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Milton Perkins, PhD ABD, MSHRM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPC
Chief Accountability and Human Resources Officer
Vanguard Integrity Professionals
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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.

SESSIONS:
Sunday, March 23, 2025 - 8:30am to 5:00pm
Monday, March 24, 2025 - 8:30am to 5:00pm
Mike Walsh
Founder and CEO
Tomorrow
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Mike Walsh is a futurist for leaders, internationally renown for his visionary and pragmatic insights on how organizations can leverage AI for reinvention. A regular columnist for the Harvard Business Review, a strategic advisor to Fortune 50 corporations, and a global nomad - he is the author of three bestselling books, most recently: ‘The Algorithmic Leader: How to be smart when machines are smarter than you’. He has a rare talent for connecting emerging technologies, cultural shifts, and commercial strategies — crafting insights that bridge the present to the future with clarity, relevance, and a compelling touch of wit.

At the heart of Mike Walsh's work is a singular focus on redefining leadership for the AI age. Unlike other futurists who concentrate on predicting technological advances or broad societal trends, Walsh zeroes in on how leaders must fundamentally reimagine their role in a world where machines are increasingly capable of making complex decisions. His key insight is that traditional leadership approaches, built for an analog era of predictable business cycles and hierarchical organizations, are no longer sufficient. Instead, leaders must develop new capabilities to harness data and AI while maintaining their essential human judgment and ethical principles.

Walsh believes that the real challenge isn't just understanding the technology itself, but rather how leaders can adapt their decision-making, develop new mental models, and reshape their organizations to effectively combine human and machine intelligence. His emphasis on the human dimension of technological change makes his insights particularly valuable for business leaders navigating digital transformation.

On a personal note, Mike’s ethnic background is as diverse as his experiences. Born in Australia to parents of mixed Asian and European heritage, he has lived, worked, and traveled across many countries, embracing a truly global perspective.
A prolific writer and sought-after commentator, Mike’s insights have been featured in leading global publications such as Inc. Magazine, BusinessWeek, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. As a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, he tackles cutting-edge leadership themes ranging from data-driven decision-making and agile organizations to algorithmic management and AI ethics. Through his popular podcast Between Worlds, Mike engages with bold thinkers, innovators, and disruptors from across industries. He also produces The Future is Elsewhere, a YouTube series offering fresh perspectives from dynamic locations like Seoul, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Istanbul, bringing global trends and future forward ideas to life.

Mike is an accomplished author with three published books and a fourth on the way, focused on the future of AI Agents, set to release in early 2026. His most recent work, The Algorithmic Leader, provides an optimistic and practical roadmap for harnessing AI, automation, and algorithms to transform leadership and reshape organizations. The book has achieved global success, with translations available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, Polish, and Russian. In his 2014 release, The Dictionary of Dangerous Ideas, Mike foresaw groundbreaking innovations such as micro satellite networks, cryptocurrencies, remote work, life extension technologies, self-driving cars, drones, digital biology, digital activism, and the commercialization of space. His debut book, Futuretainment, published by Phaidon in 2009, earned the prestigious Art Director’s Club design award in New York. It accurately predicted the impact of smartphones on media and marketing, as well as the rise of social media, digital influencers, streaming platforms, and the emergence of the Metaverse.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 9:00am to 10:00am
Kylen Sharpe
Agent
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
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Kylen Sharpe is an Agent in the Music department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Sharpe is based in the Nashville office and works with such artists as Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Shaboozey, Niko Moon, Danae Hays, Aaron Watson, Tyler Braden and developing clients Walker Montgomery, Clayton Mullen and Reid Haughton.  She is also responsible for booking fairs, festivals and rodeos throughout the mid-South for CAA's entire country roster including Keith Urban, Jelly Roll, Zac Brown Band, Sam Hunt, Cody Johnson and others.  

Sharpe began her career at APA and joined CAA in 2010.

Sharpe sits on the board (and serves as Vice Chair) at Monroe Harding and serves as a mentor, helping a young people transition out of the foster care system and in to adulthood.  She also serves as a mentor inside CAA working with a group of developing women in the support staff.  In 2015, Sharpe won the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s Rookie of the Year award.  In 2018, she was featured as an “Agent to Watch” in Variety’s music issue.

