2024 Phenomenal Woman Speakers

We are thrilled to welcome you to this year's Phenomenal Woman Conference "Be, Bold, Be You! Leading with Purpose." We have gathered an extraordinary lineup of speakers who are movers and shakers in our community. Their expertise and passion promise to make this event a truly inspiring and transformative experience. We are excited to introduce these phenomenal women, each of whom will bring unique insights and perspectives to our stage. Join us in celebrating the knowledge and inspiration that our distinguished speakers will share.

We are excited to introduce Sylvia Crawley-Spann as our Phenomenal Woman Keynote Speaker!

Sylvia was born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio. She attended Steubenville “Big Red” High School, where she played volleyball, basketball, and ran track.  She earned a full scholarship to play basketball at the University of North Carolina, where she led the Tar Heels as a captain to a National Championship her senior year. She graduated with a double major in Communications, and Radio & TV Motion Pictures. 

Sylvia signed her first professional contract to play abroad in France and would continue professionally playing basketball in 16 countries. She is a silver and multiple gold medalist. She played USA basketball for the Jones Cup, and in 1997, she was named USA Basketball Player of the Year. Shortly after, she was added to the USA National Team and was named an Alternate for the 1998 Olympic Team. 

Sylvia played in the ABL American Basketball League, where she won the first-ever women’s Slam Dunk Contest. She won with a perfect score of 100, doing a Blindfolded Dunk. In 1998, The ABL suspended operations, and she quickly transitioned to the WNBA, where she played for the Portland Fire and the San Antonio Silver Stars. In 2004, Sylvia retired from the San Antonio Silver Stars, which relocated and is now known as the 2022 WNBA Champions Las Vegas Aces. 

Sylvia transitioned into coaching College Basketball and quickly rose to a Head Coaching position at Ohio University and Boston College, where she was the 1st ever Black Coach at both institutions. Sylvia has also played and coached at her Alma Mater UNC-Chapel Hill, where her jersey hangs in the Raptors. She has also coached at the highest-level as an Assistant for WNBA Indian Fever. Currently, she is a Global Coach who trains male and female athletes around the world. 

Off the court, Sylvia is a public speaker and the CEO of Crawley’s Creation LLC, a custom fashion design company for women of all sizes. She is also the co-founder of Monarch Magazine, sold nationwide at Barnes and Noble. Sylvia married her best friend, Pastor Brian Spann, and they reside in Durham, North Carolina, where they care for her parents. 

We are thrilled to welcome Taylor Johnson as our 2024 Conference Emcee!

Taylor joined 6 News WOWT after employing her dynamic storytelling abilities as a reporter at KCTV5 News in Kansas City. There, she had the opportunity to cover a vast array of news from separate visits from President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to all the excitement behind the Kansas City Chiefs. She's also worked in Terre Haute, Indiana and Lynchburg, Virginia.

Originally from Prince George’s County in Maryland, Taylor spent her younger years exploring neighboring Washington, D.C., where she learned a vast amount of cultural and American history.

Taylor is a proud Terp with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland in College Park."

We are thrilled to welcome Darnetta Sanders, a powerful attorney and lyricist known for her evocative and powerful words, to our conference. Her performances captivate audiences with their depth and lyrical brilliance. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness Darnetta's poetry live. 

Darnetta is an accomplished attorney, born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. As a skilled  advocate with her own law practice, she primarily serves families and business owners in  the legal areas of family law and business formation. Her legal background, which  includes graduating from Creighton University School of Law in 2004, while notable, is  not her only source of pride.  She also gleans pride from the fact that she was graced to  overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Her childhood desire to have her parents near,  as opposed to cycling through the criminal justice system, is what first sparked her legal  interests. In 2022, Darnetta’s longtime passion for writing coupled with her desire to  overcome the impact of grief from losing her mother, resulted in her first book, Beautiful  Vessels: The Gutting and Gifts that Grief Gives— a real and raw combination of her and  her mother’s life stories. It is available via amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Darnetta’s complex and courageous journey from neglect, abuse, and anger; to ameteaur  advocate for herself and loved ones; to attorney and author, boldly reinforces the belief  that with God’s help we become living proof of what He has written. 

