Diversity Equity and Inclusion Award Winners 2023

Abby Mendez
Sr. Channel Marketing Manager at Ring
Years in the industry:
8 years

Tell us about your career so far.

I’ve always loved gadgets and technology. In the thick of the “Great Recession,” when a lot of people were rethinking their career paths, I decided – as cliché as this sounds – that I wanted and needed to be a part of something that made a difference in people’s lives. And, what better way to be a part of that than in the tech industry? Cue in a chance role at Belkin and that’s when I started my tech marketing career. After a couple of years, another chance role came to my plate. I had heard of a startup that made a “caller ID for doorbells” that was really gaining traction in the smart home industry. It was Ring. The company’s mission really spoke to me, “Making Neighborhoods Safer.” 6.5 years and an Amazon acquisition later, joining the Ring team has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life so far.

What advice do you have for colleagues in the CE industry who want to contribute to creating a more inclusive industry?

Examine your biases: Reflect on your biases and work towards overcoming them. Challenge assumptions and stereotypes you may have about certain groups and be open to learning from others. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind and open to others.

Alex Shirdel
Owner of ProMounts
Years in the industry:
19 years

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, how is the CE industry during both historically and also in the past year?

Historically, the CE industry has faced challenges regarding diversity and inclusion. Like many industries, it has been predominantly male-dominated, lacking representation from women and underrepresented groups. However, there has been increased awareness and efforts to address these issues in recent years. The past year has also seen an increased focus on diversity and inclusion in marketing and advertising campaigns. Companies are more conscious of representing diverse demographics and breaking stereotypes in their messaging and imagery.

What could the CE industry do to improve diversity and inclusion?

There are key steps that can be taken to foster diversity and inclusion within the CE industry. These steps include prioritizing diverse hiring practices, promoting an inclusive workplace culture, supporting education and skill development, ensuring diverse marketing and product development representation, collaborating with diverse suppliers, and engaging in partnerships and advocacy. The CE industry can build a more equitable and thriving ecosystem by implementing these measures.

Chris Lopez
Director of Marketing & Customer Experience of Origin Acoustics
Years in the industry:
7 years

Tell us about your career so far.  

My career has been a series of fortunate events that has led me to a company I consider home. I developed my love for audio as the Magnolia Home Theater Supervisor and found my knack for B2B as a Business Account Manager for Microsoft.

What could the CE industry do to improve on diversity and inclusion? 

Honestly, all I would recommend is to always keep in mind that we are all human, and we have more things in common than we have differences.  

What technology are you most interested in at the moment? 

I’m sure it is the same for many people, but I am currently most interested in the development of AI-powered tools.  

Craig Otto
Creative Director at WAC Lighting
Years in the industry:
4 years

Tell us about your career so far.

I began my corporate career as an Art Director and Marketing Manager for an indie music label at a time when that industry was experiencing a seismic shift to digital distribution. I implemented social strategies and digital campaigns to grow our artists’ fan base and introduce new music online through eye-catching ads and videos. I was proud to expand our business while most other indie labels were closing up shop.

In 2009, I founded the New York branch of a social media marketing and advertising agency as the Creative Director, leading the design, brand evolution, and online user experiences for nationwide chains and Fortune 500 companies. Managing teams of marketers, producers, designers, and technologists, we created experiential strategies to grow brands and tell compelling stories. I conceived and produced critically acclaimed, branded content featured on NBC’s “The Today Show,” CNN, HLN, and LOGO TV. As a filmmaker, I wrote, produced, and was the cinematographer for the feature film “RUN,” starring Academy Award winners Marlee Matlin and Alan Cumming. After 10+ years on the agency side, I was thrilled to join lighting industry leader WAC Lighting (which owns Modern Forms and Schonbek) as their Director of Marketing in 2019. Heading both the Creative Department and Marketing, I have been excited to grow our company’s reach with innovative content strategies and robust video campaigns, which have helped drive a 33 percent increase in sales during my tenure. In early 2022, I was promoted to Creative Director.

What’s your favorite gadget right now?

WAC’s new Stealth Framing Projector. It debuted at LightFair in May, and its ability to bring artwork to ‘life’ and use the latest gobo tech to project lifelike images as art onto walls is remarkable.

Elina Vives
VP and General Manager, US Consumer Channel at Signify
Years in the industry:
6 years

Tell us about your career so far.

I like to describe my story as one of grit and grace. At a young age, I stepped into a leadership role in my household by helping to care for my three siblings. My family taught me the importance of persistence and the value of hard work, which has helped me get to where I am today.

