Aba Blankson
Aba
Blankson
Blankson
Month: September 2025
Aba Blankson is Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the NAACP, where she plays a pivotal role in developing communication strategies, campaigns, and partner collaborations to elevate the NAACP’s brand. With more than 25 years of experience, Aba consistently leads with courage and empathy, driving transformational change across the communications field.
Aba has pushed the NAACP’s marketing and communications to new heights, driving a comprehensive brand evolution that positioned the Association as a leader in tackling modern-day challenges while honoring its storied 100+ year legacy. Under her empowered vision, she transformed the NAACP’s approach to storytelling, launching high-impact campaigns that captured national attention. The impactful social advocacy campaigns Aba has launched exemplify her ability to harness digital platforms, amplifying the voices of grassroots activists and holding political leaders accountable in innovative ways. Aba also led the NAACP’s presence at Cannes Lions 2024, where she served as a juror for the WARC awards, further elevating the organization’s global visibility and showcasing its pioneering work in advocacy-driven marketing.
Aba was the driving force behind the “COVID Unmasked” series, which highlighted racial disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, demonstrating her expertise in using communications to spotlight urgent social issues. Most recently, she spearheaded the NAACP’s groundbreaking #KeepAdvancing campaign, which built on the momentum of 2020’s Blackout Tuesday across social media. This campaign invited allies back into the conversation of social activism and demonstrated social media’s impact on the modern civil rights movement.
Aba is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and main-stage panelist who has addressed the intersection of advocacy, social justice, and communications among other trending topics. Her insights and commentary have appeared in outlets like Forbes, FastCompany, AdAge, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
In 2024, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) recognized Aba as Woman of the Year, honoring her significant contributions to public relations. Aba was also named to The ColorComm28 list in 2021, which features 28 black women making history in communications, among other forms of recognition.
Aba’s creativity, management skills, and strategic leadership have driven organizational growth, particularly during her seven years at the NAACP. Before joining the NAACP, Aba held communications leadership positions in the public and private sectors underscoring her commitment to social justice and equity.
Aba holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Hood College, a Master’s in Computer Science from Towson University, and an MBA from the Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Hood College in 2022. She has also served as Executive in Residence at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication and is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society.
In her free time, Aba enjoys traveling, writing, and photography. She is passionate about amplifying diverse voices and mentoring emerging leaders, ensuring that underrepresented communities are at the forefront of advocacy efforts.
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Caralene Robinson
Caralene
Robinson
Robinson
Month: September 2025
Bio coming soon.
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Chris "Gotti" Lorenzo
Chris "Gotti"
Lorenzo
Lorenzo
Month: September 2025
A true visionary and entrepreneur, Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo has spent over two decades shaping the landscape of music, entertainment, and business. Best known as the co-founder of the legendary Murder Inc. Records, Chris played a key role in launching the careers of iconic artists like Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Lloyd, cementing his status as a power player in the industry.
Never one to stay in one lane, Chris has had his hands in launching multiple businesses over the years, always staying ahead of the curve. As the founder of Add Ventures Music, a revolutionary music distribution platform, he’s helping independent artists retain ownership while scaling their reach and revenue—giving power back to the creatives.
His influence extends beyond music. With Clash Basketball, Chris has created a dynamic space that combines athleticism, entertainment, and competition, offering a new platform for both basketball talent and fans alike. Meanwhile, through ARC Films, he’s bringing authentic stories to the screen, building a bridge between urban narratives and cinematic excellence.
A true serial entrepreneur, Chris is constantly building. With several ventures already under his belt, he’s actively working on new projects that span across industries, continuing to expand his empire while staying rooted in community and culture.
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Premier Breakfast
Brought to you by
Month: September 2025
Details
Date
Wed, Oct 8
Time
8:30AM – 9:00AM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Premier registrants only
Global Chief Creative Officer, gotham
Founder, Kitchen Table
Get your day started with coffee, juice, and light fare in the Premier lounge.
Vanessa Rissetto
Vanessa
Wallace
Wallace
Month: September 2025
Vanessa Rissetto is a registered dietitian (RD) and the CEO and Co-founder of Culina Health, a revolutionary clinical nutrition care company created in 2020. Prior to starting this venture, she served as the Director of Dietetic Internships at New York University (NYU), where she led the clinical nutrition treatment for a diverse patient population and mentored early-career dietitians — many of whom now work at Culina Health.
Before changing careers and becoming an RD, Vanessa earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Fordham University and a master’s degree in marketing from NYU. Today, she seamlessly integrates her passions for business, entrepreneurship and nutrition as the CEO of Culina Health.
Under Vanessa’s leadership, Culina Health has raised $20 million in venture funding. Culina Health has become a leading trusted care provider for physician referrals, with patient outcomes consistently surpassing industry averages. She has also cultivated an all-female leadership team, who strives to make nutrition care more inclusive and accessible for everyone. A sought-after speaker, Vanessa is a frequent guest on the Today Show and has shared her expertise at investor and industry summits such as Rethink, Graham & Walker, and Tensility. Her insights have garnered national press coverage in publications including The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Vogue, Women’s Health, Shape, Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Prevention, PopSugar, Well+Good, Refinery29, INSIDER, and Allure.
Vanessa’s accolades extend beyond her entrepreneurial success. Recently honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the “Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs in 2023, ” she has also been recognized by Essence as one of the “Black Nutritionists Who Will Change the Way You Think About Food, ” by Byrdie as one of the “Dietitians Carving Out Space for Black People in the Nutrition Industry, ” and by NPR as “A Black Dietitian Wants to Close the Nutrition Gap. ” Beyond her professional endeavors, Vanessa is known for her love of Doritos, her commitment to her community, and her uncanny ability to remember people’s birthdays.
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