DiversityWorks Group Team

Our Behaviors

We will:
We will not:

We value the lessons we learn from failure and believe that we are not flawless. We will make mistakes and learn from them. We welcome constructive and honest feedback as well as a dialog about our behaviors as we strive to incorporate them into our professional and personal lives. We listen well, and we want to hear from you. We invite you to share your feedback about what you see above and share the values you hold.

Data Privacy and Retention Policy
Purpose-Driven Data Processing: Our organization solely processes personal data from our client engagements to deliver the contracted services. We do not use this data for any other purposes.
Data Minimization: We collect and retain only the minimum personal data necessary to fulfill our service obligations and remind our clients not to send unnecessary data. Our Data Protection Officer (DPO) conducts quarterly reviews to ensure we do not hold excessive data.
Data Accuracy: We implement measures to maintain data accuracy, including regular data validation checks and training staff on the importance of data accuracy. We require peer review of all analyses before reviewing with our clients.
Data Integrity and Confidentiality: To ensure data integrity and confidentiality, we assign each client a unique identifier and store data using the client’s unique identifier. Our employees are discouraged from working on client data in public places or discussing clients with colleagues in public settings.
Accountability: We demonstrate accountability by maintaining detailed records of data processing activities, conducting regular internal audits, appointing a data protection officer, and implementing a data breach response plan.
Compliance Review: This policy is reviewed quarterly to ensure ongoing compliance with data protection regulations and the best practices.
Data Retention: We will retain your personal data only for as long as the data is needed in connection with the purposes for which it is collected and used. After this, we will either delete the data or pseudonymize it, making sure that it is not directly attributable, and use it for data analytics, benchmarking, and statistical purposes only. The following criteria will be used to guide us when retaining your information:

We will retain personal data for as long as we maintain an active relationship with our client; Once our relationship with the client has ended, the data (in a pseudonymized or anonymized form) may still be relevant to our current or future legitimate business purposes.

Incident Management and Response Plan- Data Breach Response Policy
Detection and Reporting: All employees must immediately report suspected data breaches to the firm’s senior partner. The senior partner will confirm and assess the breach within 24 hours.
Containment: We will immediately contain the breach and prevent further data loss. Affected systems may be isolated or taken offline if necessary.
Assessment: The Data Protection Officer (DPO) will lead an investigation to determine a) the Nature and extent of the breach, b)
the Data involved c) the Potential impact on individuals and the organization.
Notification: Within 72 hours of breach awareness, the DPO will a) Notify relevant authorities as required by law and b) Inform
affected individuals if there’s a high risk to their rights and freedoms.
Recovery: IT will implement necessary measures to restore systems and data. Security measures will be reviewed and enhanced
as needed.
Review: A post-incident review will be conducted to identify lessons learned and improve future responses.
Documentation: The DPO will maintain a record of all data breaches, including response actions. This policy will be reviewed and updated annually or after any significant data breach incident.

Blake Mitchell

Senior DEI Consultant

Blake Mitchell (they/he) worked at Google for over 8 years where they managed teams in diversity & inclusion, learning & development and recruiting operations and enablement. A Georgia native, Blake moved back to the South in fall 2022 to work as an Operations Manager on Stacey Abrams’ campaign for Governor. They now partner with DiversityWorks Group to support clients on workplace culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Blake began their career in film production in Los Angeles and holds bachelor’s degrees in International Business, Finance, and Entertainment & Media Studies from the University of Georgia. Outside of work, Blake performs and educates in drag as Mary Lou Pearl and spends their summers working at an LGBTQ+ summer camp.

Patrice M Palmer, EdD, MASJ, FRSA

Senior DEI Consultant

Dr. Palmer (they/them) is the inaugural Assistant Dean of Social & Cultural Inclusion and a Management faculty member at Colorado State University’s College of Business. With a Doctor of Education from Baylor University, their research focuses on inclusive workplace cultures and strategic inclusion through Employee Resource Groups. Dr. Palmer is a thought leader in DEI, recognized by Hop Culture, Imbibe, 5280, and Forbes for their work in craft beer and by LinkedIn as a racial equity champion. Their consulting experience spans industries from private equity to Broadway.

Courtney Jones

Senior DEI Consultant

Courtney Jones founded and sold MomSource Network, an organization dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces through targeted diversity recruiting efforts, enterprise Returnship, and Trailing Spouse programs.  A passionate advocate for diversity and a recognized thought leader on topics related to women in business, D&I, and work-life blend; she’s been featured in Bloomberg, CNN, and Working Mother and has worked alongside hundreds of companies to create meaningful opportunities for women.

Brielle Pray

Project Manager

Brielle Pray serves as a project manager to our clients at DiversityWorks Group; making sure we stay on track and organized each step of the way. She graduated cum laude from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama, as well as a BA in Social and Cultural Analysis from the College of Arts and Sciences. Her areas of expertise include Africana and mixed-race studies and the Meisner technique of acting. Selected as a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar and scholarship recipient, she participated in travel colloquia and community events in her undergraduate career to deepen her education on social justice topics. She was awarded Outstanding Achievement in studio and recognized as a University Honors Scholar. Passionate for both the arts and academics, Brielle offers a unique, informed perspective as a project manager to clients in their DEI endeavors.

Mary Spriester

Senior Communications Consultant

Mary has worn many hats over the years, but has always had a love of writing and communication. From early in her career, she found herself helping colleagues understand each other in meetings, and using personal time to write instructional manuals for everything from new employee orientation to the use of new technology. When not helping people at work, Mary has enjoyed volunteering in her local community, especially with students and with the unhoused. Currently, she is excited to couple two of her passions, writing and inclusion. In addition to her work as a freelance business writer, Mary serves on the board of Boys Hope Girls Hope, Denver. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four amazing children who make her proud each and every day.

Pam Jeffords

Founding and Managing Partner

Pam Jeffords is the Founding and Managing Partner at DiversityWorks Group. She has over 25 years of experience advising companies and organizations on how to break the status quo and drive progress with their diversity, inclusion, and engagement goals. Pam is a member of the Global Leadership Council for Colorado State University College of Business, an advisory board member for the University of Denver Colorado Women’s College, and a Limited Partner in The JumpFund whose mission is to invest  in women-led startups. Pam has also served as Chair of Women United for the Mile-High United Way where she received the prestigious Frances Wisebart Jacobs award for philanthropy. Pam has been featured in numerous publications, including Fortune magazine, The Economist, and BRINK.  Pam holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia State.

Maneesh Shewaramani​

Senior Data and Analytics Consultant

Maneesh Shewaramani brings a decade of experience leading operations, data, and analytics teams for professional services organizations. His expertise includes advising clients on successfully implementing data and analytics products, automation, and process optimization. He now partners with DiversityWorks Group to bring the data together to understand the story and gather actionable insights. Maneesh holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi and a certificate in Applied Business Analytics from MIT Sloan School of Management. Based out of Austin, Maneesh lives with his wife and two sons. During his free time, he enjoys working on home projects, building furniture, and cooking outdoors.