As SVP HR global categories & R&D for Unilever, Ms. Laird is responsible for managing the development of talent, organizations and culture across the region in alignment with Unilever’s global HR strategies. She is specifically responsible for HR operations, labor relations, continuous improvement, and change management for Unilever’s businesses within North and Latin America. She serves as a member of both the Americas Leadership Team and Unilever’s Global HR Leadership Team. Ms. Laird also serves as the head of Communications for Unilever Americas. In this role, she is responsible for delivering a cohesive communications strategy in the region, ensuring the integrity of the Unilever brand, and effectively linking together Unilever’s internal and external communications efforts, including media relations, public affairs, corporate responsibility and employee communications. She serves as a member of the Unilever’s Global Communications Leadership Team. Ms. Laird joined Unilever as labor and employment counsel for Unilever United States in 1991. In 1994, she moved to Human Resources to support the Unilever Foods North America business group and was subsequently appointed to the board of Lipton as vice president, Human Resources in 1998. In 2000, she was appointed senior vice president, Human Resources for Unilever Bestfoods North America, and in 2005, senior vice president, Human Resources and Communications for Unilever Americas. Prior to joining Unilever, she practiced law at the New York law firm of Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander & Ferdon. Ms. Laird is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde where she completed a double major program in English and history. She holds a J.D. degree with honors from Case Western Reserve University

As vice president of human resources for the Chicago Cubs, Bryan Robinson is responsible for leading execution of the Cubs’ organizational strategy and cultural imperatives in addition to all aspects of human resources. Robinson joined the Cubs after spending nine years with General Electric Company including roles as human resources leader for GE Corporate Commercial and Communications, where he led organizational development for GE’s chief marketing officer and the Global Marketing organization consisting of 40,000 employees. In addition, he served as human resources leader to the Communications and Public Affairs, Advertising and Branding, Market Intelligence, and Healthymagination corporate functions.

Prior to joining GE Corporate, Robinson held human resources manager positions in multiple supply chain and manufacturing locations for GE Industrial Systems and GE Lighting. He transitioned to GE Healthcare in 2006 as human resources leader for Americas Ultrasound and Lunar Services. After leading the integration of the Diagnostic Imaging and Clinical Systems Services business, he became Americas Central Zone human resources director in 2009. As human resources director, Robinson was instrumental in redesigning the service and sales organizations and led GE Healthcare's Commercial Transformation, creating a new account management organization across the Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston and Dallas regions.

Robinson began his career as a member of the GE Human Resource Leadership Program, completing generalist, union relations and operations rotations in addition to global training and development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and a master’s degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources, both from Michigan State University.

Bryan and his wife Katie reside on the North Side of Chicago.

Captain Mark Kelly Mark Kelly is an American astronaut, retired US Navy Captain, best selling-author, prostate cancer survivor, and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War. The winner of many awards, including the Legion of Merit, two Defense Superior Service Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Kelly was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the same space shuttle that he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. He has also commanded Space Shuttle Discovery and is one of only two individuals who have visited the International Space Station on four different occasions. Already a celebrated American, Kelly became the center of international attention after the January 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, former US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. In their best-selling memoir, Gabby, the couple shares their story of hope and resilience with the world. The inspirational memoir has topped multiple best-seller lists, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon. Named on of the Esquire’s 2011 "Americans of the Year,” Kelly was also featured on the cover of and profiled in the magazine. He published his first children’s book in October 2012, titled Mousetronaut: A Partially True Story. Gabrielle Giffords U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was first elected to Arizona's 8th Congressional District seat in 2006 and won reelections in 2008 and 2010. Then, on January 8, 2011, a would-be assassin opened fire at a local event in Tucson, where Giffords was meeting with constituents. Six people were killed, and 13 others were injured in the attack. Among the injured was Giffords, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head and faced immediate neurosurgery to treat her life-threatening injuries. Giffords was a Fulbright Scholar and holds a bachelor of arts degree from Scripps College and a master’s from Cornell University. Before coming to Washington, DC, she served in the Arizona state House of Representatives from 2001 until 2003 and in the Arizona state Senate from 2003 until 2005, where she was the youngest woman ever elected to that body. Giffords resigned her Congressional seat in January 2012, choosing to focus on her continued recovery. Upon stepping down, she announced, "I will return, and we will work together for Arizona and this great country."

A partner in the Labor and Employment practice area, Hope's extensive labor and employment practice is bolstered by her experiences as Associate General Counsel at Bunge North America (NYSE: BG), an integrated agribusiness and food ingredient company with grain handling, processing and port facilities throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. From her more than 10 years of work at Bunge, Hope intimately understands the needs and objectives of in-house counsel. That unique in-house perspective helps her craft practical business solutions and effectively communicate her common-sense advice to corporate leadership and HR professionals. In her practice, Hope counsels human resource departments and business leaders on compliance with employment laws, including those involving discrimination, wage and hour, benefits, health and safety, and worker's compensation. She frequently advises companies in labor matters, including union negotiations, union avoidance, labor arbitrations, union certifications and de-certifications and matters before the National Labor Relations Board. She also develops and drafts personnel policies, and conducts on-site or remote training on compliance with labor and employment laws.

 

Mr. Storch supports the Council for Global Immigration’s Government Affairs team as Manager of Agency Liaison, responsible for working with federal immigration agencies to ensure employment-based immigration policies enable U.S. employers to build America’s future workforce, grow the economy and create U.S. jobs. Prior to joining the Council, Mr. Storch worked as an immigration paralegal at both Trow & Rahal, PC and Freilicher & Hoffman, PC. Mr. Storch has also spent time serving in the offices of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and U.S. Representative Jerry Costello (D-IL). Mr. Storch received his JD from American University, where he worked as a student attorney in the university’s Immigrant Justice Clinic. Mr. Storch also holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Chris Hoyt is chief innovation evangelist and co-owner at CareerXroads

Previously, Chris was the Talent Engagement and Marketing Leader at PepsiCo, where he was responsible for the design, implementation and sustainability of digital and social recruiting strategies inclusive of managing Internet communities, analytics and 3rd party recruitment partnerships. An evangelist of breaking away from traditional thought and standard practices within the recruiting & staffing industry, Chris has been pushing the boundaries of full-cycle recruiting for over 15 years - with a constant focus on using technology to recruit top talent while exceeding the expectations of job seekers around the globe.

Bob Ravener is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for the Dollar General Corporation, a Fortune 200 publicly traded company. In this capacity, Mr. Ravener has leadership responsibility for all Human Resources initiatives for a company with more than 90,000 employees in over 10,000 stores. Prior to joining Dollar General, Mr. Ravener held executive roles in Human Resources at several premier companies including Starbucks, The Home Depot, and PepsiCo. Mr. Ravener has been recognized in the Human Resources community as a Top 10 HR Breakaway Leader and under his leadership Dollar General has been nationally recognized for military support and training excellence. Prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Ravener served in the US Navy, as a Submarine officer. Mr. Ravener finished his active duty service at the US Naval Academy where he served as an instructor, coach, and recruiter. He also spent time in the Naval Reserves following active duty. Mr. Ravener is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned distinction as a leader, intercollegiate varsity baseball player, and is past president of his class. He also earned an MBA in General Management from New York University. In February of 2004, Mr. Ravener was appointed by the Secretary of Labor to the President's National Hire Veterans Committee and in 2007, was appointed to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach. Mr. Ravener resides in Brentwood, TN and is married with three children.