Sharpe graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in Microbiology. 

SESSIONS:
Jenni Tackett
Artist Management
Range Media Partners
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Graduating from Belmont University in 2003 with a Music Business degree - I started my career at Stiff Entertainment working with Allison Krauss & Union Station during the Oh Brother Where Art Though phenomenon. From there I went on to Greg Hill Entertainment. While at GHE, I worked with several manager and artists (Phil Vassar, Rodney Atkins, Jamie O’Neal) and eventually partnered with Shawn McSpadden to move into a Day to Day Management role across his roster

While working in day to day management role with Shawn we represented artists in both Country and Christian Music. Greg Hill Entertainment eventually forged a partnership with Red Light Management and we became the Nashville office for RLM. Shawn and I were with Red Light for 16 years where we oversaw the careers of Third Day (garnering several gold and platinum records, Grammy awards, Dove Awards), Kip Moore (4 #1 songs at Country Radio, double platinum songs, international tours), Switchfoot and many others.

In 2023 I joined Range Media Partners and moved to full Artist Management. Today I currently manage Girl Named Tom (2021 winners of The Voice, signed to Republic), and Walker Montgomery. 

SESSIONS:
Shawn McSpadden
Managing Partner
Range Media Partners
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Shawn McSpadden was born in Ft. Worth Texas but considers Nashville home.  Shawn attended Franklin Road Academy, where he played football and baseball, helping win two state championships, was captain of the football team, and President of his senior class.

College life started at Liberty University, followed by a transfer to Belmont University in the Fall of 1988. While attending Belmont, Shawn and his father Gary McSpadden started McSpadden Music Group where he was able to develop and publish artists and writers.

McSpadden Music Group grew quickly and became McSpadden-Smith Music with a full-scale management company as well as a catalog of over 20 staff songwriters and over 3,500 copyrights. Songs published by McSpadden - Smith Music were recorded by artists such as Faith Hill, Vince Gill, She Daisy, Earth Wind and Fire, Amy Grant and many others. The catalog contained over 30 #1 chart topping songs in both the Country and Christian Billboard charts. In 1998 McSpadden - Smith was purchased by Music and Media International and Shawn took over as VP/GM of Word Music publishing.

During his time as VP/GM for Word Music Publishing he also added the title of Senior VP of Artist and Repertoire for Word/Warner Bros. Records where he worked with Randy Travis, Sixpence None the Richer, MuteMath and Robert Randolph, among others. In 2004 Shawn left Word/ Warner Bros. Records to team up with Greg Hill at Greg Hill Management and began managing artists in both the Country and Christian industry.

 In 2006 the company became a part of Red Light Management where he worked alongside Coran Capshaw to develop the Nashville office and roster.

In 2023 after many years at Red Light Management Shawn became Managing Partner at Range Media Partners in Nashville Tennessee. Range Media Partners is a diverse company representing talent in Film/TV, Music, Sports and Influencers with offices in Santa Monica, Nashville, New York and London.

Shawn has served on the board of Music for the Soul, Belle Meade Plantation, the Gospel Music Association and NARAS. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Academy of Country Music and is Chairman of the board for the Academy’s Lifting Lives.  He completed Leadership Music in 2001 and is involved with Habitat for Humanity along with other charities.

SESSIONS:
Walker Montgomery
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Chosen as an "Artist to Watch" by Country Now, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot and others, Walker Montgomery knows a thing or two about family tradition, but is also striving to build his own legacy. The son of John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery was raised away from the spotlight in Nicholasville, Kentucky, but moved to Nashville and is carving a path all his own on today’s country scene. Walker made his Grand Ole Opry debut late last year and his pedigree is matched only by his passion for real country music, and he’s already put his classically-inspired, honey-bourbon vocal to use on a self-penned debut hit (“Simple Town,” over 5.2 Million Spotify streams).  His romantic power-ballad, “She Don’t Know,” (featured on the 2022 RUST EP) has garnered the new artist over 20 million streams worldwide, in addition to his other story-building singles, the high-energy “Out of Nowhere” and good-time filled “Bad Day To Be A Beer.” Walker has previously released singles from his ep WORK TO DO, the title track, “Lonely for A Livin,’” “Tired of You" and "Never Again One More Time,” as well as a collaboration version of "Never Again One More Time,” with Randy Rogers.  Walker’s current release “I Love The Way You Love Me” has garnered more than 30 MILLION views on his TikTok page.  His latest EP produced by Bart Butler will release early next year.

