In-person Pass

Mike Letizia is an accomplished, certified, senior human resource executive with over 35 years’ experience in the full scope of all HR functional areas. His last 23 years holding Director, Vice President, and President roles in HR. Mike is a subject matter expert in California employment law and is the author and developer of, “California Employment Law Essentials for Business” and has collaborated with SHRM in the development of education courses focused on California employment law.

Through his company, Mike provides full scope human resource services to over 30 small to medium sized business in California with a strong focus on training and development. He is a contracted instructor for SHRM delivering both virtual and face-to-face human resource education courses throughout the USA and California. He is also a frequent speaker at business and trade associations delivering presentations, workshops and courses on a variety of human resource topics.

Mike Letizia is an accomplished, certified, senior human resource executive with over 35 years’ experience in the full scope of all HR functional areas. His last 23 years holding Director, Vice President, and President roles in HR. Mike is a subject matter expert in California employment law and is the author and developer of, “California Employment Law Essentials for Business” and has collaborated with SHRM in the development of education courses focused on California employment law.

Through his company, Mike provides full scope human resource services to over 30 small to medium sized business in California with a strong focus on training and development. He is a contracted instructor for SHRM delivering both virtual and face-to-face human resource education courses throughout the USA and California. He is also a frequent speaker at business and trade associations delivering presentations, workshops and courses on a variety of human resource topics.

Milton J. Perkins, PhD ABD, MSHRM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPC, is the chief accountability and human resources officer for Vanguard Integrity Professionals, a leader in cybersecurity software and solutions. Previously, he was the Senior Director of Workforce Solutions for Agile•1 (HR consulting practice leader). Other positions Milton has held are the recruitment/staffing practice leader for EDS/ExcellerateHRO, managing director for Kaufman, VonStuben & Associates and the global talent acquisition leader for Hewitt Associates. Milton has a tremendous wealth of practical, research, teaching and consulting experience in human capital strategies, tactics and initiatives. He was also the SHRM’s director, North Central Region, responsible for facilitating strategic planning and providing advice and counsel to the Society’s volunteer members and leaders. He has been teaching SHRM courses for nearly 15 years.

Milton is completing his PhD (2015) research in Organizational Management – Human Resources, focusing on the topic of Environmental Variables Impacting Virtual Employee Engagement. He received his Masters of Science in Human Resources, as well as Bachelors of Science in Management, Computer Information Systems. He holds certifications as a SHRM-SCP, SPHR, and CPC. He has completed human resource leadership studies at the Disney Institute, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Executive Leadership Development Program at Babson College, and the PDI Assessment Center.

Milton J. Perkins, PhD ABD, MSHRM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPC, is the chief accountability and human resources officer for Vanguard Integrity Professionals, a leader in cybersecurity software and solutions. Previously, he was the Senior Director of Workforce Solutions for Agile•1 (HR consulting practice leader). Other positions Milton has held are the recruitment/staffing practice leader for EDS/ExcellerateHRO, managing director for Kaufman, VonStuben & Associates and the global talent acquisition leader for Hewitt Associates. Milton has a tremendous wealth of practical, research, teaching and consulting experience in human capital strategies, tactics and initiatives. He was also the SHRM’s director, North Central Region, responsible for facilitating strategic planning and providing advice and counsel to the Society’s volunteer members and leaders. He has been teaching SHRM courses for nearly 15 years.

Milton is completing his PhD (2015) research in Organizational Management – Human Resources, focusing on the topic of Environmental Variables Impacting Virtual Employee Engagement. He received his Masters of Science in Human Resources, as well as Bachelors of Science in Management, Computer Information Systems. He holds certifications as a SHRM-SCP, SPHR, and CPC. He has completed human resource leadership studies at the Disney Institute, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Executive Leadership Development Program at Babson College, and the PDI Assessment Center.

Dr. Rita Fields is the dual CEO of both 313 Industries, Inc. and Copper Phoenix Consulting, LLC. She serves as the Chief Talent & Strategy Officer for Lighthouse Michigan. She is also a faculty member at the University of Michigan (Flint) school of management. Dr. Fields is a member of the EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation.

