As the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader & Senior Employment Counsel at King of Prussia’s MidAtlantic Employers’ Association (MEA) Dawn Ciana Williams, Esquire, SPHR “calls others in” to discussions and learning around race, gender, and identity and to help reduce levels of racism and prejudice in workforces and society.

Ciana hails from Georgia, grew up in Maryland, and began her career with babysitting then taking a job in a local, woman-owned business. “I worked in a gift shop named ‘Ben Franklin’ where the owner of the store worked directly with every employee,” Ciana says. “She taught me how to mind a store and track inventory without computers. There, I began learning about customer service, teamwork at work, and how small businesses meet the needs of their communities.”

Ciana attended Drexel University where she majored in Corporate Communication. “I completed my B.A. in three years and graduated summa cum laude with second senior honors,” she explains. “I studied law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School (now the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School) and received my J.D. in 2007.”

“Coming from a diverse background myself, I have also lived and worked in very diverse areas of the country, from rural small-town farming communities to Philadelphia and its suburban communities like those in Montgomery County,” she notes. “I also have the blessing of diverse family members who’ve shared their experiences and wisdom with me. This has allowed me to truly appreciate the value of including every person of every background as often as we can in every significant aspect of society. Every step toward this goal is a step in the right direction.”

“I look around Montgomery County, and I see a business community produced through decades of hard work by community members – business owners, community leaders and representatives, employees, customers, and residents,” Dawn Ciana Williams says. “They all exist in a delicate balance all their own; no one part would exist as it does without all the other parts.”

Ciana says this wonderful balance allows Montgomery County businesses to develop, grow, and reinvent—when needed. “I’ve seen for myself that this is not the reality everywhere, and the pain communities can experience without a thriving business community,” she explains. “I truly appreciate supporting Montgomery County businesses that, in the natural course of what they do, support so many people, families, industries, and communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

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A variety of sponsorship opportunities for the MONTCO Millennial Superstars event in August are available.

Don’t miss this exclusive chance to promote your business or deliver your message to a highly curated audience of the region’s most influential, engaged, and affluent residents, business leaders, and decision-makers!