Lora Haines is a high-energy, world-class facilitator, keynote speaker, and instructional design expert. She has over twelve years of experience in learning and development at world-class organizations like Walt Disney, and has designed and developed several of JB Training’s most popular workshops. Lora knows a thing or two about how to keep the modern workforce engaged: she focused her Master’s thesis on effectively retaining high-performing early career professionals. While flashy perks may be intriguing initially, she believes that dynamic leadership, a strong culture, and plentiful career development opportunities are necessary to retain star employees for the long haul.

Lora is a certified coach who is passionate about helping professionals reach their highest career aspirations. When she isn’t facilitating workshops, she develops engaging curriculum and consults global organizations such as Microsoft, Eli Lilly, Subaru, Spectrum Reach, and Publicis Groupe. Outside of the training room, you can find Lora cruising around town on her bike, supporting local restaurants, and spending as much time as possible near the beach.

Joe believes that everyone has a superpower that makes them unique; and his happens to be that he can predict the future.  Some of the time, his predictions are actually correct.  He is a leader in digitalization, emerging technology, data analytics, and strategic workforce development at BMW Manufacturing.  In his 15-year career spanning roles in IT, Logistics, and Human Resources in the BMW Group he has led his teams to focus on continuous improvement through innovation.  This includes years spent leading teams in China, designing BMW HR’s Digitalization Strategy in the upstate of South Carolina, and managing dozens of cross-functional projects within the BMW Group across 4 continents.   

He is a contributor to the American Payroll Association and the Society for Human Resource Management.  His team was recognized in 2016 by the American Payroll Association (APA) with their national Prism Award for Best Practices and he was honored in 2021 with the APA’s prestigious Meritorious Service Award. Joe holds a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering and an M.A. degree in Economics both from Clemson University.

Martin J. Walsh was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Labor on March 23, 2021. A lifelong champion of equity and fairness, and a proud product of the City of Boston, Secretary Walsh leads the U.S. Department of Labor with a strong connection to working people, and a commitment to creating an economy that works for all.

In 1997, he was elected to serve as a State Representative for one of the most diverse districts in Massachusetts. There, he focused on creating good jobs, protecting workers' rights, expanding mental health treatment, and investing in public transit.

Following his time as a State Representative, Secretary Walsh spent the last seven years as the Mayor of the City of Boston. While mayor, he led the creation of close to 140,000 jobs and helped secure a statewide $15/hour minimum wage, paid sick leave, and paid parental leave. He established Universal, high-quality Pre-Kindergarten for all children, and free community college for low-income students.

Secretary Walsh was a national leader in the response to COVID-19, getting PPE to first responders and nursing homes; funding emergency child care for healthcare and frontline workers; halting evictions and providing rental relief; and setting up multiple funds to help small businesses survive. His work early in the pandemic to pause construction and establish safety requirements has been lauded as a model by both unions and employers alike.

As Mayor of Boston, Secretary Walsh also made his mark as a labor leader. After following his father into Laborers Local 223 in Boston, he rose to head the Building and Construction Trades Council from 2011 to 2013. He worked with business and community leaders to promote high-quality development, and he created a program called Building Pathways that has become a model for increasing diversity in the workplace and providing good career opportunities for women and people of color.

Born and raised in the neighborhood of Dorchester by immigrant parents, Secretary Walsh is driven to ensure our nation's economy works for everyone. Secretary Walsh is a survivor of Burkitt lymphoma and is a proud member of the recovery community who has worked to expand addiction treatment throughout his career. While working full-time as a legislator, he returned to school to earn a degree in Political Science at Boston College.