Host & Keynote Speakers

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Lead Trainer & Co-Owner, D5 Consulting Group
Conference Host & Emcee 

Sammy, FBINA, is a lead trainer and co-owner of D5 Consulting Group LLC and emcee for The Legacy Collective Conference. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 292, and a New York State DCJS Master Instructor, he brings decades of leadership experience in corrections and public safety.

A trainer, facilitator, and TEDx speaker, Sammy works with agencies and organizations across the East Coast on leadership development, de-escalation, and navigating difficult conversations. His engaging approach equips leaders with practical tools to stay steady, communicate effectively, and lead with confidence when the stakes are high.

Professional Profile

CEO, The Leadership Alliance
Keynote Speaker 

Stacey Duncan is CEO of the Leadership Alliance, a strategic partnership between the Broome County Industrial Development Agency/Local Development Corporation and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. Since 2019, she has led economic and community development efforts throughout Broome County, championing more than $1.5 billion in new investment while advancing business growth, talent attraction, and innovative community initiatives.

Recognized by City & State New York on its Economic Development Power 100 and Upstate Power 100, Stacey was also a 2023 Above & Beyond Award honoree and named a Woman of Achievement by the Binghamton Business Women’s Association in 2024. She serves on several regional and statewide boards and is a strong advocate for inclusive economic growth and creating opportunities that strengthen communities.

Professional Profile

President, SUNY Broome Community College
Keynote Speaker 

Dr. Hawkins is a transformative higher education leader and the President of SUNY Broome Community College. With more than 25 years of experience spanning academic leadership, workforce development, and student success, he is known for building innovative partnerships that connect education, industry, and community. A passionate advocate for expanding opportunity and workforce readiness, Dr. Hawkins brings a powerful perspective on leadership, collaboration, and creating pathways that empower individuals and strengthen communities. 

Professional Profile 

EVP/ Chief Experience Officer, Visions Federal Credit Union
C-Suite Panelist 

Tracey Wheeler serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Visions Federal Credit Union, where she provides strategic leadership focused on strengthening both the member and employee experience. A transformational and people-centered leader, Tracey is passionate about developing future leaders, fostering meaningful connections, and creating a culture where people and performance thrive. Her collaborative approach and commitment to innovation have helped strengthen teams, deepen member relationships, and advance organizational growth. Known for her authenticity and ability to inspire others, Tracey champions leadership development, community impact, and continuous improvement. In her role as EVP/Chief Experience Officer, she continues to advance initiatives that elevate organizational culture, enhance the member experience, and support the mission of Visions Federal Credit Union. 

Professional Profile 

President & CEO, GHS Federal Credit Union
C-Suite Panelist

Chad Williams is President and CEO of GHS Federal Credit Union, where he focuses on delivering meaningful value for members, employees, and the communities the credit union serves. With leadership experience spanning financial services, technology, and government, Chad has led organizational transformation, technology modernization, change management, and process improvement initiatives.

He holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Excelsior University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Clarkson University. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Chad believes sustainable growth is built through engaged employees, a healthy culture, disciplined execution, and leaders willing to embrace change while staying true to their values.

Professional Profile

Superintendent of Schools, Maine-Endwell Central School District
C-Suite Panelist

 Jason Van Fossen has dedicated more than 30 years to education, serving as a teacher, principal, and, for the past 15 years, Superintendent of the Maine-Endwell Central School District. He was recognized as the 2023 New York State Association of Educational Office Professionals Administrator of the Year and is a member of the Greater Binghamton Educational Outreach Program (GBEOP).

Jason believes the heart of educational leadership is creating opportunities for every student to succeed, a commitment that continues to guide his leadership and service to the community.

Professional Profile

Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Broome County
C-Suite Panelist

  Tonya Brown, MSW, has dedicated more than 30 years to serving children, families, and communities through her leadership at Catholic Charities of Broome County. As the Executive Director, she provides agency-wide leadership in programs, operations, human resources, compliance, and strategic initiatives. Tonya has led innovative community partnerships, secured resources for critical programs, guided disaster response efforts, and championed employee engagement and professional development. A graduate of Ithaca College and Marywood University, she is a passionate advocate for strong communities and collaborative leadership. Her commitment to empowering others and creating meaningful change reflects her belief that effective leadership begins with service. 

