Meeting/Event Information

In a time when so many organizations are cutting costs, headcount, and professional development funds, how does HR continue to advocate for investing in talent development to reskill and upskill employees? Companies are already battling to recruit and retain top talent and being able to demonstrate the ROI for resource support allocated to talent development is a crucial focus for strategic HR professionals.

DEI competency is increasingly becoming a key competency for HR Leaders, yet there are few formal academic programs focused on DEI leadership. HR Leaders are expected to either drive organization DEI results or partner with DEI leaders and are often held to account by employees and leaders when DEI initiatives flounder.  Therefore, what are the competencies required to successfully lead organizational change in the DEI space and what does a successful partnership between HR Leaders and DEI leaders look like? In this presentation, Robert Wilson shares his over 15 years of experience leading and helping individuals and organizations navigate the ever changing dynamics of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Hybrid work, labor market turbulence, minimum wage increases, and pay transparency are transforming the way organizations recruit and reward employees. Human Resources teams face pressure to respond to external challenges while maintaining internal equity. Our discussion will examine these dynamics and identify decisions that HR and operations leaders are facing.

Today's workforce with economic, societal, and pandemic factors has created a workforce which is tired, burned out, overworked and disengaged.  These factors have led to the culmination of the "Great Resignation", which puts additional stressors on existing teams and organizations. In this presentation we look at some of key factors and unique concepts which an organization can address to improve engagement and the overall resilience of their teams.  We start with why associates may feel burned out or disengaged, followed by what are a few tools to help clear communication and mindfulness regarding work settings.  Then we settle on How as an organization we should be thinking about an associates needs both in and outside of the work setting.

Many organizations are finding themselves at a turning point where there is abundant data and technology available, but they are still struggling to find the most relevant needles in the haystack. This session will help participants learn strategies to equip their analytics teams to uncover the right information faster and with less frustration. 

As companies struggle to successfully navigate the Future of Work, HR’s role is critical to lead organizations through the uncertainty of what’s to come. Yet, HR is often not invited to the table where significant strategic decisions are made. The credibility required to influence the direction of the organization is often missing. How does HR get that strategic seat at the table? How do you show up in ways that strengthen your influence and impact?

Mack Munro will show you processes and models that will enable you to train you and your managers to identify why your employees show low motivation and ownership. Take steps to aid in their career development. Figure out how to screen and interview the RIGHT FIT candidates. Diagnose if performance issues are training problems or something more serious. Track progress toward goals and provide useful self-appraisals. Your business credibility hinges on the ability to get the most from your managers.  Developing them is a key component.  If you are looking to improve employee and managerial accountability in your workplace it is critical that you start by improving the level of personal responsibility in each of your team members. It is only after your employees, managers, and leaders take full responsibility for the results they achieve that your organization will begin to achieve the results it is truly capable of. This highly interactive training program will provide HR professionals with the tools they need to train, coach, and guide their managers through a more effective performance management process. Through video vignettes, case studies, real life application and action planning, participants will learn to view performance management as an ongoing process for achieving personal effectiveness.   The tools and techniques in this workshop will dovetail into any performance management system already in place.

With advancements in data management and analytics comes an increased expectation of the HR organization to generate insights from data to address critical business issues. This presentation will review the evolution of building workforce analytics capabilities within a company, and review case studies of how some organizations are using advanced analytics to address talent issues, such as turnover, talent supply/demand risks, diversity, equity and inclusion, and productivity.

Organizations that do not prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in their talent management strategy risk falling behind their competitors and losing their best employees. In contrast, organizations that foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging can reap the benefits of a more engaged and productive workforce, and a more innovative and successful business. In this presentation, Nakisha Hicks will help participants to break down The Talent Code, in order to build a Talent Management strategy that include DEIB.

If you’re like most HR Professionals, you’ve created a learning program to support your team. But its likely the development that goes along with that learning doesn’t lead to the lasting change you’re hoping for. Too often, teams focus on the learning (acquiring of information) and not development (changing of behavior). Thats because it’s easy to design knowledge acquisition, but it can be HARD to evaluate behaviors that drive results. Using a lens of psychology, this presentation will take a hard look on what needs to be considered before creating a learning initiative and how to make sure your investment sticks with sustainment. Stop wasting your money on upskilling that falls flat - create learning and development paths that lead to real change. 

