Theme: FUSION

Fusion! is about publicly celebrating the combination of two or more worlds, ideas, or elements that people may not typically think go together.

Tyler Park
pending
Louisville, Kentucky, 40204
United States

Antonio Melo

Antonio Melo was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1973. He studied English literature and philosophy at Kenyon College. A self-taught creative, he employs passionate curiosity, careful observation, and a playful, sometimes absurdist imagination in his process. His creativity comes from standing at the intersection of the humanities and technology. He learns by doing and approaches doing as a series of minimal, iterative experiments. He designs and creates sound, human systems, new organizations, early stage business models, and healthcare innovation in service of helping people. He is the founder and leader of Humana’s Digital Experience Center, an interdisciplinary, human-centered healthcare software innovation accelerator. Rather than attempting to predict the future, he creates it.

Colleen Reilly

A native of New Albany, IN, Colleen’s studies and a stint in NYC kept her from the area for ten years. She has called Louisville, KY home for the last eight years and feels confident that it is the greatest city in America. Since obtaining a BA in Gender Studies from Indiana University-Bloomington and an MA in Women’s and Gender Studies from Rutgers University, Colleen has made a career working in the nonprofit sector, including higher education and corporate philanthropy. Passionate about food access and social justice, Colleen is a New Roots, Inc. board member and chair and founding member of its young professional group, the Harvest Council. She believes that we can always do more and do better. Colleen joined the start-up nonprofit Canopy as Operations Manager in March 2018 as its first staff member. Canopy’s goal of making Kentucky first in good business aligns closely with her beliefs in practicing compassion, creating sustainable change, and building community. She brings to Canopy her passion for fostering relationships, a love of Kentucky, and fierce project management skills. Prone to food allergies, loud typing, and random dancing, Colleen can make for a high- maintenance and distracting colleague. What she lacks in good office etiquette, she makes up for with wit, reliability, and handwritten thank-you cards.

Colleen Reilly Scott Koloms

Colleen Reilly A native of New Albany, IN, Colleen’s studies and a stint in NYC kept her from the area for ten years. She has called Louisville, KY home for the last eight years and feels confident that it is the greatest city in America. Since obtaining a BA in Gender Studies from Indiana University-Bloomington and an MA in Women’s and Gender Studies from Rutgers University, Colleen has made a career working in the nonprofit sector, including higher education and corporate philanthropy. Passionate about food access and social justice, Colleen is a New Roots, Inc. board member and chair and founding member of its young professional group, the Harvest Council. She believes that we can always do more and do better. Colleen joined the start-up nonprofit Canopy as Operations Manager in March 2018 as its first staff member. Canopy’s goal of making Kentucky first in good business aligns closely with her beliefs in practicing compassion, creating sustainable change, and building community. She brings to Canopy her passion for fostering relationships, a love of Kentucky, and fierce project management skills. Prone to food allergies, loud typing, and random dancing, Colleen can make for a high- maintenance and distracting colleague. What she lacks in good office etiquette, she makes up for with wit, reliability, and handwritten thank-you cards. Scott Koloms In 2001, Scott was on a path to earn a PhD in Literacy and Rhetoric, teach, and write an angry book about social injustices. Things took a dramatic turn that year when his father passed away shortly after buying a small janitorial service, Facilities Management Services (FMS) in Shelbyville, Kentucky. By June, Scott was facing the challenges of learning a business, leading thirty people, and figuring out how to pay off over $800,000 in debt. After resisting his new responsibilities and struggling to be his authentic self in his new role, Scott came to realize the importance of aligning himself with his company and his company with himself. His personal growth through mindfulness practice led him to incorporate new strategies at FMS. Studying meditation and compassion helped him gain clarity into the ways he wished to engage his employees, customers, and community members. And after folks realized he wasn’t having a breakdown--or at least was handling his breakdown with buoyancy-- things began to click at FMS. What began as an intuitive approach to running a business, grounded in kindness and compassion, evolved into a business model that incorporates social impact into its DNA. Currently, FMS employs over 850 people and continues to push itself to do good business and thrive. Scott passionately advocates for a socially conscious and impact driven business movement in Kentucky and dreams of Kentucky having the strongest group of good businesses in the country. Over the last few years, Scott played a pivotal role in the passage of the Public Benefit Corporation legislation in Kentucky, led FMS to become the first certified B Corp janitorial services company in the world, and the first public benefit corporation in Kentucky. In 2018, FMS was honored as a “Best for the World 2018 Company” for their community impact and socially conscious impact efforts. Now, his sights have turned to Canopy—a nonprofit working to make Kentucky first in good business. And he’s working on a book about how for-profit businesses can affect social injustice—he’s just a little less angry. Scott has three children: Oliver (12), Sophie (10), and Ellie (8).

