Owner/Principal of Ovell Rome & Associates, Ovell Barbee Jr., is a renowned, visionary human resources leader, consultant and speaker with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He’s held executive leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies in an array of industries including Motorola, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, General Motors/OnStar, Spectrum Health (now Corewell Health) and Indiana University Health.In these roles, he drove sustained cultural change and reduced barriers for diverse populations with a “human-centered” approach that addressed systemic and unconscious barriers and bias. He implemented policies and practices allowing everyone opportunities to thrive within a corporate culture.As a respected Human Resources and DEI thought leader, Ovell is an accomplished and sought-after speaker who chaired the National HR Healthcare Conference in 2022. He’s presented at the HealthcareHR Management Institute’s National Forum, the Becker’s Healthcare Annual Meeting, the National Diversity Council’s National Black Men in Leadership Summit and many other local, state and national meetings. He’s been featured in webinars, podcasts, and news articles on Human Resources and DEI topics. Ovell has received numerous leadership awards, including being selected as one of the Top-50 HR Professionals by OnCon, Top-100 Chief Diversity Officer by the National Diversity Council, Top-50 Under 50 Executive by the National Black MBA Association, and recipient of the Grand Rapids Community College Public Service GIANT Award. He has been featured in the news and magazines including The Grand Rapids Times, Haute, and the American Healthcare Leaders Magazine. As a respected HR thought leader, he has made contributions both locally and nationally including presentations at the Healthcare HR Management Institute’s National Forum and an interview on Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.Ovell received his bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Master’s degree in Social Work in the Workplace from the University of Michigan. He then went on to obtain a second Master’s degree in Human Resources & Labor Relations from Michigan State University. He has also earned certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Senior Certified Professional from the Society for HR Management. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.