DEI and sexual violence prevention, she consulted with institutional leaders, planned and executed professional development conferences, conducted diversity climate assessments and focus groups, and facilitated professional development and strategic planning sessions.  She is a firm believer and expert in mixed-methods assessment to further inform her training and the organizational future planning.

Rae holds a master’s degree in student affairs administration with a concentration on adult learning and instructional design.

ERIN HANLEY

 Account Director,

New Point Strategies LLC

THEA PIRNAT, MPA

New Point Strategies LLC

Captain Thea Pirnat is a consultant with NewPoint Strategies and is currently serving on the NewPoint team focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for law enforcement. Captain Pirnat is a twenty-year veteran of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department with experience as a patrol officer, supervisor, and commander. She has extensive experience in investigations, training, and policy development.

As an officer, Captain Pirnat served as a detective in the Domestic Violence Unit, Child Abuse Squad, and Child Exploitation Squad, investigating some of the most difficult cases involving serious domestic violence, stalking, child physical and sexual abuse, child pornography, and child abductions. While holding these positions, Captain Pirnat identified deficiencies in policy and professional training. She obtained her certification as a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Service Instructor, developed and co-taught a three-day course titled Domestic Violence Investigations and Intervention starting in 2007. The course is still taught at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy and is attended by law enforcement professionals from around the region. She updated the Department’s Domestic Violence policy to ensure policy was consistent with state law and serving the best interest of victims. Her success in locating missing and abducted children, led to Captain Pirnat testifying as an expert witness for the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary in a hearing to develop laws to allow law enforcement access to federal records during investigations to find missing children.

After promotion to supervisor, Captain Pirnat was selected for positions where her strengths in both policy writing and investigations were an asset. She served as a member of the Department’s Accreditation Support Team under the Chief’s Office of Research and Support. Captain Pirnat reviewed and wrote General Orders, Standard Operating Procedures, and ensured documentation was in order and compliance obtained to meet the standards required for the Police Department’s Accreditation with the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VALEPSC). As a supervisory investigator with the Internal Affairs Bureau, Captain Pirnat standardized investigatory templates for the investigation and documentation of officer involved shootings and other serious incidents. She trained new investigators assigned to Internal Affairs and taught the basic administrative investigations section to new sergeants in basic supervisor school.

Returning to the Police Department’s Major Crimes Bureau as the Commander, Captain Pirnat oversaw the Cold Case Squad, Homicide Squad, Robbery Squad, Fugitive Squad, Child Abuse Squad, Sex Crimes Squad, Child Exploitation Squad, and Financial Crimes Squad.  Staffing consisted of 120+ supervisors, detectives, civilian investigators, victim advocates and support personnel. Aware of deficiencies from her own years as a detective in the Bureau, Captain Pirnat began implementing policy changes to improve efficiency and improve service to the 1.1 million community members of Fairfax County. Captain Pirnat put together a workgroup to develop standardized training for new detectives assigned to the Bureau, modified squad staffing and duties to better allocate workload, and brought forth the development of a public Cold Case website to solicit information and leads on unsolved homicide cases.

Currently, Captain Pirnat serves as the Commander for one of the Department’s eight district station. Her command consists of 56 square miles with staffing of approximately 137 sworn officers, auxiliary officers, police citizen aides, administrative support staff and school crossing guards. She oversees patrol and investigative operations, as well crime prevention and community engagement activities. She serves as the Department’s Commander for the Language Skills Supplemental Unit (LSSU) which is comprised of bilingual and multilingual officers who provide investigative and community support through their language skills as well as being subject matter experts in the diverse community that they serve.

Captain Pirnat is the Committee Co-Chair for the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT), a multi-disciplinary group of professionals who meet regularly to review the facts and circumstances surrounding all intimate partner homicides and homicide-suicides in Fairfax County.  DVFRT looks to identify early indicators and develop policies and training for all stakeholders with the aim of diminishing the likelihood of future intimate partner fatalities.

Captain Pirnat serves as a member of the Supervised Visitation and Exchange Advisory Board.  Serving a high-risk population due to substance abuse, mental health, or violent history, the primary mission of supervised visitation is to provide a safe environment for families that allows for strengthening of the parent-child bond while avoiding the unnecessary stress, complicated adult conflicts, and safety issues. The Board consists of members from across agencies, Family Court Judges, law enforcement, and private community partners with the goal of ensuring all stakeholders have complimentary policies towards the same outcome.

Captain Pirnat holds a Master of Public Administration from the George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  She is a graduate of Leadership in Police Organizations and the Women in Leadership Institute. Captain Pirnat is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE).

