Wokie Daboh is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leader with over fifteen years of experience in Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at industry leaders like Target, Medtronic, and SJ Johnson. As the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ESPN, Wokie leads the DEI integrated strategies that span talent acquisition, external partnerships, employee resource groups, and corporate citizenship to drive a culture of inclusion and belonging. Wokie and her team work to embed diversity and inclusion into the organization's culture, ensuring that ESPN's storytelling and content are relevant to a rapidly diversifying audience.
Wokie has spent her career in highly matrix organizations where her ability to influence and drive change has been critical for success. She has been committed to addressing and removing the hurdles and barriers that impact diverse communities' ability to reach their full potential in organizations. Wokie has had diverse roles in Human Resources, which has allowed her to fully understand the complex organizational and HR ecosystems at work to support creating a culture of belonging. Her inclusion and diversity practice leads with helping organizations get past textbook diversity and inclusion methods but working to create an inclusive culture to develop a pipeline of diverse future leaders at all levels of an organization.
In 2018 Wokie was a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree, recognizing her for her outstanding professional achievements while also finding time to give back to her community. In 2018 she was also awarded the B.W. Harris Alumni Association – Minnesota Chapter Leadership Award for her leadership and contributions to the Minnesota Liberian community. In 2010 Wokie was also recognized by the YMCA for volunteering more than 100 hours of service to young teens and has held titles as Miss Liberia Minnesota and Miss Black Minnesota competing in national pageants.
In 2014 Wokie founded Project Blackboard, a non-profit organization, that supports schools in Liberia assists schools in Liberia that are not able to provide a quality academic environment and educational resources to students and teachers. Project Blackboard has rehabilitated classrooms, facilitates teacher training workshops and has shipped over 30,000 books to Liberia. In just after two years Project Blackboard was recognized for its amazing work in Liberia and was the recipient of a Google’s Adword Grant.
Wokie grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and is the PROUD daughter of immigrants from Liberia and Sierra Leone. Wokie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities from the College of Continuing Education where she majored in Mass Communications and minored in Business Marketing Education and African American Studies. Wokie also received a certification from Georgetown University in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management.
Wokie has spent her career in highly matrix organizations where her ability to influence and drive change has been critical for success. She has been committed to addressing and removing the hurdles and barriers that impact diverse communities' ability to reach their full potential in organizations. Wokie has had diverse roles in Human Resources, which has allowed her to fully understand the complex organizational and HR ecosystems at work to support creating a culture of belonging. Her inclusion and diversity practice leads with helping organizations get past textbook diversity and inclusion methods but working to create an inclusive culture to develop a pipeline of diverse future leaders at all levels of an organization.
In 2018 Wokie was a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree, recognizing her for her outstanding professional achievements while also finding time to give back to her community. In 2018 she was also awarded the B.W. Harris Alumni Association – Minnesota Chapter Leadership Award for her leadership and contributions to the Minnesota Liberian community. In 2010 Wokie was also recognized by the YMCA for volunteering more than 100 hours of service to young teens and has held titles as Miss Liberia Minnesota and Miss Black Minnesota competing in national pageants.
In 2014 Wokie founded Project Blackboard, a non-profit organization, that supports schools in Liberia assists schools in Liberia that are not able to provide a quality academic environment and educational resources to students and teachers. Project Blackboard has rehabilitated classrooms, facilitates teacher training workshops and has shipped over 30,000 books to Liberia. In just after two years Project Blackboard was recognized for its amazing work in Liberia and was the recipient of a Google’s Adword Grant.
Wokie grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and is the PROUD daughter of immigrants from Liberia and Sierra Leone. Wokie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities from the College of Continuing Education where she majored in Mass Communications and minored in Business Marketing Education and African American Studies. Wokie also received a certification from Georgetown University in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management.
