Yvonne Brodsky joins Facebook! In her new role, she is responsible for scaling Diversity & Inclusion recruiting priorities to achieve two company goals: 50% of workforce comprised of underrepresented people by 2024 and 30% more people of color, including 30% more Black people, in leadership positions in the US by 2025.

Prior to Facebook, Yvonne spent the last 7 years at GE in multiple global roles: Talent Management, Leadership Development Programs, Early Talent and Diversity and Inclusion. Prior to GE, she was part of the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion team that created the D&I framework for Froedtert Health, and led the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, with the mission to advance Latinos.

Change, adapting to new environments and cultural diversity have been part of Yvonne's life since she was a toddler. She was born in Peru and lived in four countries before arriving in the US at the age of 5. She grew up in Stamford, CT and White Plains, NY before moving to Milwaukee for her undergrad at Marquette University. She met her husband, Dmitry, her freshman year in college and has lived in Milwaukee ever since. She is the proud mom of two kids and a dog: Chloe (6), Bennett (17) and Coco (2). She spends her evenings carting Chloe around to her afterschool passions of gymnastics and horseback riding while getting ready to apply to colleges with Bennett. 

In a non-pandemic world, Yvonne loves to travel with the family. Two of her most memorable trips are celebrating Bennett's Bar Mitzvah at The Wall in Jerusalem and going back to her native country Peru to visit Machupichu. In a pandemic year, Yvonne has been trying to master Shakira's latest moves in the song with the Black Eyed Peas, "Girl Like Me". Although she has not yet been able to master the moves, she continues to practice and dance with the kids. The kids, music, movies and planning future travels keeps her busy these days. 

Yvonne currently serves on the MIAD and YWCA board and is a proud member of Professional Dimensions and HOAN.

Silke Cole is a Pursuit Strategy Manager at accounting and advisory firm Baker Tilly US, LLP. She leads a team of proposal writers in developing custom business proposals for clients in a variety of industries, including software and technology, energy and utilities, government contractor advisory, specialty tax and private wealth. Silke also serves as Local Engagement Chair on the regional board of directors for the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), providing continuing education and networking opportunities for its members. She came to proposal management from a 20-year career in film production, marketing and distribution, most recently at Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

Born in Germany, Silke lived in Berlin and Los Angeles before relocating to Milwaukee with her husband and daughter in 2011. She is engaged in a range of community causes and initiatives in the city she now calls home, including serving as a docent for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block, a nonprofit on Milwaukee’s south side dedicated to architectural preservation and education.

Silke joined Professional Dimensions in 2019. Her passion for racial and gender equity led her to become involved in "The Ripple Effect," our Charitable Fund Signature Project with YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, in a communications role. Her favorite Professional Dimensions event so far has been the Race Relations Initiative’s Conversation Circle, a truly eye-opening learning experience.

One thing about Silke that is not found on her resume is that she loves to travel and enjoys a good adventure. She has backpacked all over the world, from Hawaii to Honduras, Egypt and Indonesia. Because of her international background, Silke has always felt that America’s greatest strength is the diversity of its people. She is thrilled to join forces with likeminded PD women to learn from each other and effect positive change in our city.

Kerri Balliet is a certified transformational coach with Red Baron Coaching. She works with clients to transform themselves from the inside out giving them the opportunity to live more meaningful, joyful, and authentic lives so they can achieve their dreams instead of sitting on the sidelines. After transitioning out of a 35-year corporate career, she started Red Baron Coaching in 2018, and has worked with many corporations and individuals to help people tap into the maximum potential. 

Kerri and her wife, two kids and two dogs moved to Milwaukee 16 years ago. She has been a PD member since 2018 and her favorite event was a summer member connect where she had the pleasure of connecting with fellow member Sharon Kevil. The two became fast friends and learned to kayak together.

Something about Kerri that you can’t find on her resume is that she loves the word “why.” It’s an adverb, a conjunction, a noun and an interjection. In scrabble, it will earn you 12 points. But most important, WHY Is a way to describe your destiny or your purpose. Why are you here on this planet? 

Be sure to introduce yourself to Kerri at an upcoming PD event if you haven’t already!

As Founder of Denisha Tate & Associates Consulting, Denisha Tate-McAlister guides nonprofits and faith based organizations to operational success through systems alignment, staff development and launching of strategic goals. Her current project is the resident led revitalization efforts of the Amani Neighborhood on the northside of Milwaukee, working with over 8,000 residents, more than 30 non-profits over a 130 block segment of the city. 

Denisha has lived in Milwaukee for 12 years and joined Professional Dimensions in 2016. In her words, PD has provided her with the most amazing networking opportunity that she could ever imagine. Every PD gathering allows her to meet someone new that has a skill she wants to learn from or an interest that she shares. Denisha also served on our Sacagawea Awards committee this year, helping drive the event to be successful.

Something about Denisha that you couldn’t find on her resume is that she is blessed to have 9 amazing children and 18 grandchildren. She always wanted a big family but life seemed to be heading in another direction, then two years ago she married the love of her life and look at her now!

Be sure to say to Denisha at the next PD event!

Nina Johnson is the Consumer and Business Banking Leader for the Wisconsin market at US Bank, managing more than 400 employees throughout the southeastern segment of the state. She was hired to create a “Bank of the Future” experience using digital solutions that result in a positive costumer experience within the area. She’s worked in the banking industry for more than 35 years and has held several leadership roles in her tenure, ranging from computer operations and consumer leading to direct auto finance and private label loss mitigation. 

