Speakers

Carlton M. Hadden is the director of the Office of Federal Operations at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Washington, D.C. 

Mr. Hadden graduated from North Carolina Central University, an HBCU, before going on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. 

He began his federal career with the Commission in 1987 as an attorney responsible for writing appeals decisions. Early in his career at EEOC, he worked as a supervisory attorney and later as an attorney advisor to the director of the Office of Federal Operations. In 1999, he was selected to his current position. 

Through comprehensive efforts, Mr. Hadden continues to work toward the Commission’s mission of eradicating discrimination in the federal workplace.   

Joellen Jarrett currently serves as the Chief Learning Officer and Director of Organizational Effectiveness for the U.S. Small Business Administration. She has over 30 years of public, private, and federal sector experience in human resource management and organization development, with a winning track record of implementing organizational initiatives and contributing to overall mission success.

She is a skilled facilitator who has successfully addressed organizational issues and projects related to resource utilization, performance management, team dynamics, performance improvement, enterprise systems implementations, organizational and leadership development, organizational change, conflict resolution, competency modeling, career pathing, assessments, technology-enable learning, training design, delivery, and evaluation. In addition, Joellen's background also includes six years of active-duty service in the United States Air Force as a cryptologic linguist and intelligence analyst.

Nicole Wright serves as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Deputy Associate Director for Senior Executive Service (SES) and Performance Management. In this role she provides executive leadership in the development of regulations and supplementary guidance on the entire range of executive personnel activities including position management and authorization, merit staffing, noncompetitive placements (reassignments, noncareer appointments, limited appointments, reinstatements), pay administration, leave and benefits, performance management, awards, disciplinary actions and grievances, Reduction in Force (RIF) and removals.

Previously, Nicole served as the Associate Director for Executive and Political Resources within the Department of Transportation (DOT) where she led the establishment and implementation of the first Human Resource (HR) Shared Service Center for Executive and Political Resources, serving over 270 executives across the DOT enterprise. Prior to that, Nicole served as the Team Lead for the Senior Executive Resources Services group covering all operations aspects of executive resources functions, and Program Manager for the Senior Executive Service (SES) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) at OPM.

Nicole is a certified professional coach with over twenty-five years of military and federal human resources experience. She brings leadership and expertise in operational support, policy formulation, and strategic planning to strengthen an organization’s HR performance. An Army Veteran, with tours in South Korea, Georgia and the Pentagon, Nicole is dedicated to serving all. Her education includes a Master of Science in Human Resources Management and Development, a Master of Education in Professional Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Bob Leavitt serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Appointed in February 2022, Mr. Leavitt is responsible for the recruitment, development, and retention of the department’s talented workforce in advancing and maintaining the health and safety of the American people. Mr. Leavitt works in partnership with colleagues across HHS and in support of his immediate team in the Office of Human Resources (OHR). In February 2023, Bob joined the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council Executive Steering Committee.

Prior to HHS, Mr. Leavitt led USAID’s Human Resource Transformation from its inception in 2016 through 2021 and served four years as USAID’s Chief Human Capital Officer (2018-2021). The consistent and collaborative implementation of the multi-year strategy and action plan strengthened the Agency’s investment in its global workforce, including a 20% increase the Agency’s workforce levels and improved customer service.

Mr. Leavitt has 25 years of experience managing humanitarian and development assistance programs and national security policies. He served as Deputy Assistant Administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (2014-2016) and as USAID’s Executive Secretary and the Administrator’s Senior Advisor for National Security Affairs (2012-2014), which followed his service at the National Security Council as Director of African Affairs (2009-2012). Mr. Leavitt worked a year and a half in Stuttgart, Germany, where he led USAID’s participation in the Department of Defense’s planning and establishment of U.S. Africa Command. He joined USAID in 2001 as a Conflict Resolution specialist and helped develop and implement U.S. Government policies, strategies, and programs in conflict-affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Before he joined USAID, Mr. Leavitt lived in Angola, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Liberia where he managed humanitarian and development programs for Catholic Relief Services (1994-2000).

Mr. Leavitt has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2014 and is a recipient of the 2019 Presidential Meritorious Rank Award. He holds a Master of Advanced Military Arts and Sciences degree from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth. He also has a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and English from the University of New Hampshire.

Having worked for a training organization for over 35 years, Cynthia Hawkins possesses the knowledge of various aspects within a training environment. In 2008, when she moved to the Center for Leadership and Management (CLM), she found her niche. Through working with the programs, she saw firsthand the importance of developing leaders at all levels. Realizing that “leader” is more than a title, Ms. Hawkins worked with programs offered for GS 1 up to GS 15. She stresses the importance of being accountable to yourself and the teams in which you are assigned. Leadership is about relationships, and those relationships occur at all levels within the organization.

In 2016, Ms. Hawkins was appointed to the role of Director. Through this role, she was able to continue supporting the programs, its attendees and other stakeholders engaged in the process.  has been a speaker at orientations, graduations, career and educational fairs, and conferences, and as an interview candidate or an article in the Washington Post. Her passion for leadership holds no bounds.

With a strength of building relationships and engaging with agency stakeholders, Ms. Hawkins’ recently transitioned to the role of Director, Client Engagement and Enrollment (CLM).

In addition to her professional career in training, she is certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in Leadership.

As much as possible, Ms. Hawkins seeks opportunities to serve her community. She serves as Vice President on her homeowner’s association board, facilitates workshops for a non-profit youth mentor program, and volunteers with her local undergraduate alumni chapter.

JR “Pepe” Carreras was named as President of Graduate School USA in January of 2023, and is a leader with 30 years of global customer success, marketing, and branding expertise, and with 15 years of experience in education solutions.

Mr. Carreras most recently was Vice President of Education Solutions at National Student Clearinghouse, where he oversaw several areas, including business development, service innovation networks, grants and program management, and product management. Prior to that, he was the College Board’s Vice President and General Manager for Puerto Rico and Latin America, where he more than doubled the company’s revenue and students served within the region. He also served in global strategy roles at the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

Mr. Carreras has a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.