David Stott

Sr. Solutions Consultant, Workhuman

David has over 20 years of broad HR leadership experience, including senior level roles in Talent Management, HR Operations, Compensation, L&D, Social Responsibility, and Diversity at leading, global organizations such as GE, PepsiCo, Symantec, Priceline, and Criteo. Dave is passionate about building amazing workplace cultures through the power of recognition and continuous performance management, where people are inspired and empowered to do their best work, and organizations achieve improved business outcomes. 

Tracy Burns

CEO, NEHRA

Tracy Burns has served as NEHRA’s Chief Executive Officer since November of 2010. Prior to this role, she spent nearly 20 years working in corporate HR, holding leadership positions across various industries, including financial services, higher education/healthcare, publishing and food/beverage.

Tracy is the author of,Before and After Resumes: How to Turn a Good Resume Into A Great One. In 2016 she received SmartCEO’s Brava Award as one of 40 female leaders in Greater Boston. In 2017, she was featured in Boston Business Journal’s series “Women of Influence”. A sought after expert in “all things HR”, Tracy is often quoted in local and national media outlets and has been featured on various industry related podcasts, including The Hennessy Report and HR Rebooted.

In 2017, Tracy and business partner Mim Minichiello developed and launched Hytched (www.hytched.co), an on-line platform connecting companies who need interim HR expertise with experienced HR professionals. Currently in its second iteration, Hytched has seen early success as a growing “gig” resource and landed Tracy on the “Top 300 Women to Watch in HR Tech”.

Tracy is actively involved in the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), as well as the American Society of Association Executive (ASAE). She sits on the HR Management Advisory Board at Bryant University and the Work Without Limits Business Advisory Council at UMass Medical School in Worcester, MA.

Tracy holds a bachelor’s degree in business/human resources from California State University and a master’s degree in Organizational Development from Lesley University. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Tracy has called the Boston “home” since 1996. She is passionate about advancing female leaders, raising two fabulous boys and her bulldog Moose.

David Weaver

President, Compensation and HR Group

David is President of the Compensation & HR Group and is responsible for all consulting functions within the organization.

Prior to joining the Compensation & HR Group, David spent 20 years managing a human resources membership and consulting organization. He has also held positions with industry leaders Liberty Mutual, Honeywell and Hewlett-Packard as a corporate human resources professional. During this period, he gained essential hands-on experience in compensation program development, marketing and internal communications.

A graduate of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, David has also made his mark in academia, having served as adjunct faculty member for both Northeastern University and Newbury College where he taught courses in Compensation Management and Human Resource Management. He also worked as an instructor for the certification courses at the Compensation Analyst Academy, WorldatWork and the Society for Human Resource Management.

Daniel B. Klein, Esq.

Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Daniel Klein is a partner in the Labor and Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw's Boston office. Mr. Klein's practice includes the representation of management in employment and non-competition litigation matters before state and federal courts, at trial and appellate levels, as well as federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities.

Mr. Klein also counsels national, regional and local employers on a wide variety of employment matters, including disability accommodation, family and medical leave, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance, commissions disputes, performance assessment and discipline, terminations, reductions-in-force, training, background checks, whistleblower claims, defamation, handbook and policy review, and trade-secrets protection strategies.As a member of the firm's Complex Discrimination Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Klein has defended employers in a variety of complex discrimination cases, including multi-plaintiff discrimination lawsuits, EEOC pattern and practice cases, and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Mr. Klein also has defended employers against the full spectrum of cases involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, defamation, and wage and hour violations, as well as representing employers in non-competition and contract disputes.Mr. Klein regularly assists clients in drafting employment contracts, severance agreements, non-competition, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, personnel policies and company handbooks. He has represented employers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, staffing, professional services, transportation, and technology.Mr. Klein lectures frequently on a variety of employment law topics for human resource specialists and in-house counsel, including regular presentations on behalf of the Northeast Human Resources Association, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Klein served as a legal intern at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. From 2005 through the present, Boston Magazine and Law and Politics have named Mr. Klein one of Massachusetts' and New England's "Super Lawyer Rising Stars." Mr. Klein received his J.D., from Boston College Law School, and his B.A. from Colgate University.