Jerome Wesson was born in Bomi Hills, Montserrado County, grew up in Lamco, Yekepa. He attended the Lamco area school system and then attended Carroll High School. Jerome migrated to America in 1985 and settled in Providence Rhode Island and attended Mount Pleasant High School and graduated in 1989. He was fortunate enough to have earned an academy scholarship and attended providence College from 1989 to 1993 and graduated with a BS in Business Administration and concentration in Management. Upon graduation, Jerome moved around the east coast until landing a job in Quincy, Massachusetts with State Street Bank and later Travelers Insurance.
Jerome moved to Minnesota in 1997 and got married to his lovingly wife in 1999. Together they have 3 girls. He has worked for American Express, Metlife Auto & Home 19 years and worked for Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Jerome serve as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon in his church. He currently hold a Life Insurance License and is working on his SIE/investment license as well.
Jerome has been a soccer referee for the the past 22 years, and also served as a mentor. He enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and friends and eating different kinds of foods.
Jerome moved to Minnesota in 1997 and got married to his lovingly wife in 1999. Together they have 3 girls. He has worked for American Express, Metlife Auto & Home 19 years and worked for Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Jerome serve as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon in his church. He currently hold a Life Insurance License and is working on his SIE/investment license as well.
Jerome has been a soccer referee for the the past 22 years, and also served as a mentor. He enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and friends and eating different kinds of foods.
Laaitu Sabiya has worked in the retail fashion clothing industry for over twenty years with various retailers. Her experience in retail management has allowed her to use her supportive leadership style to drive high performance across all initiatives and ensure consistency between her stores as measured by the Profit & Loss (P&L) and other reports.
As District Manager with the Gap- Old Navy, she is a multi-unit leader managing a portfolio of stores and responsible for coaching teams in merchandising execution, maximum productivity and profitable sales and earnings growth, among others.
American born to Nigerian parents, Laaitu grew up in Nigeria and returned to the United States when she was 24 years of age. She holds a Master’s degree in Leadership from Augsburg University, Minnesota, and a B.A in Writing from Metropolitan state University, Minnesota.
As District Manager with the Gap- Old Navy, she is a multi-unit leader managing a portfolio of stores and responsible for coaching teams in merchandising execution, maximum productivity and profitable sales and earnings growth, among others.
American born to Nigerian parents, Laaitu grew up in Nigeria and returned to the United States when she was 24 years of age. She holds a Master’s degree in Leadership from Augsburg University, Minnesota, and a B.A in Writing from Metropolitan state University, Minnesota.
Jeff Peal , a Liberian immigrant, is SullivanCotter’s Information Security Officer operating within its IT Business Unit. With over 20 years of cyber security and information technology experience, Jeff has a longstanding passion for providing business-enabled solutions while managing risk and strengthening organizational security. His demonstrated ability to envision, lead and implement innovative IT programs helps drive security awareness, increase productivity, and mitigate unnecessary risk and exposure.
Before joining SullivanCotter, Jeff spent more than 20 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, where he most recently served as an Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer.
Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor and community faculty member at two Minneapolis-based technical colleges and universities to support higher education in information security and expand and develop local talent in this field. Jeff received his master’s degree in Information Technology from Capella University.
Nancy Omondi is a leader who is passionate about advancing equity in the spaces she influences. Ms. Omondi has 16+ years of experience in leadership and management in private and public sectors. Passionate about professional development, she continues to coach, and mentor professionals interested in academic and career advancement within the community.
Currently a Director at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), she oversees multiple state and federal workforce development programs which serves nearly 20,000 individuals each year. Ms. Omondi is also the State Director for the Minnesota Retaining Employment and Talent After Illness/Injury Network (RETAIN) program which supports ill/injured workers return to work safely. She has held multiple leadership roles at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), UnitedHealth Group, Mayo Clinic, and Be the Match. She serves on various boards and is the current Chair of the Budget Advisory Council for the City of Brooklyn Park.
