Conda Ross
Education Chair
| Keynote Speakers |
| Friday Dinner – Irish Smith Burch |
Irish Smith Burch
Sponsored by:
BNSF Toastmasters Club
From Demotion to Promotion: How to Go from Playing Small to Walking Tall!
In today’s world, there is normally a temptation to adapt to your surroundings. Unfortunately, this starves the world of your unique gifts and talents. Irish will empower you to start living out loud in a way that is authentic and unapologetic.
Biography
Irish Smith Burch is a lifelong Dallas resident who has dedicated her career to protecting the rights of underserved children and is committed to creating safe and supportive environments for them to thrive. She is the President and CEO of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, an internationally known non-profit. She is proud to now lead the agency where she started out as a front-line worker. She has also dedicated her time to helping others lead an authentic and well-balanced life while still advancing in the workplace.
| Breakfast – Dr. Basheer Ahmed |
Dr. Basheer Ahmed
Sponsored by:
Highway to Excellence
Stepping into Leadership
The major role of a leader is to direct, support and encourage employees to take responsibility and continue to develop their skills for self-improvement as well as the benefit of the team and organization. Dr. Ahmed will describe the skills, leaders should possess through critical thinking, decision-making, motivation, and conflict management.
Biography
Dr. Basheer Ahmed was born in India. After graduating from a medical school in Pakistan, he obtained post graduate degree and training in psychiatry at Glasgow University in Scotland. He came to the USA in 1968.
Dr. Ahmed held faculty positions at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at New York and was executive director of Sound View Throgsneck Community Mental Health Center, New York. He is a former professor of psychiatry at Southwestern Medical school, Dallas, TX. He is a distinguished fellow of American Psychiatrist Association. He has been practicing psychiatry in Fort Worth, TX since 1984.
He is a founder and Chairman Emeritus of Muslim Community Center for Human Services which provides medical, dental, and social services to indigent residents of DFW area.
Dr. Ahmed was honored by “Humanitarian Award” by Tarrant County Medical society (2008) and “Peace maker of the year” award by Dallas Peace Center (2012). Dr. Ahmed is a former board member of Multi-Cultural Alliance.
| Lunch Keynote – Chef Jason Blackwell |
Chef Jason Blackwell
Sponsored by:
Skymasters Club
Competitive Mindset/Growth in Competition
Chef Blackwell will share strategies on maintain a competitive mindset, how to exhibit focus, a determination to win while overcoming obstacles and growing through the process.
Biography
Jason Blackwell is an acclaimed chef who is recognized for his distinct style of Cajun cuisine. He executes his passions in catering, private events, weddings, corporate events, and speaking engagements, as well as in the classroom where he oversees the Culinary Program at Dallas’ Skyline High School.
Jason Blackwell is a native of Dallas, Texas. He is the proud father of Langston, Harper, and Greyson Blackwell. He attended South Oak Cliff High School and the University of North Texas. He is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. Blackwell is a member of the Texas Chefs Association and the American Culinary Federation. He is one of the most notable chefs to complete a Culinary Arts Degree from Dallas College’s Culinary, Pastry, and Hospitality program. He was featured on the Food Network Show Cutthroat Kitchen and Chopped. Blackwell brought home the Chopped Champion title in May of 2022.
| DTM Dinner Keynote – Berlinda Dorsey |
Berlinda Dorsey
Sponsored by:
Professional Speakers Support Group Advanced TMC
The Power to be your BEST YOU!
Being your best self involves staying focused and fully optimizing all your creative skill sets and maximizing your potential. Berlinda will equip the listener to be present in every moment of every day. It requires limiting distractions and in most cases a change in mindset, allowing the listener to promote his/her own positive thinking and creativity. Thereby, tapping into a higher level of self-confidence.
Biography
Berlinda Dorsey is a mother, a grandmother, Personal Development Coach, Author, Motivational speaker, and Ordained Minister in Dallas, Texas. Berlinda is the winner of the 2015 and 2019 Motivational Speaker of the year award and Leadership of the year award! She specializes in personal growth and development, Re-inventing you.
Berlinda serves as a private practitioner working with a broad array of clients in Community-based endeavors Berlinda’s Business programs include Going from Struggle to Strategy, Will The Real You Please Stand Up! My Soul Purpose, H.E.L.P. Me (Healing enriched life practicums).
Berlinda holds Business workshops and presents throughout the World to general audiences speaking on the topic of “Global mindset Training” and “The Belief system”. She is the President of The Legacy Academy Life Coaching Federation in Dallas, TX.
Berlinda holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and she resides here in the Dallas, Texas area.