Senior-Level

Jonathan Fraser Light has more than 40 years of experience in the field of employment law. He is AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating possible. He has been voted a Southern California “Super Lawyer” 18 times. As co-founder and managing partner at LightGabler LLP, Jon consults with almost 2,000 companies throughout California regarding their day-to-day employment law needs.

Jon has been successful in jury trials, appellate cases, Labor Commission hearings and binding arbitration claims involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment, race discrimination, class action wage & hour, and other employment-related matters. He has also appeared on behalf of employers before the federal EEOC and Labor Department, the state Civil Rights Department, the National Labor Relations Board, and other government agencies involved with employment law issues.

Jon speaks dozens of times a year to employer and human resources groups including chapters of the Employer Advisory Council, Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) and Society for Human Resource Management.

Jon graduated from the UCLA School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude in history from UCLA and is a graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He is the author of two editions of the nationally acclaimed and award-winning book, The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball.

Dr. Jeff Frey, a seasoned global tech and innovation executive with 20+ years of leadership experience, is recognized for expertise in emotional intelligence (EI) and the future of work. Holding a Ph.D. in EI from the Weatherhead Business School at Case Western Reserve, an MBA from Rice Business, and a Masters in Computer Science from Kent State... he combines passions for profitable innovations and people development. He brings corporations profitable ventures, particularly on the human side of artificial intelligence (AI+EI). A sought-after speaker and consultant, he believes in the transformative power of tech, business, and EI for driving social impact.

As CEO of the Learning Guild, David Kelly constantly explores the convergence of learning and technology, demonstrating a profound commitment to transforming workplaces and enriching lives through innovative learning strategies. With over two decades of experience in learning and performance consulting, he brings his passion to life in his daily work building events and resources with the Guild and as a dynamic speaker and writer, inspiring others to view their work through a fresh, technology-enhanced lens.

Scott is an internationally recognized crisis negotiator, advisor, trainer and keynote speaker. He is known and respected for his experience negotiating in highly charged situations, with high stakes and when the situation requires sensitivity to the human element. Clients, audiences and students alike, find Scott’s teachings, insightful, inspiring and pragmatic.   

Scott worked as a hostage/crisis negotiator with one of the largest regional SWAT teams in the United States for many years before moving into the role of a negotiations speaker and trainer. He has over 20 years of law enforcement experience and retired from a Chicago area police department in 2023 at the rank of Lieutenant. He was trained by in negotiation by the FBI and has studied at the Harvard University Program on Negotiation, at IMD Business School, and he continues to receive training from the world’s top negotiators.  

​Scott is a prolific trainer within the negotiation field and travels the country and around the world speaking to a wide variety of audiences. He has taught negotiations at Harvard University, for the FBI, and has keynoted for companies such as Microsoft and Bosch.  In 2016, he was invited to give a TEDx talk titled “The Secrets of Hostage Negotiators”, which has received over 1 million views.  His visibility as a speaker and educator through TEDx and other venues has reached global status.  
 
Scott currently resides in the Chicago area and is a Partner and co-founder with the Negotiations Collective, where he works with organizations and their leaders on how to have difficult conversations to resolve conflict and increase their influence.    

Melissa Daley is an accomplished Systems Engineer and Systems Analyst, wielding a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems from Hampton University and a Masters in Technology Entrepreneurship from the esteemed University of Maryland. Her professional journey spans illustrious roles as a consultant, collaborating with distinguished entities like Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, and notable institutions including the State of Georgia Department of Human Resources, NGP VAN, DMI, and ICF.

In 2007, Melissa Daley embarked on a visionary journey, giving rise to iT Gets Better—a trailblazing 501(c)(3) non-profit headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Her mission: to empower and uplift young minds by bridging the digital divide through transformative Information Technology (IT) workshops and insightful consulting services. Melissa's brainchild swiftly evolved into a beacon of computer literacy for underrepresented communities.

Within a mere three months, iT Gets Better blossomed, becoming a nurturing hub for over 50 students throughout the Atlanta Metro Area. This rapid growth was a testament to Melissa's unwavering commitment and the pressing need she addressed.

The tumultuous tides of the 2009 recession presented challenges, prompting the sale of iT Gets Better's website to a fellow non-profit organization in 2010. Undeterred, Melissa Daley's resilience and expertise persevered.

In 2014, Melissa Daley founded Orca Intelligence, a minority, woman-owned organization that is a true reflection of intentionality, cultural awareness, and empowerment. Under Melissa's visionary leadership, Orca Intelligence has grown beyond a mere business entity to become a hub of digital innovation. The company is renowned for its impactful contributions in various sectors, including education, health administration, labor, and real estate. Melissa brings over two decades of rich experience in Information Technology to Orca Intelligence. Her deep knowledge and innovative approach have been instrumental in establishing the company. Orca Intelligence, since its inception, has been at the forefront of revolutionizing how software requirements are captured, analyzed, and managed. This breakthrough reflects Melissa's commitment to innovation and her deep understanding of the industry's needs.

Building upon this legacy of innovation, Melissa's 2021 brainchild, Swiftly, emerged—a cutting-edge AI solution poised to revolutionize the efficiency of the Software Development process, reaffirming her position at the vanguard of technological progress.

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Melissa Daley remains an inspirational figure, ceaselessly driving positive change through her groundbreaking ventures and unyielding dedication to propelling IT accessibility and efficiency forward.

Kate Frear, PhD, SHRM-SCP has over 15 years of experience in human capital innovation and leadership development. She is Co-Founder and CEO of Joyntly, which is a soft skills learning platform that combines behavioral science and algorithms to generate personalized learning plans targeted to each learners’ specific needs. As a former professor of management, and research scientist in organizational behavior, her mission is to use the latest science and technology to help people work better together in teams and organizations.

David studies the keystones for success and achievement in the areas of Leadership, Communication and Personal Performance.  He studied over 3,000 top performers to find what the top leaders, salespeople and employees do.  And more importantly, he discovered the roadblocks that hold people back.  For over 25 years, David has worked with hundreds of clients of all sizes in many industries such as technology, banking, communications, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution.  He specializes in leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, sales and personal development and brings his insights to you to create breakthrough solutions. 

Martin is a certified corporate wellness specialist and psychological H&S advisor and advocate for healthy work environments and reducing stress in the workplace.  With over a decade of experience leading health and safety courses, Martin’s expertise navigating OH&S requirements has been further deepened as a certified joint H&S committee member. 

Martin co-founded Navigation Consulting & Training, to support and promote healthy work environments as a business imperative for organizational success through strategic HR consulting, training and development, and workplace harassment investigations.  Away from work Martin enjoys cycling, sailing and photography.

Ashley T. Brundage is the President and CEO of Empowering Differences. While seeking employment at PNC Bank in the United States, she identified openly during the interview process as a woman of transgender experiance and subsequently was hired after facing years of harassment, discrimination, and homelessness. These factors led her to start her second career as a means of survival while doing research on empowerment & differences. She took a role in the bank as a part time teller and then rose to national Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion in less than 5 years. She captured her research as a 4-Step process of empowerment to cultivate change in her new book and online leadership course. Ashley credits her success to those closest to her for providing actionable allyship including her 2 teenage sons, Bryce and Blake. She also volunteers her time serving numerous nonprofit organizations including serving as the vice chair for the national board of directors for GLAAD who works to accelerate acceptance across all forms of media for the LGBTQ+ community.

At a time of high work stress, declining mental health and burnout, Woodrie is on a mission to strengthen teams, drive better outcomes and offer hope. An award-winning thought leader, author, Forbes Coaches Council Member and TEDx speaker, Woodrie’s known for her proprietary approach to setting boundaries and building sustainable strategies in fast-paced and high-demand environments. She brings 20+ years of senior leadership and change management expertise working with Fortune 500 companies on global tech projects and billion-dollar merger & acquisition work. She’s won Stevie Awards for her Achievements in Thought Leadership and as Female Thought Leader of the Year.