Diversity Leadership Colloquium - DLC

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Diversity Leadership Colloquium - DLC Tennessee Valley Diversity Leadership Colloquium is a professional non-profit organization for diverse leadership training! Each session is 3 hours in length.

Over the last decade, we have graduated 20 cohorts and developed over 300 illustrious alumni, who are leaders in our community! Introduction:

Individuals and companies are making sincere efforts in verbalizing a commitment to diversity excellence. However, we must be trained to build the next generation of leaders who have the skill sets, tools and commitment to execute. The Tennessee Valley Diversity Leadership Colloquium, LLC (DLC) provides current and aspiring leaders opportunities to benefit from qualified and seasoned subject matter experts (SME), trainers, scholars, and business professionals who share and discuss research and best practices regarding obtaining leadership excellence through diversity. It is designed for individuals interested in gaining access to networks, mentors and sponsors that have traditionally not been available to diverse members of the broader community. Vision:

The Diversity Leadership Colloquium (DLC) advances leadership excellence by advocating and progressing the affirmation and inclusion of diversity in strategic markets and communities of interest for competitive intelligence. Values:

Our values are: Collaboration for Excellence: Appreciation with Insight; Respect for Understanding; and Empathy for all……….C.A.R.E. DLC offers inspiring and experienced leaders with opportunities to benefit from qualified and seasoned trainers, scholars, and business professionals who share and discuss research and best practices regarding obtaining excellence through diversity. DLC is designed for individuals interested in gaining access to networks, mentors, and sponsors that have traditionally not been available to diverse members of the broader community. Enrollees attend 8 weeks of specialized training. Instructional Resources

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Each student is provided with their own copy of Jim Colin’s #1 Bestseller “Good to Great.” They are required to read it during the Colloquium. The class is teamed in 3 to 4 groups, depending on the enrollment and each group makes a presentation on the basic tenants of the book.

✨ Another impactful week with DLC Cohort XXI in the books! ✨This week was all about Finance, Planning & Investments as o...
10/15/2026

✨ Another impactful week with DLC Cohort XXI in the books! ✨

This week was all about Finance, Planning & Investments as our Cohort XXI leaders continued to learn, grow, and gain valuable insights to strengthen their leadership journey. From making informed financial decisions to planning for the future, this session was packed with knowledge to put into action!

A special THANK YOU to Mr. Chris Kern and Pinnacle Bank for sponsoring an informative and engaging evening. Your support helps create meaningful learning experiences that empower our leaders and strengthen our communities.

At DLC, we’re not just building leaders—we’re equipping them with the knowledge, connections, and tools to make a lasting impact!

Congratulations to our current Cohort XXI participant, Clarke, for her outstanding work with establishing the Bulldog M...
10/08/2026

Congratulations to our current Cohort XXI participant, Clarke, for her outstanding work with establishing the Bulldog Market on the campus of Alabama A & M University.

📚HEALTH & WELLNESS📚Week 7: Leadership and the Importance of Health & Wellness was an impactful session for the cohort! ...
10/02/2026

📚HEALTH & WELLNESS📚
Week 7: Leadership and the Importance of Health & Wellness was an impactful session for the cohort! We had two amazing SMEs to serve on the panel.

🎙️Ms.Tanisha Dionne Smith 🎙️
Ms. Tanisha Smith is a Huntsville native and proud Alabama A&M University alumna with more than two decades of experience in mental‑health services, crisis intervention, addiction treatment, and youth support. Her career includes roles as a Case Manager for adults with Serious Mental Illness, FEMA mental‑health responder, Substance Abuse Therapist, LAUNCH Counselor, Upward Bound Career and College Counselor, School‑Based Social Worker, and Behavioral Intervention Specialist.

Tanisha currently serves at Alabama A&M University as the Crisis Prevention Counselor and Title IX Coordinator for Students. She is passionate about helping individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered. Outside of her work, she enjoys Bible study, reading, music, dancing, and spending time with her children, Kentrell and Madison.

🎙️Ms. Peyton🎙️
Adina B. Peyton began her career with the Department of Defense and advanced into major acquisitions, supporting systems such as HELLFIRE, HAWK, and PATRIOT. She managed multimillion‑dollar contracts during Desert Storm and awarded the first Mentor‑Protégé contract for the PATRIOT Project Office. Her career includes serving as Branch Chief at the Regional Contracting Office in Seckenheim, Germany, earning multiple awards including the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.

She later supported DARPA, evaluating emerging technologies and small‑business innovation proposals. After relocating to Huntsville in 2002, Ms. Peyton became a Course Manager and Instructor for the Army Acquisition Corps, teaching more than 3,700 Acquisition Officers before retiring in 2023.

Following the loss of her son Brad, she became a mental‑health and crisis‑intervention advocate and founded GRAMI – Getting Real About Mental Illness, a nonprofit providing confidential mental‑health support for First Responders. She has also served as an adjunct professor at UAH and Athens State and is President of Adina Inc. LLC, offering acquisition consulting and education.

Our sessions have become so engaging that we are running out of time each and every week! Special thanks to our leadership team for the excellent job they are doing!!! Dasi R. Price Marquasha Carter Xantheia Watkins McCraw

Community Service is a major part of DLC and it is incorporated within the curriculum of our 12-week leadership program!...
09/25/2026

Community Service is a major part of DLC and it is incorporated within the curriculum of our 12-week leadership program! It is great to partner with organizations like TEAM SERVE and the Generosity Foundation with my dear friend and CEO, McKenzie to provide over 1200 meals between the hours of 6pm - 8pm on Monday Nights to the Calvary Hill Community! What an honor to serve these wonderful people…

09/25/2026

Cohort XXI is the “Dedicated Serving” cohort and we are very proud of their hard work thus far in the program. We can’t brag on them enough!!!!

09/23/2026

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645 Wynn Drive, Suite 5067
Huntsville, AL
35814

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