KARLA HILL-DONISCH

Senior Consultant

New Point Strategies LLC

Karla Hill-Donisch is a Senior Consultant with NewPoint Strategies. She works with NewPoint clients on a range of issues covering Diversity and Inclusion, Harassment Prevention, and Conflict Management. She is highly skilled in working with client teams to ensure that DEI and workplace respectful culture programs and commitments are implemented and sustained throughout the organization. She is currently on the NewPoint DEI team to provide ongoing support to client leadership and department heads who need guidance in designing strategies that achieve DEI objectives. Karla has substantial expertise in the non-profit and private sectors, government, and universities.

UDALL SIRAJ

Senior Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Udall Siraj is a Senior Consultant for NewPoint Strategies LLC. She is an expert in training and consulting on Diversity and Inclusion, Implicit Bias, EEO, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Emotional Competence, Leadership/Team Development and Conflict Management. She is a Master Certified Trainer for the Department of Labor and highly skilled as an instructional system designer, in-person and virtual facilitator and trainer.

For NewPoint Strategies, Udall served as lead designer and one of the lead trainers for the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. She has developed, designed, managed, facilitated and assessed diversity/inclusion programs for such clients as the New York/New Jersey Port Authority, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Potomac Electric Power Company, Kilpatrick Stockton, UAW/Ford, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Library of Congress, U.S. Department of
Education, U.S. Department of Labor (Mining and Safety Administration), Arlington County Government, Lockheed Martin, MCI, Watson Wyatt and Abbott Pharmeuceuticals. Udall has also developed, designed and faciliated Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for such organizations as Potomac Electric Power Company, Howard County Government, Howard County Emergency Response Units, National Security Admininstration and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Formerly, Udall served as a Professor for the University of Phoenix facilitating on-line Cultural Diversity courses. Also, she served as an Adjunct Professor teaching Managing Diversity for the Human Resource Management Masters Program at The American University.

Udall is a certified Executive Somatic Coach and Group/Facilitator Coach. She specializes in the administration of and coaching for multi-rater assessments as developmental tools for supervisors, managers and executives. She has vast experience coaching mid and senior-level leaders in the public and private sectors. Her coaching experience also includes group coaching with intact work teams with whom she effectively worked to move them to a level of high functionality.

Prior to working as an external Organization Development Consultant, Udall worked as an internal Organization Development/Change Management and Executive Development Consultant to Fannie Mae, EDS, MCI, Potomac Electric Power Company, and the George Washington University.

Udall received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Rhetoric and Communication Studies from the University of Virginia. She holds a Masters of Arts in Education and Human Development (concentration in multicultural issues, adult education, and training) from George Washington University and a Masters of Arts in Human Development (concentration Somatics Phenomenology and Communicative Leadership) from Fielding Graduate University.

TIMOTHY KANE

 Diversity Inclusion Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Timothy Kane is a Senior Consultant and Trainer with NewPoint Strategies, working with clients on a range of issues covering Diversity and Inclusion, LGBTQIA, Harassment Prevention, and Conflict Management. His skill set highlights include cross-cultural competency and exchange, problem solving and communication, as well as leadership development and strategic planning.

Timothy is currently on the training team for the State Department Diplomatic Security Training Center and Loudoun County Government. Timothy provides interactive presentations on emerging issues surrounding the LGBTQIA community. He is also working on a digital animation
training tool for NewPoint on Diversity and Harassment.

Timothy creates safe space for authentic dialogue and empowering communication regarding personal identities, individual strength and organizational success. Through dialogue facilitation and interactive presentations, Timothy promotes outcomes-based strategies to enhance interpersonal skills and cultural integration. His ten years of experience includes leadership and consulting roles within Higher Education, Federal Government, Public Service and International Development.
Timothy’s clients include Department of State, Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Institute of International Education, World Bank, as well as numerous non-profit agencies, colleges and universities. Timothy has engaged over 4,500 international visitors from over 80 countries regarding themes of community building, leadership development, as well as diversity and inclusion. As the former Director of the Office of Community Service at The George Washington University (GW), Timothy promoted civic engagement among 25,000 students and 8,000 staff and faculty. Timothy oversaw university-wide civic engagement campaigns with community partners including The White House. As the current Associate Director of the GW Multicultural Student Services Center, Timothy has fine-tuned engagement of topics related to sexual, gender and religious diversity and inclusion. He specializes in promoting promising practices for community building and bias response, including development of policy and procedure. Timothy received his Bachelor’s of Arts from Hamilton College, his Masters of Divinity from Harvard University, and his Masters of Theology in Justice and Peace Studies from Maryknoll School of Theology. As a certified instructor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Timothy also holds a Certificate in International Development from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, as well as Graduate Certificates in HIV/AIDS Studies, International Education and Islamic Studies from George Washington University.

