Virtual Pass

Adam Rosenthal is an employment attorney and Partner at Sheppard Mullin based in California.  Adam represents a broad spectrum of companies before federal and state courts and arbitration forums.  In addition to his single plaintiff and class action litigation practice, Adam advises clients throughout the country on compliance matters.  Adam is one of the few attorneys on the SHRM Speakers Bureau.  This is the third year in a row Adam has been invited to lecture at the SHRM Annual Conference.  Adam is also the author of Managing Employees Without Fear: How to Follow the Law, Build a Positive Work Culture, and Avoid Getting Sued.  Adam received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from UC Davis.

Adam Rosenthal is an employment attorney and Partner at Sheppard Mullin based in California.  Adam represents a broad spectrum of companies before federal and state courts and arbitration forums.  In addition to his single plaintiff and class action litigation practice, Adam advises clients throughout the country on compliance matters.  Adam is one of the few attorneys on the SHRM Speakers Bureau.  This is the third year in a row Adam has been invited to lecture at the SHRM Annual Conference.  Adam is also the author of Managing Employees Without Fear: How to Follow the Law, Build a Positive Work Culture, and Avoid Getting Sued.  Adam received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from UC Davis.

James is a rare mix of management consultant, change specialist, adventurer and motivational speaker. James helps turn busy and over-worked managers into inspirational leaders.

James is a rare mix of management consultant, change specialist, adventurer and motivational speaker. James helps turn busy and over-worked managers into inspirational leaders.

Dr. David S Cohen, Ed. D. has a vision: organizations that thrive by living their values in good times and especially VUCA times. David's first career was in elementary and high school education, where he built a reputation for building school communities based on purpose and social responsibility. Thirty-three years ago, David transitioned to corporate consulting. As a consultant, David earned a reputation as a contrarian consultant because he does not always follow what is popular in his chosen field. David works with leaders helping them understand what is and what is not necessary to build an active and positive organization. He helps leaders' step into life's challenges, inspiring them to create a sustained approach through a values-based focus, resulting in better business results. David has had the privilege of partnering with firms across five continents and all business sectors. Additionally, he has worked with governments, from the local to the federal levels, and not-for-profits.

He has taught at Queens University School of Labour Relations and the executive education program at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Currently, he teaches organizational development at Durham College. David earned his doctorate from Boston University in Humanistic and Behavioural Studies. During that time, he also completed independent studies at the Harvard School of Education, where he was a teaching assistant.

David is a keynote speaker, educator, disruptor, facilitator, team builder, and executive coach. He has authored two books and numerous articles in professional journals.

• The Talent Edge: A Behavioral Approach to Hiring, Developing, and Keeping Top Performers (John Wiley and Sons, August 2001)
• Inside the Box: Leading With Corporate Values to Drive Sustained Business Success (Jossey-Bass September 2006)

When David is not travelling, he is hanging out with his five grandchildren, when possible, attending Toronto Raptor's games, or relaxing with family and friends.

David is honored to be recognized by the GlobalGurus30 as one of the top 30 GlobalGurus in Organizational Culture.

Jeff Bulanda currently leads the Foundations, College, and Coaching strategy for Amazon Career Choice, Amazon’s education benefit for its frontline workforce. Prior to this role, he was the global leader of AWS re/Start, a cloud computer workforce development program, and was a Senior Specialist within Amazon’s Global Talent Management organization. Before joining Amazon, Jeff was school social worker and then a social work professor; his tenure in academia included one year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Sierra Leone.

I have been with KFC YUM! Brands for over 20 years. I spent my first 6 and a half years with YUM! Finance. In 2010 I changed course and followed my passion and joined the KFC Foundation. At that time, we were a staff of two with one program. Over the past 14 years I have been blessed to play a significant role in growing the KFC Foundation from a staff of two to a staff of seven and from one program to eight…eight program opportunities for KFC restaurant employees. The work we do as a Foundation is like no other and the impact, we make on KFC restaurant employees and their communities is tremendous. I look forward to being a part of the continuing growth of the Foundation, improving and adding to our programs and celebrating more team members... as they become their best selves!!

