Be the Difference Conference 2025

Aleshia McMath, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Compass Group North America, is firmly guided by the belief that “People are our purpose and DEI is our promise.” With an extensive background in Human Resources and management, she provides strategic direction, leadership and advocacy for organization-wide DEI efforts. She partners with leaders across the Compass Group family of 28 companies to drive intentional diverse and inclusive initiatives that inspire associates to “be the difference” within our organization, the communities we serve and the clients we support. She is committed to elevating marginalized voices, modeling an inclusive culture, and collaborating with communities and clients for a better future. She is a member of the Johnson and Wales University Leadership Advisory Board, Leadership Council for St. Jude’s, Compass Global Culinary Council and Compass Group Human Rights Working Group. Compass Group USA was named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023 by Newsweek. Compass has also been named to Forbes’ annual Best Employers for Diversity list since 2018.

Palmer Brown is Chief Executive Officer for Compass Group North America and a member of the executive board of Compass Group PLC.
Palmer began his journey with Compass Group North America more than 20 years ago. In the time since, he’s served in a variety of leadership roles across our finance, strategy and legal departments. His extensive experience and keen business acumen led him across the pond where he most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer for Compass Group PLC, based in the UK.
As part of our Compass family since 2001, Palmer has a deep knowledge of our business and has been instrumental in many strategic acquisitions over his decades-long tenure. He’s a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where he earned degrees in business and law. Yet it’s his true passion for our people and his unwavering commitment to ensure that each of our associates has the opportunity to grow with us that leaves the most indelible mark on Compass Group.

Cindy Noble is Chief People Officer of Compass Group North America, where she oversees the careers and well-being of more than 280,000 Associates. As the leader of the people strategy for the sixth largest company in North America, Cindy is dedicated to helping people unlock their true potential. Cindy’s team attracts and retains top talent, fosters an inclusive workplace, and champions programs that support the growth and well-being of our people. Cindy’s commitment to diversity is reflected in Compass Group’s consistent recognition as an employer of choice. Under Cindy’s leadership, Compass Group North America has repeatedly been named by Fortune as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies and by Forbes as a Best Employer for Diversity. Cindy was named an Outstanding LGBT+ Role Model and Empower Role Model by INvolve People and Yahoo Finance.

Ann Sheridan leads corporate communications for Compass Group USA, the largest contract food and support services company with annual revenues of $23 billion. In this role, Ann oversees the company’s internal and external communication strategy which includes employee engagement, public relations, and executive support. In addition, Ann also supports the corporate giving strategy and is a liaison to the global communications team at Compass Group.

Prior to this role, Ann spent the first part of her career with Compass Group as the Director of Communications for Canteen, the largest unattended retail foodservice company in the country with the largest footprint of vending machines and micro market platforms. By humanizing communications, Ann and her team helped significantly improve employee engagement for Canteen’s 10K associates and externally position the company to increase brand awareness amongst clients and consumers A former broadcast journalist with Cox Media Group for more than 20 years, Ann believes that effective communication must inform, engage and entertain. In her career as a reporter in Charlotte, Ann won numerous awards including several Emmy Awards for telling her own story about her personal battle with breast cancer. Her reporting led to the creation of Ann’s Fund at Atrium Health which provided money to women who could not afford mammograms.

Ann is a graduate of American University and has resided in Charlotte since 1994 with her husband Steve. They have three grown children; Maria (Duke ‘18), Julia (NC State ‘21) and Jake (Duke ‘21). She enjoys running on Charlotte’s beautiful greenways, attending sporting and arts events in the Queen City and visiting all the new restaurants that are transforming the city’s culinary scene.

Natacha Jacque is Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Compass Group North America. She continually focuses on DEI initiatives to positively impact change in organizations and communities. Throughout her 20-year career, she’s held various roles in Human Resources, providing support in the areas of leadership development, employee engagement and total rewards. She is an advocate of Diversity and Inclusion Action Councils (DIACs) and a true collaborator with business leaders. She is committed to implementing the fundamental changes necessary to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. Within Compass, Natacha supports the following DIACs: ESFM, Compass One Healthcare, Touchpoint Support Services, Compass Community Living, and Canada.

Alexander Cramm isn't your average Executive Chef/Project Manager. As a leader at CCL Hospitality Group, Alex brings not only culinary expertise but also a vibrant personality and a unique perspective.

