General Session

Tucker Bryant
Nationally Renowned Poet and Keynote Speaker
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Tucker Bryant is a nationally renowned poet and keynote speaker. After nurturing his craft at Stanford University, Tucker worked as a Product Marketing Manager at Google where he discovered that the tools used by poets to innovate through language and introspection can be leveraged to drive creative thinking and innovative leadership in a professional context. After spending nearly a decade in Silicon Valley, Tucker left Google to challenge leaders to unlock innovation using The Poet's Keys™. His performances, which have garnered millions of views online, have been featured by TEDx, The New York Times, and dozens of other organizations across the globe. He has had the privilege of sharing on stages alongside Mark Cuban, Bill Belichick, Gary Vaynerchuk, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Mel Robbins as well as founders and executives from scores of Fortune 500 companies.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 - 11:20am to 12:00pm
Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr.
New York Times Bestselling Author
Chair of Princeton’s Department of African American Studies
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One of the nation’s most prominent scholars, Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. is an author, political commentator, public intellectual and passionate educator who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and his most recent, the New York Times bestseller, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own, takes a wide look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges we face as a democracy. In his writing and speaking, Glaude is an American critic in the tradition of James Baldwin and Ralph Waldo Emerson, confronting history and bringing our nation’s complexities, vulnerabilities and hope into full view. Hope that is, in one of his favorite quotes from W.E.B. Du Bois, "not hopeless, but a bit unhopeful."

Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton. He is also on the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. He frequently appears in the media, as a columnist for TIME Magazine and as an MSNBC contributor on programs like Morning Joe and Deadline Whitehouse with Nicolle Wallace. He regularly appears on Meet the Press on Sundays. Glaude also hosts Princeton’s AAS podcast, a conversation around the field of African American Studies and the Black experience in the 21st century.

A highly accomplished and respected scholar of religion, Glaude is a former president of the American Academy of Religion. His books on religion and philosophy include An Uncommon Faith: A Pragmatic Approach to the Study of African American Religion, African American Religion: A Very Short Introduction, and Exodus! Religion, Race and Nation in Early 19th Century Black America, which was awarded the Modern Language Association’s William Sanders Scarborough Book Prize.

Some like to describe Glaude as the quintessential Morehouse man, having left his home in Moss Point, Mississippi at age 16 to begin studies at the HBCU and alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He holds a master’s degree in African American Studies from Temple University and a Ph.D. in Religion from Princeton University.

Glaude is known both for his inspiring oratory and ability to convene conversations that engage fellow citizens from all backgrounds — from young activists to corporate audiences looking for a fresh perspective on DEI. In 2011, he delivered Harvard’s DuBois lectures. His 2015 commencement remarks at Colgate University titled, "Turning Our Backs," was recognized by the New York Times as one of the best commencement speeches of the year.

Combining a scholar’s knowledge of history, a political commentator’s take on the latest events, and an activist’s passion for social justice, Glaude challenges all of us to examine our collective American conscience, "not to posit the greatness of America, but to establish the ground upon which to imagine the country anew."
 

SESSIONS:
Sunday, February 26, 2023 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning Author
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Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned presidential historian, public speaker and Pulitzer Prizewinning, New York Times #1 best-selling author. Since 2020 she has served as executive producer for the History Channel’s miniseries events Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, with more to come!

Her seventh book, Leadership in Turbulent Times, was published in September 2018 to critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. A culmination of Goodwin’s five-decade career of studying the American presidents focusing on Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson, the book provides an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field, and for all of us in our everyday lives.

Goodwin’s career as a presidential historian and author was inspired when as a 24-year-old graduate student at Harvard she was selected to join the White House Fellows, one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. Goodwin worked with Johnson in the White House and later assisted him in the writing of his memoirs.

She then wrote Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream, which became a national bestseller and achieved critical acclaim. It was re-released in 2019 with a new foreword highlighting LBJ’s accomplishments in domestic affairs that have stood the test of time.

Goodwin was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys was adapted into an award-winning five-part television miniseries. Her memoir Wait Till Next Year is the heartwarming story of growing up loving her family and baseball. Her sixth book, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism, won the Carnegie Medal and is being developed into a film. Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln served as the basis for Steven Spielberg’s hit film Lincoln and was awarded the prestigious Lincoln Prize, the inaugural Book Prize for American History, and the Lincoln Leadership Prize.

