Meet Our Speakers

Steve Wray is a civic leader and strategist dedicated to helping cities and regions harness innovation for economic growth and opportunity. He currently serves as Director of Economic Development for Mayor Corey O’Connor and the City of Pittsburgh, where he is responsible for attracting, retaining, and growing businesses in the City, with a particular focus on expanding Pittsburgh’s innovation economy.

Previously, Steve was Executive Director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Block Center for Technology and Society, leading initiatives that connected cutting-edge research with public policy, industry, and community action—ensuring that technology and innovation serve people and place. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, he was Senior Vice President and Principal at Econsult Solutions, where he built the firm’s national “Future of Cities” practice, helping local governments and civic institutions craft strategies around innovation, talent, and growth. Earlier, as Executive Director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, he led one of the nation’s most respected civic organizations through a transformation that expanded its impact and influence, launching major regional initiatives like World Class Greater Philadelphia, Campus Philly, and Pre-K for PA.

Across his career, Steve has worked at the intersection of research, strategy, and action. His leadership is defined by a commitment to practical, forward-looking solutions that make cities more competitive, equitable, and resilient. 

Steve holds a Master’s in Public Management and Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, a Bachelor’s in Public Policy Studies from Duke University, and executive education in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management from Harvard Business School.

Dave Thompson is a strategist, author, and internationally recognized speaker dedicated to building systems that recognize and support the full range of human cognition. An early-identified ADHDer and dyslexic thinker, he spent his early life navigating environments not designed for brains like his and has since devoted his career to redesigning them.

At Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Dave serves as Program Coordinator and Visiting Scholar, leveraging deep connections across the neurodiversity employment ecosystem to advance inclusion in engineering education and across industries. His work bridges research, practice, and public engagement, bringing neuroinclusive solutions to classrooms, workplaces, and leadership teams.

A two-time TEDx speaker and author of the forthcoming book Brainstorm: A Guide to Neurodivergent Talent and the Future of Work (Wiley, 2026), Dave has trained and keynoted for audiences around the world. His clients include Fortune 500 companies, universities, and social enterprises seeking practical ways to recruit, support, and retain neurodivergent talent.

Beyond Vanderbilt, Dave serves on the Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable, a cross-industry coalition of major employers collaborating to advance neuroinclusive hiring, retention, and career development. He brings together lived experience, systems thinking, and big-picture strategy to challenge how organizations understand talent and work.

Abigayle Jayroe, MBA, Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations, implements and scales innovative programs at NEXT for Autism. In collaboration with the Strategic Initiates team, Abigayle broadens the reach and scope of programming to impact the autism community nationally. Over the last decade, Abigayle served in a variety of roles for the Kinney Center for Autism at Saint Joseph’s University where she ensured crucial services and opportunities were accessible to individuals with autism across the lifespan and helped develop community support to prepare society for an increasingly neurodiverse world. Most recently, she spearheaded the creation of the nation’s first Neurodiversity in the Workplace minor designed to create a generation of business professionals that are equipped to cultivate inclusive work environments. Today, Abigayle serves on Special Olympics’ Philadelphia’s Advisory Board and continues to be an active participant in the movement to make Philadelphia the most inclusive city in the nation.

Jeff Durmis, Acting District Administrator for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in the Pittsburgh Office for the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), brings 10 years of professional experience in assisting individuals with disabilities achieve competitive integrated employment through fostering personal growth, professional development and by placing individuals in lifelong opportunities that allows the person not only to succeed but also to grow and flourish in a company. Jeff believes in a team approach where the individual, the counselor and the Business Services Representative work as equal partners to identify both the individual’s strengths and their needs which is essential when matching an individual to employment.  He believes in identifying and providing all the necessary supports during the early stages of a new position but also in helping the individual work toward independence and self-sufficiency at the worksite and in their personal lives.

Prior to working with OVR, Jeff worked within the food service industry for a number of years where he held various management positions. Those experiences have afforded him insight into how best to approach both the customers he serves, and the businesses he interacts with. The aim is to ensure a mutual benefit by empowering the customer through knowledge and informed choice, and for the employer by helping them gain access to a wider hiring pool and ultimately diversifying their staff.

Tracy Powell-Rudy is Integrate’s Vice President of Corporate Engagement and a 2025 92NY Women in Power Fellow, advising Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, healthcare systems, and nonprofits on designing and scaling neuroinclusive hiring, onboarding, and retention practices for autistic and otherwise neurodivergent talent. She is a contributing author of The Neurodivergent Candidate and Recruiting Autistic Professionals, and a co-author of multiple peer-reviewed publications on neuroinclusive hiring, including research on game-based and asynchronous video assessments. Tracy also serves on the advisory board for NSF-funded neurodiversity and workplace inclusion research at Carnegie Mellon and on the Advisory Council for Joshin, a disability-focused care platform. Prior to her work in neuroinclusion, she led IT for a Fortune 100 corporation and served as a Vice President at a global retained executive search firm; she holds degrees from Manhattanville College and NYU Polytechnic and identifies as neurodivergent.

