Karen Dougherty Buchholz, Executive Vice President of Administration and Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Corporation, has a wide array of corporate development responsibilities, including corporate real estate, facilities, aviation, diversity, corporate services, business continuity, travel, security and sustainability. She was the executive in charge of the development of Comcast’s new Technology Center, a $1.5 billion, 60-story tower adjacent to Comcast’s corporate headquarters, the Comcast Center, which is one of the nation’s tallest. Karen previously oversaw the development of Comcast Center, a $750 million, 56-story tower from 2005 through 2008. 

From 2000 to 2003, Karen established Comcast’s first corporate communications infrastructure, unifying communications for the entire family of Comcast companies. This included leading communications during many company acquisitions, including the company’s transformative acquisition of AT&T Broadband in 2001-2002. 

Prior to Comcast, in 1997, then-Mayor Edward G. Rendell appointed Karen as President of Philadelphia 2000, the organization that brought the 2000 Republican National Convention to Philadelphia and served as the City’s official Host Committee. The Convention attracted 50,000 visitors and won national and international media attention. Immediate economic benefits exceeded $300 million. 

Karen served as Sales Executive for Comcast-Spectacor from 1993 to 1997 for what is now called the Wells Fargo Center, a 20,000-seat arena and home to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Comcast-owned Philadelphia Flyers. In 1991, Karen led the development of the Pyramid Club at the top of the Mellon Bank Center for Club Corporation of America. 

Karen served as Special Assistant to State Treasurer Barbara Hafer during her 1990 gubernatorial bid. From 1988-1990, Karen was Special Assistant to United States Senator John Heinz in Washington, D.C. 

Karen received her M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. She is a 1988 graduate of Dickinson College and the Dickinson Center for European Studies in Bologna, Italy. 

Board Memberships 

Karen serves on WSFS Financial Corporation and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB Board of Directors. She also serves on the Boards of many civic and charitable organizations, including: Board of Trustees, Drexel University; Board of Directors, Museum of the American Revolution; Global Board of Directors, Women in Cable Telecommunications; and University of Pennsylvania’s Trustees’ Council of Penn Women. 

Karen has received numerous awards, including: 2018 Police Athletic League of Philadelphia’s PAL Award; 2017 Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council’s Construction & Real Estate "Good Scout" Award; 2016 Philadelphia Magazine's Trailblazer Award; 2014 United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Women’s Initiative Award; National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications - Philadelphia 2012 Paragon Award; 2012 Multichannel News Wonder Women Award; 2011 Women in Cable Telecommunications Seasoned Professional Service Award; 2009 Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business Award; 2008 American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” Woman of Heart Award. 

Nicole Hall is an Educational Program Specialist at Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Nicole serves as one of the liaisons for the Educational Partners program for the SHRM Specialty Credentials and brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the specialty credentials. In addition, she is responsible for implementing the overall educational programs strategy with the goal of delivering the highest caliber of service and programming to SHRM members and the greater business community.

Robert Kaiser is a distinguished leader with 15 years of experience in leading and developing teams.  Currently, Robert is the VP of People, Culture & Diversity at KnowBe4, one of the fastest growing cybersecurity companies in the world.  Robert received his B.S. in Business Administration from Gannon University and his MBA from Louisiana State University.

Robert leads a team of highly skilled HR professionals whose focus is maintaining the best work environment possible for their employees while assisting leaders achieve better results.  He also oversees the Fun & Shenanigans Team who focuses on maintaining the overall employee experience and a vibrant culture within the company, which has played a key role in KnowBe4’s hypergrowth.  Prior to KnowBe4, Robert spent 13 years in the world or retail assisting managers reach their potential as leaders.

Diego Salmon, Vice President Global Enterprise Sales, is a highly experienced executive with more than three decades of experience in professional services, education and corporate learning and development.  

Prior to join SHRM, Salmon worked for not for profit and profit organizations. During his career with Berlitz Corporation, the global-leader in foreign language and cultural education and training, he held positions from Director to company President to Regional Managing Director. He has achieved success in business development, brand awareness and product mix expansion in the North and South America both organically and through joint ventures.

He’s a people-focused, result-driven leader who has thrived in turnaround, partner integration and rapid growth business environments.

Carolyn Barley serves as SHRM’s Lead Instructional Designer and Accessibility Program Manager. Bringing over two decades of experience, she is a seasoned learning professional adept in all aspects of learning and development, corporate university design, strategic learning, instructional design and accessibility. She has worked with 35 organizations to sophisticate their holistic learning environment. She has created eLearning, instructor led, and blended learning solutions across a suite of content, spanning from human resources, leadership, audit and tax services, adult learning and financial institutions, - across public and private sector. During her tenure at SHRM, she has played a pivotal role in several key initiatives, including the design and development of the specialty credential product line, the development of the People Manager Qualification (PMQ), overseeing content and curriculum of over 30 instructor-led programs, and leading a holistic accessibility initiative across the organization. Driven by a passion for education and a commitment to positive change, she is dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives she influences, while championing awareness and action to foster a better world for all.

Liz Lacey is the Director of Educational Programs at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Liz is responsible for and oversees the execution and growth strategy of SHRM’s Educational Programs, which equips HR professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to hone their expertise and lead within the changing workplace demands of the future. This strategy includes the planning and delivery of our instructor-led programming (including in-person and virtual synchronous deliveries), self-paced eLearning offerings and our blended SHRM Specialty Credential programs.