The Diversity Leadership Alliance is proud to present the 7th Annual Diversity Leadership Alliance Conference, October 22nd, 2008 at the Phoenix Convention Center.  The theme for the 2008 DLA Conference is "Engaging an Inclusive Community." 

As always the conference will feature exceptional workshops hosted by world speakers, guided dialogue sessions focusing on emerging issues and best practices, and the opportunity to network with other professionals in an inclusive environment.  Of course, DLA’s Youth partners from various High School Districts in the state will add their energy and enthusiasm to the conference’s experience for all.

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 Announcing the Keynote Speaker!

Stedman Graham is chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates (SGA), a management and marketing consulting company that specializes in the corporate and educational markets.  Clients have included Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, CVS Pharmacy, Manpower, the, U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps, Credit-Suisse First Boston, Harvard and Wharton business schools and the U.S. Department of Education.

 

As a businessman, educator and speaker, he presents, consults and conducts training with corporations, organizations and nonprofits on the topics of maximizing leadership, achieving success, growing a business, embracing diversity, achieving optimal health, and personal and professional branding.  His corporate seminars are driven by his proprietary Nine-Step Success Process™ which teaches people how to understand who they are, develop a vision for their lives and provides a continuous approach for growth, learning and maximizing personal and professional potential. 

 

Graham has authored ten books, including two New York Times bestsellers, You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan for Success and Teens Can Make It Happen: Nine Steps to Success.  Build Your Own Life Brand explores the concept of personal and professional branding. Move Without the Ball is a collection of principles that teaches students that sports are a part of life, not life itself. Who Are You? Building Your Life’s Foundation focuses on success through self-discovery.  His latest release Diversity: Leaders not Labels includes his unique approach to eliminate barriers to success.

 

Actively involved in education, Graham taught “The Dynamics of Leadership” for five years at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.  He is a former adjunct professor of the University of Illinois-Chicago where he taught a leadership course based on his Nine-Step Process and he serves as an adjunct or distinguished professor at several other universities across the country. 

 

Graham has shown a lifelong commitment to youth and community. In 1985, he founded AAD Education, Health and Sports, a nonprofit organization of athletes and other civic leaders committed to developing leadership in underserved youths. An organization with over 500 professional athletes, AAD has served over 15,000 students through education and scholarships. Graham serves on several boards to include the national board of Junior Achievement (JA) and the 7-Eleven Education Is Freedom Foundation, and he is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.

 

Graham holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Hardin-Simmons University. He received a master’s degree in Education from Ball State University and an honorary doctorate in Humanities from Coker College, where he is also a distinguished visiting professor.