The information below reflects the 2024 event. Details for 2025 coming soon!

 

Speaker Biography
Opening Keynote: Brenda Ladun

Brenda Ladun anchors the 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. news on ABC 33/40. Brenda graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa in Mass Communications, then worked for several stations before coming to Birmingham. She has worked in Birmingham television for three decades, and she’s a five-time winner of the Alabama Associated Press Awards for Best Investigative Reporter and Best Specialized reporter. Most recently, Brenda won the Associated Press Award for best anchor and an Edward R. Murrow Award for a cancer special. Brenda has also won several community awards for her work with the underprivileged. She is an author and a speaker and works with the Grace House Christian Home for Girls, The American Cancer Society, as well as other community organizations.

In February of 2001 and in 2007, Brenda had the fights of her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery. She has successfully completed chemotherapy. She has made it a priority to make sure the public has access to cancer information.
Mike Bean is the President and Sr. HR Consultant of PassionHR. He has over 25 years of hands-on, day-to-day HR leadership at all levels within the organizations he has served. His expertise focuses on talent management, compensation, benefits, employee engagement, organization development, and strategic management. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science from Human Resources from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development from Amberton University and his SHRM-SCP certification from the Society for Human Resource Management. Mike has received numerous recognitions for his service to the profession and community, such as the 2015 Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top HR Executives of The Year” award, and the 2013 UAB School of Business, Department of Management “Alumnus of the Year” award. He is past State Director for the Alabama Society for Human Resource Management State Council (ALSHRM), past president of the Tuscaloosa Human resource Professionals (THRP) and past president for the North Alabama Society for Human Resources (NASHRM). Mike has a passion to mentor junior level HR professionals, interns and students and he has served as faculty for local universities and NASHRM’s Mentor University and their SHRM Certification courses.
Lorrie Coffey is a Talent Management Consultant at Horizon Point Consulting, Inc. with experience in strategic human resources planning and strengthening of human resources infrastructure. She has experience working with organizations to implement HR best practices, compliant HR policies, and advanced HR technologies. She has a passion for helping organizations strengthen their talent management strategy and become employers of choice.  Lorrie’s role includes conducting full-scale HR audits, classification and compensation strategy analysis and design, HR process design and implementation, recruiting, and interim onsite HR support. In addition, Lorrie has experience in payroll and benefits administration. Lorrie’s extensive research skills ensure that each project is completed with the utmost diligence.  Lorrie graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She earned her Master’s of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law at Tulane University Law School and is a member of the American Bar Association. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Randy Easterling Randy Easterling, MSPH, CIH, CSP is the Safety Program Supervisor for The University of Alabama Safe State Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program.  He has over 35 years of professional experience as an industrial hygienist and safety engineer.  He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional.  He has the degree of Master of Science in Public Health from UAB’s Industrial Hygiene Program.  He is a Past President of the Alabama Chapter of ASSP.  He was the ASSP Region IV and Alabama Chapter Safety Professional of the Year.  He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Deep South Center.
Morgan Hankins started her career in finance in 2017 with BancorpSouth. She moved to Tuscaloosa 2 years ago to start building a book of business with Amfirst Financial in Birmingham, AL where she works as an LPL Financial Advisor.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Mississippi State University.
Tonya Hill-Allen is CEO of Inspired Action Coaching and Consulting. She is a former Human Resources senior manager and executive steering team member who directed the Talent and Culture division of a government contractor. She has over 25 years Human Resources expertise and has proven success in talent acquisition, learning and leadership development, culture and engagement and executive coaching to implement change for organizational excellence. Tonya is the Founder and Executive Director of Diane’s Heart nonprofit. She’s the author of “Diane’s Heart: Transforming Loss to Purpose and Legacy.”
Abby Horton, EdD, RN, CHC, CLC, currently teaches full-time as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at The University of Alabama’s Capstone College of Nursing and has been on faculty since 2014 with nearly 15 years of nursing experience. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of health and wellness with the UA Community and beyond. She is a Certified Holistic Health and Life Coach, who is passionate about helping others reach their potential and achieve their wellness goals. Her focus is to teach and encourage the mastery of habit change as foundational to all personal and professional development.
Jermie Howell Jermie Howell is a seasoned HR professional, leadership trainer, and consultant who values dedication, company loyalty, and excellence. One of his favorite quotes is “The standard of excellence is always under construction”, and he has spent the last eight years of his career training and developing professionals to be better leaders, regardless of their position title. Jermie graduated from the University of North Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He spent thirteen years working in Human Resources at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, seven years as the Director of Human Resources at Madison County, and the last 2 years as the Director of Human Resources for Inline Electric and Supply Company. Jermie is the host of the Lighthouse Leadership podcast, where he seeks to ignite, improve, and inspire leaders.