Gina Abudi

Founder, Abudi Consulting Group

Gina Abudi, MBA has 25+ years’ experience working with organizations of all sizes – from smaller businesses, non-profits, through to large, global organizations – providing expertise around projects, processes and people. Additionally, she works closely with a variety of clients to develop and deliver customized workshops/seminars and training programs to meet long term strategic needs.

Gina keynotes and speaks at conferences, forums and corporate and industry events on a variety of topics. She has written a number of white papers and articles on various management and project management topics, which can be found on her blog: http://www.GinaAbudi.com. Gina is leading author of Best Practices for Managing BPI Projects: Six Steps to Success, J Ross Publishing, 2015 and author of Implementing Positive Organizational Change: A Strategic Project Management Approach, J Ross Publishing, 2017.

Gina is active with the Northeast Human Resource Association (NEHRA), Association for Talent Development (ATD), and the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP).

Gina is adjunct faculty at Granite State College teaching in both the Masters of Science in Leadership and Masters of Science in Project Management Program, as well as an adjunct faculty at the University of New Hampshire and New England College, facilitating ACG’s workshops for their corporate clients.

Daniel B. Klein, Esq.

Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Daniel Klein is a partner in the Labor and Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw's Boston office. Mr. Klein's practice includes the representation of management in employment and non-competition litigation matters before state and federal courts, at trial and appellate levels, as well as federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities.

Mr. Klein also counsels national, regional and local employers on a wide variety of employment matters, including disability accommodation, family and medical leave, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance, commissions disputes, performance assessment and discipline, terminations, reductions-in-force, training, background checks, whistleblower claims, defamation, handbook and policy review, and trade-secrets protection strategies.As a member of the firm's Complex Discrimination Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Klein has defended employers in a variety of complex discrimination cases, including multi-plaintiff discrimination lawsuits, EEOC pattern and practice cases, and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Mr. Klein also has defended employers against the full spectrum of cases involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, defamation, and wage and hour violations, as well as representing employers in non-competition and contract disputes.Mr. Klein regularly assists clients in drafting employment contracts, severance agreements, non-competition, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, personnel policies and company handbooks. He has represented employers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, staffing, professional services, transportation, and technology.Mr. Klein lectures frequently on a variety of employment law topics for human resource specialists and in-house counsel, including regular presentations on behalf of the Northeast Human Resources Association, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Klein served as a legal intern at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. From 2005 through the present, Boston Magazine and Law and Politics have named Mr. Klein one of Massachusetts' and New England's "Super Lawyer Rising Stars." Mr. Klein received his J.D., from Boston College Law School, and his B.A. from Colgate University.

Julie Alig, Ph.D

Founder and CEO of JLA Analytics, LLC

Julie Alig, Ph.D., is Founder and CEO of JLA Analytics, LLC, which analyzes organizations' marketing, customer, HR, and product data and helps translate the findings into actionable information.  She regularly leads workshops on data and HR analytics for professional development throughout New Hampshire, and is an Adjunct Instructor at Southern New Hampshire University. 

After earning her Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Chicago, Dr. Alig spent 20 years in higher education administration providing C-suite decision support using predictive analytics and statistical modeling, data visualizations, surveys, and interactive dashboards.  She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct her dissertation field research, and spent a year living in Stuttgart, Germany interviewing local businesses.  With her partner Tiffany Eddy, Dr. Alig created New Hampshire Community Conversations, a series of virtual town halls where issues that matter to the Grante State are discussed.  She currently serves on the board of MediaPowerYouth, a non-profit that empowers youth to consume and produce media responsibly.  Dr. Alig earned her Bachelor's degree at Columbia College, New York City.  She resides in Manchester, NH with her husband and two children.

Kari Heistad

CEO, Culture Coach International and Diversity Dashboard

Kari Heistad has been working in the fields of diversity, equity and inclusion and cultural competency for over 30 years. With diversity as the hallmark of her work, her experiences have brought her into contact with world leaders, inner-city youth, non-profit organizations and business people.  She leads two teams - one for Culture Coach International and the other for the Diversity Dashboard. Both companies are supporting diversity professionals in providing programs and services that promote diverse and inclusive workplaces. She has worked across a wide range of industries, has spoken before more than 18,000 people, has developed more than 300 products and tools and has served as a media resource. 