Toccara Nicole, a remarkable force to be reckoned with, is a prolific 12-time author and a two-time Amazon Best Selling Author. Affectionately known as "The Identity Architect," she is a publisher, strategist, author, and visionary. Her guiding motto in life is, "Choose to live a life on purpose, for purpose!"

As a passionate advocate for Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Toccara Nicole empowers them to unlock their true selves, build successful businesses and brands, and ultimately rediscover their purpose. She harnesses her powerful insight, discernment, and sensitivity to help her clients tap into the treasures hidden within their very own vaults. By igniting the fire within, she serves as a midwife, guiding them to give birth to their unique gifts and talents.

Toccara Nicole is the visionary architect behind VOS Consulting and Publishing International, a platform that creates, cultivates, and launches authors, entrepreneurs, and storytellers into positions of success, enabling them to monetize their genius. Toccara Nicole also serves as an executive producer for several shows, including "Vault Talks Women Share," "What's The Real Deal with Toccara Nicole," and "The Authors Authority Lounge," which stands as the official TV show for authors. In September 2022, she launched her own TV network, The VOS TV Network, after having the privilege of interviewing notable celebrities such as Destiny Payton-Williams and the renowned Angie Stone. The VOS TV Network can be accessed on platforms like Roku, Apple, Fire, and Amazon TV. 

Ryleigh Eckles is a remarkably driven young woman who has achieved significant milestones fresh out of high school. She ventured into real estate at a young age alongside her father and successfully flipped her first property at the age of 16. Throughout high school, Ryleigh maintained straight As and served as the team captain of her school's inaugural girls' wrestling team. Her diverse experiences have fueled her passion to inspire other young individuals to seize opportunities early in their lives.

Faith Suh is the founder and CEO of Mon Cherie Faith, a company whose main goal is to enhance safety in society by providing Self-Defense keychains and other safety products. She is also the co-founder of GenZ LinkUp. She is a 20-year-old entrepreneur, a technology intern at Union Pacific, and a Junior in Computer Science at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Faith's main goal is to be a positive role model for young children who want to pave their way to success in an uncertain world. 

Shohina Sultonova, a co-founder of Gen Z LinkUp, has been a changemaker since diving into the world of internships and business consulting at the young age of 16. As a first-generation immigrant from Tajikistan who arrived in the U.S. at 12, Shohina deeply understood the hurdles minority students face when it came to career development. Given this and her drive to connect future leaders, she co-hosted a summit that focused on networking among Gen Z minorities, which in turn earned her a coveted spot in Harvard's competitive summer business program. Driven by a desire for global impact and cultural understanding, Shohina broadened her horizons for a semester in Spain and will now pursue a U.S. Ambassadorship program in Turkey. Shohina's journey embodies her dedication to creating opportunities and fostering positive international partnerships. Through her work, academic pursuits, and global perspective, Shohina's main goal is to empower young leaders from all backgrounds and build a more connected world.

In her current capacity as Vice President – Human Capital, McKell shapes the long-term vision and strategic direction for all facets of human resources management at OPPD. She is instrumental in designing and maintaining an organizational structure that aligns with OPPD’s mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and environmentally sensitive energy services. Her leadership fosters a resilient corporate culture, driving OPPD towards a future-ready workforce. McKell also oversees the administration and negotiation of bargaining unit contracts, ensuring fair and productive conditions for union-represented employees.

