Workshops

Cheryl Savio serves as the Assistant Chief of the Equity and Accessibility Management Services Division for CalHR. Cheryl brings over 25 years of experience in learning and development with a specialized focus on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs and compliance. She has designed and led statewide initiatives that strengthen organizational equity, accessibility, and inclusion while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. Cheryl is passionate about creating learning experiences that not only build knowledge but also drive meaningful change in workplace culture and practices. 

With over 15 years of service in the California state government, Joseph Abhulimen Jr. brings a seasoned and empathetic perspective to his role as Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer for the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR).
He specializes in complex workplace investigations and advancing trauma-informed, culturally responsive interview practices that strengthen trust and fairness in the investigative process. Combining his background in law, organizational development, and human resources, Joseph bridges analytical rigor with psychological insight, recognizing how workplace
dynamics, bias, and trauma intersect with employee behavior and organizational culture. Driven by the belief that every voice deserves to be heard with dignity, he works to transform EEO programs into spaces of accountability, equity, and psychological safety. Joseph holds a Juris Doctor, a Master of Science in Organization Development, and
dual HR certifications (SPHR and PHR).

Katie Hymans is the Human Resources Equity Liaison at the California Department of Public Health. In this role, she works collaboratively to facilitate making Human Resources policies, practices, and procedures to be more equitable and inclusive, towards building a culture of belonging within the Department. Previously, she was a Human Resources Trainer, where she facilitated multiple trainings related to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to working for the State, Katie worked in a variety of non-profit organizations, primarily serving immigrant and refugee communities. She has a Masters Degree in Cultural Anthropology and Social Transformation and is a certified leader of InterPlay. 

Joseph Lott is a Strategic Impact Manager at the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), where he drives equity from concept to action.  In his role at DCSS, Joseph leads initiatives that weave justice, diversity, and inclusion into the fabric of everyday operations, making systems work better for the families they serve. Beyond DCSS, Joseph chairs the CalHHS Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Subcommittee, guiding transformative efforts across California’s largest health and human services agencies.  With a background in Cultural Anthropology and deep experience in policy development, he’s known for creating practical tools, like Equity Assessments and Equity Communication frameworks, that turn big ideas into measurable impact. Joseph spearheaded DCSS’s first DEI Strategic Plan, which focuses on building institutional resilience and measurable social impact.

Rebekah Christensen is a Whole Systems Architect with a 40-year legacy of transforming complex government infrastructures into thriving, human-centered ecosystems. As architect and chair of the California Innovation Playbook for Government Change Agents (Cal-
IPGCA), she has spent 15 years (2012–2026) cultivating a powerful community of state intrapreneurs and architecting collaborative environments where individuals and organizations innovate together.

Bridget joined CDCR as the Cultural Engagement and DEI Partner in May of 2022. She is a graduate of CCORE, the Capitol Collaborative on Race and Equity program, a 15-month training on State government DEI efforts and implementation. Bridget moonlighted as an instructor at California State University, Sacramento for seven years, teaching Critical Thinking (or common sense as she likes to call it) and gender equity. In her spare time, she enjoys archery, hot yoga, travel, and staying in funky places like Hobbit pubs and converted churches with her husband – who thinks she’s odd but uses the word quirky.

Carousel Gore is the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer and Training Office Manager for the California Energy Commission (CEC). She has worked in EEO since 2008. Carousel is one of the CEC’s Executive Co-Sponsors for the Justice, Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JAEDI) Initiative with the goal of furthering a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive workplace for CEC employees. She is also a Co-Chair Emiritus for the Alliance of California EEO Professionals and the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Statewide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

In her spare time, Carousel enjoys reading and cross-stitching. She is passionate about music and enjoys going to watch local bands live.

Emanuel Melgarejo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on community organizations and education. He later completed a Master of Arts in Educational Counseling at San Jose State University, refining his expertise in counseling and career development. With over 13 years of experience in state higher education, Emanuel has specialized in career development, program creation, and curriculum design. In October 2022, Emanuel transitioned from higher education to state service, bringing together his passion for career development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As the DEI Specialist for Covered California’s Office of Organizational Culture, Inclusion, and Engagement (OOCIE), he led transformative initiatives, including the launch of the organization’s first Mentorship Program and co-founding the California Professional Mentorship Collective. These programs were designed to support succession planning, strengthen employee engagement, and foster equitable career development opportunities across Covered California and the state. Currently, Emanuel serves as the Career Services Supervisor within Covered California’s Human Resources Branch. In this role, he has developed innovative career development programs, such as Career Management & You (CM&Y), a centralized hub for career counseling and resources. He also oversees the recruitment team, ensuring Covered California maintains strong talent pipelines. Driven by a commitment to advancing DEI principles and empowering employees, Emanuel is dedicated to creating equitable career pathways within Covered California and across the state.

Ingrid Silva serves as the DEI Specialist at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) where she focuses on integrating equity principles into emergency management and building a more inclusive workplace culture. She designs and facilitates interactive DEI trainings to advance equity and belonging and she uses data to inform strategies that promote psychological safety, accountability, and respect across the department. Ingrid is passionate about making diversity, equity, and inclusion part of the workplace culture and is reflected in how people show up and work together every day.

Megan previously served as the DEIA manager at the California Department of Technology, where she partnered with leaders to build more inclusive, accessible, and people-centered workplaces. She recently earned her degree in Human Resource Management, strengthening her expertise in equitable talent strategy and organizational culture. As a neurodivergent leader with invisible disabilities, Megan brings both professional insight and lived experience to conversations about belonging, burnout, and leadership. In 2025, she served as a member-at-large on the Board of Directors for the Association of California State Employees with Disabilities (ACSED), advocating for disability inclusion across state service. In her spare time, Megan enjoys acting and directing at her local community theater and spending quality time with her husband and daughter.

Ebenezer Ampah is currently the Racial Equity Officer at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).  In this role, Ebenezer is responsible for implementing DWR’s Racial Equity Action Plan, as well as providing technical expertise and policy guidance to the Department on racial equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Ebenezer has over twelve years of experience within state government.  He recently served as Deputy Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Office at Covered California.  He has held positions as the Chief of the Equal Employment Opportunity Office for the Department of General Services and the Chief of the Office of Human Rights and Advocacy Services at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).  He has also served as Assistant Chief of DDS’ Regional Center Operations Section, ensuring the Department’s alignment with the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. At multiple agencies, Ebenezer has a track record of building impactful DEI programs that have led to improvements to the hiring and recruitment process, upward mobility, and staff racial equity comprehension. Ebenezer holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, with an emphasis in Health
Management and Policy, from Drexel University, Philadelphia. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences, with an emphasis in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, and a minor in Chicana/o studies from University of California, Davis.

Tiffany Vital is the EEO Officer for the Department of Water Resources (DWR). She works in tandem with DWR’s Racial Equity Office and was lead on a few of the initiatives from DWR’s Racial Equity Action Plan. Tiffany developed DWR’s DEI Champions program. She currently serves as co-chair for the Association of California EEO Professionals (ACEP) and was a former co-chair for the Statewide Disability Advisory Council. She is a member of the Association of Workplace Investigations (AWI) and is an AWI- Certificate Holder. She several years of experience in investigations, training investigators, conducting EEO and diversity related trainings, and data analytics. She holds a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and a Masters of Science in Psychology.