Strategic Events Solutions’ Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategist, Twyler L. Jenkins is one of the most sought after event planners in the City of Chicago. With more than 30 years of experience in conference management, special event planning and registration facilitation services, Ms. Jenkins is considered an expert in optimizing event profitability for her clients because of her cost management strategies. Her skills in contract negotiations, budget oversight, event logistics coordination and execution, as well as program operations flow and efficiency has helped her clients manage their event cost.

By providing core competencies to nonprofit organizations and corporate clients in multiple capacities, Ms. Jenkins has enhanced their meetings, conferences and special events by providing effective and efficient planning services, organized registration processes, and executed sponsorship sales support and marketing initiatives.

In 1998, Ms. Jenkins moved to Chicago to work for Ebony Magazine as a marketing manager. While there, she increased advertising volume and revenue by creating, developing and implementing merchandising events and programs for current and potential clients. She augmented advertisers’ print campaigns with added-value opportunities directly impacting the African American consumer.

She integrated Ebony merchandise into national events to provide branding exposure. She was also responsible for creating custom programs to aid the advertising sales staff in enhancing and increasing their advertising sales.

Since she founded SES in 2001 she has managed to provide services for some of the most notable nonprofits and corporations in the Chicagoland area such as The University of Chicago, The University of Chicago Medicine, McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The National Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, The Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Chicago Urban League, ComEd/Exelon, National Black MBA Association, The Chicago Guardsmen and the Emmett Till Foundation to name a few.

Ms. Jenkins is committed to helping improve the quality of life for others through her involvement in the community. In 2018 she founded and launched the I Am That Woman Retreat which is a 5 day/4-night luxury wellness retreat for high achieving African American women to take time for self-care. In 2019 she founded the I Am That Woman Movement, Inc. NFP, which is a 501c(3) organization that helps multi-generational women live a more holistic life. The organization also partners with domestic violence shelters to provide resources, information and events for women to build their self-love, self-esteem, and self-worth.

She is a very involved board member of the South Side Community Art Center and the former co-president of the board of directors. She is also a member of several professional organizations such as, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and the Alliance of Independent Meeting Managers.

Shelley Davis, a senior executive leader in public policy, consulting and external affairs advisor. Having a wealth of national and international experience in politics, labor unions, public policy development, strategic planning and high-level negotiations began his political career dating back almost two decades. He brings knowledge, leadership, experience and the ability to navigate within diverse environments to his work. A native of Texas, Davis was one of the youngest office holders in his state when he was elected to the City Council of Georgetown. He was bestowed this distinction after his mentor passed and he was asked by local community leaders to fill the vacant seat on the Georgetown City Council, and as a result of a special election he ran and was elected with an overwhelming 70% of his constituency support. He then pursued higher education graduating from Wades College and shortly thereafter he continued his educational aspirations at the University of Texas in Austin, where he completed a Professional Development Program. His experience includes: Executive Director of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, numerous presidential campaigns as state and regional director of African—American outreach for Clinton/Gore, Gore/Lieberman, Kerry/Edwards, Obama/Biden, Clinton/Kane and Biden/Harris campaigns, and as Chief of Staff for Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston. 

For just over a decade he worked as senior advisor to Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., he has traveled to Europe, the Middle East as well as numerous regions in Asia, Africa and South America. He has had two tours of duty in the House of Representatives in the United States Congress. First, appointed as the Chief of Staff for Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee of his native state in December 2006 and in August 2010, he was appointed as Chief of Staff for Representative Yvette D. Clarke (NY). Currently, he serves as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.’s National Political Director for Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Building a wealth of relationships and partnerships within Homeland Security, Energy & Commerce and Small Business committees to name a handful of which his previous Members were part of. 

Davis is knowledgeable on national and international political issues including the Middle East, labor, human rights, education, relief crises (from Katrina to Darfur), immigration, global warming and strategic planning for corporate and private businesses, organizations and campaigns. He is seasoned in public policy issues including civil rights, health care, education; HIV/AIDS fund development, housing, employment and has first-hand experience with fund development and campaign finance.

Angila M. Faison has 25+ years of experience in community and government relations, marketing, communications and event planning in the corporate, non-profit and academic arenas.