Human Resources professionals and leaders spend up to 25% of their time managing conflicts. Conflict by itself is neither good nor bad.  How leaders and HR professionals manage these opposing ideas or interests will determine the success of the relationships of the team members and the organization. Leveraging the power of conflict is a crucial leadership skill and people can learn to master it. This interactive discussion and skill building session will equip you with tools to make conflict a positive and healthy part of your organization.

Over the past few years there has been a large shift in the way that organizations and Human Resources professional recruit for high-quality candidates.  Further adding to the complexity are the challenges of remote work.  The focus of recruiting has moved from active applicants to a much different type of candidate.  These candidates include referrals, sourced candidates, passive candidate, and internal mobility.  This training will also focus on providing a high-quality candidate experience.  Additionally, there are HR best practices that prevent the need for recruiting including retention, learning and development, and succession planning.

Dr. Ashley Dugger, Associate Dean, Western Governors University
Dr. Ashley Dugger has focused her professional career in operational leadership and human resources management, and holds a Doctor of Business Administration, as well as her SHRM-CP certification. She joined WGU as the Program Chair for the HR Management degree in February of 2019. She also has extensive experience as a faculty member at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and has focused her faculty work with primarily adult learners in the online education/ blended experience space. She has presented for associations such as SHRM, CUPA-HR, Online Learning Consortium, and ACBSP on various topics related to HR Management and Leadership, Workplace Relationships, Values Based Leadership, and more.

Robert Lawrence Wilson, Culture Shift Team, Chief Strategy Officer
Culture Shift Team founding partner, Robert Lawrence Wilson, leads CST’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity division. With more than 15 years of experience in diversity management, multicultural marketing, customer experience strategy, and leadership development, Robert develops comprehensive strategy and training for corporations, non-profit organizations, higher education, and government agencies. In addition to overall inclusion strategy, Robert also provides racial equity strategy and deployment expertise.  Robert served in executive roles at Nissan North America, including Nissan's director of Customer Experience and Nissan’s first director of Diversity and Inclusion where he developed and led Nissan's diversity practice, spanning Nissan's operations in North and South America, as well as a multicultural marketing strategy. ​Robert is the co-founder and executive director of the Tennessee Diversity Consortium and serves as an adjunct professor in Vanderbilt University's Leadership and Organizational Policy program. Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University.

Scott Kelly, Vice President Compensation, Lifepoint Health
Scott Kelly leads broad-based and executive compensation for LifePoint Health, a growing diversified healthcare delivery network comprised of more than 50,000 employees, 62 community hospital campuses, more than 30 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals and 170 additional sites of care, including managed acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. Prior to joining LifePoint, he held leadership roles in compensation and people analytics at HCA Healthcare. Scott began his career as a college enrollment professional and transitioned into HR as a Consultant at Mercer. He holds an MBA and MS in Human Resource Development from St. John Fisher College and a BS in Management Science from State University of New York at Geneseo.

Shad Morgheim, Owner Coach, Shad Lee Coaching
Shad is the founder of Shad Lee Coaching. With over 25 years of leadership experience, Shad takes a different approach to leadership.  Built in the model of servent leadership, Shad works with organizations to focus on their associates as their greatest investment.   Many organizations will state that their associates are their greatest resource, but Shad coaches that associates are an investment, spending time developing, teaching and guiding associate creates the resource.  Using a practical and value based coaching model, Shad believes that organizations create great teams by understanding their teams first and then invest into each associate's personal values and interest.  Working with clear communication strategies and understanding team dynamics builds a work force the is steeped in loyalty and dedication to an organization that is devoted to them.Shad works with organizations and individuals to set clear goals, objectives and change of mindset to achieve these goals and mindset.   Creating powerful and inspiring individuals and teams in the process. 

Vivian Hairston Blade, President & CEO, Experts in Growth Leadership Consulting, LLC
Recognized as one of Engagedly’s Top 100 Global HR Influencers 2021, Vivian Blade 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 the pressing burnout, turnover, and workplace culture challenges your company is struggling with right now. Her impact is felt as a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and in delivering transformative leadership development programs, executive and team coaching, and corporate consulting. She also works in academia as an Adjunct Professor of Leadership and Project Management for the University of Louisville College of Business. She is the recognized Resilience expert for the University of Louisville’s Project on Positive Leadership, and serves on its Board of Advisors. Vivian is the author of four books, most recently the Amazon #1 best-seller Resilience Ready: The Leader’s Guide to Thriving Through Unrelenting Crisis, and Influence in Talent Development.

