Please join the Chamber Leadership Alliance (CLA) for the CLA Solidarity 3A Action Series - Allyship on Tuesday, October 12, 2021! This Action Series will be followed by Solidarity & Activism on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
Attendees will hear from representatives of diverse chamber and community organizations who are affiliated with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the US Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), and the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC). This conversation will focus on issues around anti-oppression and allyship, and how to work for social justice as an ally. This 90-minute live interactive program follows our previous session which focused on acceptance.
Participants will be welcomed to discuss their takeaways from the panel talk.
Meet Our Panelists
Melanie Marie Boyer | (she/her)
Executive Director | Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Melanie Marie Boyer serves as the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A CALU and Duquesne University alumna, is a Colombian & United States Citizen. Melanie is a devoted mom to two handsome young boys, ages 9 and 3.
An entrepreneur at heart, she is a business owner, previously working in freelance marketing, production, recruiting, speech coaching and brand management, among other things. She further serves the community through being a participating member of the RAD advisory Board, WPXI Gets Real Advisory Board, Port Authority Stakeholder Advisory Group and the UPMC Community Health Partnership. Melanie Marie was also awarded the 2021 Distinguished Leader award by Pittsburgh Professional Women, a 2021 Black History Achievement Award from the The Pastors Wives of the Churches of God in Christ’s Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania for her work in the Hispanic community and is nominated for the 2021 NFL Hispanic Leadership Award.
Mrs. Boyer is passionate about helping businesses to reach their full potential and getting funding into the undeserved American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her goal is to enable rapid success, defined as self-sustaining job and revenue generating businesses that can improve underestimated communities and the region at large.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic Melanie immediately implemented a plan to ensure the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Chamber. She was one of the first to create a digital speakers series featuring local leaders, government agencies, tech founders, venture capitalists and more! She hosted online events ranging in topics from using Google to reach customers, how to understand, qualify and apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, how to apply for jobs online, and inspirational success stories from successful leaders in the Hispanic Community and continues to share these items today. Additionally, Melanie led the charge in providing underestimated community members with a platform to apply with the PPP with live support in multiple languages and worked one-on-one with business owners and professionals to provide resources.
In all aspects of her life, Melanie Marie strives every day to be the catalyst of forward movement and positive growth, seeking progress, prosperity and positivity through partnership.
Amanda Cole | (she/her)
Executive Director | Plexus LGBT + Allied Chamber of Commerce
Amanda joined Plexus LGBT + Allied Chamber of Commerce as the first Executive Director in March of 2019. Her work in the non-profit sector began while a student at Antioch College during her first co-op directing an AmeriCorps program serving at risk youth living in vulnerable communities. Since then she has been a servant leader and community activist. Amanda attended Wright State University where she pursued studies in non-profit management. After graduating she began a successful career in fundraising and development and returned to her alma mater, Antioch College, to run the annual fund and alumni relations departments. Her move to NEO was spurred by a wonderful opportunity to join the Museum of Contemporary Art leading the development department. Additionally, her community involvement and training include leadership and change facilitation through Points of Light Youth Leadership, People’s Institute for Undoing Racism, and Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.
An avid reader and consumer of podcasts, Amanda has been most inspired by Encyclopedia Brown to choose her own adventure.
Eric Knowles | (he/him)
Chief Executive Officer | Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce
Eric Knowles has led the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce since 2014. He oversees the operations of the organization by implementing its strategic plans and policies as established by the Board of Directors. Knowles is the successor to Bill Diggs, who resigned in 2013.
Knowles is the former Senior Director of Government Affairs for Sun Life Stadium and The Miami Dolphins. Some of his core accomplishments in this role include managing a 72,500 person facility (Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and former Florida Marlins), managing tenant relations that included the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, Orange Bowl Championship, and related events; handling the training and management of 3,500 game day employees, and directing all government affairs, as it pertains to Sun Life Stadium and the Miami Dolphins.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida International University and is a proud veteran of the United States Army.
Khoa Le | (he/him)
President | USPAACC Northeast Regional Chapter
Khoa is the CEO / Founder of Kvibe Productions, Live Picture Studios, and Camdus, all branches of a single full-service video production & marketing & digital asset management company that was recognized as the fastest growing business in the Tri-state area by the SBDC / SBA in 2013. He’s also been recognized for his high-growth strategies, bringing in over 35% of revenues each year, which compelled the USPAACC, one of the largest Asian Chambers of Commerce in the U.S., to ask him to join and travel internationally with other businesses to further strategize his growth. In addition, in 2018, Khoa was announced to be award for the “Fast 100” award from the USPAACC.
Khoa also recently completed his acquisition of an 8000 SQ FT building in Jersey City, NJ called “Kvibe Studios.” The intention of the studio is to be develop a co-working space targeted to creative media industry people. The idea behind it was to create a collaboration and opportunity zone within a small boutique area that would drive more work, more opportunities, new possibilities, and more importantly, a collaborative mindset that can pay it forward to those that deserves the success.
Khoa believes in building platforms that create opportunities for others to succeed, thus moving the world forward in a positive direction. He believes that what we do today is not about us, but for future generations. “I want my children, their children, and the people we love to have amazing opportunities when they grow up,” Khoa says. “One of the things I can do is build a platform that can deliver a positive mindset. In order to have that platform, you must build success and prove it to the world.” If you have an idea on how to do it, then you have responsibilities to make it happen.
Meet Our Moderator
ZAKIYA LARRY | (she/her)
Founder & CEO | Quest Media Training & Communications Director | USBC
Zakiya Larry elevates brands, moods and influence through media coaching, keynote speaking, brand polishing and strategic public relations.
Zakiya is a highly sought-after media coach, on-air talent, executive producer and award-winning public relations executive, is also the CEO of Quest Media Training, a strategic communications firm that provides interview preparedness, strategic messaging, crisis communications and public relations. Zakiya also served as the long-time director of media relations for T.D. Jakes Ministries and as the Communications Director at the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Zakiya is currently an expert contributor for various media outlets, and her industry insight has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Black Enterprise, Fox News Radio national junket tour, and more.
As an internationally booked keynote speaker, she has moved hundreds of audiences both domestically and internationally, from The East Room at The White House to Johannesburg, South Africa.