Ashley Wheeler Huffman is an Alabama native who has recently relocated to NE Georgia with her new husband. She has a contagious passion for helping individuals and organizations transform their thinking and performance from commonplace to extraordinary. Her focus is maximizing potential through training, executive coaching, consulting and keynoting around leadership, women’s empowerment, resilience and organizational development topics. Through her keynotes, she shares invaluable insights gained from overcoming challenges and embracing vulnerability, excelling in the workplace, encouraging others to find their voice, embrace their unique strengths and celebrate their victories. Off the stage, Ashley remains deeply committed to community service; her passion for making a positive impact is evident in her philanthropic efforts.
CeCe Lacey recently joined Southern Company as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Manager for Operations HR. In this capacity, she plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of Intentional Inclusion, working collaboratively with partners across the organization. CeCe brings a wealth of experience from her tenure at Birmingham-Southern College, where she excelled in strategic planning, visioning, and program development tailored to diverse audiences. Her expertise further includes the management of a donor database exceeding 5,000 contributors for Birmingham’s Exceptional Foundation, an organization dedicated to serving individuals with special needs. Additionally, CeCe co-authored the charter-school application for Magic City Acceptance Academy. This pioneering initiative, undertaken in partnership with local education leaders and Birmingham AIDS Outreach, resulted in the establishment of the nation’s first LGBTQ-affirming charter school, serving students from grades six through twelve.CeCe holds a Master’s degree in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Birmingham-Southern College.
Joseph Lawrence Joseph Lawrence is a trusted 401(k) Advisor and Director of Corporate Retirement Services for a national-based financial firm, ARIA Wealth Management. He brings over 25 years of retirement plan experience, including management, design, and compliance. Joe has worked with many businesses over the years, from start-ups to well-established companies with hundreds of employees. He holds certified accreditations in AIF, CPFA, and C(k)P. Joe is an Alabama native and is proud to operate the ARIA 401(k) office out of Huntsville, AL. Joseph is a graduate of Auburn University.
Frances Lucas is a seasoned career development specialist with a remarkable 40-year journey in the workforce. Starting as an entry-level administrative assistant, she has risen to become a subject-matter expert in career development. For over 25 years, Frances has dedicated herself to employee development within human resources, focusing on leadership, training, mentoring, and career growth.  Frances holds an Advanced Certified Corporate Coach degree from Corporate Coach University, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and a Master’s in Human Resource Management. Her passion lies in showing employees how to enjoy the work they are currently doing, seek opportunities to grow in their positions, and transition to fulfilling careers they love.  Throughout her career, Frances has created and presented numerous lunch ‘n learn classes, facilitated workshops on resumes and interviews, and provided one-on-one coaching to employees in various aspects of their careers. Her commitment to empowering others has made a significant impact on countless professionals.
Jillian Miles Massey Jillian Miles Massey is a Talent Development Consultant with experience in higher education, industry, and not-for-profit volunteer leadership. As a faculty member at Auburn University, she designed, taught, and facilitated university courses and career development programs in the fields of management, human resources, entrepreneurship, and organizational development. She is now an Adjunct Instructor at Athens State University. Jillian started her career in recruitment & selection and training & development internships for Fortune 500 companies Sherwin-Williams and The Walt Disney Company. Jillian is a graduate of Auburn University with a BSBA in Human Resources Management and an MBA with a focus in HR. She is a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), and a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP). Jillian also holds an Instructional Design Certificate from the Association for Talent Development.
KL Moore, MBA helps emerging to mid-level leaders in STEM, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sales transition to the next level. As a former electrical engineer in the manufacturing and agricultural biotech industry, KL was taught to “go to school, get a good job, work really hard, and surely you’ll get promoted”. Life’s experiences taught her otherwise. Although working smart and going above and beyond were essential to success, there were other leadership skills she couldn’t afford to overlook.  Now, as an executive coach and speaker, KL helps professionals navigate the unspoken, unwritten complexities of Corporate America so they don’t have to learn key leadership lessons trial-by-fire.  KL is passionate about feeding the C-Suite pipeline with leaders who are equipped for success. She has taught leadership communication skills throughout the United States and her company, KL Image Group, specializes in corporate training, speaking, and coaching. Clients love her honesty and frankness while her audience finds her passion contagious. Known for addressing elephant-in-the-room topics that others avoid, KL inspires her clients to lead with confidence in any situation!
Shari Pace is a Certified Executive Coach, Leadership Consultant ,Certified Gallup Strengths Finders Coach and founder of Coaching Beyond Limits a full service coaching and leadership development company . She has over 20+ years os experience in corporate leadership and 14+years of coaching& leadership development experience working with HRBP’s to elevate the performance of leaders and emerging leaders. She applies the latest coaching methodologies and blends corporate experience, subject matter knowledge and best practices with business savvy, intuition, interpersonal skills and passion for delivering results.
