Meet our Workshop Speakers

Andre Whittington, Executive Director AZ Growth Partners.

Andre T. Whittington is a powerhouse in equitable economic development and a nationally recognized strategist advancing inclusive finance across Arizona. As Executive Director of Growth Partners Arizona and Co-Chair of the Arizona CDFI Network, he has mobilized over $30 million in capital to underserved communities through innovative lending models and statewide financial education initiatives. A U.S. Army Veteran and trusted appointee to Arizona’s top finance boards, Andre also leads Opemia Consulting, a veteran-owned firm delivering equity-centered capacity-building services to nonprofits and small businesses nationwide. His leadership is rooted in service, financial stewardship, and systems transformation, creating sustainable pathways to generational opportunity and prosperity.

Paloma is an active volunteer with Charter 100 and Junior League, teaching financial literacy and work readiness skills to students. She has served as an emcee for YWCA’s Pop Event and Social Venture Partners’ Fast Pitch, as well as a keynote speaker for Impact of Southern Arizona in 2018. In her free time, Paloma enjoys traveling with her two boys, attending the arts, and learning to golf. She also finds joy in hiking, painting, cooking, and practicing yoga with friends.

Teniqua Broughton

CEO, VerveSimone Consulting

Nicole A. Vienneau, MSN, RN, NC-BC, holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Science from the University of Arizona and is a board-certified Integrative Nurse Coach™. With over 20 years of nursing experience and 30 years in lifestyle medicine, Nicole is the Founder of Blue Monarch Health, PLLC, and Tucson-based Restoration Room, PLLC, where she is dedicated to supporting mid-life women’s wellness.

As a board-certified Integrative Nurse Coach, Menopause Fitness Specialist, Functional Aging Specialist, yoga teacher, Reiki and sound healing practitioner, group fitness instructor, and retired Reebok-sponsored fitness athlete, Nicole designs unique, holistic programs to help women recover from burnout and reignite their joy and passion for life!

Moderator:  Jennie Grabel, Chief Program Officer, Community Coalition for Prosperity

Panelists:  Helen Schaffer, PH.D., M.P.H., Anna Rojo Keene, Policy Advisor to Mayor Regina Romero - City of Tucson, Brook Gilliam, Community Coalition for Prosperity Co-Lead.

This will be a short presentation with a panel discussion that shares an overview of the Prosperity Iniatitive Policies that were passed by the City and County, and the Community Coalition for Prosperity's work to align the nongovernmental sectors in the community around the Prosperity Initiative

Carolina Navia Vasquez, President Mentes Soñadoras Foundation

Diane Sotelo is a dynamic presenter, award-winning leader, and CEO of Sotelo Synergies, LLC, where she empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential. With over 30 years of experience in learning and leadership development, Diane is known for her authentic approach, cultivating thriving teams, and driving organizational success. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and two degrees in education, which have laid the foundation for her impactful career.

Previously serving as HR Manager for Employee Leadership & Development at the City of Tucson, Diane led programs that enhanced the skills and engagement of over 4,500 employees. She is a 2023 SHRMGT Leadership Award recipient and was honored with the 2024 Ronald L. Kurth Leadership Award. Diane also contributes as a facilitator at the Eller College of Management and a key figure at the Eller Center for Leadership Ethics. An alumna of Greater Tucson Leadership’s 2024 ""Lead Tucson"" program, she is deeply committed to fostering growth in her community.

An 8th generation Tucsonan and descendant of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Diane is passionate about creating a brighter future through education and development. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her family.

Frank Velásquez Jr., Women of color are navigating some heavy stuff right now. The reversal of Roe v Wade has stripped them of their autonomy over their own bodies. And Latinas are now living with the constant threat of deportation, even when they are citizens. 

And yet, they are still expected to show up. To lead. To hold it together for our teams, our organizations, our communities. 

So here's the question: How do women of color do that without burning themselves out or losing who they are in the process?

In this session, Frank Velásquez Jr. is going to discuss what we can learn from women of color who have historically been forced to fit into “professional” settings – how they dress, how they talk, how they communicate – and explore something they already do that makes them strong leaders, which is accessing joy to stay grounded and centered when everything feels unstable. Research shows that when we express joy, our bodies literally swap out stress hormones for the good stuff. We're talking about a 30-40% drop in cortisol levels. That's not just "feeling better" - that's our bodies physically shifting out of fight-or-flight mode.

And here's where it gets even more interesting: Women are actually more skilled at this than men. Studies show women laugh 126% more in conversations, use laughter more intentionally for social support and stress relief, and when we find something funny, our brain's reward centers light up stronger. But women are not just better at laughing - they're better at USING laughter as a tool for connection and community.

Sydney King, CEO/Founder, Entrepreneur, SydShakes & Twin Flames Wellness

Diana Charbonneau, a native Tucsonan, is passionate about reinvesting in her community. As the Corporate Learning Facilitator at Tucson Electric Power, she supports employees globally by facilitating impactful learnings on topics such as Emotional Intelligence, Unconscious Bias, and Building Trust.

A dedicated volunteer, Diana has contributed her time to over 25 local nonprofit organizations. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Tucson as Immediate Past President and is part of the Leadership Team for 100+ Women Who Care Tucson.

When she’s not volunteering or speaking in the community, Diana enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her adventurous 5-year-old daughter.

Caroline Nelson, Chief Operating Officer 

Community Investment Corporation

Does the word conflict make you tense up? You’re not alone—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Many women step into leadership roles without ever being taught how to transition from “doing the work” to “directing the work.” And suddenly every tough decision feels like conflict.

This session will help you reframe conflict as communication, build the confidence to stay grounded in hard moments, and practice simple tools to shift from reacting to truly leading. You’ll leave with strategies you can start using immediately in your workplace—and in your life.