Well known for her appearances and commentary on television, Goodwin is frequently seen in documentaries including Ken Burns’ The History of Baseball and The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; and on news and cable networks, and shows including Meet The Press and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. She played herself as a teacher on The Simpsons and a historian on American Horror Story.

Goodwin graduated magna cum laude from Colby College. She earned a doctorate degree in Government from Harvard University, where she taught Government, including a course on the American Presidency. Among her many honors and awards, Goodwin was awarded the Charles Frankel Prize, the Sarah Josepha Hale Medal, the New England Book Award, as well as the Carl Sandburg Literary Award. Goodwin recently founded Pastimes Productions with Beth Laski to develop and produce film, television and digital projects.

Goodwin lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the first woman to enter the Boston Red Sox locker room in 1979, and is a devoted fan of the World Series-winning team.
SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Mike Aitken
Chief Membership Officer
SHRM
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Mike Aitken is Chief Membership Officer at SHRM, following 15 years of leading SHRM’s successful advocacy programs as Vice President of Government Affairs.

Mike is a leading authority on the issues important to the human resource profession and drives SHRM’s membership vision, ensuring excellent member experiences, and implementing the organization’s newly developed business strategy.

He applies his proven model of engagement to shape the future of work, workers and workplaces. He is an expert relationship-builder across diverse constituencies and stakeholders, always seeking out the “win-win” in every situation.

As a member of SHRM’s executive team, Mike also plays a key role in setting the strategic direction of the organization, offering important counsel on SHRM’s educational programs and professional development opportunities.

Prior to joining SHRM in 2003, he spent 14 years with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which represents more than 23,000 HR professionals at over 1,900 higher education institutions.

In 2015 and 2016, Mike served as an employer representative on the U.S. delegation to the International Labour Conference.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego.

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP
President and Chief Executive Officer
SHRM
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Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM. With nearly 325,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 235 million workers and families globally.

As a global leader on the future of employment, culture, and leadership, Mr. Taylor is a sought-after voice on all matters affecting work, workers, and the workplace. Recently named one of the “Most Influential People Shaping Public Policy” in our nation’s Capital by Washingtonian Magazine, Mr. Taylor is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors the weekly USA Today column, "Ask HR."

Mr. Taylor's career spans over 20 years as a lawyer, human resources executive, and CEO in both the not-for-profit and for-profit space. He has held senior and chief executive roles at IAC/Interactive Corp, Viacom's Paramount Pictures, Blockbuster Entertainment Group, the McGuireWoods law firm, and Compass Group USA. Most recently, Mr. Taylor was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

He is the author of the national bestseller, RESET: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval, which delivers a candid and forward-thinking vision for leaders to reimagine their company cultures in a time of global upheaval and presents data-driven strategies to make the necessary foundational reset of all things work. Immediately upon its release in September 2021, RESET was in the top three of the Wall Street Journal’s list of best-selling hardcover business books. All author proceeds benefit the SHRM Foundation, which is committed to empowering HR as a social force for change.

Mr. Taylor sits on several corporate boards, including as Lead Independent Director of XPO Logistics (NYSE: XPO) and as an Independent Director of Guild Education and Flores & Associates. In addition, he dedicates himself to non-profit organizations, serving as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami and as a Trustee of the United Way Worldwide. Mr. Taylor was appointed chairman of the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and as a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board during the Trump Administration.

The Women Business Collaborative (WBC) named Mr. Taylor as one of its 2023 Trailblazers in Gender Equity and Diversity for his work to achieve equal positions, pay, and power for all women in business. In 2020, he received the Distinguished Executive of the Year Award from the Academy of Management, and he was named 2021 ALA Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update.

He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources and is licensed to practice law in Florida, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.

SESSIONS:
Mike Aitken
Chief Membership Officer
SHRM
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Mike Aitken is Chief Membership Officer at SHRM, following 15 years of leading SHRM’s successful advocacy programs as Vice President of Government Affairs.

Mike is a leading authority on the issues important to the human resource profession and drives SHRM’s membership vision, ensuring excellent member experiences, and implementing the organization’s newly developed business strategy.

He applies his proven model of engagement to shape the future of work, workers and workplaces. He is an expert relationship-builder across diverse constituencies and stakeholders, always seeking out the “win-win” in every situation.