Ms. Omondi holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Health Services Research from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Currently a Director at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), she oversees multiple state and federal workforce development programs which serves nearly 20,000 individuals each year. Ms. Omondi is also the State Director for the Minnesota Retaining Employment and Talent After Illness/Injury Network (RETAIN) program which supports ill/injured workers return to work safely. She has held multiple leadership roles at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), UnitedHealth Group, Mayo Clinic, and Be the Match. She serves on various boards and is the current Chair of the Budget Advisory Council for the City of Brooklyn Park.
Ms. Omondi holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Health Services Research from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Thomas Teah Tapeh was born March 28, 1980 in Monrovia, Liberia. Tapeh is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Minnesota. Tapeh has also played for the Minnesota Vikings. Tapeh grew up playing soccer in Liberia before his family moved to the Twin Cities when he was nine years old. He attended Saint Paul Johnson High School and is the only player to score a touchdown in the Metrodome as a high schooler (in a Johnson-Harding High School game), as a collegiate athlete (for the Gophers), and as a professional athlete in the NFL (as an Eagle).
Tapeh is a devout Christian, with his faith stemming from a Christian woman who stopped his mother from having an abortion. Tapeh is active in his church as a mentor and volunteer and has spoken publicly about his faith. He is a proud father of three children.
Tapeh was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. In 2007, Tapeh again played full back in all 16 games for the Eagles, despite battling a knee injury. Statistically, Brian Westbrook's best two seasons in rushing yards, receiving yards, yards-per-carry, yards-per-reception and total touchdowns were both seasons Tapeh started at full back. On February 29, 2008 (the first day of free agency), Tapeh signed a five-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings head coach Brad Childress, who worked with Tapeh as the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, envisioned a long-term pairing between Tapeh and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson.
Thomas is currently an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Tapeh is a devout Christian, with his faith stemming from a Christian woman who stopped his mother from having an abortion. Tapeh is active in his church as a mentor and volunteer and has spoken publicly about his faith. He is a proud father of three children.
Tapeh was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. In 2007, Tapeh again played full back in all 16 games for the Eagles, despite battling a knee injury. Statistically, Brian Westbrook's best two seasons in rushing yards, receiving yards, yards-per-carry, yards-per-reception and total touchdowns were both seasons Tapeh started at full back. On February 29, 2008 (the first day of free agency), Tapeh signed a five-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings head coach Brad Childress, who worked with Tapeh as the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, envisioned a long-term pairing between Tapeh and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson.
Thomas is currently an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Tom Gitaa is the editor-in-chief, founder and publisher of the Minneapolis-based and award-winning Mshale Newspaper - a source of news and information for African immigrants in the Midwest for the last 27 years. He is a longtime speaker in Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions program, America's largest discussion program on world affairs.
He has served and continues to serve on numerous boards and trade associations including Global Minnesota, United Nations Association and has served on the Vision Council for the Ordway. He is a past board president for Books for Africa, the largest shipper of donated school textbooks to Africa. He has served as chair of the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), a unique body that represents the business interests of owners of the state's ethnic owned media such as Hmong Today, Asian American Press, Insight News, La Raza Radio, Latino American Today and of course Mshale.
Tom and his wife Resley are active in community service including the annual African Awards, a Mshale initiative. He is also an avid distance runner and a regular participant in the Twin Cities Marathon.
Tom was born and raised in the coastal city of Mombasa in Kenya through high school before moving to Minnesota for college. He graduated with a BA in Business from Metropolitan State University and holds a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
He has served and continues to serve on numerous boards and trade associations including Global Minnesota, United Nations Association and has served on the Vision Council for the Ordway. He is a past board president for Books for Africa, the largest shipper of donated school textbooks to Africa. He has served as chair of the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), a unique body that represents the business interests of owners of the state's ethnic owned media such as Hmong Today, Asian American Press, Insight News, La Raza Radio, Latino American Today and of course Mshale.
Tom and his wife Resley are active in community service including the annual African Awards, a Mshale initiative. He is also an avid distance runner and a regular participant in the Twin Cities Marathon.
Tom was born and raised in the coastal city of Mombasa in Kenya through high school before moving to Minnesota for college. He graduated with a BA in Business from Metropolitan State University and holds a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