An accomplished neurodivergent author and blogger, Alex thrives on connecting with people. His neurodivergent lens infuses everything he does with a depth and creativity that sets him apart. This extends beyond the kitchen, as Alex is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and neurodiversity awareness. Alex also recorded his "Neurodiversity in the Workplace" Webinar in part with CCL -HG’s DEIB Committee, sharing best practices, invaluable information and tools for team members and leaders alike assuring the goals of supporting our employees that are neurodiverse and that all team members have a sense of belonging.

At CCL Hospitality Group, Alex champions empowerment and inclusivity for all. He is an active member of the DEIB Council, working to ensure diverse voices are heard and valued. He leads the People with Abilities and Young Professionals Employee Resource Groups, where he fosters a supportive environment for colleagues of all backgrounds and experiences and developing the next generation of CCL-HG’s leaders.

Saiph DiRosa joined FLIK Hospitality Group in 2018 as Director of Dining Services with a focus in high-touch law firms. In 2020, she fostered a partnership between FLIK & Emma’s Torch, a vocational training program assisting asylees, refugees and victims of human trafficking with the skills they need for entry-level roles in the culinary industry. Together, we have been able to place more than 30 associates in permanent front and back-of-house roles. Later that year, she joined FLIK’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Council (DIAC) as a team lead for various projects.

In 2022, Saiph became the DIAC co-chair with a focus on amplifying the voices of associates through Conversations For Change, a live panel featuring salaried and front-line associates with a focus on creating awareness, perspective and action.

As we move into the future, Saiph hopes to continue to foster a safe space where associates can feel like they truly belong in the workplace and have access to resources in the language they most identify with.

Jugveer Randhawa is Chief Technology Officer of Compass Group North America, where he has positioned Compass Group as a digital leader in the hospitality industry.

Since Compass Digital’s inception in 2015, Jugveer has been at the forefront of driving growth through technology. He has focused on building and scaling innovative products that exceed expectations, including mobile and web applications, robotic delivery, artificial intelligence, machine-learning technology, cybersecurity and healthcare technologies.

In 2022, Jugveer was named to the Empower 100 Executives Role Model List by INvolve and Yahoo! Finance. Among his innovations is his championing of Compass Group’s Digital Future Initiative – a diversity, equity and inclusion effort that aims to empower communities, close the digital divide and build the next generation of tech leaders.

Garnering the reputation as a national leader in foodservice and retail foods, Chef Einav Gefen joined Restaurant Associates in 2021 as Chef | Innovator supporting the company’s continued path of quality, innovation, growth, and purpose. Gefen spent over thirteen years at Unilever, where she led a team of chefs charged with innovation development, product rejuvenation, consumer activations, and deployment of global projects. A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, Gefen has been a part of prominent restaurants like Daniel, Mul-Yam, Danal, and Orna & Ella. In addition, Gefen is an accredited contributor to Art & Cook, was an instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan, has held a TED Talk, and competed on the acclaimed Food Network’s “Chopped.”

Culinary thought leader with more than 30 years of culinary and operational experience. CIA Graduate, Certified Executive Chef, and active member of American Culinary Federation. Tasked with leading the charge in reimagining the in-school dining experience through the introduction of high quality, restaurant – inspired, nutritious meals to students across the country. Responsible for menu strategy and culinary philosophy for Chartwells K12, and leading a dynamic team of Executive Chefs and Culinarians who serve over 2 million meals per day.

Chef Jennifer Cox has a 30-year career in foodservice and hospitality, with a multilayered focus on all business types: restaurants, hotels, sports and entertainment and large-scale events.

Chef Cox began her time with Levy Restaurants in 1998 as the Executive Chef of Montage in San Francisco and played an instrumental role in developing the culinary vision and running the operation of this new Levy venture. The restaurant received critical acclaim and she was invited to cook as a guest chef at the James Beard House in New York.

Chef Cox left Montage in 2001 to continue her path in the culinary landscape with a variety of roles: Chef de Cuisine at Citizen Cake working with Celebrity Chef Elizabeth Falkner; Concept Development Chef for Compass Group; Director of Culinary for Joie de Vivre Hotels.

In 2011, Jennifer returned to Levy as the Vice President of Culinary, developing a culinary vision blending strategy and creativity, bringing the right balance of standardization and customization, and capitalizing on Levy's restaurateur heritage, applying it to the broad range of Sports and Entertainment operations.

