Desirée Knight is a proven association executive with more than 25+ years-experience. As a celebrated speaker, moderator and facilitator who has a passion life-long learning, understands the importance of creating inclusive environments for all.

Her background on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access involving social awareness around biases has been brought to life through her volunteer work with the Event Industry Council and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

Her enthusiasm for bringing people together is explored through her appointments on industry customer advisory boards and the PCMA Board, where she serves on the Governance Committee as chair.

Over the last 20 years, she has worked for the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) and is currently the Senior Director of Education & Meetings. In this capacity she is responsible for utilizing her leadership skills in executing a portfolio of global events which includes an annual conference, exposition, symposiums, and webinars.

In addition, Desirée is the lead business event strategist for a collaborated meeting with Railway Interchange, which combines four associations business rules and cultures.

As an education enthusiast, she enjoys overseeing the adult learning program for experienced and young professionals seeking to increase their skills and knowledge in railway engineering.

In 2018, Desirée earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executive (ASAE) and is an ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership (DELP) Scholar (2016-2018 Class).

Desirée was named the 2019 Event Industry Council, Pacesetter - D&I Social Responsibility, a 2017 and 2019 Meetings Today Magazine, Meeting Trendsetter and named one of the 500 must know event pros by Biz Bash. She is a certified meeting planner (CMP) and a digital event strategist (DES).

Shantel Davis is Vice President, Sales & Group Manager, Southeast with The Greenbrier Companies (GBX); leaders in rail car and barge manufacturing and freight transportation services.

She provides executive sales and marketing leadership for implementing both short- and long-term business strategies and supply chain solutions for an approximately $700M portfolio of revenue and volume growth for domestic and global distribution.

Prior to joining GBX, Shantel served as Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities Management at CSX Transportation where she managed land sales and auxiliary services totaling over $600M.

In her current role, Davis draws upon over 20 years of experience in sales & marketing, real estate and facilities management with CSX Transportation while living in Vancouver, WA, Tampa, FL and now back in her birthplace, Jacksonville, FL.

Shantel holds a master of business administration from Jacksonville University and a bachelor’s degree in communications and criminal justice from the University of North Florida.

Shantel serves on various boards including the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, University of North Florida Foundation, Jacksonville University Public Policy, Goodwill Industry of Northeast Florida and Jacksonville Classical Academy.

In July 2019, Shantel was named to the Board of trustees at Florida State College of Jacksonville by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Shantel is the proud mother of one daughter. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She is a lifetime member of Leadership Florida, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and Jack & Jill of America, Inc.

Lisa A. Stabler was named President of the TTCI in October of 2011. As President, she is responsible for research, testing, training and technical services provided to the industry. Major commercial customers include all North American Class I railroads and other organizations in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

In addition to her duties as President of TTCI, Mrs. Stabler serves as Co-Chairman for the International Heavy Haul Association and is a Director for the World Conference on Railroad Research and the International Union of Railways (UIC).

In 2017, Mrs. Stabler was honored by the League of Railway Women as the 2017 Outstanding Woman of the Year and as one of Railway Age’s 2018 Women in Rail.

Mrs. Stabler joined TTCI in 2010 as Vice President-Operations and Training. Prior to TTCI, Mrs. Stabler was employed by BNSF RR as Assistant Vice President – Quality and Reliability Engineering. She came to BNSF RR from General Motors/Delphi, where she had several assignments in Product Engineering, Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning.

Mrs. Stabler holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Dayton, and a Master of Science in Mathematics from Wright State University along with several ASQ certifications.

Roquita Coleman Williams is a commercial leader, professional speaker and DE&I advocate who has managed growth strategies and market expansion for logistics giants UPS, CN Rail and short-line railroad Patriot Rail — where she served as AVP of Sales.

Named MBJ Super Women in Business and Progressive Railroad Magazine Rising Star of North American railroads, she has led a team of 300+ sellers unlocking extraordinary value for Fortune 500 companies across three continents and a dozen business verticals.

With strong values around social responsibility and economic equity, Roquita has served on high-impact civic, municipal and non-profit boards; including an appointment to the Board of Commissioners for Tennessee’s largest metropolitan transit agency; an economic impact exceeding $500M.

In 2016, she made a bold decision to work in the railroad’s most essential operations role where she earned a license as train conductor.

In a 2019 TEDx Talk , Roquita drew on this life changing experience to share how corporations can empower managers to help create the diversity and inclusion they are looking for. Netflix described Roquita’s dynamic storytelling “as having captivating insights to help people bridge differences and connect”.

Roquita now Heads Sales Effectiveness & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Partnerships with Habits at Work based in Chicago.

Roquita and her team believe magnetic, highly-effective people who unlock value for customers are those who practice a set of high-impact habits and who lead creative conversations. These same skills enable teams, managers and leaders to create positive change in their company and their communities.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is a vision for the future that we can literally “speak into existence” in much the same way that effective people help customers to speak their preferred futures into existence!

Roquita is the author of Storealities: an inspiring collection of raw and authentic stories from 22 women across the nation. Proceeds from the project go to Memphis area non profits committed to reduction of poverty for women in children in under-served communities.

TEDx, Fedex Worldwide, Hilton Worldwide, International Paper, League of Railway Women, The Urban League, The Mom Project.

AJ Jorgenson is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at The Manufacturing Institute, the non-profit affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Ms. Jorgenson develops and executes all strategic operations for the Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion pillar, and the Institute’s largest program, STEP Women’s Initiative.

She works to foster and promote an inclusive culture in manufacturing, supporting companies with their D&I efforts and amplifying best practices to multiply the impact.

She also leads industry engagements to increase the number of women in manufacturing, while developing and maintaining a network of more than 1,000 STEP Ahead alumnae.

Previously, Ms. Jorgenson oversaw national Manufacturing Day to 2,500 events nationwide, reaching 350,000 students, parents, and teachers and helped lead the Institute’s partnership with the U.S. military to assist veterans and transitioning military personnel prepare for and find jobs in manufacturing.

As Communications Director, she also managed all aspects of the Institute’s communications strategy and execution, public relations and internal communications for the organization.

Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Jorgenson worked at the NAM as the Manager of Board and Strategic Initiatives, where she was responsible for developing engagement strategies for the Board of Directors.

Previously, Ms. Jorgenson served as the Executive Coordinator of Research and Development for Mars, Incorporated. Before Mars, she worked as a programs and marketing assistant, specializing in government affairs and event planning.