Eleazar Ruiz is a Dominican-born, award-winning brand strategist, creative director, and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience across in-house design teams, agencies, and innovative startups. His expertise bridges brand strategy, branding, user experience design and social impact, culminating in the successful launch of brands that tell powerful, culturally relevant stories.

Ruiz is the founder of Odd Notion, a studio focused on meaningful, purpose-driven brand development. His approach centers on strategic clarity and visual storytelling, guiding organizations from concept formation to confident, distinguished brand identities. Under his leadership, Odd Notion has grown into a creative hub known for its empathetic and principled design ethos, serving start-ups, established companies, and nonprofits alike.

Throughout his career, Eleazar has collaborated with major global clients—including Nike, The Oregonian, Lyft, Microsoft, and Xbox—as well as dozens of emerging ventures, applying both creative intuition and business acumen.

In addition to leading creative projects, Ruiz is active in promoting community-driven design and championing the role of design equity in brand building. His work regularly explores themes of identity, culture, and positive social impact, reflecting his belief that design is a transformative force for good.

Ruiz has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including Webby Awards, Anthem Awards, and recognition from Indie Agency for his outstanding contributions to the design field. His thoughtful, innovative approach has been celebrated in leading creative publications and recognized for elevating brand experiences with both artistic distinction and strategic vision. He continues to be sought after as a thought leader for his principled methodology and commitment to advancing design that matters.

Whether launching new ventures or guiding established brands, Eleazar Ruiz brings clarity, empathy, and outstanding craftsmanship to every brand journey—making him a valued partner for any organization seeking to stand out and connect meaningfully with its audience.
OddNotion.com

Leda Garside is a bilingual/bicultural Latina professional with 42 years working experience. Her career interests center around nursing education, research, health policy, cultural competencies, health promotion, early interventions, best practices in language interpretation services, community health workers initiatives, and health careers mentoring.

Being an active member in professional organizations, coalitions and boards are ways to give back to the community and provide a voice on how to work towards eliminating disparities, how services are delivered, assuring best services experienced to the patient.

After 10 years of bedside nursing in neurology and cardiology, her nursing career led her to occupational health, outpatient care, and management. Her lived experiences as a clinician have centered in minority health, focusing working with the Latino/a/x and Mesoamerican indigenous communities and other BIPOC population during the last 32 year, this have provided her with a solid foundation for understanding and connecting to the various communities that make up Oregon.

Leda is an excellent resource to ensure that -- no matter the project – the work will be grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Leda has recently retired from direct patient care but continues her work as an advocate and nurse consultant.

Zhou Fang (she/tā/她)

Intersectional Group, LLC (COBID certified)

Intersectionality Practitioner, Leadership Consultant, Intersectional Living Coach

Zhou Fang is the founder and principal consultant of Intersectional Group LLC, a leadership, people and culture practice with a focus on intersectionality, empathy, compassion, intentionality, as well as curiosity.

Zhou is also an Intersectionality Practitioner (IG: @intersectionalliving). She works with folks who are willing, excited, and ready, to learn about and practice intersectionality, intentionality, restoration, and healing.

Zhou is a passionate advocate for pay transparency and equity, mental wellbeing, immigration reform, and climate justice, as well as a committed ally for the LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities.

Currently, Zhou serves on the board of Portland HR Management Association, as well as a thoughtleader for the Policy Committee at Women’s Foundation of Oregon. She is also the producer and host of The Intersection, a podcast program about intersectionality, identity, leadership, and personal journey.

Outside of work, Zhou is a proud dog and plant parent and a comedy and horror movie enthusiast. She appreciates good food and loves to travel.

Zhou can be reached at zhou@intersectional.group. You can connect with her on LinkedIn as well.

Intersectional Group is a leadership practice that uses the framework of intersectionality, as well as the help of technology, empathy, compassion, and curiosity. It emphasizes on the importance of making EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) part of a company's business and strategic planning, instead of an add-on or stand-alone function. Intersectional Group builds relations and works with clients based on their needs.

Intersectional Group is a COBID Certified Business in Oregon.

Audio and video work (non inclusive):

1. The Intersection podcast

2. Profiles in Leadership ft. Zhou Fang

3. Exploring Intersectionality with Zhou Fang

4. Transforming Workplace Mental Health

5. Pioneering the Future of Inclusion

6. Spirituality, Intersectionality, and Doing Good with Zhou Fang

7. Bridging Cultures with Zhou Fang

8. Pay Transparency & The Gender Pay Gap with Zhou Fang