Michelle Poler

Michelle Poler is a Latina entrepreneur, brand strategist, author, and professional keynote speaker. She is the creator of the project 100 Days Without Fear, and founder of Hello Fears, a movement that has reached over 70 million people worldwide.

Today, her work as an author, digital educator, and social influencer continues to amplify her impact helping audiences turn fears into opportunities, comfort into growth, and ultimately go from being one more to becoming one of a kind. Michelle’s best-selling books have been translated into 7 languages, and distributed in 4 continents: 1)Hello, Fears: Crush Your Comfort Zone and Become Who You’re Meant to Be; 2)The Hello, Fears Challenge: A 100-Day Journal for Self-Discovery.

She has been invited to speak at The Global Leadership Summit, Google, P&G, ESPN, TEDx, Netflix, Microsoft, Meta among many others, and her work has been featured in: The TODAY Show, Forbes, CBS, CNN, Buzzfeed, Mashable, Huffington Post just to name a few.

Michelle holds a master’s degree in Branding from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and early in her career, she worked as an Art Director for brands like Hershey’s, Wendy’s, AT&T, and Revlon.

 

Denyce Graves

American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves has captivated audiences across the globe for over four decades, gracing the world’s most esteemed opera houses and concert halls. A consummate artist with an extensive discography, she has been prominently featured on national public television, appearing in celebrated programs ranging from Great Performances to Sesame Street. Ms. Graves has championed world premieres of operas and song cycles, garnered numerous prestigious awards, and triumphed in elite international competitions. Her defining operatic portrayals include the eponymous heroines Carmen and Dalila, and more contemporary Margaret Garner in The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson.

In the 2025-2026 season, Ms. Graves returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Maria in Porgy and Bess. Ms. Graves also helms a new production of Treemonisha at Washington National Opera in her directorial debut with the company. The previous season saw her reprise the role of Maria at Washington National Opera, headline the company’s annual gala in American Rhapsody, and direct the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia in a co-production with Virginia Opera and Minnesota Opera as well as The Tongue and The Lash for Town Hall NYC’s James Baldwin Centennial.

Beyond her illustrious performing career, Ms. Graves is a dedicated educator and esteemed faculty member at the Juilliard School and the Peabody Conservatory. An Emmy and GRAMMY Award-winning artist, she has been recognized with multiple honorary Doctorates of Musical Arts, serves as a tireless advocate for the arts, and holds the distinguished title of Global Music Ambassador for the United States. Her enduring legacy is further enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution, where her portrait is part of the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection, and her image is commemorated in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

In 2021, Ms. Graves founded The Denyce Graves Foundation to support vocal artists at every stage of their careers while honoring the trailblazers who came before. The Foundation’s mission is to cultivate and elevate exceptionally gifted singers from all backgrounds, ensuring they have the resources and guidance to reach their full potential. The organization has already made a profound impact, spearheading the successful campaign to preserve the National Opera House in Pittsburgh—an essential but long-overlooked landmark of American cultural history.

 

Meet the Speakers

Adrianna Hopkins

Adrianna Hopkins a morning show anchor based in Washington, D.C.; and adjunct professor for Florida International University in D.C., leading the Caplin News DC Bureau. Her broadcast career has taken her to New Orleans, LA, Miami, FL, Louisville, KY & Macon, GA. She earned a BA in Electronic Communications & African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Adrianna is a passionate advocate for women’s health issues, connecting with organizations that share a desire to find solutions to disparities in health outcomes for Black & BIPOC people. Equity is a persistent theme in her reporting as she explores topics ranging from environmental justice to the epidemic of gun violence to Black maternal mortality outcomes. She firmly believes in connecting people to experiences outside of their own.

She and her husband have two beautiful & smart children.

 

Amy Yip

Amy Yip is the founder of Amy Yip LLC, a company dedicated to closing leadership skills gaps that prevent underrepresented employees from advancing into key roles. As an accomplished Mental Fitness Executive Coach, keynote speaker, award-winning author, and self-confidence trainer, Amy is passionate about helping individuals and teams thrive. A 2X TEDx speaker, she draws on over 16 years of experience building and leading global teams at industry leaders like Google, Clorox, and Booz Allen. Amy’s work is driven by her passion for fostering diverse leadership and creating transformative change.
Amy is an International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach, a Certified Hudson Institute Coach, a Certified Strozzi Institute Somatic Coach, and a pioneer Mental Fitness Coach certified through Positive Intelligence.
Amy received her MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and her BS in computer science and BA in communications from the University of Maryland.
Amy resides in Maryland with Greg, her best friend and husband, and her sons Logan and Julian, the cutest kids ever.

 

Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE

Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE is a keynote speaker, CEO, best-selling author, and innovation strategist leading a movement based on this bold idea: The future belongs to those who take more shots. She has shared her transformative message with hundreds of associations and companies across many industries, challenging them to elevate every voice, expand failure boundaries, and embrace experimentation as a path to success. A recognized expert in leadership and innovation, Sheri empowers leaders to break free from the safety of what has always worked and adopt a new set of rules to thrive in an ever-changing world.

 

Samyuktha Neeraja, MPH, CAE

Samyuktha Neeraja, MPH, CAE, lives in the Chicago area and has been working in the association management industry for 9 years. Her current position is the State Association Relations Manager at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. In this role, Samyuktha provides consulting services to state associations and assists them with their governance, leadership, and infrastructure-related needs.

