Ovell Barbee

Owner/Principal of Ovell Rome & Associates, Ovell Barbee Jr., is a renowned, visionary human resources leader, consultant and speaker with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He’s held executive leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies in an array of industries including Motorola, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, General Motors/OnStar, Spectrum Health (now Corewell Health) and Indiana University Health.

In these roles, he drove sustained cultural change and reduced barriers for diverse populations

with a “human-centered” approach that encouraged team members to use their voices as a catalyst for understanding and change. He implemented policies and practices addressing systemic and unconscious barriers and bias to allow everyone opportunities to thrive within a corporate culture. He offers guidance and advice on HR and DEI topics and is known for using his trademark slogan, “You better ask somebody!”.