ARDRA M. O’NEAL

Senior Legal Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Ardra M. O’Neal, Esq. is the Founding Partner of The O’Neal Firm, LLP. Ms. O’Neal has specialized in labor and employment law for nearly twenty years. She litigates state and federal court employment related lawsuits and counsels executives, and human resource professionals nation-wide on a full range of issues concerning employer-employee relations including but not limited to: wage disputes, breach of contract claims, employee leave matters, independent contractor classifications and discrimination and harassment claims. 

Prior to launching The O’Neal Firm LLP, Ms. O’Neal was one of four Senior Labor and Employment Attorneys for Sodexho USA, a Fortune 500 corporation employing nearly 150,000 employees in the United States, and over 360,000 globally. Ms. O’Neal has also practiced law with one of the nation’s largest law firms and was lead defense counsel in all areas of labor and employment litigation.

Because of her extensive expertise, Ms. O’Neal is frequently called upon to lecture on employment law issues. Some of these engagements include: 2002 Loriman Education Services Virginia Personnel Law seminar; 2002 Alexandria, VA Chamber of Commerce Employment Law seminar; 2003 DC Chamber of Commerce Proper Classification of Independent Contractors seminar; 2003 DC Chamber of Commerce Termination and Severance seminar; 2004 Virginia Employment Law CLE seminar, 2006 National Employment Law Council conference, and 2011, 2012 and 2013 Lawline Continuing Legal Education seminars on various employment law matters. She is also a co-author of Employment Law In Virginia, a comprehensive treatise analyzing the complexities of Virginia employment laws. 

Ms. O’Neal obtained her law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1996. She won several moot court competition awards including First Place on the National Moot Court Team. Ms. O’Neal completed her undergraduate studies at Johnson C. Smith University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1992.

KESHA CHIAPPINELLI

Sexual Harassment & Assault Prevention Expert, New Point Strategies LLC

Kesha Chiappinelli is a Consultant at New Point Strategies and is a subject matter expert on sexual assault in the military. She is committed to the advancement of the military justice system in regard to the prosecution of sexual assault cases. She is a passionate consultant and trainer who recently completed a successful active duty Air Force career as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate.

Before receiving her commission she completed her legal studies at New York Law School in 2009. Kesha was a judicial intern for a New York State Supreme Court Judge in the Commercial Division where cases of fraud, misrepresentation, derivative actions, and contract disputes are heard. She also had the unique opportunity of interning for a legal analyst at Fox News. She researched and drafted articles which appeared on the Fox News website. Each topic was hand-picked from current events and the legal facets of each topic were analyzed. Kesha also got an inside look at the inner workings of national television news production via access to the recording studios.

While active duty she was stationed at Beale Air Force, a busy legal office with a heavy caseload. Her work as Trial Counsel included high profile sexual assault cases with multiple victims, child victims and child pornography. Some of the cases were of public interest and required coordination with Public Affairs. Additionally, many of the victims she interviewed were victims of retaliation. This ignited a passion for helping to eradicate retaliation and reprisal in the military.

In addition to her role as Trial Counsel she was Chief of Legal Assistance and Employment Law and spearheaded a legal internship program with UC Davis School of Law. She had the opportunity to put her knowledge of employment law to work when she collaborated with the AUSA in Sacramento and an Air Force Civilian attorney on a discrimination case involving civilian employees. Together with the AUSA they coordinated multiple interviews of civilian employees and deposed the alleged victim. She also drafted lengthy internal reports and interrogatories in an effort to find a resolution.

Kesha truly enjoys helping others and when she isn’t busy with her young son she volunteers for an international organization devoted to helping other mothers.

DAISY LUNG

Senior Research Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Daisy Lung is an expert on sexual assault prevention for NewPoint Strategies. She provides research and data to the NewPoint team on a range of sexual misconduct issues and recommends services for professional assistance.  Daisy is the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at Northern Virginia Community College. She specializes in crisis counseling and advocacy for survivors of gender based violence. Her hands on support includes accompanying survivors to police interviews, medical forensic exams and court hearings. She leads trainings on topics such as “Consent” and “Healthy Relationships” throughout the community as part of her commitment to violence prevention. She has built strong partnerships with state agencies and local governments as well as nonprofit organizations and is currently an active member of the following:

• Northern Virginia Victim Services Coalition
• Fairfax County Domestic Violence Network
• Fairfax County LGBTQ Task Force
• Greater Prince William Human Trafficking Task Force
• Greater Prince William Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Council
• Asian Americans Against Family Abuse

Recognizing that it’s simply not enough to refer survivors to third parties for legal, medical or therapeutic resources, Daisy can provide insider knowledge with actual names of points of contacts and walk them through the intake process, further establishing trust in seeking help from other systems while mitigating further re-traumatization.