As a member of SHRM’s executive team, Mike also plays a key role in setting the strategic direction of the organization, offering important counsel on SHRM’s educational programs and professional development opportunities.

Prior to joining SHRM in 2003, he spent 14 years with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which represents more than 23,000 HR professionals at over 1,900 higher education institutions.

In 2015 and 2016, Mike served as an employer representative on the U.S. delegation to the International Labour Conference.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego.

SESSIONS:
Melissa Anderson, SHRM-CP
SHRM Board Chair, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer
Albemarle Corporation
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Melissa Anderson serves as SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer for Albemarle Corporation.  She is responsible for all facets of Human Resources, which includes leading the execution of the Human Resources strategic plan, partnering with Executive and Senior Leadership teams to establish and implement key HR initiatives, and achieving HR objectives and approaches with an emphasis on business partnerships, talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, inclusion and diversity programs, and HR operations.

Prior to joining Albemarle, Anderson served as executive vice president, administration and chief human resources officer for Duke Energy where she was responsible for human resources policy and strategy, talent management and diversity, employee and labor relations, total rewards strategies and programs, and delivery of business partner services. Her administrative responsibilities included the real estate, land services, aviation and support services organizations.

Melissa has over 30 years of experience in HR, including serving as vice president of human resources of global financing at IBM Corp. During her 17-year tenure with the Fortune 100 company, Anderson created and implemented talent strategies and led several successful cultural initiatives. She has also served as senior vice president of human resources and government relations for The Pantry Inc., from 2006 to 2010.


Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

A native of Boone, N.C., Anderson has a son and a daughter.

SESSIONS:
Betty Thompson
Chief People Officer
Booz Allen Hamilton
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Betty Thompson is Booz Allen Hamilton’s Chief People Officer. Ms. Thompson joined the firm in 2008, bringing more than 20 years of experience directing human capital strategy and human resource functions for large corporations. As the head of people services, Ms. Thompson ensures that the company has the best-in-class talent to solve their clients’ evolving needs. She is also instrumental in a creating a world-class employment experience for all staff. In addition to leading the day-to-day human resources functions, Ms. Thompson is a driving force behind the firm’s people strategy. Designed to enable key business imperatives, her people strategy focuses on workforce planning, talent management, critical skills and expertise, and employee engagement. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Thompson most recently served as Vice President of Human Resources for Fannie Mae. There she was responsible for all aspects of human resources management and operations. Ms. Thompson led company-wide organizational redesign and staffing efforts, as well as initiatives to improve productivity and reduce costs. She was also responsible for developing the company's people strategy to increase the performance, utilization, and engagement of Fannie Mae's workforce. Prior to her tenure at Fannie Mae, Ms. Thompson also held several human resource leadership roles with IBM, after holding key line positions in marketing and customer service operations. Ms. Thompson holds a master’s in human resources and personnel management from American University in Washington, DC.

SESSIONS:
Saturday, November 19, 2022 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Ruben Gonzalez
4-Decade Olympian, Business Author, Award-Winning Leadership Speaker
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The first person to ever compete in four Winter Olympics each in a different decade, Ruben Gonzalez takes people’s excuses away and inspires them to produce more than ever before. At 47, Ruben was the oldest luge competitor, who competed in the Vancouver Olympics. At 55, he became the oldest person to compete internationally in the sport of luge. Since 2002, Ruben’s spoken for over 100 Fortune 500 companies about commitment to excellence, overcoming challenges and taking bold action to create long-lasting success. Ruben’s inspiring message will help your team soar to a new level of performance.

SESSIONS:
Denise Graziano
CEO
Graziano Associates
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Denise Graziano is a strategic advisor and expert in organizational communication and change. She is a recognized authority, international speaker, best selling author and 3 decade advisor to the C-suite. Denise delivers insights across strategy, employee, customer and investor relationship issues. Over her 35 year career, 30 leading Graziano Associates, she has advised leaders of F100 to mid-market to Private Equity organizations. Throughout her career Denise has been studying what drives and motivates employees, customers and investors. Her experience has enabled her to accurately predict blind spots about team performance that can exponentially affect a company’s bottom line. She is regularly featured in the media and is best selling author of Talent is a Team Sport. She is CEO of Graziano Associates, a boutique consulting firm that solves today's talent, management and communication challenges. 

