Name:
FLEX: Personal & Professional Branding
Date:
September 9, 2021
Time:
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM CDT
Registration:
Register Now
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Event Description:
FLEX targets LGBTQ+ and ally professionals under the age of 40 and young at heart. The mission of FLEX is to create networking opportunities to connect young professionals to each other, foster collaboration with business leaders, provide educational engagements for young professionals to bridge the gaps between generations, nurture professional development, and create paths to success within the business community.
For the September 2021 FLEX, we will come together to discuss personal & professional branding, and its impact for both entrepreneurs and working professionals. We will listen in on a short Q&A as others share examples of their own personal branding, and then will engage in an interactive activity.
FLEX Sponsor: Wintrust Financial Corporation
Speakers: Randy Ford, First Stories Strategies; Shimmy Braun, Guaranteed Rate; Derrick Fleming, Jr., Chicago Scholars & The Gent Enterprises LLC; Kristina Wynne, The Wynners Club; Darien Marion-Burton, D.M. Burton.
Speaker Bios
Derrick Fleming, Jr. - When you think of style and class; organization and structure; education and empowerment; equity and advocacy, Derrick Marcell Fleming, Jr., also known as “Derrick The Gent”, is the man to make it happen. With a heart to serve and a passion for youth and system change, Derrick brings electrifying energy to any atmosphere. With over 10 years of experience in youth development and over 8 years of project management and coaching experience; Derrick brings a level of problem-solving skills that sets everyone at ease and makes solutions-focused work feel like fun.
Kristina M. Wynne is the Owner/Founder of The Wynners Club LLC, a business development consulting company that offers: business coaching, access to business funding, and business education. Her devotion to small business started almost 20 years ago when she began working for her family’s company, 200 Pharmacy Inc. at 16 as a licensed pharmacy technician. Her love for her family’s business and science led her to achieving a Bachelors of Bio-Physics from Chicago State University and a Masters of Public Health from St. Benedictine University. Ultimately, as an adult, Kristina worked for her family’s business for 8 years. She stepped down as the Director of Business Development in 2017 to take on an opportunity with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program (10KSB), where her true passion was revealed, helping small businesses grow. Ultimately she worked with the Goldman Sachs program for 3 years and in December of 2020, Kristina was brought on as business advisor with the IL SBDC located inside the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. She is proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and sits on the boards of two STEM focused nonprofits. In all that she has accomplished so far, her greatest achievement is raising her amazing 11-year-old daughter Kyleigh.
Randy Ford: Writer and Storytelling Strategist Randy Ford helps small businesses and nonprofits understand how the principles of storytelling can help them connect with their audiences. Randy started First Story Strategies (firststorystrategies.com) in 2016 after previous roles as a journalist, a congressional aide and a communications strategist.
Shimmy Braun has spent the last 21 years working in the Chicago mortgage market for Guaranteed Rate. As a gay man and father of a transgender son, Shimmy has the sensitivity and knowledge needed to understand and respect the real estate and financial needs of the LGBTQ+ community. You may recognize him from his billboards around the city featuring local drag performers and marketing his mortgage products. Shimmy is well known in the real estate industry for his honesty, integrity, low rates and excellent customer service.
Darien Marion-Burton is the Owner of D.M. Burton, a Creative Digital Marketing Agency that uses a holistic approach to helping you and your business become certifiably cool. In 2016 Marion-Burton graduated from Augustana College with a degree in Business Management and received honors upon graduating. By never being afraid to fail, By always keeping an open mind, and going the extra mile, Marion-Burton found success. Early in his professional career, Marion-Burton worked at Nordstrom, it was there that he developed his love of fashion. Shortly thereafter, he left Nordstrom to take a role at a FinTech start-up. After a 2 year tenure, Marion-Burton decided that it was his time to start the next great company; thus, D.M. Burton was born. During its initial three years, D.M. Burton has established itself as a force to the reckoned with in the digital marketing world.
For the September 2021 FLEX, we will come together to discuss personal & professional branding, and its impact for both entrepreneurs and working professionals. We will listen in on a short Q&A as others share examples of their own personal branding, and then will engage in an interactive activity.
FLEX Sponsor: Wintrust Financial Corporation
Speakers: Randy Ford, First Stories Strategies; Shimmy Braun, Guaranteed Rate; Derrick Fleming, Jr., Chicago Scholars & The Gent Enterprises LLC; Kristina Wynne, The Wynners Club; Darien Marion-Burton, D.M. Burton.
Speaker Bios
Derrick Fleming, Jr. - When you think of style and class; organization and structure; education and empowerment; equity and advocacy, Derrick Marcell Fleming, Jr., also known as “Derrick The Gent”, is the man to make it happen. With a heart to serve and a passion for youth and system change, Derrick brings electrifying energy to any atmosphere. With over 10 years of experience in youth development and over 8 years of project management and coaching experience; Derrick brings a level of problem-solving skills that sets everyone at ease and makes solutions-focused work feel like fun.
Kristina M. Wynne is the Owner/Founder of The Wynners Club LLC, a business development consulting company that offers: business coaching, access to business funding, and business education. Her devotion to small business started almost 20 years ago when she began working for her family’s company, 200 Pharmacy Inc. at 16 as a licensed pharmacy technician. Her love for her family’s business and science led her to achieving a Bachelors of Bio-Physics from Chicago State University and a Masters of Public Health from St. Benedictine University. Ultimately, as an adult, Kristina worked for her family’s business for 8 years. She stepped down as the Director of Business Development in 2017 to take on an opportunity with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program (10KSB), where her true passion was revealed, helping small businesses grow. Ultimately she worked with the Goldman Sachs program for 3 years and in December of 2020, Kristina was brought on as business advisor with the IL SBDC located inside the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. She is proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and sits on the boards of two STEM focused nonprofits. In all that she has accomplished so far, her greatest achievement is raising her amazing 11-year-old daughter Kyleigh.
Randy Ford: Writer and Storytelling Strategist Randy Ford helps small businesses and nonprofits understand how the principles of storytelling can help them connect with their audiences. Randy started First Story Strategies (firststorystrategies.com) in 2016 after previous roles as a journalist, a congressional aide and a communications strategist.
Shimmy Braun has spent the last 21 years working in the Chicago mortgage market for Guaranteed Rate. As a gay man and father of a transgender son, Shimmy has the sensitivity and knowledge needed to understand and respect the real estate and financial needs of the LGBTQ+ community. You may recognize him from his billboards around the city featuring local drag performers and marketing his mortgage products. Shimmy is well known in the real estate industry for his honesty, integrity, low rates and excellent customer service.
Darien Marion-Burton is the Owner of D.M. Burton, a Creative Digital Marketing Agency that uses a holistic approach to helping you and your business become certifiably cool. In 2016 Marion-Burton graduated from Augustana College with a degree in Business Management and received honors upon graduating. By never being afraid to fail, By always keeping an open mind, and going the extra mile, Marion-Burton found success. Early in his professional career, Marion-Burton worked at Nordstrom, it was there that he developed his love of fashion. Shortly thereafter, he left Nordstrom to take a role at a FinTech start-up. After a 2 year tenure, Marion-Burton decided that it was his time to start the next great company; thus, D.M. Burton was born. During its initial three years, D.M. Burton has established itself as a force to the reckoned with in the digital marketing world.