Dr. Yuvay Ferguson has a proven track record of consulting with global corporations to provide strategy around preparing the workforce of tomorrow. Her research centers on generational cohorts which gives her insight into how the characteristics of the groups impacts workplace culture and dynamics. Having recently served as an Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing at Howard University’s School of Business before starting her consulting business, she holds a Bachelors degree in International Marketing from Howard University, a Masters Degree in Strategic Communication from American University, and completed her Ph.D. in Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin.

Kristen has dedicated her career to helping people prepare for the most significant milestone in life – retirement. She helps corporate plan sponsors and their retirement, investment and finance committees meet their fiduciary responsibilities; and strives to help their employees and beneficiaries make meaningful progress toward their financial goals. Kristen is co-head of the investment committee and leads the portfolio research team for her team’s institutional clients.

She also leads her team’s Women & Investing initiative. She understands that female investors often face a complicated financial situation, balancing the roles of mother, daughter, wife, grandmother, colleague and friend – while putting their own needs last. As part of this initiative, she plans and hosts educational events for female investors.

As a Chartered Financial Analyst®, Kristen holds one of the world’s most respected and recognized investment designations, giving her the skills needed for high-level, specialized asset-management responsibilities, including security analysis, portfolio management and business reporting. In 2020, Kristen obtained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification, demonstrating her commitment to her profession.

Prior to joining Raymond James in 2015, she worked at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor for over twelve years and has prior experience as an investment banking analyst. Kristen maintains Series 7, 63, 66 and Life, Accident, & Health Insurance licenses.  She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University and currently resides in Congers, NY.

Leah Marone, LCSW, is a seasoned psychotherapist and corporate mental wellness consultant based in Charlotte, NC, boasting over 20 years of extensive experience. Having conducted over 20,000 therapy sessions and contributing articles to reputable publications such as Psychology Today, The Atlantic, and Newsweek, Leah is recognized for her expertise in mental health.

Leah's personal journey as a former anxiety-ridden Division 1 basketball player fuels her passion for working with high-achieving individuals, often described as type A go-getters. She specializes in addressing internal pressures, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and performance anxiety.

In her dual role as a mental wellness consultant and board member, Leah collaborates with both companies and nonprofits. Her areas of focus encompass anxiety and stress management, burnout prevention, boundary setting, mindfulness practices, effective communication, and emotional intelligence. Leah's holistic approach includes a thorough assessment of the company culture to tailor her services, meeting organizations where they are and addressing their specific needs.

Leah's innovative 5-step initiative not only underscores the significance of mental wellness organization-wide but also identifies areas for growth and connection. The initiative aims to prevent high turnover, address burnout, and enhance overall productivity.

As a co-facilitator for the "Mindful Momentum" female empowerment coaching group tailored for high-powered female professionals, Leah collaborates with a distinguished coach and professor from UCLA. Her expertise in boundary setting and resilience has made her a sought-after speaker for leadership groups. Leah addresses individuals navigating perpetual burnout, often fueled by relentless inner critics and the challenges of people-pleasing. Her insights provide a transformative guide for cultivating resilience and establishing healthy boundaries in demanding professional environments.

Beyond her professional commitments, Leah finds joy in traveling, hiking, exercising, and pursuing her upcoming book slated for publication early next year. Additionally, she actively contributes as a coach for her daughter's club soccer team, showcasing her dedication to both personal and community well-being.

Carol Quinn is the world’s leading expert on interviewing and hiring effectiveness. She is the creator of motivation-based interviewing, an interviewing method specifically developed for hiring “High Performers.” She is the author of the #1 SHRM-published book on hiring – and it’s been their #1 best-seller on hiring for the past five years straight. She is passionate about making sure organizations and their interviewers know how to single out those job candidates who will go above and beyond from those merely pretending. But there is one thing that Carol is even more passionate about… and that’s sharing her wisdom with others.