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Nick Schacht, SHRM-SCP
Chief Commercial Officer
SHRM
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Nick Schacht is a highly experienced executive with more than three decades of experience in professional services, education,  and corporate learning and development.  He has a history of driving product innovation, growth and profitability and he has led organizations operating worldwide. 

Nick is Chief Commercial Officer for SHRM, the world’s largest HR professional society. Before joining SHRM, Nick was the founder and CEO of KnowCyber, a learning and development company focused on improving the cybersecurity-related skills of people in all types of organizations worldwide. Prior to KnowCyber, Nick was President and Chief Operating Officer for PetroSkills, a provider of training and development services to the worldwide petroleum industry.  Prior to that, he was CEO and President of Learning Tree International, a publicly traded provider of IT and management learning and development.  Nick was also the President of Global Learning Systems, a start-up focused on e-Learning and digital content.  He served in a variety of capacities at ESI International, culminating in his role as President when ESI was sold to the Institute for International Research (IIR) and then as Group President for the Americas for IIR.  He has been a Research Fellow at the Logistics Management Institute, and began his career as a U.S. Navy Supply Officer, on the headquarters staff of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. 

Nick graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy, and holds Master’s degrees in Administration from the University of Maryland University College, and Information Systems Technology from The George Washington University.

SESSIONS:
Alina Jesien
Ergeon Inc.
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SESSIONS:
Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP
Divisional Director, Membership Community
SHRM
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Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP is Divisional Director, Membership Community. 

Cheddie has more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in all aspects of human resources and training. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, M&As, and in starting and turning around businesses.

Prior to joining SHRM, she served as senior vice president of human resources for Interval Leisure Group, Inc. and its affiliated companies. The company was publicly traded on NASDAQ and the leading provider of vacation services with a global consumer membership base of nearly 2 million member families, more than 2,500 member resorts in over 75 countries worldwide, and has oversight for about 14,000 employees. 

Cheddie also served as senior vice president, people with PRC, as well as vice president, human resources, strategic planning, office services, and facilities for The Orvis Company, Inc. in Manchester, VT.

She earned her MBA from Upper Iowa University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.

Cheddie received the HR Award of Excellence, Hospitality in 2016 from South Florida Business & Wealth. Business Leader Magazine named Cheddie one of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire and in 2012 the National Diversity Council awarded her the Glass Ceiling Award.

She serves on the Board of Trustees for Upper Iowa University, Chairs the Human Capital Committee and is a member of the Governance and Advancement Committees, Chaired the Keiser Career College’s Advisory Board, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) from 2003-2008 and chaired SHRM’s governance and compensation committees. Cheddie has more than 35 years of SHRM volunteer leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels.  She also served on the Waldorf College Alumni Board from 2004 through 2008 and was the President of the Dallas HR Association in 2000 (one of the largest affiliated SHRM chapters). She resides in South FL.

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Jim Link, SHRM-SCP
Chief Human Resource Officer
SHRM
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Jim Link is the CHRO for SHRM.  With more than 340,000 members worldwide, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world and the leading voice for matters related to workers and the workplace.

Jim’s career includes roles of increasing responsibility across various industries and companies, including General Electric, the Pillsbury Company, Porsche Cars, and Randstad.  In his most recent role as CHRO for Randstad North America, he led a global team of 150 HR professionals who were instrumental in transforming the company into an award-winning, inclusive, and sustainable global leader.

Jim has served as a volunteer leader in several organizations including the SHRM Foundation Board, the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank Human Capital Advisory Board, and the Human Resources Leadership Forum.

Jim holds undergraduate and master’s degree from Murray State University.  Born and raised on a working family farm in western Kentucky, he currently resides in Atlanta and Alexandria, VA. 

Jim is an adjunct instructor in the Executive MBA program at the University of Poznan (Poland) School of Economics and Business and the University of Liège (Belgium) Asia-Pacific campus in Taipei, Taiwan.

