Speakers

Fiona Cicconi started her career at General Electric where she held various human resources

roles within the Oil & Gas business, which included experience in major global acquisitions and

driving change.

Subsequently, Fiona spent a number of years at Cisco, overseeing human resources in seven

countries in Europe, latterly handling employee relations in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Fiona joined Roche in 2006 where she was most recently responsible for global human

resources for Pharma Technical Operations when her primary focus was to identify and

develop a sustainable supply of leadership and talent from within the organization.

Fiona then worked at AstraZeneca where she was CHRO up until December 2020.

She then joined Google & Alphabet in January 2021 as Senior Vice-President, People

Operations & Chief People Officer where her journey continues.

Tami is a transformational human capital leader who architects high-impact strategies that accelerate business success. Throughout her career, she has held top global HR roles at industry giants including Mars Inc. and Danone and served as CHRO and CPO at private equity-backed companies like 24-Hour Fitness and National Veterinary Associates, overseeing workforces ranging from 1,000 to 45,000 employees.

As a strategic change agent, Tami excels at creating winning cultures, building high-performance teams, and driving talent development that directly aligns with business objectives. She has successfully led large-scale organizational transformations while developing strategies that support rapid growth and value creation.

In October 2024, Tami joined LA28 as Chief People Officer, leading the comprehensive people strategy for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. In this role, she’s building and preparing a dynamic workforce of employees and volunteers as the city of LA welcomes the world to the largest global sporting event.

Betty Larson joined Merck in April 2024 as the executive vice president and chief human resources officer. She is responsible for global human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion for the company.

She has extensive domain expertise with more than two decades in the health care industry. She most recently served as chief people officer of GE HealthCare, a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics and digital solutions innovator. She provided strategy and leadership for GE HealthCare’s human resources and corporate marketing and communications teams.

Betty also served as executive vice president and chief human resources officer of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) from 2018 to 2022, a global medical technology company, where work responsibilities also included strategy and leadership for communications and social investing. Betty joined BD through the acquisition of C.R. Bard Inc., a medtech company focused on vascular, urology and surgical specialty products. She served as C.R. Bard’s chief human resources officer responsible for human resources and communications from 2014 until the acquisition in 2017.

Betty spent the first 16 years of her career at Baxter International, a global medtech company. She was in human resources leadership roles of increasing responsibility in their pharmaceuticals, renal therapies, vaccines, bio pharmaceuticals and hospital products businesses.

She is on the board of directors for Baxter Credit Union. She has served on the board of Fortrea, contributing as a member of the nominating, corporate governance and compliance committee. Betty also served on the board for the Overlook Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to support the New Jersey-based Overlook Medical Center in its mission to provide high-quality care to patients. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Illinois, and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University.

Katharyne Gabriel leads HR for Coca‑Cola’s North America Operating Unit, overseeing people strategies that support 6,200 employees across plants, warehouses, and offices—driving over $17 billion in revenue. With a reputation as a transformative HR leader, she has guided global organization design and talent strategy initiatives across corporate functions in more than 200 countries.

Prior to her current role at Coca‑Cola, Katharyne held senior HR leadership positions at several industry giants:

• Led global transformation efforts in operating model optimization.
• Advanced people strategies across vast networks during her time with IHG Hotels & Resorts and YUM! Brands, where she supported thousands of employees.
• Began her impactful HR journey at The Home Depot, contributing to M&A integration, employee relations, supply chain, and operations, and ultimately serving as Chief of Staff to the CHRO.

Katharyne is a respected voice in HR, frequently invited to speak on leadership and talent development—including guest lectures at Texas A&M’s Master of Engineering Leadership Series.

Mark is a passionate leader who brings more than 20 years of experience leading, mentoring and developing diverse teams.

At Starbucks, Mark is responsible for leading global strategies inclusive of performance and partner development, talent management, learning, talent acquisition, while guiding Starbucks to create opportunities for growth and career advancement for Starbucks partners (employees). By bringing talent and inclusion together as one system, Mark’s team is focused on building talent as a true competitive advantage for Starbucks.

Prior to joining Starbucks in 2021, Mark worked as an auditor at EY and held leadership roles in talent acquisition at Comcast Cable, Nordstrom, and Microsoft.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Sam Houston State University. Based in Seattle, he enjoys spending his free time unwinding by a lake or stream, as well as traveling and exploring diverse cultures.

Eric Dozier (he/him/his) is executive vice president and chief people officer of Eli Lilly and Company.

Since joining Lilly in 1998, Eric has had a diverse career of assignments across the organization and the globe. Prior to his current role, Eric served as vice president, ethics and compliance and most recently as chief commercial officer for Loxo@Lilly. He has held assignments within Lilly’s Diabetes, Neuroscience and Oncology business units and was chief marketing officer and a neuroscience business leader in Japan. He also served as general manager for Lilly Puerto Rico.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University.

Eric also serves on several civic boards within greater Indianapolis, as well as the IndianapolisAirport Authority Board.

From Saskatoon, Canada, Morris studied law and after graduating and working with several international law firms, she started her own firm. Kimberly specialised in various areas of the law, across Commercial, IP, Media, Investigation and Compliance.

She then moved to London before finally settling in Zurich, where she joined FIFA Transfer Matching System in 2012. Initially working as Head of Integrity & Compliance before moving into the General Manager role, she oversaw the governance and regulation of the international football transfer market, and recommended reforms of the transfer system.

Soon after, Morris was responsible for the integration of the company – a Swiss subsidiary – into the parent organisation FIFA, before moving in-house at the global governing body as Head of Global Player Transfers & Compliance.

Morris has been Chief People, Technology & Operations Officer at FIFA since 2019 – leading a global, multi-faceted and multinational team that is tasked with providing operational services and support across the FIFA business and supporting its people worldwide.

Neena Potenza is the Global Strategic Initiatives Manager, People and Culture, at Ingka Group. In her role, Neena is responsible for the roll out and development of the Ingka Group people strategy that defines the global approach the company takes for its over 174,000 coworkers in 32 countries. In addition, she drives the culture and values work between Ingka and its franchisor, Inter IKEA. Neena has over 25 years of experience from various human resources roles within IKEA, starting in the UK in 1993. Potenza’s passion is people, and she truly believes IKEA co-workers to be the greatest asset of the company. She brings togetherness at the core of her leadership and fundamentally believes that all co-workers come to work to do the best they can. As a leader, Potenza is inclusive, open and passionate to move people and the business forward.

Theresita Richard (she/her)  is a visionary and purpose-driven leader fiercely committed to expansive liberation, humanity, and possibility. She is on a mission to transform the world of work, cultivating environments where humans can flourish in their fullness. She is the Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging for Patagonia and brings over 20 years of experience in diversity, equity & inclusion, organizational effectiveness, experience design, operations leadership, and human resources. Previously Theresita led Capital One’s Global Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, where she drove the work to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across the company. She currently serves on the board of Out & Equal, a global convener, thought leader, and catalyst actively working to embed equity and achieve workplaces of equality and belonging.

Theresita’s career has spanned the consumer goods, retail, and fintech industries and she has positively impacted the full range of organizations from building anew to broad-scale transformation. She is known for propelling organizations forward with a deep focus on talent, culture, and innovation. Theresita is adept at delivering holistic people strategies that ensure businesses are equipped and enabled to achieve their mission while unlocking thriving customer and employee experiences. She sees problems as opportunities and her goal is to always approach with curiosity, creating sustainable solutions for the future and challenging the status quo to solve needs in new and meaningful ways.

Theresita started her career in operations after earning her B.S. in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from Cornell University. It was there that she discovered her passion for creating experiences around people and went on to pursue her M.A. in Human Resource Development from George Washington University. Over the years, she has worked with various Fortune 500 companies including Procter & Gamble, Target, Home Depot and Starbucks.

On a personal note, she loves great quotes, all things creative, impromptu dance breaks and real live books (there’s nothing like the smell of a new book). Her family is one of the best parts of her and they inspire her to be better every day. She is fueled by coffee and rich conversations (even better when those things come together) and is a lover of movement, color, texture, and depth…cue her deep passion for the arts and finding inspiration all around her.

One of her favorite quotes that she strives to live by is “As you think about your own path to daring leadership, remember Joseph Campbell’s wisdom: ‘The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.’ Own the fear, find the cave, and write a new ending for yourself, for the people you’re meant to serve and support, and for your culture. Choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armor. And choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid. At the exact same time.” – Brené Brown, Dare to Lead.

Tracey Franklin is Moderna’s Chief People and Digital Technology Officer, responsible for connecting people and technology to spark new ways of operating.

Since joining Moderna in 2019 as Chief Human Resources Officer, Tracey has been instrumental in shaping the company’s people strategy and culture, notably leading the company to scale from 800 to nearly 6,000 employees globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, Moderna has been consistently recognized as a top employer by Science.

In 2024, Tracey’s responsibilities expanded to include Digital Technology, emphasizing the vital integration of people, culture, and digital innovation, and recognizing the profound ways in which AI and digital platforms will reshape ways of working and delivering on Moderna’s Mission.

She joined Moderna following 15 years at Merck & Co., Inc., where she led Merck’s global talent strategy as Vice President, HR Chief Talent and Strategy Officer, and served on Merck’s HR Leadership Team. Tracey’s previous leadership roles included responsibility for HR for all divisions in the European region, head of HR for the UK and Ireland subsidiaries of Merck, and HR Operations leader responsible for HR program implementation across Merck’s global footprint. She was based in Switzerland, the UK and the U.S.

Tracey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Sciences from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Matthias Beck currently serves as Senior Vice President, Human Resources (HR) for the U.S. Human Pharma organization at Boehringer Ingelheim overseeing the strategic and operational aspects of the HR functions, including the development and management of HR strategies, policies and programs that align with the company’s business priorities as well as employee acquisition, development and retention. With long-standing tenure at Boehringer at over 14 years, Matthias assumed his current role in the U.S. in January 2025 as Boehringer continues its evolution towards becoming a commercial powerhouse in the industry.

Prior to his current role, Matthias was the Head of HR Human Pharma globally. He led HR activities to transform the business unit into a patient-centric organization and spearheaded Boehringer’s “Leading by Intent” initiative. His ability to navigate complex change while keeping people at the center of strategy has been instrumental in evolving Boehringer’s patient-focused purpose.

Matthias has also led strategic HR initiatives across Boehringer’s Research & Development, Human Pharma Supply, Global Quality, and Operations divisions to foster the cultural transformation and innovation with a focus on empowerment across the organization.

His career at Boehringer has also included leading global integration efforts during the Merial merger into Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and heading Leadership and People Development in Germany.

Matthias offers a unique perspective to corporate leadership, honed by his experience as Head of Organizational Consulting at the German Army’s International Training Center for Special Operating Forces. This role has profoundly influenced his innovative approach to team building, leadership development, and organizational resilience.

A graduate of Bundeswehr University Munich with a diploma in economic education, focusing on adult education and organizational development, Matthias combines academic knowledge with practical leadership experience. His approach to HR is rooted in the belief that organizational success comes through empowered teams with the focus on our people and intentional leadership—principles that align with Boehringer’s commitment to transforming lives for generations.

Pat Wadors grew up as the youngest of 8 siblings. Diagnosed with dyslexia while in college but has leaned on her neurodiversity as a strength. She is a mother to 3 millennials, grandmother x2, and wife of 30 years. Introvert by nature, Pat is an advocate for results over talk and works feverishly to embrace the quieter voices. A driver for writing this book is her personal purpose, “I need to leave the world better than I found it, to be kind, to give more than I get, to make a difference.”

Known for transformational and strategic HR leadership, Pat believes that organizations thrive when they have a blend of people with differing backgrounds and ways of thinking, and who feel they belong as a contributor to the company’s success. As a LinkedIn Learning instructor, Pat is known for her course on “Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging” which was recognized in 2021 as a top 10 Global course on LinkedIn.

Pat recently joined Intuitive as their chief human resource officer in October 2024. She has held various HR leadership and chief human resource officer positions in the technology sector, including roles at UKG, Procore Technologies, ServiceNow, LinkedIn; Plantronics, Inc.; and Yahoo! She has served on the boards of several prominent technology companies, such as Accolade, Inc., UKG, Second Harvest Food Bank, and El Camino Hospital. Currently, she holds a board position at Moloco.

A multiple-time recipient of the National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology award, Pat is renowned for her transformative and strategic HR leadership. She is a sought-after speaker on diversity and inclusion topics. Pat earned a BS in business management and human resource management from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

A pioneering social scientist who uses data and strategy to drive transformation in the public and private sectors, Dr. Kaleen Love is chief people & culture officer at PMI U.S.

