Join us Tuesday, September 19th for a luncheon featuring four speakers who have used their positions to be a catalyst for change in the workplace.
Registration and networking starts at 11:30am and the program begins at 12 noon in the Energy Ballroom on the third floor.
Lunch will be served buffet-style.
Registration for members is $40 with your members-only discount code. Registration for non-members is $55.
Take advantage and purchase your raffle tickets in advance when you purchase your event ticket! All proceeds go towards our Scholarship Foundation supporting local individuals pursuing a transportation related degree. We will be raffling off a $25 gift card.
Read below to learn a little more about our moderator and panelists.
Queen T. Crittendon - Moderator
Queen returned to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as the Civil Rights Manager for the Hampton Roads District in 2013. She worked for VDOT from 1997 to 2004 in the area of civil rights, as well as served as the manager for its Business Opportunity and Workforce Center (BOWD) in 2008 where she collaborated with local contractors and services providers. Queen’s career took her to North Carolina where she served as the Civil Rights Director for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights and Business Development from 2004 to 2008. While in NC, she created a nationally recognized business development program, as well as received FHWA’s Sharlene Nail Meritorious Award for her dedicated service to civil rights in the transportation arena. She also worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) providing expert technical advice and guidance to the Civilian EEO program. Since returning to VDOT, Queen was honored by VDOT in 2017 as a recipient of the Commissioner’s Ambassador Award; and recognized in 2019 by the Hampton Roads Chapter of WTS. Earlier in her career, Queen was employed with the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (now the Department of Small Business Supplier Diversity) as a business development officer and Virginia State University’s Alumni Affairs Director.
A graduate of Virginia State University in Petersburg in 1986, along with graduate course work from Old Dominion University. She is married to Darrell Crittendon, Director for the City of Norfolk’s Parks, Recreation & Open Space. They have a daughter, Jada, who is a graduate student at Kent State University seeking a master’s in architecture.
Noelle Pinkard
Noelle Pinkard is the Organizational Advancement Officer at Hampton Roads Transit. She leads the agency’s government relations and transit advocacy efforts locally, in Richmond, and in Washington, DC. Prior to joining HRT, she worked for members of the United States Congress, the Virginia General Assembly, and previously served as the Director of Government Relations at Hampton Roads Transit. She has spent the bulk of her government relations career advocating for increased public transportation funding for the Hampton Roads region.
Over the past several years, Noelle has participated in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at HRT, and is currently co-chair of the agency’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee. She recently graduated from the University of Virginia’s Local Government Equity Clinic. The clinic is designed to train local government professionals in best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion as they pertain to issues surrounding housing, transportation, and land use. The year-long clinic culminated with Noelle presenting HRT’s DEI strategic plan.
In May 2010, Noelle graduated from Regent University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate. Noelle also earned two master’s degrees in business management from Wilmington University: public administration and human resource management. She graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History.
In addition to her full-time role at HRT, Noelle is also an adjunct college instructor teaching business management, paralegal studies, and criminal justice. She currently resides with her family in Virginia Beach, Virginia where she enjoys gardening and fishing.
Quan McLaurin
Quan McLaurin (he/him) is an accomplished DEI professional with experience driving change, implementing equity frameworks, and fostering enriching environments for Queer youth. As the DEI & Title VI/Civil Rights Liaison for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), he supports technical staff in creating equitable planning and transportation processes that incorporate the considerations and needs of disadvantaged communities.
Before his current role, Quan provided consulting services to mental health organizations related to improving access to care for marginalized peoples and supporting clinicians with incorporating equity frameworks into their therapeutic approaches. He also served as the Director of Diversity Retention at Liberty University, where he founded LUQueerSpace. This network is still active today for ostracized Queer students who need an enriching and safe environment. He later launched LUnderground Railroad, where he raised funds for BIPOC staff and students who have experienced elevated racial trauma and helped them transition to safer work and education environments.
When he's not immersed in his work, Quan enjoys taking his dog to the beach, experiencing nature, and road trips.
Dr. ClauDean Kizart
Bio coming soon
Stacie Walls
Bio coming soon
COVID-19 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Event attendees assume all risks of COVID exposure and related illnesses in attending. We encourage attendees to follow all current CDC guidelines when attending this event.