2024 Leadership Assembly

Eric M. Winkfield, serving as Vice President at M Booth and M Booth Health, leads the charge in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives across both organizations. Bringing extensive experience to the table, Eric specializes in strategic counseling for key corporate clients, encompassing reputation management, public affairs, integrated marketing, and issues and crisis management.

Prior to joining M Booth, Eric played a pivotal role at Pepco, a Washington, D.C.-based public utility company under Exelon's ownership. As a key member of the governmental and external affairs team, he focused on community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and leadership in cross-functional teams dedicated to regulatory and public policy initiatives. Eric holds a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University and a bachelor's degree in public relations from Florida A&M University.

Winkfield is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., beyond his professional accomplishments, Eric is fueled by a profound passion for advocacy and mentorship. His active contributions extend to the Reed College of Media at WVU, where he serves on the faculty and visiting committee. Additionally, he plays a crucial role in mentoring and alumni engagement for the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at FAMU. Eric has received esteemed recognitions, including being named a Distinguished Communicator of Color by the Diversity Action Alliance, and he earned the Emerging Leader of the Year Award from the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.

Technical Advisor for Microsoft CCO
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elchang/

Elaine guides Microsoft's communications with a focus to connect Microsoft's technical strategy with storytelling. She leads technology transformation for the future of communications including innovating, strategizing, and advising reinventing communications with AI. 

Elaine is a technologist, storyteller, and strategist with expertise in AI and innovation. With 18+ years of experience managing global teams and products, she is a creator and visionary with well-rounded expertise in engineering, communications, business strategy, and international experiences from US, Canada, UK and China. Elaine is passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to achieve more through technology innovation and storytelling, as well as driving business innovation and organizational success through building a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging.

 Elaine shares career and leadership insights to thrive at work and life via her LinkedIn newsletter “Master of Messiness”.

Laine Himmelmann
Senior Manager of DEI & Corporate Citizenship Communications at Blue Shield of California
Laine.Himmelmann@BlueShieldCA.com
Laine Himmelmann | LinkedIn

Laine Himmelmann is the Senior Manager of DEI & Corporate Citizenship Communications at Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health plan that voluntarily caps their net income at 2% of revenue and returns anything above back to customers and California communities. In her role at one of California’s largest health insurers, Laine drives storytelling and communications around Blue Shield’s diversity, equity, and inclusion and corporate citizenship efforts, both inside and outside the company.

Prior to Blue Shield, Laine was the Chief Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento where she worked for 12 years helping build equity and affordable shelter for low-income families, seniors, Veterans, and communities through Habitat’s homeownership, home preservation, and neighborhood revitalization and investment programs. At Habitat for Humanity, she was responsible for multi-million-dollar annual revenue generation, public relations/marketing, and volunteer engagement for over 2,000 volunteers a year. During her time there, the organization grew from serving dozens of individuals a year to thousands.

Over the last decade, Laine has secured over 1,000 earned local and national media spots and over $20  million in donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals to help uplift underserved individuals in the greater Sacramento region. She is a past president and board member for the Public Relations Society of America California Capital Chapter and is an active current committee member. Laine also currently volunteers on a variety of nonprofit committees including Habitat for Humanity and B Street Theatre.

Laine was recognized as a Sacramento Business Journal 2019 “40 under 40” honoree and by Comstock Magazine as a 2022 California Capital Region Young Professional on the rise.

She lives in Midtown Sacramento with her husband Giuliano Kornberg, the executive director for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, and their miniature schnauzer Tortellini.

Patrice Tanaka is a best-selling author, public speaker on business and life purpose, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of three award-winning, PR & Marketing agencies and the consultancy, Joyful Planet, focused on building purpose-driven individuals and organizations. Life and organizational purpose are the subjects of Patrice’s best-selling books, Beat the Curve and Performance360. 
 
Patrice has been honored by many organizations, including PRWeek (Hall of Fame inductee), Public Relations Society of America (“Paul M. Lund Award for Public Service”), New York Women in Communications (“Matrix” Award), The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations (“Legacy Award for Mentoring”), PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards (“Excellence in Mentoring” Award), Asian Women in Business (“Entrepreneurial Leadership Award”), Working Mother magazine (“Mothering that Works” Award), Girl Scouts of Greater New York (“Women of Distinction” Award and “Gold Achievement” Gala Honoree), University of Hawaii (“Distinguished Alumni” Award), among others.     

She is Past Co-Chair and now on the Advisory Council of the Diversity Action Alliance, a PR industry-wide coalition of 15 influential organizations committed to action on diversity, equity and inclusion. Patrice has also served as a trustee and volunteer for many organizations committed to serving youth, girl- and women’s leadership development, economic empowerment, gender equity, and social justice.  She is a co-founder of the Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute in 1995, which is now part of the Center for Asian Pacific American Women where she works with emerging, multicultural leaders.  Patrice is a vocal advocate for the AANHPI community and co-organizer of the Museum of Public Relations first-ever AAPI Heritage Month celebration, which is now part of its ongoing “Diversity Series.”    

Patrice was born and raised in Hawaii, but has lived in New York City for most of her adult life.  She calls Hawaii “home” and is committed to living her life with the “Aloha Spirit.”

Reach Patrice via email Patrice@JoyfulPlanet.com or LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Brandi Sims, the visionary Founder & CEO of Brandinc PR, boasts a remarkable 15-year career in public relations, digital marketing, and PR event planning. Her diverse expertise has been honed through collaborations with a wide array of clients, including public figures, nonprofits, government sectors, and corporations. Her impact is evident in her clientele, which spans various sectors, from Arts & Humanities to Sports Figures, securing significant media coverage in Forbes, ESPN, Fox News, The New Yorker, and Cosmopolitan. 

Her professional accomplishments are a testament to her unwavering dedication to excellence. This includes recognition from Design Rush Top Public Relations Company & Top Influencer Marketing Agencies, Expertise.com Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Austin, Soigne + Swank’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Arts, Culture and Entertainment, Davos Digital PR Awards Best PR Agency for 2021 and recipient of the Southwest Ledger 12:10 To The Top Award, recognizing young leaders helping Oklahoma become a top ten state.

Sims is currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University, pursuing a Ph.D. in Strategic Media Communications, showcasing her commitment to advancing the field. Beyond her academic and professional roles, Sims is a luminary in various capacities. She serves as a Local Leader on the Forbes BLK Advisory Council, shaping important discussions. As National Chair for the Public Relations Society of America's Entertainment & Sports Executive Committee, she drives innovation and excellence.

Her past role as the Board Chair for the Oklahoma Women's Coalition reflects her advocacy for gender equity. Sims' commitment to community development is evident through her engagement on various boards.

She frequently participates as a speaker, moderator, and participant at conferences and events, sharing her wealth of knowledge and insights with eager audiences. Brandi Sims is a true luminary, making significant contributions to education, public relations, and community development, and inspiring others along the way.

Sims is married to retired Navy GM2 Expeditionary Warfare Specialist and Registered Nurse Oscar Sims III. The couple shares two children, Obrie and Oscar IV along with two puppies, Orion and Adriel.