SHELLY GUGIG

Gender Pay Equity Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Shelley Gugig is a consultant and trainer with NewPoint Strategies LLC.  Ms. Gugig has over 25 years of results-oriented experience in the Training and Organizational Development arena.  She specializes in the areas of diversity, harassment and discrimination prevention, EEO and compliance, management and leadership skills, human resources policies/procedures, career development, and team building. Ms Gugig ‘s training experience has spanned all industries nationwide including: financial services, heath care, technology, education, insurance, transportation, publishing, law enforcement and law firms. Some of her clients include: JP Morgan Chase, Pershing, KPMG, Pfizer, and Time Warner. Ms. Gugig is the principal of Professional Training Strategies, a business consulting organization that provides services on a national basis to privately held companies as well as not for profit organizations. Professional Training Strategies provides training, organizational development, executive development and operations support to organizations in order to efficiently and effectively implement their business strategies, goals and values. Prior to starting Professional Training Strategies, Ms. Gugig served as Vice President; Director of Training and Organizational Development for Citibank. In that role, she was responsible for all business training initiatives for the New York Metropolitan area while managing and mentoring a team of more than 30 training professionals. Her team was responsible for all aspects of training and development including; EEO/compliance, sales, systems, operations, management/leadership and professional skills. The success of this team was due in part to Ms. Gugig’s strong philosophy to tie all training to business goals and outcomes and develop strong partnerships with the management team. Ms. Gugig also served as Vice President of Training for Professional Development at Citibank.  In this role, she was responsible for ensuring the development and skill acquisition of all training professionals in compliance and business matters in order to build a world class training organization. Ms. Gugig received her Master and Bachelor Degrees with Honors. Her Master Degree is in Personnel and Guidance Services from Kean College.  She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Maryland.

RACHEL CASTELLON

Gender Pay Equity Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Rachel Castellon is a Senior Consultant at NewPoint Strategies and is a subject matter expert (SME) on sexual harassment in the military.  She is committed to the eradication of sexual harassment and is a dedicated and passionate consultant, trainer, facilitator and coach.  Rachel recently completed a successful active duty US Air Force career that ranged from overseas duties in Italy, Republic of Korea, and deployment to the Middle East, as well as a number of stateside assignments, culminating at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI).

Rachel enlisted the first seven years of her Air Force (AF) career then was selected for a commissioning program.  She earned her second lieutenant bars and became a human resources officer for the remaining 14 years.  The final six years of her career were focused on Equal Opportunity (EO), Diversity, and Human Relations.  As a result, she was instrumental in a number of AF-level initiatives.  Highly regarded as a sage visionary, she was the number one choice to help draft and finalize historic AF EO documents and guidance, such as the AF EO Strategic Plan, the EO AF Instruction, and the career field education and training plan.  Proving her mettle on these critical documents, she handled a variety of sensitive tasks to include co-author on a courses of action package to the AF Vice Chief of Staff to gain approval in creating a training requirement for joint based civilians who were EEO personnel converting to AF positions.  Rachel also served as the Air Force Service Liaison while at DEOMI.  She was a natural choice to serve as lead of the Joint Complaint Processing working group, meticulously researching similarities and differences among the services and components as a stepping stone to devising innovative proposals for an evolving Joint Base and service-integrated deployment environment.

She was entrusted as DEOMI’s SME for the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s comprehensive study on sexual harassment in the military.  She also served as SME for HQ AF EO Office’s sexual harassment in the military briefing to a congressman; and representative to the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s during their Service specific portion of the comprehensive study on sexual harassment in the military.

Rachel was instrumental in the coordination and execution of the first AF EO World-wide Training Workshop.  She maintained direct oversight over logistics, resources, technologies, briefings, and the results were nothing short of phenomenal.  A training needs analysis was conducted to identify training gaps and isolate areas for standardization and the agenda was built upon the community’s clear message of the training needed.  Over 185 AF EO professionals were in attendance; the results of the participant surveys were very positive with 97% stating the training was right on target.

She was the first military member of the AF-level Barrier Analysis Working Group, investigating ways to overcome obstacles towards providing a diverse civilian AF workforce.  She served as a board member for the 2010 A1 Community Awards Affirmative Employment Program and Special Emphasis Program category.  She has been recognized with several awards to include Field Grade Officer of the Year (DEOMI 2010); the Col L. Joseph Brown EO Program Team Award at the Air Force level in 2008; the DEOMI Annual Team Award in 2008; the Outstanding USAF Military Equal Opportunity Individual Award for Air Force Space Command in 2007; and the USAF Military Equal Opportunity Office Award for Air Force Space Command in 2007.

Rachel is a life-long learner and has earned her associates, bachelors, masters and PhD degrees.  Her PhD dissertation study focused on sexual harassment experiences and tolerance levels, analyzing the similarities and differences among and between male and female active duty Equal Opportunity Advisors.  She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.   She enjoys family, friends, and staying physically fit while volunteering for organizations within her community.