Kaleen joined PMI in 2021 to lead organizational strategy for PMI’s 80,000 employees globally, reporting to PMI’s chief human resources officer. She assumed her current responsibilities leading the PMI U.S. People & Culture team in 2023, aligned to the organization’s overarching mission of a smoke-free future.

Prior to her tenure at PMI, Kaleen held various roles in the public and private sectors. For the first decade of her career, she worked primarily with NGOs and government institutions, focusing on gender equality, women’s empowerment and reproductive health.

Kaleen transitioned to the private sector in 2008 as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, focusing on financial services clients. She later joined Capital One, where, as chief of staff to the president of the company’s retail and direct bank, she led the communication team and founded the bank’s first centralized customer insights, research and analytics function.

Kaleen holds a master’s degree and a PhD in international development from the University of Oxford.

Miriam O’Sullivan is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Boston Scientific, a position she has held since January 2025. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the company’s human resources activities globally, including Human Resources Operations and Services, Total Rewards, Talent Management, Diversity and Inclusion and Community Engagement. Miriam also serves as co-chair of Boston Scientific’s Global Council for Inclusion.

Prior to her current role, Miriam was group vice president of Human Resources, Cardiology, leading their Cardiology businesses, which include Interventional Cardiology Therapies, Cardiac Rhythm Management and Diagnostics, WATCHMAN, and Electrophysiology.

Miriam joined Boston Scientific in 2012 as director of Human Resources for their manufacturing site in Cork, Ireland. In 2014, she moved to Massachusetts to support their Global Supply Chain organization and was promoted to vice president of Human Resources, Global Operations in 2017. In 2019, Miriam took the role of vice president of Human Resources, Interventional Cardiology. Miriam started her career as an employer representative for Irish businesses with an Irish-based company, IBEC, after which she moved to UCB Pharma, a Belgian Pharmaceutical company as director, Human Resources, supporting their Irish & UK business.

Miriam holds a Bachelor of Business Studies with French from the University of Limerick, Ireland, and a Diploma in Employment Law from the National College of Ireland.

Deborah Wintner is Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Stanley Black & Decker, where she oversees global human capital strategies and operations, including talent attraction, development, labor relations, compensation and benefits, engagement and communications with a focus on people and culture.  

Deborah has more than 30 years of HR experience, serving the last six years in various senior leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker, including Senior Vice President of HR Operations, CHRO of Tools & Outdoor and interim CHRO at Stanley Black & Decker, focused on accelerating revenue growth through talent identification, recruitment, retention and development.  

Prior to joining Stanley Black & Decker, Deborah held positions at several global companies spanning multiple sectors, including industrial, healthcare and professional services, where she’s led the strategies and executions of business unit restructurings, driven growth and innovation through internal capability analysis and developed HR strategies, programs policies and services.  

Deborah holds a master’s degree in organizational development from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in occupational safety engineering from Indiana State University.

Kay Clark is Vice President of Culture and Associate Experience at Raymond James, where she leads efforts to cultivate a workplace culture grounded in care, connection and career development. With a background in branding, marketing, and executive communications, Kay brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic insight to her work.

Over her career, she’s guided national advertising campaigns, shaped corporate messaging, and directly supported executive leadership. A lifelong storyteller, Kay’s passion for communication has consistently extended beyond the office, from freelancing for global brands to volunteering her skills for her children’s schools.

She lives in St. Pete Beach with her husband and children, where she enjoys being outside with a good book, soaking up stories and the Florida sunshine.

Fernando Casadevall is Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for World Kinect Corporation (WFS), a Fortune 100 company delivering energy solutions to Aviation, Marine, Commercial, Industrial, and Land customers around the world.

Casadevall has served in the CHRO role since January 2019 and is responsible for all human resources (HR) responsibilities including compensation, benefits, recruitment, talent, HR services, and corporate security.

Prior to WFS, he served as CHRO for Qatar Airways (QA), one of the largest airlines in the world with operations in 75+ countries and more than 50,000 employees. He was responsible for HR for QA’s aviation divisions including commercial, cargo, private aviation, HIA airport, duty free retail, catering, and aviation services.

Before QA, Casadevall was the retail group HR director for Al-Futtaim. Based in Dubai, Al-Futtaim operates in more than 40 countries with a global workforce of 40,000+ employees.

Prior to Al-Futtaim he had various roles at Citibank, initially building the HR function across the retail banking and payments groups, then moving into various senior HR roles including regional HR head for Citigroup’s consumer and alternative investment businesses across EMEA. Before joining Citi, he held HR positions with the investment banking firm Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, and with Sony Entertainment.

An active member of the community, he has also previously served on the board of the Baltimore Children’s Museum and the Academy of Finance & Technology.

Fernando holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona.

Laura Salvatore is the Executive Vice President of Human Capital at Centurion Asset Management, where she has spent over thirteen years leading the company’s people strategy. Known for her ability to align HR with business objectives, Laura has been a driving force behind Centurion’s cultural transformation and its growth into one of Canada’s most successful real estate investment trusts.

Recognized for her innovative approach to talent strategy and leadership development, Laura is a two-time recipient of HRD’s Global 100 distinction and was named one of the Top 10 CHROs in North America by DiversityCan Magazine.

Laura’s thought leadership on organizational culture and workforce analytics has been featured in numerous publications, making her a sought-after speaker and panelist at industry conferences and roundtables. She regularly serves as a guest lecturer at Georgian College and recently contributed her expertise to the textbook HR Analytics in Canada. As a member of RealPAC’s People and Culture Committee, Laura plays an active role in shaping the HR landscape within Canada’s real estate sector.

Laura holds an Executive Master’s in Human Resources Management from Cornell University and is both a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL). Her leadership philosophy is simple: culture isn’t just a differentiator — it’s the currency that attracts and retains top talent.

Andrea is Vestcor’s Director of Human Resources. She joined Vestcor in November 1997 as Corporate Accountant and in 2006 transitioned to Human Resources.

Prior to joining Vestcor she worked at Ross Ventures Ltd for ten years as Chief Accountant in the Restaurant and Real Estate Division.

Andrea holds designations in Certified Talent Management Practitioner (CTMP); International Personnel Management Association – Advanced Certificate Professional (IPMA – ACP); and Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). She is a member of the Human Resources Association New Brunswick and holds a certificate in coaching for Myers Briggs.

Andrea lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada where she enjoys gardening, baking and hosting events for family and friends.

Kristen Dota has over 15 years of experience in the field of human resources and has served in a wide variety of key roles supporting law firms with offices across the globe. She is the director, firm human resources at Morgan Lewis and is based in Philadelphia. Her experience spans various human resources (HR) functions and she currently leads several core HR operational departments, such as compensation, firm HR, staff HRBP teams, talent acquisition, and talent development. Kristen has her M.S. in Human Resources Development from Villanova University, and is certified in PHR and SHRM-CP.

Karen Queen-LeBoo is the chief human resources officer at Morgan Lewis. She is a key advisor to the firm’s leadership team, with responsibility for developing, implementing, and ensuring that all aspects of the firm’s human resources (HR) strategy are aligned to meet our strategic business objectives and support the firm’s talent. Karen has been an integral member of the firm’s HR team for over 20 years and has served in a wide variety of key roles supporting the firm’s practice groups and managing HR functional areas at both the local office and regional levels. She has also led the HR core operational departments, which include benefits, business staff talent acquisition and development, compensation, compliance, HR systems and operations, and leave and retirement administration.

Maryjo Charbonnier is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Kyndryl, one of the largest startups in corporate history. Kyndryl is the world’s leading IT infrastructure services provider. With the industry’s most experienced talent and thousands of customers, Kyndryl is uniquely positioned to help organizations build strong, secure, resilient, and adaptive digital capabilities.

Harnessing her deep experience in large corporate transformation, Maryjo is leading the global initiative to make Kyndryl the employer of choice in the more than 60 countries where the company operates. She is at the helm of the company’s massive renovation of all HR systems and processes to support the company’s nearly 80,000 people to advance their skills and careers as they deliver for customers. Maryjo is also leading the company’s global effort to create and advance its differentiating culture – The Kyndryl Way.

Maryjo joined Kyndryl from Wolters Kluwer, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer for the global provider of professional information, software solutions and services for professionals since the start of 2015. She drove the design and implementation of all human resources strategies, policies, and processes. Prior to joining Wolters Kluwer, Maryjo served as Chief Human Resource Officer at Broadridge Financial Solutions, a global Fintech company, for seven years. Earlier, she was an HR executive in a variety of leadership roles at PepsiCo, including Vice President for Talent Sustainability for PepsiCo Foods Americas, a unit with $30 billion in revenues and more than 120,000 employees.

A native of the Detroit area, Maryjo is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC, and earned her MBA at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She was named “CHRO of the Year” in the Netherlands for 2019 and the 2024 large market “CHRO of the Year” by HRO Today. She is on the board of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest HR organization.

Monique Elliot is a dynamic HR leader with nearly a decade of experience at Phreesia, a leading healthcare technology company, where she currently serves as Director of HR Operations. Based in Ottawa, Canada, she leads Total Rewards, People Analytics, Global Recruiting, and HR Programs, partnering closely with business leaders to scale systems, enhance employee experience, and drive meaningful organizational impact.

With a background in both Human Resources and Business Systems, Monique brings a unique blend of technical insight and people-centric strategy. She launched Phreesia’s company-wide engagement strategy—Life@Phreesia—and was the driving force behind the organization’s first-ever Employee Resource Groups for Women and Black employees.

Proudly a Millennial and a passionate builder of culture, Monique thrives on solving complex problems, creating inclusive spaces, and helping companies grow through intentional, human-centered design. She holds a BA from Carleton University and is a proud mom of three boys. Outside of work, she’s an avid tennis player, enthusiastic traveler, and voracious reader who finds joy in deep conversations about life, music, and everything in between.

“Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives” – Brene Brown

Debbie Herrera (she/her/hers) is the Director of Human Resources at Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), where she leads initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), innovation, employee engagement, wellness, and strategic planning. With over 25 years of HR experience—including 15 in strategic leadership—Debbie has worked across the mortgage, finance, and healthcare sectors.

She serves on the boards of Warren Village and Hope Communities. She previously served on Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and was an advisor to Adelante Colorado with the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado. In 2024, she was named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Debbie holds degrees in psychology and human resources management and is a graduate of the Leadership Denver program. She is the proud mother of two teenage daughters.

Brian Coon is a transformational HR executive who builds people strategies that elevate performance, culture, and business impact. With nearly three decades of experience across global, public, private, and government sectors, he has led human capital initiatives in organizations ranging from 1,000 to 40,000 employees.

Brian’s career spans marquee organizations including Nautilus Fitness, Mars Inc., and the U.S. Air Force, where he has developed a reputation for creating HR infrastructure from the ground up, driving cultural transformation, and strengthening leadership capability at all levels. His work has taken him across the globe, including an international assignment in Germany with Nautilus, deepening his global perspective and operational versatility.

A strategic and hands-on leader, Brian specializes in executive and leadership development, learning and talent strategy, and large-scale organizational transformation. He thrives in roles that require bold change, cross-functional collaboration, and a people-first approach to business growth.

Currently, Brian serves as Head of Human Resources at Trinidad Resorts & Clubs (Shanty Creek Resorts) in Northern Michigan, where he is leading a full HR rebuild — from system modernization and succession planning to seasonal international staffing and workforce development — while fostering a culture of clarity, accountability, and alignment across the organization.

Christine is the Head of the HRBP function at Exemplis, where she also oversees Total Rewards and People Analytics. With over a decade of progressive HR experience across diverse industries, Christine is a strategic partner and people leader known for delivering innovative, effective solutions that drive organizational growth and employee development.

Before joining Exemplis, Christine held key leadership roles at 24 Hour Fitness and Oakley, where she honed her expertise in talent management, employee relations, change management, and organizational development.

Passionate about fostering an inclusive and positive work culture, Christine partners closely with business leaders to align talent strategies with organizational objectives. She leads initiatives that empower employees to reach their full potential while achieving exceptional results. As a trusted coach and advisor, she helps leaders and teams navigate change, adapt to evolving business needs, and thrive in dynamic environments.

Tara Blythe is the Chief People Officer at Infotech, a software company engineering connections across the infrastructure construction industry. She leads organizational development, people operations, innovation, and communications—bringing sharp strategic focus to where people and technology intersect to drive business results.

With more than 20 years of leadership experience in organizational strategy and change transformation, Tara is a champion for future-ready workplaces. She advocates for integrating advanced technologies—like generative AI—into leadership and talent practices to build adaptability, efficiency, and long-term impact.

An accomplished facilitator, curriculum designer, and consultant, Tara has a proven record of delivering transformative outcomes and developing inclusive, high-performing teams. As an adjunct faculty member in Executive Education at the University of Florida and former faculty at the University of Georgia, she pairs academic rigor with real-world application

Her work spans leadership development, culture evolution, executive coaching, and talent strategy, making her a trusted partner for organizations navigating growth and digital transformation. Tara is also a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, sharing insights on the future of work, leadership, and organizational agility.

