In-person Pass

Nicole is a human resources leader with over 15 years of expertise in all things talent. Currently serving as the Director, Talent Acquisition and Inclusion at SHRM in Alexandria, VA, she is fortunate to lead a team of amazing people who also happen to be exceptional HR professionals.  As a talent leader for well-known brands, she has crafted and executed award-winning talent management strategies that attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent, enhancing companies' reputations as premier workplaces and net exporters of talent. 

Nicole has honed her skills across diverse industries, including fashion and beauty retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and learning from The George Washington University in Washington, DC and bachelor's degree in business administration from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. Nicole is proud to be SHRM certified.

 

Raiyana Bryant serves as a Human Resources Specialist at SHRM. She is dedicated to providing exceptional onboarding and orientation experiences for new employees. Transitioning from a fast-food marketing background to the corporate sector, she brought a fresh perspective and a commitment to ensuring smooth transitions for all hires. In her brief tenure in HR, she completely revamped the onboarding process, boosting its efficiency and appeal, leading to increased satisfaction and retention rates. Her dedication extends to ensuring that every new hire's transition is welcoming and seamless, regardless of background, earning her recognition as an invaluable asset in her organization. Her passion for people extends further as she expands her role in the talent acquisition space, internship programming, and overall employee engagement, fostering a positive work environment for a better workplace for all.

Kate Southall is the co-founder of Maxi Club DC, a dynamic fitness collective bringing high-energy, dance-inspired group workouts to the DMV.

A lifelong dancer and two-time marathon finisher, Kate blends endurance, rhythm, and community into every class. She previously served as the head coach of the George Washington University Dance Team and has choreographed and consulted for the dance teams of the University of Virginia, American University, and George Mason University.

Kate Southall is the co-founder of Maxi Club DC, a dynamic fitness collective bringing high-energy, dance-inspired group workouts to the DMV.

A lifelong dancer and two-time marathon finisher, Kate blends endurance, rhythm, and community into every class. She previously served as the head coach of the George Washington University Dance Team and has choreographed and consulted for the dance teams of the University of Virginia, American University, and George Mason University.

Louis R. Lessig, Esquire, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is a Partner at the law firm of Brown & Connery, LLP in Westmont, NJ in their labor and employment group.  He regularly counsels clients, conducts training sessions and represents clients in federal and state court as well as before administrative agencies. Also known as The Employment Law Translator®, Mr. Lessig speaks across the country and regularly writes articles that appear in publications nationwide including XpertHR.  In 2018 he won the Delaware Valley HR Consultant of the Year Award. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and a Past President of the Philadelphia chapter.  Mr. Lessig is an active volunteer for The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as the Northeast Membership Advisory Council (MAC) Representative.

Louis R. Lessig, Esquire, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is a Partner at the law firm of Brown & Connery, LLP in Westmont, NJ in their labor and employment group.  He regularly counsels clients, conducts training sessions and represents clients in federal and state court as well as before administrative agencies. Also known as The Employment Law Translator®, Mr. Lessig speaks across the country and regularly writes articles that appear in publications nationwide including XpertHR.  In 2018 he won the Delaware Valley HR Consultant of the Year Award. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and a Past President of the Philadelphia chapter.  Mr. Lessig is an active volunteer for The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as the Northeast Membership Advisory Council (MAC) Representative.

Chad Sorenson relies on his 30 years of business and HR experience and 14 years on non-profit boards to develop tailored programs for businesses in industries ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to non-profits. Adaptive HR Solutions, founded by Chad in 2008, offers consulting services, leadership development, training programs, keynote addresses, and HR audits.

Chad served as the 2021-2022 President of the HR Florida State Council and President of SHRM Jacksonville in 2015 and 2016. His keys to success are Devotion to God, Dedication to Family, Continuous Service, Lifetime Learning, and Always Remembering to Laugh.

Author, and international presenter…Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D. is the National Director of Client training for Ogletree Deakins.  Dr. Davis has a Ph.D. in psychology and uses his insight into human motivation to help employers manage workplace behaviors and minimize risks.  He has presented on Workplace Violence Prevention, Harassment Prevention, Diversity and Inclusion, Executive Coaching, as well as Out-Front Leadership.

Author, and international presenter…Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D. is the National Director of Client training for Ogletree Deakins.  Dr. Davis has a Ph.D. in psychology and uses his insight into human motivation to help employers manage workplace behaviors and minimize risks.  He has presented on Workplace Violence Prevention, Harassment Prevention, Diversity and Inclusion, Executive Coaching, as well as Out-Front Leadership.

Mr. Rittof is the President and CEO of Modern Management, Inc. and an employee relations consultant His proactive approach to employee relations has roots in a broad spectrum of activities including organizational re-design studies, employee opinion surveys, communication audits, and labor relations seminars. As President/CEO, he leads a team of dedicated professionals in helping executives, managers, and supervisors face the challenges of the future. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mr. Rittof holds a B.A. and M.A. in Organizational Communication. He has taught at the university level and is co-author of Quality Circles, a textbook utilized by several universities and businesses. Since joining the firm over 33 years ago, he has consulted in virtually all aspects of employee relations. His experience encompasses healthcare, manufacturing, gaming, hospitality, banking, services, insurance, and government. A few of Mr. Rittof’s many accomplishments include successfully assisting numerous organizations in maintaining non-union status; providing preventive management training programs regarding the union campaign process; developing identification and action planning processes for responding to employee morale issues; and implementing communication plans for organizations in transition. He has also provided coaching and guidance for executives wishing to improve their public speaking skills and frequently facilitated executive retreats for strategic planning and team building.

Alexander Alonso, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, is SHRM's  Chief Data & Analytics Officer leading intelligence, insights, and innovation function. As leader of SHRM’s Research & Insights business units, his total career portfolio has been based upon practical thought leadership designed to make better workplaces and to grow revenue across industry.