JUDITH GAIL

Senior Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Martha Burk is a national Gender Pay Equity Consultant, and NewPoint’s Senior Consultant on Pay Equity issues.  She designed and conducted pay equity studies for the City of Albuquerque and City of New Orleans which were the first- in- the- nation gender pay equity initiatives at the city level. These studies included project oversight, design of reporting procedures, and statistical analysis of gender pay gaps, both for city employees as well as city contractors.

Martha also consulted on Gender Pay Equity initiatives for San Francisco, State of New York, City of New York, Phoenix, Erie County, NY (Buffalo), State of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo.  She has provided several private sector consultancies governed by non-disclosure agreements.

As Money Editor for Ms. Magazine, Martha produces columns on the politics of money as it pertains to women, including equal pay, family leave, minimum wage, and other topics. She led the Working Group on Paid Family Leave, Southwest Women’s Law Center, Albuquerque, N.M.

Martha is a syndicated columnist, gender issues, distributed by Other Words to newspapers nationwide. Previously, Martha was the CEO of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, Washington, D.C., the nation’s largest coalition of women’s groups, collectively representing 10 million women.

Martha was a consultant for the State of New Mexico under Governor Bill Richardson. In this project, she designed and implemented first- in- the- nation gender pay equity initiative at the state level, including gender pay equity analysis of 17,000 State of New Mexico employees, and statistical analysis of gender pay data from entities contracting with the State.

Martha consulted with the U.S. Department of Labor, Obama Administration, and produced working papers and one-on-one consulting with Secretary of Labor and principals of the EEOC on process and outcomes on gender equity initiatives. For the National Academy of Sciences, Obama Administration, she provided consultation, and presentations regarding New Mexico pay equity initiatives. For the U.S. Department of State, Clinton, W. Bush Administrations, Martha sponsored presentations on gender equity including Kuwait, China, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia. For UNESCO, she sponsored seminars on gender pay equity, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania.

Martha serves on the following Boards: U.S. National Committee for U.N. Women, New York, Wider Opportunities for Women, Washington, D.C., National Committee on Pay Equity, Washington, D.C. She has a B.S, University of Houston, M.S, and Ph.D, University of Texas at Arlington, and is Licensed by the Texas State Board of Psychology. Contact: 202-247-1300

MARTHA BURKE

Gender Pay Equity Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Martha Burk is a national Gender Pay Equity Consultant, and NewPoint’s Senior Consultant on Pay Equity issues.  She designed and conducted pay equity studies for the City of Albuquerque and City of New Orleans which were the first- in- the- nation gender pay equity initiatives at the city level. These studies included project oversight, design of reporting procedures, and statistical analysis of gender pay gaps, both for city employees as well as city contractors.

Martha also consulted on Gender Pay Equity initiatives for San Francisco, State of New York, City of New York, Phoenix, Erie County, NY (Buffalo), State of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo.  She has provided several private sector consultancies governed by non-disclosure agreements.

As Money Editor for Ms. Magazine, Martha produces columns on the politics of money as it pertains to women, including equal pay, family leave, minimum wage, and other topics. She led the Working Group on Paid Family Leave, Southwest Women’s Law Center, Albuquerque, N.M.

Martha is a syndicated columnist, gender issues, distributed by Other Words to newspapers nationwide. Previously, Martha was the CEO of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, Washington, D.C., the nation’s largest coalition of women’s groups, collectively representing 10 million women.

Martha was a consultant for the State of New Mexico under Governor Bill Richardson. In this project, she designed and implemented first- in- the- nation gender pay equity initiative at the state level, including gender pay equity analysis of 17,000 State of New Mexico employees, and statistical analysis of gender pay data from entities contracting with the State.

Martha consulted with the U.S. Department of Labor, Obama Administration, and produced working papers and one-on-one consulting with Secretary of Labor and principals of the EEOC on process and outcomes on gender equity initiatives. For the National Academy of Sciences, Obama Administration, she provided consultation, and presentations regarding New Mexico pay equity initiatives. For the U.S. Department of State, Clinton, W. Bush Administrations, Martha sponsored presentations on gender equity including Kuwait, China, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia. For UNESCO, she sponsored seminars on gender pay equity, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania.