As CPO, Tara believes the connection between people and purpose is the most powerful force behind organizational success. She is passionate about building culture and environments where people can thrive—and considers it a privilege to lead the teams that make Infotech an extraordinary place to work and grow. To learn more about Infotech, visit infotechinc.com.

With more than 20 years of experience leading complex human resources operations in both the AEC industry and at a Fortune 500 company, Jacqueline Opal serves as STV’s chief people officer. In this role, Ms. Opal drives the organization’s vision of creating a winning employee experience to attract, retain and develop our talent.

Ms. Opal’s expertise spans all facets of strategic human resources (HR) including compensation, benefits, talent acquisition and talent management.She has an extensive background in supporting merger and acquisitions including HR due diligence and post-acquisition integration efforts.

She holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Service Administration and an MBA from the University of Central Florida. She also has a Green Belt Six Sigma Certification.

Donovan Mattole joined Langan Engineering and Environmental Services as their global Chief Human Resources Officer in December 2023, where he oversees all aspects of human resources around the globe. Langan is a global leader in providing an integrated mix of engineering and environmental consulting services in support of land development projects and across their fifty offices has overseen projects in over a hundred countries.

Donovan has over two decades of senior leadership experience in human resources, communications and sustainability, with an expertise in employee engagement, leadership and development, talent management and organizational development and change. He is a sought after speaker, panelist and moderator at leadership conferences and has appeared on half a dozen podcasts, including HR Leaders Podcast, Built by People Podcast and the Society of Human Resources Career Compass Podcast.

Prior to joining Langan, Donovan spent eight years as Vice President and Head of Human Resources for Americas for Brenntag, with responsibilities for human resources, corporate communication, and
sustainability. From 2010 to 2016, Donovan worked for Mars, Inc, most recently as the global head of
human resources for their direct-to-consumer retail and e-commerce businesses, with employees in
China, France, the UK and the USA.

Donovan holds a bachelor’s degrees in human resources from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon and in religion from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and attended graduate school at Jerusalem University College in Jerusalem, Israel. He is also a graduate of an executive leadership program at London Business School in London, England. He is a certified Senior Professional in HR (SPHR®) and SHRM Certified Senior Professional (SHRM-SCP®) and holds additional assessment tool certifications from KornFerry, Predictive Index, and Caliper.

Donovan is on the Board for the Institute for Inclusive Leadership at the University of Houston, serves as an Advisory Board Member of The Argyle Group in New York City and is an active member of the Chief People Officer 100 (CPO100) and Gartner’s NYC CHRO Governing Board.

Donovan lives with his wife, Emily, in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and has three children, a shepadoodle named Cash (after the American singer, Johnny Cash) and a Maine Coon named Cato. While not working he can be found hiking, traveling, running, writing and spending time with family.

Jonathan Weisbrod is Head of People at GOAT Group. Jonathan previously served as VP, People at Lyft and Head of eCommerce Employee Relations at Walmart. An attorney before moving into HR, Jonathan began his legal career at Apple Inc. Jonathan holds a BFA from NYU, JD from Seton Hall School of Law, and is in progress on an MBA at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.

Shannon Ruotolo is a highly accomplished HR leader with a 20- year career built on a passion for developing people and driving organizational impact. Her journey started by chance when, while working in retail, an HR leader invited her to join their team. This unexpected opportunity became the springboard for a career defined by progressive roles and diverse experiences.

Throughout her career, Shannon has served as a business partner, advocate, and coach to world-class talent within Fortune 100 companies. She has a proven track record of influencing change and building high-performing teams in a variety of work environments, including retail, manufacturing, e-commerce, and healthcare technology. Shannon’s influence spans multiple organizational levels, from frontline employees to C-Suite executives.

Currently serving as the Vice President of People Business Partners & Talent at ModMed, Shannon is dedicated to creating connected and efficient workplaces. Her philosophy is simple: it all starts with people. By appreciating individual differences, leveraging unique strengths, and designing effective work processes, she helps teams not only succeed but thrive.

Outside of work, you can find Shannon on the soccer field or basketball court with her two boys, Hudson (8) and Noah (6), or soaking up time with her whole family, including husband, Greg, and golden retriever, Bowser. She loves to stay active and will sneak in a HIIT workout whenever she can.

Liz Marzolf is Chief People Officer at Port Blakely, leading the company’s people strategy and overseeing employee experience, culture, organizational development and communications. She works closely with the board on executive compensation, succession planning, and governance, and brings more than two decades of leadership experience in talent strategy and organizational transformation.

Previously, Liz spent over a decade in senior roles at Starbucks, began her career in Accenture’s change management practice, and led educational reform efforts in public high schools. Liz serves on the board of Seattle Girls’ School (where she is a past chair) and on the advisory council of The Mountaineers, and holds a BA in Neuroscience from Mount Holyoke College, an MEd, and a PhD in educational leadership and organizational change from the University of Washington.

As the former Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer for South Jersey Industries (SJI), Shawn Abner-Purnell built human capital strategies to create a culture of inclusion and belonging for all, where employees felt comfortable bringing their whole selves to work each day.

Ms. Abner-Purnell joined SJI in 2016, advancing through various managerial roles within SJI’s Human Resources department before being appointed Director of Organizational Development and Diversity/Inclusion in 2018. Prior to being named Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Ms. Abner-Purnell served as Vice President, Diversity/Inclusion and Engagement, since 2021.

As Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Ms. Abner-Purnell oversaw the full scope of SJI’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, including career development programs, employee engagement initiatives, and talent management practices, to name a few. In addition, she collaborated with leaders to drive advocacy and adoption of business strategies that addressed talent, diversity and inclusion gaps in all areas of the company. She also drove the organizational capabilities of SJI’s workforce through talent development and culture transformation initiatives, and oversaw the Benefits, Compensation, DEIB, HR Operations, and Payroll departments.

Before joining SJI, Ms. Abner Purnell spent a majority of her career in the insurance industry, where she held leadership positions in organizational development and talent management. In these roles, she drove organizational performance through leadership and workforce development strategies.

An alumna of Morgan State University, Ms. Abner-Purnell earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. In addition, she holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development and Training from St. Joseph’s University. She currently sits on the board of the American Red Cross of Southern New Jersey.

Brynn Morrison Freeman is a strategic and innovative global HR leader with experience spanning roles such as Global HR Director at Alkegen, Global HRBP at Flowserve, HR Manager at ComEd and Innovation Consultant at gravitytank. With over a decade of HR experience, she has led transformative initiatives across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, supporting executive leaders through complex reorganizations, shaping global talent strategies and designing and delivering early career development programs such as Flowserve’s IGNITE. Brynn brings a blend of business practicality with a theoretical people-first foundation to her work, to consistently attract, develop, engage, retain and drive a high performing leadership team. She holds a Doctor of Psychology in Business Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Dance and is a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.

Sarah Martinez serves as Senior Vice President of People & Culture at Funko, Inc., having joined the company in January 2021.

With over two decades of experience in Human Resources, Ms. Martinez brings deep expertise across Talent Management, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Relations, Organizational Development, and Program Management. Since joining Funko, she has led a transformation of the People & Culture organization—introducing a formal compensation structure, expanded parental leave benefits, new learning and development programs, and a range of employee engagement initiatives. Her responsibilities have recently expanded to include oversight of the company’s Facilities and Security teams.

Prior to Funko, Ms. Martinez spent 20 years at Starbucks Coffee Company, where she helped lead several breakthrough people initiatives, including the Starbucks College Achievement Plan and the global expansion of Siren Retail.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial & Organizational Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Central Washington University.

Beverly Lucas Propst is a seasoned Board Member, Human Resources Executive, and Attorney with more than 20 years of experience specializing in talent management, employment, and labor issues. As Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Graybar Electric Company, Inc., she leads organizational change, fostering a dynamic and positive workplace culture recognized by honors such as Top Workplaces USA and 100 Most Loved Employers. Beverly serves on Graybar’s Board of Directors and sits on the advisory boards for two other corporations. Beyond these roles, Beverly is committed to her community through non-profit service with entities such as Midwest Health Initiative and the Humane Society of Missouri. She has been recognized as one of St. Louis’ Most Influential Business Women and “50 Women to Watch for Boards.

Marie Wardenski is the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at TAKKION, where she leads the enterprise-wide people strategy for one of the renewable energy sector’s most dynamic service providers. With more than 15 years of progressive HR leadership experience, Marie oversees all aspects of Human Resources, including talent acquisition, organizational development, leadership and succession planning, total rewards, learning and development, employee relations, and HR technology. As a member of the executive leadership team, she is a strategic partner in driving business growth, shaping culture, and positioning TAKKION as an employer of choice in a competitive industry.

Marie holds both an MBA and a B.S. in Business Management from Kutztown University. She is SHRM-SCP certified, an Insights Discovery Client Practitioner, and Korn Ferry 360 Certified in Leadership Assessment—credentials that highlight her expertise in elevating leadership effectiveness and fostering high-performing, engaged teams.

Throughout her career, Marie has designed and executed HR strategies that directly support business objectives, led organizations through complex transformations, and introduced innovative programs to strengthen employee engagement, retention, and performance. She is recognized for her ability to build leadership capability, enhance organizational agility, and create inclusive, people-focused workplaces that drive results.

Beyond her professional achievements, Marie is deeply committed to service and volunteerism, reflecting her belief in making a meaningful difference in both business and community.

Karthik Varatharaj is the Global VP and HR Business Partner for Product, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Beyond Yoga at Levi Strauss and Co. Prior to this, Karthik was the Chief Talent Officer at Levi Strauss &Co for over 2 years. In this role, Karthik was responsible for leading the company’s end-to-end talent agenda, including talent acquisition, learning and development, leadership, performance and succession management, and employee listening. Karthik has over 20 years of experience in People, Culture and Org Transformation at global brands such as Nike, Walmart, Deloitte, and Korn/Ferry. He is known as a thought leader and strong collaborator with the ability to establish relationships at all levels and geographies throughout organizations and cross-functionally.

Karthik has lived and worked all around the world including the UK, Middle East and India. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Madras University. He resides in Portland, Oregon with his husband, David, their 5 yr. old daughter Aliyya, and 1.5 yr. old son Ezra.

Lisa Bradley is a human resource leader with over 25 years of experience. Industries supported include financial services, retail, energy, advertising, academia, IT, performing arts, and Education. In her current role as Henry Ford College’s Executive Director of Human Resources, Lisa and her team provide full-service HR to the college’s faculty, staff, and student workers. Prior to joining Henry Ford College in 2023, Lisa led human resources at Mars Advertising Agency and Detroit Symphony Orchestra and facilitated leadership development programs at Center for Creative Leadership, where she was a member of the esteemed faculty.

Throughout her career, Lisa has provided consulting support to clients and led national teams responsible for employee training, leadership development, performance improvement and executive coaching. Her experience has prepared her to partner with senior level clients looking to thrive amid the chaos of organizational change; and support mid-level managers seeking techniques to manage stress, improve their work- life balance or prepare for the next level of leadership.

Lisa is also a lifelong learner. She holds a PhD and a Master of Arts in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University, a Master of Science in Education from Capella University, and graduate certificates in evidence-based coaching, human resource management and DEIA. Lisa is currently extending her doctoral research on African American women’s midlife adult development as a research fellow at Fielding’s Institute of Social Innovation.

Allan Akinradewo is a strategic and results-driven Vice President of Talent Acquisition with a proven track record of transforming hiring processes, enhancing employer brand, and driving workforce planning in the healthcare industry. With a deep understanding of talent market trends and a passion for building high-performing teams, Allan has successfully led large-scale talent acquisition initiatives that improve candidate experience, streamline hiring operations, and ensure the organization attracts top-tier professionals. A champion of data-driven decision-making, Allan leverages cutting-edge technology, employer branding strategies, and workforce analytics to optimize talent pipelines. Through innovative sourcing techniques and strategic partnerships, Allan has positioned his organization as an employer of choice, reducing time-to-fill, increasing retention, and strengthening overall workforce engagement. With a commitment to continuous improvement, Allan collaborates closely with executive leadership to align talent acquisition strategies with business goals, ensuring long-term growth and organizational success in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Nichole Riley is a dynamic Human Resources executive currently serving at Zelis as the VP, Senior P&C Business Partner. She drives strategic talent initiatives in support of the company’s aspirational growth objectives and bold transformation in the healthcare technology space. Nichole brings a fresh, non-traditional career path to HR leadership — one marked by innovation, agility, and a commitment to building high-performing teams.

