Alexandra Bautista is an accomplished human resource executive known for driving organizational success through innovative Talent Management strategies. As Senior Vice President of Employee Experience at Harvard Shared Services in Miami, FL, she leads a newly established department focused on enhancing the employee journey and fostering organizational growth. With more than 10 years of HR leadership experience and over 25 years in the field, Alexandra brings proven expertise in Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Compensation, Employee Relations, and Employee Engagement. She is highly regarded for her strategic insight, collaborative leadership style, and skill in addressing complex HR challenges to achieve meaningful outcomes. Alexandra holds a degree in Applied Psychology & Human Relations from Pace University, a Lean Six Sigma certification from Villanova University, and is certified in DISC behavioral assessment by Thomas International. She is also advancing her professional development through Cornell University’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations Top Seat/CHRO Program. Passionate about mentoring emerging HR professionals and contributing to her community, Alexandra resides in South Florida, where she enjoys quality time with her husband of 25 years, three children and two dogs.

Abbe Partee is the VP, Head of Global Certified Learning at DHL Supply Chain. Abbe is an enthusiastic leadership and culture specialist who has spent the past 17 years at DHL Supply Chain in various capacities, but always leaning towards the leadership, learning, talent management, and recruiting space. She spent 10 years in the North American business, 5 years in Latin America and is now in a Global Learning capacity where she and her team focus on building a culture of engagement and World-Class leaders. She has a passion for leading teams, coaching, and empowering people to be their best every-day.

Zoe Hernandez Wolfe is the VP of Talent Management & Development at Baptist Health. With more than two decades of experience in organizational development and currently leading her company’s learning and organization development, Hernandez Wolfe has implemented projects that have set high standards for employee and leader development, including online learning platforms and an internal coach certification program that was approved by the International Coach Federation.

Hernandez Wolfe holds a master’s degree in human resource management and is certified as a senior professional in human resources. She also holds the associate certified coach credential from the International Coach Federation. Before working in health care, Hernandez Wolfe worked in retail and for luxury cruise lines.

As Head of HR Effectiveness, William is responsible for leading the design and implementation of improvements to the HR service delivery experience for Bayer’s nearly 100,000 employees around the world, including enhancements and changes to the self-service portal “AskHR.” His team steers direct access as part of the HR transformation roadmap, including change and communications planning, implementation of an HR Community Engagement Framework, and steering of the global HR portfolio (resources, vendors, and projects).

Prior to leading HR Effectiveness, William was global Communications Lead for Bayer’s HR Innovations team, focused on shaping leader messaging around talent, Inclusion & Diversity, and the Next Normal. He developed strategic internal and external communication campaigns globally for the primary HR functions within HR Innovations and actively supported leaders with their internal and external engagements as well as social activation.

William was also the U.S. Employer Branding Lead responsible for representing Bayer’s Great Place to Work culture with candidates via social, online, print, and in-person engagements, including management of Bayer’s Awards & Recognition strategy. Prior to this, he served as Global Employer Branding and Talent Outreach Manager for Monsanto. In addition to attracting talent in-person and online, William developed and executed campus strategies for core universities in North America and partnered with collegiate organizations to bring world class talent to Monsanto. As Talent Acquisition Operations Analyst at Monsanto, William managed the logistics and assessment of career fairs, conferences, and information sessions across the U.S.

William is actively involved in BLEND, Bayer’s business resource group for LGBT+ employees and their allies. Prior to Bayer, William directed Tabor School of Business’ Arts & Entrepreneurship Program where he redesigned the curriculum and built an incubator for student startups. He also spent several years in marketing and event promotion after earning his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Millikin University.

As General Manager, Enterprise Solutions, Shawn Overcast partners with stakeholders at all levels and involves them in the co-design of strategic solutions to achieve critical business objectives. Shawn brings 20 years of experience working with well-known brands like BP International, Fifth Third Bank, The Hershey Company, JetBlue Airways, McDonald’s, Twitter, and Virgin America. She coaches leaders at all levels, including C-suite executives, senior leaders, and managers and directors across various industries, including education, transportation, technology, and healthcare. Shawn has a BS in Psychology and an MS in Instructional Systems from Florida State University. She’s a certified Executive Coach and Myers Briggs Type Indicator practitioner.

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.

Maria Pia Barbona is an accomplished human resources executive with extensive experience across the hospitality and luxury retail industries. As of September 2025, she serves as Vice President of Human Resources for The Swatch Group in Miami, Florida. In this role, she drives strategic HR initiatives across multiple luxury brands, fostering organizational excellence and talent development in alignment with the Group’s global vision. Her leadership focuses on culture-building, leadership growth, and employee engagement to advance brand success and business performance.

Previously, Maria Pia held the role of Vice President of Human Resources at Hublot, LVMH (2021–2025), where she was pivotal in shaping corporate culture, enhancing leadership capabilities, and implementing programs that strengthened employee relations and compliance across North America. Her strategic approach to human capital management helped position Hublot for sustained organizational growth and excellence.

Maria Pia began her HR career at Four Seasons Hotel Miami, where she advanced through multiple roles from 2011 to 2016, culminating as Human Resources/Learning Manager. She later contributed to the preopening and talent alignment efforts for several Four Seasons properties across North and South America, including Orlando, Bogotá, and Montreal, demonstrating her expertise in building people strategies amid complex, multicultural environments.

Before joining Hublot, she served as Colleague Experience Director at The Confidante Hotel by Hyatt in Miami Beach (2020–2021), leading critical recruitment and engagement programs through the operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maria Pia is a proud member of CHIEF; a private network focused on connecting and empowering women in executive leadership roles. Through her involvement, she actively champions women’s professional growth and development and advocates for increased representation of women in leadership across industries. Holding multiple certifications in coaching, labor law, and change management,

Maria Pia is recognized for her strategic vision, empathetic leadership, and steadfast commitment to fostering inclusive, high-performing workplaces. Her passion for developing talent and empowering others continues to be a cornerstone of her professional journey and personal purpose

Ashaki is currently serving as Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and Latin America.  In this capacity, she oversees all aspects of Human Resources which includes Talent Acquisition, Organizational Development, Total Rewards, Employee Engagement and Employee Relations. She reports directly to Beau Ferrari, Chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal in 2017 as Vice President, Human Resources for Global Distribution & International, Ashaki spent time on the HR leadership teams of The Walt Disney Studios and TimeWarner Corporate.  She has also spent a significant portion of her dynamic career leading HR teams in the financial services industry at UBS, JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank and PriceWaterhouseCoopers where she also engaged in HR Information Systems initiatives and Merger & Acquisition projects.

She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The State University at Albany.

Christine Muldoon is the Senior Vice President, Marketing and Strategy at WebMD Health Services.

As VP of HR Transformation at Betterworks, Jamie helps clients reimagine the way employee performance is managed with proven systems and processes that work. As co-author of the book, Make Work Better, she draws inspiration from her more than twenty-five years of HR leadership experience, spearheading organizational development, HR transformation, and employee engagement strategies that boost business performance. Her work as a consultant and an in-house HR practitioner spans the entire spectrum of human capital practices and multiple industries. 

Jamie has a deep understanding of talent management strategies and principles and has ideated and implemented global talent practices system redesign, strategic planning, and positioning in public and private for national and international organizations spanning all associated processes. As a McKinsey-certified facilitator, Jamie has also been instrumental in cultural transformations for several large enterprises – supporting fundamental change with her background in executive coaching, change management, and employee experience strategies.

Jonathan leads Global Executive Talent Acquisition at Kellanova, overseeing strategy and search execution to attract top-tier leadership across North America, Latin America, and Europe. He also serves as HR Business Partner for the Away From Home North America business unit, supporting talent planning and organizational development.

His expertise spans executive recruitment, talent acquisition, and HR strategy. Jonathan is an active member of Kellanova’s “HOLA” Employee Resource Group, promoting inclusion and cultural engagement across the organization.

Jonathan began his career in hospitality with Hilton and Loews Hotels, where he developed a strong foundation in service, operations, and talent. He later joined Korn Ferry, advising Fortune organizations in the Hospitality and Real Estate sectors on executive talent needs.

He holds a Master’s in Human Capital Management from Columbia University, a Master’s in Tourism Administration, and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the George Washington University School of Business.

Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.

Tom Hudson is the Senior Economics Editor & Special Correspondent at WLRN-NPR News.

Zsofia Duarte is a Director of Assessment and Strategy at Seramount, bringing a rich background in social research, policy, and advocacy with a focus on contemporary social issues. During her long-standing tenure at Seramount, she has led numerous high-impact global workplace assessments, aimed at evaluating and enhancing workplace equity across private, public, and governmental sectors. Zsofia excels at identifying cultural challenges within organizations and providing actionable, transformative solutions. Prior to joining Seramount, Zsofia worked at JUST Capital. There, she worked on the human rights
research team developing innovative research plans and generating dynamic research insights on how the U.S.’ top 1,000 companies are managing the human rights and community impacts of their business operations, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Prior to her time at JUST Capital, Zsofia was selected for a graduate placement at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, a leading research center committed to disrupting generational poverty through research, policy, and action. There, she harnessed both research findings and a community collaborative approach to help develop and implement services grounded in evidence-based practices and stakeholder investment. Zsofia was awarded an MS from Columbia University and a BA with Honors from Bates College.

Constance Jones is a two-time Emmy® nominated journalist who currently anchors the station’s weekday morning newscasts, NBC6 News Today at 5am and 6am, alongside NBC6 anchor Kris Anderson, from the station’s Miramar-based studios. After anchoring at WRIC-TV in Richmond, VA for almost three years, Jones joined NBC6 in February of 2021. Jones has worked in several television markets, including New York City, Miami, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. She returned home to Miami, where she previously spent nine years as an anchor and reporter at local station WPLG-TV, and also worked at WLRN National Public Radio in South Florida. Jones also worked with veteran news journalist Dan Rather at the CBS Evening News. Outside of television, Jones worked alongside the Broward State Attorney as the Communications Director for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida. In 2022, Jones was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists for breaking news coverage of the 2021 Surfside Condo Collapse. Jones has also been honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, received an award from the Texas Associated Press for her reporting work, and multiple awards and recognitions from several regional chapters of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for Excellence in News Reporting. She was also featured as Miami's “Top 40 under 40 Leaders of Tomorrow” in Legacy Magazine. Jones is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and was recently honored as Sam Houston State University’s “Most Outstanding Young Alumna” for 2022. She is also a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Jones spent most of her childhood overseas, including time in Timisoara, Romania. She is married to Miami-based artist Troy Simmons. 

Paul Bomberger has been a business journalist for three decades, most recently the business editor of the Miami Herald, from November 2021 until October 2023.  

Before joining the Herald, Bomberger had been a senior business reporter and the business and metro editor at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat in California's San Francisco Bay Area for three years.  Bomberger previously had been at the Houston Chronicle as an assistant metro editor/specialty enterprise storytelling. He was also an assistant business editor/weekend editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer.  He had been managing editor of Business Insurance, a Crain Communications publication in Chicago, an assistant business editor at the Palm Beach Post and deputy business editor at the South Florida Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale.  

Bomberger is a Philadelphia area native and Temple University graduate.

Rocki Rockingham is an accomplished C-suite professional with over 30 years of domestic and international business experience in human resources, communications, community relations, public affairs, and marketing communications. She has a proven track record of success as a strategic partner supporting business objectives in various Fortune 500 companies.

Rocki's expertise includes managing corporate acquisitions, turnarounds, and growth businesses while leading through transformational change. She’s known for her proactive, innovative, and global approach to problem-solving and leadership. Rocki is a highly influential mentor who connects with individuals across corporate, community, and entrepreneurial circles.

Under Rocki's leadership, GE Appliances has been recognized for its innovation in employee recruitment and retention, consistently earning accolades as a Forbes Great Place to Work and achieving a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index.

Currently, Rocki serves as Chief Human Resources Officer for GE Appliances, a Haier company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to joining GE Appliances, she was Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Newell Brands, Appliances and Cookware Division, in Boca Raton, Florida. Throughout her career, Rocki has held leadership roles in Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Public and Community Affairs at other Fortune 500 companies, including Jarden, General Motors, and Chrysler Corporations.

Committed to community engagement, Rocki has served on numerous boards, volunteered, and sponsored charitable events. She is a dedicated mentor for youth and actively seeks opportunities to make a positive impact. Rocki has also worked extensively with community and civic groups to improve and manage community, diversity, and civic initiatives. She has partnered with government, corporate, and community organizations on local, state, and national levels.

Rocki holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Journalism from McKendree University.

John is the visionary entrepreneur and technologist leading the transformation of the global
talent and work-solutions industry as the CEO of both Skill and Aquent.
Since founding Aquent from his Harvard dorm room in 1986, John has built the firm into one of
the largest work-solutions companies in the marketing and creative space, now employing more
than 10,000 people worldwide. His career is defined by disrupting industry norms. He pioneered
comprehensive health benefits for contingent workers and achieved carbon-negative status in
2024—an industry first driven by significant clean energy projects and a virtual-first operating
model.
Under John’s leadership, the staffing industry was once again transformed with the launch of
Skill. Skil is a technology-driven staffing agency with proprietary AI technology that redefines
how companies hire talent. It delivers matches 12x faster and 7x more accurately than
traditional recruiting firms, providing employers with significant cost-savings.
Skill’s launch is more than a strategic move for Aquent; it embodies John’s bold vision— that
staffing firms of the future will operate like technology companies, powered by algorithms and
engineering teams. John’s foresight and execution have positioned Aquent and Skill at the
forefront of this transformation, ensuring long-term growth and setting industry standards.
As an active investor and operator, John was the lead investor and chairman during Angie’s
List’s growth and IPO. He currently invests in and advises companies such as Make My Move,
MetaCX, and Health Rhythms. John holds degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Business
School and has been widely featured in national media, receiving honors including multiple
selections to the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) SIA 100 North America list, the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year award, and the U.S. Pan Asian American Excellence Award.

Paul A. Pavlou is the Dean of the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School. He is also the Leonard M. Miller University Chair Professor.

His research has been cited more than 90,000 times by Google Scholar, and Thomson Reuters recognized him among the “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” based on an analysis of Highly Cited Researchers. Paul was ranked No. 1 globally in publications in top Information Systems journals from 2010 to 2016. He earned a Ph.D. in Information Systems and a master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and managerial studies, magna cum laude, from Rice University.

In his former position as Dean of the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, Paul helped raise over $150M in philanthropic gifts and commitments.  During his tenure, the Bauer College led all business schools by ascending 34 spots in the U.S. News & World Report rankings to become a Top 50 MBA program; climbed 44 spots in the online master’s programs rankings; joined the Top 15 public undergraduate programs by Poets&Quants; and ranked #1 undergraduate entrepreneurship program by The Princeton Review for five consecutive years.

He also prioritized experiential learning and job placement through initiatives like the Office of Experiential Learning and various research institutes, while also enhancing community inclusion with programs such as the Center for Economic Inclusion, securing over $10M in philanthropic support.

Paul is a Distinguished Fellow of the INFORMS Information Systems Society. He won several Best Paper Awards for his research, including the Sheth Foundation Award for “Long-Term Contributions to Marketing” published in the Journal of Marketing (2019), the Maynard Award for the “Most Significant Contribution to Marketing” in the Journal of Marketing (2015), the Information Systems Research Best Paper Award (2007), and the IS Publication of the Year Award (2006). He also won the Best Paper Award (2012), the Runner-Up to the Best Paper (2005), the Best Interactive Paper (2002), and the Best Student Paper Award (2001) from the Academy of Management.

Paul received over $3,500,000 in grants from funding agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), including a new $1,500,000 NSF grant in 2021 to study energy disruption. His research appeared in top journals, such as Management Science, Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, and Production and Operations Management His research spans several disciplines (information systems, data science, marketing, operations management, and management sciences) with emphasis on artificial intelligence, business analytics, and digital strategy.

Paul also won several Reviewer awards, including the 2009 Management Science Meritorious Service Award, the Best Reviewer Award of the 2005 Academy of Management Conference, and the prestigious 2003 MISQ Reviewer of the Year Award as a Ph.D. student. Paul is currently Senior Editor at ISR and earlier at MISQ and JAIS. Finally, Paul won the Best Doctoral Dissertation award at the International Conference on Information Systems in 2004.

Bert Hensley leads Morgan Samuels with a belief that finding exceptional leaders is a mission-critical responsibility—one that requires the same precision, discipline, and grit he developed as a U.S. Army aviator. Over his 25 years at the helm, he has transformed Morgan Samuels into one of the nation’s most respected executive search firms, recognized by Forbes, Hunt Scanlon, and multiple Business Journals for its quality, speed, and client satisfaction. Since acquiring a controlling interest in the firm in 1997, Bert has championed Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to build a world-class search infrastructure defined by operational excellence and a relentless focus on outcomes. His leadership philosophy combines analytical rigor with a deep empathy for people and their goals—an approach that continues to shape the firm’s culture and client relationships. Earlier in his career, Bert was a Vice President and Partner at Korn Ferry International and a General Partner at Meridian Strategies, a strategic consulting and venture management firm spun out of McKinsey & Company. He began his professional journey serving five years in the U.S. Army Aviation Branch, earning the Meritorious Service Medal for his contributions.A lifelong learner and self-described academic at heart, Bert holds a JD from Loyola Law School, an MS in Business Administration from Boston University, and a BS in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.Based in Nashville, Bert is a member of YPO and serves on the board of Heat Source Energy. Outside of work, he enjoys rebuilding houses, coaching youth sports, and mentoring young soldiers transitioning into civilian life.