Liana Bran serves as the Senior Director of Community and Employment Strategies at Cara Collective, a workforce development agency and social enterprise that works to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment. In her role, Liana is focused on building sustainable employment pathways for those most impacted by violence. She partners with employers and key community stakeholders to promote skills-based talent ecosystems that increase access to opportunity for these individuals.

Before joining Cara Collective, Liana served as a program director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for over seven years. In that time Liana consulted directly with business owners and leaders to identify growth opportunities and strengthen their capacity, including adopting strategies to better attract and retain talent. Liana is also an Aspen Institute Economic Opportunity Fellow and graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

LaKeita Burns has been with BMO Bank for over a year, currently serving as an associate banker at the North Avenue branch in Chicago. She joined BMO through a collaborative partnership with Cara Collective and the BMORE program, which supports workforce development and career advancement. LaKeita brings a strong commitment to customer service and community engagement in her role.

She is also an accomplished entrepreneur, visionary artist, and community activist dedicated to empowering others through creativity, financial literacy, and service. A proud first-generation college graduate from the Chicagoland area, she has turned her lifelong gift for financial management into a career helping individuals achieve their financial goals. Her leadership and impact were recognized with The Founder’s Leadership Award from Cara Collective, honoring her commitment to excellence and community advancement. Beyond her professional achievements, LaKeita is a devoted wife and mother of two, as well as a health and wellness advocate who believes in living with balance, purpose, and impact.

Paris Roney is the senior manager of Community Impact Initiatives at BMO Bank N.A., where she leads strategic programs that connect business objectives with community advancement. Her career at BMO began in retail banking, where she spent six years in various leadership roles, building expertise in customer experience, team development, and operational strategy. These experiences shaped her approach to driving results and building strong partnerships across the organization.

In her current role, Paris oversees the BMORE program—a talent acquisition strategy that connects talent to career opportunities through innovative collaboration with community workforce development organizations. Under her leadership, BMORE has expanded across BMO’s US retail banking footprint, strengthened relationships with community partners, and achieved record one-year retention. Paris is known for her ability to turn strategy into action and for her commitment to creating programs that deliver lasting impact.

Outside of work, Paris finds joy in spending time with her nine-year-old son, close friends, and family. She’s deeply committed to the communities and customers BMO serves and is motivated by a belief in driving meaningful change through innovative action and genuine connection. Paris lives by the principle: “Community impact isn’t just about programs—it’s about people, purpose, and the power to challenge what’s always been, in order to build what could be.”