SESSIONS:
Eric M. Ellis
President and CEO
Integrity Development Corp
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Eric Ellis, President and CEO of Integrity Development Corp., is an award-winning entrepreneur, thought leader, author, and keynote speaker with over thirty years of experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

Named one of the Top 100 DEI Experts in the World by the Society for Human Resources Management and "Cincinnati's Diversity Fixer" by The Cincinnati Enquirer, Eric is an innovative thought leader who helps transform organizational cultures into people-centered workplaces that inspire employee engagement and a sense of belonging.

Eric is a singer/songwriter, and the author of Diversity Conversations. He hosts a weekly podcast named after his book, which can be found on Apple, Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.

 

SESSIONS:
Art Gloria
Divisional Director, West
SHRM
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Art Gloria is Divisional Director, West for SHRM. In his role, he is responsible for member acquisition and retention, leadership development for volunteer leaders, chapters, and state councils, and creating the value-added proposition for SHRM.

Art Gloria is an award-winning, experienced professional in human resources, finance, and general business management with a demonstrated history of working in the government, health care, and diverse private business industries. Gloria has a very rich background in volunteer leadership, having been in various board roles with local SHRM chapters and state council, including most recently serving as the chapter president of El Paso SHRM. In addition, he serves on various non-profit boards in his home state Texas.

Art holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Regents University London. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science.

SESSIONS:
April Simpkins, SHRM-CP
President
April Simpkins Enterprise, LLC
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April Simpkins is an HR professional with 30 years of executive-level Human Resources experience. She has worked with over 1,000 organiztions in 15 different industries helping to align people strategies with business goals. She is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer at Questco, a fast-growing national company that provides HR services to small and mid-sized companies.  April, an international keynote speaker has shared her knowledge and expertise on the topics of leadership, culture, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and mental health.

April, a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)®, has created diversity initiatives for numerous medium- and large-size organizations.  April is also a past Diversity Director For South Carolina SHRM. In 2020 April received the Unsung Hero Award from Greenville SHRM for her exemplary leadership in DEI.  She has also received awards and honors for her business acumen including The 2020 Women In Business Achievement Award from the Charlotte Business Journal and being named one of Charlotte's 50 Most Influential Women by Mecklenburg Times.

SESSIONS:
Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP
Divisional Director, East
SHRM
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Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP is divisional director, East for SHRM. In her role, she is responsible for member acquisition and retention, leadership development for volunteer leaders, chapters, and state councils, and creating the value-added proposition for SHRM.

Cheddie has more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in all aspects of human resources and training. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, M&As, and in starting and turning around businesses.

Prior to joining SHRM, she served as senior vice president of human resources for Interval Leisure Group, Inc. and its affiliated companies. The company was publicly traded on NASDAQ and the leading provider of vacation services with a global consumer membership base of nearly 2 million member families, more than 2,500 member resorts in over 75 countries worldwide, and has oversight for about 14,000 employees. 

Cheddie also served as senior vice president, people with PRC, as well as vice president, human resources, strategic planning, office services, and facilities for The Orvis Company, Inc. in Manchester, VT.

She earned her MBA from Upper Iowa University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.

Cheddie received the HR Award of Excellence, Hospitality in 2016 from South Florida Business & Wealth. Business Leader Magazine named Cheddie one of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire and in 2012 the National Diversity Council awarded her the Glass Ceiling Award.

She serves on the Board of Trustees for Upper Iowa University, Chairs the Human Capital Committee and is a member of the Governance and Advancement Committees, Chaired the Keiser Career College’s Advisory Board, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) from 2003-2008 and chaired SHRM’s governance and compensation committees. Cheddie has more than 35 years of SHRM volunteer leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels.  She also served on the Waldorf College Alumni Board from 2004 through 2008 and was the President of the Dallas HR Association in 2000 (one of the largest affiliated SHRM chapters). She resides in South FL.

