Conferences

Bryan Fratkin

Founder and CEO

Whistle Stop Digital

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Bryan Fratkin, Founder and CEO of Whistle Stop Digital. Makers of SparkInfluence®. Bryan Fratkin is the founder and CEO of Whistle Stop Digital, a digital strategy firm which launched the award-winning SparkInfluence software platform. An advocacy industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in building online communities, Bryan leverages a deep understanding of platforms and tools to address the changing issue advocacy and grassroots landscape. Work ng closely with clients, he helps craft year-round education and engagement strategies and partners with them to harness the data generated from stakeholder interactions to track, manage and encourage further engagement. Frustrated by a decade of piecing together advocacy tools, Bryan branched out on his own in 2014 to start a new platform. Millions of interactions (calls, letters, tweets, etc.) between constituents and their elected officials later, SparkInfluence continues to change how grassroots organizing, PAC fundraising & advocacy is done. With a distinct focus on community building and understanding, Bryan's database and marketing background helps clients better understand their stakeholders and build communities that can be effective today and into the future. A native of Adams Morgan in Washington, DC, Bryan graduated from Emory University and currently lives in the District with his wife and their dog.

SESSIONS:

Effective Strategies for State and Federal Advocacy

Thursday, November 19, 2020 - 2:10pm to 3:00pm

Christopher Lopez

Director, CEO Academy

SHRM

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Christopher Lopez is the Director of the CEO Academy, a SHRM company, the Society for Human Resource Management.

The CEO Academy has emerged as the best refresher course in the United States for long serving CEOs as well as the perfect “war room” training ground for new CEOs and next-generation CEOs. The Academy is led by a faculty of some of the best, recently retired and successful CEOs and top academic at the prestigious, Wharton School.

SHRM drives social and economic change in the workplace and fosters mutually beneficial work environments that serve both business and employees. In his previous roles, Mr. Lopez served as a key leader for developing the next generation of HR leaders, through SHRM programming, and played a critical, strategic role in building relationships within SHRM and with affiliates to drive SHRM goals and objectives with these key stakeholders. Prior to this role at SHRM, Mr. Lopez was the Manager of Executive Office Operations and the Special Assistant to SHRM’s CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.

Over the years, Mr. Lopez amassed a wealth of experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit space. He served as the Operations Manager for TM2 Executive Search, an organization dedicated to capacity building at higher education institutions by identifying, preparing, and building the next generation of educational leaders. Immediately prior to joining TM2, Mr. Lopez joined the Fox Entertainment Group and the 20th Century Fox Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) team, where he served and contributed to the foundational build of the company’s D&I initiatives.

Prior to his time at Fox Entertainment Group, Mr. Lopez served as the Program Manager and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a national organization supporting and representing nearly 300,000 students attending the country’s 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), medical schools, and law schools. He joined TMCF as the Education Policy Specialist and Executive Assistant to the President.

Mr. Lopez earned his Master of Business Administration, with honors, from the University of Miami, and his Bachelor of Business Administration, in Management, with honors, from North Carolina Central University.

SESSIONS:

Dr. Vernon Williams

Manager, Programs

SHRM Foundation

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Dr. Vernon Williams is a Manager for the SHRM Foundation. SHRM Foundation offers participants important educational opportunities, training, and valuable resources that help them gain the skills they need to take their career to the next level. As part of his role, Dr. Williams leads SHRM Foundation’s programs for next generation of HR leaders, as well as the $500,000 portfolio of scholarships, professional development grants, and awards.

Prior to joining the SHRM Foundation, Dr. Williams was the Assistant Dean of Students and spent over 20 years in higher education overseeing various student service units including, Campus Events, Conduct, Crisis Response, Engagement, Graduate Services, Housing, and Orientation at such institutions including George Washington University, in Washington, DC and Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Williams earned his doctorate in Higher Education from George Washington University. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Loyola University in Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Morgan State University.

SESSIONS:

Defining Tomorrow: Journey through the New Landscape

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 1:10pm to 2:00pm

Brittany Hink

Senior Specialist, Membership Marketing

SHRM

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Brittany Hink is a data-driven marketer with her Master of Arts in Mass Communications with a specialization in Audience Analytics from the University of Florida. As a senior marketing specialist, she contributes to the overall membership marketing strategy and manages the development and execution of the membership acquisition plan for SHRM. During her free time, she likes to travel the world and is always taking recommendations from fellow globetrotters!