Nina feels like this year has opened the door to having transparent dialog about sensitive topics and she has used this season as a catalyst for change in her market. She has taken this moment in time to create a safe space for courageous conversations by hosting Town Halls/Panel Discussions to address civil unrest, quarterly leadership development guest speaker events supporting DEI, peer mentoring for white executives that aspire to be a part of the solution, small conversation circles to address difficult topics like privilege, “black lives vs all lives” and other taboo topics impacting society. 

Carving out space for real conversation was based on her desire to protect her team both physically and psychologically. Her goal was to use various modes of communication to harness true relationship building and sincere service as essential leaders. The concept is based on the core principle of knowing your audience and delivering a positive experience in the workplace. 

Nina’s favorite PD activities are the annual events where she can reconnect with female leaders of all ages. She looks forward to a time where we can gather in-person again and catch up. 

Be sure to say hi to Nina at an upcoming PD event and thank her for all she’s done in our community! 

Jean Casey is Director of Business Development for GROTH Design Group, an award winning architecture and interior design firm serving many markets including: Corporate, Healthcare, Senior Life, Education, Religious and Community projects. She has provided strategic direction to leading architecture firms in Wisconsin for over twenty years and also connects individuals to jobs through Circuit-jobs.com, a website she created to support the Built Environment: Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Commercial Real Estate.

Jean was born and raised in Milwaukee and is very engaged in our community through a variety of service opportunities and professional association memberships, previously serving on the boards of Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the Social Development Foundation and Alexian Village.

Jean's biggest source of pride though are two children, Ian, 27 and Emmy, 25 (PD’s Member Relations Coordinator!)

Jean joined PD in early 2020 and her favorite virtual event this year was the Ideation Summit. Something about her that you can’t find on her resume is that she skews Type B and asks that you keep that to yourself.

Be sure to say hi to Jean at an upcoming Professional Dimensions event. 

Jessica Pharm has been working in Human Resources for several years, working in a variety of different positions. She is also the founder of Blackness and the Workplace, a platform dedicated to creating space for Black professionals. She also hosts a podcast with the same name, where she interviews industry leaders and talks about the various issues and topics that impact Black professionals. 

Jessica was born and raised in Milwaukee, growing up in the Sherman park area. Her favorite Professional Dimensions activities are the various networking events that help her connect with like-minded successful and ambitious women entrepreneurs and thought leaders throughout the city.

For more information on Blackness in the Workplace, please visit www.blacknessandtheworkplace.com and be sure to say hi to Jessica at the next virtual event and ask her about her new business! 

Simmi Urbnaek is the VP of Business Development and Marketing for Platypus Advertising & Design, a full service agency that does traditional and digital branding, marketing and advertising. She is also the President of the Walker’s Point Association and a volunteer with several other organizations. 

Her favorite Professional Dimensions activities are the Progessive Dinners. She says those programs are the best way to meet the most PD members and have the best in-depth conversations. Simmi was also a driving force on our Sacagawea Awards Committee this year and worked tirelessly to ensure the event was a success. 

One thing about Simmi that you can’t find on her resume is that she has very vivid dreams and can often remember them for a long time, including a dream in 1999 where she dreamt the Pope blessed her! 

Be sure to say hi to Simmi at the next Professional Dimensions outing and thank her for all she did to make sure the event was such a success!

As Senior Vice President for Baird Advisors, Baird’s fixed-income asset management team, Devon Norwood plays an integral role in expanding and deepening relationships with the investment intermediary partners by focusing on driving productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. Devon also serves as Treasurer on the Professional Dimensions Charitable Fund Board. 

Devon grew up in Wauwatosa and has been in Milwaukee pretty much her whole life. She moved to Minneapolis for her first “real job” after graduating from UWM but returned to Milwaukee after a year. 

Her favorite Professional Dimensions activity is hands down the Sacagawea Awards. She says she always leaves the awards ceremony feeling inspired. 

Something about Devon that you can’t find on her resume is that she’s been skiing and snowboarding for just about 30 years. Her family gets together about once a year to hit the slopes. Her five-year-old daughter just learned this past season and she’s hoping to get her three-year-old started soon!

Be sure to say hi or introduce yourself to Devon at our next Professional Dimensions outing. 

Tami Sweeny is the Executive Producer and Owner of Life Productions, Inc. Tami is a UW-Madison graduate with a background in Public Broadcasting editing promotional pieces, doing research for local documentaries and working as a news reporter and public affairs host at WNDU-TV in Indiana. Her work has been featured on ESPN along with winning a Chicago Midwest Emmy Award for a Single Public Affairs Program in 1997-98.

Tami has lived in Milwaukee since 1985. Her favorite Professional Dimensions activity is the Sacagawea Awards event, where she helped produce the incredible videos of our honorees and their guests. She said it was an honor to get to tell the stories of trailblazing women in our community, and their accomplishments and contributions never cease to amaze her. 

Something about Tami that you can’t find on her resume is that she has four adult children scattered all across the globe, three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and grandchild #7 coming in November! She loves the outdoors, completed her second half Birkie cross-country ski race this past February and just finished a 59-mile whitewater rafting/camping trip on the Smith River in Montana. 

Be sure to say hi to Tami at the next Professional Dimensions gathering and thank her for all she did to make our Sacagawea Awards such a success!