Communication

Mark Marsen
director, human resources
Allies for health + wellbeing
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Allies provides integrated medical care, supportive human services, and community-based education for individuals living with, or at risk of HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.  Mark joined the organization in 2016 as their first HR professional.  As a department of one and a member of the Agency’s Leadership, he works to ensure that their efforts are efficient, socially aware, ethical, legally compliant, and aligned with their mission and vision.  He works in an environment where employees are required to delve into subjects that would make the most seasoned HR professional blush or turn pale; Mark is learning a lot.

Prior to Allies, Mark was the HR Manager for an independent primary care pediatric practice for 15 years.  He was the first HR person there too.  For 10 of those years, he was also the owner of a company that designed and produced masks, costumes, and props for a variety of enterprises.  Mark’s HR foundation was built in higher education administration and software development (before it was trendy).  He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association and Pittsburgh Cares.

SESSIONS:
Jenni Stone, SHRM-CP
HR director, partner
HR Shield
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For more than twenty years, Jenni Stone has been immersed in the Human Resources industry, as a Recruiter, Generalist, HRIS Specialist, Project Manager and HR Advisor. Her experience includes the telecommunications, healthcare and staffing industries.
Jenni’s diverse HR background has enabled her to bring an innovative, practical and fresh perspective to HR issues. Jenni also provides training and consulting to companies with minimal or no human resources within the organization.

Jenni holds a Master’s degree in HR Management and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), since 2007 and SHRM-CP. She is active in a number of professional organizations including Greenville SHRM, where she serves as Communications Director, Association for Talent Development, and Society of Human Resources Management. Jenni continues to share her wealth of knowledge of HR as a frequent speaker at professional human resource meetings and conferences across the US.

Follow Jenni on Instagram @HRshield

SESSIONS:
Danna Hewick, SHRM-SCP
vice president of human resources
USSI
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Danna Hewick joined USSI in July 2013.  In her role as Vice President of Human Resources, Danna oversees performance management; training and development; policy and procedure; recruiting; and employment practices for both union and non-union staff.  A Senior Professional certified through HRCI (SPHR) and SHRM (SHRM-SCP), Danna has over 15 years of strategic human resources experience. Prior to USSI, Danna was Director of Administration, managing human resources, facility, information technology and administration for Pacific Trade International a home fragrance manufacturing company.

With an extensive background as a business partner, Danna has a strong foundation in developing business strategy; envisioning future talent requirements; implementing sound business process; developing performance improvement and talent management programs; succession planning; and the creation of competency mapping to ensure that the company’s human resources are prepared to meet future goals.  Danna holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from George Mason University and an Executive MBA from the University of Maryland, Robert H Smith School of Business. She is a member of the National Society of Human Resources and the Montgomery County Society of Human Resources. She currently lives in Annapolis, MD.

SESSIONS:
Mary Anne Obedoza
human resources manager
Asset Marketing Systems
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Mary Anne B. Obedoza, MBA - HR Manager at Asset Marketing Systems Insurance Services, LLC and Madison Avenue Securities, LLC, San Diego, CA

Mary Anne B. Obedoza has more than 14 years progressive experience as an HR professional.  Her diverse industry experience includes biotech, medical device, retail, financial life planning, broker-dealer, and telecommunication industries.  Her expertise is in full-cycle recruiting, onboarding, HRIS administration, executive development/coaching, payroll, staffing, training, benefits administration and employee relations. She received her Certificate in HR Management and her bachelor’s degree from UCSD and her MBA from University of Phoenix.

SESSIONS:
Monday, December 3, 2018 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Jennifer Currence, SHRM-SCP, MBA
Senior Partner
HR Soul
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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.

SESSIONS:
Sabrina Baker, SHRM-CP
Founder
Acacia HR Solutions
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Sabrina is the founder of Acacia HR Solutions, an HR consulting firm headquartered in Los Angeles. While the firm offers a variety of services, Sabrina spends her days providing training, leadership development and team building workshops for clients across the country. Sabrina is certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and is fascinated with how personality type plays into our interactions in the workplace. Sabrina is also the co-founder of DISRUPTHR Los Angeles, an information exchange designed to energize, inform and empower people in the HR field. 

SESSIONS:
Monday, December 3, 2018 - 1:15pm to 3:30pm
Gregory J. Hare
Employment Attorney
Ogletree Deakins
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Greg Hare has been an employment lawyer at Ogletree Deakins his entire career, since 1991. He assists companies with human resources and employment-related litigation matters, including wrongful termination claims, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, employment contracts, trade secrets, and non-compete agreements. He advises clients on a wide range of human resources topics, such as drug testing, employee discipline and discharge, severance planning, independent contractor classifications, wage payment, family and medical leave, disability law, military leave, joint employment issues, affirmative action, and reductions in force. Mr. Hare also counsels clients on traditional labor relations and matters involving the National Labor Relations Board.