McKell boasts over 20 years of experience in human resources and consulting through global accounting firms and with a Fortune 100 company. Committed to enhancing the employee experience, she is passionate about developing leaders at all levels. Beyond her professional accomplishments, McKell holds several notable certifications, including an Advanced Executive HR Certification from Michigan University and a Utility Management Certification from Willamette University. She is also a Distinguished Toastmaster, reflecting her exceptional communication and leadership skills. McKell serves on the board of ICAN: Institute for Career Advancement Needs and is an advisor for the Center for Energy Workforce Development. She facilitates transformational leadership development sessions both locally and abroad, underscoring her dedication to empowering others.

McKell holds a master’s degree in actuarial science from Georgia State University’s Robinson School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of the West Indies. Her academic background, combined with her extensive industry experience, positions her as a dynamic leader capable of navigating and shaping the evolving landscape of human capital management. 

 Leanne Ball is the Vice President of Data & Analytics at Carson Group, a leading wealth management firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. With an undergraduate degree in math from Nebraska Wesleyan, a Masters in Statistics from Texas A&M, and a decade of experience in data, Leanne brings a wealth of knowledge in analytics, data governance and strategy enablement through data. 

In Leanne’s current role, she oversees Data Management, Data Engineering, and Reporting and Analytics, driving innovation and leveraging data to provide valuable insights and solutions for the firm. Leanne is particularly passionate about leadership development, building inclusive workplaces, machine learning, data governance, and data warehousing techniques. 

When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her daughter (Marjorie, 2) and husband, as well as CrossFit, running and traveling. Additionally, Leanne is currently pursuing an MBA from Nebraska Wesleyan University.

 Jacqelle "Jackie"  Lane, M. Ed., currently serves as Vice President of Inclusive Excellence & Continuous Quality Improvement at the Omaha Children's Museum. A certified DEIB specialist, Jackie is a dedicated educator with endorsements in English and English as a Second Language. She was a classroom teacher from 2009 until 2019. As the author of "From Bully to Bestie" and "Every Child Matters!", she guides students and educators on navigating bullying and fostering resilience. She hosts "Education with an Edge," a podcast focused on youth and suicide prevention. Formerly the Practice and Policy Fellow at the Nebraska State Education Association, she advocated for diversity and inclusion.

Keele Taylor is a talent maximizer who has dedicated the last 20 years of her career in HR Management to guiding complex leadership teams, revamping retention strategies, and enhancing talent  development for the purpose of achieving positive workforce transformation. Certified by the Society of  Human Resources Management and The HR Certification Institute, Taylor carries both her SHRM and HRCI professional credentials.  Taylor currently owns and operates HR Minded Consulting Services, LLC., where she customizes strategic HR solutions and provides essential employment policies and  compliance guidance that assist her clients in scaling their businesses and protecting their workplaces.    

Taylor’s executive HR leadership experience extends across multiple industries to include healthcare,  information technology, retail, manufacturing,insurance, hospitality, and non-profit business industries.   Passionate about all competencies of Human Resources, Taylor keeps her knowledge and experience  relevant and up-to-date by providing employment law and HR strategy advice to clients throughout the  Midwest and along the East and West Coasts.  Workplace safety and wellbeing is a special focus for  Taylor as she is an Authorized OSHA Trainer (providing OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour certifications), and sits as a member of the Board of Directors for the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands.  

Passionate about client relations as well as transformational results, Taylor is always looking for  opportunities to share her knowledge with others.  In 2023, Taylor presented alongside Gallup’s Dr. Jim  Harder at the Business Ethics Alliance’s Annual EthicSpace Conference on Performance Management,  and at the 2024 Midland’s African Chamber Conference on “Digital Disruption and The Future of Work”.  As a Gallup certified Strengths Coach, she provides Executive Strengths Coaching for business leaders in  both profit and non-profit sectors.  

Currently in pursuit of her Ph.D in Human Capital Management, Taylor has a Master’s degree in  Organizational Leadership and Development and is a recent graduate of the Non-Profit Executive  Institute.   

Taylor’s expertise and passion for Human Resources and Human Capital Management is more than a  marketable skillset; it is a way to give back and to influence positive change in tomorrow’s workplace.