Currently the Director of Community Engagement for Hyde Park Hospitality (HPH), assigned to the Aramark/ Chicago Public Schools (CPS) account. Angila is responsible for the cultivation and implementation of strategic community partnerships and serves as government relations liaison with city, county and state officials. In this role she works with CSP, educational and health/wellness organizations in the development and activation of initiatives that support healthy eating and clean environments for the students at CPS. She is also responsible for the stewardship of scholarships, grants and workforce development programs to ensure post-secondary educational and employment opportunities for CPS graduates and the community at large. 

Prior to working at HPH, her firm Faison Consulting, oversaw multicultural community outreach, national sponsorships, and lifestyle marketing campaigns for Verizon, Coca-Cola and Allstate Insurance. Angila was a Vice President at the Chicago Urban League, responsible for marketing and events and managed 30 annual programs. She also served as Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Texas Tech University Health Science Center, supervising the University’s re-branding initiative including a new patient website for the school’s medical practice and creation of the first Women’s Health Symposium; bringing together stakeholders from across the region.

Angila has the reputation of being a collaborative servant leader and recognized for her innovative and creative solution skills. She has received the CPS Outstanding Partner Award (Aramark), Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award, Urban Initiative’s Most Valuable Player Award (Aramark), Hyde Park Hospitality Making the Difference Award and Aramark Regional Excellence Award.  

Ms. Faison is a resident of Chicago, IL, serves on the board of C-CAP (Careers Through Culinary Arts), Hood 2 Hire, I Am That Women Movement and Roundy’s Equitable Communities Taskforce. She is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. 

Ella Britton Gibson is an award-winning Advertising and Integrated Marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience working on global brands including P&G Beauty, Oscar Mayer, Kraft, Coke, McDonald’s, Toyota, Lexus, and Kia. Currently, she is the CMO and COO of Agents of Slang, a new, creatively-driven cultural marketing agency. A Chicago native, Ella was educated at Loyola University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Ella was introduced to IATW through her friendships with the founders, and fell in love with IATW after conducting brand strategy interviews where women shared how the IATW experience sparked healing, clarity and next-level readiness. “My favorite wellness activity is my daily prayer and meditation practice, which is grounded in New Thought Christian principles. It has enriched and elevated my personal and business life.”

Glenda A. Gill is an advocate, change agent, thought leader, a 21st-century innovator, strategic bridge-builder, and purveyor of economic equality. Gill uses corporate boardrooms as her field of progress. Gill currently serves as a business and social impact consultant, focusing on social justice and economic development with distressed and growing communities. Gill has served in a diverse capacity of roles throughout her life that has ranged from corporate, retail management, politics, production, entrepreneur, fundraising, and nonprofits. Gill’s tenacity has guided her process for expertly crafting mutually beneficial agreements that helped forge successful corporate partnerships aimed at, ultimately, strengthening people of color’s economic viability. Further to that extent, Gill has assisted more than 100-plus minority-owned businesses, securing more than $9 billion in contracts due to her direct or indirect advocacy. 

Since 2011, Gill’s purpose, heart, passion and servant leadership led her to create SAVE A GIRL, SAVE A WORLD. An intergenerational, multifaceted mentoring organization whose mission is to provide education and awareness by sharing successful life experiences, providing leadership tools, and building self-esteem for girls and young women ages 14-25, high school and HBCUs. 

The foundation of the organization is centered on four life pillars: Financial Literacy & Wealth Legacy, Health & Wellness, Lifestyles & Leadership and Career & Entrepreneurship. SAGSAW’s. This is now Gill’s “WHY” in life!

Dr. Portia Lockett is a true lover of people and will love you into loving yourself. As an Inspirational speaker, Corporate Trainer, Missionary, and Grief Recover Specialist, she has touched the lives of individuals in organizations such as Good Will Industries, Detroit Rescue Mission, Detroit Medical Center and McDonalds. After spending a few moments in her presence you will begin to experience your personal : ‘Celebration of Elevation’  of evolving. 

For more information visit: drportialockett.com

Tannis Williamson is the Director of Sustainability and Equity for IAA, a leading global digital marketplace connecting vehicle buyers and sellers. She began her career in philanthropy, as a fundraiser for a civil rights organization based in Chicago. She continued to help other local and national nonprofits to raise funding and awareness on several issues such as breast cancer and education.

Tannis is from Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from Clark Atlanta University. She received a Masters degree from the University of Luxembourg in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as a Masters in Public Administration from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business. Tannis is a foodie and loves to travel. My favorite wellness activity is yoga because it forces me to be relaxed and centered.