Kerry Stith serves as PNC’s Accessibility Director, where he leads enterprise-wide strategies to ensure accessibility for all employees and customers, including those with disabilities. He established PNC’s accessibility framework and collaborates across business units to embed inclusive practices into digital platforms, workplace environments, and customer experiences. 

As the father of two sons with autism spectrum disorder, Kerry brings a deeply personal commitment to disability advocacy. He led PNC Enable, PNC’s disability-focused employee business resource group, for over a decade and currently serves on the Disability:IN Accessibility Leadership Committee. 

Kerry has been with PNC for 27 years, holding leadership roles in Consumer Lending, Supply Chain Management, and Enterprise Program Management. He holds a BS and MBA from Waynesburg University and a Master of Divinity from Regent University. He is also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC). 

Kerry is passionate about creating environments where neurodivergent individuals can thrive, and he regularly speaks on accessibility.

Kristel Wisor is an ACRE-certified professional and a Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Juniata College. She brings 25 years of professional experience in the human services field, supporting children, families, and people with disabilities across a wide range of settings.

Currently, Kristel serves as the Inclusion Liaison embedded at Sheetz through the InVEST grant, where she supports inclusive recruitment, hiring, and sustained employment for people with disabilities. Her work focuses on building effective partnerships, advancing inclusive employment practices, and creating pathways that promote independence, equity, and long-term success.

Jeff Cowgill serves as DOI Lead at JPMorgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio. In this role, he advances the company’s Lines of Business by identifying, developing, and retaining autistic and neurodivergent talent. Jeff is dedicated to ensuring that all aspects of the colleague experience are neuroinclusive, fostering a workplace that is empathetic and inclusive for everyone.

In addition, Jeff oversees global disability student programming, working to bridge the skills and opportunities gap for students with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions.

With a 38-year tenure at Chase (formerly Bank One), Jeff began his career as an internal auditor and has since held leadership roles in tax preparation, quality program development, education, and project management. He is a Certified Neurodiversity Professional.

In recognition of his efforts, Jeff was honored as a 2025 Outstanding Diversity Champion by Columbus Business First.

Isabel Fields is an ESG Manager dedicated to advancing sustainable and inclusive business practices. At Hearst, she launched the company’s first Neurodiversity@Hearst hiring program and leads the Web Accessibility Task Force, while also driving sustainability strategy and ESG reporting. She sits on the advisory board of Joshin and Understood’s Women’s Council. Her work reflects a commitment to building corporate initiatives that deliver measurable impact for people and the planet.

Previously, Isabel served on Oracle’s Social Impact team, where she built partnerships with nonprofits and leveraged technology for social good. She has also held roles at Nike, the United Nations Foundation, and Iron Mountain, consistently championing responsible practices that create lasting change.

Terry Huey is a seasoned vocational rehabilitation professional with 19 years of dedicated service at the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. Throughout his career, he has built extensive experience supporting individuals with disabilities in achieving meaningful employment and greater independence.

He currently serves as the District Administrator for the Pittsburgh Office, where he oversees vocational rehabilitation services across Allegheny County. In this role, Terry provides strategic leadership, manages operations and staff, and works closely with community partners, employers, and stakeholders to ensure high-quality, effective service delivery.

With nearly two decades of institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to public service, Terry continues to focus on improving outcomes for individuals and strengthening workforce development efforts throughout the region.

Pete Steiner is a Director at The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a national organization dedicated to creating employment for autistic and other neurodivergent adults. TPI delivers administrative and technology services using industry best practices within a supportive, team-based environment, demonstrating the unique strengths and capabilities of neurodiverse talent.

A Carnegie Mellon University alumnus (MBA), Pete brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in engineering, technology, and operations, including senior management roles at Bank of America, CSC, MBNA America, and Hercules. His career spans enterprise technology transformation, global team leadership, and large-scale operational delivery.

Pete serves as Vice Chair of the Tech Council of Delaware and is an active volunteer in his parish and broader community. He strongly believes that individuals with disabilities possess exceptional strengths—and are outstanding candidates for businesses seeking committed, high-performing talent.

Sammie Walker Herrera runs a public speaking coaching consultancy called Speak Y'all (yes, she's from Texas), leveraging 10+ years coaching leaders on their impromptu speaking and interviewing skills. Her clients are senior leaders at companies like Amazon, IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft. She focuses on creating a fun, non-judgmental space for folks to hone their speaking strengths. In addition, Sammie is a Certified ADHD Coach through the ADD Coach Academy and is passionate about supporting fellow neurodivergent professionals. Sammie earned two Bachelor's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master's of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University.

Sebastian Lacy, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh VP of Equity & Culture oversees Human Resources, Learning & Professional Development and Center for Race and Gender Equity's advocacy and civic engagement. Over three decades of cross-functional human resources generalist experience in various sectors providing workplace excellence, belonging and equitable policies for an inclusive and respectful workplace.  

Sebastian is also one of the organizers for Innovating Pittsburgh: The Business Value of Neurodiversity Forum.