Su Joun

Principal, Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group

Su Joun (she/her/hers) is the Principal of Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group LLC  (http://www.diversityatworkplace.com) that specializes in innovative, implementation-focused, no-frills Diversity & Inclusion training and consultation.  Su is also an adjunct professor at Suffolk University where she teaches Global Human Resources Management, Organizational Behavior and Career LAUNCH classes.

She was the Vice President of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) where she led the enterprise diversity and inclusion, talent acquisition, performance management and leadership development, and associate engagement teams.  In addition to expertise in Diversity & Inclusion and talent management, she has held leadership roles in IT & operations, marketing, sales and call centers in various organizations and industries. Su has also founded and operated a publishing company. This breadth of experiences enables her to fully understand and “speak the language” of the various business areas and leaders allowing for true partnership to champion Diversity & Inclusion goals and programs.

Su received her MBA from Suffolk University and her MS in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University.

Her thought-leadership on Diversity & Inclusion and talent overall has been showcased in the Skillsoft video library and on the Urban Update.  She has presented to various audiences such as the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, NAAAP, CFO Roundtable, UMASS Center for Collaborative Leadership, NEHRA, HUBweek, General Assembly, Skillsoft Conference, Design Museum Boston Workplace Innovation Summit, Northeastern University Open Classroom and the Boston Bar Association. 

Juliette Mayers

President & CEO, Inspiration Zone LLC

Mayers is Founder and CEO of Inspiration Zone LLC (IZL), a strategic consulting firm specializing in Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Strategy, Brand Management and Thought Leadership.  She is known for helping clients integrate D&I and multicultural insights to provide value-driven, innovative solutions that position brands for success in the global marketplace. Prior to launching IZL, Mayers led large-scale initiatives at Fortune 500 companies and large not-for-profits such as Blue Cross Blue Shield MA.  A trusted advisor and confidante, Mayers uses her influence to position others for success.  In addition to her consulting practice, she motivates and inspires audiences through her keynotes and workshops on inclusive leadership, strategic networking, personal branding, and women’s leadership.

Mayers’ board service includes her appointment by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, to the MassHire State Workforce Board; her appointment by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh to the Boston Women’s Workforce Council and she serves as a corporator on the board of Eastern Bank.  Mayers previously served on the boards of The Boston Club, the U.S. Small Business (SBA) Federal Advisory Board and Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) where she served as Board Chair.

A networking expert, her popular books, The Guide to Strategic Networking and A Black Woman’s Guide to Networking have received international acclaim.  Mayers is the recipient of numerous awards including the Gwen Ifill Trailblazer Award from Simmons College, Women of Influence recognition from the Boston Business Journal(BBJ),  The GK 100 Most Influential Leaders of Color Award (Founder’s Choice) from GetKonnected, Diversity Leadership Award from the Boston Business Journal, Hispanic-American Chamber award, Women Worth Watching award from Diversity Journal, The Sojourner Truth Business Leadership Award and the Leading Women’s Award from The Girl Scouts of Eastern MA.  She has been featured in TV and print media including WHDH, WCVB, CBS, Advertising Age, Boston Business Journal and The Boston Globe.

A native of Barbados, West Indies, Mayers is a graduate of Simmons University where she earned her MBA and Northeastern University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.  She is the mother of two daughters and is married to her husband of 28 years, Darryl Mayers.

Carole Copeland Thomas

President & CEO, C Thomas & Associates

As a speaker, trainer, global thought leader, and business owner since 1987, Carole Copeland Thomas moderates the discussions of key issues affecting our global marketplace. She has her pulse on the issues affecting working professionals and consults with industry leaders on a regular basis. From speaking at the Federal Highway Administration, SHRM, State Street Corporation, Verizon, Cargill, and Monster Worldwide to interviewing experts around the globe, Carole knows how to analyze the dynamics of a changing marketplace.

Outreach To Worldwide Issues
Carole served as an adjunct faculty member for Bentley University for a decade, and has spoken throughout the United States, London, England, Canada, India, El Salvador, Australia, South Africa, and Kenya. She co-founded a non-profit international organization with nine other women as a result of a 2005 trip to Kenya. The group returned to Kenya in November 2007 for humanitarian projects and to host their first International Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. Her current humanitarian activities are focused on Southern, India, aiding women and children in the region.