Nichole started her career, way back when, as a Citigroup HR Management Associate (now Citi) who was ready to conquer the world and has climbed her way to CPO/CHRO with expertise in Financial Services, Ag Tech & Sustainability, and now, Healthcare Tech. She holds a Master’s in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Nichole’s passion and energy are unmatched. Hold on tight!

Ken Moses has been leading Cascade’s HR function since 2017.  A forward-thinking and performance-driven global strategi an hands-on Human Resources Executive. Proven trusted advisor, team builder, and results oriented leader. Driven to align the function to the business and achieve results and exceed expectations to ensure Cascade’s long-term and sustained success. Prior to Cascade, Ken was the CHRO for Penhall Co and prior to that, he spent 10 years as Sr Dir, Global HR for Quest Software which was acquired by Dell, for which he led the People integration efforts. Ken earned a Master’s of Science in Organizational Psychology from Cal State University at Long Beach.

Angela is the Chief Human Resources Officer for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the preeminent source for nonprofit professionals committed to the advancement of the common good. She previously served as the Senior Vice President, Talent & CHRO for Harvard Business Publishing, home of the Harvard Business Review.

Angela brings 30 years of both generalist and specialist Human Resources experience, having worked across consumer product goods, professional services, and high-tech as well as nonprofits. In addition to having served on the Alumni Board of Directors for Cornell University, she is a member of CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council, a body of CHROs dedicated to advancing the practice of HR; is a Strategic Board Advisor for several early-stage startups supporting the future of work; and serves as an advocate for the AAPI community for several nonprofits. Frequently found on the HR speaking circuit, her thought leadership has been featured in the Harvard Business Review and Fast Company.

Stephen Dwight, Ph.D. is the Chief Talent Officer at Takeda, a global pharmaceutical company. Steve has more than 25 years of experience in Talent Management. Prior to joining Takeda Steve held senior roles at Vertex, Novo Nordisk, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sunovian (formerly Sepracor) where he created award winning talent management teams. He also has consulting experience, working at Aon Management Consulting and the Hay Group early in his career. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and is an author of 16 peer-reviewed publications. His presentation and publication topics included: building integrated talent management, executive coaching, leadership development, succession, talent intelligence, employee engagement, fostering a coaching culture, and performance management.

With 25 years of experience in the petrochemical and refining industry, Kyle Pierce has built a distinguished career spanning engineering, strategy, consulting, and commercial leadership. Currently serving as the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Officer at LyondellBasell (LYB), Kyle is responsible for shaping and executing a global DEI strategy that fosters a culture of belonging, trust, and business excellence.

Kyle’s tenure at LYB has included pivotal roles in finance and strategy, where he served as a business consultant before advancing to Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Manager. In this role, he led transformative acquisitions and divestitures, including the acquisition of LYB’s India compounding businesses and the divestiture of key assets in France and Argentina—transactions that collectively generated over $500 million in value. He later transitioned to the refining sector, first as a Commercial Manager for feedstocks and then as Head of Crude Trading, where he played a strategic role in optimizing global supply chains.

As a business leader with a deep commitment to DEI, Kyle has been instrumental in integrating diversity and inclusion into core business strategies. Collaborating with global executives, People & Culture teams, and key stakeholders, he has successfully embedded DEI programs that drive workforce diversity, equitable opportunities, and inclusive leadership. His efforts in advancing DEI as a business imperative earned him the Outstanding Head of Diversity award from the Houston Business Journal in 2023.

Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, and a DEI certification, equipping him with the technical acumen, strategic insight, and leadership expertise to drive meaningful change.

Jeffery is a high-impact, results-focused executive with over two decades of global HR Business Partner expertise across the Technology, Health Care, and Public Utility industries. He excels at leading strategic human resources and employee relations practices.

Believing in the power of influence, Jeffery drives successful business outcomes by his commitment to people and organizations. His professional journey is marked by a robust combination of business acumen and results-driven HRBP experiences, all delivered with a practical, no-nonsense approach.

Jeffery’s investment in people has significantly contributed to the development and growth of numerous HR professionals into leadership roles. His goal is to continue cultivating talent, aspiring to be recognized as a Master Class people developer and role model for others.

Jeffery holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana. Originally from Chicago, Jeffery currently resides in Austin, Texas with his family.

Over her 25+ years in Human Resources, Laura has built and led teams across a variety of industries including healthcare IT, aerospace, transportation, financial services, and SaaS technology. Companies she has worked for include General Electric, Tesla, and GoDaddy. She has led the development and implementation of programs focused on leadership, performance management, organization design, culture, and engagement. She has successfully partnered and guided leaders from the C-suite on down, through cycles of growth and downturn.

Known for tapping into her empathy, Laura quickly builds trusting relationships with people at all levels in an organization. Often called “not your typical HR person”, she receives the most satisfaction when she is able to work with leaders and teams, bringing together her strategic thinking and her human-first approach, to guide them on a journey to realize their full potential. Laura loves engaging with and motivating leaders, employees, and organizations to move forward and achieve their goals. Currently, she is the CHRO for Woolpert (www.woolpert.com), a global leader in the architecture, engineering, and geospatial industry. She is also the Co-Founder of Wisdom HR Group (www.wisdomhrgroup.com) and serves as an Executive Consultant for their clients.

Laura has a master’s in Labor & Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from Michigan State University as well as a bachelor’s in Sociology and History from Purdue University. A nomad for most of her life, she now resides in Austin, TX with her husband and 2 children.

Bindu Garapaty is a passionate advocate for the human spirit, dedicating her career to helping people discover the intersection of happiness, human behavior and leadership. With a doctorate in clinical psychology and an entrepreneurial spirit, she brings the richness of those experiences into her role Chief People Officer at BetterHelp.

With over 25 years in leadership development, diversity and inclusion, education and women’s health, her career has spanned the healthcare, academic, biotech, tech, food tech and mental health industries, giving her a unique ability to connect patterns across disciplines and offer meaningful insights into culture and leadership.

Dr. Garapaty finds joy in building meaningful connections, giving back to her community and creating new experiences. She credits much of her inspiration to her two children, both student-athletes – one in Division I college athletics and one in high school.

STEVE PEMBERTON is a visionary senior human resources (HR) executive, human capital strategist, best-selling author, and ardent human rights champion. A passionate communicator and powerful presenter, Steve is also a sought-after motivational speaker who is widely appreciated for his ability to connect with a broad spectrum of audiences. His relentless mission to encourage others continues to provide a trusted compass for living, learning, and leading.

A distinct professional calling

From Monster.com to Walgreens, Steve has consistently served in HR leadership positions that have furthered his gift for seeking the greater good and creating engaged communities. He is the Founder and CEO The Lighthouse Academy, a leadership, coaching and HR consultancy. Prior to that he served as the Chief Human Resources Officer of Workhuman®, a technology company that delivers performance management and employee engagement solutions to corporations worldwide. Wherever he has been Steve has inspired organizations and companies to embrace more humanity and cultivate a higher purpose in the workplace. He is exceptionally skilled at creating inspiring, innovative work environments while recognizing and developing talent. His ‘human lighthouse’ approach has successfully created award-winning organizational cultures that create maximum performance.
Steve’s philosophy on human capital has been shaped by positions that delivered talent solutions to HR executives. As a result, he has observed how domestic and international organizations manage talent, particularly as the relationship between employer and employee has transformed in a world where a global pandemic changed how work is done. A highly sought-after voice on workplace trends, he presents at the most recognizable HR conferences in the world, is interviewed often by the business media on human capital matters, and consults with organizations across the world on their talent strategies.

A deeply personal journey

Beyond his professional achievements in the world of human resources, Steve is also widely known as the author of two critically acclaimed and best-selling books. His first effort, A Chance in the World, shares his extraordinary story of how he defied seemingly impossible odds as an orphan navigating the perils of the foster care system – all while trying to solve the mystery of his own identity. In 2018, the book was adapted into an independent film of the same name. A partnership with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt led to creating an integrated social-emotional learning curriculum based on the book, taught today in high schools throughout the United States.

Steve’s second book, The Lighthouse Effect: How Ordinary People Can Have an Extraordinary Impact in the World, offers practical encouragement for becoming a “human lighthouse” – turning personal pain into purposeful mission to help others, as he has done in his own life. This framework for living, learning, and leading continues to inspire across a multiplicity of sectors, from corporate America and the non-profit world to higher education. The power of his life story, and its many engaging insights, has led to numerous high-profile media appearances, including the Today show, CBS Evening News, Tamron Hall, and People magazine.

Steve’s personal and professional accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honors. A former candidate for the United States Senate, he received the prestigious Horizon Award from the U.S. Congress, presented to private sector individuals who have expanded opportunities for all Americans through their own contributions and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life. Steve is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achiever Award by the New England Opportunity Association. Winston-Salem State University, Providence College, and Boston College are among the institutions who awarded him an honorary doctorate.

With a steadfast commitment to people and community well-being, Steve gives abundantly of his time, talent, and convictions. His robust history of service includes membership on the boards of University & College Accountability Network, Loyola Academy, Boston College, The Wily Network, the Academy for Urban School Leadership, Boys Hope Girls Hope, and Disability:IN, the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. At every turn, Steve continues with his own “Lighthouse Effect” by fulfilling his mission for all to have “A Chance in the World.”

For over 25 years, Marybeth Gray has been dedicated to helping employers nationwide lower healthcare costs and enhance quality. Throughout her career, she has effectively reduced insurance costs and employer liability, thanks to her extensive knowledge of the insurance marketplace. Currently, she holds the position of Senior Vice President of Health and Welfare Benefits at Trion, a Marsh McLennan Agency, where she oversees comprehensive account management for her clients. With expertise in analyzing healthcare utilization data and cost trends, particularly in pharmacy for large, self-insured clients, Marybeth is a prominent thought leader at Marsh McLennan Agency, speaking at more than ten national conferences each year.

One of the key advantages she offers her clients is a unique insight into future cost drivers. She assists employers in grasping the potential financial impacts of pharmacogenomics, newly introduced specialty medications, and gene therapies. Her objective is to enhance the health of the population while reducing healthcare costs for both members and employers.

Before joining Marsh McLennan Agency, Marybeth served as a Vice President at AON Consulting and as a National Account Manager at Aetna, Inc. In these roles, she managed accounts from both financial and operational perspectives for clients with over 10,000 employees across various locations. She identified plan design opportunities for clients and tracked the ongoing financial impacts of these plans. During her tenure at Aetna, she was a member of the Aetna Presidents Roundtable Committee, facilitating communication between clients and the president’s office to propose changes aimed at enhancing Aetna’s operational procedures.

Marybeth was recognized by Women We Admire as one of the 2025 Top Women Leaders in Pennsylvania, as well as the Top 50 Women Leaders of Philadelphia. She was also honored as a top five finalist for the 2024 Advisor of the Year by BenefitsPRO. Her innovative and thought-provoking ideas have been featured in Morning Brew, and she has authored several articles for publications such as Manage HR Magazine and The Chief Navigators Magazine, Women of Distinction. In 2019, she received the Lifetime Achievement award from Marquis Who’s Who, which profiles influential leaders
shaping American society and impacting their respective industries.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Gerrit Spengler is known for his work as an expert in the fields of human resources, organization design, strategy & transformation, and general management. Gerrit has worked for 14 years within Volkswagen Group and presently serves as Chief Human Resources Officer for Volkswagen Group of America & Volkswagen North American Region. Over his career, his work has taken him across three countries (Germany, Russia, United States). Prior to his current role, he served as CEO and General Director for Volkswagen Group Russia. He has also held HR leadership positions at both Volkswagen Group Russia and Volkswagen AG. Before joining Volkswagen, he worked for BMW, Mercer, Oliver Wyman, and MAN Truck & Bus. Gerrit holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration – Organization & Strategy from Technische Universität Chemnitz and a M.S. in Business Administration from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

With a business focus on addressing some of the most complex diseases of our time, Amanda Poole leads a global People team working together to foster a highly engaged workforce and inspirational culture at BMS. Made up of Talent and Culture, Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Business Partners, Leadership Development, People Services and Inclusion & Diversity, the BMS People Organization is focused on business evolution, growth, development and wellbeing.

Recognizing that people are at the heart of corporate success, Amanda is committed to creating exceptional experiences for our colleagues as they define what’s possible for the future of science and the patients BMS serves.

Amanda has deep pharmaceutical industry experience having joined BMS in 2004 in a career that spans both international and domestic assignments across varied business functions. She brings expertise in global talent management, change management, recruitment, M&A, labor relations and executive coaching. She previously worked for Raytheon, where she was an inaugural member of their HR Leadership Development Program.

Amanda is deeply passionate about the future of the pharmaceutical and People/HR sectors. She is dedicated to harnessing the power of rapidly advancing technologies, including AI, to create cutting edge, yet simple, experiences.