(REI) at the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development. Dr. Fields is a board member of Creating Opportunities To Succeed (COTS), Metropolitan Detroit Black Business Alliance (MDBBA), Black Business Association of Macomb (BBAoM), and is a member of the board of trustees at Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Fields was selected to be a presenter at TEDxDetroit in 2015. In 2016 she was honored with a Women’s History Month Careers Mastered Leadership in Action Award. In 2017 she was a featured speaker at the Detroit Policy Conference. In 2018, she was selected to be an Innovation Fellow for the Center for Regional Economic Innovation and to serve as a reviewer for the 2018 Robert Woods Johnson Culture of Health Leaders Fellowship. In 2019, she was named Outstanding Lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Michigan (Flint). In 2020, she was named the inaugural Executive in Residence for the Community Impact Incubator based in Detroit, Michigan.

She is a sought-after speaker for her and her transparent commitment to sharing her story of struggle and resilience. In 2022, she was named an inaugural member of the national Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing (CoHLI) cohort. She is a sought-after speaker for her expertise in talent management and workplace culture and her transparent commitment to sharing her story of struggle and resilience.

Dr. Rita Fields is the dual CEO of both 313 Industries, Inc. and Copper Phoenix Consulting, LLC. She serves as the Chief Talent & Strategy Officer for Lighthouse Michigan. She is also a faculty member at the University of Michigan (Flint) school of management. Dr. Fields is a member of the EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation.

(REI) at the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development. Dr. Fields is a board member of Creating Opportunities To Succeed (COTS), Metropolitan Detroit Black Business Alliance (MDBBA), Black Business Association of Macomb (BBAoM), and is a member of the board of trustees at Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Fields was selected to be a presenter at TEDxDetroit in 2015. In 2016 she was honored with a Women’s History Month Careers Mastered Leadership in Action Award. In 2017 she was a featured speaker at the Detroit Policy Conference. In 2018, she was selected to be an Innovation Fellow for the Center for Regional Economic Innovation and to serve as a reviewer for the 2018 Robert Woods Johnson Culture of Health Leaders Fellowship. In 2019, she was named Outstanding Lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Michigan (Flint). In 2020, she was named the inaugural Executive in Residence for the Community Impact Incubator based in Detroit, Michigan.

She is a sought-after speaker for her and her transparent commitment to sharing her story of struggle and resilience. In 2022, she was named an inaugural member of the national Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing (CoHLI) cohort. She is a sought-after speaker for her expertise in talent management and workplace culture and her transparent commitment to sharing her story of struggle and resilience.

Montressa has over seventeen years of management consulting experience with corporations such as IBM's Global Business Services, James Martin & Co., and Accenture (formally Andersen Consulting).  She is a management consulting veteran with expertise in change management, human capital management and communication planning.

As a lead instructor for IBMs Global Business Consulting – Public Sector - Building Your Personal Brand and Establishing Digital Eminence Course, Montressa, developed content and taught IBM consultants the meaning and value of personal branding and digital eminence and how to create and implement a plan to market their personal brand both internally and externally.  

Montressa was a Management Design Fellow at Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management PhD Management – Designing Sustainable Systems program. 

Montressa has been a SHRM Seminar Instructor since 2015.

Montressa has over seventeen years of management consulting experience with corporations such as IBM's Global Business Services, James Martin & Co., and Accenture (formally Andersen Consulting).  She is a management consulting veteran with expertise in change management, human capital management and communication planning.

As a lead instructor for IBMs Global Business Consulting – Public Sector - Building Your Personal Brand and Establishing Digital Eminence Course, Montressa, developed content and taught IBM consultants the meaning and value of personal branding and digital eminence and how to create and implement a plan to market their personal brand both internally and externally.  

Montressa was a Management Design Fellow at Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management PhD Management – Designing Sustainable Systems program. 

Montressa has been a SHRM Seminar Instructor since 2015.