Martha serves on the following Boards: U.S. National Committee for U.N. Women, New York, Wider Opportunities for Women, Washington, D.C., National Committee on Pay Equity, Washington, D.C. She has a B.S, University of Houston, M.S, and Ph.D, University of Texas at Arlington, and is Licensed by the Texas State Board of Psychology. Contact: 202-247-1300

RAJ GUPTA

Diversity & Inclusion Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Raj Gupta is a senior consultant and trainer with NewPoint Strategies, LLC. He brings over 25 years of EEO expertise with the EEOC headquarters in Washington, D.C. His primary role is to provide consulting to NewPoint Strategies clients in the area of EEO compliance, complaint investigations, Affirmative Action, diversity, and harassment prevention training. Mr. Gupta has worked with NewPoint Strategies in providing consulting and training on employment issues for numerous government agencies and private clients. Mr. Gupta has had an illustrious career as senior legal and policy advisor to five Presidential Appointees at the EEOC. He represented the Commission in appellate litigation, headed a Policy Development branch, and served as an administrative judge for class actions. He represented the EEOC on Vice President Al Gore’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government (NPR) and on the NPR Diversity Task Force. He co-authored two NPR repots: “Best Practices in Achieving Workforce Diversity” and “A Report on the Status of Diversity Initiatives in the Federal Government.” Mr. Gupta is listed in the premier edition of WHO’S WHO AMONG ASIAN AMERICANS. He has been interviewed extensively for the EEOC Oral History Project and his interviews are a part of the EEOC historical collection at the U.S. National Archives. Mr. Gupta received masters of laws degrees from the university of Delhi, Columbia University, and the New York University. He graduated at the top of his law school classes at the University or Delhi. He also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi. He is a member of the New Delhi bar, the New York bar, the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, and the bars of several U.S. Courts of Appeals and District Courts.

JIM LEWIS

Instructional Technology Producer,

New Point Strategies LLC

Mr. Lewis has served as an instructional technology producer for NewPoint Strategies on wide range of educational and training programs.  Due to his knowledge of both production and technologies he has been instrumental in translating curriculum into web-based and computer based training (CBT) platforms, as well as supporting a variety of distance learning programs.  These projects have included simulators and interactive courseware for the US Navy on topics ranging from launching planes from aircraft carriers to military spec soldering.  He has helped develop web based training projects for Hilton Hotels, AAR Airlift, and several universities. Mr. Lewis is familiar with most learning management systems (LMS) and is proficient in Macromedia, Captivate, iBooks and others.  He and his team develop and maintain for most learning platform for NewPoint Strategies. Jim also developed online registration systems for NewPoint and works with IT departments on security issues with NewPoint clients.

ALAN BERKOWITZ

Sexual Harassment & Assault Prevention Expert,

New Point Strategies LLC

Dr. Alan Berkowitz is a Senior Consultant/Trainer for NewPoint Strategies.  He is currently o the NewPoint team as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for US Navy training project for Leaders in the Pacific Fleet.  Dr. Berkowitz is an SME for the US Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy on the topics of sexual assault prevention and bystander intervention as well as a Key Strategy Contributor and Reviewer for the Department of Defense 2014-2016 Sexual Assault Prevention Strategy.  From 2011-2012 he served as a Highly Qualified Expert in Sexual Assault Prevention for the Department of the Navy.  In this capacity he provided leadership training throughout the Atlantic Fleet on sexual assault prevention and bystander intervention as well as assisting in the development of the successful Great Lakes Naval Training Station sexual assault prevention program. In the last eight years Dr. Berkowitz has presented at over fifteen conferences for military leaders on their role in creating a Command Climate that can prevent sexual assault and foster effective bystander intervention.  In addition he frequently visits military bases to provide leadership training and consultation services.

Dr. Berkowitz is a prolific researcher and scholar who has written extensively on the subject of sexual assault prevention and who is frequently invited to be a keynote speaker on this topic.  He is also the founder of the “Men’s Workshop” – a sexual assault prevention program for men that has been evaluated as reducing actual sexual assaults by 75% after four months.  In addition, he is the author of a highly acclaimed book on bystander intervention that provides a model for methods of effective intervention.  Dr. Berkowitz has received five national awards for his work.

In addition to working with the military Dr. Berkowitz conducts workshops for colleges, universities, State Health Departments and Sexual Assault Prevention Coalitions on men’s responsibility for preventing rape, the use of media to prevent violence, bystander intervention theory and skills, culture-change, and the characteristics of effective prevention programs. Alan has been a presenter and on the planning committee for the first three National Sexual Assault Prevention Conferences hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and was a founding member of the Board of Directors of End Violence Against Women International.

Dr. Berkowitz received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Cornell University in 1981.

EVA YOUNG

Senior Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Eva Young is a Senior Consultant for NewPoint Strategies.  She currently serves on the NewPoint training team for the New York/New Jersey Port Authority.  Eva is an Organizational Development (OD) Practitioner who works independently and in collaboration with management consulting firms to design and deliver strategic interventions.  For NewPoint Strategies, Eva provides leadership and implementation on Train-the-Trainer engagements.

Eva provides technical assistance, small and large group interventions, facilitation and training in areas such as: Managing Diversity (dialogue across differences, diversity awareness and skills building, power dynamics), Retreat Facilitation, Train the Trainers, Team Training and Development (team building, communication skills, goal setting, group dynamics), Anti-Racist and Anti-Homophobic Work, Community Capacity Building, and Cultural Competency.

