USA
Featured Speakers
Maurice Foley
Founder, The Black Travel ExpoMaurice was born in Bermuda and has been traveling the world since the age of 5. In 2000, Maurice along with his family took a trip to South Africa to build a church in a small town in the Eastern Cape called Bisho. After being there for a few weeks, he made it his mission to return annually. In 2012, Maurice invited a small group of friends to join him in Cape Town, South Africa. That was only the beginning of his new journey to explore this amazing country with others who didn't mind the long journey to get there. In 2013, he started Two Oceans Travel & Tours and hasn't looked back. Each year 25-30 people take advantage of all that his travel ventures have to offer. Maurice ensures that at least one day of each trip is dedicated to giving shoes, socks, and school supplies to children in the local townships. His goal is to travel to every country within the continent of Africa and take anyone who wants to join him. Maurice has over 10 years’ experience in event management and production. His passion and goal is to provide the Black traveling public and travel organizations a platform and outlet to learn more about travel and create opportunities to network with other travel enthusiasts.
Kellee Edwards
Adventurer and Travel Channel HostEdwards, long known as Kellee Set Go! is an travel and adventure expert who explores by land, air and sea. Edwards uses her experience as a licensed pilot, advanced open water scuba diver and intrepid explorer to see the world from different heights, literally. Being a pilot only ups the adventure quota, allowing Edwards to fly to the remote locations, landing without the benefit of a runway or air traffic tower. Her love of travel and outdoor adventure has propelled her to explore more than 50 countries. Her exploits include summiting Mt. Hood in Oregon, dog sledding in the remote wilderness of Alaska, trekking the active volcano Mt. Pacaya in Guatemala, piloting an aircraft in the temperamental Aleutian Chain, freediving with the Jeju Haenyeo, participating in Rambu Solo in Sulawesi, unearthing an artifact on an archaeological dig and exploring Mayan ruins in Central America. She even had a life-changing close call on a shipwreck dive in the Red Sea near Eilat, Israel.
Denella Ri’chard
Executive Producer & TV HostDenella Ri'chard, Executive Producer and Host of the television broadcast "Traveling With Denella Ri'chard" which can be seen on American Airlines and United Airlines in-flight entertainment; coming soon to Canada's WestJet Airlines. The television show airs on Sundays globally via the CJC Network and also on The CW South Florida (WSFL). Ri’chard is a world traveler, TV personality, former travel industry executive and entrepreneur. Her numerous industry awards and recognition include The Network Journal’s "25 Influential Women in Business" and Legacy Miami's "50 Most Powerful & Influential Business Leaders" of 2018. Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine honored her with the APEX Distinguished Service Award in 2019. Luxury Travel Advisor magazine named her as one of their “2019 Road Warriors” and Industry trendsetters. In addition to her many conference and headliner appearances, she was featured on the cover of Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine Spring 2020 edition.
Jay Cameron
Founder and CEO of Maximum ImpactWith a multi-faceted career that has spanned nearly 30 years, Jay Cameron’s expertise as a world traveler, speaker, author, playwright, community leader, and philanthropist is unparalleled. Jay's ventures have been featured in media publications and news outlets worldwide. As a traveler, Jay's interest shifted to African diaspora travel after a life-changing trip to Ghana. His experience opened the door to more exploration on the continent of Africa. These adventures led him to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and a Serengeti safari in Tanzania. Jay has also traveled to Ethiopia, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Zanzibar, Togo, Benin, and Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. In April of 2021, Jay was granted dual citizenship in Sierra Leone by President Julius Maada Bio. As a result of Jay's experiences, the Maximum Impact Travel movement was launched with an emphasis on African diaspora travels around the globe.
Tomeka Jones
Travel Journalist & Content CreatorTomeka Jones is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of television experience. She's spent most of her professional career working at CNN, one of the most notable media conglomerates in the world. During her previous role as a travel journalist at CNN Airport Network, Tomeka traveled around the world covering a wide range of topics from award-winning hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury and business travel, as well as health and wellness. In Summer 2021, Tomeka launched her first online show and podcast called Travel & Lifestyle Conversations. She has served as a Host and Emcee for several non-profit organizations in the Atlanta area.
Nubia Younge
CEO and founder of Black In TulumNubia is the quintessential global connector. She is the CEO and founder of Black In Tulum, a community for Black & Brown travelers in Mexico. Nubia has lived on 4 continents and explored 43 countries, facilitating intercultural collaborations, and documenting her love for food and adventure. She has been featured in Elle Magazine, VICE, Travel and Leisure, Nomadic Matt, and many other digital media platforms. Nubia is on a mission to inspire Gen X professionals to embody the power of manifestation. She is passionate about helping women create their own realities to do what they love, unapologetically!