Amanda has a BS degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The College of New Jersey. She serves as the executive sponsor of the Black Organization for Leadership and Development (BOLD) People and Business Resource Group at BMS and is a member of the Human Resources Policy Association (HRPA), Center for Executive Compensation.

She is an avid global traveler, enjoys playing tennis and spending family time with her husband and two teenage boys. At BMS, each colleague is asked “Who are you working for?” and keeps this person in mind each day as their purpose. Amanda works for her mom and brother-in-law.

Charlotte Taylor is the Vice President of People Experience Excellence at Google. In this role, Charlotte leads a global team responsible for end-to-end HR enablement. Her teams focus on delivering extraordinary experiences to employees, with a focus on transforming key operations and systems, enabling digital-first experiences, HR compliance, strategy execution, and more. Prior to joining People Operations, Charlotte held a variety of roles in Google’s Global Business Organization. Before joining Google, Charlotte was an Associate Partner with Monitor Group (now part of Deloitte). She lives in Seattle with her family. Her primary mode of transportation is bicycle and she is a reader of memoirs.

Karen Light has more than 20 years of experience as a senior HR executive responsible for People, Total Rewards, and Benefits Programs that drive talent retention and engagement, lead business transformations, and deploying solutions to decrease costs, reduce risk, and improve efficiency. At Walmart, she is responsible for supporting the well-being of more than 1.5 million associates.

Over the last several years, many organizations have taken a more direct and proactive role in fostering belonging and inclusion – not only internally, but also for the people they serve.

GE HealthCare recognizes the importance of embracing these values as a cornerstone of both our culture and business strategy, and in helping patients, who are the core focus of our mission of transforming healthcare for everyone.

As GE HealthCare’s first Chief DEI Officer, I was honored to design the company’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, built upon the understanding that a workforce that is diverse and inclusive of unique perspectives and people is crucial to representing the patients we hope to help.

Our goal is to create an environment where every colleague can thrive, contribute, and continue our legacy of invention and innovation.

By reimagining the talent ecosystem, we can address structural and behavioral barriers to help every colleague perform at their best, share a sense of belonging, and feel valued. These initiatives focus on inclusive hiring, equitable advancement, enhanced engagement with underrepresented groups, and efforts to retain our best talent by investing in partnerships and training that keep our colleagues engaged.

We are also focused on amplifying all voices to enable a culture where everyone is heard and feels like they belong. We’re strengthening our listening channels and broadening our decision-making processes to amplify and embrace more diverse perspectives, ones that help us consider new ideas, reach more patients, and unlock new levels of innovation. Through new colleague-focused groups, we are helping increase representation, engagement, and retention, and foster a sense of community.

Collaboration plays a critical role in broadening our impact, and we are maximizing partnerships and being intentional about who we align ourselves with as an organization. We are focusing on building relationships with diverse organizations and institutions that strengthen our talent pipeline and support workforce development.

Through diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences and an inclusive culture, we can bring forward new ideas that help us challenge the status quo. This is critical as we tackle another key element of our strategy, which is to advance health equity. We recognize that health disparities arise from social, economic, and environmental factors, such as poverty, discrimination, lack of healthcare access, and unhealthy living conditions. As a healthcare company, it is even more important that we foster a workforce that can successfully develop solutions that help enable equitable access to care.

Addressing the root causes of health disparities is essential to improve patient outcomes, particularly among disadvantaged or marginalized groups. Our ambition to create a world where healthcare has no limits reflects our responsibility to address the individual, societal, and environmental barriers that lead to health inequities. Collectively, we are focused on improving health equity associated with cardiology, oncology, and neurology so everyone receives higher standards of health, no matter where they live or what their economic or societal circumstances are. We’re also working to support a company-wide health equity strategy to create sustainable, positive impacts in the communities we serve.

Every member of our organization has a role to play in making GE HealthCare’s workplace more inclusive. By embracing a growth mindset and creating opportunities for every voice to be heard, we can collectively drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and engage meaningfully with our communities.

Liz joined Panasonic in 2019 with over 20 years of experience implementing high-value HR programs from organizational development, change management, workforce planning and mergers & acquisitions in global organizations – Toys R Us, Pearson and most recently NICE. As the Chief Human Resources (HR) Officer, Liz is responsible for leading the Company’s HR technology and employee experience strategy.

As the senior vice president and chief people officer of The Kroger Co., Tim leads all areas of HR and Labor Relations including Total Rewards, Labor Relations, Diversity, Business Unit Human Resources, People Operations, Training and Development, Talent Hiring, Retention and Engagement, Corporate Affairs, Associate Communications, Shared Services and Aviation.

Tim joined Kroger in 2010 as vice president of Talent Development. He was promoted to group vice president of Human Resources and Labor Relations in 2014 and was appointed as Chief People Officer in 2015. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2018. Prior to joining the company, he served in several HR leadership positions over 21 years at Procter & Gamble. Tim has an extensive global HR generalist background in leadership development, performance management, strategy development and employee communications and engagement.

Adrienne Trimble is the Senior Vice President and Global Chief Inclusion Officer at Visa, where she leads the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy across global markets. With a focus on fostering an inclusive culture that drives innovation and equity, Adrienne brings a wealth of experience in DEI leadership. Before joining Visa, she served as President and CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, advancing supplier diversity and economic inclusion for minority-owned businesses. Her career also includes significant leadership roles at General Electric and Toyota, where she shaped impactful DEI initiatives. Adrienne is a respected thought leader and advocate, dedicated to promoting inclusive practices that empower diverse talent and enhance corporate culture.

Michael Tuller is currently the SVP, Global Talent for PepsiCo.  In this role he is part of PepsiCo’s global HR Leadership team and responsible for setting the strategic agenda across all Talent Management practices including assessment, employee engagement, succession, people analytics and learning & development.

Most recently, Michael spent 9 years in PepsiCo in as an HRBP across four different roles. He most recently served as the VP HR, United Kingdom and Ireland where he was responsible to lead the HR agenda for the total business. He previously served in various HR Leadership roles in the PepsiCo Beverages North America. Before joining the Beverage organization, Michael was the Senior HR Director for several Global Functions leading HR efforts across several critical global transformations and helped build PepsiCo’s eCommerce business.

Michael began his PepsiCo career as part of the Enterprise Organizational Development group where he was responsible for leading several global leadership development and assessment programs.

Michael holds a B.A. in Psychology from Lafayette College as well as a Masters Degree and PhD in I/O Psychology from UConn.

Shannon Sisler is a business-minded, progressive leader with a successful track record building, directing and transforming people practices that enable high-level success for global corporations. She has significant experience leading large/diverse teams, serving as a Board/C-Suite advisor and creating comprehensive solutions throughout the employee lifecycle that drive outstanding business outcomes. Since 2017, Shannon has served as the Chief People Officer at Crocs, Inc. and has played a key role in the organization’s turnaround/growth, plus the addition of HEYDUDE.

Shannon earned her Executive MBA from the University of Denver (DU) and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, from the University of Colorado (CU) at Boulder. She is passionate about promoting education and advancing women/girls. Shannon served for seven years on the Girl Scouts of Colorado Board of Directors as the Vice Chair/Board Governance Chair. She currently serves on the University of Colorado (CU) Leeds Board of Alumni & Friends and the CU Center for Leadership Board of Advisors.

Shannon has received her NACD Directorship Certification, NACD Certificate in Cybersecurity through Carnegie Mellon University, and completed the Harvard Women on Boards program. She is qualified/interested in joining a public/private board with best fit on Compensation Committee or Nominating/Governance Committee.

With over two decades of experience in Total Rewards, Rodrigo Garcia has helped globally renowned organizations such as Kenvue, Diageo, Xerox, Reckitt Benckiser, and Cadbury Adams refine their approach to compensation and workforce programs. Having led Total Rewards initiatives across North America and Latin America while shaping global compensation governance, he offers a broad perspective on how organizations define and measure success.

He is passionate about rethinking conventional Total Rewards models, exploring whether compensation structures truly reflect the value people create and how they can evolve for greater impact. He believes reward practices should do more than follow market trends: they should shape behaviors, mindsets, and motivations that drive meaningful business outcomes. Advocating for a shift beyond efficiency and retention-focused models, he champions Total Rewards frameworks that align with how people experience their work.

Rodrigo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Venezuela, where he lived before moving to the United States nearly 20 years ago. An avid reader of societal trends and human behavior, he is also deeply interested in the intersection of technology and human potential, reflecting on how digital advancements continue to reshape our lives and work. A lifelong music enthusiast, he finds inspiration in discovering artists and genres, appreciating music as a powerful form of self-expression and connection, just as he is fascinated by what drives people, shapes their experiences, and creates a sense of purpose.

Daniela is responsible for driving business success through the design and execution of Siemens’ workforce strategy. A lifelong learner with a passion for people, sustainability and transformation, Daniela, in her most recent role as SVP, Head of Global Learning and Growth in Munich, Germany, helped reinvent learning and development experiences for Siemens employees across the globe.

Driven by her desire to foster a learning environment in the digital age, Daniela’s efforts have made Siemens a leader in learning and development, ensuring employees are equipped for the future. Her vision focuses on creating a transformative learning culture that empowers employees and strengthens Siemens’ competitive edge.

With a background in engineering and business administration, Daniela has ventured into various fields, including consulting, corporate strategy, and sustainability. Prior to joining Siemens in 2008, Daniela worked for Deutsche Telekom and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Originally from northern Germany, Daniela is based in Washington, D.C. with her husband, two sons and their family dog Mailo.

As the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the US, I lead the HR strategy and operations for over 17,000 associates across 14 states. I have over 20 years of experience in the Coca-Cola system, spanning sales, operations, and HR roles.

My core competencies include people management and development. strategic thinking, price package architecture, sales and operations. I am passionate about developing and empowering talent, fostering a culture of excellence and diversity, and delivering value to our customers and stakeholders. Some of my achievements include leading the HR integration of multiple acquisitions, creating and implementing a new performance management system, and winning the Top Women in Grocery award in 2016.

LaTanya Langley serves as the Chief People and Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Edgewell Personal Care, where she leads the Human Resources and Legal functions. In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing the company’s litigation and disputes, intellectual property, contracting, compliance program, and providing legal counsel relating to all regulatory, sales and marketing. As the head of the global HR function, she leads a strategic agenda that supports the company’s global employees by driving growth, building and developing capabilities, leading through change, nurturing culture, and delivering innovative people solutions.

LaTanya has a proven track record as a dynamic team leader and brings more than 20 years of experience and considerable depth in global consumer goods to Edgewell. Most recently, she served as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Compliance Officer of BIC® Corp. In that role, she led a team with global responsibility for legal strategy and execution, in addition to global transactions including complex litigation management, human resources/employee relations, crisis management, commercial transactions, compliance and corporate governance.

Prior to this, she held positions of increasing responsibility within the legal function at BIC®, both in the United States and internationally. Before joining BIC® in 2015, LaTanya held several legal positions at Diageo PLC, a global leader in beverage alcohol, including General Counsel, Guinness Ghana Breweries, and Director and Senior Counsel of Diageo North America. She began her career in private practice as an associate at Paul Hastings LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Shipman & Goodwin LLP, specializing in corporate law and business finance and restructuring.

LaTanya earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and Doctor of Laws from Trinity College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she currently serves as an adjunct professor.

Denise Abbott has served as Senior Vice President HR for FedEx Express Corporation since November 2021.

In this Business Partner role, Denise leads the HR strategy and service delivery for FedEx International and Airline Operations with a focus on talent, human capital management and enhancing the employee value proposition.

Denise has more than 30 years of employee relations experience working with corporate professionals in a variety of industries. She joined FedEx Ground in 2011 as a Senior Attorney in the Labor Law Group and held various roles within the company before becoming Vice President Human Resources at FedEx Ground in 2017. In 2020, Denise joined the FedEx Express team in Europe, expanding her role to include a global remit in 2023.

Denise earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She is the recipient of the prestigious FedEx Five Star Award.

Denise currently lives in Amsterdam with her husband David where she enjoys traveling the world and learning to speak Dutch.

Kevin J. Delaney is CEO and editor-in-chief of Charter, a leading future-of-work media and research company. He was previously a senior editor for The New York Times and The Information. Kevin co-founded Quartz and served as co-CEO and editor in chief from 2012 to 2019. Prior to Quartz, Kevin was a reporter at The Wall Street Journal for a decade, with that time split between Paris and San Francisco. He became managing editor of WSJ.com, where he led efforts that won journalism awards and helped greatly expand the Journal’s online readership. Early in his career, Kevin was a TV producer in Montreal. He is board chair at the Internews global journalism nonprofit, and has a degree in history from Yale University.

D Crum, Vice President, Total Rewards, AbbVie, is responsible for Executive Compensation, Compensation, Benefits, Well-Being, Talent Deployment and HR Operations for the company.

