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ATD Rochester Chapter

ROCTalent Summit 2023

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES


Registration Link:   ATD ROCTALENT SUMMIT REGISTRATION


Pete Blank, Leadership Expert, Author, Motivational Speaker

Pete Blank, MHR, CSP, CFT

While attending the University of Florida, Pete spent a summer as a Disney Cast Member making memories for guests while working in the Magic Kingdom parking lot.  That three month adventure confirmed what he believed...that this was the right company for him.

After a  stint as a television sportscaster, he returned to Disney in 1994.  Over the next 15 years, he managed various areas of Disney's theme parks and resorts, where he learned what it takes to run a world-class organization.

Pete was blessed to spend a majority of his time working at the Disney University.  While there, he led the Traditions program, which is known worldwide as one of the premiere employee orientation programs. He also facilitated college level courses to thousands of Disney College Interns, and was a Segment Learning Manager for Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and the Disney Cruise Line.

Today, he is the Training and Organizational Development Manager for the Personnel Board of Jefferson County in Birmingham, AL.  In this role, he manages a department responsible for providing leadership and management training to over 7,000 local government employees across 23 agencies.  His training team has won multiple awards, including Training Magazine's Training Top 125, HR.Com's Leadership 500, and ELearning's Top 100.

In addition, he works with organizations and associations all across the U.S., helping them achieve their goals in the areas of leadership, employee engagement and customer service.


Kesha Carter, CDP, PHR,

Chief Diversity Officer for Coordinated Care Services Inc.



Kesha Carter is the Chief Diversity Officer for CCSI. There she leads the organizational strategy on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and antiracism. She has facilitated DEI workshops, conversations, and trainings, both locally and nationally. Prior to coming to CCSI, Kesha developed policies and programs to attract, retain, and promote a diverse workforce. In another previous role, she assisted the Director and CEO with a broad spectrum of programming for employees. Kesha is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt, as well as a Professional Human Resources certification from the Human Resource Capital Institute. She was also a Young Athena Award Finalist 2019-2020 and a Democrat & Chronicle “Woman to Watch” in October 2016.


Elizabeth Meeker, PsyD,

Senior Director, Center of Excellence for Equity Focused Trauma Responsive Practice, Coordinated Care Services, Inc.





Caitlin Drago

President, Inspire Improv and Coaching Inc