Dan Abrams is the currently the co-anchor of Nightline and Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News.  Prior to 2011, Dan was at NBC News for 15 years as, among other things, a reporter for NBC Nightly News, host on MSNBC, and Chief Legal Correspondent for NBC News. From 2006 to late 2007, Dan served as General Manager of MSNBC, where he presided over a period of unprecedented growth, with ratings and profits each increasing well over 50% during his tenure. During that time Dan was also a member of the NBC Universal President’s Council. He also hosted “The Abrams Report”, a nightly legal affairs program, and the acclaimed “Verdict with Dan Abrams”.

A graduate of Columbia University Law School, Dan is also a recognized writer. He has published articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Yale Law and Policy Review, The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, and Mediaite.com, among many others. In 2011, he published his first book, "Man Down: Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers, and Just About Everything Else,”which made the Washington Post bestseller list. Dan is the founder of seven web properties: Mediaite, a news and media website; Styleite, which covers beauty and fashion; Sportsgrid, a fantasy sports site, Gossip Cop, which monitors false reporting in the celebrity gossip industry; The Maude, devoted to industry news and humor created by women for women; The Mary Sue covering tech and geek culture; and The Braiser, which follows celebrity chefs. Together, the Abrams Media Network serves close to 15 million unique visitors per month.

Sallie Krawcheck is the owner of Ellevate (formerly known as 85 Broads). Ellevate is the leading professional women's networking organization, which is committed to the economic empowerment of women globally. She has also teamed up with Pax World Management, a fund management company, to offer an index fund called Ellevate Asset Management which focuses on companies where women make up a significant portion of officers and directors. Sallie’s involvement reflects her recognition of the power of diversity in driving economic growth, innovation and financial returns. As the only senior Wall Street executive to reimburse a portion of client losses for poorly performing products during the downturn and with her varied experiences as a senior manager, Chief Financial Officer and research analyst, Sallie Krawcheck's has been called “caps off… the most fascinating 10-year biography during this period of financial tumult” by BusinessWeek. Given her experiences, she provides unique and powerful insider insights into financial services, wealth management, personal financial matters and business management, delivered with her trademark candor. Krawcheck is past President of Bank of America Global Wealth Management, including Merrill Lynch, which at $17 billion in revenue and $2.2 trillion of client asset is the largest wealth management business in the world. At Citi, she ran Smith Barney and the Private Bank and also served as CFO. Prior to that, Krawcheck was a number-one rated research analyst covering Wall Street itself. A perennial on FORTUNE’S “Most Powerful Women” lists, she was one of TIME magazine’s “Global Business Influentials,” CNBC’s “Business Leader of the Future” and Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business.”

Fifty years from now, one journalist will be the voice and face of our political era—and that journalist is Chuck Todd. A self-described political junkie, he has earned a reputation as one of the most passionate journalists and sharpest analysts in American media. He is NBC News’ political director and the moderator and managing editor of Meet the Press, the flagship Sunday morning public affairs program and the longest-running broadcast in television history. Upon his appointment to MTP, influencers and competitors praised him as “a tireless reporter” with “an encyclopedic knowledge of politics” and the ability to “break down barriers and get people off of their talking points.” With what Washingtonian calls a “savant-like knowledge of politics,” he has become a fixture in the White House press room, a steady and constant presence on television, and a tireless voice on the campaign trail. His up-to-the-minute poll analysis and insightful commentary have made him one of the most sought-after voices in American political coverage. 

Prior to Meet the Press, Todd served as NBC News chief White House correspondent (2008–2014) as well as the host of MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown (2010–2014). He has held the role of political director since 2007, leading all aspects of the news division’s political coverage and analysis. He is also the editor of First Read, NBC’s must-read guide to political news and trends in and around Washington, DC. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Chuck Todd has the unique ability to deliver an all-consuming passion for politics with razor-sharp analysis. As the political news of today becomes tomorrow’s American history, he offers a comprehensive picture of the current political landscape and serves as the voice of America in the early 21st century.

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.

For over 20 years, Allison West has used her employment law background in delivering customized workplace training, conducting investigations, coaching executives/managers, serving as an expert witness, and specializing in conflict resolution and facilitated discussions to create more collaborative work environments. 

Allison is a top-rated speaker at the SHRM Annual Conference as well as other HR/diversity conferences, and is a national expert on harassment, discrimination and investigations. She has appeared on PBS, CBS This Morning and in O Magazine discussing workplace harassment issues. 

She is a member of the State Bar of California and holds her SHRM-SCP certification and AWI-CH (investigation) certificate.

For over 20 years, Allison West has used her employment law background in delivering customized workplace training, conducting investigations, coaching executives/managers, serving as an expert witness, and specializing in conflict resolution and facilitated discussions to create more collaborative work environments. 

Allison is a top-rated speaker at the SHRM Annual Conference as well as other HR/diversity conferences, and is a national expert on harassment, discrimination and investigations. She has appeared on PBS, CBS This Morning and in O Magazine discussing workplace harassment issues. 

She is a member of the State Bar of California and holds her SHRM-SCP certification and AWI-CH (investigation) certificate.

Meredith Nethercutt is the Manager of Member Engagement at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She provides leadership and direction to establish, maintain and strengthen relationships with SHRM Volunteer Leaders, members, and affiliates to achieve the Society's strategy and objectives on membership. Meredith develops and executes a comprehensive strategy to educate and inform volunteer leaders on membership programs, services and resources and to support them in their Volunteer Leader role. Meredith was previously the director of member advocacy at SHRM, overseeing the Advocacy Team (A-Team) network of volunteer advocates, where she facilitated relationships between SHRM members and lawmakers to strengthen the Society's advocacy objectives in legislative districts nationwide. In addition, Meredith provided training and guidance to HR advocates on how to effectively communicate with lawmakers regarding workplace policies.

Ms. Walters has more than 30 years’ combined experience in management, HR administration, employment law practice, and teaching.

She has presented at conferences across the country, been engaged as an expert witness, and testified before U.S. Congressional and state legislative committees on employment issues.

Her book, “From Hello to Goodbye: Proactive Tips for Maintaining Positive Employee Relations” is in its 2nd edition and was one of the SHRMStore’s “Great 8” best-sellers for eight consecutive years.

Today, Ms. Walters works as an independent consultant doing business as FiveL Company, “Helping Leaders Limit their Liability by Learning the Law.”SM

Courtney Barksdale Perez is a senior litigation associate at Carter Scholer Arnett Hamada & Mockler. Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law, Courtney represents individuals, corporations, and government entities in all phases of commercial and employment-related litigation including administrative proceedings, state court and federal court.  Courtney has represented plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving fraud, negligence, breach of contract, breach of covenants not to compete, tortious interference with contracts, misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, breach of fiduciary duty and employment-related civil rights claims.

Courtney also advises clients concerning compliance with employment-related statutes such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Federal Labor Standards Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Texas Whistleblower Act, the Texas Payday Act, the Texas Labor Code and employment agreements.  She also conducts internal investigations, reviews and prepares policies and procedures, and provides training for employers.  Ms. Perez also has experience advising government contractors with their obligations under federal contract compliance laws, developing compliance programs, drafting Affirmative Action plans and representing government contractors in administrative proceedings.

In addition, Courtney is a trained mediator and uses her dispute resolution training and experience to assist litigants in resolving employment, business, commercial, consumer, personal injury and civil rights disputes. Prior to joining Carter Scholer, Courtney maintained a solo practice. Courtney was an associate at K&L Gates, LLP from 2008-2011, and served as Law Clerk to the Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina from 2007-2008.