Eva Young has provided consultation to profit and non-profit companies interested in creating planned change and helps organizations assess their readiness for change through cultural audits.  Eva engages small and large groups in individual and collective learning processes with a commitment to action.

Eva has a Masters in Social and Organizational Learning from George Mason University, and she is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) Community Fellows.  Her educational background and professional experiences has provided Eva with the theoretical understanding to guide and design her work.  She is in a continuous learning process, and keeps deepening her own understanding of change, diversity, human relations, and productive workplaces and communities.

Some of the clients Eva Young has worked with independently or in collaboration with other consultants include: PepsiCo, Monsanto, SodexhoUSA, National Parks Conservation Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Fairfax County Public Schools, Texaco, District of Columbia Public Schools, The National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Control and Prevention, Northrop Grumman, the New York State Health Department AIDS Institute, the Tellin’ Stories Project, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Montgomery County Health Department, and the United Nations.

Eva is a founding member of the Diversity Leadership Forum, the leading organization for diversity practitioners.  In addition, Eva is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.

ROGER OWEN

EEO Investigations Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Roger Owen is a senior EEO Investigator for NewPoint Strategies LLC in the Southern California area.  He just successfully completed an EEO investigation for USGS in California.  Mr. Owens is a former Federal EEO Counselor and Investigator with more than 15 years of experience in employment issues, discrimination, training, counseling, and Special Emphasis programs.  He performs counseling and training on various EEO issues surrounding Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Equal Pay Act, and EEO/Affirmative Action issues. Mr. Owen has given numerous training classes to employees and supervisors on all forms of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and diversity in the work force.

For the past two decades, Mr. Owen has performed EEO investigations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Mr. Owen performed nearly a thousand investigations to include the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Nebraska, Nevada, the Counties of Imperial, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego. He also investigated cases with Southern California cities and hundreds of private companies and organizations. Mr. Owen also mediated cases to successful conclusions during Fact Finding meetings with the Charging Party and the Respondent.  Mr. Owen had the distinction of being the highest producer of investigation cases within the Los Angeles District Office jurisdiction.  Mr. Owen’s performance was of such high quality that he received Outstanding Performance Reviews for 5-6 years in a row.

Besides counseling cases with EEOC, his last two years of federal service was with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection where he served as the Diversity and Civil Rights Officer for the agency for Southern California. Mr. Owen worked with the Complainant and management to secure a resolution of the issues brought forward at the lowest possible level.  Mr. Owen was successful in negotiating a resolution or settlement with dozens of cases. He also supervised nearly a dozen Special Emphasis committees in providing monthly EEO programs for nearly 4,000 employees in Southern California.

PATRICIA LYNCH-EPPS

Senior Policy & Law Consultant,

New Point Strategies LLC

Patricia Lynch-Epps is a Navy veteran after providing 20 years active duty in the United States Navy. She served as the Senior Legal Advisor to senior executive governing bodies, executive management, and advisory boards and as a program manager over all legal resources for military health care facilities throughout South East United States, Europe and Cuba. She is an astute litigator, manager and subject matter expert over a myriad of Federal and state laws, DoD and in particular Navy regulations, policies and directives. 

As the key legal consultant and advisor on all areas of the command climate, legal readiness and mission accomplishment, she assisted inspection teams and reviewed key aspects of command climate assessment surveys, led small group segments, and provided training to ad hoc committees and risk management departments to prep for various inspection surveys in areas affecting sexual harassment.  Her direct involvement routinely resulted in zero discrepancies.  She steered program managers on successful implementation of sexual harassment policies, liaised and coordinated with local and regional SARP managers to develop and identify areas of concern in sexual harassment and sexual assault training modules and; in the collection of evidence practices to preserve the integrity of the process. She reviewed over 100 investigations on cases involving allegation of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, indecent acts and provided astute recommendations on the dispositions of cases in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.  

As Staff Judge Advocate and key legal advisor to Echelon II and III Commanders, for operational forces, she developed a Standard Operating Procedure for handling all matters forwarded by subordinate commands involving alleged offenses of rape, sexual assault, forcible sodomy, fraternization, and attempts to commit these acts for review and recommended disposition in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, to include the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Additionally, she supervised all cases forwarded for disposition by subordinate commands and delivered legal guidance and coordinated with DoD contractors and local officials to ensure the completion of forensic evidence collection kits on cases presented at all levels of the command to include the Emergency Room for potential litigation. She conducted ‘just in time’ training on cases presenting as sexual assault, battery, rape, and sexual harassment, resulting in awareness and sensitivity to affected personnel. Her recommendations were not only aimed at resolving current issues, but also, to create best practice that reduced or deterred future similar occurrences. 

