Global & Cultural Effectiveness

Wayne Connell, the founder, president and CEO of the Invisible Disabilities Association, established IDA twenty years ago in 1996 out of the desire to educate friends and family about his wife's debilitating illness. Soon afterwards, people around the globe began sending emails sharing how IDA had changed their relationships with their loved ones. He is co-author of the book, “But You LOOK Good, How to Encourage and Understand People Living with Illness and Pain.” Wayne's background fueled his passion for helping people living with illness, pain and disability. His experience includes that of a professional, multitasking husband caregiver with an extensive background in management, media and technology. This man on a mission quickly launched IDA into a world-wide outreach for millions living with invisible disabilities.

Joining Hardwick Benfer LLC in 2016, an employment litigation firm, Jill focuses on representing individuals in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour issues, employee benefits, reductions in force and wrongful discharge.  Jill also counsels employers on workplace investigations, employment decisions, policy development, and training and has also served as local counsel to firms in a variety of employment matters. Previously, Jill was a defense attorney with four years of practice in employment law, workers’ compensation and general liability litigation.

Jill’s legal experience follows an 18-year career in human resources, most recently as vice president of HR for a Fortune 500 company, managing strategic and operational global HR issues involving sourcing, developing, rewarding, and engaging employees located domestically and abroad. 

During law school, Jill clerked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Baltimore, MD, and for the Circuit Court of Harford, Maryland.  She served as teaching assistant for civil procedure/legal writing, and was a member of legal honor society Phi Delta Phi.

Jill is a frequent presenter on a wide array of employment law topics, in local and national forums and also develops and presents in-house training for employers.

Grace A. Odums, an independent strategy consultant, has a growing consultancy spanning over fifteen years.  Her impressive client list boasts Fortune 500 and Fortune Global 500 companies including: Disney ABC Media NetWorks, Waste Management (PA/WVA Area), Fairmount Southampton Resorts, Chevron-Phillips, Siemens Medical Solutions, Wells Fargo Bank.  

A much sought after international speaker, Grace welcomes the opportunity to partner with organizations and professionals in the areas of management coaching, revenue recapture, change leadership, optimum customer care, talent performance enhancement, productivity improvement, increased efficiencies, balanced scorecard architecture, and diversity strategy creation with diversity scorecard and strategy map development and system-wide implementation.

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group.  Michael concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country on subjects including harassment prevention; diversity, equity and inclusion; combatting implicit bias; performance management; discipline and discharge; hiring and recruiting practices; performance evaluations; FMLA, ADA and FLSA compliance; leave of absence policies; LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace; substance abuse testing; workplace violence; records retention; conducting background checks; and more. Michael also has conducted investigations into claims of harassment and discrimination and has drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and post-termination agreements. Michael regularly conducts in excess of 200 trainings each year.  He has represented clients throughout the country in EEO and other administrative proceedings.

Michael has been cited as a national authority on employment issues by The New York Times, The Associated Press, USA Today, MSNBC.com, HR Magazine, SHRM On-Line, Employment Law 360, Inside Counsel Magazine, as well as many other publications. Michael serves as an Advisory Board Member of GenHERation and as a Board Member of Serve, Inc. Michael is a 1997 magna cum laude graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law and a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Amanda Andrade is the Chief People Officer for Veterans United Home Loans, an award winning organization including Fortune Magazine’s Top 100 Great Places to Work. Amanda’s responsibilities focus on employee growth, innovation, success, health, happiness and the preservation of Veterans United’s company mission to Enhance Lives Every Day.

In addition to leading human resource organizations in both the public and private sectors, Dr. Andrade has served as an Adjunct Professor for various colleges, including most recently Stephens College and the Jack Welch Management Institute. 