Currently, Chef Cox leads the culinary vision for Levy as the Vice President of Culinary-Central Division. For ten years, she was the Executive Chef and Director of Hospitality in the President’s Suite at the US Open Tennis Championship and currently she serves on the Compass Global Culinary Council.

Over the past 12 years Chef Jeffrey Quasha has led the charge of changing the perception of healthcare food service and removing the stigma of the hospital food by creating “great food first!” Chef Quasha and his team have developed over 80 pop up food hall concepts, 16 fast casual restaurants and QSR’s, developed and launched virtual and ghost kitchens in over 1,000 hospitals across the United States. Under the direction of Chef Quasha Morrison Healthcare has become a leader in the Healthcare retail industry and a driver of retail innovation, culinary trends and product development. In 2023 Chef Quasha and his team were tasked with reinventing patient feeding and elevating the perception of healthcare food service. Chef Quasha team is currently piloting new patient restaurant style menus, plant-based menus, new oncology and pediatric programs and recently launched patient monthly holiday promotions and LTO’s. Chef Quasha also leads MHC wellness and sustainability recipe and concept development programs, new concept construction and design, and is leading the charge to bring new on trend teaching kitchen programs to partner hospitals across the country. Jeffrey and his team have earned top honors from Food Management Magazine Best Concepts, Business Intelligence Group Global Sustainability Awards, and Flavor on the Menu. Chef Quasha is a member of the Compass Global Culinary Leadership Council and the head of the Compass Global Sustainability Council.

Jeffrey has also been an active supporter and culinary certification board member of Health Meets Food Culinary Medicine, Savannah Technical College, Chapter President of the Chefs of the Low Country, and active community member in the battle against Blood cancer. He is also a National Board member of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation which evaluates all aspects of culinary school programs from secondary, to post-secondary, to certification. 

Jeffrey Quasha is a Certified Executive Chef (CEC), Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA) Approved Culinary Evaluator (ACE) and a member of the American Academy of Chefs (AAC)

Nikita Sanders is Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Compass Group North America. Nikita holds the conviction that diversity is what makes us stronger – as a people and a planet. She comes from a military family and her work experience includes community relations, operations in the retail industry and sports sponsorships. Throughout her career, Nikita has been a champion of DEI, serving on employee resources groups, assisting with policy change, and implementing programs to meet business and community needs. Nikita is dedicated to the proposition that each person should be comfortable bringing their true authentic self to work. Within Compass, Nikita supports the following Diversity and Inclusion Action Councils (DIACs): Corporate HQ/Foodbuy, Levy, Canteen, Flik Hospitality Group, Restaurant Associates/Wolfgang Puck Catering, Bon Appetit Management Company (BAMCO), and Compass Canada.

Shareen Nicholson is Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for Compass Group North America. She is passionate about DEI and strives to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table and that they feel seen, heard, and valued. She has many years of experience but began her DEI journey in Higher Education, holding various roles supporting DEI for students, faculty, staff, and administration before transitioning to the corporate sector. She has also worked as a consultant, aiding companies nationwide in DEI, employee engagement, and training and development. Within Compass, Shareen supports the following Diversity and Inclusion Action Councils (DIACs): Eurest/ESM, Education Channel, Compass One Healthcare & Touchpoint, Compass Community Living, and RDN Community Network.

Teresa Brinati is Director of Brand Strategy and Communications for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Compass Group North America. She believes storytelling is essential to hospitality. Communications, marketing, book and magazine publishing, and archives have been the focus of her career in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. She is a long-time community partner in education and urban neighborhood restoration. Her compassion for helping others and her ability to make everyone feel welcomed and included, are the bedrock of her commitment to amplifying the stories of underrepresented voices across the organization and the communities we serve. Within Compass, Teresa supports the following DEI activity: internal communications and strategy, brand management, social media, heritage and history months, and Diversity and Inclusion Action Councils (DIACs). She is a member of Compass’ Human Rights Working Group.

For more than 40 years, Chris Ivens Brown has championed memorable and sustainable food experiences while advocating for the development and elevation of chefs worldwide.

Since joining Compass Group in 1987, Chef Chris has supported a variety of international and national clients, developing industry-leading dining programs that exemplify quality, freshness and flavor and pioneering some of the company’s food waste reduction initiatives.

His career began in London after attending the prestigious Academy of Culinary Arts program at London’s Academie de Culinaire de France at the young age of sixteen.

