Our Team

Creator/Playwright, Executive Producer

Whether we like it or not, we still have major divides in this country. Most of us still go to bed at night in cities, communities, and neighborhoods that are segregated by race, religion, ethnicity, or class.

I wanted to create experiences that encourage greater tolerance and understanding by spurring self-examination and promoting compelling civil discourse. Making the audience the jury and then inviting the ‘jury’ for a post-show discussion provides a forum to begin that process.

I have an unbinding belief in the power of stories to open minds and hearts. I’m honored that more than 500 organizations have partnered with Canamac Productions to deliver these unique and powerful experiences to their audiences.

Managing Producer

I believe in creating programming that starts by putting people and their experiences at the center.

As Managing Producer, I am passionate about building meaningful partnerships with our customers to ensure the outcomes you are looking for are addressed by the experiences we produce for you.

I’ve been with Canamac Productions for 3 years. When the pandemic sent schools and offices home, I helped expand our live show model to offer our reimagined virtual and telepresence events.

I’d love to help as you explore the possibilities of bringing our programming to your organization to deliver shared context and staying power within your overall strategy for diversity, equity, & inclusion.

Associate Producer, Director of Facilitation

I am passionate about engendering conversation in a way that encourages our audiences to be honest, courageous, and respectful as personal perspectives and experiences are shared.

I have been on tour with Canamac Productions as an actor, facilitator, and touring manager for over 10 years, as well as facilitating over 250 events, including a majority of our virtual events. As Associate Producer and Director of Facilitation, I’m here to help you understand more about how each of our programs come to life for your audience and how we facilitate meaningful conversations that last.

Director of Programming

I have seen time and again how our unique experiences deliver a chance for people to hear and to be heard. I believe in the power of these shared experiences to open hearts and minds to be able to work together toward a shared goal of creating greater equity and inclusiveness.

I’ve been helping Canamac Productions navigate offering all of our live and virtual programs for over a decade. I can answer any questions you have about our programming formats, scheduling options, and pricing. Whatever your organization’s programming needs may be, I’m excited to help guide you to the best solution for your audience.

Looking to connect for more information? Start a Conversation »

Advisory Board

Cheryl Adenekan

Episcopal Day School

After undergrad work Cheryl traveled to Mozambique, Africa with the Peace Corps, teaching English and Theater. She then taught in various positions in Arizona, Chengdu and Shanghai, China, and Colorado.

Cheryl’s passion for DEIJ work has grown as she developed her current role as Director of Community and Inclusion. She is intent on being aware of the positionality and politics of location that she brings into spaces with this background. Her passion lies in inviting others to share their stories.

She now resides in San Mateo, CA with her husband and 15-year-old twins.
episcopaldaysanmateo.org

See Case Study

Jessica Fonseca-Nader, Esq.

St. Thomas University College of Law

Before joining the St. Thomas Law faculty, Dean Fonseca-Nader served as career clerk to The Honorable David L. Levy and, later, to The Honorable Barbara Lagoa, at the Third District Court of Appeal. She has extensive experience in civil litigation support and appellate practice. After graduating from law school, she joined Bunnell, Woulfe, Kirschbaum, Keller, McIntyre as an associate, working directly under the firm’s Appellate Division partner. Later in her career, she joined Black Srebnick Kornspan & Stumpf as Special Counsel.

Dean Fonseca-Nader has taught Legal Research and Writing, Advanced Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Art of Lawyering. She currently teaches a Senior Seminar, Moral Dilemmas.

Dean Fonseca-Nader has served on many LSAC and Pre-Law Association Committees and Panels.
stu.edu/law

Lisa D. Givan

Indiana Tech University

Inclusion Specialist | Transformation Agent | Cultural Navigator — These are terms used to describe Lisa D. Givan- a seasoned practitioner in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. With almost thirty years of combined experience in both Corporate America and Higher Education, Lisa is a highly sought-after, award-winning leader.