Samyuktha is a disability advocate and steward of DEIA+. She has given many speaking engagements sharing her experiences as an Indian-Hindu American woman with dwarfism and how organizations can be more inclusive for people from minoritized backgrounds. In addition, Samyuktha co-hosts the “A Little Perspective” podcast, which is a platform for lifting up voices from marginalized groups, co-authored the best-selling anthology, “A Little Perspective: Real Stories of Little Ladies, and is a member of the Association Forum’s Welcoming Environment Committee & ASAE’s Accessibility Task Force. Samyuktha is also the Immediate Past President of Benedictine University's Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Outside of her leadership and advocacy efforts, Samyuktha is a recipient of the 2023 Rising Star Alumni Award from Benedictine University, the Association Forum Forty Under 40 Award in 2021, and is an ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar for the Class of 2023-2025.

 

Lori Anderson, FASAE, CAE

Lori Anderson is President & CEO for the International Sign Association (ISA), which serves the sign, graphics and visual communications industry. ISA’s programs include conferences, advocacy, technology, research and ISA International Sign Expo®, which attracts some 20,000 professionals annually.

Lori is experienced at leading the association through significant change. During her tenure, ISA has undergone a reorganization to realign its membership structure and expanded its international reach. She has guided the organization through several iterations of strategic planning, designed to capitalize on new opportunities and technological changes that impact its members. She has worked to build an industry association that benefits everyone, from small two-person shops to multi-national companies. She has developed and grown programs that bring young people and women into manufacturing. Her experience and skills have made her a highly sought-after speaker and presenter.

Lori was honored as the 2025 Trade Association Executive of the Year by Association Trends and CEO Update. She is a past chair of the NAM Council of Manufacturing Associations Board of Directors and was recognized in 2013 by the NAM with its Leadership Award. She has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the European Sign Federation, and the American Sign Museum. She also is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100. In 2003, she obtained the ASAE Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, and in 2018 was selected as an ASAE Fellow. She also was recognized as the 2021 Sponsor of the Year for Generation Hope, an organization dedicated to ending the multi-generational poverty associated with teen parenting.

Prior to joining ISA in 2004, Lori was with the Society of the Plastics Industry (now called the Plastics Industry Association) in Washington, DC, where she was responsible for a number of programs, including government affairs, statistics, international trade policy and strategic planning. She also was a legislative aide on Capitol Hill and a public school educator.

 

Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA, FASAE, CAE

Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA, FASAE, CAE is CEO of the American Epilepsy Society. She previously led the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, an Association Management Center client, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and was senior vice president at American Dental Association. She is passionate about advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and served on DEI committees throughout her career beginning in the 90s at Tribune Company. She is vice chair for American Society of Association Executive (ASAE) Research Foundation Research Committee and past chair for ASAE Diversity + Inclusion Committee. She also serves as chair of ASAE Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Association Community Group. Wendy is a Fellow of the ASAE, Association Forum 2024 Woman of Influence award winner and a Certified Association Executive. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA in Fine Arts from Indiana University.

 

Mariama S. Boney, LMSW, CAE, CPEC, CTS

Mariama S. Boney, LMSW, CAE, CPEC, CTS is a powerhouse in association leadership, nonprofits, and a trusted, go-to-source for solutions. With 3M+ lives positively impacted, she equips executives, staff, boards, faculty, and students with the tools to lead with integrity, strategy, and impact through her firm, Achieve More LLC.

A dedicated ASAE leader for 20 years, she has contributed 10,000+ volunteer hours as a committee member, council chair, donor, content leader, CAE facilitator, DELP alumni, and author. As the progenitor of ElevateHER: Advancing Women in Leadership and Innovation, a groundbreaking partnership with Black Association Executives and Association Latinos, she continues to create safe spaces for women and their allies. 

She’s also shaping the future of change leadership, ethics, DEIA+A, and well-being—crafting programs, products, and services based on cultural fluency and resilience while integrating strengths-based leadership. She is the author of the VENT book series. 

Bottom line? Mariama strives to champion everyone and everything around her to be better, achieve more, and maximize results. 

 

Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE

Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, is a global speaker and author of the book Never Get Their Coffee: Empowering Fearless Leadership which ranked #1 in business on Amazon. She is currently a host for the television show America ByDesign: Architecture, featured on CBS. She is the former EVP/Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects where she grew revenue 40% and grew membership to a historic high of over 100,000. Woods also previously served as President & CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) where she led efforts to expand the organization’s programs and markets while growing and strengthening its membership base.

Prior to joining NIBS, she was the Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), where she oversaw a 27-member team responsible for all marketing and revenue-generating programs – including sponsorship sales and partnerships with major national companies.

Woods is a Past Chair of the Board for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and served on the MPI Advisory Board. She also previously served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors and on the Advisory Board of Crosswalk. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in College Park and lives with her husband and daughter in Howard County, Maryland.

 

Elena Gerstmann

Elena Gerstmann, PhD, FASAE, CAE (she/her), is the Executive Director of INFORMS, the leading professional association for advancing the science and technology of decision-making to save lives, save money, and solve complex problems. Prior to joining INFORMS, she was a Principal at Avenue M Group and served on the executive teams at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Elena holds a PhD in social psychology from Rutgers University. She currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) and is a past board member and Fellow of ASAE.

Beyond her professional work, Elena and her wife are proud parents of two young adults, one happy dog, and one ornery cat. They are also co-founders of SocialOffset, a nonprofit that supports in-person conferences while helping travelers align their spending with their values.