In 1995, he moved to the United States to oversee Bank of America’s Executive Dining Room in Charlotte, NC. In 2002, Chris became Vice President of Culinary Development before he was promoted in 2018 to Chief Culinary Officer of Eurest, Compass Group’s largest foodservice sector serving the nation’s top brands and most notable employers within the Fortune 500.

In 2024, Chris was selected to serve as the first-ever culinary leader on Compass Group’s North American Officers Board, representing more than 200,000 chefs globally. He also holds a leadership role on Compass Group’s Global Culinary Forum supporting the company’s procurement efforts, one of three key initiatives including people and sustainability.

Chef Chris has been named as the 149th Distinguished Visiting Chef for Johnson & Wales, Providence and recognized as the 9th Distinguished Visiting Chef (DVC) at Johnson & Wales University. Chris has also had the honor and privilege of cooking for a myriad of celebrities and public figures including Queen Elizabeth, Phil Collins and Martha Stewart.

In addition to his many professional accolades, Chris donates his time and culinary talent to several fundraising events and charitable organizations, including the American Heart Association, St. Jude’s, Make-A-Wish Foundation and more.

When Chris is not wearing his chef coat, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Mikah, and his three children.

Meredith Rosenberg is the Senior Vice President of Communications and Creative Services at Chartwells Higher Education. In her role, Meredith leads a talented team of creatives who handle internal and external communications, brand development, social media, digital presence, and public relations. Her innovative approach and strategic vision have significantly enhanced the company’s brand presence and engagement.

Meredith’s dedication and expertise were recognized when she won the 2022 Social Media Communicator of the Year Award from Ragan/PR Daily, a testament to her ability to craft compelling narratives and foster meaningful connections.

A proud alumna of Binghamton University, Meredith brings a blend of creativity and strategic thinking to her work. Outside of her professional achievements, she is passionate about fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for her team.

In her free time, Meredith enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is committed to continuous learning and believes in the power of communication to transform organizations and build strong, connected communities.

From Poverty to President, Ashton’s career has spanned over 25 years and has seen him go from living in his car as a teenager and high school drop out to now, COO of Compass Group Canada where he runs a $800M business in the Healthcare, Senior Living, Remote, Offshore and Corrections industries.

Prior to his current role, Ashton moved to Chicago for a year and served as COO of Levy Sports and Entertainment, a subsidiary of his current organization, Compass Group North America. There, Ashton was responsible for orchestrating the post pandemic business, operations and re opening plans for over 250 locations in MLB, MiLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, and other major entertainment locations including The Daytona 500, Indy 500, and the Kentucky Derby. His prior experiences in sports earlier in his career include roles in Three Superbowl’s, USTA US Open Tennis, and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Before taking on his role in Chicago, Ashton was President for the Education Group, Chartwells, within Compass Group Canada. While in that role, Ashton and his team developed the award-winning Thinking Ahead Giving Back (TAGB) purpose-led vision at Chartwells that took them from 3rd to 1st in the market. Through TAGB, Chartwells grew their business by over 25% in addition to delivering over 2 million meals to support global and domestic food security, providing over 17,000 hours of community support, and creating nearly 500 student jobs since launching the vision in late 2018.

On the belief of the importance and value that sports engagement leads to wellness and community bonding, TAGB in partnership with other organizations, supported a number of projects including the building of a basketball court for the local community in Togo, Africa, and a multi-sport facility in Haiti.

On a personal level, Ashton recognizes those who have contributed to his growth by dedicating time to volunteer and give back in various capacities. Currently, Ashton serves as an Advisory Board Member for Canadian Girls Baseball League. He also served as a Board Member for the Catholic Family Services Peel Dufferin, a local multi-service counselling agency and was a Strategic Partner for the Pinball Clemons Foundation, a non-profit group providing mentorship to youth facing inequity. Recognized for his leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in 2022 Ashton was awarded the Inclusive Leadership Award from the National Diversity Council of North America.

Ashton’s ability to connect with people in both small and large venues, live and remotely has afforded him the privilege of many speaking engagements, including.

We Day Toronto in front of 20,000 students:
Toronto WE Day

Breakfast Television with the Property Brothers- Drew and Jonathan Scott:
Campaign for Literacy on Breakfast Television

Dragons’ Den Arlene Dickinson, featured on her podcast:
Arlene Dickinson podcast with Jann Arden