About the 2022 Speakers
Michelle Green
Leading and Living Intentionally
Michelle Greene is a top-performing business technology executive with over 20 years of experience. She is a business leader with a track record of delivering projects and building business partnerships with senior executives, business functions and technology teams. Based in Dublin, Ohio, Greene is currently the senior vice president and chief information officer for the pharmaceutical segment at Cardinal Health. Previously, Greene served as the vice president of information technology for Masco Corporation and IT business partner for Global Functions at Johnson Controls, Inc (JCI). Greene earned a master’s degree in higher education with a focus on information sciences from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Valdosta State University.
County Executive David Crowley
Making a Vision Reality: Achieving
Equity for a Community Left Behind
As a lifelong Milwaukee resident with a passion for public service, County Executive David Crowley understands the struggle our communities face every day, and he knows the joy of bringing people together to conquer those struggles. The fundamental tenet of Crowley’s administration is to build bridges to bring people together. Sworn into office in May of 2020, Crowley became the youngest county executive in the history of Milwaukee County – and the first Black leader elected to serve in the role. Since then, he has led the implementation of the first county-wide strategic plan in 20 years, focusing the county on a vision of achieving racial equity and to become the healthiest county in the state. Under his leadership, Milwaukee County has diversified positions at the cabinet department level as well as boards and commissions. Crowley is a member of numerous community organizations, including the ACLU, Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals and the Milwaukee NAACP. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in community education and currently lives in Milwaukee with his wife and three young daughters.
Dr. Rebecca Imes
I Love My Team(work): Creating
Intentional Community in the Workplace
Dr. Rebecca Imes is the chair for the Department of Communication and Sociology at Carroll University. In addition to teaching communication, Imes has also served as chair of the General Education and Cross-Cultural Education committee. Specializing in relational communication and health communication, Imes has received grants and has been published several times in scholarly journals. She has also been recognized throughout her tenured career in academia, including Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society induction and the Norman & Louise Allhiser Award for Excellence in Teaching. Imes has a doctorate in communication studies from the University of Iowa, a master’s degree in health communication from Emerson College and Tufts University School of Medicine (joint program) and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Justin Jasniewski ‘13
Community—An Overlooked Tool
to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
Justin Jasniewski ’13 is the chief executive officer of Serve You Rx, a pharmacy solutions provider based in Milwaukee. Jasniewski leads the community outreach program at Serve You Rx, which has partnered with Start Healing Now and Mobilize Recovery to spread the New Recovery Advocacy Movement throughout the United States. A big part of this movement involves ensuring that naloxone is available in communities that have a high risk for opioid overdose. Jasniewski first joined Serve You Rx as a financial analyst and has volunteered for several charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Rotary International, the CHAMPS program and Angel on my Shoulder. He has lectured on several topics in the pharmacy benefit management space, including pharmacy data interoperability, outcomes-based contracting and building recovery-friendly communities. Jasniewski received a master’s degree in business administration with distinction from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from Carroll University in 2013.
Kyle Johann-Baker ‘14
Pizza + Farm = Community
As a strengths coach, Kyle Johann-Baker ‘14 amplifies the voice of small business owners and helps organizational leaders create a thriving culture. He has worked in higher education and personal development for more than five years and found a special significance in the CliftonStrengths tool by Gallup. Today, Johann-Baker encourages individual employees, groups and workplaces alike through his training as a strengths coach. He is passionate about incorporating wellbeing practices and helping individuals find their strengths. Johann-Baker earned his master’s degree in college student personnel administration from the University of Central Missouri and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and sociology from Carroll University in 2014.
Pat Miller
Life is Too Short to
Build Someone Else’s Dream
During the pandemic, Pat Miller launched the Idea Collective Small Business Incubator, an international online network to unite the small business community. As the idea coach, he learned just how powerful solopreneurs and new entrepreneurs can be, when united as a collective. The Idea Collective allows small business owners to share their dreams with a community of like-minded people, providing real support, ideation and resource sharing. Now based in Milwaukee, Miller graduated from Bellevue University with a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Illinois State University.
Kwabena Nixon
Redemption Over Revenge
Kwabena Antoine Nixon is a nationally known spoken word artist, award-winning author, community educator, organizer and motivational speaker. Born and raised on Chicago’s west side, Nixon lost his father to street violence at the age of 11. He moved to Milwaukee to escape a violent environment and found his voice in art. Since then, Nixon has dedicated his life’s work to spoken word poetry, storytelling, writing exercises and guest speakers. These methods facilitate social-emotional learning in many areas, leading to outcomes like self-efficacy, perseverance, self-management and growth mindset. Nixon is currently the CEO of Be Inspired Works, an arts organization that offers services like conflict resolution training and life coaching, educational consulting and event management. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business development from Malcolm X College & Columbia College in Chicago.
Sahara Rose De Vore
How Embracing Travel Can Help
Build Happier and More United Communities
Sahara Rose De Vore is a wellness travel coach and the founder of The Travel Coach Network. After graduating from college, she bought a one-way ticket to Europe and began her global adventures, travelling solo to over 84 countries. De Vore is an entrepreneur reshaping how and why people travel, while also helping companies embrace the value of travel within their company culture. She is a global speaker, published author, and has been featured in over 100 media outlets for her expertise in travel coaching and wellness tourism, including Travel Weekly, Forbes, USA Today and Business Insider. De Vore received her bachelor’s degree in applied science, hospitality and tourism management from Roosevelt University. She was born, raised and still resides in Milwaukee.
Kayte Kloss
Emcee
Kayte Kloss ‘23 is a senior at Carroll, studying psychology with a minor in women and gender studies and an emphasis in occupational therapy (OT). She plans to pursue a master’s degree in OT and hopes to eventually become a pediatric OT. Kloss is currently vice president of the Campus Activities Board and Psi Chi: International Honor Society of Psychology. Additionally, she works as a Fellow for Carroll’s Reservation and Event Services department on campus. Kloss is originally from Cherry Valley, Illinois.