Tired of networking in the same circles? Expand your horizons at our event focused on diversifying your PR network. Connect with professionals from various backgrounds, industries and specialties. Get actionable advice on overcoming networking biases, discovering untapped talent pools and fostering a more inclusive PR community.
Panelists:
Hamy Huynh, Talent Acquisition & DEI Manager at Colle McVoy
Named to the AAF’s Most Promising Multicultural Students class of 2020, ADCOLOR FUTURES class of 2023 and Ad 2 MN 32 Under 32, Hamy Huynh is making a name for herself in the advertising industry. Hamy started her career as an intern at Fast Horse, working her way up to Manager, Influencer & Brand Partnerships. Her portfolio includes integrated brand campaigns for global brands such as Heineken, Dunkin' and Audi, among others.
Hamy's passion for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) led her to her current role as Talent Acquisition & DEI Manager at Colle McVoy, a full-service creative agency under the Stagwell network. In this role, Hamy leads the Inclusion Council employee resource group, oversees Colle McVoy’s DEIB initiatives and champions change for a better future in the advertising industry by hiring and elevating representative talent.
Hamy's commitment to DEIB extends beyond her work at Colle McVoy. She served as the Co-Director of DEI for Ad 2 MN from 2021-2023 and sits on the Board of Advocates for Backpack Communications, a student-led agency at the University of Minnesota. In her spare time, Hamy strives to make a positive impact by mentoring students, public speaking at events and supporting local small businesses.
Jen Abbey, Program Manager for Take Flight: An Inclusive Communications Career Explorer
Jen Abbey is the former Director of Project Management for Carmichael Lynch, the agency she called home from 2005 to 2022. For the past two years she has served as the program manager for Take Flight: An Inclusive Communications Career Explorer. This direct-access learning program is led by Carmichael Lynch Relate, Exponent, Hotwire, Padilla, Tunheim and Weber Shandwick, and is designed for college juniors and seniors interested in the practice of marketing and communications in the Twin Cities area. The program seeks to foster a diverse and vibrant workforce to better represent the world and the messages we put into it through its learning sessions, mentorship and a robust network of industry professionals.
Jen is also a member of the leadership team for Shared Harvest Co-op, a start-up community-owned grocery store focused on increasing access to fresh, healthy and locally produced food in Elgin, Illinois.
Moderator:
Kelli Williams, Chief Executive Officer at The BrandLab
Kelli Williams believes her purpose on this earth is to create opportunities to grow and achieve more for the next generation — and she is actively walking in her purpose as the Chief Executive Officer at The BrandLab, a nonprofit on a mission to change the face and the voice of the marketing & advertising profession.
Kelli has a passion for individual and group development and has proudly taught, mentored and motivated teams for over 20 years while working inside marketing agencies and corporate environments, as an independent consultant and now as a nonprofit leader. In every iteration of her career, Kelli has led with a passion for driving organizational success through people and strategic development.
Kelli has received recognition for community-based and leadership contributions. In 2021, she received a TeamWomen WaveMaker Outstanding Mentor Award nomination. The African American Marketing Association (AAMA) recognized her as one of the 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise in 2022. In 2024, Kelli was recognized by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal in their PowerShift 25, celebrating CEOs who took the helm of Twin Cities organizations during the past year to carry the baton of growth, excellence and leadership in our communities. In the same year, Kelli was named by the Business Journal as one of the 50 Black Leaders to Know in the Twin Cities.
In addition to her full-time work, Kelli is the co-founder of 40 Acres Investments, a Board Director at T.WILL Sports, a professional speaker and an executive board member with the Greater Twin Cities United Way. Her professional and board roles allow Kelli to live out one of her core values of giving back and supporting others to achieve and grow.
Check out Kelli's links.