Jen Lafferty, Director of Analytics, Revance
Jen Lafferty creates enterprise scale insights from start to finish for healthcare organizations. She has conceptualized, built, and managed complex data infrastructures and strategies across multiple facets of large and small companies, specializing in operations, HR, and marketing. She holds an MBA and MS in Change Management from the University of Colorado and a BS/BA in International Business and French from the University of Tennessee. 

Mack Munro, Founder/CEO, Boss Builders
Mack Munro is Founder and CEO of Boss Builders and is an experienced consultant, author, and speaker who has worked with executive and management teams in companies of all types, sizes, and industries in the USA and abroad. He is the author of How to Build Better Bosses, How to Win at Performance Management, and How to Be a Great Boss. He holds a MA degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University and a BS degree in Healthcare Management from Southern Illinois University He is a qualified facilitator of the MBTI® and has also written and developed several personality and behavioral assessments and online tools. Mack hosts a popular podcast:  HR Oxygen, which is geared towards the overworked, overstressed, overwhelmed, and under-appreciated HR professional.

Dan has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of Talent Management and Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology, having held positions in consulting, industry, and academia. As the practice lead for Mercer’s Workforce Strategy & Analytics practice, he leads strategy and analytics projects related to talent acquisition and selection, pay equity analysis, diversity equity & inclusion analytics, strategic workforce planning, and business impact modeling of HR practices. Dan’s clients represent all industries although he has a specific focus on health care institutions. He also serves as a consulting expert in matters involving EEOC and OFCCP compliance, with respect to adverse impact in talent acquisition/management processes and practices. Dan received his doctorate in I-O psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. His professional credits include publishing and presenting papers and workshops in the areas of compensation/reward systems including pay equity, assessment and selection processes, legal defensibility of HR programs (selection, promotion, pay), and HR analytic methodologies.

An in-demand speaker and former HR Executive, Nakisha Hicks, President and Founder of The ElevateHer LLC, has been called on to discuss a wide variety of topics including DEIB, career development and planning and leadership development for both organizations and for HR professionals. Her insights on career transitions and DEI work have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, on over a dozen podcasts in the last year, and in books and blogs nationwide. Now she’s sharing her secrets and helping organizations develop and maintain diverse and inclusive workspaces.

Jessica Prater, PHR, ACC, Principal Consultant, J Prater Consulting
Jessica Prater, PHR, ACC is the Principal Consultant of J Prater Consulting and brings 15 years of experience in organizational development, training and human resources. As a 5th generation business owner and native Tennessean, she brings a unique understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit along with her 7 years of corporate experience. Jessica carries the professional certification of PHR and her ACC coaching designation. She holds a of Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in I/O Psychology from MTSU, where she returned in 2018 as an adjunct professor.

Ken Smith, President, Academy Leadership
Ken Smith is a distinguished graduate from the United States Military Academy class of 1996, where he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He left the Army as a Major after 12 years as an Infantry officer, including two combat tours. Ken earned the Bronze Star Medal during his service in Iraq and is a Ranger School graduate. He holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Ken lives his passion transforming good managers into inspirational leaders. He merges theoretical knowledge with real world experiences to deliver a unique leadership development experience. He is especially skilled at developing introverts and technical individuals after spending 9 years leading engineering teams in the oil and gas industry. 

Dr. Alyssa Cave Director of Human Resources, IQTalent
Alyssa Cave currently serves as the Director of Human Resources for IQTalent Partners.  In this role Alyssa focuses on providing the highest quality experience to employees with an emphasis on culture, engagement, and inclusivity.  In this role she focuses on growth and development of the organization, leading recruiting and learning and development for the organization.  Prior to this, she served in many different Human Resources roles with the State of Tennessee. Alyssa graduated from University of Tennessee - Knoxville with a degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Administration and earned a Master of Education from Middle Tennessee State University.  She most recently completed her Ed.D. in Adult Education from the University of Memphis.  Alyssa is a member of the Middle TN Society for Human Resource Management and volunteers with MentorTN.

Chris Murdock, Chief Sourcing Officer, IQTalent
Chris Murdock is a veteran of the recruiting and talent acquisition industry. He founded IQTalent Partners in 2009 and now leads search execution and client relationships for his 300+ person firm. Prior to establishing IQTalent Partners as a talent acquisition leader, Murdock worked with Yahoo!’s internal executive recruiting team, gaining in-depth experience across the technology recruiting sphere. He began his career working in recruiting and sourcing roles for Heidrick & Struggles and with TMP Worldwide after earning his BA from Vanderbilt University.