Karen A. Young is a sought-after speaker and consultant best known for her programs on leadership, communication, and how to have a drama-free workplace. In her latest book, Sought After, Karen offers a fail-safe formula for career success along with entertaining anecdotes about career-ending moves that led to forward trajectory. Her first book, Honest and Real reimagines HR fundamentals while offering candid advice on reducing daily HR drama.

Karen is recognized professionally through SHRM and HRCI as a Senior Certified Professional and a Senior Professional in HR, respectively. She has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business, and AGS ranked HR Resolutions as a Best HR Consulting Company in 2021. Central Penn Business Journal honored HR Resolutions in 2020 as a Game Changer—one of Central PA’s most dynamic and impactful businesses and leaders.

Karen regularly contributes HR insights and strategy nationwide to Forbes, USAToday, SHRM, and ZipRecruiter. Karen holds a BS in Business Administration and Psychology and a MA in Industrial Relations. She resides in Harrisburg, PA, with her husband Barry and their retired racing greyhounds.

Dr. Wade Larson is a workforce consultant and human resources executive with 30-years of experience in strategy, leadership enablement, and talent management. His    expertise in HR and leadership helps organizations improve structures, culture, management, and leadership to achieve their goals. As an international speaker, published author, and professor, he strives to help others achieve the best versions of themselves. Wade has worked with hundreds of organizations and thousands of leaders to shift mindsets, innovate programs, and lead change that helps them do more, achieve more, and live their best lives.

Joseph Grenny is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including the communication classic, Crucial Conversations. His whose work has been used by nearly half of the Forbes Global 2000 and has helped millions of people achieve better relationships and results. He cofounded Crucial Learning, one of the world’s most respected learning and organization development firms, offering courses in communication, performance, and leadership.

Eric Ellis is President and CEO of Integrity Development Corp. Since 1991, his firm has served businesses, law enforcement agencies, and organizations by building cultures where Diversity, Inclusion and Respect flourish, driving business results.

One of our nation’s leading strategists on Diversity & Inclusion, Eric and his firm have won numerous awards, including the State of Ohio's Minority Business of the Year, and the NAACP President’s Award. Eric is a member of the SHRM Inclusion & Diversity Expert Panel.

Eric is author of the book, Diversity Conversations, 3rd edition, and co-hosts a weekly broadcast of the same name at www.1320thevoice.com or facebook live, every Saturday, 9:30 am EST @elliseric.

Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP is the Chief People Officer for LaRosa's, Inc., a regional Pizzeria chain. He has 35+ years working as an HR professional in a variety of industries. He has a globally recognized HR blog and author of three books, HR on Purpose !!, HR Rising !! and HR Unleashed !! He is a past member of the SHRM Board of Directors. Steve also runs a global HR network called the HR Net which reaches 15,000+ HR and business professionals weekly.

Charles is the Manager of Exam Development and Accreditation at SHRM. He is an experienced exam development professional with over eight years in the testing industry developing moderate to high-stakes certification and licensure exams across a number of diverse industries. Inspired to develop valid, reliable, and fair exams, Charles enjoys working with his team of SHRM-certified HR professionals and SHRM’s global network of volunteer participants to create SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exam test questions. Charles obtained his Master of Science degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Baltimore in 2014 and currently resides in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Will Sparks is the Dennis Thompson Chair & Professor of Leadership at the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte. He is the author of “Actualized Leadership: Meeting Your Shadow & Maximizing Your Potential” (2019, SHRM Publishing), which debuted as an Amazon #1 Best Seller.

His TED Talk “The Power of Self Awareness” was released in 2018. He completed his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Development from The George Washington University’s School of Business and Public Management, where his research focused on group dynamics, organizational culture, and leadership.

The founder of a company specializing in background screening and insurance fraud investigations, Mario Pecoraro’s passion for the industry began at a young age working in his parent’s firm. He published “Avoiding Costly Hiring Mistakes” which provides the warning signs HR Professionals should look for when making hiring decisions. He is a sought-after industry expert who is invited to speak at national conferences, and a SHRM Recertification Provider conducting accredited webinars for HR professionals. He’s been featured on many local and national media outlets including ABC’s 20/20 as the “gold standard for those who want to screen out the fakes.”

Stephen Paskoff is president and CEO of ELI®, which helps organizations activate and align their values with core organizational behaviors to build respectful, welcoming and inclusive cultures, maximize results and reduce legal and operational risks.

Paskoff has been named the highest-ranking speaker at SHRM’s national conference. The EEOC recognized ELI’s impact and quoted Paskoff in its Harassment Study. He is a nationally recognized speaker, commentator and author on workplace issues.

Before founding ELI® in 1986, Paskoff was an EEOC trial attorney and partner in a management law firm. He authored Teaching Big Shots to Behave and Civility Rules!