Keynote Speakers for the 2024 Conference

Opening Keynote – Natalie Fikes

Natalie Fikes is a recognized trailblazer in transformative leadership development and community empowerment. With over two decades of experience, Natalie has dedicated her career to integrating personal growth with interactive, experiential learning. As CEO of Breakthrough to Millions, she pioneers innovative workshops and coaching sessions that equip leaders with the skills to inspire future generations. In 2013, while raising her teenage sister and two young children, Natalie identified a critical need in her community. She founded Code Next Generation providing life skills training to successfully transition youth to adulthood with participants of her program receiving White House recognition for community service. In 2015, she was named one of John Maxwell’s Top 100 Leaders for her commitment to youth and family advocacy. Natalie is also a best-selling author of "Empowered to Prosper: Discover How to Become the Woman You Were Created to Be" and a sought-after national keynote speaker on leadership and empowerment. Her dedication to empowering communities extends to creative projects such as "GLITCH," a stage play addressing the mental health crisis among young adults. Her greatest honor to date is recently being named the 73rd Georgia Mother of the Year. Having left an unstable home at 16 to graduate high school, embark on a successful corporate career, and transition to entrepreneurship, Natalie holds a deep commitment to personal growth, leadership, and empowerment. She believes that with faith, practical tools, and community, everyone has the ability to live and love well.

Gala Speaker – Gary Taylor

Gary T. Taylor, aka Trey, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Three-Time Published Author, Speaker and Facilitator, Assistant Professor, and Deacon. He is from and resides in Caroline County, Virginia with his wife, daughter, and son. He has twelve years of experience in the field of Mental Health and formerly provided individual therapy to Black Men and Women. He also provides consulting to businesses and community agencies around racial equity initiatives and is an Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Virginia State University. He blends his clinical expertise with lived experience as a way to meet people, especially Black Men where they are, via a social and racial justice lens. Trey is also a podcaster, sneakerhead, car enthusiast and coffee lover!

Closing Keynote – Yovanna Madhère

Yovanna Madhère, MSW is a social worker, personal development coach, transformational speaker, and author. She is a graduate with Honors Distinction from Clark Atlanta University with a Master of Social Work degree focused on health & mental health. She was a Dean’s Fellow, is a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and a recipient of other academic Fellowships and accolades. Through her spiritual, mental, and physical practices, Yovanna has healed herself from the pain caused by trauma and she has dedicated over 10 years of her life to helping her clients become their best selves. Yovanna is also a fitness, health & wellness expert, and has been a certified personal trainer and 4 Zumba instructor. Originally from Queens, NY, she is a first-generation Afro-Latina American. Yovanna loves food, fitness, self-care, reading, and watching documentaries. She lives in Atlanta, GA, is happily married with 6 chickens, 5 children, and 2 dogs. Her 5-star rated book “The Many Gems in Your Crown: 7 Ways to Shine Brighter from Within” is available on Amazon.