South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club

Join South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club on Thursday, May 23 at 8am for an insightful discussion on navigating the complexities of return-to-office policies. Whether you are part of a large corporation or a smaller organization, the challenges are universal. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives from local leaders who have tackled these issues head on.

Our panelists, including Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County Manager; Jennifer Fisher, Executive Director of Property Management & Regional Leader at Wells Fargo; and Dr. Cheryl Richards, CEO of Catapult Employers Association, will share their experiences, insights and factors influencing their decisions. From differing approaches to the nuanced considerations driving their strategies, we will delve into the practicalities and outcomes of returning to the office in today’s dynamic work environment.

Panelists:

Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County Manager

Dena joined Mecklenburg County in 2007 as Director of the Department of Financial Services. She is recognized for guiding the County through the fiscal crisis and implementing policies that significantly improved the financial position of the County. In 2013, she was promoted to Assistant County Manager and in 2014 was selected as the first woman to serve as County Manager for Mecklenburg County.

Dena has been a leader in public administration since 1988. After graduate school, she started what would be a ten-year stint with the City of New York, eight of which were in the Mayor’s Office. Serving under three different Mayors.

Dena earned her bachelor’s degree in social services from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University.

Cheryl L. Richards, Ph.D., CEO, Catapult Employers Association

Dr. Richards is CEO of Catapult Employers Association which serves over 2,000 small to medium size businesses with a wide array of HR support resources. Prior to joining Catapult, Dr. Richards spent over 30 years in higher education, serving as president of Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte and founding CEO & Regional Dean of Northeastern University, Charlotte.

Appointed by Governor Cooper, Dr. Richards serves on the NC Works Commission and as member of the Employers Leadership Committee helping enable the state’s workforce and businesses to compete in the global economy. A recognized community leader, she has been honored as a Most Admired CEO, Top 10 Most Inspiring Women Leaders, Top 25 Women in Business, 50 Most Influential Women, and in 2014 she was named Woman of the Year by The Mecklenburg Times.

Dr. Richards holds a bachelor’s in Speech Communication, a master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education, and a Ph.D. in Leadership for Higher Education.

Jennifer Fisher, Wells Fargo, Executive Director of Property Management and Regional Leader

Jennifer is the property management leader for Wells Fargo’s southeast region with oversight of 10 million square feet of office space across seven states. In this role, she is responsible for asset preservation and operational function of complex real estate assets while executing large organizational initiatives and controls across the region.

She began her career in facility management at Childress Klein and continued her professional growth with the firm for over 15 years before transitioning to Wells Fargo. Jennifer has directly managed a diverse portfolio of assets including Class A high rise, suburban office, specialty processing centers, and industrial warehouse facilities.

Jennifer has a master’s in business administration as well as a LEED Green Associate designation and is a member of professional organizations such as CREW and IREM.