Regarding my career path, I went to Saint John’s University, where I studied brand marketing and truly found my passion: communications, consumer behavior, and engagement. I am obsessed with understanding how they use products and view and interact with brands!

Upon graduation, I started my marketing and sales career in the fast-moving consumer goods industry at Miller Coors. Over the course of 16 years, I progressively took on greater responsibility within the organization, eventually being named vice president of brand marketing for the Coors portfolio. I like to get uncomfortable – so I challenged myself to take on cross-functional roles at Miller Coors. This allowed me to put myself in my colleagues’ shoes and truly understand different avenues in supporting our customers and end consumers. I then moved on to spend three years with Samsung, where I served as Vice President of Marketing for the mobile computing, wearables, and home appliances divisions.

Ultimately, in 2020, I felt I was at a crossroads in my career. I could either continue to follow the traditional marketing path and become a CMO or push myself to grow as a general manager of a business. As I mentioned, I love to be challenged and jumped at the opportunity to join Signify. Not only did it present the chance to learn about a new industry – lighting – but I’ve also been given a broader, end-to-end view of the business as Vice President and General Manager of the US Consumer Channel. It’s exciting and setting me up to achieve even greater things: I aspire to be a CEO.

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, how is the CE industry during both historically and also in the past year?

I’ve spent a significant portion of my career working in historically male-dominated industries. From my experience, DEI, specifically the gender gap, has always been recognized and topical. Now, there’s a focus on taking real action like I’ve never seen before.

Gerald Viray
Creative Director of Global Brand at AVB Marketing
Years in the industry:
30 years

Tell us about your career so far.

I’ve been very lucky to create some very successful brand and advertising campaigns for a variety of companies – including sports entertainment, retail, tech, food, tourism and not for profit organizations.

Describe your current role.

I am the Creative Director of Global Brand for AVB. I strategize, direct our creative team and produce many of our global brand touch points – including events, marketing products, digital and video.

What’s the top trend in CE for you right now?

AI and how it will influence and scale creative possibilities.

Kelley Kenner-Patridge
VP, Chief People Officer at Nationwide Marketing Group
Years in the industry:
4 years

Tell us about your career so far.  

My career path has been a tapestry woven with experiences from the automotive industry and beyond. Each sector has shaped my professional growth, from banking to food and medical, allowing me to bring a unique perspective to my Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) role. Since joining NMG in 2019, I have been able to merge my diverse background with my passion for delivering impactful strategies and insights to drive people’s success in the ever-evolving world of consumer electronics and appliances. As I continue this exciting journey with NMG, I am committed to utilizing my multidimensional expertise to empower retailers and navigate the dynamic landscape of the independent channel.  

What advice do you have for colleagues in the CE industry who want to contribute to creating a more inclusive industry?

We need to talk more about Allyship as a powerful and essential component in creating a more inclusive industry. So, how does one exercise Allyship at work and in their communities?  

Educate yourself and others. Take the initiative to learn about the experiences and challenges underrepresented groups face. By expanding your knowledge and understanding, you can engage in meaningful conversations and help educate your colleagues. Share resources, facilitate discussions, and promote empathy and understanding.  

Speak up when you witness biased or offensive comments or actions. Use your voice to address these issues, fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment. Actively listen to the concerns and perspectives of underrepresented individuals, and support them by validating their experiences. 

Kim Lonas
Global Diversity and Inclusion Program Lead at Exertis
Years in the industry:
7 years

What advice do you have for colleagues in the CE industry who want to contribute to creating a more inclusive industry?

My advice for industry colleagues starts with cultivating a workplace environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion as individual practices. Encourage open communication; respect different perspectives; and provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to have a voice. Recruitment efforts need to reach underrepresented communities, and every job opening should have a diverse slate of candidates to consider.  More than hiring candidates from marginalized communities is needed. A business must create programs or initiatives that support their career development. Encourage open discussions about bias and work towards dismantling stereotypes. Raise awareness and offer training to help employees recognize and challenge these biases. Learn about and become an ally to underrepresented groups. Every person within an organization can contribute to creating a more diverse and inclusive CE industry.

What’s the top trend in CE for you right now?

Wearable devices would be a top trend for me. I love my Apple watch. Not only can I use it to stay in communication, but I like how it tracks my sleep patterns, gives me a calorie count when I work out, and even helps me manage stress – all from my wrist, so I don’t have to worry about losing it.

