In-person Pass

Paul Falcone (PaulFalconeHR.com) is principal of Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC, specializing in management & leadership training, executive coaching, international keynote speaking, and HR advisory services. He is the former CHRO of Nickelodeon Animation and has held senior-level HR positions with Paramount Pictures, Time Warner, and City of Hope. He has extensive experience in entertainment, healthcare/biotech, and financial services, including in international, nonprofit, and union environments.

Paul is a long-term columnist for SHRM, a certified executive coach, a board member of the American Management Association, and a bestselling author of 17 books published by HarperCollins Leadership, the American Management Association, and SHRM.

Ashley T. Brundage is the President and CEO of Empowering Differences. While seeking employment at PNC Bank in the United States, she identified openly during the interview process as a woman of transgender experiance and subsequently was hired after facing years of harassment, discrimination, and homelessness. These factors led her to start her second career as a means of survival while doing research on empowerment & differences. She took a role in the bank as a part time teller and then rose to national Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion in less than 5 years. She captured her research as a 4-Step process of empowerment to cultivate change in her new book and online leadership course. Ashley credits her success to those closest to her for providing actionable allyship including her 2 teenage sons, Bryce and Blake. She also volunteers her time serving numerous nonprofit organizations including serving as the vice chair for the national board of directors for GLAAD who works to accelerate acceptance across all forms of media for the LGBTQ+ community.

Thomas Bertels is a business transformation expert on a mission to make work more productive, valuable, meaningful, and impactful. He has three decades of experience helping companies from start-ups to Fortune 5 transform how work gets done. Thinkers360 has recognized Thomas as a Top 50 Thought Leader on the Future of Work and Design Thinking. 

Thomas has written several books and numerous articles. His latest book is the award-winning business fable ‘Fixing Work: Designing Jobs Employees Love’. He also hosts the Work Matters podcast, where he explores in conversations with thought leaders and executives what leaders can do to fix work. 

With over 15 years of senior HR leadership in Fortune 500 companies, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and certified coach, Shayla N. Atkins is now the Founder and CEO of The Atkins IMPACT Consulting Firm. As an award-winning business and leadership strategist, an authority in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Organizational Effectiveness, Shayla believes “Authenticity Is the New Leadership Currency”, as the key to unlocking human potential. Receiving the 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award presented by President Joseph R. Biden, and Shayla’s proven track record, has earned her invitations to speak on some of the largest stages across the country.

Adam Weber is Chief Evangelist at 15Five, host of the popular HR Superstars Podcast and best-selling author of “Lead Like a Human.” Adam is the creator of the HR Superstars Community, a vibrant community of over 8K strategic HR leaders and is a leading voice in the strategic HR movement, being named a LinkedIn “Top Voice in HR”.

Previously Adam co-founded and sold two tech companies, Emplify (acquired in 2021) and Bluebridge (acquired in 2016).

He holds a master’s degree in organizational communication from Ball State University and lives in Zionsville, IN with his wife, two sons, and dog Poppy.

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.

Shari Harley, author of How to Say Anything to Anyone, is known globally as an engaging, funny, content-rich business speaker. Her international training firm, Candid Culture, is making it easier to tell the truth at work. Shari is bringing candor back to the workplace. A former HR practitioner and operations leader, Shari’s practical approach has led her to speak and train in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Dubai and Australia. From “Making Meetings Work” and “Delegating Better” to “Managing Your Career” and “Saying Anything to Anyone,” Shari’s tips are sure to delight and inform in a real, direct and very funny way. Watch videos and learn more about Shari at www.candidculture.com.

Steve is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame and was recognized in 2015 as one of the top 10 motivational speakers globally from over 9,000 candidates.

In addition to being one of the most sought-after speakers in North America, he has written 11 books and was named Author of the Year by Advantage/Forbes for his book Enjoy The Ride.

Steve built a multimillion-dollar company, which the Pittsburgh Business Times named one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the region. Steve is one of SHRM’s top-rated speakers. This is his 18th consecutive year speaking at the SHRM Conference.

Recognized by Engagedly as a Top 100 Global HR Influencer and among the most influential HR voices by Nestor, Vivian is a sought-after leadership expert and thought leader. She works with the world’s top brands to build better, more resilient workplaces, equipping leaders to solve pressing burnout, turnover, and workplace culture challenges. 

Her impact is felt as a keynote speaker, and in delivering transformative leadership development, executive and team coaching, and corporate consulting.

Vivian is the author of four books, including the Amazon #1 best-seller Resilience Ready: The Leader’s Guide to Thriving Through Unrelenting Crises, and Influence in Talent Development.

Bob Kelleher is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and consultant on employee engagement, leadership, and workforce trends. Bob is the author of the bestselling book, LOUDER THAN WORDS: 10 Practical Employee Engagement Steps That Drive Results, CREATIVESHIP, A Novel for Evolving Leaders, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT for Dummies, and I-Engage, Your Personal Engagement Roadmap.   

Bob can be seen or heard on national media (most recently on CNBC, CBS, NBC News, Business Week, Forbes, and Fortune, and has presented to many of the world’s top companies

Bob is also the founder of The Employee Engagement Group, a global survey, products, assessment, consulting firm.