Senior-Level

Ben Eubanks, SHRM-SCP
Chief Research Officer
Lighthouse Research & Advisory
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Ben Eubanks is a bestselling author, speaker, and researcher living in Huntsville, AL. He spends his days as the Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, developing groundbreaking research on workforce trends and examining the talent technologies and People practices that set great organizations apart from the rest. 

His latest book Talent Scarcity explores why companies are having difficulties finding quality talent and how they can solve it. His first book, Artificial Intelligence for HR, is the world’s most-cited resource for leveraging technology to create a more human experience at work. His new book The Payroll Promise (March 2025) examines how HR and payroll teams can create workplace trust and do more meaningful work at the same time. He also hosts HR Summer School, a virtual event focusing on improving human resources, one HR pro at a time. When he's not speaking or writing, he spends time with his five kids and runs in a variety of outlandish races for fun.

SESSIONS:
Monday, October 22, 2018 - 1:15pm to 2:45pm
Keli Wilson
principal consultant
DCI Consulting
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Keli Wilson is a Principal Consultant with DCI Consulting Group, Inc. (DCI). She leads the diversity and inclusion practice group with metrics driven services. Keli manages a team of associate principal and senior consultants who assist contractors with compliance needs, such as affirmative action plan development, pay equity analyses, strategic audit advice, and training support. She writes blogs and white papers, presents at local and national conferences, and will host a new DCI diversity podcast, The EEO Studio. Keli received an M.A. degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Xavier University and B.A. degree in Psychology from West Virginia University.

SESSIONS:
Mickey Silberman
shareholder
Fortney & Scott, LLC
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Mickey Silberman Esq. is a Shareholder with the law firm of Fortney & Scott LLC and is Chair of the firm’s Affirmative Action & Pay Equity Practice Group. Mickey is a nationally recognized expert and public speaker on diversity and inclusion programs, initiatives and best practices. He helps national employers develop and execute on innovative D&I programs that “move the needle” and get real results. 

SESSIONS:
Monday, October 22, 2018 - 1:15pm to 2:45pm
Takiyah Cunningham
manager, diversity programs and partnerships
Cintas
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Takiyah Cunningham is an individual who is working her purpose of building purposeful understanding, engagement and relationships for individuals across organizations.  Takiyah is Manager of Diversity Programs and Partnerships for Cintas Corporation where she is responsible for the diversity and inclusion leadership development program.  Takiyah is also responsible for military and disability programming, as well as all Business Resource Groups.  Prior to Cintas, Takiyah worked as manager of Diversity and Inclusion for United Way of Greater Cincinnati, where she provided strategy and led efforts in the areas of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  Takiyah serves on the Chief Diversity Officer Roundtable hosted by University of Cincinnati and the Equity Delegation.

Takiyah has been an active volunteer with several organizations, including Board member for UMADAOP Cincinnati, Inc., Cincinnati Urban League Guild, YWCA Rising Star, graduate of the Rising Star Board Leadership program. She has received many honors, the latest, being recognized as one of Cincinnati’s ‘100 Wise Women’. Takiyah is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Cincinnati (OH) Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Takiyah graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and earned her Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Development from Xavier University in Cincinnati. 

Takiyah resides in Cincinnati with her husband Adrian and their three daughters Dylan, Emery and Maison.

SESSIONS:
Larry Worth
vice president, corporate consulting
Next for Autism
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Larry directs the vision and path for the ViaQuest Foundation, as well as provides strategic guidance on all projects. Larry’s passion, energy, and insightful direction have led to hundreds of people with disabilities entering into the workforce within a multitude of industries.

Larry is a member of ADVICE, a group of expert consultants that specialize in creating pathways for employment for people with autism. ADVICE is funded through Autism Speaks, NEXT for Autism, and the Poses Family Foundation. Larry is also a member of APSE, the Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst.

Prior to his 10+ years in the disability industry, Larry started up and owned small businesses, worked as a change agent for transitioning corporations, and has held several positions in sales, marketing, and operational management. Larry credits his success in the disability industry on having a corporate core, marrying sound business practices and strategies with the incredibly meaningful work of proving that people with disabilities are game changers!

Larry holds a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration degree from Franklin University.

 

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Lenora Billings-Harris
diversity strategist
Excel Development Systems, Inc.
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A diversity strategist and author. With more than twenty five years of experience in the public and private sectors, she has developed a unique way of presenting sensitive topics in a fun, thought-provoking and non-judgmental way. Her interactive style and immediately applicable "how tos" have inspired clients to invite her back again and again. She designs and delivers presentations that help facilitate diversity initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, professional associations, government agencies and educational institutions. 

SESSIONS:
Scott Brinkman
vice president, product
Hireology
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Scott is the Director of Product at Hireology, driving the product roadmap for upcoming Hireology features.

In this role, he’s responsible for discovering, designing, and defining valuable products that delight our customers. Brinkman drives the strategic vision for product development focused on creating impactful user experiences for customers through his product and UX teams.