Lorena Loya
VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and HR Corporate
Functions at Hartman International
Years in the industry:
19 years

Describe your current role.

I have a dual role. I’m responsible for our global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, defining the strategy and supporting our employees and leaders to create a culture of inclusion. The other side of my role is working with our corporate function leaders (Marketing, Legal, Finance, HR, CTO, Strategy, CPO) as an HR partner, supporting them with the talent strategy.

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, how is the CE industry during both historically and also in the past year?

Like many other industries involving high tech, the CE industry has historically faced many challenges in achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gender and racial representation have been constant challenges, mostly in technical and senior leadership roles. Building a strong pipeline and promoting awareness and education are crucial to identify and correct common biases and stereotypes that could block growth opportunities for underrepresented groups. Now more than ever, the CE Industry must invest in programs that increase awareness of DEI topics and collaborate with colleagues and our communities to build a strong pipeline. But, this is not all. We must look into our internal culture, policies, and leadership style to foster an inclusive culture promoting innovation and business growth.

Michael Don Ham
President of RePure
Years in the industry:
9 years

Describe your current role.

I’m currently the Co-Founder and President of RePure, a leading provider of residential wellness technology solutions. My vision is to simplify the management of Indoor Environmental Quality (air, water, light, acoustics, scents) in homes and buildings to make it as effortless as adjusting a thermostat so that everyone can enjoy spaces that enhance their health and well-being while having real-time access to the status of their air and water quality.

I am also a founding member of Wild Orchard, whose teas have achieved the distinction of being the world’s first to obtain Regenerative Organic Certification. Our teas have garnered 17 medals at esteemed international tea competitions. I aspire for people to savor these climate-friendly, Michelin-quality artisan teas in the company of friends, family, and colleagues anywhere they choose.

What’s the top trend in CE for you right now?

The movement to electrify homes and cars is fascinating to me, and we are seeing wider adoption in the marketplace. The proliferation of AI is clearly trending as well. It is certainly exciting but also carries an abundance of concern.

Steve Robertson
CFO of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc
Years in the industry:
25 years

Tell us about your career so far.

Having been raised in Silicon Valley, my career has centered around the tech industry, with an equal focus on corporate accounting and strategic finance. As a licensed CPA (inactive), I have developed the technical and financial acumen to enable finance teams to drive digital enablement, support strategic activities, and lead the “tone at the top” for corporate accountability and transparency.

What advice do you have for colleagues in the CE industry who want to contribute to creating a more inclusive industry?

Seek out a mentor and an advocate – typically not the same person – who truly believes that diversity of thought and background enhances long-term value creation. Network with other colleagues within the industry to create a community sincerely dedicated to making the change needed for a more diverse and equitable tech community.

Tasha Jackson
Operations Manager at Harman International
Years in the industry:
15 years

Describe your current role.

My current role as an Operations Manager exposes me to a broader view of our end-to-end Supply Chain processes. Through that vision, I drive both system and operational continuous improvement projects. Working closely with all stakeholders, I develop project objectives and timelines and identify required resources, software and technology to help with efficiency.

What could the CE industry do to improve diversity and inclusion?

The CE industry can improve diversity and inclusion by focusing on company culture. When a company’s culture is positive and open to dialogue about attracting and retaining diverse talent, it creates a safe environment. Creating a diversity recruiting strategy is also beneficial because it helps organizations prioritize, track and implement their diversity goals.

What’s your favorite gadget right now?

My favorite gadget presently is the Samsung SmartThings Station. Having smart appliances is helpful, but having a device that automates my daily routines in conjunction with the appliances is phenomenal. From lights, to doorbell cameras, washers/dryers, thermostats, Google Home, and TVs, everything is connected, which creates a home synergy.

Ximena Gates
CEO of BuildWithin
Years in the industry:
15 years

Tell us about your career so far.

I am an educator by trade and a tech entrepreneur by accident. My research interest led me to attain a doctorate degree and two patents. In 2012, I had the privilege of co-founding Phone2Action, which successfully exited in 2019. Building on that experience, I went on to co-found the tech startup BuildWithin in 2020.

What technology are you most interested in at the moment?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been in existence for quite some time, but the current momentum and enthusiasm surrounding it is at an all-time high. Personally, I find the integration of AI with Augmented Reality (AR) particularly exciting as it opens up new avenues for immersive and interactive learning experiences.

What’s your favorite gadget right now?

AUSTERE III Series Wall Power Outlet