Alexander Alonso, PhD, SHRM-SCP is the Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM's) Chief Data & Insights Officer leading operations for SHRM's Certified Professional and Senior Certified Professional certifications, research functions, and the SHRM Knowledge Advisor service. He is responsible for all research activities, including the development of the SHRM Competency Model and SHRM credentials.

During his career, he has worked with numerous subject matter experts worldwide with the aim of identifying performance standards, developing competency models, designing organizational assessments, and conducting job analyses. He was also responsible for working on contract task orders involving the development of measurement tools for content areas such as job knowledge (like teacher knowledge of instructional processes) and organizational climates (like organizational climate forecasting in military health care).

Dr. Alonso received his doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Florida International University in 2003. His works have been recognized for their contribution to real-world issues. They include being recognized by the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology (Division 14 of the APA; SIOP) with the 2007 M. Scott Myers Award for Applied Research in the Workplace for the development of the federal standard for medical team training, TeamSTEPPS; being awarded a 2009 Presidential Citation for Innovative Practice by the American Psychological Association for supporting the development of competency model for team triage in emergency medicine; and receiving the 2013 SIOP Distinguished Early Career Contributions for Practice Award.

Throughout his career, he has published works in peer-reviewed journals such as Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, Journal of Applied Psychology, International Journal of Selection and Assessment, People and Strategy, Personality and Individual Differences, Quality and Safety in Health Care, and Human Resources Management Review. He has also authored several chapters on community-based change initiatives in workforce readiness, as well as co-authoring Defining HR Success: A Guide to the SHRM Competency Model in Practice.

Dr. Alonso also served as a columnist analyzing major trends in the workforce for The Industrial Psychologist and HR Magazine. In addition, he has served on several professional society boards including the SIOP and the Personnel Testing Council of Metropolitan Washington.

Lisa Murfield is on a mission to help leaders leverage the ROI of compassion. As the Human Resources Manager for Hill Ward Henderson law firm and Vice President of Murfield Coaching, Inc., she speaks, coaches and trains using cutting-edge ideas merged with proven best business practices. Lisa co-authored The ROI of Compassion and the forthcoming release of Leading with the Power of Compassion. She holds her MBA and is certified SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR and served as the 2010 President of HR Tampa. Lisa also speaks on various media platforms at the local, state and national level.  

Brenda S. Kasper is a founding member of Kasper & Frank LLP, a law firm representing California and multi-state employers for all of their human resources and employment law needs.  She regularly advises employers of all sizes on wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, disability accommodation, reductions in force, terminations and discipline management, employment contracts, personnel policies, and hiring issues.  She also provides management and human resources training.  Brenda is a former HR director so her legal advice is practical, creative and tailored to each client’s needs.  She was the 2015 San Diego SHRM Board President, is an instructor for the HR Certification program at the University of California San Diego Extension and holds her SHRM-SCP and SPHR-California certifications.

Elizabeth Moore is the Vice President of Development of Holmes Corporation and manager of the SHRM Learning System. She has over 25 years of combined Product Management, Project Management, and training and development experience.  She has managed the design and development of SHRM certification and education courses for over 10 years, working directly with HR experts, employers, educational partners, instructors and students from around the globe. Elizabeth’s insights and expertise have helped shape the SHRM Learning System into the premier HR Certification preparation resource and advanced the careers of thousands of HR professionals worldwide.  

Dr. Bryan Deptula is the CEO of BKD Leaders, a modern-day leadership consulting company, and is the acting chair of the management department at W. Huizenga College of Business at Nova Southeastern University.

He capitalizes on years of industry experience, his own research, and knowledge of leadership to discover and develop leaders that make organizations grow. Deptula believes that the most important people in our lives are those who see the leader within us that we cannot see for ourselves. These people give us the courage and confidence to become the best possible version of ourselves. His motto learn, lead and live reminds himself, and all people that encounter him, to live into their highest potential.

Dr. Deptula is published in leading journals, the Leadership Quarterly, Personality and Individual Differences, and Human Resource Development Quarterly.

John Austin came to SHRM in February of 2016 and served as the Operations Manager for the Knowledge Center for three years. Prior to joining SHRM, he served in various operational and managerial capacities. John is currently the Manager of Certification Relations, where he is responsible for managing operational planning and oversight of market/constituency growth initiatives for the Certification Department. John holds an MBA from the University of Maryland, University College and earned his bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University.