Business Acumen

Susan R. Meisinger, SPHR, JD, is a columnist for HRExecutive Online, consultant and speaker on HR leadership issues. She retired as President and CEO of SHRM, where she had worked for more than 20 years. Meisinger is a Fellow and board member of the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR), an organization that recognizes individuals and institutions for outstanding professional achievement and contributions to the HR field and serves as a public member of the board of directors of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. She also serves on the advisory boards of the Kronos Workforce Institute and the Association of Executive Search Consultants.

Shane A. Yount is a nationally recognized thought leader, author, and President 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.

Mary Ann Downey, Principle and Co-Founder of HR Metrics Coach, and known as “Mad” to friends and colleagues, founded HR Metrics Coach because (she thinks) she knows what she should do when she “grows-up”. 

Mad has always been a renaissance woman, and is more interested in the connections between disciplines rather than specializing in a specific subject. Her non-traditional professional path and keen problem-solving aptitude make her uniquely qualified to help organizations maximize their human capital for the benefit of the enterprise and the individual. 

Mad has had the privilege of working with organizations from a variety of industries, sizes, and global footprints. She has provided in-house and virtual training to organizations such as GE, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and ConAgra on a variety of human capital topics like Workforce Planning, Diversity and HR Analytics. 

Mad’s clients appreciate her sometimes irreverent, and always practical approach to solving their challenges. Her philosophy is that in a global, yet flat world the only source of competitive advantage is through people. While her undergraduate Economics professor was attempting to make a joke, she realized there is truth in the punch line that “the only asset that appreciates is human.”

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.

 

Liz Vollmar has more than 25 years of hands-on experience in planning and implementing cost-effective welfare benefit plan designs and compliance strategies. As a senior member of Willis' National Legal and Research Group (NLRG), she provides expertise and leadership within NLRG and works closely with Willis consultants and clients across the country. Liz's wide-ranging expertise with respect to welfare benefits includes particularly in-depth knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and health care reform. She has also worked extensively with consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs), wellness programs, cafeteria plans, and welfare benefits issues in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

 

Alison Marshall is an active litigator who has extensive experience handling complex employment litigation matters including employment discrimination class actions, FLSA collective and state wage and hour class actions, and Sarbanes-Oxley/whistleblower claims. She also routinely counsels employers on sexual and racial harassment policies and investigations, OFCCP compliance, ADA compliance, wage and hour law developments, early retirement programs, and reductions in force. She is a frequent speaker on employment and civil rights issues and the author of a number of published articles on EEO issues.

Alison also represents colleges and universities on employment matters, as well as on Title IX issues, with particular emphasis on issues of gender discrimination in intercollegiate athletics. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

Alison is a Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of the Employee Relations Law Journal and the Equal Employment Opportunity and the Employee Rights and Responsibilities Committees of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association. In addition, Alison is a member of Jones Day's Diversity Task Force.

 

Linda M. Jackson is a first-chair trial attorney with significant experience representing clients before federal, state and appellate courts, as well as before administrative agencies and in arbitration settings. Linda has a particular litigation focus in the Eastern District of Virginia, also known as the "Rocket Docket," and the state trial courts in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun Counties. Linda is an aggressive litigator who reaches optimal business and legal solutions by understanding her clients’ business objectives, and pursuing pre-litigation and litigation strategies designed to efficiently meet their goals. She keeps clients up-to-date as a case proceeds and advises them on their options at critical decision points. Linda’ practice includes: Employment discrimination and wrongful discharge Executive contracts and compensation Non-compete and non-solicitation negotiation and litigation Shareholder litigation Sabarnes-Oxley (SOX) whistleblower investigations and litigation Trade-secret disputes Civil business conspiracy, fiduciary duties, and other business competition issues Linda has represented clients in industries such as government contracting, professional services, supermarket chains, airlines, law firms, technology, health care, child care services, telecommunications and commercial and residential development. Linda previously served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Reserve Corps. In 2009, she was named to the advisory board for the William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law.

Ms. Walters has more than 30 years’ combined experience in management, HR administration, employment law practice, and teaching.

She has presented at conferences across the country, been engaged as an expert witness, and testified before U.S. Congressional and state legislative committees on employment issues.

Her book, “From Hello to Goodbye: Proactive Tips for Maintaining Positive Employee Relations” is in its 2nd edition and was one of the SHRMStore’s “Great 8” best-sellers for eight consecutive years.

Today, Ms. Walters works as an independent consultant doing business as FiveL Company, “Helping Leaders Limit their Liability by Learning the Law.”SM