Keynote Speakers

Angela Caraway, a native of Anson County, NC, is the founder and president of The Caraway Management Group, Inc. (TCMG), in Raleigh, NC and the Founder and Executive Director of The Caraway Foundation, in Ansonville, NC.  The Caraway Management Group, Inc. is a full-service Conference and Meeting Management Company that provides planning for events of all types and sizes; including, but not limited to corporate meetings, product launches, non-profit conferences, educational meetings and conferences, and special events.

The Caraway Foundation (TCF) promotes and encourages all people of all ages to continue their educational goals by providing support in the areas of life skills, financial empowerment and professional development assistance for under-served populations. In addition, the Foundation has added a chronic illness component to provide resources to those battling a chronic illness and to support those that have survived a chronic illness.

On December 29th, 2015, Angela was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and two weeks later, she was having surgery to remove the cancerous mass. On February 23^rd, 2016, she began the first of twelve rounds of chemotherapy and her journey to becoming a SURVIVOR began. During her journey, Angela realized that becoming a SURVIVOR in the cancer community was bigger than her. So, she has devoted herself to promoting self-advocacy around one’s medical care and the importance of mental wellness surrounding a traumatic diagnosis. It’s important to Angela to share her story in hopes that it will inspire others and it’s also therapeutic for her. Being a cancer SURVIVOR and part of the cancer community was certainly not on Angela’s radar, but it has been the best thing that has happened to her.

I spent 15 years as a group fitness instructor until the demands of a growing family and a job with a brutal travel schedule caused me to take care of everyone – except myself.  In 2013, I participated in a group challenge to exercise 30 mins/day, 5 days/wk. I lost my “all or nothing” mindset and began to focus on the lasting benefits of small changes applied consistently each day. I was feeling great again!

Then in 2016, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Although it threw me for a loop, I worked hard every day to take back my health. I celebrated the end of cancer treatment by participating in my first triathlon, which I trained for throughout radiation. I celebrated my 1st cancerversary by running in my first 1/2 marathon, and just 6 weeks after my first real 5K!

Friends started coming to me weekly, inspired by my positive attitude and new wealth of knowledge regarding health and nutrition. They asked questions for themselves, and also for friends that were going through cancer.

I embraced this new calling in life and became a Certified Heath Coach with the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute in February of 2018. I also hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from North Carolina State University. Ever the entrepreneur, I founded (and still run) Air Matters Mold Testing in 2002, after having two other side hustles – all while working in corporate health and safety for over eighteen years.

I am always up for a physical challenge and fueled by a mix of competition and adventure. I am a Ramblin’ Rose Triathlete, a 5-time Rugged Maniac, a 2-time Half Marathon finisher, and have completed a highest difficulty rock climb.  I secretly hope to climb Mount Kilimanjaro one day.  It’s on the bucket list, right below getting the attic cleaned out and learning to say no more often!

Dr. James Wadley is Professor and Chair of the Counseling and Human Services Master of Human Services department at Lincoln University. As a scholar-practitioner, he is a licensed professional counselor and maintains a private practice in the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

He is the founding editor of the scholarly, interdisciplinary journal, the Journal of Black Sexuality and Relationships (University of Nebraska Press). He is also the founder and Principal of the Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians and his professional background in human sexuality education, educational leadership, and program development has enabled him to galvanize scholars and practitioners in the field of sexology across the world.

His research and publication interests include sexual decision making among young adults, masculinity development and conceptions of fatherhood by non-custodial fathers, and HIV/AIDS prevention. He has written undergraduate and graduate courses and authored twenty-two courses for the Master of Science in Counseling program for Lincoln University (PA). In addition, he recently co-authored thirteen doctoral level courses for the Theological Seminary of Puerto Rico. In 2015, Dr. Wadley earned his NBCC-International Mental Health Facilitator certification after spending time with Rwandan therapists discussing the impact of genocide and trauma in the early 1990’s.

In 2016, he helped developed curricula and conducted a sexuality education course at the University of Muhimbili in Tanzania for the nursing and midwifery program. Later that year, he developed and taught an applied research methods course at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2017, Dr. Wadley’s work and advocacy domestically and abroad enabled him to complete his first documentary, Raw to Reel: Race, Drugs, and Sex in Trenton, New Jersey, which captures some of the challenges that emerge in addiction and recovery. Finally, in 2018, Dr. Wadley co-edited The Art of Sex Therapy Supervision (Routledge) which is a book devoted to the clinical experiences of supervisors and supervisees in the field of sex therapy. The book won AASECT’s 2019 Book of the Year Award. His new book, The Handbook of Sexuality Leadership: Inspiring Community Engagement, Social Empowerment, and Transformational Influence (Routledge) carves a new path for sexuality educators, counselors, and therapists in that it serves as an invitation for re-conceptualizing the consultative roles that sexuality professionals engage in.

Dr. Wadley received his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Educational Leadership and Human Sexuality Education. He earned a Master of Science in Education degree in School Psychology from the University of Kentucky after completing his B.A. in Psychology from Hampton University. Finally, he holds a clinical postgraduate certificate from Thomas Jefferson University/Council for Relationships in Philadelphia and is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor. These credentials and a wealth of domestic and international clinical experiences, has catapulted him to be one of the nation’s best marriage, family, and sexuality clinicians.