About the Presenters
Karis Agnew
Karis is PROMO’s Field Director based in Springfield, Missouri. Karis graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Drury University with a focus on systematic economic disparities. Before joining team PROMO in 2017, Karis had extensive experience working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through peer support, volunteer organizing and educational seminars. At PROMO, Karis is a trainer for the LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training program, connects with communities and volunteers across Missouri to further equality, and oversees PROMO's TRANSforming Missouri and leadership training programs.
Heather Hardinger
Heather joined the Council of Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) as a Director of Consulting Services for its Workforce and Economic Development Team in September 2020. Prior to working with CAEL, Heather was a workforce strategist for the Taney County Partnership, where she specialized in implementing workforce development and talent attraction strategy, advocacy for the development of affordable workforce housing, and served as a community advisor on equity, diversity, and inclusive policies. She also has experience coordinating employer collaboratives and developing talent pipelines for major employers through higher education partnerships in mainland U.S., Puerto Rico, and around the globe.
Heather often speaks to various groups on diversity, equity & inclusion, workforce and pay equity, economic and social justice, and multigenerational trends. Heather was appointed by the governor of Missouri to the Census 2020 Complete Count Committee and also currently serves as vice chair of the board of directors with Bread for the World, a D.C.-based organization dedicated to advocating for a world without hunger.
Daniel Ogunyemi
Daniel has created a career in serving others throughout our community, advocating for people with disabilities, children and families involved with child welfare. He is currently the Learning, Development, & Inclusion Partner at Burrell Behavioral Health.
Originally from Ruston, La., Daniel obtained his B.S. in Psychology from Southwest Baptist University and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Evangel University. His work in the community includes The Network's Leadership Council, the Mayor's Commission on Human Rights and Community Relations, the Forward SGF Advisory Committee, and other organizations. Daniel has been recognized as 417 Magazine's
2020 Best Dressed, Springfield Business Journal's
12 People You Need to Know, and an
Emerging Leader of the Year Finalist at the 2020 Southwest Missouri Nonprofit Excellence Awards. Daniel's most prized accomplishment is his family which features his wife, Ki, and son, Kian.
Francine Pratt
Pratt serves as the Executive Director for the Missouri College Access Network. For the past three years, she served as the director of Prosper Springfield, a community collective impact model charged with reducing poverty by five percentage points and increasing postsecondary educational attainment to 60 percent, both by 2025. She now works in that position on a half-time basis. She is co-owner of Pratt Consultants with a focus on community engagement, business infrastructure development, conflict resolution, strategic planning, and diversity training (including bias-based police training). Her past positions include Multicultural Programs Executive Director with Missouri State University, Drury University Diversity Coordinator, Springfield Chapter NAACP President, Isabel’s House Executive Director, Deputy Director with the Missouri Department of Social Services, and other private industry and State of California leadership positions. She is the 2020 recipient of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Athena Award and in 2019 recognized in the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 12 People You Need to Know. She has been recognized for several community and leadership accomplishments in Springfield’s 417 Magazine and Biz 100.