SESSIONS:

Rachel Kopfstein

Specialist, Segment Marketing

SHRM

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Rachel Kopfstein is a foward-driven senior marketing specialist with a focus on digital marketing and automation. While she currently focuses on activating and elevating SHRM's member retention campaigns, she's worked full circle with SHRM membership, having previously led marketing campaigns for membership acquisition and engagement.

SESSIONS:

Who Wants to be a Marketer? Beginner - Intermediate

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 1:10pm to 2:00pm

Christopher Lopez

Director, CEO Academy

SHRM

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Christopher Lopez is the Director of the CEO Academy, a SHRM company, the Society for Human Resource Management.

The CEO Academy has emerged as the best refresher course in the United States for long serving CEOs as well as the perfect “war room” training ground for new CEOs and next-generation CEOs. The Academy is led by a faculty of some of the best, recently retired and successful CEOs and top academic at the prestigious, Wharton School.

SHRM drives social and economic change in the workplace and fosters mutually beneficial work environments that serve both business and employees. In his previous roles, Mr. Lopez served as a key leader for developing the next generation of HR leaders, through SHRM programming, and played a critical, strategic role in building relationships within SHRM and with affiliates to drive SHRM goals and objectives with these key stakeholders. Prior to this role at SHRM, Mr. Lopez was the Manager of Executive Office Operations and the Special Assistant to SHRM’s CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.

Over the years, Mr. Lopez amassed a wealth of experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit space. He served as the Operations Manager for TM2 Executive Search, an organization dedicated to capacity building at higher education institutions by identifying, preparing, and building the next generation of educational leaders. Immediately prior to joining TM2, Mr. Lopez joined the Fox Entertainment Group and the 20th Century Fox Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) team, where he served and contributed to the foundational build of the company’s D&I initiatives.

Prior to his time at Fox Entertainment Group, Mr. Lopez served as the Program Manager and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a national organization supporting and representing nearly 300,000 students attending the country’s 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), medical schools, and law schools. He joined TMCF as the Education Policy Specialist and Executive Assistant to the President.

Mr. Lopez earned his Master of Business Administration, with honors, from the University of Miami, and his Bachelor of Business Administration, in Management, with honors, from North Carolina Central University.

SESSIONS:

Emerging Professional/Student Stakeholders

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 2:10pm to 3:00pm

Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP

Divisional Director, Membership Community

SHRM

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Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP is Divisional Director, Membership Community.

Cheddie has more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in all aspects of human resources and training. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, M&As, and in starting and turning around businesses.

Prior to joining SHRM, she served as senior vice president of human resources for Interval Leisure Group, Inc. and its affiliated companies. The company was publicly traded on NASDAQ and the leading provider of vacation services with a global consumer membership base of nearly 2 million member families, more than 2,500 member resorts in over 75 countries worldwide, and has oversight for about 14,000 employees.

Cheddie also served as senior vice president, people with PRC, as well as vice president, human resources, strategic planning, office services, and facilities for The Orvis Company, Inc. in Manchester, VT.

She earned her MBA from Upper Iowa University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.

Cheddie received the HR Award of Excellence, Hospitality in 2016 from South Florida Business & Wealth. Business Leader Magazine named Cheddie one of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire and in 2012 the National Diversity Council awarded her the Glass Ceiling Award.

She serves on the Board of Trustees for Upper Iowa University, Chairs the Human Capital Committee and is a member of the Governance and Advancement Committees, Chaired the Keiser Career College’s Advisory Board, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) from 2003-2008 and chaired SHRM’s governance and compensation committees. Cheddie has more than 35 years of SHRM volunteer leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels. She also served on the Waldorf College Alumni Board from 2004 through 2008 and was the President of the Dallas HR Association in 2000 (one of the largest affiliated SHRM chapters). She resides in South FL.

SESSIONS:

Sherry Johnson, SHRM-SCP

Southeast & Southwest Central Regions Field Services Director

SHRM

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Sherry Johnson, MBA, SHRM-SCP, CAE is Field Services Director for SHRM, based in LaRue, Texas. She supports the states of California, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Sherry serves as SHRM’s staff liaison to the HR Certification Core Leadership Area; and, she is a member of the SHRM Speaker’s Bureau.