SESSIONS:
Friday, November 18, 2022 - 8:30am to 9:30am
Ben Nemtin
Co-founder
The Buried Life
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Ben Nemtin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?” and a star of MTV’s highest rated show on iTunes and Amazon called “The Buried Life.” As the co-founder of The Buried Life movement, Ben’s message of radical possibility has been featured on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, FOX, and NBC News. President Obama called Ben and The Buried Life “inspiration for a new generation” and Oprah declared their mission “truly inspiring.” An acclaimed keynote speaker, Ben has headlined business conferences and Fortune 100 leadership teams around the world, garnering standing ovations from AIG, Anthem, Amazon, FedEx, Harvard, Microsoft, Verizon, and more. Ben is recognized as one of the World’s Top Organizational Culture Thought Leaders and was ranked 3rd Best Motivational Speaker in the world by Global Gurus in 2022.

In his first year of university, Ben was unexpectedly hit with a depression that forced him to drop out. In an attempt to feel more alive, he created the world’s greatest bucket list with his three best friends. They borrowed a rickety old RV and crisscrossed North America, achieving the unthinkable. And most importantly, every time they accomplished a dream, they helped a complete stranger cross something off their bucket list. From playing basketball with President Obama to having a beer with Prince Harry, from reuniting a father and son after seventeen years to surprising a young girl with a much-needed bionic arm—Ben’s bucket list quest has inspired millions to thrive personally and professionally.  

SESSIONS:
Mike Aitken
Chief Membership Officer
SHRM
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Mike Aitken is Chief Membership Officer at SHRM, following 15 years of leading SHRM’s successful advocacy programs as Vice President of Government Affairs.

Mike is a leading authority on the issues important to the human resource profession and drives SHRM’s membership vision, ensuring excellent member experiences, and implementing the organization’s newly developed business strategy.

He applies his proven model of engagement to shape the future of work, workers and workplaces. He is an expert relationship-builder across diverse constituencies and stakeholders, always seeking out the “win-win” in every situation.

As a member of SHRM’s executive team, Mike also plays a key role in setting the strategic direction of the organization, offering important counsel on SHRM’s educational programs and professional development opportunities.

Prior to joining SHRM in 2003, he spent 14 years with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which represents more than 23,000 HR professionals at over 1,900 higher education institutions.

In 2015 and 2016, Mike served as an employer representative on the U.S. delegation to the International Labour Conference.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego.

SESSIONS:
Wendi Safstrom
President
SHRM Foundation
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Wendi Safstrom is a senior non-profit leader committed to serving the public through philanthropic program management, cultivating strategic partnerships and managing and developing high performing teams. She has both association and nonprofit management experience including; national program development and administration, membership strategy, marketing and product development, grant management, development and donor stewardship, and leading cross functional teams. Safstrom currently serves as President for the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation (SHRM Foundation), where she leads the development and implementation of SHRM Foundation's programmatic, development, and marketing and communication strategies in support of SHRM Foundation's new mission and vision, creating growth plans and ensuring alignment with SHRM goals.  

Prior to assuming the role at SHRM Foundation, Safstrom served as Vice President at the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, where she led the development and implementation of their Foundation's most recent five-year strategic plan, and was responsible for all Foundation programming, including workforce development initiatives, scholarship and event management, community relations and engagement initiatives. The NRAEF's philanthropic programming supported a number of audiences including high school youth, veterans transitioning from service to civilian work and life, opportunity youth and incumbent workers. Of particular note, she led the implementation of the restaurant industry's premier high school career and technical education program, growing the program to over 2,000 public high schools, engaging over 150,000 students annually, nationwide. In 2016, she served as lead project director for the development of a $10 million contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to develop the hospitality industry's first apprenticeship program, and was instrumental in the Foundation's reorganization and relocation of operations from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C., transforming the staff and culture.  

Safstrom has also held human resource management roles with the Leo Burnett Company and Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. She has a BS in Business Administration from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and was recognized as a member of the 2014 "Power 20" by Restaurant Business Magazine as a leader in philanthropy within the restaurant industry.  

 

SESSIONS:
Melissa Anderson, SHRM-CP
SHRM Board Chair, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer
Albemarle Corporation
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Melissa Anderson serves as SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer for Albemarle Corporation.  She is responsible for all facets of Human Resources, which includes leading the execution of the Human Resources strategic plan, partnering with Executive and Senior Leadership teams to establish and implement key HR initiatives, and achieving HR objectives and approaches with an emphasis on business partnerships, talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, inclusion and diversity programs, and HR operations.

