Jenn Lim
Creator of the Zappos Culture Book and Co-Founder of Delivering Happiness
Delivering Happiness
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Jenn Lim is the CEO and CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) of Delivering Happiness (DH), a company she and Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos.com) co-founded to inspire science-based happiness, passion and purpose at work, home and in everyday life.

Jenn has been a consultant with Zappos from its start-up days in 2003 to the several billion-dollar business it is today. She created the Zappos Culture Book, an embodiment of how companies can use happiness as a business model to increase productivity and profitability.

In 2010, Jenn led the launch and management of Tony’s first book (Delivering Happiness) which sold over 800,000 copies internationally and hit #1 on numerous bestsellers list (including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today). It was voted one of the best business books by NPR, Inc. Magazine and the Wall Street Journal, remained on the New York Times list for 27 weeks and has been published in 20 languages around the world. 

Jenn’s experience with Zappos, combined with her development of scientific frameworks for workplace happiness, created the evidence that happier employees = happier customers = successful companies (and meaningful lives).

Jenn has traveled around the world to speak on this equation and most importantly, share the practical ways of HOW this equation works. 

Upon the discovery that every organization can have similar results, DH evolved into the culture coachsulting company it is today...to help businesses, hospitals and governments actualize their own sustainable culture for positive ROI.

Today, Jenn is dedicated to growing DH to inspire people, companies and communities to change their world, so together, we can change the world.

Additionally, Jenn sits on the Global Happiness Council of Work and Wellbeing and the advisory board for Springboard an initiative led by Geisinger Health Systems.
 

SESSIONS:
Sunday, June 23, 2019 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Robert Massa
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/His
Managing Director of Retirement
Qualified Plan Advisors, LLC
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Robert Massa is the Managing Director of Retirement in Houston, TX for Qualified Plan Advisors (QPA). Rob is a retirement professional with more than 25 years of retirement industry experience. His primary responsibilities include practice management, strategic investment direction and advice, retirement plan design consulting and compliance, employee education and development, financial wellness strategies, client relationship management and SEC compliance. His career has been focused in the investment management and administration of qualified retirement plans in a diverse series of roles including investment advice, trust administration, recordkeeping, plan document drafting, compliance testing, product management, legal and client consultation.

SESSIONS:
Monday, June 24, 2019 - 10:45am to 11:45am
Robert Massa
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/His
Managing Director of Retirement
Qualified Plan Advisors, LLC
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Robert Massa is the Managing Director of Retirement in Houston, TX for Qualified Plan Advisors (QPA). Rob is a retirement professional with more than 25 years of retirement industry experience. His primary responsibilities include practice management, strategic investment direction and advice, retirement plan design consulting and compliance, employee education and development, financial wellness strategies, client relationship management and SEC compliance. His career has been focused in the investment management and administration of qualified retirement plans in a diverse series of roles including investment advice, trust administration, recordkeeping, plan document drafting, compliance testing, product management, legal and client consultation.

SESSIONS:
Karen Aliabadi
chief human resource strategist
Delta Dental of Washington
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Karen Aliabadi is the Chief Human Resources Strategist at Delta Dental of Washington. As an expert in organizational strategy, Karen leads collaborative enterprise initiatives to shape the workforce to meet business priorities.

Karen is a Human Resources executive who is passionate about providing companies with the perfect balance of human capital expertise and business acumen. She joined Delta Dental in 2015 after working in Human Resources for many industry-respected companies, including Fisher Communications and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. With over 20 years of industry experience and strategic insight, she has a solid understanding of people dynamics and builds strong talent management capabilities. Directly prior to starting at DDWA, Karen was the President and owner of the consulting firm, Passio, where she helped clients make sustainable performance improvements through culture.

Karen is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources from the HR Certification Institute. Karen holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Training and Development and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Education from Southern Illinois University. She also completed the Master of Sustainable Business Practices program at Green Mountain College, attaining her MBA while serving as the Vice President of Corporate HR at Fisher Communications.

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 7:15am to 8:15am
Karen Aliabadi
chief human resource strategist
Delta Dental of Washington
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Karen Aliabadi is the Chief Human Resources Strategist at Delta Dental of Washington. As an expert in organizational strategy, Karen leads collaborative enterprise initiatives to shape the workforce to meet business priorities.

Karen is a Human Resources executive who is passionate about providing companies with the perfect balance of human capital expertise and business acumen. She joined Delta Dental in 2015 after working in Human Resources for many industry-respected companies, including Fisher Communications and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. With over 20 years of industry experience and strategic insight, she has a solid understanding of people dynamics and builds strong talent management capabilities. Directly prior to starting at DDWA, Karen was the President and owner of the consulting firm, Passio, where she helped clients make sustainable performance improvements through culture.

Karen is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources from the HR Certification Institute. Karen holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Training and Development and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Education from Southern Illinois University. She also completed the Master of Sustainable Business Practices program at Green Mountain College, attaining her MBA while serving as the Vice President of Corporate HR at Fisher Communications.

SESSIONS:
Leah Owens
senior director of HR Operations
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
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Leah Owens, Senior Director of Human Resource Operations for Gaylord Opryland Resort & Attractions. In her role, Leah is instrumental in recruitment, total compensation and wage planning, STAR relations and the execution of key objectives as outlined in the Resort’s HR Goals and total property business plan. Additionally, Leah also oversees analytical reporting for the HR team in order to identify key market trends for hiring and recruiting throughout middle Tennessee. 

