Whitney Warner, SPHR is a Partner with the labor and employment law firm of Moody & Warner, P.C. Her practice includes representation of both employers and employees. Ms. Warner was named one of the Best of the Bar 2010 by New Mexico Business Weekly. She was awarded the 2009 Professional Excellence Award by SHRM of NM, the state’s top honor in the HR field. Ms. Warner and the firm are recognized by “Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” as leaders in employment law in New Mexico. She has been recognized in "Southwest Super Lawyers," a listing of the top 5% of lawyers based on peer nominations. She has been active volunteer leader in local, state and national SHRM activities.

For over 20 years, Allison West has used her employment law background in delivering customized workplace training, conducting investigations, coaching executives/managers, serving as an expert witness, and specializing in conflict resolution and facilitated discussions to create more collaborative work environments. 

Allison is a top-rated speaker at the SHRM Annual Conference as well as other HR/diversity conferences, and is a national expert on harassment, discrimination and investigations. She has appeared on PBS, CBS This Morning and in O Magazine discussing workplace harassment issues. 

She is a member of the State Bar of California and holds her SHRM-SCP certification and AWI-CH (investigation) certificate.

Matthew Effland is the Vice President – Employment Counsel for KAR Auction Services, Inc.  KAR is a provider of vehicle auction services in North America, facilitating the used vehicle marketplace by providing auction services for sellers of used, or whole car, vehicles and salvage vehicles through its auction locations and multiple internet venues. The Company has a network of 65 whole car auction locations and 164 salvage auction locations, as well as offering a variety of online and financing services.  In his role, Matt provides guidance and support to KAR’s Human Resources department, drawing on his 14 years of management-side private practice.  Matt is licensed in both California and Indiana, and is the author of the recently-published SHRM Book ”The Perils and Pitfalls of California Employment Law: A Guide for HR Professionals.”

Based in New York, N.Y.

Kevin Sweeney is a combat veteran having flown missions in both Viet Nam and Desert Storm. He spent 23 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Kevin is the only pilot to have landed a plane successfully with the 2 engines ripped off the left wing during a night combat mission in Desert Storm. Recognized for providing, “the finest piece of airmanship to have occurred during the entire Gulf War,” by General Charles Horner, top commander of Allied Air Forces during the Gulf War, Kevin is also the recipient of the United States Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, a medal awarded to fewer than 1% of pilots. Featured in Reader's Digest and on the A&E channel, Kevin is also the author of 2 books, has held executive positions in sales and operations for a Fortune 50 corporation and serves as a university adjunct professor.

Rubens Pessanha, GPHR, PMP, MBA, is global market researcher at the HR Certification Institute and a doctoral candidate in Human Resources Development at The George Washington University. Since 1998, he has been involved with internationalization of organizations; more specifically he has conducted the start-up of French organizations in Brazil. He has also participated in the start up of several internet companies in Brazil and of a new management journal for the South Asia Region. Rubens has almost 15 years of experience working with strategic planning, marketing research, business development, organizational development and change. He has been a speaker at the 2011 SHRM Annual Conference, 2010 ASTD International Conference, the 2009 Academy of Human Resource Development International Conference and the 2009 Academy of Management Annual Meeting. His areas of interest include internationalization of organizations, marketing research, cross-cultural communication, global mindsets, strategic thinking, self-directed-learning and action learning. Rubens has written several research articles on HR trends for SHRM and co-authored a paper on experiences that develop strategic thinking skills. An active volunteer, Rubens has held leadership positions at GWU student association, COPPEAD former Master students association and the Rio de Janeiro Chapter of the Brazilian HR Association. Rubens is currently a member of the Project Management Institute, SHRM, American Marketing Association and Marketing Research Association.

Executive Vice President Lisa Buckingham is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Lincoln Financial Group, responsible for all Human Resources practices and policies for the organization. She is also responsible for overseeing the corporation’s Brand & Enterprise Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility activities. She reports to the President and Chief Executive Officer, Dennis R. Glass.

She has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of human resources management. Her professional areas of focus include organizational development, total rewards strategies, change management and talent management. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management, Human Resources Policy Association and Human Resources 50, and was named to Profiles in Diversity Journal's "Women Worth Watching" in October 2011. She serves on the boards of the Eagles Youth Partnership and the Lincoln Foundation.

Buckingham resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and her son.

An Orlando, Florida native, Elizabeth Dixon graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Exercise Science.  After completing an undergraduate internship at Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas, she was hired in 2004 to create a wellness program for the Chick-fil-A Corporate Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.  Since 2004 Chick-fil-A has been recognized annually as the Most Fit Company in Atlanta. 

In 2008 she created the Atlanta Challenge with nine major Atlanta companies engaged in a wellness competition.  Successful results provided the impetus to launch the U.S. City Challenge, providing the opportunity for major corporations across the U.S. to compete within their own cities.