Ellen Engel: A 2023 Women’s Business Enterprise Network (WBENC) Star. Capitalizing on entrepreneurial skills and a broad base of knowledge in the training, coaching, legal, management, and international business fields, Ellen has spent the last twenty years providing cutting-edge professional training and coaching to government organizations, nonprofits, professional associations, and private industry. An attorney by trade but an entrepreneur by choice, Ellen has worked in an array of corporate, professional, and adult education fields. The LaunchPad is her passion project to empower the next group of career-oriented young professionals built on decades of best practices in the global business community.

LaShanya Aikerson: CEO of Aikerson Consulting Group, Inc. LaShanya built a 30-year career on helping others manage change – using techniques that separate the top performers from those who flounder in the professional world. As co-founder of The LaunchPad, Lashanya brings the skills and knowledge from decades of experience advising top companies and government agencies such as UPS, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Cox Communications, Stihl, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Hyundai, McKesson, Fiserv, Greenway Medical, Optim Healthcare, Eastex Credit Union, Agile Thought, Florida Crystals, Air Liquide, Go Balto, Austin Industries, Southern Glazer’s, Walmart eCommerce, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), OSHA, FEMA, CGI Federal, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Clayton County (Georgia), Texas A&M University, Spelman College, Fulton County Schools, National Urban League Young Prof., etc.

Chrystina Katz: Chrystina is a trainer, coach, mentor, software engineer, project manager, advocate, and adult education specialist. She specializes in Requirements Gathering, especially for software development, Retrospective Facilitation and Intention Management for proteges and mentors. Chrystina has 30+ years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience in various roles including engineering, operations, and project management in industries such as biomedical, automotive, HR/Payroll software and FINTECH technologies. She is the author of the Gutsy Pivot Planner “GPP” – Goals & Daily Planner and a Journal, all in one, and co-author of “Sparks: Ignite Your Way to Success”, listed on multiple Amazon Best Seller Lists. Chrystina empowers others to imagine a world where everyone is confidently Gutsy to pursue their dreams, their passions, and their purpose for this lifetime. With strategies, tools, techniques, and trusting the process, everyone can pivot to lives that serve their highest good and achievements

Lisa Ann Landry: Lisa Ann is a world-class learning and development specialist who deliver programs that ignite, inspire, and transform participant abilities in a fast-paced fun environment. She has worked closely with senior managers across organizations such as Microsoft, Clorox University, Touro University, Honda North America, and Boeing for over nineteen years to create and maintain learning and development contracts. Driven by a profound sense of adventure, Lisa Ann is able to leverage creativity and cutting-edge thinking in the social media marketing and has been featured in a number of articles, radio interviews, e-learning programs and webinars, as well as featured training and coaching presentations.

Cheryl Grazier:  Cheryl has a rich career history in both the public and private sectors marked with measurable success in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government and in education development, delivery and design. While at the Governor’s Office in Missouri, Cheryl developed policy statements and implementation strategies, created work plans and assigned activities for staff/interns, and applied advanced training in statistical methodologies to consistently and accurately determine qualitative and quantitative justifications for Governor’s response to financial programs. She also drafted and presented legislation to both House and Senate Committees, and rallied votes for successful passage of legislation. As the Executive Director for several government appointed councils, Cheryl coordinated with various collaborative project advisory committees to promote economic initiatives, eliminate government waste and duplication, and to promote women’s education, success, and access to resources in Missouri. She brings her insider knowledge of government and civics to The LaunchPad’s innovative educational program.

Oginga Carr: Oginga is a Certified High Performance Coach, author, national seminar leader, organizational structure expert and consultant. He brings 20 years of experience in Sales, Management, and Human Resources. His passion is in the dynamic of change; dealing with it, working through it, and preparing for it. Oginga has worked in the telecommunications, flooring, and print industries.  He is also a serial entrepreneur and has served as a magazine publisher, radio show host, TV show host, Executive Director of a non-profit foundation and many other capacities. Oginga focuses on productivity through structure and human capital development. He has trained tens of thousands of HR Professionals in 49 states.  He consults with and trains organizations in Human Resources and compliance.

Carl Flowers: Carl is a speaker, trainer, and entertainer. He has worked as an independent contractor for some of America’s top training companies and as a meeting and event planner where he arranged bi-annual sales conventions with over 4,000 attendees and produced General Assemblies for six bi-annual state-wide conventions with over 12,000 attendees each. Carl has also operated incentive travel programs for up to 500 attendees to destinations in Europe, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. As a former senior executive at BeautiControl Cosmetics, Carl was instrumental in building the business from just 1,000 representatives and $1 million in sales to over 100,000 representatives and $200 million in retail sales. Carl has spoken across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. about leadership motivation, sales skills, technical and business writing, project management, time organization, and finance and accounting. His style is informative and entertaining. A typical comment from his audience: “He kept me engaged all day. I was never bored!” Carl’s training experience extends across many fields and industries, including the oil and gas energy sectors, manufacturing and engineering companies, healthcare providers, financial and accounting firms, government and social agencies, military installations, and educational institutions. At Elevate, Carl brings his vast technical knowledge to our customized blend of practical training solutions and entertaining engagement. His core training topics (supervision, communication, technical and business writing, project management, emotional intelligence, leadership, and finances) and his enthusiasm and expertise make him an ideal fit for our clients who require highly technical training solutions.