Lara is an experienced trial lawyer and client advocate. Her extensive career has involved representing companies of all sizes, across many industries, in all aspects of employment law. Lara has successfully defended clients in the courtroom, before administrative agencies, and on appeal.

In addition to litigation, Lara has spent her two-plus decades of experience partnering with clients to counsel them through complex issues involving discrimination, retaliation, accommodation, and wage and hour compliance. Lara has also developed a passion for guiding clients through high-stakes matters involving pay equity, harassment, leave of absence and accommodations. Lara has had the distinct experience of working as in-house counsel for two large, multi-national corporations, which gives her a unique perspective on how to address the intricate issues facing organizations and their employees.

Lara is an accomplished speaker and presenter, having presented on cutting edge employment law topics at local and national events, as well as many online forums. Lara is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

As a “Recovering HR Manager" Richard Fagerlin, has led Peak Solutions, a leadership development firm for the last 20 years.

Born out of the simple idea that we should love what we do and who we do it with, Peak Solutions is dedicated to helping build wise leaders, strong teams & healthy cultures & has served countless organizations in over 50 countries worldwide. Richard is also a leading authority on the topic of Trust and is the author of Trustology: The Art and Science of Leading High Trust Teams.

Richard is from Fort Collins, Colorado where he enjoys an active lifestyle following the interests and passions of his four boys and making memories and enjoying experiences every step of the way.

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As a “Recovering HR Manager" Richard Fagerlin, has led Peak Solutions, a leadership development firm for the last 20 years.

Born out of the simple idea that we should love what we do and who we do it with, Peak Solutions is dedicated to helping build wise leaders, strong teams & healthy cultures & has served countless organizations in over 50 countries worldwide. Richard is also a leading authority on the topic of Trust and is the author of Trustology: The Art and Science of Leading High Trust Teams.

Richard is from Fort Collins, Colorado where he enjoys an active lifestyle following the interests and passions of his four boys and making memories and enjoying experiences every step of the way.

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Global Speaker Sonia Aranza has presented on the international stage from Spain to Singapore.  She brings 27+ years of experience in Diversity, Inclusion & Global Leadership. Her clients include Boeing, CIA, McDonald’s and more. The U.S. Department of Labor describes her work as “Outstanding” and was selected to execute programs for landmark cases. SHRM featured her as a Diversity & Inclusion Expert in HR Magazine and she is a LinkedIn Top Voice in Leadership. She serves on the Faculty of Howard University’s Executive Diversity Program; named “100 Most Influential Filipina Americans in the United States” and honored “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World.”

As a senior human capital management (HCM) strategy consultant for UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), Chas Fields helps organizations identify, assess, and maintain their human element, focusing specifically on how increasing employee efficiency while cultivating a differentiated employee experience can ultimately drive business success. As a change management practitioner, Fields is passionate about helping organizations deliver successful initiatives at any scale. Fields is also a host of the People Purpose Podcast of The Workforce Institute at UKG.  

Giselle is the Practice Lead in Optimus SBR’s Learning & Development Group with over 25 years experience as a sought after resource to industry leaders across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors dedicated to building strategies and programs that help clients target, motivate and engage employees in order to increase performance and productivity.

Giselle has devoted more than 20 years to researching the impact that generational differences have on organizational performance, creating solutions and programs in four areas – leadership, high performance teams, early career talent, and reinforcement & sustainment of learning. Giselle has co-authored two books and completed her Master of Arts Degree in Communications Studies at the University of Windsor.

She is Chair of the Board at The Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL), co-chair of the Cross Academy Association and Advisory Council member at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Christman serves as the head of Engagement and Philanthropy for the Society of Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Foundation.  In this capacity, she raises funds and visibility for the 501c (3) philanthropic arm of the world’s largest HR professional society.  The SHRM Foundation is mobilizing the power of HR for social change. Its robust programming and resources, meaningful partnerships, and evidenced-based research are educating and empowering HR professionals to hire diverse talent, build inclusive workplaces, and help employees find purpose at work and beyond.

