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MARLEE MATLIN
OPENING GENERAL SESSION
Thursday, October 18 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Marlee Matlin is an Academy Award® winning actress who received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Paramount Pictures' Children of a Lesser God. In addition, she serves on the boards of numerous charitable organizations such as The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and Easter Seals. Simon and Schuster recently published the sequel to Marlee's novel for children, Deaf Child Crossing, titled Nobody's Perfect, and published a second sequel, Leading Ladies, in 2006. |
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GRACE ODUMS
GENERAL SESSION
Friday, October 19 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Grace Odums is an independent consultant who collaborates with organizational leaders, sharing proven tactics for creating and sustaining value through strategic alignment, change leadership, talent performance improvement and the integration of a system-wide diversity strategy and its related business principles. Colleagues and clients describe her as powerful, passionate, intelligent, strategic, polished, professional, relentless, compassionate and committed. |
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JAI RODRIGUEZ
GENERAL SESSION
Friday, October 19 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Jai Rodriguez is known for his success on Broadway and his recent television role as the culture vulture on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He is the perfect representation of an artist whose maturity, drive and talent have brought him to the forefront of the world of music and acting, and poised him for the success and status he has worked hard to deserve. |
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CHRIS GARDNER
CLOSING GENERAL SESSIONS
Saturday, October 20 10:45 a.m. - Noon
Chris Gardner, owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings, is a popular motivational speaker, addressing the keys to self-empowerment, beating odds, and breaking cycles. The amazing story of Gardner's life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, in May 2006, and is the inspiration for a movie of the same title, released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. Will Smith starred as Gardner, and Gardner served as an associate producer. |
