President

I would like to welcome you to the National Diversity Conference website.  I am personally very excited about the launch of this site.  The idea of having state diversity conferences across the country is novel but I believe it is essential.  The changing demographics of the workplace, the marketplace and in our communities make such an idea very viable. 

In 2003, I had a vision to hold a state wide diversity conference in Texas.  I had no experience in organizing a conference; nonetheless, in 2004 I signed a contract to host the First Annual Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference at the Marriot Rivercenter in San Antonio in 2005.  At the time the contract was signed, I had no speakers, sponsors or individuals to help organize this event but I did have a tremendous amount of faith and confidence.    My strategy was “to build and they will come.”  Well, in Texas they have been coming for four years to participate in the annual Diversity & Leadership Conference.  The conference has featured great keynote speakers including:  General Colin Powell, Dee Dee Myers, Carly Fiorina, Jeb Bush, Spike Lee, Chastity Bono and Maria Hinojosa.  In addition to the keynotes, the conference features concurrent sessions that cover the following topics:  Leadership, Diversity, Talent Management, Recruiting, and Professional Development.  The Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference (www.texasdiversityconference.com) has been very successful at bring individuals and organizations together to celebrate, learn and grow in the area of diversity & inclusion.  It has made a huge impact in the state.  My hope is that other states can have the same success.

In closing, I would like to point out that having state conferences allows each state to have local individual’s engaged in discussing local issues that are germane to their community.  Each community is unique.  Creating dialogue that is center on diversity and inclusion is both healthy and important to every community across our country.  Please help me bring a conference to your state. 

Thanks,

Dennis Kennedy
President & Founder
National Diversity Conference

MEET DENNIS KENNEDY