An engaging facilitator, Lisa’s ability to be transparent with her participants allows them to push through topics that can be of a sensitive nature toward a growth mindset. Her “theory to practice” approach allows participants to leave her sessions with an immediate plan of action. Currently working in higher education leadership, Lisa also consults with school districts, non-profit and government agencies as well as businesses to provide vision, innovation, and professional development. She is also highly engaged on local, national, and global platforms.

Voneta Lightfoot, Springfield Technical Community College

Vonetta Lightfoot

Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative

Vonetta is a higher education professional who specializes in multicultural affairs, developing content and event planning with the goal of creating inclusive spaces on college campuses through diverse cultural programming. She knows “you can’t be what you can’t see” so creating events and activities centering on BIPOC and other marginalized communities is at the core of the work she does at Springfield Technical Community College.

In 2020, she was named one of the “100 Women of Color ” by June Archer & Eleven28 Entertainment. This award recognizes the contributions of women of color in business, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment, government, service and the impact they have made on the lives of people throughout the State of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts communities. Vonetta was also recently named one of Business West 40 Under Forty, an award of honoring young professionals in Western Mass. — not only for their career achievements, but for their service to the community. Outside of STCC, she is a certified racial equity and DEI trainer.
lpvec.org

Halima K. McWilliams, MS, PHR, CDP (she/her/hers)

Corgan

Halima has over 20 years of experience in strategic HR and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to aid organizations in crafting customized, practical and human-centered solutions that work. Halima has worked in leadership roles in Fortune 500 organizations such as Raytheon and First Data, as well as the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
corgan.com

See Case Study

Gena Lewis Singleton, J.D.

South Texas College of Law Houston

Dean Singleton is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs overseeing student academic misconduct, disability policy and procedures, professional counseling services, and related student functions. In addition, she works strategically with a broad group of offices on the campus in her role as chair of the Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) team.

Gena served on the Commission for Lawyer Assistance Programs and the Texas State Bar Committee for Lawyer Assistance Programs. Gena has served in leadership positions in several national legal education organizations, including chair for the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs – Law School Assistance committee. She also served as chair for American Association of Law Schools – Student Services committee. Locally, she serves on the Foundation Board of Directors for the Menninger Clinic and Board of Directors for Krist Samaritan Counseling Center.

Gena is a member of Jones Memorial United Methodist Church. She lives in Houston with her husband, Eric, an attorney, and daughter, Erica, a senior in high school. She also has an adult step-son who lives and works in the area.
stcl.edu

Lynne Watts, Ed.S.

Davidson-Davie Community College

Lynne is a native of New Jersey and has lived in Chicago and Dayton Ohio before making North Carolina her home. Since 2007, she has been the Director of Student Life and Leadership at Davidson-Davie Community College. Prior to that she taught English and served in a variety of leadership positions in a college setting. With over 15 years of higher education experience, Lynne is grateful for the opportunity to continue to impact the lives of students by preparing them to be informed and engaged citizens. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family.
davidsondavie.edu

Nigel Word, M.Ed.

Northern Virginia Community College

Nigel is an educator and lifelong learner with a passion for creating inclusive spaces and diverse experiences that cultivate leadership and growth. He began his career in Housing & Residence Life which laid the foundation for understanding, navigating, and facilitating matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, and both social and restorative justice within a community. His higher education experience spans small private to large public 4 year institutions and now, 2 year community college. It is his core belief that leadership is a lifestyle of authenticity and our legacy lies in our service to others.

Nigel has since taken that approach into the realm of Student Life, Leadership, and Activities. Nigel is currently the Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Northern Virginia Community College where he also serves as an instructor. Over the course of his career he has received several awards, given keynote speeches, presented at conferences, earned his leadership coach certification, and been an avid strategic thinker in elevating the college student experience beyond the classroom. He is always seeking ways to build and broaden the impact of his work and is thrilled to serve as a member of the inaugural Canamac Productions Advisory Board to learn and share.
nvcc.edu