YPAL celebrates 7 young professionals as 2025 YPAL Award winners

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 28, 2025) — Seven young professionals were honored at the 2025 YPAL Awards presented by Deloitte on Thursday.

After almost 200 nominations, seven leaders in the Louisville area were selected for the annual awards hosted at the Louisville Water Tower. YPAL Award winners were nominated for their contributions to the community.

Mark Brown

Mark Brown is dedicated to transforming the lives of youth affected by gun violence through entrepreneurship and the arts. In 2014, Mark started teaching at the Neighborhood House in the Portland neighborhood and became involved with local nonprofit No More Red Dots.

As Creative Director for the nonprofit, Brown creates and manages programs for No More Red Dots. He serves as a mentor and helps participants pursue careers in the arts. No More Red Dots helps participants shift their perspectives and behaviors, steering them away from gang involvement and toward a path of nonviolence and creativity. By fostering an environment that emphasizes self-discovery and artistic expression, Mark aims to inspire young individuals to redefine their identities and envision lives free from the violence and incarceration that have impacted them.

“The eyes on me, that’s something I don’t take for granted so it propels me forward, it keeps me focused and I know it does the same for the rest of my team as well,” Brown said.

Olivia Evans

Olivia Evans is an award-winning business reporter covering major companies including Ford, UPS and GE Appliances and a variety of business industry trends for the Courier Journal in her hometown of Louisville, Ky. Evans has deeply covered the shortage of veterinarians in Kentucky, the growing EV industry and tense labor contract negotiations.

Before landing at the Courier Journal in 2022, Evans interned with national outlets including Forbes and Politico during her time as a student at the University of Missouri. Evans was a four-year student athlete at Mizzou throwing hammer and weight for the track and field team. When she isn’t working, Evans is always in search of local coffee joints, quiet fishing spots, and her next book to read.

“We all have a story to tell and I fortunately love story telling, and I happen to be pretty okay at it,” Evans said. “So it’s really special to be able to combine something I’ve loved since childhood and something I also have skill and talent for.”

Tia Gibbs

After earning her MBA while playing at the University of Louisville, Tia Gibbs played professional basketball before shifting into corporate leadership and community service. She currently serves as Senior Manager of Sourcing Center of Excellence at Suntory Global Spirits. Her ability to combine competitive drive, strategic vision, and collaboration enables her to navigate complex business challenges while fostering innovation and inclusion.

Gibbs is also deeply committed to mentorship and community service. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she actively supports initiatives focused on education, economic empowerment, and social impact. She also dedicates time to mentoring student-athletes and young professionals, sharing her journey to inspire and guide the next generation.

“The way I see leadership, you don’t need a title to be a leader, and every interaction you have with an individual is a chance to change their life,” Gibbs said. “I don’t take that lightly at all. I view everything I do under the lens of how can I drive impact and make a difference.”

Bansari Mehta, MHA

Bansari Mehta has more than 17 years of experience spanning administrative, clinical, and research roles within both national and international organizations. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Dr. Black’s Eye Associates of Southern Indiana, Mehta brings strategic vision and operational excellence to the practice.

Beyond her professional role, Mehta is deeply engaged in advancing the field of ophthalmology through her active involvement in national professional associations. Locally, she serves on the boards of Dress for Success Louisville and the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL). Since moving to Louisville four years ago all by herself with no links to the area, she has been a driving force within YPAL—first as an ambassador and later as a Board Member—where she introduced innovative programming to support the region’s young professionals.

“I have gotten so much whether it’s employers or my friends, I took it upon myself to give back in some form,” Mehta said. “It is important to give back. We can and should become impactful young professionals in some form.”

Tony Mudd

Tony Mudd earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Occupational Health and Safety from Eastern Kentucky University, and he’s a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). But his real education came from years in the field—listening to workers, walking job sites, and realizing that most safety problems aren’t just about policies—they’re about connection, communication, and culture. That belief led him to start Sensori Safety, a company built on the idea that safety should feel personal and proactive, not just a checklist.

Through Sensori Safety, Tony launched SafeEngage 360, a video engagement platform designed to meet workers where they are—with short, relatable content that makes safety stick. Tony doesn’t just build tools—he builds trust. He’s worked with more than 100 companies bridge the gap between leadership and the front line through storytelling, training, and technology. His work has been featured at national safety conferences, and he’s helped lead state-level initiatives, including the recognition of Worker Memorial Day in Kentucky.

“What pushes me to be impactful as a young professional is the work that I do,” Mudd said. “My thoughts, my behaviors, everything directly impacts the people who I serve every single day.”

Paris Parada

Paris Parada is a Disabled Combat Veteran of the United States Army, serving two tours in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. Since her time in the military, she has furthered her education and earned a Masters of Business Administration and Six Sigma Lean Greenbelt Certification. She currently serves as the Enterprise Resource Planning Product Manager at the rapidly growing Galen College of Nursing.

She also enjoys serving on several boards and committees to further support her community such as; Vice Chair of Dress for Success Louisville Board and Kosair for Kids Advisory Council member. A YPAL member since 2017 and proudly served two terms on the board as Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Director of Recruitment. She was also recently accepted into the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels and inducted as a Louisville Rotarian.

“Showing up is half the battle, your worst is somebody’s best so just do it,” Parada said. “I hate seeing people struggle. There are so many people out there willing to help, I know if I make that connection for you, I want to do that.”

Dr. Charity Yelton Pugh

Dr. Charity Yelton Pugh is a Human Resources Professional at Humana and serves as Co-President of the enterprise Women’s Network Resource Group of over 11,000 members. A former educator with a passion for building inclusive, trauma-informed workplaces, she holds professional certificates in social and behavioral research, trauma resilience, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As WNRG Co-President, Charity leads strategic initiatives that foster belonging, elevating diverse voices, and driving cultural transformation across the enterprise.

Charity owns a strategic consulting business specializing in trauma-informed principles, program evaluation, and organizational change. Her journey from the classroom to corporate business has been driven by a deep commitment to learning, equity, and wellbeing. Charity completed her PhD in Education and Social Change at Bellarmine in February and served on the President’s Advisory Board on Equity and Inclusion in 2023 and 2024. Since its publication in April, her dissertation From Surviving to Thriving: Trauma-Informed Strategies for Survivors of Human Trafficking has reached nearly 20 countries across six continents.

“Whenever you are experiencing imposter syndrome, it’s probably a good sign that you’re succeeding in a space that wasn’t built for you, that wasn’t designed for your success,” Yelton Pugh said. “I have tried to embrace the imposter syndrome and be encouraged by it.”

To read the award winners’ full bios, click here.

Thank you to presenting sponsor Deloitte, venue sponsor Louisville Water Tower, multi-media sponsor Mammoth Creative Group and hydration sponsor Louisville Water.

Editor’s Note: The quotes attributed to the YPAL Award Winners were shared during question-and-answer interviews to the audience during the event.