Scott was previously the Head of Product at Upsight, a mobile analytics and marketing platform that provides business intelligence to the largest enterprises in mobile. Before joining Upsight, Brinkman was an engineer developing sales analytics and CRM systems at Google to empower companies to better understand how behavior affects revenue production.

 

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 11:15am to 12:30pm
Scott Brinkman
vice president, product
Hireology
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Scott is the Director of Product at Hireology, driving the product roadmap for upcoming Hireology features.

In this role, he’s responsible for discovering, designing, and defining valuable products that delight our customers. Brinkman drives the strategic vision for product development focused on creating impactful user experiences for customers through his product and UX teams.

Scott was previously the Head of Product at Upsight, a mobile analytics and marketing platform that provides business intelligence to the largest enterprises in mobile. Before joining Upsight, Brinkman was an engineer developing sales analytics and CRM systems at Google to empower companies to better understand how behavior affects revenue production.

 

SESSIONS:
Monday, April 16, 2018 - 3:00pm to 4:15pm
Javier Hermosilla
CEO
Cegos Latin America
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Javier Hermosilla is CEO to the Latin America branch of the Cegos Group. Previously he has occupied General Manager and other high level positions in Business Development of HR Consulting companies operating in Latin America. Over the more than 20 years of experience in consulting projects with a strong orientation towards learning and development, organizational development and general HR topics, he has developed a deep understanding of organizational behavior and an outstanding expertise in training and development. Javier is Organizationl Psychologist and as such, he has focused his work mainly on Organizational Change, Leadership and Competency Management, many times accompanied by the development and implementation of the ideal learning program.

SESSIONS:
Sebastian Teply
consultant and head of operations
Cegos Latin America
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Sebastian Teply, MBA HRM, SCP, is a senior consultant and head of operations for the Latin America branch of the Cegos Group. Previously, he has worked in HR business partner and specialist roles as well as HR consulting positions for the past 16 years, both in Europe and Latin America. Through his work with international clients in different industries, he has gained a strong expertise in the field of learning and development solutions.

SESSIONS:
Manel Perez Jordana
talent manager EMEA
General Cable
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Manel has worked in global and regional talent, leadership and organizational transformation roles over the last 12 years across a wide range of business scenarios and market sectors, both in mature and emerging markets. He has been involved in regional new-builds, post-merger-integration, carve outs / creating global shared service operations, consolidations and accelerated growth programmes. 

Manel is all about 'talent & transformation' and enjoys working with international executive teams on their people challenges and business transformation agendas. He is passionate about building new capabilities for growth, sparking new thinking & ideas and helping leaders create shifts in themselves and their organization.

SESSIONS:
John Fillingham
director, HR performance
Matchett Group
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John Fillingham is Director of HR qualifcations and HR performance for Matchett whose role in partnership with SHRM for Northern Europe, is to raise brand awareness of the SHRM proposition, grow membership and create development opportunities for HR professionals through SHRM certification, re-certification and high quality education opportunities.

A bilingual HR leader and HR development expert, John has had a 27 career in HR and learning and development at senior levels in strong commercial environments with  large FSTE 100 companies such as Sainsbury’s, Debenhams, The Bullough Group and now Wilmington PLC.

 

SESSIONS:
Michael P. Aitken
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
SHRM
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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.

 

SESSIONS:
Sunday, June 17, 2018 - 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Tammy Fennessy, PHR, GBA
senior manager, benefits
American Eagle
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Tammy has her PHR certification through the HR Certification Institute and GBA designation through the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (ISCEBS).  As the Senior Manager of Benefits for American Eagle Outfitter’s, Inc., she is responsible for managing benefit programs for all 50 states in the U.S. and internationally, for all AEO brands.  Prior to American Eagle Outfitter’s, Inc., Tammy was the Benefits Manager for 6 years for Eat’n Park Hospitality Group.  During her career, key initiatives have been to leverage technology to build efficiencies, remove barriers and to meet key long-term strategic goals.

SESSIONS:
Jeff Oldham
senior vice president, sales
Benefitfocus
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Jeff Oldham is the Benefitfocus Senior Vice President, Employer Sales and Benefitstore, where he leads the U.S. employer sales organization. He is the former Vice President of the Benefitfocus Benefitstore where he established and led the company’s consumer protection benefits consulting practice. Oldham is a 20+ year veteran of the insurance industry. Oldham is an industry thought leader and sought-after speaker on health and voluntary benefits, technology and ACA topics facing consumers employers and carriers/brokers. His thought leadership has been featured in BenefitsPro Magazine, Employee Benefits News/Advisor, HR Dive, TLNT and Workforce Magazine. He is listed on Employee Benefits Advisor’s 30 people to watch in employee benefits in 2017. Oldham holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi and a master’s degree in Literature from University of Essex, England.

 

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