Guest Panelists
Dr. Nadeen White
Founder, The Sophisticated Life & Founding Member - the Black Travel AllianceDr. Nadeen White is a "Travel Blogger by Day, Physician by Night". She has over 20 years of experience practicing medicine & over 8 years of experience as a travel content creator. Her award-winning travel blog - The Sophisticated Life - covers affordable luxury travel, food & wine as well as health and medical topics related to travel. Nadeen is founding member and board member of the Black Travel Alliance, and Oprah Daily Ambassador & holds a WSET Level 2 wine certification. In addition, Dr. Nadeen White has appeared on CNN, is a sought-after speaker, and an Amazon bestselling author for her series of travel E-Books.
Craig Henry
Founder and CEO of The Travel JunkeesMy parents took me to Disneyland for our first family vacation, Circa early '70's. I didn’t know it then but, my first family vacation would spark a voracious appetite for traveling; as a result, TheTravelJunkee was born. Now I'm 6 continents, 60 plus countries, and countless cities in the game, and that inspired me to create a website, blog and business, all because of my love for travel. I have an interest in sharing information about hidden treasures tucked away in small coves, and expeditions that are not on the beaten path, with others. My website www.thetraveljunkee.com and IG page www.instagram/thetraveljunkee are places where I connect and share tips via stories, links and personal accounts of things to do when traveling to certain places. I haven't been everywhere, but it's definitely on my list. For now though I'm sure to be Wheels up to my next destination when you read this.
Shar Wynter
Founder and CEO of Xpat Inc.Sharolyn is a social entrepreneur and growth strategist who promotes diversity & inclusion, personal development, and community empowerment. She is the founder and CEO of Xpat, Inc., and creator of The Xpat App, which is noted as the first app for the global Black expat community. As a growth strategist, she leverages insights from her global experience to help companies and individuals elevate their brands. Her prior experience includes 10+ years at Deloitte Consulting and serving as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Girls LOVE Travel, a community of 1.1 million female travelers. Through her involvement as a speaker and content creator for various platforms, she is an active advocate for diversity & inclusion in the travel, expat, and tech communities. She is also passionate about youth empowerment and STEM education which she supports through her service on the Board of Directors for Raising Expectations youth development program. Sharolyn is open to speaking engagements aligned with her values, interests, and experience.
Kevin Knight
CEO, Urban Events GlobalUrban Events Global (UEG), a travel company of professional, African-American adventure seekers. Urban Events Global encourages travelers to experience all that life has to offer through group travel events, networking, and by meeting like-minded individuals with an appetite for fun and exploration. Urban Events Global’s vision is to cultivate a space for professional people of color to interact organically through events around the world. The development of these unique and non-traditional experiences ultimately allows participants the opportunity to relax and develop new friendships in a care-free environment. During the many adventures, travelers range from 400 to 2,000 participants. Beginning as a camping trip in 2011, the organization has grown to become the hub for several events, such as Urban Camp Weekend, Urban Excursion Weekend, Urban Cruise Weekend, the annual UEG Meet Up, and much more. In 2017, Urban Events Global was included in BAUCE Magazine’s “7-Black Owned Travel Groups That You and Your Squad Should Join Now”. Furthermore, UEG was selected as USA TODAY 10Best Top 5 Best.
Nyra Constant
Host of Global Connecting PodcastNyra Constant is an intentional global connector. With her entrepreneurial cape, she flies around the world entertaining, educating, coaching, and challenging people to break through their limiting beliefs, have new experiences, and create bonds with their global neighbors. Nyra has spent almost ten years living a dynamic and colorful expatriate life. Her passion for teaching through innovative products and services is what gets her up every morning. Nyra is also the host of Global Connecting Podcast which talks with expatriates from around the world about how they unlocked their journey to becoming a living Passport for self-discovery, connection, and change. Within the mission of this podcast, Nyra has launched the #196BlackExpats Campaign that will chronicle the movements of black and brown expats in every country on the planet – We Everywhere. Travel consultant, international events coordinator, and ex-pat coach, Nubia Younge believes in bringing people together and building communities across the globe.
Kelvin Samuels
Founder of Adios Beaches.Kelvin Samuels aka Adi0beaches is a travel blogger specializing in solo travel and building mini-vacations onto your destination through layovers. He had a relatively late start to the international travel experience, with his first touchdown in the Philippines just over six years ago. He has since visited that cluster of islands 15 times and has added 20 additional countries to his travel resume. He has an affinity for beaches and still has sand in his luggage from some of the most beautiful destinations in the world, including Borocay, Maldives, and Bali to name a few. Over the years, he has become an unofficial travel concierge to novice and expert travelers by lending his knowledge and on-the-ground experience to different cultures so pitfalls and headaches can be avoided, especially in the Southeast Asia region. You can find more about Kelvin on his IG page by searching Adi0sbeaches with a zero.
Claire Johnson
Medical Doctor and Travel PhotographerClaire Johnson developed her wanderlust as a little girl on her first international flight from New York to Germany on Pan Am at the age of three. Throughout the years her travels have covered all fifty states, all seven continents, all seven modern world wonders and half of the world’s countries. Her professions of medicine and photography have provided her opportunities to live and work in several countries and she has passed on her love of travel to her children who have already traveled to five continents. Her travels and photography can be followed on Instagram @daisyamongroses
