Diverse Business Leaders Pair with Humana Executives in the 2022 – 2023 Mentor Protégé Program

Last month, Humana’s Supplier Diversity team launched the 2022 – 2023 Mentor-Protégé Program, welcoming a new cohort of diverse business leaders into the program. The Mentor-Protégé Program was launched in 2019 with the goal to overcome barriers that typically inhibit or restrict the success of diverse-owned, women-owned, LGBTQIA-owned, disability-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises by facilitating relationships with various Humana departments and external partners. During the 12 months of the program, participants are paired with Humana leaders for one-on-one and group mentoring experiences with Humana department leaders, who share their subject-area expertise as well as information about how the company functions. Below, we introduce this year’s participants and hear why they are excited for the program. 

Eric W. Boyer, Managing Partner, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. 

Eric W. Boyer is the Managing Partner of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. His areas of practice include general liability, insurance defense, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home defense litigation, loss prevention and risk management and the coordination of large complex litigation accounts to ensure guideline compliance and quality service. Eric will be paired with Joe Ventura, Chief Legal Officer, for this year’s Mentor Protégé Program. He said he’s excited to participate in the program because, “Humana’s program not only prepares and trains our firm on how to expand our business relationship within Humana but also provides us the tools to succeed in developing or enhancing business in the Fortune 500 marketplace.”

Kimberly L. Bunton, President, TKT & Associates, Inc. 

Kimberly L. Bunton is a multi-disciplinary attorney, content creator, and business consultant with extensive corporate, legal, and media management experience. Kimberly serves as President of TKT & Associates, Inc., a national diversity and workforce development firm. TKT & Associates, Inc. is one of the fastest growing woman-owned/ led companies according to The Women Presidents Organization’s 50 Fastest list. Kimberly will be paired with Dr. Nwando Olayiwola, SVP and Chief Health Equity Officer, for this year’s Mentor Protégé Program. Kimberly said she’s excited to participate in the program because, “This is an opportunity for us to learn more about Humana and its scope of services, culture, and business model. Ultimately, our goal is to strengthen our business relationship with Humana and increase our capabilities and abilities to better serve our clients.”

Gabrielle Christman, President & CEO, Hunter International Recruiting/ STEMHUNTER 

Gabrielle launched Hunter International, in 2006 a recruiting firm with two employees. Today, the Cleveland-based firm is tasked with finding top-shelf scientific, engineering, and technical staff for Fortune 500 companies. In 2022, Gabrielle launched a new venture, STEMHUNTER – a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math focused job board that connects innovative employers with professionals while promoting gender and racial diversity in the science and technology industry. Gabrielle will be mentored by Chantelle Johnson, AVP, Talent Management, for this year’s Mentor Protégé Program. “As my company, Hunter International Recruiting, moves through explosive growth with a focus on building sustainable operational models, my hope is to maximize the tools and knowledge I learn from the program and implement those discoveries with our excellent team at Hunter," said Gabrielle.  

Bernita McCann Hightower, President & CEO, Next Generation Fuel 

Bernita McCann Hightower is the President & CEO of Next Generation Fuel, a wholesale distributor of gasoline, diesel and alternative fuels throughout United States and South Africa. NextGen Fuel ships fuels on all major pipelines and holds extensive supply positions across U.S. terminals - offering our wide range of commercial fuels, logistical, shipping and storage solutions for retail, commercial and wholesale clients. Bernita will be paired with Douglas Edwards, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Associate and Business Solutions, Chief Administrative Office Leadership, for this year’s Mentor Protégé Program. Bernita said she is participating in the program because, “Having a seat at the table allows Next Generation Fuel access and exposure to share our share capabilities, build relationships and come out of this program as a stronger company to work with corporations like Humana and others.”

Tommy Nolan, Managing Partner, COO, Vidionix 

Tommy co-founded Vidionix in 2015, a B2B video, virtual, and hybrid production company - creating content and producing live broadcasts for national and international brands such as Humana, Smith + Nephew, MHS, Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve, GE, and others. Tommy’s early years helped shape his career – he began filming car races, shooting sports photography and disc jockeying in his early teens. Tommy will be mentored by Chris Bensing, AVP, Procurement, for this year’s Mentor Protégé Program. He said he’s participating in the program because, “The program provides an incredible opportunity to learn and network with other like-minded entrepreneurs and standout company executives.”

This program is part of Humana’s ongoing Environmental, Social and Governance strategy. To learn more about our inclusion and diversity impact, click here.