Business (Behavioral)

John Rood is founder and CEO of Proceptual.com. Proceptual provides compliance solutions for emerging regulation of automated and AI-driven tools for HR and people operations. John is on the board of JB Training Solutions, a leadership training consultancy, and Victory Lap, a sales training and placement platform. Prior to Proceptual, John was founder of Next Step Test Preparation, a market leader in pre-health and pre-medical test prep that sold to private equity. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and Michigan State University. 

Hunter Lott is an HR problem solver. He has delivered over 4000 “on stage” events, over 17,000 presentation hours and reviewed over 1200 employee handbooks. Hunter won accolades as a senior course leader for the American Management Association. Hunter is an award winning speaker with Vistage and has earned Speaker of the Year, Impact Speaker of the Year and Top Performer Vistage honors.

Hunter attended Tulane University in New Orleans, graduated from Iowa State and has a Master’s Degree in Employment Law from NSU Shepard Broad College of Law.

Ryan Ellis, a distinguished litigation attorney, boasts considerable expertise in state and federal employment law. Proficient in representing both employers and employees as an attorney,
Ryan's experience also spans business consulting and leading MatrixHR, a comprehensive human resources provider. Proactively assisting clients before lawsuits are filed, he effectively
mitigates risks and fosters harmonious workplace environments. With unique insights and a wealth of expertise, Ryan stands as a trusted authority in the ever-evolving realms of HR and
legal consulting. Licensed in California, Michigan, Nevada, and Texas, his reach extends across multiple jurisdictions.

Jennifer Currence is a Senior Partner of HR Soul consultancy firm in Tampa, Florida, where she delivers results through strategic HR solutions, customized training, and coaching programs for organizational and HR leaders. She is the creator of The SOTO Approach to Leadership and the content architect for the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) international People Manager Qualification (PMQ).

Jennifer is regularly published and featured in industry magazines, webinars, and podcasts, and is the author of three HR books on behavioral business competencies.

Jennifer was named one of the top 100 Influential HR professionals in Leadership and Development in 2023 and Tampa Bay’s HR Consultant of the Year in 2017.  She is a faculty member for SHRM and a former management professor at the University of Tampa.

Former U.S. Department of Justice attorney Michael Johnson has trained thousands of people on skills for detecting signs of deception and truthfulness, including presenting at dozens of conferences for human resource professionals and other busines executives.  

He has spoken at numerous conferences around the world for HR, legal, law enforcement, and other professionals.  He has provided numerous client-specific sessions for international organizations such as the United Nations (in New York, Congo, and Sierra Leone) and the World Bank, government agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Social Security Administration, and dozens of Fortune 500 companies such as Google and Northrup Grumman.

 As an attorney with the US Department of Justice, Michael was the lead attorney on one of DOJ’s first “pattern or practice” sexual harassment cases.  Michael has served as an expert witness in cases challenging the adequacy of employer’s investigation procedures. 

He is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

Former U.S. Department of Justice attorney Michael Johnson has trained thousands of people on skills for detecting signs of deception and truthfulness, including presenting at dozens of conferences for human resource professionals and other busines executives.  

He has spoken at numerous conferences around the world for HR, legal, law enforcement, and other professionals.  He has provided numerous client-specific sessions for international organizations such as the United Nations (in New York, Congo, and Sierra Leone) and the World Bank, government agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Social Security Administration, and dozens of Fortune 500 companies such as Google and Northrup Grumman.

 As an attorney with the US Department of Justice, Michael was the lead attorney on one of DOJ’s first “pattern or practice” sexual harassment cases.  Michael has served as an expert witness in cases challenging the adequacy of employer’s investigation procedures. 

He is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

Matthew Missar, LSW, IGDC, is a licensed social worker with The Better Institute and a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work. Matthew holds a Masters of Social Work degree with a focus in Direct Practice and certificate in Mental Health. Matthew has also recently obtained his International Gaming Disorder Certificate (IGDC). In his clinical practice Matthew works with individuals with various concerns, including but not limited to problematic gambling and gaming. Much of Matthew’s recent clinical work and research has focused on the convergence of gambling and gaming.

Matthew Missar, LSW, IGDC, is a licensed social worker with The Better Institute and a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work. Matthew holds a Masters of Social Work degree with a focus in Direct Practice and certificate in Mental Health. Matthew has also recently obtained his International Gaming Disorder Certificate (IGDC). In his clinical practice Matthew works with individuals with various concerns, including but not limited to problematic gambling and gaming. Much of Matthew’s recent clinical work and research has focused on the convergence of gambling and gaming.

Dr. Loren Murfield is a disruptive thinker who serves as an Executive Coach, Author, Filmmaker, and Speaker. Working with entrepreneurs and organizational leaders, he stretches their thinking to sense and seize cutting-edge opportunities. Dr. Murfield has authored over 30 books, including Pivotal Thinking, Pivotal Leadership, and Pivotal Power. He has also penned eight plays, a screenplay and produced his first movie short in 2020. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Nebraska and taught 23 undergraduate and graduate courses in Leadership and Communication.

Dr. Loren Murfield is a disruptive thinker who serves as an Executive Coach, Author, Filmmaker, and Speaker. Working with entrepreneurs and organizational leaders, he stretches their thinking to sense and seize cutting-edge opportunities. Dr. Murfield has authored over 30 books, including Pivotal Thinking, Pivotal Leadership, and Pivotal Power. He has also penned eight plays, a screenplay and produced his first movie short in 2020. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Nebraska and taught 23 undergraduate and graduate courses in Leadership and Communication.