Carita Ducre is a Managing Partner at Insight Strategies, Inc. For 15 years, she has worked with employees and leaders alike on simplifying workplace communication. Carita’s dynamic presentations and customized training sessions are energetic and interactive, providing tools that can immediately improve communication at work—and even at home! An accomplished writer, Carita has written more than 250 business-related communications, including writing for the C-Suite.

She holds a BA in English from the University of Notre Dame and an e-Learning Instructional Design certificate from the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

Carita also provides one-on-one coaching to achieve effective business results.

As a “Recovering HR Manager" Richard Fagerlin, has led Peak Solutions, a leadership development firm for the last 20 years.

Born out of the simple idea that we should love what we do and who we do it with, Peak Solutions is dedicated to helping build wise leaders, strong teams & healthy cultures & has served countless organizations in over 50 countries worldwide. Richard is also a leading authority on the topic of Trust and is the author of Trustology: The Art and Science of Leading High Trust Teams.

Richard is from Fort Collins, Colorado where he enjoys an active lifestyle following the interests and passions of his four boys and making memories and enjoying experiences every step of the way.

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As a “Recovering HR Manager" Richard Fagerlin, has led Peak Solutions, a leadership development firm for the last 20 years.

Born out of the simple idea that we should love what we do and who we do it with, Peak Solutions is dedicated to helping build wise leaders, strong teams & healthy cultures & has served countless organizations in over 50 countries worldwide. Richard is also a leading authority on the topic of Trust and is the author of Trustology: The Art and Science of Leading High Trust Teams.

Richard is from Fort Collins, Colorado where he enjoys an active lifestyle following the interests and passions of his four boys and making memories and enjoying experiences every step of the way.

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Heather Christie is a Certified Executive & Leadership Coach, Professional Speaker and "Recovering Attorney". She has consulted with hundreds of companies and addressed thousands of people in her talks and workshops over the last 12 years.  Prior to founding her Leadership Coaching firm, Evolve Global, Heather was Partner in a prominent Chicago law firm where she practiced as an international lobbyist. She co-authored the book “Bootstrap Business”. Heather has been recognized nationally and globally as a leader in the executive coaching industry. She is President-Elect of the National Speakers Association South Florida Chapter. You can find her at www.HeatherChristie.com.

Heather Christie is a Certified Executive & Leadership Coach, Professional Speaker and "Recovering Attorney". She has consulted with hundreds of companies and addressed thousands of people in her talks and workshops over the last 12 years.  Prior to founding her Leadership Coaching firm, Evolve Global, Heather was Partner in a prominent Chicago law firm where she practiced as an international lobbyist. She co-authored the book “Bootstrap Business”. Heather has been recognized nationally and globally as a leader in the executive coaching industry. She is President-Elect of the National Speakers Association South Florida Chapter. You can find her at www.HeatherChristie.com.

Michelle Tillis Lederman is known for her energetic, engaging, and authentic presentations. An expert on workplace communications and relationships, Michelle’s mission is to help people communicate and lead with confidence, clarity, and connection. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer, coach, and author of two books including The 11 Laws of Likability and Heroes Get Hired and recently named by Forbes as one of the 25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch in 2015. She recently opened her signature live program, The Relationship Driven Leader, to the public. After a decade in finance, Michelle was frustrated by the lack of effective communication and support within organizations especially as she became a people manager. She founded Executive Essentials, a training company that provides communications and leadership programs, as well as executive coaching services, to enable others to succeed professionally where she struggled. A former NYU professor, financial executive, and recovering CPA, Michelle teaches from experience and shares what she learned during her extensive career.

Michelle Tillis Lederman is known for her energetic, engaging, and authentic presentations. An expert on workplace communications and relationships, Michelle’s mission is to help people communicate and lead with confidence, clarity, and connection. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer, coach, and author of two books including The 11 Laws of Likability and Heroes Get Hired and recently named by Forbes as one of the 25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch in 2015. She recently opened her signature live program, The Relationship Driven Leader, to the public. After a decade in finance, Michelle was frustrated by the lack of effective communication and support within organizations especially as she became a people manager. She founded Executive Essentials, a training company that provides communications and leadership programs, as well as executive coaching services, to enable others to succeed professionally where she struggled. A former NYU professor, financial executive, and recovering CPA, Michelle teaches from experience and shares what she learned during her extensive career.