Darrick Wood

Darrick Wood is an international education consultant, who designs student-centered activities and exhibits for schools and museums, most recently in India and Cameroon. Darrick is the host and producer of the interactive radio show/podcast, Inside A Question. It’s a show for people who actively want to figure out themselves, the world, and their place in it. Each episode focuses on a different question, and shows ways to find our own answers through a blend of storytelling, music, and unique experiments. The shows are designed to encourage a lifelong sense of wonder. “Everyone is interested in something,” says Darrick, “whether they know it yet or not.” Inside A Question airs every Sunday, 5-6pm on WXOX 97.1fm. He believes that curiosity is not for spectators, and invites people of all ages and backgrounds to participate with the curious community through his live events and interactive experiments featured on social media. Darrick Wood is the recipient of the 2018 Hadley Creatives Grant, from the Community Foundation of Louisville, supporting innovative and adventurous artists who are at a pivotal point in their careers.

Israel Cuenca

President of the largest Hispanic professional organization in Kentucky (Prospanica) 2018 to 2020 Chairman of Prospanica Lousiville Board of directors. Board member of Louisville Latino Education Outreach Project. Board member of the Ulmer Career Management Center, University of Louisville, College of Business. Sister Cities committee Louisville-Quito White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, U.S Department of Education awarded as first-ever National Bright Spots in Hispanic Education online catalogue (NSHMBA), Former VP of Marketing and Communication at NSHMBA

Kevlen Goodner

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Ramona Lindsey

Ramona Lindsey joined the Mission & Impact team as the Special Projects Coordinator in July 2017 and became a Program Officer in March 2018. She brings with her an artistic and visionary background to help coordinate, design, develop, implement and manage Foundation projects. Her most recent work experience has been at KMAC Museum as their Director of Education and as a Museum Educator. She enjoys collaborating with arts initiatives as a textile and public artist. More specifically, she was the lead artist for the Center for Neighborhoods P.A.I.N.T Project: Parkland Rising. She was also the co-founder and president for the West Louisville Women’s Collaborative, Inc. – a 501(c)3 whose mission is to create and sustain artistic peaceful spaces in West Louisville. A Louisville native, Ramona advocates for responsible, community-focused land use as a commissioner on the Metro Louisville Planning Commission and develops public art addressing the issue of vacant and abandoned properties in urban neighborhoods. Ramona began her career in retail banking before transitioning into public education. She obtained a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida A & M University and a M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Spalding University.

Scott Koloms

In 2001, Scott was on a path to earn a PhD in Literacy and Rhetoric, teach, and write an angry book about social injustices. Things took a dramatic turn that year when his father passed away shortly after buying a small janitorial service, Facilities Management Services (FMS) in Shelbyville, Kentucky. By June, Scott was facing the challenges of learning a business, leading thirty people, and figuring out how to pay off over $800,000 in debt. After resisting his new responsibilities and struggling to be his authentic self in his new role, Scott came to realize the importance of aligning himself with his company and his company with himself. His personal growth through mindfulness practice led him to incorporate new strategies at FMS. Studying meditation and compassion helped him gain clarity into the ways he wished to engage his employees, customers, and community members. And after folks realized he wasn’t having a breakdown--or at least was handling his breakdown with buoyancy-- things began to click at FMS. What began as an intuitive approach to running a business, grounded in kindness and compassion, evolved into a business model that incorporates social impact into its DNA. Currently, FMS employs over 850 people and continues to push itself to do good business and thrive. Scott passionately advocates for a socially conscious and impact driven business movement in Kentucky and dreams of Kentucky having the strongest group of good businesses in the country. Over the last few years, Scott played a pivotal role in the passage of the Public Benefit Corporation legislation in Kentucky, led FMS to become the first certified B Corp janitorial services company in the world, and the first public benefit corporation in Kentucky. In 2018, FMS was honored as a “Best for the World 2018 Company” for their community impact and socially conscious impact efforts. Now, his sights have turned to Canopy—a nonprofit working to make Kentucky first in good business. And he’s working on a book about how for-profit businesses can affect social injustice—he’s just a little less angry.Scott has three children: Oliver (12), Sophie (10), and Ellie (8).

Shimar Keith

Shimar Keith is a public speaker, pastor, and artist from Frankfort, Kentucky. He recorded his first music project, Here Lies Planet Earth, at 16 years old. In 2016, he landed the role as a lumber mogul in the award winning independent film, “Andy’s Rainbow.” He has done mission work in the Middle East and Africa. He currently serves as the Youth and Young Adult Pastor for Refuge in Kentucky Church in Louisville, Kentucky and Lead Pastor for Feasts of God Church in Lexington, Kentucky enabling him to mentor men across the central Kentucky region. His calling in life is to enable men to become warriors of righteousness. Shimar earned his B.S. in Mathematical Economics from the University of Kentucky. He has worked for more than 10 years as a data analyst and, most recently at Kentucky State University.

Yamilca Rodriguez

Yamilca Rodriguez, Louisville Bepsoke Founder & President