This year, we are excited to announce two amazing and highly inspirational women who will serve as our Mistresses of Ceremonies (MCs) for our annual Inspire Awards.
Kia Painter
Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Cox Communications
Kia Painter is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Cox Communications. She leads Cox’s Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, while developing and executing talent strategies that align with Cox’s operating principles. She navigates the challenges of driving continuous growth in our rapidly evolving business landscape.
Prior to this role, Kia served as Senior Vice President, HR Business Partnerships, where she was responsible for leading HR business consulting and service delivery functions for Cox Communications.
Painter joined Cox in 1998 as a part time HR Assistant in Cox Hampton Roads after completing undergraduate studies. During her 26 years with the company, she has risen through the ranks and led people functions throughout Cox regions and markets in the Southeast notably in Virginia, Florida and Louisiana. In 2015, she moved to Atlanta to establish Cox Communication’s employee experience, employee engagement, and organization design practices for the company.
She is the recipient of various industry awards including:
• 2024 CableFax Diversity & Pride List Award honoree
• 2023 CableFax Most Powerful Women
• 2023 CableFax Diversity List
• 2023 WICT SE Inspiration Woman of the Year
• 2023 WICT SoCal Leadership, Education and Advocacy
• 2022 Mae Douglas Leadership Award
• 2022 NAMIC Next Generation Leader Award
• 2021 Horizon Woman to Watch Award, The WICT Network Southeast
Kia also serves on several industry and academic boards, including:
• Director-at-Large, The WICT Network
• Member, T. Howard Foundation Board
• Member, Camp Twin Lakes Board
• Member, i4cp Chief Human Resources Board
• Member, Goizueta Business School Corporate Advisory Board
• Member, The Emma Bowen Foundation
• Past President, C2HR
Kia holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Development from The George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University.
When she is not here at Cox looking for ways to create career opportunities and experiences for our employees, she spends her time reading and looking for new things to learn.
She is a native of Norfolk, Virginia, and currently resides in Powder Springs, Georgia.
Dr. Maxine Cain
Entrepreneur & Executive Leader
Dr. Maxine Cain is an award-winning People Leader changing the way women business leaders and entrepreneurs, live, work, and play by doing work that matters in STEM. Senior Human Resources leader and entrepreneurial personality known for innovative approaches to business, strategy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and Emerging Technologies. Maxine Cain is the Founder & President of STEM Atlanta Women, Inc. A non-profit 501c(3) organization created to Enlighten, Educate, and Empower women and girls about the advantages and global opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and the future skills needed to compete and succeed in the 21st Century.
Dr. Cain’s vision is to disrupt unconscious bias in Tech and bridge the gender gap in STEM.
Education:
Bachelor of Science Degree, Business Management/ Human Resource Management (4 Years Completed), University of Phoenix
Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D), Humanitarianism for notable contributions and achievements of national and global significance to humanitarian and community building efforts relative to STEM Education and Training – Dec. 2020
Awarded the Biden’s President's Call to Service Award – STEM Education & Training – July 2021
The President's Call to Service Award (referred to as the "President's Lifetime Achievement Award") is awarded by the President of the United States to people who have completed more than 4,000 hours of community service. It is the highest level of the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger - Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award
Dr. Maxine Cain receives the Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award for exemplary community service to the State of Georgia! October 16, 2021. Dr. Cain was nominated by Dr. Lenora Peterson to receive the award, given to Georgians who go above and beyond in their dedication to the well-being of the state of Georgia.
For more details, please visit her LinkedIn page under Honors & Awards https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxinecain/