Central Mass Conference Speakers and Emcee

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Keynotes, Emcee, Comedian & Special Guests:

Keynote

Tisha Hood
Keynote

Renee King Diaz
Comedian

Latasha Hughes Thompsson
Emcee

Efua Dufu
Goddess Award 2023

Karyn Polito

Keynote

Tisha Hood

Over the last decade, Tisha Hood has instructed and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, young and established, in establishing a solid decision-making framework. As founder of Breadcrumbs Creative, Tisha collaborates with individuals on refining their innovative ideas into an implementable plan. Through her dynamic and approachable facilitation style, she is able to make the journey of entrepreneurship less intimidating. Combining her experiences in corporate relations and community organizing, Tisha utilizes her MBA and Lean Six Sigma to elevate clients’ leadership potential and trend their trajectories upward. She’s transformed countless individuals’ self-confidence and strategic plans into award-winning endeavors. You can receive insightful tokens in your inbox by subscribing to The Noteworthy or following Breadcrumbs Creative on Instagram and Twitter @breadcrumbscreative.

Keynote

Renee King Diaz

Renee Diaz is originally from Millbury, MA and now resides in Auburn, MA with her husband Miguel, daughter Roslyn and dog Mott. Renee graduated from Millbury High School in 2007 and spent the next fourteen years coaching in the ‘Lady Woolies’ basketball program, assisting them in four consecutive championships in a row. Renee graduated from Worcester State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Right after college, Renee took a leap of faith and opened a cupcake shop, The Queen’s Cups, in 2012 with the encouragement of her parents, her biggest fans. In 2017, she moved her business to Worcester where they are still located. She prides herself on giving back to the community, offering monthly donations to local charities and donating day old pastries to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office that distributes The Queen’s Cups baked goods to local women’s shelters, nursing homes and volunteers. In 2016, Renee was voted the Outstanding Young Alumna from her Alma Mater, Worcester State University. In 2019, she also received the Young Entrepreneur of The Year award from the Small Business Association of Massachusetts. That same year, she was the commencement speaker at Worcester State University where she received the Community Action Award. Renee has been writing a business advice column for the Worcester Business Journal called “The Hustle is Real” for the past five years. 

Most notably, Renee says that her biggest accomplishment has been becoming a mother to Roslyn Ana Diaz, her daughter, who was born in early January 2022. The most important thing in Renee’s life is her family and she takes great pride in being an aunt to twins Tatum and Weston, her nephew Kenneth and her niece Dayana. In her free time, she loves to be with her family, walk her dog, plan parties and make floral arrangements.  

Comedian

Latasha Hughes Thompsson

Her electric smile and charismatic personality will make you chuckle at her life experiences. A Divorced mother of five, telling it like it is. She’s a 2019 Wootnanny Comedy Festival performer Worcester. Featured on CCTV Cambridge/Cambridge Comedy Undergrad TV and Topic Time with Blake Young Harrison. Producer of the Soul Mic Comedy Jam, that includes some of her favorite things Soul Food Music and Comedy. Performing from Hawaii to Las Vegas and everywhere in-between, she always enjoys supporting her community. She has MC/ performed at these Worcester events: Black Music Festival, Black Heritage, Gospel Fest, StArt Festival. Always finding a way to give back she produces a Comedy show for 508 Forever Young Annual toy drive.  A facilitator of the pilot, “Show Me the Funny Comedy Workshop” for Youth. 

Emcee

Efua Dufu

For over 10 years, Efua Dufu has been inspiring audiences as an internationally recognized MC, Host, Event Presenter & Commentator.  Efua is known for her articulate, infectious, charismatic personality.  A true professional, with elegance and poise.  Her mission is to entertain and spread joy!
IG: @emcee_efua1 @ellite_planner

Goddess Award 2023

Karyn Polito

Karyn Polito served as the 72nd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, alongside Governor Charlie Baker, from 2015 to 2023. During her tenure as Lieutenant Governor, she was an advocate for women’s empowerment and a champion for renewable energy, climate adaptation, workforce development, housing, STEM education, and the innovation economy. Prior to her election as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Ms. Polito was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and a Partner at Milton, Laurence & Dixon, LLP. Since leaving the statehouse in early 2023, Ms. Polito began serving as a Principal of the Polito Development Corporation, a commercial real estate development firm. Ms. Polito is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. where she serves on the risk management, capital and compliance, and corporate responsibility and culture committees. Ms. Polito is also a member of the Firefly Advisory Council, providing outside guidance to the benefit of Firefly Health. Ms. Polito also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Harvard Kennedy School Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston. Most recently, Ms. Polito was appointed to the Board of Directors for Clean Harbors, Inc. and will serve on both the Audit and Governance Committees. Ms. Polito holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston College and a Juris Doctor from New England Law.

PANEL DESCRIPTIONS

HOW TO TELL YOUR STORY: WAYS YOUR PERSONAL BRAND CAN PROPEL YOU FORWARD

DESCRIPTION: Have you ever wondered how other women build their personal brands and tell their stories in a way that sets them apart from the rest? In this interactive discussion, panelists will share their experiences navigating their own journey of learning to show up to the world authentically and how sharing their own unique stories have propelled their personal brands forward.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • How to identify their own unique qualities and experiences that will create their personal brand.
  • How to craft a compelling narrative that tells their own story in a way that is authentic, relatable, and impactful to others.
  • How to build connections with others through their personal brand, and how to leverage those connections to achieve personal and professional growth.