Prior to joining Albemarle, Anderson served as executive vice president, administration and chief human resources officer for Duke Energy where she was responsible for human resources policy and strategy, talent management and diversity, employee and labor relations, total rewards strategies and programs, and delivery of business partner services. Her administrative responsibilities included the real estate, land services, aviation and support services organizations.

Melissa has over 30 years of experience in HR, including serving as vice president of human resources of global financing at IBM Corp. During her 17-year tenure with the Fortune 100 company, Anderson created and implemented talent strategies and led several successful cultural initiatives. She has also served as senior vice president of human resources and government relations for The Pantry Inc., from 2006 to 2010.


Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

A native of Boone, N.C., Anderson has a son and a daughter.

SESSIONS:
Thursday, November 17, 2022 - 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Angela Kinsey
Award-winning Actress, Best-selling Author, Baker & Former Fake Accountant, Dunder Mifflin
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Angela Kinsey is best known for her portrayal of the feisty head of accounting, Angela Martin, on all nine seasons of The Office. She won a Daytime Emmy for her portrayal of Angela Martin in the webisodes The Office: The Accountants. She can also be seen in the Netflix original movies Tall Girl and Tall Girl 2 and the Netflix series Haters Back Off!, as well as in a lead role in the critically acclaimed Hulu Originals The Hotwives of Orlando and The Hotwives of Vegas. Currently, she writes, produces, and cohosts the Office Ladies podcast with Jenna Fischer. Angela is a New York Times Bestselling author of ‘The Office BFFs,’ co-written by Jenna Fischer. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, two tiny dogs, two big cats, and many hummingbird feeders.

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Nick Schacht, SHRM-SCP
Chief Commercial Officer
SHRM
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Nick Schacht is a highly experienced executive with more than three decades of experience in professional services, education,  and corporate learning and development.  He has a history of driving product innovation, growth and profitability and he has led organizations operating worldwide. 

Nick is Chief Commercial Officer for SHRM, the world’s largest HR professional society. Before joining SHRM, Nick was the founder and CEO of KnowCyber, a learning and development company focused on improving the cybersecurity-related skills of people in all types of organizations worldwide. Prior to KnowCyber, Nick was President and Chief Operating Officer for PetroSkills, a provider of training and development services to the worldwide petroleum industry.  Prior to that, he was CEO and President of Learning Tree International, a publicly traded provider of IT and management learning and development.  Nick was also the President of Global Learning Systems, a start-up focused on e-Learning and digital content.  He served in a variety of capacities at ESI International, culminating in his role as President when ESI was sold to the Institute for International Research (IIR) and then as Group President for the Americas for IIR.  He has been a Research Fellow at the Logistics Management Institute, and began his career as a U.S. Navy Supply Officer, on the headquarters staff of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. 

Nick graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy, and holds Master’s degrees in Administration from the University of Maryland University College, and Information Systems Technology from The George Washington University.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Angela Kinsey
Award-winning Actress, Best-selling Author, Baker & Former Fake Accountant, Dunder Mifflin
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Angela Kinsey is best known for her portrayal of the feisty head of accounting, Angela Martin, on all nine seasons of The Office. She won a Daytime Emmy for her portrayal of Angela Martin in the webisodes The Office: The Accountants. She can also be seen in the Netflix original movies Tall Girl and Tall Girl 2 and the Netflix series Haters Back Off!, as well as in a lead role in the critically acclaimed Hulu Originals The Hotwives of Orlando and The Hotwives of Vegas. Currently, she writes, produces, and cohosts the Office Ladies podcast with Jenna Fischer. Angela is a New York Times Bestselling author of ‘The Office BFFs,’ co-written by Jenna Fischer. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, two tiny dogs, two big cats, and many hummingbird feeders.

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Nick Schacht, SHRM-SCP
Chief Commercial Officer
SHRM
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Nick Schacht is a highly experienced executive with more than three decades of experience in professional services, education,  and corporate learning and development.  He has a history of driving product innovation, growth and profitability and he has led organizations operating worldwide. 

