Now is the time, in this current crisis, to talk about community building. But it isn't as simple as having virtual meetings and happy hours. COVID-19 and our isolation from each other are shining a bright and often harsh light on our similarities, and more importantly, the differences that intersect to continue to oppress certain groups. While we all are embracing the new norm of virtual and remote communication, the truth of our diversity, or lack of, is more apparent than ever. Zoom meetings show the true lack of diversity while Zoom happy hours show the opposite. Why is that?
Our Denver Culture First Chapter is launching our first virtual event to come together and talk about intersectionality and intentionality in re-building our communities, re-imagining our personal and professional lives in a post-COVID-19 world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to change.
Join us on April 23rd to hear Simone D. Ross and work together in groups to bring solutions to the table to define our new normal.
Simone D. Ross, LLC
CEO & Founder
Simone D. Ross is a Colorado native who grew up in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. Simone’s upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of the importance of community, family, and building through investing in the success and dreams of one another.
In an effort to catalyze change, elevate, and create visibility surrounding issues of workforce equity; Simone founded Simone D. Ross, LLC, a…
Simone D. Ross is a Colorado native who grew up in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. Simone’s upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of the importance of community, family, and building through investing in the success and dreams of one another.
In an effort to catalyze change, elevate, and create visibility surrounding issues of workforce equity; Simone founded Simone D. Ross, LLC, a consulting firm with the vision of catalyzing human thriving through effective and integrative change management. Simone uses her 15+ years of corporate experience to bring voice to the importance of creating equitable and sound business enterprises. Simone also brings a refreshing voice and insight to many events as a Host and Auctioneer.
She facilitates inspiring experiences, content, and presentations, to "ignite the light" in the participants at the events she hosts. Simone previously served as the Regional Managing Director of The Riveter, one of the fastest-growing brands in the nation, leading the expansion and operations in the Denver and Minneapolis markets.
Throughout Simone’s extensive corporate career she has served as the Director of Strategic Business Initiatives at SCL Health, where she facilitated strategic planning for regional hospitals and facilities. Prior to joining SCL Health, she served as the Director of Business Development at Delta Dental, where she founded and operated the SpringRock Dental oral health corporation. Simone also spent many years at Kaiser Permanente, where she worked as an advocate for Colorado’s business community, pioneering Kaiser’s Business Development Department.
Simone holds a Master of Arts, and Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University. She has been recognized by the Denver Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” business leader; the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women; the Association for Corporate Growth as a David Sloan business scholar; and was recognized by the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce as a community service champion. She is a graduate of Leadership Denver, the Colorado State Chamber of Commerce CACI Executive Leadership Program, and is an Urban Leadership Foundation Chamber Connect alum.
Simone is most proud of her two amazing children. She is motivated by watching them grow, thrive, fearlessly create, and explore the world.
Breaking the Bias
CEO & Facilitator
Jobber Group
Head of Executive Culture and Inclusion
UB has a passion for helping #PEOPLEMATTER. He has a clear perspective of the good, bad and ugly of how companies are being built. Surviving workplace violence and his Latino background help define that perspective. As such, he is an advocate for people safety and happiness. He thrives in helping people overcome internal obstacles to be better humans to themselves and others.
As an advocate he helps companies attract, hire and develop more inclusive and diverse talent. He speaks about the future of work and building inclusive companies. Through his work as Co-founder and CEO of Breaking the Bias, he strives to help people understand their own biases and build a Code of Curiosity.
He is currently working with a team of DEI&B thought leaders and practitioners to build a “collective impact” team of doers in the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging space who can build, strategize and impact business and the community at large, together, and who can be a resource to DEI&B leaders and enthusiasts who have little support to make their own impact.
One of UB's passions is Space. He is a senior researcher for Deep Space Predictive. This team strives to build a platform to help humans survive and evolve in Space and on Earth.
He participates in various events and conferences as a speaker, panelist and moderator. In Colorado these events include Denver Startup Week, DISH HR Evolution, GlobalMindED Conference, Colorado Technology Association, Blind Institute of Technology Accessibility Conference and many more. In the US these include the Open Source Summit and Embedded Linux Conference North America, LiveWorx, CultureCon, and Women In Mining’s annual conference. He is also co-host of The Choose Inclusion Podcast, named #3 on Feedspot’s Top 15 Diversity and Inclusion Podcasts for 2020.
As a participating advisory or Board Member UB uses his experience to help organizations like The Blind Institute of Technology grow and thrive.
Nina believes that problems can be solved for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. With 10 years of work in the tech sector under her belt, Nina has focused on user experience design, digital strategy, and business development. Nina wants to see more women and people of color in leadership positions around the country. She hopes to build a foundation for a stronger and more diverse tech community. She recently joined forces with Jobber Group and Breaking the Bias to help diverse, impactful and inclusive leaders find organizations who value just that.
Chapter Lead
Switch Automation
Chapter Lead
Contentful
Chapter Lead
