HUB Directory

Greg R. Baird

LGBTQ+ Global Lecturer on Civil Rights, Allyship & Community Engagement

Chicago, Illinois

Greg R. Baird is a dynamic lecturer, educator, content creator, and passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights, allyship and community engagement. With a signature mix of heart, humor, and inspiration, his speeches captivate and empower audiences. Book Greg for your next event and get ready for an engaging, educational, and unforgettable experience! He connects with his audiences on topics such as empathetic leadership, driving change, discovering one's legacy, and uplifting others in a challenging world, establishing himself as a powerful voice for all communities. His message resonates deeply, leaving listeners feeling inspired and engaged throughout his presentations. With his exceptional storytelling, humor, and enthusiasm, Greg lights the way for becoming a positive force within the community, advocating for compassion and demonstrating how individuals can enact change in their own lives and the lives of those around them. His talks emphasize the importance of being allies and mentors in our communities. Notably, Greg served as the Executive Producer of a documentary focused on the tragic hate crime against University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, a subject he often addresses. He also produced and edited a personal short film titled "2:02 AM," which reflects on his experiences during several visits to the Pulse Nightclub while filming, shedding light on the Pulse Nightclub shooting. This film has reached audiences worldwide, both virtually and during his lecture series on Erasing Hate and Bigotry. In 2018, Greg delivered the keynote address at Aetna Insurance's Signature Pride Event in Hartford, Connecticut. He appears in the documentary "Fish Out of Water," which explores LGBTQ+ themes in the Bible. His contributions are featured in Dr. Ruth Westheimer's book "A Guide to College Life," Liliane Colburn's "The Green Room: A Mother's Truth," as well as in the LGBTQ+-focused books "Tell Me About It 2" and "Tell Me About It 3" by St Sukie de la Croix and Owen Keehnen. In January 2020, he delivered a compelling keynote address about the Intersection of LGBTQ+ Civil Rights and Community Empowerment at the World Peace Conference in Ontario, CA, aimed at fostering lasting change, acceptance, and peace for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies around the globe. Greg is crafting a compelling memoir that weaves together stories from his childhood, career, and remarkable life journey. As a content creator on various social media platforms with a loyal following, Greg’s impactful programs provide fresh perspectives on allyship, anti-hate initiatives, and the importance of building welcoming communities for LGBTQIA+ individuals, allies, workplaces, and schools. Greg maintains an active social media presence and produces a weekly vlog on YouTube and TikTok. His dynamic programs empower fresh ideas that ignite positivity in LGBTQ+ communities, allies, workplaces, and schools—all with a heart full of compassion and integrity!

Heather Wokusch

CEO

As a speaker, coach and consultant, Heather Wokusch promotes resilience during times of change or disruption. She provides practical tools and inspiration to transform resistance into fuel for personal and organizational growth. At the workplace, this means engaging employees as creative problem solvers to navigate moments of uncertainty and crisis while identifying transformative opportunities. Questioning conventional wisdom, Heather Wokusch delivers fresh perspectives on leadership. She shares actionable frameworks for optimizing change processes and related leadership, management and cultural roadmaps. With a proven track record of supporting teams and other groups in conflict, Heather Wokusch provides motivation and tailored approaches for sustainable (re)solutions. Heather Wokusch guides individuals and groups through the complexities of emotional well-being (including burnout and/or trauma mitigation), ensuring they emerge stronger and more capable of facing future challenges.

Israel Duran

Founder

Danbury, Connecticut

Israel Duran is a sought-after business growth partner, speaker, and trainer who empowers purpose-driven leaders and corporate organizations to build profitable, impactful ventures grounded in servant leadership. With expertise in business, finance, and the art of meaningful communication, Israel has inspired thousands of entrepreneurs and corporate teams worldwide. His mission is to help leaders leverage their skills and knowledge to create sustainable businesses that drive positive change while staying true to their core values. Using his 3-step proven framework, Israel accelerates business growth by aligning each client’s purpose with actionable strategies for success. Known for unlocking potential and bringing clarity to ambitious visions, he teaches leaders how to design and deliver solutions that resonate. Through his guidance, corporate teams and individual clients alike are positioned to profit with purpose. Many of Israel’s clients, including corporate partners, now achieve multiple seven, and even eight-figure revenues, thanks to his transformative business strategies rooted in servant leadership. For visionary leaders and organizations ready to grow their impact through business and speaking, Israel Duran is the partner to help them achieve growth grounded in integrity, clarity, and purpose.

Monique Hayward

Chief Marketing Officer

I’m a dynamic, high-energy leader with over 25 years of experience building a multifaceted career as an award-winning marketing executive, entrepreneur, author, and speaker. My mission is to arm current and aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs with the tools to tackle the unique challenges that test their resolve, strength, and spirit as they manage and grow their careers and businesses. Having battled my way to success, I offer real-world lessons learned so others don’t have to take the hard road. Since 2004, I've launched and managed three companies: Nouveau Connoisseurs Corporation, which owned and operated the critically acclaimed Dessert Noir Café & Bar in Beaverton, Oregon; Cerise Noire Software, LLC, an Oregon-based mobile app company; and my current venture, DRISCOLL Cuisine & Cocktail Concepts, LLC, a personal chef and vacation property company in Phoenix, Arizona. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, and my on-the-ground experience gives me the knowledge to help others navigate and overcome the pitfalls, obstacles, and challenges entrepreneurs face. In addition to my entrepreneurial pursuits, I’ve enjoyed a thriving corporate career in high technology. Currently, I’m the Chief Marketing Officer at Enactify.ai, a Silicon Valley startup transforming document publishing. I’ve also held leadership roles in marketing, communications, and business development at Microsoft, Intel, and Tektronix. I consider myself a “megaphone marketer,” focused on creating awareness, influencing perception, and driving engagement to deliver results. My commitment to excellence and continuous improvement has been the cornerstone of my professional journey, allowing me to inspire teams, transcend traditional marketing boundaries, and build impactful, data-driven campaigns that move companies forward in today’s digital landscape. I am also passionate about being the champion for customers, ensuring their success and leveraging their feedback to shape marketing initiatives. As an expert and speaker, I’ve shared my insights through keynotes, panels, and workshops at conferences like Professional Businesswomen of California, Digital Summit, Directions Asia, and top universities. My work has been featured in media outlets like CNN, CNBC, Medium, Entrepreneur, and Black Enterprise. I am also the author of Divas Doing Business, with a foreword by Morgan Freeman, and Get Your Hustle On!, a guide for career success. I’ve earned several accolades, including Count Me In and American Express OPEN Forum’s 2008 Make Mine a Million $ Business, Portland Business Journal’s 2009 “40 Under 40”, Diversity MBA’s 2010 “Top 100 Under 50”, and induction into Portland Business Journal’s “40 Under 40 Hall of Fame” in 2022. A New York City native, I hold a BA in journalism from the University of Maryland and an MBA in marketing from Case Western Reserve University. I’m also an ASCENT fellow from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and served on the board of SMART Reading, an Oregon non-profit promoting childhood literacy. I enjoy writing, cooking, fitness, and travel, and live in Beaverton, Oregon, with my husband Tom Freeman and our 15-year-old cat, Mac.