Previously, D was AbbVie’s Vice President, Business Human Resources (BHR) for Corporate Staff Functions, where he led HR for several functions, including Finance, Business Technology Solutions, Legal, Office of Ethics & Compliance, Corporate Responsibility Brand & Communications, Government Affairs and Health Economics & Outcomes Research.

Prior to joining AbbVie in 2017, D held several HR roles of increased responsibility and scope across manufacturing and corporate for Kraft Foods and Pepsi. He is passionate about delivering strategic and executional leadership in the areas of well-being, employee engagement, organization design, capability building, policy and process development, talent and performance management, and employee/labor relations.

D holds a bachelor’s degree in labor relations from Michigan State University.

Outside of work, D enjoys spending time with family, running, and watching/playing sports. He currently serves on the AbbVie Foundation Board of Directors, proudly supporting philanthropy, employee giving and volunteerism for the company.

Brooke Thomas is the Vice President of People, Equity, and Inclusion at
Seminole Hard Rock. She has worked in the People and Inclusion space
since 2011 and has over a decade of experience leading organizations
across the globe through transformative and sustainable inclusion
strategies.

A graduate of The Michael E. Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State
University, Brooke has been published in a variety of publications,
including the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice. Brooke started
her career as a civil rights attorney and has since worked with a wide
range of organizations, from tribal-owned entities in gaming and law firms
to non-profit organizations and the NHL. She was recently named part of
the Global Gaming Business 40 under 40 Class of 2024, and is the
founder of LGBTQ+ in Gaming under the American Gaming Association.

Outside of the office, Brooke enjoys spending time with her wife, Natalie,
and their dog, Kingston. She is an avid classical music fan and a
supporter of the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. When she isn’t at
work or the symphony, you can catch Brooke and Natalie sneaking off to
Natalie’s home country of Jamaica for a weekend on the beach, or
volunteering together for national LGBTQ advocacy organizations.

• Senior Fellow at Haslam School of Business, University of Tennessee
• Board Member for Two Companies
• Private Equity Senior Operating Executive for The Carlyle Group
• Retired EVP, Global Supply Chain, Mondelēz International
• Former EVP, Global Supply Chain, Kraft Foods
• Former Global VP, Product Supply, Procter & Gamble

Daniel Myers is currently a Senior Fellow at Haslam School of Business teaching as a guest lecturer for both graduate and under-graduate studies. He currently serves as a Senior Operating Executive for the Carlyle Group, one of the largest Global Private Equity firms and is on two company boards. He is the retired Executive Vice President of the Global Integrated Supply Chain of Mondelez International where he led the Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Customer Service & Logistics groups, which represent more than 70,000 of the company’s employees.  Daniel held the same position at Kraft Foods Inc., the predecessor to Mondelēz International, since he joined the company in September 2011.  The spin-off of the company’s North American grocery operations occurred in October of 2012.  Under his leadership, Mondelez funded a major reinvention of its worldwide supply chain delivering more than $3 billion in savings over 3 years. He has extensive experience in investor management including representing Mondelez in the investor presentations at CAGNY and Barclays.

Prior to Kraft Foods, Daniel worked for Procter & Gamble for 33 years, serving in roles across all areas of the Supply Chain. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Product Supply, where he led the supply chain function for P&G’s Global Hair Care business. He was also responsible for coordinating the company’s $28 Billion Beauty & Grooming business.  He had responsibility for P&G’s Customer Service and Logistics operations globally for four years and while in this role he led the integration of the operations of the Gillette company, a $56 Billion acquisition.

Daniel has strong experience launching new brands and building operations in emerging markets. He has over 25 years’ experience delivering winning innovation leading major global expansions. He has worked in 54 countries and lived outside the U.S. for more than 10 years. Daniel has mastery in the successful implementation of best practices including building High Performance Organizations and Lean Six Sigma. During his successful career, he has had responsibility for over 250 manufacturing plants and 400 warehouse and distribution centers.

Daniel received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and served on the Board of the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessee for over 10 years.

Daniel and Karen, his wife of 40 years, are Christians who have led music and youth groups for 5 churches in three different countries over a period of 25 years. They have been active in mission work helping support and build schools or orphanages in Venezuela, Romania, Nigeria, Kenya, India and Myanmar.

Larry Kleinman is executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Highmark Health and founder and board chair of Lumevity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Highmark Health.

Under Mr. Kleinman’s leadership, Highmark Health is on a journey to reimagine its work using digital tools, process improvements and agile approaches to streamline and automate work that is highly manual, repetitive, time consuming and introduces unnecessary error. Building a technology first mindset allows individuals to focus on more meaningful work, enables core business performance and ultimately impacts Highmark Health’s financial performance, customers, patients, members and communities.

Kristy Touchet is Vice President of Talent Operations at Advantage Capital, where she leads the firm’s talent strategy with a focus on human capital management, data-driven people analytics, and a forward-thinking approach to talent acquisition and retention. At Advantage Capital, Kristy has been instrumental in optimizing talent processes and implementing systems that align with the firm’s ambitious growth goals, while ensuring a strong, resilient organizational culture.

With close to two decades of HR leadership across various sectors, Kristy brings a strategic perspective shaped by broad employment law knowledge spanning nearly 40 U.S. states, international HR experience, and a proven ability to implement transformative initiatives. Notably, she has led successful revamps of compensation and performance management systems and was pivotal in implementing a modern Human Capital Management (HCM) system, supporting Advantage Capital’s commitment to operational excellence.

Kristy holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, along with a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. Beyond her corporate role, Kristy is an active contributor to the HR community, volunteering with the Louisiana Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Vermilion Charter Foundation, and Vermilion Economic Development Alliance to drive local development and advocate for impactful HR practices.

Outside of work, Kristy enjoys traveling and capturing moments through photography. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and two daughters.

Marquita Williams serves as the Executive Director of Organizational Learning & Development at AdventHealth. She is a published author and an adjunct allied health professor, with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She is a respected figure in the sonography community, having chaired the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography organization.

As a change leader, she is dedicated to fostering a more engaged organization, promoting a culture of lifelong learning, and encouraging an empowering mindset among employees. Her motivation lies in driving positive change and building strong partnerships with transformational leaders and organizations.

Barb Hess is an accomplished senior human resources executive with an impressive history of helping private equity-backed organizations build critical infrastructure, scale, and achieve successful exits. Her success in private equity environments is rooted in her ability to quickly diagnose situations, generate practical solutions, make thoughtful decisions, and drive consensus across executive teams/boards of directors.

Barb is currently Chief Human Resources Officer for CCS Medical and since 2021, has been an integral part in standing up the CCS Health business, growing company revenue, expanding headcount 20-30% YOY while doubling the patient base, and boosting talent retention by 30% in a highly competitive labor market. Prior to this, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer for private equity-backed Medical Specialties Distributors (MSD) where her leadership and talent/succession management expertise contributed to the company’s rapid growth ($350M to $800M in 2 years) and ultimate sale to McKesson.

Earlier in Barb’s career, she was Director of Organizational Development for Cardinal Health (Fortune 20), where she implemented enterprise-wide solutions that shaped global culture and sustained progress via gaining C-Suite support and skillful change management. Barb started her career with Nationwide Insurance as an HR Business Partner supporting 4.5K employees across the Financial Services and IT groups.

Barb earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management/Labor Relations from Cleveland State University and a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Capella University. Outside of work, she is active in the community with organizations such as Make-aWish (Executive Chair of Governance and Compensation Committee / Board Member for OH, KY, & IN) and The James Cancer Care Center fundraiser. Barb also enjoys having fun with friends and family, running, outdoor activities, and world travel.

Shari Slate is a transformative C-Suite executive known for pioneering strategies that unlock extraordinary value through purpose, people and technology. As Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at CVS Health, a Fortune 6 company, she spearheaded the strategic reimagining of organizational infrastructure, delivering an actionable framework to drive organizational purpose and transformation.

At Cisco, as Chief Inclusion and Collaboration Officer and SVP of Inclusive Future and Strategy, she created the first-ever Office of Inclusion and Collaboration (OIC), built on groundbreaking research demonstrating the business value possible from the convergence of Inclusion, Diversity, Collaboration, and Technology. She founded the $300M Inclusive Future Action Office, designed to ensure long-term accountability and demonstrate delivery on the company’s purpose promises. This office was responsible for creating, monitoring, measuring, and reporting on actions driving generational change. Her innovative programs, including the industry-first Multiplier Effect Pledge and Next Horizon People Strategy, systematically removed barriers to innovation and growth.

A sought-after thought leader and trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, Shari specializes in identifying value opportunities at the intersection of purpose, technology, and collaboration. Her expertise in building purpose-aligned strategies has transformed how companies approach talent development, stakeholder engagement, and business growth.

Recognized among the Top 5 Global Business Leaders to Follow by CIO Views Magazine, Shari serves on the Chief & Executive Leadership Council and previously contributed her expertise to the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council. Her proven track record of driving organizational transformation through purpose-aligned strategies has established her as a pioneering voice in modern business leadership.

Dr. Anthony C. Hood serves as Chief Access Officer for First Horizon Bank.

Dr. Hood’s tenure as a DEI executive has garnered a number of leadership awards including from Savoy Magazine, the American Marketing Association and the Birmingham Business Journal.

He previously served as the Director of Civic Innovation in the Office of the President at UAB as well as a Tenured Associate Professor of Management in the Collat School of Business at UAB.

An electrical engineer by training, Dr. Hood enjoyed a 10 year career with Bellsouth and AT&T supporting startup telecom companies in the firm’s wholesale division. He was honored with the Pinnacle Award, the company’s highest honor for productivity and leadership.

He left AT&T to pursue his PhD full time at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). Since completing his PhD, he has completed studies at the Harvard Business School, Stanford University and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Dr. Hood received his undergrad and MBA from UAB (Go Blazers!). In 2019, Dr. Hood was honored by the UAB Alumni Association with the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dr. Hood is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and serves on the boards of a number of organizations including Opportunity Alabama, the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. He is also the Immediate Past Board Chair of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, the largest affordable housing provider in the state.

With over 19 years of experience in Human Resources, William Guardado is a seasoned HR professional who has worked across a diverse range of industries, including financial services, healthcare construction, and most recent agriculture. His extensive expertise spans talent acquisition, employee engagement, compliance, organizational development, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

He takes a collaborative approach to compliance and risk management, working closely with executives and various organizational levels to implement policies and best practices that protect businesses while maintaining a positive workplace culture.

William’s strategic experience has helped businesses enhance workplace culture, streamline HR operations, and implement best practices that drive success. Passionate about people and leadership, he is dedicated to empowering professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to foster a thriving work environment.

Join William at this seminar to exchange valuable insights, practical strategies, and real-world experiences to help organizations navigate the ever-evolving landscape of human resources.

Chris Gootherts came from a career as a piano recording artist and talent agent into the world of Talent Acquisition in 1993 in the San Francisco bay area. Over the past 30 years Chris has held domestic and international TA roles at Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as C level roles in 4 external recruiting firms supporting Fortune 100 companies. Chris joined Selkirk Sport (We are Pickleball) in September of 2023 as Vice President of Talent. His current role has him leading Human Resources (People Operations) as well TA.

Chris’ vast experience has led him to the conclusion that too many companies preach “hiring on potential” but hire post-college candidates based on experience rather than potential. He is now working for a company that has the largest market share of the fastest growing sport in the US and that has the most innovative hiring philosophy Chris has ever experienced. In this role Chris is free to use both his creative (music) and business talents to propel Selkirk to hire and develop talent to their fullest potential in areas employees had not yet achieved, or even considered for their career path.

An accomplished entrepreneur in talent acquisition and technology, Terry continues to build on more than 25 years of experience in the recruiting industry with his latest endeavor, NXTThing. A recognized leader in the talent acquisition field, Terry has founded and grown several highly successful enterprise recruiting brands. He leverages his wealth of industry expertise and strategic vision to build successful businesses that increase opportunity for all.

Before founding NXTThing, Terry was President of ADP Talent Acquisition Solutions. He led 1,000 ADP associates globally to ensure ADP clients benefited from HCM services, including RPO, screening and selection, ADP Recruiting Technology, I-9 verification, and AIRS.

Previously, Terry had founded Selective Staffing Inc., which he sold to Aon in 1998, and in 2003, he founded The RightThing, which he sold to ADP in 2011. Terry received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of Findlay in 2005.

For Terry, life’s most rewarding when experienced through meaningful relationships. Terry is a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and a recognized industry speaker.

Terry enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and marlin fishing.

