Katelyn Nichols Barzizza

Katelyn Nichols Barzizza is Vice President in Blackstone’s Technology and Innovations division. She has spent seven years working in various business development and entrepreneurial roles, including serving as an Executive Coach and Product Lead. Katelyn also successfully managed her own startup for the last six years, offering entertainment business mentorship, coaching, and performance training through K. Nichols Studio. Katelyn holds a BFA in Communication and Leadership from The University of Memphis. Katelyn gives back to her community as a volunteer for NAMI-NYC, Abingdon Theatre, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

Danielle Belton

Danielle Belton is the Editor-in-Chief of HuffPost, a Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization that publishes original online reporting on politics, lifestyle, entertainment, and more. Recently, Axios reported that HuffPost has become profitable since Belton assumed the role in 2021. Belton was previously Editor-in-Chief of TheRoot where she grew its traffic by 300 percent in 2017, making it one of the leading Black American publications online.

Danielle began her journalism career at the Midland-Reporter Telegram in Midland, TX and the Bakersfield Californian, a local newspaper in Southern California; later created and managed her own award-winning blog, The Black Snob, in 2007; and since then has written, edited, and contributed to numerous publications including theGrio, Essence, The Washington Post and The New York Times — as well as programming across NPR, PBS, CNN, ABC, and BET. In 2012, she was one of the first black women to lead a writer’s room in late night television for BET‘s offering Don’t Sleep Hosted by T.J. Holmes. At The Root, Danielle served as the site’s youngest managing editor and first-ever editor-in-chief, and helped dramatically expand The Root’s profile, traffic, and corps of emerging writers.

Maureen Connolly

Maureen Connolly is Executive Creative Director at Arbor, an AI-powered platform that helps organizations tell impactful stories in video and beyond. Maureen is an award-winning storyteller, content strategist and audience builder with 25+ years of experience. In a previous role as Editor in Chief, Group Vice President of Everyday Health, one of the world’s largest consumer health sites, her team covered the emergence and management of COVID-19, the ensuing challenges for people managing chronic disease, and the mental health crisis that unfolded. Prior to Everyday Health, Connolly was editorial director overseeing five websites at Vertical Health, which included PsyCom.net.

She is the author of three books, including: “Unbuttoned: Women Open Up About the Pleasures, Pains and Politics of Breastfeeding” (Harvard Common Press; Publishers Weekly starred review); “Ready, Set, Baby!” (Inkling Press; 2014 Digital Book Award Finalist), and “The Essential C-Section Guide” (Random House). She’s been a guest twice on NPR and The Today Show.

Joe DiGennaro

Joe DiGennaro is a Director at BlackRock in the firm’s US Wealth Advisory business.  He is also a Mental Health Ambassador at BlackRock providing support to his colleagues. Before joining BlackRock, Joe worked in strategy at DWS/Deutsche Asset Management. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) accredited by the CFA Institute and holds the Alternative Investment Analyst Charter (CAIA Charter) from the CAIA Association. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University with a double major in Applied Economics & Management and Communications.  

Dr. Christina Gerdes

Dr. Christina Gerdes is a double board certified adult psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist interested in systems of care, recovery-based practices, healthcare administration and innovation. Currently, Dr. Gerdes is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-founder at Willow Health, an Andreessen Horowitz backed startup improving access to behavioral health crisis care. She completed her medical doctorate at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science with a focus in community health. She is a graduate of the Adult Psychiatry Residency and Public Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia University. Dr. Gerdes is an innovative physician leader experienced in driving the development and implementation of modern behavioral health and substance use treatment programs. 

Matthew Keyse

Matthew Keyse is a NYC-based, experienced retail leadership executive with over 15 years in the industry. Matthew spent nearly a decade overseeing the retail experience, sales, and education for CHANEL, both local and international. In addition to working with brands such as Burberry and NARS, Matthew is now the Senior Director for the award-winning cosmetic brand, Juice Beauty, inc. Matthew also has a deep passion for local philanthropic organizations, working with Gods Love We Deliver, and serving as the NYC Captain for the Brooklyn chapter of the ASPCA. Matthew’s true love has been his deep involvement with NAMI-NYC, joining the organization as a volunteer Advocacy Ambassador nearly 4 years ago. Over the past two years, he has supported the training and onboarding of all new NAMI-NYC Advocacy Ambassadors. With this personal passion around mental health and raising mental health awareness, Matthew has supported NAMI-NYC through other events, recruitment, and local partnerships, as well.  

Shawna Klatt

Shawna Klatt is a seasoned attorney currently serving as a Risk Customer Success Executive and Team Lead at Thomson Reuters. Shawna is a leader within the organization as past co-chair of the Asian Affinity Business Resource Group, where she created and led local initiatives that aligned with global diversity and inclusion principles. Shawna offers her legal services pro-bono, including helping children involved in the foster care system, and individuals who have experienced eviction. She has served as a Family Connections Facilitator with NAMI MN to educate and support friends and family with a loved one living with Borderline Personality Disorder. She was a Board Member for the Family Enhancement Center whose mission is to create lasting solutions to prevent and heal child abuse. Shawna earned her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.  

Alexis McLean

Alexis McLean is the Vice President of Student Affairs at LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY). She oversees programming, policy implementation and personnel administration as they relate to the personal, social, and intellectual growth of students. Her tenure at LaGuardia has coincided with a divisional expansion of mental health advocacy and support, with more than 1,000 campus and community stakeholders being trained in Mental Health First Aid and participating in mindfulness/meditation initiatives. 

Her research interests focus on access and success in higher education, the role of institutional agents at colleges and universities, and race and ethnicity in higher education. She often serves as a guest lecturer, speaker and facilitator for a number of panels and symposia.  Alexis is also a member of a variety of academic and professional organizations including the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Educational Research Association (AERA), and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, and a Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness and Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from New York University. 

Adrienne Terry

Adrienne Terry is currently a Senior Program Director at a leading supportive housing non-profit. She operates supportive housing programs that house formerly homeless individuals with mental health and substance abuse histories. Adrienne is also a Mental Health Advocate, Evangelist, and Honorary Doctor of the mental health ministry.  She diligently works towards the advancement of mental health awareness in minority communities. She has appeared on several radio shows, podcasts, and YouTube shows, including Liz Black’s, WMCA 570, and a host of others, as well as in magazines. Adrienne received a Master’s in Human Services from Lincoln University and an Advanced Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Alfred University.

Darren Webb

Darren Webb is the CEO at Mindset, a technology platform dedicated to assisting individuals with serious mental illnesses and their caregivers in applying for Social Security Disability benefits. His background in business and partnerships positions him well to drive innovation and support the mental health community. Darren was formerly Director of Partnerships at Stocktwits, the largest social network for retail investors and traders. Darren holds a BBA in Information Technology from Old Dominion University.  

Allison Yacker

Allison Yacker is Partner, Co-Chair of Investment Management and Funds, at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where she represents hedge funds, private equity funds, commodity pools, and managed account platforms. Allison serves on Katten’s board of directors and is an active member of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Forum, where she contributes to the strategic retention and advancement of women attorneys within the organization. She is also a long-standing member of 100 Women in Finance as an Angel Member. She earned her J.D. at Cardozo School of Law.