Meet Our Inspiring Panelists!
The First Annual 2025 ZLR Conference brings together a powerful lineup of speakers who are leaders, innovators, and changemakers. They will share their insights, experiences, and strategies to inspire and empower you on your journey. Get ready for engaging discussions, expert advice, and transformative conversations!
Stay tuned for speaker announcements!
Interested in becoming a Speaker? Send us a message!
Hosts & Panelists
Tino Chinembiri
Founder, Zim Ladies Roundtable
Dr. Tafadzwa "Taffy" Sithole
Founder, Zim Ladies Roundtable
Event Facilitator
Jerry Knoop
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Jerry Knoop is a facilitator and connector dedicated to bringing people and businesses together. His passion is to foster meaningful connections, encourage collaboration, and create opportunities that strengthen the business community. Jerry creates environments where business, community, and faith leaders can share ideas, build relationships, and grow together.
Panelist
Cheyenne McMullen-Hall
Founder and Your Digital Marketing Strategist at Cheyenne Marie Consulting
Cheyenne McMullen-Hall a wife, mom, and multi-preneur. She is the founder and Your Digital Marketing Strategist at Cheyenne Marie Consulting. She focuses on elevating businesses by building brands, websites, email marketing campaigns, social media strategies, and offers marketing consulting services. Cheyenne is also a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant servicing central and southern Indiana. She’s passionate about creating connection and confidence by helping women elevate their business, their brand, and how they show up every single day.
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Marketing Website: https://www.cheyennemarieconsulting.com
Mary Kay Website: https://www.marykay.com/cheyennemcmullen
Instagram: @cheyennemarieconsulting Facebook: Cheyenne Marie Consulting
Panelist
CJ Mitchell
Principal Product Manager at Amazon
CJ Mitchell is a Principal Product Manager at Amazon, where he builds AI and machine-learning forecasting systems for one of the largest logistics networks in the world. He’s also an adjunct professor at Clark Atlanta University, teaching AI & Business and helping the next generation of HBCU talent move from curiosity to capability. A Howard University BBA and Clark Atlanta MBA, CJ leads an AfroTech investment group focused on the AI infrastructure boom and creates technical content for a growing audience on his channel, putchuon. His work sits at the intersection of applied AI, strategy, and building tools that give people leverage.
Panelist
Shaneeka R. Abram
Founder of Abundant Solutions Consulting
Shaneeka R. Abram, widely known as Brand Queen, is a Global Award-Winning Strategist, certified AI Master Trainer, and Innovator of the Year, recognized as a Hoinser Awarder Top 50 Global Change Maker. Having over 20 years of experience in brand strategy, marketing and tech, owning a full service PR firm, she is what many call a unicorn. Former software developer, she is also a certified Google Developer, built relationships with Shopify and Wix from designing websites on their platforms , she is a certified partner with both. She helps business owners, organizations, and leaders use artificial intelligence as a silent business partner to automate intelligently, build authority, and scale without losing their human voice. Shaneeka specializes in: AI strategy and ethical automation Branding authority in the age of AI Business systems and operational clarity AI education for entrepreneurs and organizations Preventing burnout through smarter systems Her work focuses on helping founders and professionals move from survival mode to structured, sustainable growth using clear systems, responsible AI, and values-driven strategy.
To dates she has certified over 259 founders, professionals and educators on AI Prompt Engineering in Indiana, California, globally in Liberia, Ghana, Dubai and the Philippines. She is an author of "Automate Like A Boss Making AI Your Silent Business Partner" and "Build It Like A Boss: Branding Authority & Automation In The Age of AI" both available on Amazon and founded an AI Summit during Indiana Women In Tech Week "AI Access Revolution Indy Women Breaking Barriers" Shaneeka’s work and insights have been featured in Marketing Edge, ShoutOutHTX, Voyage Magazine, and the BEO Show. When she’s not building brands and creating new marketing trends, you’ll find her in arenas cheering her children on in baseball and competitive cheer.
Panelist
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Lateva Woolfork & Starla Kay Mathis
Co-Founders of Create. Connect. Collab.
Lateva Woolfork is a Detroit girl living in an Indianapolis world — a visionary entrepreneur, speaker, faith leader, and proud mom of six. She is the Founder of Socially Coordinated Consulting (SoCo PR), a communications and brand strategy firm elevating mission-driven organizations through public relations, community engagement, and authentic storytelling. As Co-Founder of Create. Connect. Collab., Lateva empowers entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and meaningful connections through community and accountability. A dedicated small-business coach and advocate, she is committed to helping founders gain confidence, clarity, and strategy for growth. Lateva is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a member of Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Class XLVIII, and an Indy 40 Under 40 honoree for her civic leadership. Known for her warmth, humor, and authenticity, she creates spaces where people feel seen, supported, and strengthened in every season.
