A CREW Orlando event
Empowered by HERstory: A Juneteenth Celebration of Women Changemakers
June 19, 2024
11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Featuring
Shawn Burnett
Vice President of Legal Services, Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Shawn Burnett is Vice President of Legal Services for Holiday Inn Club Vacations. Joining the company in 2017, Shawn is responsible for regulatory compliance (licensing, telemarketing and advertising law), entity management, and privacy for the organization. Shawn is also Chair of the company’s Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Council. Prior to working for Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Shawn spent 12 years in the public sector, most recently as Deputy General Counsel for City Colleges of Chicago, one of the largest community college districts in the United States. Shawn attended the University of Oregon, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Juris Doctorate degree.
Nadine Mentor Williams
President, Mentor Holdings and Investments, Inc.
Mrs. Mentor Williams has over 20 years of experience as an investment banker and investor. She is the Founder and President of Mentor Holdings and Investments, Inc., a black, female-owned business development company. Mrs. Mentor Williams has transacted over $16 billion of financings globally.
Mrs. Mentor Williams started an initiative called Black Women Building Wealth to educate and empower women of color about resources and opportunities to build generational wealth for their families and communities. She has also worked on development finance deals in Africa and helped to launch a women fund manager program in Southern Africa to increase the number of women-owned and women-led funds investing in businesses that empower women in Africa.
In 2010, Mrs. Mentor Williams founded The Greatest Investment Girls Empowerment Program (“TGI”) for teen girls in the Central Florida community. Over the last 14 summers, TGI has hosted its annual four-week free summer camp to fill the need for positive programs available to teen girls of color, especially during the summer months. TGI has transformed the lives of over 450 young leaders in the U.S., Haiti and South Africa.
Among her many accolades, Mrs. Mentor Williams was recognized as one of Orlando Business Journal's 40 under 40, Spectrum News 13’s Everyday Hero, Orlando Magazine‘s Woman of the Year, WESH 2’s CommUNITY Champion, Orlando Family Magazine‘s Woman of the Year, and the Orlando Business Journal as a Woman Who Means Business Awardee.
Mrs. Mentor Williams is a summa cum laude graduate of Pace University and earned her M.P.A. from Columbia University.
Hope L. Newsome, Esq.
Founder, Meris Law PLLC
Since 2006, Hope Newsome has focused her practice on venture and private financings, private funds, and institutional investment managers and broker-dealers. She has served as counsel to emerging and impact investment managers, private and public funds, limited purpose and capital acquisition broker-dealers, and entrepreneurs seeking capital. Before founding Meris Law PLLC, she co-founded a boutique law firm focused on financings. Her background also includes serving as general counsel and chief compliance officer of registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and registered and private funds. She serves on the boards of the National Society of Compliance Professionals, Heart of Florida United Way as chair-elect, and the African American Chamber of Commerce Central Florida as chair. She is a member of the Florida Bar, the Orlando (FL) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. The Orlando Business Journal has recognized her as 40 under 40 and Women Who Mean Business. Previous awards also include Top Compliance Counsel-First Chair Awards. Hope earned her law degree from the Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Barry University, and her undergraduate degree from Spelman College. She regularly speaks at industry events and publishes articles on topics that impact her clients.
Nikki Lewis Simon
Senior Vice President, Shareholder & Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Greenberg Traurig PA
Moderator
Greenberg Traurig Senior Vice President and Shareholder Nikki Lewis Simon has made significant contributions to the legal profession and to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in her roles at the global law firm and her work with clients. As the firm's Chief DEI Officer, Nikki designs and guides strategic initiatives to deepen firmwide diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. With over two decades of experience as a commercial litigator, Nikki has represented her clients' business objectives by protecting their human, intellectual, and financial capital against claims of wrongdoing in complex commercial and class action litigation. Given her experience, Nikki is an active member of Greenberg Traurig’s Labor & Employment Practice’s DEI Consulting team. This team provides pragmatic employment legal advice that addresses the client’s risk tolerance, cultural realities, operational bandwidth, and budget. Nikki also is committed to community service through her church and in civic and professional organizations. Nikki graduated with honors from both Florida A & M University and the University of Miami School of Law.
Registration Options
Deadline to register is Friday, June 14 at Noon.
Event Sponsor
Companies and organizations align with our mission to strengthen their commitment to advancing women and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry.
Event Venue
Citrus Club
255 S. Orange Ave.
Suite 1800
Orlando, FL 32801
As part of CREW Network, the industry’s premier networking business organization, CREW Orlando is dedicated to advancing the success of women in commercial real estate. CREW Network’s membership of more than 13,500 professionals in over 75 major global markets represents all aspects of commercial real estate—providing our members with direct access to real estate professionals across all geographies and disciplines.
CREW Orlando
1201 Wakarusa Dr Ste D
Lawrence, KS 66049 USA
Toll-free: +1-888-866-CREW
Direct: 785-832-1808
Fax: 785-832-1551