Howard Ross is lifelong social justice advocate, and is considered one of the world’s seminal thought leaders on identifying and addressing unconscious bias.  Howard has delivered programs in 47 states and over 40 other countries to audiences including Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities, and major institutions within healthcare, government, and non-profit sectors. He authored the Washington Post best seller, Everyday Bias:  Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives, ReInventing Diversity: Transforming Organizational Community to Strengthen People, Purpose and Performance. His latest  book, Our Search for Belonging: How the Need for Connection Is Tearing Our Culture Apart, published by Berrett-Koehler in 2018, received the Nautilus Gold Medal for Social Change and Social Justice. His next book, Building Belonging: 9 Pathways to Creating Inclusive and Joyful Organizational Communities, will be published in 2020.

Shilpa Pherwani is an organizational psychologist by training and the Principal and CEO of IBIS Consulting Group, Inc. She has expertise in the areas of cultural competency, diversity and inclusion, organizational development and e-­learning.  As a consultant and trainer, Shilpa provides guidance to organizations to develop and achieve their D&I business goals.  She provides subject matter expertise in change management, organizational development and diversity to help organizations align D&I with business strategy. Shilpa heads the design and development team at IBIS for diversity e-­learning tools. She has led the team for several highly effective programs for clients such as Aetna, Boeing, Campbell Soup, Grainger, ESPN, Nestle, Microsoft, Sun Life Financial, and Xerox. Shilpa’s work with global organizations has included conducting diversity assessments, diversity and cross-­cultural training, leadership development, and implementation of diversity strategic plans. Shilpa received her Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Springfield College with a focus on Organizational Development.

Ran is in charge of SHRM’s business development and operation in the Greater China region, with responsibilities including establishing and implementing business strategy, developing effective relationships with the government, business, academic and professional world, and representing SHRM in China. He is instrumental in designing and delivering SHRM HR certification programs, research and survey, acts as a member of the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (SHRM BoCK™) Committee, and chairs the SHRM China HR Summit. Ran has over 30 years of experience as a practitioner, trainer and consultant in the fields of strategic HR management and planning, HR effectiveness, management development, sustainability, development of HR profession and higher education, etc. He’s a frequent speaker at HR events in Asia-Pacific and North American Regions. Prior to joining SHRM in 2005, Ran led consulting projects and provided solutions for large multinational, state-owned and private enterprises in China to improve their organizational performance. Ran earned his Ph.D. from Brunel University in London, MBA from the University of Wales, Diploma in Education (Dip/Ed.) from the National University of Singapore, and B.A. from Sichuan University of China. He is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

Anthony Raja Devadoss is Managing Director & Regional Head of PERSOLKELLY Consulting Asia Pacific - a consulting business delivering HR Business Services, HR Certifications, Talent Management Technology, Career Transition Solutions & Leadership Development.

With over 20 years of experience, Devadoss is also a Global Board Member of the Career Partners International, and actively involved in Malaysia’s and Asia-Pacific’s HR and Technology industry development and holds memberships in various local and international associations.

Devadoss holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences. He holds the SHRM-SCP credentials and has recently attended the INSEAD Global Business Programme.

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group.  Michael concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country on subjects including harassment prevention; diversity, equity and inclusion; combatting implicit bias; performance management; discipline and discharge; hiring and recruiting practices; performance evaluations; FMLA, ADA and FLSA compliance; leave of absence policies; LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace; substance abuse testing; workplace violence; records retention; conducting background checks; and more. Michael also has conducted investigations into claims of harassment and discrimination and has drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and post-termination agreements. Michael regularly conducts in excess of 200 trainings each year.  He has represented clients throughout the country in EEO and other administrative proceedings.

Michael has been cited as a national authority on employment issues by The New York Times, The Associated Press, USA Today, MSNBC.com, HR Magazine, SHRM On-Line, Employment Law 360, Inside Counsel Magazine, as well as many other publications. Michael serves as an Advisory Board Member of GenHERation and as a Board Member of Serve, Inc. Michael is a 1997 magna cum laude graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law and a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.