SESSIONS:
Karlyn Borysenko
Principal
Zen Workplace
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Dr. Karlyn Borysenko is the force behind Zen Workplace. An organizational psychologist and executive/performance coach, she is a leader in integrating mindfulness strategies at work to increase productivity and creativity, reduce stress, and create better work experiences. Her practice is based in the greater Boston area and serves clients all over the world. She holds an MBA and a PhD in Psychology, is an experienced trainer and facilitator, coach, and award-winning speaker. Karlyn is a contributor to Forbes.com and the author of Zen Your Work: Create your ideal work experience through mindful self-mastery.

SESSIONS:
Robert Bogue
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/His
President
Thor Projects LLC
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Robert Bogue has led change projects for three decades. As a recovering technologist, he’s changed the way people work as he changed the technology. He’s the author of 28 books and has been a Microsoft MVP for 20 years. His work has transformed corporations, government, and quasi-government organizations. It’s not about the technology, but he leverages his strength in technology and human systems to create change that is sustainable and transformative for organizations of all sizes and shapes.

SESSIONS:
Terri Bogue
Personal Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Chief Operations Officer
Thor Projects LLC
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Terri Bogue has a passion for helping people be healthy and happy, both physically and emotionally. As a clinical nurse specialist with over 30 years of experience in nursing, she understands how difficult healthcare and life is for patients and providers. Through this experience, she has developed tools that support healthcare providers in delivering effective and compassionate care to their patients and themselves and reducing healthcare-associated infections. She inspires people to learn what boundaries are and how to maintain them, both professionally and personally, cool down a conflict during heated situations, and prevent and recover from burnout. 

SESSIONS:
Jonathan A. Segal
Partner
Duane Morris, LLP
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Jonathan is a partner at Duane Morris LLP in its Employment Group.  He also is the Founder and managing principal of the Duane Morris Institute, which provides training on employment issues to HR professionals, in-house counsel and other leaders.

The core of Jonathan’s practice is helping employers maximize legal compliance and minimize legal risk with regard to harassment, discrimination, retaliation and reasonable accommodations.
Over the past few years, Jonathan has focused on religion in general and antisemitism in particular. In addition to helping clients, Jonathan has delivered a number of talks on antisemitism on behalf of the EEOC as well as to field directors of the EEOC.
 
Jonathan has provided training to federal judges and other members of the federal judiciary on various employment issues for more than 20 years.

 

SESSIONS:
Sunday, June 23, 2019 - 8:00am to 12:00pm
Magi Graziano
CEO
KeenAlignment
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Magi The Evolutionist

Catalyst for Positive Change

Personal - Interpersonal - Team - Organizational

Using a unique combination of experiential coaching, science-backed development tools, and actionable strategies, Magi empowers leaders to evolve themselves and their organizational culture to meet the moment. Whether it’s change initiatives, new leadership, or cultural transformation, she partners with teams to catalyze positive change.

Magi has spent her life reinventing herself. From a single mother at 19 working at the first Cable TV company, to leading one of the fastest growing consultancies and becoming a best selling author in her field of expertise, Magi has continually taken challenges and failure as lessons and learned to move beyond her limits (both real and perceived) to live a life that inspires and contributes. Her body of work cuts through the personal, group, and organizational malaise stifling happiness, joy, and fulfillment at work. Her uplifting talks and groundbreaking courses uncover, catalyze, and optimize human potential, unite teams, and raise organizational effectiveness. 

 

SESSIONS:
Dick Finnegan
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/His
Chief Executive Officer
C-Suite Analytics
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Dick Finnegan is THE global turnover expert, having cut turnover by 30% and more for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, distribution centers, call centers, and other industries…and on all six inhabited continents.

Dick has authored the top-selling SHRM-published book, The Power of Stay Interviews, along with four other books. BusinessWeek magazine has said “Finnegan offers fresh thinking for solving the turnover problem in any economy”. He has been similarly cited by Forbes, Chief Executive Magazine, and Consulting Magazine.

He holds bachelors and graduate degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and lives in Orlando, Florida.

SESSIONS:
Mary Elizabeth Abbajay
president
Careerstone Group LLC
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Mary Abbajay, author of the best-selling Managing Up: How to Succeed with Any Type of Boss is the president of Careerstone Group, a full-service organizational development consultancy that delivers leading-edge talent and organizational development solutions to business and government. As a sought-after speaker, consultant, and trainer, Mary helps clients develop the strategies, skills and sensibilities needed for 21st century success. Mary is a frequent expert contributor for national media outlets where she provides practical leadership and career advice. She has appeared in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, The Financial Times, Money Magazine, Southwest Airlines Magazine, Monster, and the BBC.

 

SESSIONS:
Saturday, June 22, 2019 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Valerie M. Grubb
Personal Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Principal
Val Grubb & Associates, Ltd.
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Valerie helps companies improve their bottom line by elevating employees from tactical thinkers to strategic leaders.

She served in senior leadership roles at RollsRoyce Aircraft before helping to found InterActiveCorp, parent company to Expedia, Home Shopping Network and TicketMaster. She then went to work for Oprah Winfrey, helping to found the Oxygen channel which was later sold to NBC Universal.

Valerie obtained her mechanical engineering degree from Kettering University and her MBA from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Val’s book, Clash of the Generations: Managing the New Workplace Reality, helps leaders manage multiple generations in the office.

 

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