With 20+ years of experience in the industry, Jade Sykes combines her past experience as VP of Sales and Brand Development, Wholesale Operations Director, Private Label & Licensing Manager, Brand Development Manager and Executive Fashion Editor, Editorial Wardrobe Stylist and Business Consultant into her role as Founder at The GEM Agency and President of Diversify Retail Inc.

DeAnna McIntosh is a trend-setting, results-driven Retail Consultant with 16+ years of experience helping brands drive sales, conversion, productivity, innovation, and engagement. With a strong eye for design and years of corporate merchandising experience, she has launched numerous products into retail and e-commerce platforms – with one of the most notable driving a $1M incremental sales increase. After the senseless murder of George Floyd, and seeing the awakening of retail companies to their own lack of diversity, DeAnna launched the Diversify Retail Initiative to connect two communities she loves – the retail community and the communities of color. She later joined forces with Jade Sykes and decided to turn the initiative into the non-profit organization you see today, to create a larger, global impact.

Willie A. Dorsey is a well beloved leader, and is the Former CFO at Cox Auto Trader, Inc. With over 30 years of Accounting and Leadership Experience, he brings tremendous value to the Diversify Retail Board as Treasurer.

Jekennia (Jeke) is a dynamic, interpersonal and results-oriented professional with operations, leadership, and visual merchandising experience. She holds 10+ years of Store Operations and Merchandising Experience with major retailers such as Apple, G-III Apparel Group, Eloquii, and Calvin Klein. She brings great value to the Diversify Retail Board as Secretary.

After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2003 with a BA in Media Arts and Communications, Kelly Helfman ran the e-commerce site for the well-known footwear brand London Sole and then went on to start her own celebrity-favorite fashion brand called Kween which was featured in In Style and Teen Vogue magazines. In 2006, Kelly made the shift to the business side of fashion when she began her career at Advanstar Communications, the parent-company of the largest U.S. Fashion Tradeshows like MAGIC and Project. Fifteen years later, Kelly is now a seasoned Fashion Executive who is currently serving as the Commercial President of Informa Fashion Markets, including MAGIC, Project and Coterie, overseeing sales, retail relations, experiential marketing, education, strategy, budgeting and digital for the portfolio. Over her 15 years at MAGIC, Kelly has created deep relationships with fashion brands and retailers at all levels of size and distributions. Kelly’s current role makes her responsible for $100M+ per year of revenue for the public company Informa. Under Kelly’s leadership, WWDMAGIC has been named the top U.S. tradeshow in both 2018 & 2019. With over 18 years of experience at in the industry, Kelly was just named one of BizBash’s 1000 Most Influential Event Professionals for 2019.

Jennifer is a Product Technology Strategist based in Dallas, TX who creates a space for Product Owners and Innovators to connect and thrive in the market to exceed their sales goals. She also helps clients create assets within their business outside of their actual products. Through much success with working with many consumer brands, Jennifer expanded her product development knowledge efforts across the US, helping companies exceed their current sales goals in the commercial and e- commerce space. In between driving what is next in Products and Technology, Jennifer is an Adjunct Professor at Texas Christian University where she teaches senior level Strategic Management courses at the Neeley School of Business. She is also a Board member with the TCU Young Chancellor Advisory Board, TCU Neeley School of Business – Entrepreneur & Innovation Institute, Southwest Angel Network, and St. Philip’s School and Community Center.

With 20+ years of experience in retail and marketing, Michelle Anderson Metcalf enthusiastically brings the totality of her experiences - as a women’s apparel buyer, CPG (consumer packaged goods) marketer, marketing consultant and head of eCommerce - into her role on the board of Diversify Retail. Michelle is passionate about increasing diversity in fashion and retail, the intersection of fashion and technology and seeing fashion brands and labels created by people of color realize both the cultural and financial benefits of their vision and hard work.

Roslyn is a collaborative, client centric business professional experienced in managing multi-million dollar accounts. She thrives in fast paced, innovative environments requiring quick thinking and decisive action with competing priorities. Roslyn is most proud of developing and leveraging effective and engaged field teams all across North America. Roslyn spent 25+ years in retail in various roles including buying, field management, omnichannel sales, & merchandising, and brings that experience to Diversify Retail Inc. to drive the richness of the content inside our Programs.