Michelle Rivera grew up on the Southwest Side of Chicago and currently lives in the Chicagoland area. She has served on the non-profit board of Latinas On The Plaza, an organization dedicated to the personal and professional development of women and girls of color. Michelle earned a PhD in Communication and serves as a media expert for Women’s Media Center. She has contributed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility progress across the public and private sector. Currently, she works as a DE&I Business Partner for Outreach & Engagement for UScellular Corporation. There her goal is to add value by partnering, collaborating, and executing actions that bolster an inclusive workplace culture for all. This work is important to Michelle because it is grounded in her core values—uplifting our shared humanity and centering equity.
Alenda Durr is Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UScellular. She leads the DE&I strategy and recently served as HR business project lead to develop and implement the company’s hybrid work model. Alenda brings more than 25 years of HR experience in the disciplines of DE&I, compliance, HR business partnership and talent acquisition. Her work has focused on HR business partnership, policy development, workplace investigations, building inclusive engagement and leading change initiatives. Alenda holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in Human Resources from Loyola University Chicago.
As a senior product designer with a Master’s in Experience Design, Danielle integrates a background in communications, marketing, and even sculpture to craft innovative solutions that are not only functional but also visually compelling. With a knack for combining strategy with creativity and using an empathetic approach, Danielle has excelled in roles at top organizations like University of Virginia, Capital One, and LinkedIn. Currently at Under Armour, Danielle has worked on enhancing their digital products, including MapMyRun and eCommerce platforms.
Danielle’s passion extends beyond design; serving as co-chair of the LEAD (Leading and Empowering Asian Development) ERG and council member of the CCO DEI Council at Under Armour, she advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion. This blend of professional accomplishments and DEI leadership underscores Danielle’s dedication to creating impactful and inclusive experiences.
Ilyssa Padrid-Dykman is the Associate Director of Event Programs at Seramount. In this role, she leads all aspects of event planning and execution—from content development and speaker preparation to the seamless delivery of both virtual and in-person experiences. A strategic leader, Ilyssa brings a unique blend of expertise in client project management, event coordination, and data analysis. Prior to joining Seramount, she served as a Client Project Manager and Data Analyst at Jennifer Brown Consulting, where she guided clients through DEI strategy and measurement initiatives. She also worked at the Pacific Council on International Policy, helping to build and implement internal and external DEI efforts.Ilyssa holds a Master’s degree in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Policy, with a minor in Queer Studies, from the University of California, Irvine.
Outside of work, Ilyssa enjoys reading, solving puzzles, playing board games with her partner, and exploring new destinations with their beloved dog.
