KEYNOTE SPEAKER
CRYSTAL KING
Director of Diverse Business Affairs and Economic Inclusion at Grady Health System
An award-winning advocate for diverse suppliers and civil rights, Crystal Anderson King has been responsible for driving growth and providing economic impact in the communities she serves. She is a leader who takes pride in cultivating fair and favorable opportunities for historically underutilized businesses. As Director of Diverse Business Affairs and Economic Inclusion at Grady Health System, Crystal works to identify, mentor, and engage diverse suppliers in Grady’s supply chain process. She has worked diligently to develop strategies that ensure an environment of inclusiveness for all suppliers and participants.
Crystal is a respected leader with more than 35 years of being a change agent and advocate for equity. She grew up an active member of the NAACP and was the youngest person to ever serve as Treasurer for the Proviso-Leyden chapter in Illinois. A student leader since elementary school, Crystal participated in civic engagement as she matriculated through high school and college.
For 15 years, Crystal used her expertise in the energy industry to enhance relationships between the community, procurement, supply chain and supplier diversity. In 2019 she transitioned into the healthcare industry and has quickly catapulted Grady Health System to top tier of diverse supplier utilization and economic inclusion.
She’s served as a local advisory board member for AID Atlanta, the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Business League, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter and the Vizient Supplier Diversity Advisory Council. At present, she serves on the Board of Directors with Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance, the Hedera Foundation and The One Million Dreams Foundation for Black Women and Girls.
Crystal earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Robert Morris University in Chicago. She has been recognized with the following awards:
- Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (Outstanding work in Community Service)
- Atlanta Business League Woman of Influence (multi-year honoree)
- She been named Advocate of the Year and Buyer of the Year by the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council
- “40 Influential Women of 2020” by the LA Wire
Her leadership has led to Grady Health System being awarded Local Corporation of the Year and the Crystal Award by GMSDC, Corporation of the Year by USPAAC-Southeast and Top Corporation by Greater Women’s Business Council.
Crystal is an active member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She resides in the Metro Atlanta Area with her husband Bertram and is the mother to two adult sons David and Darius and the family dog, Jett.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
DAMON and TERRI FERGUSON
Owners at HRS Healthcare Resources Staffing
Healthcare Resources Staffing Agency was established in 2016 by Damon and Terri Ferguson. HRS is a Joint Commision certified diverse supplier based in Atlanta, GA. HRS provides high quality healthcare staffing services that meet and exceed industry standards. They focus on customer service, accountability and open communication with their patient centered staff, healthcare professionals and clients. They staff hospitals, LTACHs, schools and recently added correctional facilities through a variety of local and national contracts.
Prior to starting HRS, Damon and Terri were full time employees and part time entrepreneurs while raising their four children, who are now all adults.
Managing family, work and entrepreneurial efforts came with complexities and challenges, yet they believe this has been their advantage. They understand the complex needs of stakeholders with differing and everchanging needs and perspectives.
Damon brings over two decades of experience working in the staffing industry (mainly healthcare) in a variety of roles: staffing, marketing, recruiting and rfp/contract requisitions.
Terri brings over two decades of working in education, programming and management in a variety of roles: educator, professional development, rfp/contract acquisitions and school leadership.
After years of joint part- time ventures, they decided to start HRS and haven’t looked back. While they pride themselves in being small and accessible, they also take pride in providing the best services to both clients and the critical healthcare workers that are staffed. HRS has a vigorous desire to become the preferred supplier for healthcare staffing.