Sherry has worked in the HR profession for over 20+ years with industry experience in not-for-profit community organizations, public education, and entrepreneurial experience as owner of a small business. Prior to joining SHRM as a staff member, in 2009, she served as president for her local SHRM affiliated chapter and she held a seat on the Texas SHRM State Council.

Sherry is an active community volunteer. She has served on her local district school board of trustees; she participated on a legislative advocacy group, working with state legislators to address educational issues affecting public school districts in Texas; and, for several years she served as the volunteer coordinator for the regional Special Olympics track meet.

Sherry currently serves on the Advisory Boards for the Concordia University-Austin Human Resource Management Degree Program and the South University-Austin School of Business.

Sherry holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Tarleton State University. She received her Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP) designation from the Society for Human Resources; and, she earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the ASAE Certified Association Executive Commission. She is a graduate of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Leadership Program, earning Master Trustee designation.

SESSIONS:

Chapter Leaders

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 2:10pm to 3:00pm

Jon Decoteau, SHRM-SCP

Division Director - West

SHRM

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With more than 25 years of human resources experience and 6 in Association Management, Jon Decoteau is a Senior HR leader specializing in Business Partner Support, HR Strategy and Services. He has a proven track record at The Coca-Cola Company, eBay and Motorola for getting organizations aligned, evaluating their strengths, and driving global projects. Jon is currently SHRM's Divisional Director based in Sacramento, California. In this role he is responsible for leading SHRM's Western US Field Services team and for helping our chapters and members grow as part of SHRM's 300,000+ member centric organization, impacting millions of employees in workforces worldwide.

SESSIONS:

Susan Post, SHRM-SCP

field services director

SHRM

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As Field Services Director for the Society for Human Resource Management, Susan Post has accountability for the membership and relationship management strategies for SHRM affiliates in a nine-state territory (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT.) She serves SHRM members, prospective members and volunteer leaders from her home office in upstate NY.

Prior to joining SHRM in 1999, Susan had 15 years of progressively responsible HR experience with several organizations, including Eastman Kodak and Cornell University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Le Moyne College, is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Susan's affiliation with the Society began in the early 1980's, when she served two terms as President of the Le Moyne College student chapter in Syracuse, NY. Throughout her professional career, Susan held numerous SHRM volunteer leadership roles, including two terms as President of her local professional chapter and District Director on the New York State Council.

Outside of SHRM, Susan has served in a variety of volunteer leader capacities for many organizations. She is currently a member of the Elmira Little Theater board of directors, a non-profit community theater group in Elmira, NY.

SESSIONS:

State Council Leaders

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 2:10pm to 3:00pm

Christopher Lopez

Director, CEO Academy

SHRM

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Christopher Lopez is the Director of the CEO Academy, a SHRM company, the Society for Human Resource Management.

The CEO Academy has emerged as the best refresher course in the United States for long serving CEOs as well as the perfect “war room” training ground for new CEOs and next-generation CEOs. The Academy is led by a faculty of some of the best, recently retired and successful CEOs and top academic at the prestigious, Wharton School.

SHRM drives social and economic change in the workplace and fosters mutually beneficial work environments that serve both business and employees. In his previous roles, Mr. Lopez served as a key leader for developing the next generation of HR leaders, through SHRM programming, and played a critical, strategic role in building relationships within SHRM and with affiliates to drive SHRM goals and objectives with these key stakeholders. Prior to this role at SHRM, Mr. Lopez was the Manager of Executive Office Operations and the Special Assistant to SHRM’s CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.

Over the years, Mr. Lopez amassed a wealth of experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit space. He served as the Operations Manager for TM2 Executive Search, an organization dedicated to capacity building at higher education institutions by identifying, preparing, and building the next generation of educational leaders. Immediately prior to joining TM2, Mr. Lopez joined the Fox Entertainment Group and the 20th Century Fox Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) team, where he served and contributed to the foundational build of the company’s D&I initiatives.

Prior to his time at Fox Entertainment Group, Mr. Lopez served as the Program Manager and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a national organization supporting and representing nearly 300,000 students attending the country’s 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), medical schools, and law schools. He joined TMCF as the Education Policy Specialist and Executive Assistant to the President.

Mr. Lopez earned his Master of Business Administration, with honors, from the University of Miami, and his Bachelor of Business Administration, in Management, with honors, from North Carolina Central University.

SESSIONS:

Bridging the Gap: Emerging Leaders to Professionals

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 1:10pm to 2:00pm