Speakers
George M. Player, CPE, FMA
George M. Player, CPE, FMA is the Vice President of Facilities and Operations for Brigham Health. He is responsible for the Physical Environments, Safety, and all Operational support departments on-site and off-site Brigham Health Facilities. He joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1996 and has over 33 years of Facility experience and over 25 years in Healthcare.
George leads the business development, strategic analysis and improvement process of the service programs within his departments. He ensures that the hospital meets or exceeds all current codes and regulations and promotes the growth and development of his staff.
George earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and holds a Certified Plant Engineer and Facility Management Administrator Certificate. He is also consulting on the Brigham Health project in BA’OA China and two Medical City projects in Saudi Arabia with World Care International.
Jonathan Santiago
Director of Materials Management (Supply Support, Linen, Shipping & Receiving, AV/Office Service, and the Gift Shop)
Jonathan has worked between BWH and BWFH in the last 17+ years, having gone from being a Volunteer in Materials Management to becoming the Director.
He was born here at BWH and raised in the community of Dorchester. BWH has been always a part of his life as his mother had also worked here for over 30 years.
His hobbies include keeping his family safe and entertained during these tough times.
David Verban
David Verban is a Senior Diversity and Inclusion Consultant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. As a member of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, he supports leaders and teams across the organization in their efforts to create a more diverse, inclusive environment where equity is prioritized, and all employees feel a sense of welcome and belonging. Prior to joining the Office of DEI at Brigham, David worked as a Senior DEI and Learning Consultant for Magellan Health’s self-directed community based long term care program in Wisconsin. He also held a teaching associate position with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where he led a seminar on men’s health.
Normella Walker
Normella has actively managed, facilitated and advised diverse groups for over 20 years, and specializes in business operations, organizational performance, leadership development, team building, conflict transformation, mediation, change management, and cultural intelligence.
She has specific and comprehensive training in diversity competencies and coursework, not just generalized skills applied to diversity issues, and has counseled individuals and groups at all organizational levels. She has a B.A. in Organizational Performance & Leadership, an M.A. in Psychology with a Specialization in Diversity Management and several diversity certifications.
She is a dynamic and authentic person who understands the obstacles, anxieties, apprehensions and frustrations that people often encounter as they attempt to navigate difference and change. She is able to provide clarity and a sense of safety and support as she engages individuals and groups in learning how to break down barriers, challenge perceptions, examine cognitive dissonance and disrupt entrenched patterns of thinking.
Normella is a skilled presenter, communicator, and trainer with success targeting large and small audiences, and an expert in the identification, analysis, and resolution of diverse operational and behavioral issues. She has served as an independent coach and consultant and through her work has supported business entities, government agencies, law enforcement, community groups, healthcare organizations, students, schools, and nonprofits. Her operational expertise, coupled with her strategic managerial sensibilities provide her with insight into how to pragmatically integrate, leverage, and rapidly apply the principles associated with diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.