Ethan Huckel (he, him, his)
Founder & Lead Consultant
M.A.,English for Teachers, Western New England University
B.A., English, UNIversity of Massachusetts, Amherst
FAcilitate Change Fellow, 2020
2019 Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion Award, Diversity & INclusion Professionals
2018 Frank Ferri Spirit Award, Project Fearless
Areas of Expertise
Inclusion & BElonging
Keynote Talks
LGBTQ+ INCLUSION
POLICY Review
Strategic Planning
Training & FAcilitation
Well-being/Wellness
Workplace Gender Transition Guidelines
Ethan Huckel (he, him, his) is a dynamic educator, executive coach, and public speaker with more than twenty years of experience in LGBTQ+ education and advocacy, and over a decade of expertise in curriculum design, facilitation, and organizational development. His thoughtful, compassionate approach makes him a trusted partner to organizations at every stage of their equity and inclusion journey. Ethan is particularly skilled at helping teams reimagine their approach to learning, leadership, and cultural change.
As an executive coach, Ethan works with leaders and teams to build inclusive practices, strengthen cultural competence, and foster environments where people of all identities can thrive. His coaching practice is grounded in deep listening, behavioral insight, and a commitment to personal and organizational growth.
Ethan began his career as a middle and high school teacher, an experience that informs his ability to meet learners where they are and design development experiences that resonate across sectors. His background in education continues to shape his work with schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations.
He also brings a powerful intersection of lived experience and professional insight as a transgender man, father, and community advocate. His work helps foster understanding and inclusion of gender diversity—from classrooms to boardrooms and beyond.
Previously, Ethan served as a board member and president of TGI Network of Rhode Island, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the transgender and gender diverse community. In that role, he contributed to policy advocacy, peer support programming, and the expansion of gender-affirming healthcare through the collaborative development of the Rhode Island Trans Health Conference.
Ethan was the recipient of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals’ 2019 Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award and the 2018 Frank Ferri Spirit Award from Project Fearless.
Ralph Tavares (he, him, his)
Lead Consultant
M.B.A., Salve regina University
B.A., English, concentration in Black studies, English, and Women’s Studies
Founder’s Award of New England Counselors of Color Bridging Access to College
2019 Torchbearer Award from Providence College
2021 Providence Business News’ Diversity Champion
areas of expertise
Anti-racism
Inclusion & Belonging
Keynote talkS
Leadership Coaching
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Mentoring Programs
POLICY REVIEW
Training & Facilitation
Well-Being/WeLLNESS
Ralph Tavares (he, him, his) is a problem solver who meets challenges with enthusiasm and an open heart. Spending nearly two decades creating equity in and access to higher education for students of color, Ralph has played critical roles in developing multicultural recruitment, retention, and mentoring plans and programs at Salve Regina University, Providence College, and Roger Williams University School of Law.
Among his leadership and program activities, Ralph is a lead consultant with Huckel Inclusive, former President and a member of the advisory board of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP), a member of the planning committee for the National Partnership for Educational Access Annual Conference, board member of the Diversity Business Expo in Rhode Island, and member-emeritus of the Northeast Consortium Bridging Access to College (NECBAC).
He is currently a 2025 Black Leadership Institute Fellow on the National Institute for Non-Profit Practice, a recent graduate of the Rhode Island Foundation’s Equity Leadership Initiative, and a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island’s Rho II cohort. He is the recipient of the 2022 MVP Award from Storbeck Search, the 2021 Dean’s Distinguished Service Award from Roger Williams University School of Law, the 2021 Diversity Champion Award from Providence Business News, the 2019 Torchbearer Award from Providence College, and the 2015 Founder’s Award from the New England Counselors of Color Bridging Access to College.
Ralph is a Providence College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Black Studies, Women’s Studies, and Business, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Strategic Management and Innovation from Salve Regina University.
Dr. Anthony Rodriguez (he, him, his)
Lead Consultant
Ph.D., Intellectual Disabilities and Severe Disabilities: Studies in Educational Equity for Diverse and Exceptional Learners - Specialization in Math Education, University of New Mexico
M.A., Learning and Behavioral Exceptionalities: Studies in Instruction, Curriculum, Collaboration, and Transition of Diverse Learners,University of New Mexico
B.A., American Studies (English and History),Western Connecticut State University
Areas of Expertise
Anti-Racism
Systems of Support IDD
Coaching
Training and Facilitation
Inclusion and Belonging
Keynote Talks
Dr. Anthony Rodriguez (he, him, his) is a consummate creative who seeks truth and justice for those at-risk for harm, those marginalized in the community, and who need advocacy. He has a gift for seeing people as they are and finding ways to optimize their talents and realize their potential. He engages in deep analysis of systems and structures to find strength-based solutions to profound problems.
His work has centered primarily on creating diverse supports, policies, and practices to help people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and those of color live the lives they have imagined. When he worked on the Pueblo of Zia, he led structural change within the Bureau of Indian Affairs for funding to follow the child and increase inclusive practices at the schools. In the Albuquerque Public Schools, he created the first Pre-Calculus curriculum with dynamic access points for people with disabilities. A few years later, he did the same as a lead special education consultant for Illustrative Mathematics, now the #1 rated curriculum by EdReports. On the Providence Public School Design Team, he worked to increase inclusive practices, increase diversity in hiring, develop dynamic teacher development plans to increase access for those with IDD and English Language Learners (ELL). Drawing from these experiences, brings these issues to the forefront with compassion and respect for all involved.
He currently serves as the President of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), founded in 1876.
Certifications and Awards
New Mexico Public Education Department Level 3-A: Instructional Leader Special Education K-12, Highly Qualified Teacher: Mathematics.
Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award
Fellow, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
Advisory Committee for Intellectual Disability, Definition,Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Support, 12th Edition
Presidential Award, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) 2022
Jackie Velez (she, her, hers)
Lead Consultant
Areas of Expertise
Benefits & Leave administration
Mentoring Programs
Policy Review
Training & Facilitation
Well-being/Wellness
Jackie Velez (she, her, hers) leads projects in open enrollment and leave administration to ensure employees’ access to world-class health and wellness resources. Jackie's dedication to effective care and extensive knowledge of HR policy are cornerstones to build more equitable care systems for complex organizations.
By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, Jackie ensures that the organization's values align with its practices and its promises of support, leading to a workplace where every employee has the opportunity to thrive. Her commitment to innovative solutioning not only enhances the company's culture but also strengthens its operational success. Jackie has over twenty years of successful enablement and program adoption experience.
Jackie's role as an inclusion consultant is vital in fostering a workplace environment that values diversity and promotes equality. As a collaborative leader for her HR and benefits teams, Jackie weaves inclusive thinking into the fabric of company culture. Her expertise in delivering presentations equips employees, from teammate to C-level, with the knowledge and tools necessary to embrace cultural competencies and implement improved processes. Jackie's work not only fuels operational competency but enhances key employee experiences that uplift the organization.