Mike Perkins is a versatile, “in the trenches” labor relations professional who has worked on the inside and as an outside consultant helping companies with labor organizing campaigns, labor management and collective bargaining agreement negotiations, contract implementation, and strike planning. Mike has successfully assisted employers with organizing attempts and campaigns by the UAW, IBEW, USW, IAM, SMART, SEUI and independent “start-up” unions. Mike has also negotiated and assisted with managing labor contracts involving the UAW, Teamsters, USW, IAM, IBEW, BRC, IUOE, and several other unions. Mike is a licensed attorney (FL), a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP), a John Maxwell Certified Coach, a Certified EEO Investigator and a Certified Circuit Civil Mediator (FL) and Registered Mediator (AL).
Nicole Pepper delivers empathetic financial counseling based on tangible data. As the Financial Wellness Manager for Alabama ONE Credit Union, she makes topics like cash flow, debt management, retirement, and estate planning accessible and achievable. Nicole started her career in manufacturing, then took her passion for analysis and collaboration to the finance world, where she worked for Ameriprise Financial and now Alabama ONE Credit Union. She has served on multiple boards, the West Alabama Chamber Diverse Business Council, and is now completing education requirements for CFP® certification.
Brock Phillips Brock Phillips is an Associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.  He assists clients with a broad range of labor and employment matters, including cases arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Section 1981, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family, and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and whistleblower statutes, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Brock counsels clients engaged in Department of Labor audits and investigations, as well as grievance proceedings. He also offers consultation to employers in need of assistance drafting or updating employment handbooks and policies. Brock received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as the Development Editor on the Managing Board of the Journal of Law & Politics. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University.
Dr. Jessica Rich is a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a private practice in Brooklyn, New York. Primarily, she is a relationship therapist certified in The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with proven conflict resolution capabilities. Additionally, she is trained in Psychodrama from Onsite Institute. As a strong advocate of holistic mind and body health, she is a certified 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga teacher and uses Mindfulness in her practice.  Additionally, she specializes in LGBTQIA+, women’s issues and GenZ. She recently received her PhD and is an expert in understanding how social media and screen time influence our emotional well-being.
Austin Richardson Austin Richardson is a passionate Holistic Health and Wellness Coach with a deep commitment to helping individuals achieve long-term well-being through simple, sustainable changes. With expertise in integrating exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness, Austin develops personalized programs that empower individuals to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. His dynamic approach focuses on building resilience and fostering long-lasting success. Having assessed and trained over 12,000 individuals, Austin has a proven track record of creating actionable plans that lead to meaningful health improvements. He educates his clients on holistic health strategies, including nutritional readiness, physical fitness, and mental resilience, always aiming to inspire positive change. As a Master Fitness Trainer and an accomplished motivational speaker, Austin is passionate about engaging audiences with practical tips and empowering them to take immediate action. He focuses on making simple changes today that can lead to profound, long-term health benefits.  His enthusiastic and encouraging style leaves a lasting impact, motivating participants to prioritize their well-being and embrace a balanced lifestyle.
Matthew Scully is a partner at Burr and Forman, LLP where he represents management in the area of labor and employment law. His practice is proactive, focused on managing the complex economic, legal and business decision employers must make in effectively managing their workforce. Matthew has considerable experience litigating and advising clients concerning all aspects of employment law, including workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, employment policies, and managing leave. He has experience working with clients in various industries and with small, medium and large sized employers, including Fortune 500 companies. He also represents employers in responding to traditional union organizing, unfair labor practice matters before the National Labor Relations Board, labor injunction proceedings and grievance arbitrations. His practice is focused on helping businesses during union campaigns, and often provides training to supervisors and managers on positive employee relations. Matthew is a frequent presenter on a number of human resource matters, including developments under the National Labor Relations Act and Title VII.  Matthew has a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration. He also obtained his Juris Doctorate from The University of Alabama School of Law.
Dr. Theresa M. Welbourne is the Will and Maggie Brooke Professor in Entrepreneurship and Executive Director, Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute, Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama. Dr. Welbourne’s expertise is in the areas of entrepreneurship, human capital management and strategic leadership in high growth, entrepreneurial and high change organizations. She is the founder, president, and CEO of eePulse, Inc., a human capital technology and consulting firm. Dr. Welbourne’s research and work have been featured in popular publications such as Inc. Magazine, Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Business Week, New York Times, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and she is well published in numerous academic journals and books as well as business books. Dr. Welbourne also runs two large-scale research studies, one focused on high-growth companies and initial public offerings (IPOs), and another that is focused on  employee resource groups (ERGs) and how they drive innovation and firm-level growth. As part of this work, she also studies employee energy and how it can be managed to improve wellness, productivity, growth, and innovation. Theresa was awarded the 2012 Academy of Management Distinguished Executive Award (for contributions in research, teaching and practice), in 2017 she was named a Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Fellow, and in 2022 she made the Business Alabama list of the top 22 Women in Tech. Dr. Welbourne also holds an appointment as an affiliated senior research scientist with the Center for Effective Organizations, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California.