Nick is Chief Commercial Officer for SHRM, the world’s largest HR professional society. Before joining SHRM, Nick was the founder and CEO of KnowCyber, a learning and development company focused on improving the cybersecurity-related skills of people in all types of organizations worldwide. Prior to KnowCyber, Nick was President and Chief Operating Officer for PetroSkills, a provider of training and development services to the worldwide petroleum industry.  Prior to that, he was CEO and President of Learning Tree International, a publicly traded provider of IT and management learning and development.  Nick was also the President of Global Learning Systems, a start-up focused on e-Learning and digital content.  He served in a variety of capacities at ESI International, culminating in his role as President when ESI was sold to the Institute for International Research (IIR) and then as Group President for the Americas for IIR.  He has been a Research Fellow at the Logistics Management Institute, and began his career as a U.S. Navy Supply Officer, on the headquarters staff of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. 

Nick graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy, and holds Master’s degrees in Administration from the University of Maryland University College, and Information Systems Technology from The George Washington University.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 - 10:00am to 11:30am
Kudzi Chikumbu
Global Head of Creator Marketing
TikTok
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His name is Kudzi Chikumbu, but you may know him as Sir Candle Man. When he is not leading TikTok’s creator community, which counts 100 million Americans among its ranks, he unboxes, sniffs, and reviews scented candles under the alias. Chikumbu could have had a staider career; he formerly worked as an accountant and consultant at Deloitte. An internship with Hulu, the video streaming service, during his MBA years at Stanford changed that trajectory. Chikumbu joined TikTok through its (for now) Beijing-based parent ByteDance’s acquisition of Musical.ly, a lip-synching app, where he managed entertainment partnerships for two years. While ByteDance searches for suitors to take over TikTok before a U.S. ban takes effect (the White House is uncomfortable with its China ties), Chikumbu is making sure the app continues to make people tick—even beyond its core Gen Z fan base. There is no bigger social media sensation at the moment, and it’s Chikumbu’s job to keep the momentum going for longer than the typical viral star’s 15 seconds of fame. Oh, and in case you were wondering, his eminence’s current favorite jar of wicked wax is LAFCO’s Feu Du Bois, whose fragrances of sandalwood, leather, and frankincense are meant, the company says, “to evoke the mood and feeling of being in the ski house.”

He caught a documentary about the final season of Oprah Winfrey's talk show—Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes. That viewing sparked an interest in the world of television and production. "Seeing people in action, coming up with ideas, developing them and bring them to life, struck a mega chord, and I realized I, too, could take my ideas and transform them into creative initiatives," he says.

Such notions simmered as Chikumbu toiled through the first half of his 20s as an accountant. Ultimately, however, he followed his dream, ditching the world of finance for a career in digital media. Now 33, and based in the U.S. for the past seven years, he contributes to TikTok initiatives geared toward fostering inclusion and bolstering talent.

As 2021 began, Chikumbu helped hatch TikTok for Black Creatives. Developed with media company Macro, this three-month incubator program features forums, town halls and educational events designed to nurture emerging artists and musicians.

Other like-minded efforts include:

The #MakeBlackHistory Creator Summit, held in February 2020 in Los Angeles, with 100 Black creators attending a weekend of community building and workshops with luminaries such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Tyra Banks and Terry Crews, who spoke about goal setting, perseverance and career development.

#BlackVoices Live, a livestream series produced with Essence and hosted by Makayladid that just wrapped its second season, featuring guests such as John Legend, Bozoma Saint John and Alicia Keys.

#BlackTikTok, which provides a space for more than 400 Black creators to connect, share feedback and provide content strategy. The program includes webinars, discussions with the TikTok team and community building.

#MyPride, a celebration featuring the TikTok Trailblazers, 25 LGBTQ+ creators who define what it means to embrace self-pride.

Amplify Diverse Voices, consisting of in-app PSA videos and a mobile site that serves as a portal to showcase diverse creators and highlight educational resources.

Chikumbu was recently honored by ADCOLOR, which advocates for diversity across creative and tech, as its top innovator for 2020. That distinction recognizes "an employee who embodies progress and imagination," and who consistently "stands out among peers as an inclusion game changer and brilliant pioneer in their role, creating breakthrough developments and/or improvements, whether tangible or intangible."

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Tina Beaty
Chief Brand & Marketing Officer
SHRM
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Tina Beaty changes the way people think, feel and believe. Using an integrated communications strategy, based on research and audience insights, she deploys omni-channel campaigns to change behaviors in pursuit of better workplaces for a better world. 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - 8:45am to 10:00am