STEM Talks
STEM professionals from a variety of industries, and often some of the same neighborhoods as the students, share what inspired and motivated them in both their life and career journey. Through STEM Talks, students can begin to visualize their future differently.
Ready to become a STEM Talk Speaker? Contact Querube Della Cella with questions at (312) 237-4214 or click the button to the right.
Tola Alade-Lambo
VP-Quality & Food Safety, Ferrara Candy Company
“What is worth doing at all, is worth doing well”
Peter Bernstein
Principal Architect, TransUnion
“Find your mentors”
Heather Boggs
SVP, InTech & Quality, Ferrara Candy Company
“STEM Provides a wealth of Opportunities for the Future”
Beth Bond
Founder of ForGoods and Founder of Community Startups, an incubator and accelerator program for CPS youth.
“Your perspective can change the world”
Ezra Chaskelson
General Manager in Canada, Ferrara Candy Company
“STEM knowledge creates opportunities even in a non-STEM career”
John Conversa
Sr. Director of Operations, Ferrara Candy Company
“Successful “C” student learned how to learn”
Tia Craddock
Brand Manager, Seasonal (Valentine’s & Halloween), Ferrara Candy Company
“Curiosity Creates Opportunity”
Anne Cruz
IT Director – Pharmacy Delivery, Walgreens
“If I can do it, so can you”
Stacey Espinosa
Senior Director, InTech Sugar, Ferrara Candy Company
“Better an oops than a what if.”
Charles Gill
Owner, Creating Life Goals, LLC
“Whatever life throws at you, be prepared”
Miguel Guerra
Wireless Enterprise Architect, CDW
“The choices you make determine the life you live”
Gregory Guidotti
General Manager, Sugar Portfolio, Ferrara Candy Company
“The Art of Science and Marketing”
Ron Harris
ITS Director of Configuration Services, CDW
“Growth is the result of learning from your mistakes”
Jason Havlin
VP of Supply Chain Finance, Ferrara Candy Company
“The Language of Business”
Vernon Johnson, Ph.D.
Director, Diversity & Inclusion Retail, Brookfield Properties
“Finding the Right Track”
Andy Khorshid
VP of Sales, Focused Labs
“A Purpose-driven Life”
Lena Lewis
Consumer Experience, VP, Ferrara Candy Company
“Invisible Barriers”
Arunashish Majumdar
Senior Leader, Financial Services Consulting, Accenture
“Change is the only constant”
Fletcher McCombie
Director, Jabian Consulting
“Learning from failure can create success”
David McGranahan
Expert Food Scientist, Ferrara Candy Company
“STEM as a way of thinking”
Diana Mucci
Client Executive, Cybersecurity Managed Services, EY
“All Roads Lead to STEM”
Christina Perry
Sr. Team Lead, TransUnion
“A career in STEM can begin anywhere.”
William J. Reed
Enterprise Account Manager, HP
“Finding the best job for me”
Sandi Santa Ana
Director of Category Management, Ferrara Candy Company
“Find your path, through the power of questions”
Carmen Santiago-Keenon
Founder, IT Girl Solutions
“Stay aware of the opportunities presented in life, and look to make some of your own”
Karriem Shakoor
VP, CIO at Underwriters Laboratories
“Technology Gave Me a Future”
Alok Sharma
Business Analyst/Technology, Arity
“Change: the only constant”
Jack Shedd
Partner/Interactive Director, Mess
“An unnecessary amount of hard work”
Chandrika Shrinivasan
Business Unit Head, Tata Consultancy Services
“Dare to dream and never lose hope”
Jim Tandy
Director of Project Engineering, Ferrara Candy Company
“Resourcefulness and Resolve”
Melissa Tate
Corporate Sustainability Specialist, Ferrara Candy Company
“When necessary, use words”
Ken Townsend
VP, Chief Information Security Office, R1 RCM
“Preparing for success in an unknown world.”
Paula Tripp
Director, Consumer and Business Insights, McDonald’s Corporation
“Seventh grade science fair launches a 6 figure career.”
Nicole Walker
Senior Director Innovation Incubator, Innovation Platform Consultant, HCSC Innovation Platform
“Staying True to What You Enjoy”
Salena Whitfield, Ph.D.
Finance Director, Abbott
“A passion for winning”
Alberto Zapata
Creative Director, Ferrara Candy Company
“So much design is rooted in STEM”