Jeff began his career at Leo Burnett in Chicago where he became the youngest VP Account Director in the agency’s history, earning seven of the American Marketing Association’s EFFIE Awards for superior business results.  Before joining JB Training Solutions, Jeff was the Marketing and Creative Director for the Houston Rockets and Vice President of Marketing for Four Hands Imports, which was featured on Inc’s 500 Fastest Growing Company List three times. Currently, Jeff consults on business skills, sales, and marketing for companies in multiple industries including Marriott, Phillips 66, Leo Burnett, and the Major League Baseball Network. When Jeff isn’t traveling or training, he is spearheading content development and enhancement to keep JB programs at the peak of innovation.

Jeff began his career at Leo Burnett in Chicago where he became the youngest VP Account Director in the agency’s history, earning seven of the American Marketing Association’s EFFIE Awards for superior business results.  Before joining JB Training Solutions, Jeff was the Marketing and Creative Director for the Houston Rockets and Vice President of Marketing for Four Hands Imports, which was featured on Inc’s 500 Fastest Growing Company List three times. Currently, Jeff consults on business skills, sales, and marketing for companies in multiple industries including Marriott, Phillips 66, Leo Burnett, and the Major League Baseball Network. When Jeff isn’t traveling or training, he is spearheading content development and enhancement to keep JB programs at the peak of innovation.

Mike Aitken has worked at SHRM since 2003 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. Prior to joining SHRM, he served for 14 years as associate director for Governmental and External Relations at the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). Previously, Aitken worked on state public policy issues at Bonner & Associates, a public affairs firm in Washington, DC. Currently, he is based in Alexandria, VA.

Thomas M. Darrow is the Founder and Principal of Talent Connections, LLC.  Since 1999, the Atlanta based professional services firm has specialized in recruiting—including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, HR consulting, and contract recruiting.  

In March, 2009, Tom teamed with nationally recognized recruiting and career transition experts to launch Career Spa, LLC.  The career transition company is revolutionizing the way unemployed and misemployed workers are equipped to assess and proactively manage their career transitions.

Tom has over 27 years’ experience in the Human Resources and Recruitment profession -- including 9 years with the global professional services firms of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).   

He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Atlanta Chapter (SHRM-Atlanta).  In 2015 he received the SHRM-Atlanta Lifetime Achievement Award and was named the HR Leader of the Year by the SHRM Georgia State Council.  At the National level, he is Chair of the SHRM Foundation Board of Directors and served on the SHRM Staffing Management Special Expertise Panel from 2005-2008, and on the Cost per Hire (CPH) Standard Taskforce. He was the 2006/2007 President of SHRM-Atlanta, the largest city Chapter in the country out of 600 Chapters and served on the Board of Directors from 2005-2008.  Under his leadership as President, SHRM-Atlanta’s membership increased 60% to over 2600 members and the Chapter launched two programs that won a 2007 SHRM Pinnacle Award for membership growth and a 2008 SHRM Pinnacle Award for the Mayor’s Youth Program.  He is the Founder and former Chair of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Recruiting Society and has served on the TAG Board of Directors from 2005 through 2009.  From 2005 through 2007, he was the Inaugural President of the TAG Leadership Council and served on the Executive Committee of the TAG Board.  

Cindy offers over twenty-five (25) years of valuable recruitment experience in a variety of management roles and industries, including staffing agency, corporate recruiting, classified newspaper advertising, digital advertising, employer branding agency, and eleven (11) years of building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with the executives of Monster’s global ad agency partners, significantly growing Monster’s agency practice.  Cindy has served on the Newspaper Association of America’s Recruitment Board; was the Arizona SHRM Staffing President for four (4) years; won SHRM's Host award for outstanding leadership; and served on the Southern California Staffing Management Association Board.  She has presented at numerous conferences and industry association events, including AZ SHRM, Southern California SHRM, Southern California Association of Health Care Recruiters, TAtech (fka IAEWS), ERE and Recruiting Trends.  She has published articles and a training video on recruitment best practices.   In the early 90’s, Cindy was with one of the first newspapers in the country to put employment ads on the web, which earned an Advertising Excellence award.  She was elected to serve two (2) terms on the Board of Governors for the International Association of Employment Web Sites (IAEWS). Today, at Hodes, Cindy works with enterprise employers to create measurable value by redefining how brands connect to talent.