Jermaine “Jay” Suggs’ personal mantra for life is “be relentless in all that you do, and you will always increase your odds to win!” His humble beginnings in Newark, NJ and his rise within the Johnson Controls Fortune 100 company provides a true example that you can dare to dream big and achieve your goals.

Jay’s expertise is leading and cultivating inclusive team development, coaching, and strategic planning. He has extensive experience developing and implementing creative DEI strategies for leadership accountability and employee engagement.

Jay recently served as the Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Building Solutions North America and Business Resource Groups under Johnson Controls. In his D&I role, Jay worked in partnership with the Corporate Diversity & Inclusion team to build and deploy enterprise D&I initiatives within the organization, such as unconscious bias training, talent acquisition, and career development programs for a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries and over 135 years of innovation. His impact in this role was worldwide.
Throughout his career, Jay has earned the highest honor within his organization, the Chairman award, for his work within the inner-city Newark, NJ community. Outside his career, Jay serves as a Board of Trustees member for Children Aid and Family Services. A leading non-profit human services organization in service for over 120 years. He is a mentor for WOMEN Unlimited. This organization provides long-term development programs for high-potential women by integrating the three pillars of leadership: mentoring, education, and networking. He previously also served as a member of the Newark Regional Business Partnership, among other community service organizations.

He has been featured on the following Podcasts: Hack the Interview on DEI and Navigating your Career, hosted by Adrienne and Loreen Dinkelacker; #reimaginedtogether on How to create space for hard conversations with Carley Marcelle; Nonprofit Vision: The Leader Within with Gregory Nielsen; Sunny Side Up: How Business Leadership has shifted; and The Kula Ring Podcast: Working from the Inside Out: How to Build a Diverse and Inclusive Team.

He was He was Named Top 12 Diversity and Inclusion Leaders to follow in 2021 by Inclusivv Blog

Jay’s common thread has included a progressive experience building robust, lasting partnerships that uplifts companies and communities that champions on all levels.