PANEL COORDINATOR: Yolanda Ramos 

PANELISTS:

HAVE COURAGE TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE

DESCRIPTION: The world of Technology is a cold and complex place. However tech is a part of all stages of our lives in a vast variety of ways. This panel will discuss both being part of the tech industry as it becomes a more inclusive space as well as breaking down the complexity stigmas to empower women against fraud.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Inclusion is not the same as Diversity- Women in Tech
  • Making complex information accessible helps communities
  • When in doubt, reframe your approach. Burnout can sharpen your perspective.

PANEL COORDINATOR: Sabrina Webb

PANELISTS:

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT: SAVVY STRATEGIES FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

DESCRIPTION: Have confidence and take control of your money! This panel of financial experts will share valuable insights from their unique journeys. You’ll leave this discussion understanding how to stay true to what matters most to you while reaching your goals and knowing that you don’t have to do it alone!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Your money plan should evolve with your life
  • Simple steps today will impact your tomorrow
  • Building a financial village – Your team for personal and professional success

PANEL COORDINATOR: Marie Paturzo

PANELISTS:

IT’S OKAY TO PIVOT! FINDING YOUR COURAGE AND CAREER AGILITY

DESCRIPTION: Find your passion and design your career by assessing your abilities, interests, values, personal characteristics, and experiences. Our panel experts will share their expertise and techniques on how to achieve career success. Let us help you find your courage to Own Your Truth!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Finding your purpose.
  • Identify your transferable skills.
  • Maximizing mentorship opportunities. 

PANEL COORDINATOR: Tina Potenti

PANELISTS:

BUILDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

DESCRIPTION: Authenticity can take you very far, in life and in business. It’s one of the main reasons followers, clients and customers are drawn to brands they love and support, and keep coming back for more. This panel will help you discover the ways you can build your own authentic life doing what you love — YOUR own way. Learn how to follow the flow of your life and how it can unravel in interesting and meaningful ways if you stay true to yourself.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Don’t worry about everyone liking you and your business. Your authenticity attracts the right customers FOR YOU. Your message will resonate with the people who need to hear it most. 
  • The definition of success is individual. Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. 
  • Lean on networking and branding as ways to uplift your business. 

PANEL COORDINATOR: Rosa Maria Torres-Salas

PANELISTS:

EMBRACING THE CHAOS: THE POWER OF ADAPTABILITY

DESCRIPTION: Learn to find joy in the journey and not just focus on the destination. Join this panel to discuss how to become more curious, adaptable, and equipped to handle challenges as they arise. Three different lived experiences and backgrounds come together with one shared vision – how to respond to new circumstances with creativity and resilience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • How to embody the formula,  prep + practice = Adaptability
  • How to embrace your hardships with grace.
  • Creating self-compassion

PANEL COORDINATOR: Margie Breault

PANELISTS:

EMBRACE HER!

DESCRIPTION: Reclaim who you were before the world told you who to be.  We are often told how to dress, how to talk, how to act and how to react because that’s how ladies behave. We often listen to these voices, pushing down our true selves because we don’t want to be seen as different or even difficult.  But guess what, being your true authentic self doesn’t require instructions. Being your true self requires you to trust your gut, knowing that who you are deserves to take up space. Let’s explore how we can get there and why it’s important. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Reconnect – Learn how to build clarity with what you truly want for your life.
  • Replenish – Learn how to pour into yourself.
  • Reintroduce – Learn why both you and the world deserves the truest version of you.

PANEL COORDINATOR: Carla Delacruz Davila

PANELISTS:

WHY DIDN’T I SAY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY?

DESCRIPTION: If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, join us for a lively discussion on the importance of developing your self-awareness to improve communication effectiveness.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Why Self-Awareness is so important.
  • How Self-Awareness impacts communication
  • What can you do today to increase your self-awareness and improve communications?

PANEL COORDINATOR: Elizabeth Cruz

PANELISTS:

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HORMONAL JOURNEY

DESCRIPTION:  Join our panel of health and wellness experts for an interactive discussion about hormones and hormonal changes women experience at different stages of the life cycle. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
•       Hormones 101 – a general overview of what hormones are, how they could affect daily life, and, dispelling the myths about hormones at specific stages of life.
•       Touch on hormones impact on mental health, especially during pregnancy and post-partum, and available resources.
•       The potential benefits of alternative and natural remedies to managing stress and anxiety brought on by hormonal shifts.

PANEL COORDINATOR: Venus Mifsud

PANELISTS:

LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX: PURSUING YOUR PASSION

DESCRIPTION: Pursuing your passion is a powerful way to live a fulfilling life. When you follow your aspirations, you are more likely to feel motivated, engaged, and energized, which can lead to a greater sense of purpose and happiness. Join our experts as they discuss their own experiences living outside the box and taking risk to pursue careers beyond other’s expectations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

·       Taking control at any age – finding the courage to take a risk.

·       Understanding yourself and what will fulfill you.

·       Building relationships for rewards beyond financial gain.

PANEL COORDINATOR: Nichol Figueiredo

PANELISTS: