HACCC 28th Annual Drive-In Conference

LaShelle Vernon is a dynamic Organizational Development & Effectiveness Consultant and founder of Mylestone Development & Management Company, known for helping organizations—and the people within them—navigate complex challenges and accelerate toward measurable success. With more than a decade of experience leading global initiatives at a Fortune 50 company, she brings a rare ability to connect strategy to execution, transforming vision into actionable results. Her work spans corporations, universities, and school systems, where she equips leaders and emerging talent with the tools, mindset, and confidence to thrive in an evolving workforce. Through innovative learning strategies and a deep commitment to continuous improvement, LaShelle empowers individuals and teams to unlock their full potential and drive meaningful impact.

Aligned with the “Cruising into Career Success” theme of the Houston Area Consortium of Career Centers event, LaShelle integrates forward-thinking approaches inspired by BluTech—an organization focused on preparing youth and young adults for careers in technology through hands-on learning, digital skills development, and exposure to emerging career pathways. She is passionate about bridging the gap between education and industry, helping students and professionals chart clear, strategic pathways toward success. Whether mentoring future leaders or advising executives, LaShelle’s engaging style, intuitive leadership, and results-driven approach ensure that every audience leaves equipped, inspired, and ready to take the helm of their career journey.

Brandon Mitchell is a technology entrpreneur, executive coach, and investor, dedicated to revolutionizing the career services and recruitment industry. As the Co-Founder & CEO of WriteSea, he drives innovation in AI-powered career services solutions, helping students and employers connect more effectively. With a background in technology consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Brandon has advised Fortune 500 companies, including KKR, Deutsche Bank, and Morgan Stanley, on complex technology and wealth management solutions. His expertise spans SaaS sales, executive leadership, and public speaking.

Brandon has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Earn Your Leisure, and Rolling Out. He is also a passionate advocate for financial literacy, career development, and generational wealth, frequently speaking on these topics. He holds a degree in Finance, Economics and Management Information Systems from AACSB accredited SUNY Plattsburgh and is certified in project management and agile methodologies.

Shawndra Harmond is a proud Texas Southern University graduate and a seasoned higher education leader with over 25 years of experience advancing student success. As Director of University Career Services, she specializes in building career pathways, expanding experiential learning, and connecting students to meaningful employment opportunities.

Known for her strategic leadership and student-centered approach, Shawndra focuses on helping first-generation and underserved students move from college to career with confidence. She actively partners with employers, faculty, and alumni to ensure students graduate not just with degrees, but with direction, skills, and career readiness.

Cory McGregory is the Associate Director of Career Development at Rice University's Center for Career Development, where he empowers students to translate their academic experiences into purposeful career paths. Guided by a student-centered philosophy he provides personalized support in career exploration, academic decision-making, and overcoming common barriers to success.

At Rice, Cory collaborates with academic departments and campus partners to design programs that strengthen career readiness and connect students with meaningful professional opportunities. He also leads individual consultations to help students build confidence and master effective job-search strategies and tools. Prior to joining Rice, Cory served as a Career Counselor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where he developed the highly successful Career Boot Camp series, equipping graduate and undergraduate students with essential skills in resume development, interviewing and job searching.

A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, Cory brings a strong foundation in counseling and career development. He holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sam Houston State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas Tech University.

Cynthia Olmedo is a career management professional specializing in career counseling and workforce development, with over 20 years of experience across government, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. She currently serves as Program Director II at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering, where she leads initiatives that support the career development of undergraduate and graduate students.

In May 2025, Cynthia earned her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. Her research focuses on developing a Career Exposure Theory, aimed at guiding individuals who are uncertain about their career paths by examining the relationship between various methods of career exposure and long-term career satisfaction.

Dr. Raylea Rideau serves as the Senior Associate Director of Career Development. In this role, she oversees the expansion of career development offerings and customized programming for Rice graduate students. 

