Speakers

Over the last two decades, Jes Averhart has worked with a portfolio of Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations and high-performing individuals interested in increased personal growth and greater professional impact.

Jes is a 4th generation entrepreneur, creator of the Reinvention Road Trip, and award winning author. She advises high-performing individuals and corporate teams as a leadership development and confidence coach.

With over 20 years of cross-industry corporate engagement, Jes has worked with Research Triangle Park companies, Google for Startups, Fidelity Labs, Wells Fargo, Coastal Credit Union, Lincoln Financial and the American Underground to name a few.

In 2015, Jes co-founded Black Wall Street Homecoming, a nonprofit aimed at closing the funding gap for Black and Brown tech founders. Earlier in her career, she provided production management services for the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals & Cleveland Browns (NFL), Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), the Procter & Gamble Company and Pepsi Cola North America.

Originally from Evansport, Ohio, Jes moved to North Carolina in 2005 with her son Tre’. When she’s not working, you can find her cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sharon Delaney McCloud is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, TEDx Speaker, Certified Diversity Executive CDE®, adjunct professor, agency owner, cancer slayer and communications expert whose goal is to help people make an impact in business and life by embracing the power of communication. As you’ll hear her say often, words matter.

By sharing how storytelling in business can move hearts and minds, Sharon imparts expert insights to leaders and their teams so they can drive business results. Audiences worldwide describe her programs as “deeply relevant, moving and actionable.”

Featured in Thrive Global, Enterprising Women, Sheryl Sandburg’s Option B platform and coauthor of Keep Going, Memoirs of Strength, Courage & Perseverance, Sharon shows people how they can inspire, influence and ignite change. Her diverse client list includes Cisco, Lenovo, Eaton, 7-Eleven, Duke University, UNC Health, Florida State University, SAS, Biogen, Merz and many more.

Prior to launching her 3 time honored INC 5000 company, Sharon spent 20 years as a television journalist covering everything from NASA to politics to the Super Bowl at stations across the country