Multicultural Symposium Series
Carole is the founder of the Multicultural Symposium Series, a multiyear events initiative and online campaign developed for the advancement of multicultural issues. Carole is an active blogger and social media enthusiast using various technology platforms to enhance her business development activities.

Radio Talk Show Host & Executive Coach
Carole is the host of “Focus On Empowerment” a weekly issues-oriented radio talk show. With more than 17 years experience, the program a few years ago migrated to Internet radio on Blog Talk Radio. www.blogtalkradio.com/globalca...
For three years Carole's Personal Empowerment Tips were heard daily on Boston’s WILD 1090 AM Radio. Her one-hour call in radio talk show, "Focus On Empowerment" was heard every Friday morning on the station. Carole's syndicated radio tips were broadcast in 10 US cities, and were sponsored by Marshalls the nationwide off-price retail store. Her radio talk show continued on WBNW-1120-AM-Boston through 2009 and transitioned to Blog Talk Radio in 2010. Carole also served as the Executive Coach for the Essence Magazine Leadership Summit.

Active In Community and Civic Affairs
Carole is the past Tri-State Social Action Coordinator for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the current Chair of the Multicultural Committee for the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. A lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association, Carole served as Past President of the Boston Chapter and Past National Vice Chair of the organization. Carole is also the past Diversity and Inclusion Forum Chair for the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA). She is a 20 year member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the past president of NSA New England.

Education and Continued Learning
Carole graduated with honors in 1975 from Emory University. She entered graduate school in 1983 (on a Martin Luther King, Jr. academic fellowship), and received her MBA degree from Northeastern University in Boston.
She received her Certified Diversity Meeting Professional Designation, CDMP, from the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals in 2011. Her most recent designation was awarded in 2015: Certified International Tour Manager, CITM, from the International Guide Academy. She tied as the top student of her graduating class.

Mother & Grandmother
Carole is the mother of three children: Dr. Lorna Thomas Farquharson (husband Jerome), Michelle Thomas Monteiro (husband Alberto), and the late Mickarl D. Thomas, Jr. She does her best to spoil her granddaughters Julianna Gwendolyn Farquharson and Gabrielle Jaeda Farquharson.

Richard Sarnie

Chief Operating Officer for United Alliance Services Corporation

Rich Sarnie is the Chief Operating Officer for United Alliance Services Corporation and its subsidiary OccuMed of New England. United Alliance is one of the largest occupational safety & health consulting and service provider in New England. Rich has over 30 years of risk management & safety experience in the manufacturing, construction, transportation, mining and retail service industries. Sarnie’s unique and innovative approaches to safety, risk management and loss prevention have earned him profiles in National Underwriter magazine, which called him the “Ideal Risk Manager,” and Risk and Insurance magazine, which gave him the title, “The Zero Zealot.” Rich has been a presenter and keynote speaker on numerous occasions at local and national risk management & safety conferences and seminars. Rich also is a guest lecturer on Safety and Risk to engineering undergraduates at universities. Rich has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lowell (MA) and an MBA from Western New England College. Rich is a Board Certified Safety Professional (CSP), a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E) in Safety Engineering, an Associate in Risk Management with an Enterprise Risk Management Designation (ARM-E), a Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist (CRIS), a Management Liability Insurance Specialist (MLIS), a Certified Chemical Process Safety Professional (CCPSC) and an Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer in Construction. Rich is licensed in Massachusetts as a Producer/Advisor of Property & Casualty Insurance. He is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and was elected a Fellow with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Eric Bloom

Eric Bloom, Founder, OfficeInfluence.com

Eric Bloom is the Founder of OfficeInfluence.com, author of the book “Office Influence: Get What You Want from The Mailroom to the Boardroom”, an Amazon bestselling author, speaker, trainer and executive coach.

Eric is also a former nationally syndicated columnist, TEDx speaker, and recognized thought leader on the use of influence in the workplace.  He is also a Past President of National Speakers Association New England, a Certified Professional Speaker (CSP), and the author of various other books, including “Productivity Driven Success” and “Manger Mechanics: Tips and Advice for First Time Managers”.  Prior to his current role, Eric was a senior executive at various firms including Fidelity Investments, Monster.com and Independence Investments.