Co-Founder/Co-Owner Starla Kay Mathis is a wife, mom of two, speaker, plus-size model, photographer, and multi-preneur. She co-owns Mathis Media, a full-service media and marketing agency, with her husband, and together they also run Mathis Media Studio, specializing in Portrait, Family, Milestone, Seniors, Newborn, Weddings, and “In The Box” Photography. She is a Co-Founder of Create. Connect. Collab., a hybrid community for women business owners, Starla provides professional development, accountability, and networking. A community-driven leader, creator of safe spaces, and published photographer based in Indianapolis, she believes in creating a life you love and living it.
Panelist
Jason Van Horn
Investment Advisor | Growth & Development Director | U.S. Navy Senior Chief (Ret.)
Jason Van Horn is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief and current financial advisor and Growth and Development Director at Northwestern Mutual. With 21 years of military leadership and a Master’s in Project Management from USC, he now leads a top-performing financial practice, helping over 200 families and business owners with strategic planning and legacy building.
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He also co-manages four daycare centers with his sister in honor of their late mother. Jason is a devoted husband and father of three, driven by purpose, service, and growth. As a speaker, he shares practical insights on leadership, resilience, financial literacy, and life after service.
Panelist
Lynnea Redmon-Williams
Founder of A Spoonful of Fruit, LLC
Lynnea Remdon-Williams is a transformational speaker, leadership coach, educator, and founder of A Spoonful of Fruit, LLC, a personal and professional development organization dedicated to helping individuals change their mindset, break destructive cycles, and walk in purpose. With over a decade of experience in leadership development, coaching, facilitation, and community engagement, Lynnea is known for her ability to blend truth, storytelling, strategy, and spiritual insight to create powerful moments of transformation.
She currently serves in leadership at RISE INDY where she works to develop leaders, strengthen communities, and create spaces for growth, accountability, and empowerment. Lynnea is also an adjunct professor, trainer, and consultant. Her teaching on “Seeds and Beliefs” challenges people to examine the thoughts, patterns, and internal narratives shaping their lives. Through honest conversation and practical wisdom, she helps audiences uncover how mindset influences identity, relationships, leadership, and purpose. Lynnea has been married for 24 years and is the proud mother of three. Her passion is inspiring others to transform, grow, and evolve while becoming who they were always meant to be.
Panelist
Donna Gray
CEO of Matchbook Marketing
As the founder and CEO of Matchbook, an Indianapolis-based marketing agency she founded in 2007, Donna Gray has dedicated her career to solving complex problems through creative strategy. Her approach combines innovative thinking with a deep understanding of clients’ needs, allowing Matchbook to deliver impactful solutions for its partners.
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In addition to leading Matchbook, Donna is an assistant professor at Marian University’s Center for Leadership in Practice, where she teaches adaptive leadership. This work allows her to connect decades of professional experience with her passion for preparing individuals to navigate complexity, see more clearly, and work through challenges that do not have simple solutions.
Her journey in marketing, education, and leadership has been shaped by three core strengths:
Creative Insights: With a background in design and new media, Donna brings a unique perspective to every challenge. Creativity has been a cornerstone of Matchbook’s success and was further developed during her time as Vice President and Creative Director at Gumas Advertising in San Francisco, where her work earned multiple national awards.
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Strategic Thinking: Donna believes in the power of strategy to transform businesses. At Matchbook, the team does more than create marketing campaigns. They develop comprehensive strategies that align with clients’ long-term goals and drive meaningful results.
Adaptive Leadership: As an educator and lifelong learner, Donna is passionate about developing adaptive leadership skills in herself and others. She earned her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Marian University and applies the principles of adaptive leadership in the classroom, at her agency, and throughout her work with organizations and communities.
Throughout her career, Donna has had the privilege of sharing her expertise with the next generation of marketers and leaders. As a former faculty member at Butler University and Ball State University, she led student teams to regional first-place finishes in the National Student Advertising Competition—a first for Butler University.
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Donna is deeply committed to giving back to her community and continues to serve on the boards of several Indianapolis-based nonprofit organizations. She believes in using her skills and experience to create a positive impact, both in business and throughout the community.