Bootsy Collins is one of the all-time great funk and R&B bassists/singer/bandleaders/music producers; as well as being recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as the number four bassist of all time.  

From 1969 to 1971, the group functioned as James Brown’s backup band and was dubbed the J.B.’s. In 1972, Bootsy joined George Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic. Collins and Clinton soon established a lifelong personal and musical friendship. He launched Bootsy’s Rubber Band as a spinoff of P-Funk in 1976. Collins’ inspired, clever progressions and patterns were a vital part of such records as “Get Up, I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine.”

Bootsy Collins’ influence on popular culture is inescapable. His SOUND and LOOK are literally stitched into the fabric of modern music, be it R&B, Funk, Rock, Hip-Hop or E.D.M. Snoop Dogg, Outkast, Flea, Dr. Dre, Rick James, Prince, Daft Punk, Primus, and Thundercat—to just name a few— are all Brother-Natures’ disciples. 

Today, a whole new generation of music fans have embraced Bootsy’s legacy via Childish Gambino’ platinum hit “Red Bone”, a loving homage to Collin’s 70’s smash “I’d Rather be with You.”

Stephanie A. Smith serves as senior vice president and chief inclusion and diversity officer. She is responsible for creating and executing a holistic internal and external strategy, that supports employees and partners with diverse suppliers.

Her oversight includes the Bank’s eight enterprise and 70 regional business resource groups, 14 regional inclusion councils, Project Search, supplier diversity, and all other enterprise inclusion and diversity programs, strategic initiatives and efforts related to environmental, social and governance reporting.

In her previous role as director of supplier diversity, Stephanie oversaw more than a 900% increase in Fifth Third’s spending with diverse suppliers. Over more than 20 years, she has also worked in the Bank’s Community and Economic Development and its Commercial divisions, as well as in the Foundation Office. 

In 2019, Stephanie was recognized as one of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Corporate America. In 2020, she was recognized by the National Diversity Council as one of 2020’s Top 50 Chief Diversity Officers, and Career Mastered Magazine recognized her efforts with the 2020 Career Mastered Diversity Leadership Award. In 2021, she was recognized as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement. Under her leadership Fifth Third has been named one of America’s top corporations for women-owned companies by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council and was named to the Best of the Decade list by Minority Business Network magazine. 

Education

Stephanie earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Wright State University and a master’s degree in community planning from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

Professional and Civic

Stephanie is a passionate community advocate. She serves on boards for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Social Venture Partners and the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. 

This is the second year that Cincinnati News Anchor Kyle Inskeep has been Master of Ceremonies for the OMSDC Annual Awards Gala.

Kyle Inskeep joined the Local 12 News team in June 2018. He anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Paula Toti.

Prior to moving to Cincinnati, Kyle worked as a morning reporter/fill-in anchor for FOX59 in Indianapolis for three years. While there he covered the 2017 Presidential Inauguration, the 100th running of the Indy 500 and the sentencing of former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle.

During his first year out of college, Kyle worked for NBC News in Washington, D.C. He was selected as the 2012 Tim Russert Fellow. As part of this program, Kyle worked as a researcher for the network’s “political unit,” assisted correspondents and field producers and worked alongside the Meet The Press digital team.

Kyle graduated magna cum laude from Butler University with a degree in Electronic Journalism. He was on campus for both of the historic Final Four runs the Bulldogs made in 2010 and 2011.