Concurrent Session

Karen A. Young capitalizes on her more than 30 years of experience in human resources as she and her team utilize savvy strategies to develop solutions that produce real results. Karen believes that when the HR pieces fall into place, an organization begins to run like a well-oiled machine.

Karen inspires CEOs, CFOs, and other Accidental HR® managers to fulfill the organization’s mission while strengthening their workforce. She is committed to going the extra mile for clients, helping them build an HR framework that results in improved workplace culture and lower HR costs.

Karen is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and author. The second edition of her book, “Honest and Real: An Essential Guidebook for Drama-Free Human Resources,” debuted in 2020 as a Hot New Release in HR, Amazon’s largest business category.

Karen A. Young, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, 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. She lends her HR expertise to businesses throughout Central PA via her leadership in the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC and the PA Chamber of Business and Industry. Karen regularly contributes HR insights and strategy nationwide to Forbes, USAToday, SHRM, and ZipRecruiter.

Karen resides in Harrisburg, PA, with her husband and retired racing greyhounds. She is an active member and leader in area business chambers and professional organizations.

Tracie Sponenberg is Chief People Officer at The Granite Group, a NH-based wholesaler with 45 locations and 600 team members across New England.  She has spent her entire career in Human Resources, focusing on working with CEOs to align people & business strategies. Tracie has a BA in Psychology from Holy Cross and a MA-HRM  from FSU. She is co-founder of DisruptHRNH and HRRebooted & a speaker and writer on all things HR. A bookworm, introvert and former technophobe, she started getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and embracing technology, and is on a mission to help HR professionals to do the same.

John Fay is an attorney and technologist with a deep applied knowledge of business immigration, I-9 compliance and E-Verify rules and procedures.  During his twenty-plus year career, John has advised corporations, educational institutions, and individuals on a variety of U.S. immigration and I-9 issues.  At the same time, he has also been uniquely involved in information technology, having designed several immigration and I-9 management software applications.

As Director of Product Strategy at Equifax, John provides strategic leadership and direction in the development and support of Form I-9, E-Verify, and immigration case management software solutions.

Robert Massa is the Managing Director of Retirement in Houston, TX for Qualified Plan Advisors (QPA). Rob is a retirement professional with more than 25 years of retirement industry experience. His primary responsibilities include practice management, strategic investment direction and advice, retirement plan design consulting and compliance, employee education and development, financial wellness strategies, client relationship management and SEC compliance. His career has been focused in the investment management and administration of qualified retirement plans in a diverse series of roles including investment advice, trust administration, recordkeeping, plan document drafting, compliance testing, product management, legal and client consultation.

Julia Onslow-Cole is a Partner in Fragomen specializing in Global Government Strategies and Compliance supporting clients worldwide to optimize global mobility strategies, enhance compliance and leverage best practice in all critical immigration related policies including crisis management.

Before joining Fragomen Julia was a Partner, Legal Markets Leader and Head of Global Immigration at PwC leading complex multi-jurisdictional client engagements and providing strategic global immigration advice.

Julia has been liaising with Government and Business on Brexit and has given expert evidence at the European Parliament. Julia has represented business at the Prime Minister’s immigration stock take meeting and acted as an advisor to the Home Office on business, investment and growth. Julia is a member of the Mayor of London’s Brexit Advisory Group and was recently appointed to the Society for Human Resource Management’s Immigration Specialty Panel and to the board of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Tina Marie Wohlfield is the founder and Chief People Strategist at TIMAWO (pronounced tee-ma-woe). She is a passionate champion of Human Resources, Leadership and Talent Management with over 25 years’ experience in the Human Resources profession. 

Tina Marie is an active member of the HR community and dedicated advocate for advancing the HR profession through collaboration, partnerships and mentorship. In 2018 she co-founded HRUnite! a professional networking and advocacy community to support HR professionals. Her first book, STOP Collaborate and LISTEN – Developing Impactful HR Partnerships Through Collaboration is available through LuLu Publishing.