With more than 11 years’ experience in Human Resources, Leah began her career as a Human Resource Assistant at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, and within a year, she was promoted to Human Resource Manager at the Doubletree Collinsville/St. Louis. In this role, Leah was responsible for overseeing all human resource functions for the property, including training, interviewing, implementing community events, managing benefits enrollment and more. From there, she moved to the Crowne Plaza St. Louis-Downtown where she was Director of Human Resources. In 2012, Leah returned to the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark as Director of Human Resources and spent two and a half years in this position. Following this role, Leah relocated to Savannah, Georgia, where she became the Director of Human Resources at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront.

Since 2016, Leah has been a part of the Gaylord Opryland family, joining the HR team as a Human Resource Business Partner. In this role, she assisted our Rooms and Engineering Divisions with all aspects of human resources, including employee relations, training, recruiting and retention initiatives, as well as employee engagement in both strategy and execution. In September 2017, Leah was promoted to Director of HR Operations and has been thrilled to grow her career with Gaylord Opryland and Marriott International.

Leah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management with an emphasis in Human Resources from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Additionally, she is a 2018 graduate of the Marriott International ‘Emerging Leader Program’. When not in the office, she likes to travel, attend concerts and practice yoga. She also enjoys being creative, and in her spare time, she restores furniture, crafts and takes on a variety of home improvement projects.

SESSIONS:
Ginger Hardage
former senior vice president of culture and communications
Southwest Airlines
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Ginger Hardage recently retired as Senior Vice President of Culture and Communications at Southwest Airlines after an illustrious 25 years, where she served as a member of the CEO's executive leadership team. At Southwest (the nation’s largest airline), Ginger led a team of 150 people responsible for building and sustaining the organization's legendary culture and communications enterprise.

Recognized by many as a foremost global authority on building and sustaining organizational culture, Ginger was responsible for the activities that nourished the culture and the internal and external communications function. At Southwest, Ginger was a tireless ambassador of the world-famous Southwest Culture, leading to honors like 22 consecutive years on FORTUNE’s “Top 10 Most Admired Companies in the World” list. Most importantly, Ginger helped champion the values that have made Southwest a culture of enduring greatness – we put people first, we treat customers like family, we nurture our culture, and we try to change ahead of the times.

SESSIONS:
Monday, April 8, 2019 - 9:00am to 10:30am
Ginger Hardage
former senior vice president of culture and communications
Southwest Airlines
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Ginger Hardage recently retired as Senior Vice President of Culture and Communications at Southwest Airlines after an illustrious 25 years, where she served as a member of the CEO's executive leadership team. At Southwest (the nation’s largest airline), Ginger led a team of 150 people responsible for building and sustaining the organization's legendary culture and communications enterprise.

Recognized by many as a foremost global authority on building and sustaining organizational culture, Ginger was responsible for the activities that nourished the culture and the internal and external communications function. At Southwest, Ginger was a tireless ambassador of the world-famous Southwest Culture, leading to honors like 22 consecutive years on FORTUNE’s “Top 10 Most Admired Companies in the World” list. Most importantly, Ginger helped champion the values that have made Southwest a culture of enduring greatness – we put people first, we treat customers like family, we nurture our culture, and we try to change ahead of the times.

SESSIONS:
Chip Conley
strategic advisor, Hospitality and Leadership, former Global head, Hospitality
Airbnb
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Rebel hospitality entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, Chip Conley is a leader at the forefront of the sharing economy. At age 26 he founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality (JdV), transforming one inner-city motel into the second largest boutique hotel brand in America. After running his company as CEO for 24 years, he sold it and soon the young founders of Airbnb asked him to help transform their promising start-up into the world’s leading hospitality brand. Chip served as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy for four years and today acts as the company’s Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership. 

Chip’s five books include PEAK and EMOTIONAL EQUATIONS and are inspired by the theories of transformation and meaning by famed psychologists Abraham Maslow and Viktor Frankl. In his new book, WISDOM@WORK: The Making of a Modern Elder (September 2018), Chip shares his experiences – as both mentor and unexpected intern – at Airbnb, and why he believes the intergenerational exchange of wisdom is critical to the modern workplace and our society.

Chip is the founder of Fest300 (part of Everfest), San Francisco’s annual Celebrity Pool Toss that has raised millions for families in the neighborhood where he opened his first hotel, and the Hotel Hero Awards that shine a light on outstanding line level employees. Chip is a recipient of hospitality’s highest honor, the Pioneer Award, and holds a BA and MBA from Stanford University, and an honorary doctorate in psychology from Saybrook University. He serves on the boards of the Burning Man Project and the Esalen Institute, home of the Conley Library.
 

SESSIONS:
Monday, June 24, 2019 - 10:45am to 11:45am
Kristi Nevarez
Partner
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
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Kristi is a Partner at the firm's Silicon Valley office, where she serves as corporate immigration counsel to emerging and mid-size clients in a wide range of industries, including technology, consumer products, civil engineering, and legal service providers. Kristi has experience in all areas of corporate business immigration, including nonimmigrant visas, labor certifications, and adjustments of status. Kristi first joined Fragomen in 1999. She served as the Congressional Assistant and Immigration Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren from 2010 to 2012 before rejoining the firm.

Kristi earned her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University. She speaks English and Spanish.

SESSIONS: