Jaclyn Trovato, Vice President of Human Resources, is responsible for the company’s HR, Talent Management and Organizational Development, Occupational Health and DEI strategies. 

Trovato was named the vice president of human resources of ComEd in October of 2021 and sets the HR strategy for over 6,000 employees as a member of the senior leadership team. Prior to that, she served as Director of HR Operations for ComEd for three years where she was responsible for staffing, employee and labor relations, occupational health and safety and day-to-day HR operations as well as strategic HR priorities such as the ongoing HR transformation initiatives. She previously served as Chief of Staff to Joe Nigro, Exelon’s previous Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, she was responsible for leading the Finance culture plan, served on the Finance transformation team, worked to help consolidate information amongst Exelon’s operating companies and acted as a liaison with external banks and creditors. Prior to that role, Jaclyn served BSC HR as the HR Manager for Finance and the Corporate strategic functions. Jaclyn joined the company in 2015.

Jaclyn currently serves on Cara Collective's Board of Directors. Cara’s mission is to connect people experiencing poverty with quality employment through education, access, equity, and opportunity. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago. In addition, Jaclyn also served on the HeForShe steering committee creating strategies both internally and externally for increasing the representation of women in corporate leadership roles and providing resources for elementary and high school girls to begin learning about careers in STEM.

Jaclyn graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts with a degree in History.

John Hine is a seasoned leader in human capital performance, with extensive experience in talent management, organizational change, learning and development. As the Global VP of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness at ACCO Brands, John applies his experience to enhance business performance through innovative HR systems, process improvements, pragmatic talent practices, and contemporary change management approaches. He is known for bringing energy, directness, and fresh ideas to multi-national organizations, helping them find, grow, and retain the talent needed for business success. John's career includes roles in complex manufacturing and consumer goods, as well as globally recognized human performance learning and consulting firms. He has worked closely with all levels of the organizational hierarchy and values the collaboration between HR Centers of Excellence (COEs) and other HR departments to advance human capital initiatives.

John holds a business degree from Michigan State University (1987) and a master’s degree in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University (2006).

Maria is a world-class executive who has been at the forefront of shaping innovative talent programs and offerings while fostering inclusive workplaces. She joined Ogilvy as Global Chief People Officer in March 2022 to reshape the employee experience to be one that is modern and inclusive. 

Prior to joining Ogilvy, Maria spent 25 years at Edelman where she held various talent leadership roles including Global Chief Talent Officer of Practices, Sectors & Clients and CTO of the U.S., Canada, and Latin America regions. While at Edelman, Maria helped architect and implement programs to facilitate talent retention, manage change, and drive employee development. This included working to enhance paid-time-off policies, increase parental leave, improve performance review and career development processes as well as creating a candidate assessment program that formalized talent acquisition processes to drive progress towards industry-leading diversity and inclusion goals. 

Maria is an expert in change management, mediation, and organizational design. She is a certified trainer of Situational Leadership® II and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. She received her SPHR certification and holds a bachelor's degree in Management from Illinois State University. 

When not at work, you can find Maria at home in Geneva, Illinois with her husband Mike, sons Aidan and Nicky and rescue puppy, Peanut. 

Karl Ahlrichs helps organizations solve their talent shortage, using both AI tools and “next step” management tactics. He is a national speaker, author, and facilitator of challenging meetings, presenting on people issues with a focus on advanced HR tools, ethics and critical thinking. He is often quoted in the local and national media and is doing the final edits on his book “Best
Practices are Obsolete.” Karl has presented at every SHRM Annual Conference since 1999. He has held senior level positions in several Professional Services firms including Marsh & McLennan and Right Management Consultants, where his clients
included Apple, Frito-Lay, Boeing, and IBM. He was named the SHRM Human Resource Professional of the Year for the State of Indiana. He serves on the Boards of several organizations, including the Maryland CPA Society. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) with the National Speaker’s Association. Trained in journalism, Karl has written at every point in his career. He was a contributing author for the Journal of Accountancy for many years, writing a quarterly 10,000-word chapter on Human Resources issues. He is currently writing a monthly leadership column for Business Management Daily. Karl has lived in Scotland and Spain and is passionate about studying the healthcare systems in other countries. He loves intentionally improving himself by writing haiku, mastering photography, and improving his Spanish. He wishes he had stuck with his guitar lessons in high school and wants to learn ballroom dancing. He still owns the first car he ever drove, a 1927 Model T Ford.

Michele joined family-owned IDEAL Industries, Inc. as CHRO in August 2022. IDEAL Industries, Inc. is a global, growing multi-national corporation that has made its mark for over a century by developing practical technology demanded by critical industries like data communications, aerospace, electrical, wire processing, construction and more. The IDEAL family of brands provide safe and reliable tools and value-added solutions for managing power, connectivity and electrical distribution.

Michele was the CHRO at Wells Enterprises Inc, a 100+ year privately held and family-owned manufacturer of ice cream and frozen treats. She formerly held HR leadership positions with ITW, Brunswick Corporation and IMC Global Inc.

Michele holds a degree in public relations from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and her master’s degree in industrial relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Molly McCabe was named Senior Vice President, People Success in February 2024, after a decade of serving in various HR leadership roles with Ulta Beauty. She currently leads an integrated team of People Success centers of excellence including talent strategy, learning and development, training, enterprise communications, talent acquisition, community relations and diversity, equity and inclusion. Molly brings her passion for the power of people and culture and her 20+ years of experience in HR, communications, corporate philanthropy and government relations to her work every day and has played a lead role in shaping Ulta Beauty’s journey across each of these areas. She serves on the board of directors of the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation and as an advisory board member of After School Matters. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters.

Kim Nero joined GATX as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in 2021. GATX is the leading global provider of railcar leasing and service to customers throughout North America, Europe, and India. The company also owns, leases, and manages a global fleet of tank containers.

Prior to joining GATX, Kim was at Ferrara Candy Co., where she served as Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to that, she held positions in Sales and then went on to lead global HR functions in the financial, pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods and manufacturing industries at Discover, EVRAZ, Eli Lilly and SC Johnson Wax.

She has a passion for helping the organization be the best place to work for talented people who have the desire to grow their careers, while driving the best partnerships, value and results for the business, employees and investors alike. She earned her MBA from George Washington University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and Business Management from Cornell University. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Bala is the Global Head of Talent Management & Leadership at PPG.

Brie Harvey is a talent management leader and digital strategist who writes and speaks about trends within Human Capital Management and the future of work.

Having served in a variety of leadership roles for HR Technology companies over the last decade, she brings expert level knowledge of Total Rewards, L&D, talent acquisition, and how to cultivate workplace cultures that transform employee engagement and the Employee Value Proposition.

Passionate about the intersection between behavioral science, managerial effectiveness and technology, Brie has partnered with some of the world’s largest, most complex organizations to build high performance cultures centered around authentic appreciation, trust and inclusion.

In her role as an Employee Engagement Evangelist, Brie works with the research arm of Achievers, the Workforce Institute, to share data-based insights about how to enhance employee engagement and recognition strategies for a pandemic-era workplace.

Tisha Danehl is the Senior Vice President of Ecosystem Partnerships at LHH, where she has been leading collaboration opportunities for national and global clients since February 2021. She works closely with all the LHH Business Units – Recruitment, Outplacement and Development to enhance offerings across all Talent Solutions.

Christina Dietz serves as the Vice President of Human Resources at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. In this capacity, she leads the HR Business Partners, Employee Engagement, Labor Relations, Policy Administration, Talent Planning and the non-clinical NM Academy which focuses on Learning and Development.

Prior to her current role, Christina was the Chief HR Officer at Palos Community Hospital before it was acquired by NM. Before joining Palos, she was an HR director at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital where she led compensation, benefits, HRIS, occupational health, succession planning and other HR functions at different points in her 21+ years there.

Christina holds a master’s in human resources and is an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University where she has helped to create and teach the Leadership and Organization Behavior course in the Masters of Healthcare Administration program.

Alex is a highly experienced employee engagement consultant, trainer and speaker. For over 15 years she has helped HR and business leaders implement strategies that drive true culture change.  Her wealth of knowledge comes from coaching and training thousands of managers from a wide range of industries across the globe. Alex focuses on providing organizations with proven practices that drive results for varied leadership styles and the multiple generations in the modern workforce. Her presentation will leave you motivated and better equipped to lead your organization on a path to a more engaged workforce, making the world a better place to work.

Matthew specializes in helping companies meet their talent needs through immigration program creation and management. With a diverse client base spanning industries such as artificial intelligence, engineering, education, manufacturing, and entertainment, Matthew offers tailored counsel on immigration matters, including corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, enforcement actions, compliance, and increasing access to global talent.

His expertise extends to securing various U.S. work visas (B, E, H, J, L, O, P, Q and TN), green cards across all employment-based categories, and I-9 compliance.

Shelly is a Senior Consultant at Workhuman and is passionate about fostering dynamic, compassionate, high-performance cultures. She builds strong relationships with each of her clients to first understand their business needs and partner to develop meaningful, strategic solutions to build the cultures they desire. As a former HR Business Partner and leader, she brings practical experience, allowing her to instill a strategic, people-focused business perspective. Shelly has extensive experience in a variety of industries, including food manufacturing, insurance, medical device manufacturing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. She holds a B.S. in Management from Purdue University and a M.S. in Human Resource Management from Purdue University.

Heather Hoffman is the Interim CEO at Recruit Rooster, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DirectEmployers Association. With over 18 years of experience in talent acquisition, Heather brings enthusiasm and authenticity to her role. Under her guidance, a dynamic group of creatives, recruiters, data analysts, and marketers collaborates to enhance employers' web presence and attract specialized job seekers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, engaging videos, and authentic imagery, Heather and her team deliver innovative recruitment marketing solutions. They proudly support Recruit Rooster's clients and over 1,000 members of DirectEmployers in advancing and expanding their recruitment strategies.

Outside of the office, Heather can be found spending time with her family traveling, playing the piano with her daughter and racing with her son. 

With over 10 years of experience in the recruitment marketing industry, Ruth Toombs focuses on helping employers navigate and implement everything from new technology to branding and hiring strategies. She specializes in career sites solutions, D&I hiring technology, employer branding, recruiting metrics, applicant tracking systems and integrations, and various other talent acquisition essentials.

As an active and engaged member of the Talent Acquisition community, she spends time as an industry-related speaker, presenter, blogger and educator. Ruth also has a healthy obsession with writing, music, and Dachshunds

As Vice President and Chief Field People Officer for McDonald’s USA, Jordann Nunn leads the company’s U.S. field people strategy, overseeing HR strategy development and execution across more than 14,000 restaurants. Her focus spans employee experience, talent development, learning, and employment brand—ensuring McDonald’s remains a leading employer in the industry. 

Jordann brings over 15 years of progressive HR leadership experience across global and domestic roles in some of the world’s most iconic brands in retail, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Most recently, she led Human Resources for more than 5,000 corporate employees worldwide and oversaw HR for McDonald’s Developmental Licensee segment, supporting 79 markets across Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She has also served as interim Chief People Officer for McDonald’s USA during a time of company modernization and a complex legislative landscape.  

Throughout her career, Jordann has been a strategic HR partner, known for building high-performing, inclusive, and engaged teams and creating solutions to drive meaningful business impact. 

Jordann spent the first decade of her career at Target Corporation where she was in a variety of HR leadership roles across Stores and Distribution.  She later joined Dover Corporation, a $7 billion industrial manufacturing company, where she was part of the original HR leadership team that built its global shared services business—establishing operational centers in Ohio, Scotland, China, and the Philippines. 

Jordann holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and is SPHR certified. A proud Chicago native, she lives in Hyde Park with her husband and two children. 

Nikki Slowinski, is the Executive Vice President of Talent Experience and Development at Publicis Digital Experience, a role she has held for nearly three years. In this capacity, she leads the strategy and execution of Onboarding, Talent Development, Talent Management, and Employee Engagement, shaping meaningful experiences across the employee lifecycle. With nearly 20 years of prior experience in the healthcare sector at Advocate Health, she held a variety of roles across Human Resources, Learning, and Organizational Development. Her career is grounded in a passion for people and performance, and her “secret sauce” lies in leveraging data-driven insights to elevate employee experiences and drive measurable impact.

Jahnavi Brenner is the CEO,Founder of Vivid Leader.

Jon Lowe is Chief People Officer at DailyPay, the leading on-demand pay company. Lowe joins DailyPay after serving as Head of U.S. Human Resources at eToro and Head of Human Resources at Revolut, two prominent global fintech companies. He also spent more than seven years as an HR leader at Amazon. Jon's work as a leader within the HR space was integral in supporting the organizations through periods of hypergrowth and navigating rapidly-evolving talent and business environments.

Lowe is a graduate of Queen's University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology. He holds a Ted Rogers MBA in Strategic Human Resource Management from the Toronto Metropolitan University. Lowe is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), as well as a former committee member with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).

With over 20+ years of experience in global benefits, global mobility, immigration, wellness, HRIS, and compensation, I am currently transforming benefits and programs at TransUnion, where I have been for the last 5-1/2 years. My focus is on supporting our associates and their families when it matters most.

I hold a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and have worked at esteemed organizations such as Fortune Brands, Suntory Global Spirits, Medline, and Sara Lee. These experiences have shaped my approach to creating impactful benefits programs.

As a mom of three young adults, I cherish traveling, cooking, entertaining, and making meaningful connections. These passions enrich my professional life, allowing me to bring a unique perspective and genuine care to my work. I am passionate about my role because I genuinely enjoy the people I get to work with, serve, and the impact my team and I make every day.

One quote that inspires me is: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi. This philosophy drives my commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those I work with and serve.

Isis Almeida is the Chicago Bureau Chief for Bloomberg, as well as the Agriculture Americas Team Leader. She has reported on agriculture, commodities, and energy for Bloomberg for nearly 15 years. She has master’s degrees from City St. George’s, University of London; the University of Amsterdam, and Aarhus University in Denmark, as well as a bachelor’s degree in global journalistm from Stockholm University.

Kim Quillen is a business editor at the Chicago Tribune. Earlier in her career, Kim held editing positions at The Arizona Republic and at The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune, where she was involved in that newspaper's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Kim is past president of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, a national business journalism organization.

John Pletz is a senior reporter covering technology, aviation and cannabis for Crain’s Chicago Business. He joined Crain's in 2007 and previously covered technology for the American-Statesman in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Avantika Waring is a certified Endocrinologist and an American Board of Obesity Medicine Diplomate with over fifteen years of experience in the medical field. As the Chief Medical Officer at 9amHealth, she is on a mission to treat cardiometabolic conditions with affordable solutions, focusing on the historically underserved. With experience in both traditional healthcare and start-up spaces, she brings your audience a unique perspective on forming a culturally inclusive approach to patient care: from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

As the VP of Strategy at Corporate Traditions, Joseph leads the charge in shaping the company’s growth roadmap, forging high-impact partnerships, and unlocking new markets for expansion.

With a background in launching and scaling multiple ventures, Joseph brings an operator’s mindset to the gifting space, combining sharp strategy with real-world execution. At Corporate Traditions, he is focused on redefining how organizations show appreciation to their people through powerful, flexible gifting solutions that drive retention, morale, and loyalty.

Alicia Archer is a Master Trainer at STRETCHIT. With over a decade of teaching experience, Alicia Archer thoughtfully guides users through comprehensive stretching, mobility, and flexibility sequences, in order to unlock their movement potential. Alicia is Group Fitness Certified by AFAA (The Athletics and Fitness Association of America) and a Certified FRC® (Functional Range Conditioning) Mobility Specialist by Functional Anatomy Seminars. Her qualifications also include a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/The Ailey School.

Stephanie Nunley is the Senior Director of Admissionsat Case Western Reserve University.

Liza Jager is a Chicago-based partner at RHR International. She brings over 20 years of experience in organizational and people development and deep expertise in global leadership, organizational change and culture transformation, and business turnarounds. She partners closely with her clients to deliver powerful insights and customized solutions that enable strategic decisions, innovation and business impact. Liza is multilingual, has lived and worked in a number of countries, and brings a nuanced cultural and global perspective into all facets of her work.

Alex Maragos anchors the weekday 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. newscasts for NBC 5 and contributes stories to the station’s award-winning Investigates unit. Previously, Maragos anchored weekend evening newscasts and filed reports from the field three days a week. Prior to that, he spent four years as anchor of NBC 5 News Today. Alex started at NBC 5 in August 2015 as a general assignment reporter. Maragos primarily covers news, but has a passion for sports. Since 2016, he has served as the start and finish line reporter for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. In 2022, he spent one month in Beijing, China, covering the Winter Olympic Games. This summer he earned another Olympic assignment, for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Maragos returned home to Chicago after spending two years as a morning anchor and reporter at WLFI-TV in West Lafayette, Indiana. While there, he won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Indiana Broadcasters Association for breaking news and feature reporting. During summers home from college, Alex held internships at ESPN Radio WMVP-AM 1000, news/talk WLS-AM 890 and NBC Sports Chicago. Alex graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he majored in Journalism and Mass Communications and played baseball for four years. He is also a graduate of Loyola Academy in Wilmette. Alex is married and lives in Chicago.