Ms. Lynch-Epps’ professional affiliation and licensures include: Virginia State Bar, Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, Certified Judge Advocate General, UCMJ, Article 27(b), Navy Sub-specialist designation in Health Care Law and Healthcare Administration. She possesses a Master of Laws, L.L.M., George Washington University, School of Law, Washington, DC; Certificate of Health Care Administration, George Washington University, School of Science and Health Care Administration; Juris Doctorate, Seton Hall Law School, Newark, NJ; Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Long Island University, C. W. Post College, Greenvale, NY.

DEBORAH HORAN

Senior Consultant and Trainer,

New Point Strategies LLC

Deborah Horan is a senior consultant for NewPoint Strategies and serves as a leading expert on the issue of sexual assault and domestic violence prevention. She was a key advisor for the NewPoint project at West Point on sexual assault prevention issues. She assists in the design, protocol and delivery for the methodologies and training utilized in sexual assault prevention engagements.

Deborah Horan has more than 20 years political and policy experience, with an emphasis on issues affecting women and children. She holds a masters degree in Social Work and currently works for Kensington Wheaton Youth Services providing mental health services to individuals, families, and groups. She is a member of the Maryland State Department of Education’s Sexual Assault Prevention Advisory Committee.

As a violence prevention consultant, Ms. Horan has worked with organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the National Sexual Assault Resource Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Ms. Horan designed and implemented the Violence Against Women initiative, including activities, programs, and educational materials for patients and physicians. She also designed and implemented the National Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention Project.

Ms. Horan has served as a presenter at the local, state, and national level, reviewed grants for the Department of Justice’s Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes against Women on Campus Program and coauthored several articles and monographs addressing violence against women and violence prevention.

ANNETTE CREMO, PhD

Senior Consultant and Trainer,

New Point Strategies LLC

Dr. Annette Cremo is a Senior Consultant and Trainer.  She is a leader for the NewPoint public safety training team on diversity/inclusion/implicit bias, sexual harassment/sexual assault prevention.  She is an accomplished writer, speaker, designer, trainer and consultant with more than 26 years of experience in management consulting. She acts as key strategist and business partner to stakeholders in aligning organizational development, education, and performance improvement initiatives with vision/mission. 

Dr. Cremo’s areas of expertise range from Interactive and experiential learning, Gap Analysis, Needs Assessment, Instructional Design and Delivery, Diversity, Unconscious Bias and Inclusion, virtual and distance learning, workplace civility, train the trainer among other important workplace issues.

She has provided consulting, training and design work for many clients for over 20 years on diversity/ unconscious bias and inclusion. She has also developed and taught many train-the-trainer courses teaching selected individuals to teach the customized curriculum.

Key recent clients include Pennsylvania Offices of Public Safety (including the PA State Police, Department of Corrections, Veteran Affairs and Probation and Parole), Pennsylvania State,  U.S. Department of  Defense, and the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, where she designed and implemented diversity training curricula and Train-the-Trainer courses as part of a comprehensive diversity program. 

Currently Dr. Cremo is on the faculty of three Universities, the Touro University Worldwide, California, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Scranton, PA

Dr. Cremo has an Executive M.B.A. (ABT), University of Michigan; Ph.D. – Adult Education and Organizational Development, Psychoeducational Process, Temple Universit; M.Ed. – Training and Development / Adult Education, Pennsylvania State University; B.So.Sc. – Psychology (Counseling and Organizational Psychology), Pennsylvania State University; A.A. – Marketing, Allentown Business School. She has several published books and articles, and done multiple conference and media presentations on Leadership, Diversity/Inclusion, and Sexual Harassment

SHANE YOUNGBLOOD

NewPoint EEO Investigator,

New Point Strategies LLC

Shane Youngblood is an EEO Investigator with NewPoint Strategies.  He is an experienced EEO professional with more than 10 years of experience investigating claims in both the public and private sector.  A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, Mr. Youngblood began his career as an investigator with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Birmingham, Alabama where he investigated over 100 charges of discriminations.  

Mr. Youngblood’s private sector experience includes handling fair employment practice issues in both a consulting role with Bashen Consulting based out of Houston, Texas, and with The Home Depot and Randstad North America.  Because of his expertise in the field, Mr. Youngblood handled new hire fair employment practices training for Randstad during his tenure, and he is the author of a Society of Human Resources Management legal report published in 2005.

An independent Federal sector EEO professional since 2008, Mr. Youngblood has provided both investigative and Final Agency Decision expertise with a number of agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.  Mr. Youngblood has written nearly 100 Final Agency Decisions and completed over 30 Federal sector investigations. 

Mr. Youngblood is committed to timely, quality work and has a proven track record of meeting deadlines, following agency guidelines and thorough investigative work.  Mr. Youngblood has completed the EEOC’s 32-hour new investigator training and is up to date with his eight-hour refresher course requirement as of June, 7, 2007.