As the Vice President of HR Nicole is responsible for leading the strategic people initiatives with oversight of our talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, employee relations, learning and development, and diversity and culture. With experience in Pharma, Manufacturing, High Tech Software, Non Profit, Real Estate Management, and Retail/E-commerce Sectors she has a diverse background which has allowed her to utilize her out of the box thinking and stay away from a “one size fits all” mentality. She is driven to perfectly blend together our people’s needs with our corporate needs to create a successful organization where people are engaged and eager to be a part of. Outside of the office she spends time with her husband and three children. With a zest for life you’ll find her out and about trying to teach her children everything she can before they no longer want to listen to what she has to say.

With 25 years of experience in the petrochemical and refining industry, Kyle Pierce has built a distinguished career spanning engineering, strategy, consulting, and commercial leadership. Currently serving as the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Officer at LyondellBasell (LYB), Kyle is responsible for shaping and executing a global DEI strategy that fosters a culture of belonging, trust, and business excellence.

Kyle’s tenure at LYB has included pivotal roles in finance and strategy, where he served as a business consultant before advancing to Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Manager. In this role, he led transformative acquisitions and divestitures, including the acquisition of LYB’s India compounding businesses and the divestiture of key assets in France and Argentina—transactions that collectively generated over $500 million in value. He later transitioned to the refining sector, first as a Commercial Manager for feedstocks and then as Head of Crude Trading, where he played a strategic role in optimizing global supply chains.

As a business leader with a deep commitment to DEI, Kyle has been instrumental in integrating diversity and inclusion into core business strategies. Collaborating with global executives, People & Culture teams, and key stakeholders, he has successfully embedded DEI programs that drive workforce diversity, equitable opportunities, and inclusive leadership. His efforts in advancing DEI as a business imperative earned him the Outstanding Head of Diversity award from the Houston Business Journal in 2023.

Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, and a DEI certification, equipping him with the technical acumen, strategic insight, and leadership expertise to drive meaningful change.

With over 15 years of HR experience and multiple certifications, Heather is responsible for building a high-performing, people-first culture where talent thrives. With a focus on Assemble’s talent and culture, she leads initiatives that attract, develop, and retain top-tier team members while fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and continuous growth. As an HR leader, Heather is excited to be part of a company experiencing such dynamic growth while creating amazing opportunities for its employees.

April Floyd has spent the last 20 years leading high-impact programs and driving strategic change. As Executive Director of HR Strategic Initiatives & Senior Advisor to the CHRO at Johns Hopkins University, she’s focused on shaping the future of work through career architecture, talent management, HR transformation, and leadership development. A key priority for April is strengthening internal mobility, ensuring employees have clear pathways to grow and thrive within the organization.

Previously, as Senior Director of Benefits and Worklife, she led institution-wide benefits strategy, enhancing retirement plans, healthcare programs, and work-life initiatives for faculty, staff, and students. Before joining JHU, April held leadership roles at Under Armour, where she developed a global benefits strategy, and at TESSCO Technologies, XLHealth Corporation, and Fieldstone Mortgage Company, specializing in compensation, benefits, and HR service delivery.

Passionate about innovation and employee experience, April is dedicated to designing HR strategies that not only support business goals but also create meaningful career opportunities and a workplace where people can do their best work.

Alan Winters is the Chief People and Diversity Officer and Deputy Chief Global Compliance Officer. He is responsible for Global Human Resources, Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Ethics, and Global Compliance for the Group.  Alan has over 28 years in operations and compliance management with global Fortune 500 organizations and has held leadership roles at Citibank, Sprint, and Express Scripts before joining TP. He has extensive operational experience leading global teams in the Financial Services, Healthcare, and Telecommunications sectors.

Ken Moses has been leading Cascade’s HR function since 2017.  A forward-thinking and performance-driven global strategi an hands-on Human Resources Executive. Proven trusted advisor, team builder, and results oriented leader. Driven to align the function to the business and achieve results and exceed expectations to ensure Cascade’s long-term and sustained success. Prior to Cascade, Ken was the CHRO for Penhall Co and prior to that, he spent 10 years as Sr Dir, Global HR for Quest Software which was acquired by Dell, for which he led the People integration efforts. Ken earned a Master’s of Science in Organizational Psychology from Cal State University at Long Beach.

Laura joined Diageo as the Human Resources Director, Diageo Business Services in September 2017 and was appointed as the EVP for HR, North America in January 2020. She is a member of both the North America and Global HR leadership teams. Since coming to North America, Laura has also become the executive sponsor of Conectados whose goal is to celebrate Latino roots, build an inclusive future and create connected moments for the Latino community.

Laura has 25 years of experience in Human Resources and Transformation leadership roles within CPG organizations and business consulting.

Prior to Diageo she spent 6 years with SABMiller within the Organizational Effectiveness team in the Global HR function, where she led the organizational transformation for a number of global projects, including the establishment of a world class Global Procurement organization, the creation of the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Africa and the design and implementation of a Global HR Operating Model.

Laura started her career with Accenture where she spent 15 years, commencing in Johannesburg and then transferring to London, where she became a Partner in 2008. Within Accenture she developed and implemented a variety of transformation and organizational change programs for global and regional organizations in the oil & gas, retail and utilities sectors.

Laura is South African born but left SA in 1999 and has lived in both London and Switzerland since then. She is currently relocating to New York (commuting between London and NY between Jan – June 2020 until she can permanently relocate to NY with her family from July 2020).

Experienced Vice President Human Resources with a history of working in the retail industry within both public and private companies. Skilled in Developing, Implementing and Leading People Strategies that drive business results. Proven track record of success in Organizational Design, Recruiting, Strategic Workforce Planning, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Executive Development. Accomplished human resources executive with a BBA focused in Human Resource Management from Baruch College.

Heather Godley, SHRM-CP has a diverse work experience in various roles and industries. Heather is currently working as the Director of Human Resources at Stradley Ronon since December 2020. Prior to this, they served as the Human Resources Manager at the same company from April 2019 to the present. Heather also held the position of Regional Office Manager at Stradley Ronon from September 2015 to March 2019, where they managed paralegals and non-exempt staff, handled staffing and training needs, and oversaw facilities management.

Before joining Stradley Ronon, Heather worked as an Event Coordinator at The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur from March 2014 to September 2015. In this role, they organized and managed various fundraising events, recruited and supervised committee members, and handled event follow-up and coordination.

Earlier in their career, they worked at Fox Rothschild LLP in different positions. Heather served as a Marketing Coordinator from April 2013 to September 2013, and as an Administrative Coordinator from July 2005 to April 2013.

Heather Godley, SHRM-CP, attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2004, although their specific degree and field of study remain undisclosed. Prior to their university education, they completed their high school education at Great Valley High School from 1996 to 2000. In addition to their educational background, Heather Godley obtained their SHRM-CP certification from the SHRM institution in February 2021.

Rachel Stevens, an Ohio native, joined the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) in 2015. She serves as the Sr. Director of Human Resources (Executive VP), and during her tenure, the team has been recognized locally and nationally for strategic Human Resources initiatives including the internship program, training and development programs, and changing management leadership during the pandemic. She is a strategic and creative problem solver with expertise in organizational design, talent acquisition, employment branding and engagement, inclusion and belonging, culture shaping, and total rewards. Rachel leads with passion, heart, and a human-centric approach to driving business performance.

Prior to joining the IAA, she spent over 11 years with Republic Airways and PSA Airlines, where she served as an advisor to other senior leaders and executives on human resource strategic initiatives relating to human capital development and retention.

Stevens earned a business degree from Wright State University and holds professional certifications from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP) and the Human Resources Certification Institute (PHR). Ms. Stevens sits on the board of directors for Pass the Torch for Women, a career mentorship program, as well as the EmployIndy Workforce Development Board which aims to address systemic barriers preventing a strong pipeline of entry-level workers and employment opportunities in Central Indiana.

Marybeth Gray works with employers nationwide to reduce healthcare costs and enhance quality. As Senior Vice President of Health and Welfare Benefits at Trion, a Marsh McLennan Agency, she oversees account management for her clients. With a deep understanding of the insurance marketplace, Marybeth has successfully lowered insurance costs and employer liability. She analyzes healthcare utilization data and cost trends, focusing on pharmacy for large, self-insured clients. A key thought leader, she presents at over ten national conferences annually, helping employers navigate the cost implications of pharmacogenomics, specialty medications, and gene therapies, ultimately aiming to improve member health while reducing costs.

Vamsee Tirukkala is the Co-Founder & CCO of Draup, an AI Platform for Enterprise Intelligence. Passionate about Innovation & Technology, Vamsee has extensive experience in Launching Products, Market Development, Revenue generation and Customer successes.

Vamsee is also the co-founder of Zinnov (a leading research & advisory firm) and TalentNeuron (acquired by CEB a Gartner Company (NYSE:IT)). Prior to co-founding Draup, Zinnov and TalentNeuron, Vamsee held multiple positions at Centric Software.

Sam Shaddox is the General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at SeekOut. SeekOut’s new AI-driven platform is revolutionizing hiring by dramatically shortening timelines, significantly enhancing candidate quality, and reducing costs—giving organizations an unprecedented edge in talent acquisition.

With over a decade of experience advising technology companies—ranging from startups to Fortune 10 enterprises—Sam brings a wealth of expertise to the HR and talent acquisition space.  Sam began his legal career as a corporate associate at Perkins Coie, where he advised high-growth companies on complex corporate matters. He later transitioned in-house to provide hands-on legal guidance to rapidly scaling organizations, helping them navigate growth and innovation. At SeekOut, Sam plays a key role on the executive team, guiding the company’s approach to critical areas like privacy, compliance, and the responsible use of AI in talent management systems.

Sam ensures that SeekOut remains a trusted partner to HR professionals, empowering them to build more inclusive and effective workplaces while navigating the legal complexities of modern talent challenges.

Over the last decade, Somya has gleaned diverse HR consulting experience across Europe, Asia, and North America. She has specialized in employee engagement with Kenexa IBM and Qualtrics, organization development and change management with Deloitte UK, and leadership assessments with Aon and Talent Plus. Recently at Covetrus, a private equity venture, she established an I&D function to create a more equitable work environment through evidence-based thinking, focused listening, and iterative learning. Currently at SeekOut, Somya strategically leads AI-assisted, human-centric products that provide critical talent insights to organizations and prepare HR leaders for the future. With a Master’s degree in Organizational and Social Psychology from the London School of Economics, Somya considers herself a lifelong student of human behavior and how it may drive enhanced business outcomes when leveraged correctly.

Shane A. Yount is a nationally recognized thought leader, author, and President and CEO of Competitive Solutions, Inc. (CSI), an international Business Transformation consulting firm that pioneered the acclaimed organizational development system known as Process Based Leadership® – A business transformation methodology designed to create a sustainable culture of clarity, connectivity, and consistency through the use of Non-Negotiable Business Processes.

Since 1991 he has led the offices of CSI in becoming one of the nation’s most recognized Business Transformation consulting firms,  personally working with such organizations as Michelin, Genentech, Pfizer, Lockheed Martin, the Department of Defense, and many others.

Eric is the Chief People Officer at Sutherland. As a critical business partner to the CEO and the business leaders, Eric provides strategic guidance and drives operational excellence across all facets of the Global People Office and Global Business Solutions & Support. His focus is on organizational capabilities, readiness, and digital transformation of people operations, to bring additional value, speed and simplicity to the business. Eric has over 25 years of global business operations and leadership experience driving organizational strategy, change management, spec-based people operations, consulting, M&A, organizational transformation, service delivery and professional services. Eric’s responsibilities cover the breadth of customer and employee experience, talent acquisition, learning & organizational development, people operations and service delivery, rewards & recognition, HR innovation & technology solutions, business solutions & support as well as digital transformation.

Alicia Moody is a passionate, thoughtful and value driven HR leader with experience providing strategy and HR consultation to business leaders supporting initiatives that impact and enhance organizational culture and business results. She has efficaciously supported leaders with specific focuses on recruitment, employee relations, talent development, operations, organizational design and program management while serving on leadership teams for over 14 years.

In her current role as an HR Director, she now supports a leading Medical Device company and leads the HR function. She previously functioned as a Global HR Director for Commercial Process & Operations along with Legal, Sr. HR Manager primarily partnering with Global Field Service Engineering, HR Manager in drug product manufacturing supporting Quality, Engineering, Finance and EHS after completing an HR Leadership Development Program. Prior to completing her HR Leadership Development Program, Alicia served in various positions specializing in Recruitment, Program Management, Operations, Talent development, Strategy consultation and Deployment for the federal government, real estate, and education industries both within the United States and in China. Alicia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Georgia State University, Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Troy University and holds an Executive Juris Doctor from Purdue University Global.

Alicia passionately serves in her community, serving on multiple boards, as a mediator and advocate for inclusion in her local community, and on the steering committee of her current company Black Employee Network ERG.