Dr. Rideau holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana State University. In August 2020, she received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research, also from LSU. With a deep commitment to higher education, Dr. Rideau brings extensive experience in career coaching, teaching, and strategic leadership. Since joining the team in 2019, she has passionately championed career-readiness tools, facilitated specialized workshops for underrepresented student populations, and provided comprehensive job-search strategy coaching to hundreds of Rice students and alumni. Alongside her campus leadership, Dr. Rideau is an active leader in several professional career development organizations, dedicated to shaping the future of the field and fostering holistic student development. 

Emily Basquez is the Talent Acquisition Specialist at The Daily Grace Co., where she focuses on building strategic hiring pipelines and recruiting top talent across a range of roles and functions. She brings a diverse perspective to talent acquisition, having previously served as a Recruiting Manager at Vanderbloemen Search Group, where she led and trained a team of recruiters while supporting searches from entry-level roles to executive leadership positions.

Emily has interviewed over 1,000 candidates and contributed to hundreds of successful placements across organizations, schools, and nonprofits throughout the U.S. and globally. Her experience spans both executive search and in-house recruiting, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the hiring process from multiple perspectives. She is passionate about early career development and equipping the next generation of professionals with the tools and insight needed to navigate today’s evolving job market.

Laura Gonzalez is a mission-driven program and development professional with experience designing and implementing initiatives that expand college and career access for first-generation, low-income, and undocumented students. As a first-generation college graduate from a mixed-status family, her work is informed by both lived experience and professional practice, bringing a nuanced understanding of the systemic barriers students face.

Her background spans higher education, programming, and nonprofit fundraising, where they have led cross-functional efforts to connect students to internships, employment, and economic mobility pathways. Laura Gonzalez brings a practical, equity-centered approach to career development, with a focus on building inclusive programs and partnerships that expand access to opportunity.

Ken Bailey is Director of Career Services and has been in HACCC for 24 years, serving twice as president in 2008-09 and 2012-13.  Ken is a licensed professional counselor supervisor in Texas and provides mental health support at Texas A&M Galveston in addition to helping students find their life's work.    

Lucia Allub is an MBA graduate and former student-athlete (golf) at Houston Christian University. Her data analytics focus led her to an Internship with Tenaris, where she built AI solutions for a database of 20+ years of training materials. She also was a Graduate Assistant for HCU's Career & Calling department for the last three semesters. Her legacy project is sharing free, AI-focused tools and job search resources to students.

Bina Benavides supports students across UH's Bauer College of Business, Hilton College of Hospitality, and Exploratory Studies, coaching them through career exploration, application materials and major decisions with a personalized, equity-centered approach.

Drawing on experience in higher education across the U.S. and Qatar, she brings a global perspective to empowering first-generation, international, and underrepresented students.

Dr. Barbara J. Keith is an Assistant Director at the University of Houston with more than a decade of experience in higher education, instructional support, and program operations. Her work focuses on enhancing student success through strategic coordination, effective communication, and innovative approaches to learning and development.

With a background in teaching, professional development, and academic support, Dr. Keith brings a practical and student-centered perspective to the integration of emerging technologies in higher education. She is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to strengthen career readiness, improve access to resources, and support both student and staff success.

A Houston native and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Keith holds a Doctor of Education in Developmental Education Administration from Sam Houston State University.

Maya Sandy serves as the Career Services Coordinator at Texas A&M University Galveston Campus. Maya holds a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology and Marine Fisheries and will soon complete her master's in Higher Education Administration. Inspired by her own career change, Maya is committed to helping students grow professionally and find their purpose.

Rey Mudlong is an executive coach and former Career Development Director at Chevron, where he led large-scale leadership and talent development initiatives in complex corporate environments. With a Master’s in Human Resources Development, Prosci Change certification, and ICF coaching credentials, Rey helps professionals build strategic visibility, executive presence, and cultural fluency. Through Mondrey Kelmar Group, he equips professionals, especially immigrants and first-generation professionals, to thrive in U.S. corporate environments.