Trent serves as the VP of Research at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM),  the world’s largest HR professional society, representing more than 300,000 members in more than 165 countries.  In this position, Trent leads a comprehensive research program that identifies workplace needs, conducts research, and develops research-based solutions and products to allow HR and business leaders to further the goals of their organization.  Trent also served as a SHRM Certification Commissioner.  In this position, Trent served as a chief technical advisor for the development of the SHRM competency model and certification exams.  Prior to SHRM, Trent spent 15 years at Walmart Stores, Inc. leading global HR Centers of Expertise and has led large, multinational HR projects in China, India, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, the UK, and the US.  Trent holds a BA in Psychology and a MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Akron.   He is also holds the SHRM-SCP certification. 

Wendi Safstrom is a senior non-profit leader committed to serving the public through philanthropic program management, cultivating strategic partnerships and managing and developing high performing teams. She has both association and nonprofit management experience including; national program development and administration, membership strategy, marketing and product development, grant management, development and donor stewardship, and leading cross functional teams. Safstrom currently serves as President for the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation (SHRM Foundation), where she leads the development and implementation of SHRM Foundation's programmatic, development, and marketing and communication strategies in support of SHRM Foundation's new mission and vision, creating growth plans and ensuring alignment with SHRM goals.  

Prior to assuming the role at SHRM Foundation, Safstrom served as Vice President at the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, where she led the development and implementation of their Foundation's most recent five-year strategic plan, and was responsible for all Foundation programming, including workforce development initiatives, scholarship and event management, community relations and engagement initiatives. The NRAEF's philanthropic programming supported a number of audiences including high school youth, veterans transitioning from service to civilian work and life, opportunity youth and incumbent workers. Of particular note, she led the implementation of the restaurant industry's premier high school career and technical education program, growing the program to over 2,000 public high schools, engaging over 150,000 students annually, nationwide. In 2016, she served as lead project director for the development of a $10 million contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to develop the hospitality industry's first apprenticeship program, and was instrumental in the Foundation's reorganization and relocation of operations from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C., transforming the staff and culture.  

Safstrom has also held human resource management roles with the Leo Burnett Company and Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. She has a BS in Business Administration from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and was recognized as a member of the 2014 "Power 20" by Restaurant Business Magazine as a leader in philanthropy within the restaurant industry.  

Dr. Michael Baran is the CEO of Iris Inclusion, a global diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) firm. Dr. Baran draws on his own social science research to inform his DEI speaking engagements, writings, consulting, leadership development, and eLearning. After teaching at Harvard University, he has been supporting DEI in organizations for 20 years. His work has been covered in the New York Times, BBC, Forbes, CNN, NPR, and more.

His recent book, Subtle Acts of Exclusion, was named by Forbes as one of “The 11 Books To Read To Be A More Inclusive Leader” and has won several awards.

Dionna Smith, GPHR is a Strategic Global D&I Executive at PowertoFly, where she provides D&I solutions for companies with more than 10,000 employees.

Prior to joining PowerToFly, Dionna led Diversity Talent strategies at Delta Air Lines and has led Talent Acquisition teams at a number of fortune 500 companies.

Dionna is a sought after diversity recruitment subject matter expert and speaker who has contributed to several media outlets, in print and on-air, including Forbes, INC, Entrepreneur, CNN Money, NPR and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

People Strategy leader focused on developing and implementing initiatives and strategies across the organization to attract, hire, develop, and engage top talent. Strong background in talent acquisition and employer branding, coupled with a passion for data analytics and leveraging technology to fuel business strategy and leadership decisions. 

Experienced in hyper-growth organizations both in-house, as well as consulting, working with a goal of creating scalable processes that lead to reaching overall business objectives related to people operations and human strategy.  Jessica has just completed her Certificate in the Foundations of Neuroleadership.

Dr. Shirley Davis, CSP, President of SDS Global Enterprises, a global workforce solutions firm, is an award-winning Human Resources expert, with over 30 years of business experience in a variety of senior executive roles for several Fortune 100 companies, as well as her last role of Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion for the Society for Human Resource Management. She’s also a best-selling author of 5 books, serves on the National Speakers Association and the NSA Foundation Boards, and the Make A Wish Foundation Board. She is a popular facilitator for eight LinkedIn Learning leadership courses.

Pam Jeffords is a Partner in PwC’s Workforce of the Future Practice. Pam has over 25 years of experience advising companies and organizations on how they can break the status quo and drive progress with their diversity, inclusion and engagement goals. Pam has deep industry expertise in Technology, Energy, Consumer Goods and Financial Services. Pam is a member of the Global Leadership Council for Colorado State University’s College of Business, an advisory board member for University of Denver's Women’s College, Limited Partner in The JumpFund, and has served as Chair of Women United for the Mile High United Way where she received the prestigious Frances Wisebart Jacobs award for philanthropy.

Pam holds a Bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and a MBA from Georgia State University. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and four children.