For almost a decade, Christman provided strategic counsel to MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership – co-founded by philanthropists Ray Chambers and Geoff Boisi. In that capacity, Christman helped start and raised funding for their MENTOR Illinois partnership; she also worked with a team to create MENTOR’s first National Mentoring Summit with the former First Lady of the United States as keynote speaker; and designed messaging, materials and overall branding opportunities for the national organization.  

Christman helped lead the New York City based HELP USA’s foundation’s marketing, communications and revenue development activities.  HELP USA is a $120 million national nonprofit organization that provides housing and supportive services for the homeless.  Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York founded this non-profit organization.  Christman has also helped national organizations serving America’s veterans, ensuring Congressional leaders, The White House and other DC influencers are aware of these veteran’s services and corporate, foundation and individual donors are supporting veterans.

Christman also led corporate communications and industry relations divisions for the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation in Chicago, IL, securing more than $15 million, including funds from two federal grants; managed programming and marketing for The Coca-Cola Company’s recruitment and retention program; handled relations with national sponsors, including American Express, Ecolab, Sodexho, the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and H.J. Heinz; and developed strategic marketing and communications for the school-to-career program, establishing it in 30 states.

Christman began her career at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in Washington, DC, helping create and implement a national marketing and communications strategy for the U.S. Department of Labor’s $400 million school-to-career program. Christman was also in charge of the DC-based Taste of the Nation event with Share our Strength.  Additional clients included Pfizer, Glaxo Wellcome, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Education.

Christman’s volunteer activities include being a board and active committee member for the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills; the Clarence Dillon Public Library; and Far Hills Country Day School.  She is a member of MENTOR IL’s Advisory Council and has been on the associate boards of the Boys & Girls Club, Chicago; Big Shoulders Fund, Chicago; and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

She is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; NY Women in Communications; and the American Society of Association Executives.  She graduated from Boston College.

Erica started her career designing and facilitating training for social impact organizations. She quickly realized her calling: arming organizations with the capability needed to evolve. Since joining SHRM four years ago, Erica has held three roles. She began her career at SHRM in Research, then moved onto the founding SHRMLabs team. SHRMLabs explores the intersection of work and technology. Now, Erica oversees the enterprise client experience as the Manager of Solution Architecture.

Erica holds a master’s degree in industrial/Organizational Psychology, with a focus in instructional systems design. She earned her SHRM-SCP and consistently speaks on behalf of SHRM on workplace tech, the future of work, DEIB, and upskilling. Outside of work, you can find Erica tending to her indoor and outdoor garden, and giving her cat, Suki, more attention than she wants.    

John A. Rubino, SHRM-SCP, CCP, CBP, GRP, WLCP, is founder and president of Rubino Consulting Services, a global human resources consulting company based in Pound Ridge, New York. His areas of expertise cover all areas of Human Resources program design. An internationally acclaimed speaker for SHRM and WorldatWork, John is the author of numerous human resources articles, and is frequently quoted in professional publications. He holds BA and MBA degrees, as well as a lifetime Achievement Award from WorldatWork. John works with a wide variety of organizations and his consulting practice takes him all around the world; in fact, he has visited one hundred and nine countries!

Been there – done that!  With 30 years of HR and business experience – Lori has walked in your shoes.  A recovered HR Generalist, she built a consulting company that she sold to Arthur J Gallagher after 7 years and then reinvented her current business – HR Topics -  training, speaking and developing content for HR professionals.  Lori delivers facts, tips, tricks and best practices in a way that appeals to human resource and business leaders: with a sense of humor, a bias toward actions that improve their operations right away, and practical resources and tools to support their progress.  As an annual speaker at the National SHRM conference, she has leveraged her masters in HR, SPHR and SHRM-SCP background to elevate the position of all HR professionals!