As the Executive Vice President of Products and Revenue at Trusaic, Anuj is one of the company’s principal product strategists and oversees ongoing expansion efforts into global markets. His vast experience in customer service and data analytics has enabled him to develop a comprehensive Pay Equity software solution with the customer experience at its core.

He holds a Bachelors of Engineering degree in Computer Science, and a Masters of Science in Financial Engineering from Claremont Graduate University.

Ray Henry is the leader of Aon’s pay equity testing practice in North America. With a focus on helping companies identify and address discrepancies in employee compensation, Ray and his team employ advanced statistical tools akin to those utilized by regulators, attorneys, and court systems. This rigorous approach ensures that any gaps at the employee level are systematically identified and rectified. In addition to remediation, Ray’s team provides valuable guidance to clients on how to proactively prevent compensation inequities from occurring.

Mark Fordyce serves as the Digital Employee Experience Director of Workvivo dedicated to helping clients achieve their employee communications, engagement, and advocacy ambitions.  Having started his career in public relations for FleishmanHillard and Weber Shandwick, Mark transitioned to leading IT and consulting efforts at companies like McKesson Corporation to improve the overall employee experience.  The best part of working at Workvivo is to witness first-hand how clients manage to transform the way employees feel, getting to 80% or greater engagement.   That level of engagement turns employees into advocates, improves the execution of new or changing go-to-market strategies, helps attract and retain top talent for a competitive edge, and improves overall company culture.

Chris Braham focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling.  He represents employers in all stages of employment litigation, including in putative class action, single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits concerning claims for meal and rest period violations, failure to pay wages and bonuses, off-the-clock work, misclassification, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and misappropriation of trade secrets. Chris advocates for clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, including in proceedings before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Division of Labor Enforcement Standards and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Tony Torain is a partner in the Employment Group at McDermott Will & Emery. He provides strategic and trusted counsel to multinational corporations in labor and employment disputes, helping clients address and resolve critical issues efficiently and effectively. Recognized among the leading lawyers of his generation in labor and employment law, he has extensive experience representing companies across a range of industries. In his traditional labor practice, Tony is adept at defending major organizations in unfair labor practice trials and proceedings before NLRB, audits, strikes, union election campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, and strategic labor relations planning matters.

Stephanie Rose is Vice-President Client Relations at Bright Horizons Family Solutions, responsible for leading the EdAssist Client Relations Team including working with our largest and complex clients, as well as the largest Health Systems. Stephanie has been with Bright Horizons since 2006 with the acquisition of College Coach and has a background in caregiving supports as well as educational assistance with more than twenty-five years of client relations experience.

In her role as Vice-President of Client Relations, she has had the pleasure of strategically supporting the largest health systems and corporate accounts as they invest in their adult learners while offering caregiving supports and career pathways. Prior to leading the EdAssist Client Relations Team, Stephanie oversaw the Enterprise Client Services team at Bright Horizons working with such clients as Boeing, Disney, McDonalds and other Fortune 500 organizations. Stephanie brings extensive experience strategically managing highly complex organizations and fulfilling their strategic goals. Through her work with hundreds of BH client organizations, she gained a true appreciation for the impact of Bright Horizons on employees and their families.

Stephanie holds her undergraduate and graduate degree from Northeastern University. She is also the proud mother of her two adult children who both utilized our Bright Horizons centers and our College Coach benefit.

As a pioneer in the RPO industry for nearly 20 years, Jamie Minier is well-known for her steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to delighting clients, producing results, and inspiring employees and colleagues around her. Jamie’s current role as President ensures that her talent for operational excellence and service innovation is central to the NXTThing RPO offering.

Under her direction, NXTThing RPO has seen unprecedented revenue growth year over year, and expanded its footprint and reach to support organizations in multiple industries and of all sizes. Prior to joining NXTThing RPO, Jamie held senior leadership positions, serving as Chief Operating Officer at TheRightThing starting in 2004, and later as President of the organization through March 2011. Jamie also served as Vice President of Global Human Resources for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.

Lori Hensler’s career has always centered around education and positively impacting students. Tapped to steer Follett through this new phase of transformation, Lori sees a tremendous opportunity to make an impact by activating ideas and innovations to set in motion a new, more empowering higher education landscape.

As Chief People Officer, Lori serves as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to ensure operational excellence through organizational transformation and effectiveness, human capital management, DEIB, talent acquisition, leadership/workforce development, employee engagement, and rewards & recognition.

A strong proponent of team development, Lori sets high expectations and gains alignment based on collaboration and a shared mission. She holds crucial conversations, fostering an atmosphere open to addressing challenges while pushing for progress.

Upon joining Follet, Lori’s guidance was integral in steering the organization through a dramatic change while retaining focus and clarity around strategic priorities and rallying behind key hires. She also introduced greater transparency and gained alignment behind Follett’s reinvigorated business model.

Prior to joining the leadership team at Follett, Lori served as Head of Human Resources at Flinn Scientific, where she helmed organizational design/change and set the stage for growth. As SVP, Strategic HR Partnership for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Lori guided organizational transformation that included divesting their assessment division, acquiring Scholastic, and onboarding new c-level leaders and executive teams. During her tenure, the organization navigated ownership changes (public, private, and IPO) as well as structural transformations through multiple large and small acquisitions.

Lori holds a B.S. in Public Relations and Business Administration from Illinois State University.

David Bator thinks and writes about how work should work. David leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a strategic practice whose focus on Research, Community, and Advisory empowers global executives with tactical, practical approaches to changing how the world works. David is passionate about people, and has spent the last 20 years working closely and consultatively with HR, IT, and Communications leaders to build programs that position individuals, teams, and companies grow.

As a trusted voice for the O.C. Tanner Institute, Meghan Stettler specializes in knitting together key sentiments and perspectives to identify win-win strategies for workplace cultures throughout the world. An award-winning journalist, consultant, and speaker, Meghan has forged many diplomatic partnerships, interfacing with CEOs, ambassadors, and governors, and broken stories on news outlets like Al Jazeera, PBS SoCal, News 12 New York, and ABC Radio. She is a three-time recipient of HRD Magazine’s Global 100 Leader award, the definitive list of the leading people practitioners.

Meghan received an MA in specialized journalism from the University of Southern California and pursued advanced studies in global affairs through New York University. She was recently named International Person of the Year by World Trade Association of Utah.

Loren Hudson is Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Connectivity & Platforms for Comcast. In this role, Loren leads a shared effort to execute the company’s culture and human capital strategy that is reflective of and builds upon the Connectivity & Platform business goals. Loren serves as a key partner to the company’s leaders and the broader Human Resources organization, with an eye toward establishing inclusive leadership best practices and serving as a driver of employee training, career development, and education. Loren brings 20 years of Human Resources experience to this role. She joined Comcast and the cable industry in 2000 as Human Resources Generalist for the Charles County, Maryland location. Since then, she has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Vice President of Human Resources for the Comcast Beltway Region’s more than 3,000 employees across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.

Loren received her bachelor’s degree in labor relations and a Master of Labor Relations from Rutgers University. She recently completed Cornell University’s Diversity & Inclusion Program and earned her Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification. In addition to her work at Comcast, she is an active member of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and a graduate of WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, as well as a graduate of the Women’s Executive Leadership Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

Loren recently joined WICT Network’s Global Board of Directors. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia’s DEI Committee. She is also an active member of the Northern Virginia chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and the Ways & Means Committee Lead. She previously served on the boards for Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Loren is honored to have been named one of “the most influential multi-ethnic executives in the industry” by Cablefax’s Diversity List in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and recognized on Cablefax’s 2022, 2023 and 2024 Most Powerful Women in Media and Broadband lists.

Loren is the proud mother to three beautiful children and wife of a U.S. Veteran.

Kristen Rohrbaugh was named the executive director talent management & acquisition in February, 2025.  In this role, she’s responsible for how the organization attracts, assesses, selects, onboards and develops talent for both current needs and future growth.   Key areas of responsibility include talent acquisition, learning & development, talent segments, workforce trends & strategy,  and organizational development.

Most recently, Rohrbaugh served as the executive director human resources for Dealer Financial Services since November 2019.  In this role, she was responsible for two major business groups, Auto and Insurance, where she designed high-performing strategies and executable solutions to support organizational design, talent management, recruitment and selection, leadership development and employee engagement for a workforce of 5,000+ employees across US and Canada.  Rohrbaugh joined Ally in 2007 and has held a variety of roles with increasing levels of responsibility within the human resource function.

Prior to joining Ally, Rohrbaugh was the human resource leader at DHL Supply Chain (formally Exel), a Columbus, Ohio-based supply chain and logistics company operating in North America and Europe.  She was responsible for leading the human resource function at numerous facilities across Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio.  Her responsibilities included executive coaching, leadership development, labor and employee relations, and talent management.  Rohrbaugh started her Human Resources career at Meadowbrook Insurance Group.

Rohrbaugh earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Science degree in Management from Walsh College.

As the VP & Chief Diversity Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, I leverage my experiences in various aspects of organizational development, leadership development, and talent management to drive meaningful change and results. My mission is to foster a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging for all people at Boston Children’s, one of the world’s leading pediatric hospitals and research centers.

Rumbi Petrozzello is the Head of Strategy, Consulting at Seramount. Previously Rumbi was the principal of Rock Consulting and with Aon’s Cyber Solutions. At Aon, she directed the career-development arm of the company’s Women in Cyber program, also serving as a leader in the organization’s Asian and Pacific Islander employee resource group. Leveraging training on building racial equity, through Race Forward, Rumbi led Courageous Conversations on antiracism and racial equity and, as a certified facilitator, led sessions on activating allyship and leading inclusively. Rumbi is certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion though Cornell University.

A Past President of the New York State Society of CPAs, in 2021, Rumbi became the first woman of color elected to serve in that role in the organization’s 125-year history. In 2024, Rumbi joined the board of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), thus also joining the board of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). The Association is the world’s leading professional accounting associations, serving over 600,000 members.

Rumbi has been recognized and honored for her DEI work and has been on countless panels. She has also been interviewed by numerous news outlets such as The New York Times, New York Post, CBS, and The Rachel Maddow Show.

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, in Massachusetts, Rumbi received a BA in economics, and then went on to the University of South Africa, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting science. She is a certified public accountant, is certified in financial forensics, and is a certified fraud examiner. Rumbi and her husband live in Arverne, New York, where he surfs and she runs. She also loves reading, podcasts, all manner of sport, and traveling. Rumbi dreams of becoming a Double Dutch skipper one day.

Kate is a seasoned professional with over 14 years of leadership experience across Human Resources and People services in industry and as a management consultant. She has global exposure with work experience in India, Japan, China, and the UK including a multi-year secondment in Bengaluru, India.

Her primary focus is on improving the employee experience by managing talent, transforming culture, developing leaders, and streamlining end-to-end people processes. She has HR operations and strategy experience including recruitment, compensation, HR systems, organizational development, and talent management.

Kate is currently the Head of Talent Management and Employee Listening for North America at Kraft Heinz. Her work there focuses on identifying and developing Talent, understanding and improving the overall employee experience, and building the Kraft Heinz employer brand.

Rebecca has been at Eightfold for 4 years, starting in Customer Success where she helped build the team. She moved over to Marketing in 2024 and now is a Director of Talent-centered Transformation. Prior to Eightfold, she was in TA leadership for 20+ years in large retail, CPG, agri-business, and restaurant organizations. She is a connector, an ideator, a strategist, and a storyteller.

She understands leaders, practitioners, candidates, and vendors. She can see patterns and relationships where others see chaos, and can cut through confusion with a story or explanation that gives clarity, shows understanding, and puts people at ease. She partners with others to come up with thoughts/ideas for the art of the possible, creatively problem-solve, and inspire folks with a vision for the future – as well as suggest ways to make that future a reality.

Her interests include cycling, hiking, hockey, meeting people, traveling, off-roading, working with youth, writing & facilitating murder mysteries, food (and posting pictures of it on social media!), time with her family (husband and 3 adult kids), reading, and giving back to others.

Her top 5 CliftonStrengths are Activator, Strategic, Futuristic, Connectedness, and Includer. She grew up outside of Chicago, went to college in Seattle, spent many years in the Minneapolis area, and currently lives south of Phoenix. She is the President and Founder of the Arizona Talent Community – with the goal to foster deeper connections, share industry insights and create a collaborative space where talent professionals across Arizona can thrive together.

Ben Blackman is a Strategic Account Executive at Paradox with over a decade of experience in the HR/TA technology and advertising industries. After working for CareerBuilder and SmashFly, Ben joined Paradox in 2022 with a focus on helping organizations transform their candidate experience and back-end workflows through automation and conversational AI. In his current role, Ben helps prospective clients to evaluate Paradox’s suite of solutions, develops business cases, and addresses challenges related to the hiring process.