SESSIONS:
Chelsea C. Williams
Founder and CEO
Reimagine Talent Co.
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Chelsea C. Williams is an Entrepreneur, Workplace Educator, and Professional Speaker, dedicated to building empowered, high-performing leaders.

As the Founder & CEO of Reimagine Talent Co., a national talent and workforce development firm, Chelsea’s team powers customized, actionable learning solutions that build human potential, drive marketplace outcomes, and benefit communities.

Reimagine Talent partners with employers, educational institutions, and nonprofits to enhance employee engagement, development, and retention, with a focus on creating synergy across multi-generational workplaces.

A Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur, Tory Burch Fellowship Alumna, and JP Morgan Chase Entrepreneurial Woman of Impact, Chelsea is a trusted thought leader on talent development, inclusive leadership, and the future of work. She regularly contributes to CNBC, Fast Company, Forbes, and more.

With a decade of experience in global human resources on Wall Street and a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College, Chelsea is passionate about cultivating connected workplaces that drive lasting impact.

When she’s not leading Reimagine Talent, Chelsea enjoys traveling, training for races, and spending quality time with her family.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Lori Kleiman, SHRM-SCP
Personal Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Managing Director
HR Topics
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Been there – done that!  With 30 years of HR and business experience – Lori has walked in your shoes.  A recovered HR Generalist, she built a consulting company that she sold to Arthur J Gallagher after 7 years and then reinvented her current business – HR Topics -  training, speaking and developing content for HR professionals.  Lori delivers facts, tips, tricks and best practices in a way that appeals to human resource and business leaders: with a sense of humor, a bias toward actions that improve their operations right away, and practical resources and tools to support their progress.  As an annual speaker at the National SHRM conference, she has leveraged her masters in HR, SPHR and SHRM-SCP background to elevate the position of all HR professionals!

 

 

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - 11:00am to 11:20am
Michael S. Cohen, J.D.
Partner
Duane Morris, LLP
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Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group.  Michael concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country on subjects including harassment prevention; diversity, equity and inclusion; combatting implicit bias; performance management; discipline and discharge; hiring and recruiting practices; performance evaluations; FMLA, ADA and FLSA compliance; leave of absence policies; LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace; substance abuse testing; workplace violence; records retention; conducting background checks; and more. Michael also has conducted investigations into claims of harassment and discrimination and has drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and post-termination agreements. Michael regularly conducts in excess of 200 trainings each year.  He has represented clients throughout the country in EEO and other administrative proceedings.

Michael has been cited as a national authority on employment issues by The New York Times, The Associated Press, USA Today, MSNBC.com, HR Magazine, SHRM On-Line, Employment Law 360, Inside Counsel Magazine, as well as many other publications. Michael serves as an Advisory Board Member of GenHERation and as a Board Member of Serve, Inc. Michael is a 1997 magna cum laude graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law and a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Tina Schust Robinson
Personal Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Founder
WorkJoy LLC
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As founder of WorkJoy, Tina builds on 20 years of operations, technology consulting, and HR leadership experience to provide facilitation and coaching solutions to organizations ready to unleash the potential of their people. She co-creates talent programs that drive business outcomes and deliver human results, partnering with leaders from prominent organizations including Fabletics, FOX Sports, National Wildlife Federation, SAP, Savage X Fenty, and Spotify. Tina graduated from the University of Virginia (BA), University of Michigan (MBA), and Coactive Training Institute coaching program, and is adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University. She lives in Los Angeles with her writer husband and two pet parrots.

 

SESSIONS:
Dick Finnegan
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/His
Chief Executive Officer
C-Suite Analytics
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Dick Finnegan is THE global turnover expert, having cut turnover by 30% and more for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, distribution centers, call centers, and other industries…and on all six inhabited continents.

Dick has authored the top-selling SHRM-published book, The Power of Stay Interviews, along with four other books. BusinessWeek magazine has said “Finnegan offers fresh thinking for solving the turnover problem in any economy”. He has been similarly cited by Forbes, Chief Executive Magazine, and Consulting Magazine.

He holds bachelors and graduate degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and lives in Orlando, Florida.

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