Professional Profile

Program Officer, Community Foundation of South Central New York
C-Suite Panelist

Stacy Mastrogiacomo is the Program Officer at the Community Foundation for South Central New York (CFSCNY), which connects local donors with the causes they care about and invests in nonprofits across Broome, Tioga, Delaware, Chenango, and Otsego counties. Stacy's path to leadership wasn't a straight line. After nearly 20 years in healthcare administration, she made a mid-career move into philanthropy, joining CFSCNY as Administrative Assistant more than nine years ago. She grew into her current role, where she serves as the foundation's sole program staff member, manages approximately 17 grant cycles each year, and works alongside nonprofit leaders throughout the region. Stacy believes leadership is built on relationships, and that investing in people is one of the best ways to strengthen a community. That belief shapes her work, including a CFSCNY pilot that pairs flexible funding with executive coaching for nonprofit leaders. When she's not at work, Stacy unwinds with a good book and a new recipe. After years of reading grant applications, she's found that both are more fun when there's no budget narrative involved.

Professional Profile

Owner, Express Employment
Breakout Session Facilitator

Sandy Jones is the Owner of the local Express Employment Professionals’ office.  Sandy has over 25 years of human resource experience, most recently as the Human Resource Director for a mid-sized, private-equity owned manufacturer of synthetic building materials.  She holds a BS in Business Administration from Marywood University and a MS in Human Resource Administration from the University of Scranton.  She is also a Senior Certified Professional from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP).

Professional Profile

Organizational Leadership Development Manager, Visions Federal Credit Union

Breakout Session Facilitator

Dr. Kitchen believes learning is a lifelong journey. As Organizational Leadership Development Manager at Visions Federal Credit Union, she leads initiatives that foster personal, professional, and

organizational growth while serving as Executive Sponsor of the Visionary Professional Employee Resource Group. With more than 20 + years of experience across education, leadership, and

community organizations, she is dedicated to cultivating a love of continuous and committed learning. Guided by curiosity, hospitality, and perseverance, she loves helping others discover their potential so they can thrive. Her research interests include onboarding, retention, student success, and instructional design.

Professional Profile

Leadership Coach and Consultant, Jesse Katen Leadership Consultancy

Breakout Session Facilitator 

Jesse is a leadership coach and consultant who works with leaders in a broad range of fields and sectors. 

He has been a business owner, professor, published scholar, and community

leader, having served on the boards of fourteen organizations and foundations and been the president of five. 

He owns the Jesse Katen Leadership Consultancy in Binghamton, New York

working with individual and corporate clients on all aspects of leadership development. 

He also owns the Jesse Katen School of Dance in Windsor, NY where he teaches dance to studentsages 3 to adult.

Professional Profile

MBA Business Advisor, REDEC Relending Group

Breakout Session Facilitator

Michael brings a distinctly Gen Z perspective to multigenerational workplaces, bridging generational gaps to build stronger, more collaborative business communities. 

Michael works as a Business Advisor at REDEC Relending Corp, where he provides technical assistance and financial support to small-business owners across the Southern Tier. 

He previously spent three years as a Small Business Advisor at the Southern Tier Small Business Development Center, counseling 350+ clients, and one year as an Adjunct Professor at Binghamton University.

Professional Profile

Founder & Executive Director of Rugglion
Breakout Session Facilitator

Joseph is the Founder and Executive Director of Rugglion. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of East Stroudsburg University, where he was a standout student-athlete, he earned dual degrees in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Over the past 7+ years, Joseph has grown Rugglion into a seven-figure media company while launching two additional brands: Briovista and Rugglion Studios. His career has included work with organizations such as WWE, the Harlem Globetrotters, the NYPD, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), and even the White House. Today, he leads creative strategy, business development, and high-impact marketing initiatives for organizations nationwide.

Professional Profile