John Bentley is a leadership and organizational development consultant, Marshall Goldsmith Certified Leadership Coach, and keynote speaker. He holds a Master of Science in Leadership and has more than 27 years of experience developing leaders and teams across healthcare, banking, government, nonprofits, and small business.

John served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and 20 years as a civilian leader with the federal government. For 13 of those years, he developed Army civilian HR professionals. That experience confirmed the belief that guides his work today. Leading yourself is the foundation for lasting success.

As founder and CEO of Power 2 Transform, a veteran-owned firm based in Alabama, As founder and CEO of Power 2 Transform, a veteran-owned firm based in Alabama, John helps leaders manage their reactions and respond well when conversations get difficult and pressure is high. His work is practical and grounded in the situations managers and HR leaders face every day.

John is the author of I Lead Me: Choose Your Action, Earn Their Trust, Lead With Purpose. He is also the founder of the You Are A GIFT Foundation, a nonprofit serving mothers in recovery from prescription drug addiction.

Donna Chetta, RN, BSN, MS, CHES®, CHC, a seasoned professional with over twenty years of military service, has transitioned into a thriving career as a health educator, safety and health program consultant, and worksite engagement coach. Her extensive experience in high-stress leadership roles has not only equipped her with the necessary knowledge and skills but also instilled in her a deep passion for developing training programs aimed at enhancing employee well-being, fostering engagement, and preventing burnout. As the owner of Wellness Dimensions, LLC, a veteran-owned small business based in Alabama, she is unwaveringly dedicated to helping organizations promote safety, health, and high performance among their employees and staff. After retiring from her military career, Donna earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana College and gained valuable experience across various hospital settings. She is a certified health coach and a health education specialist (CHES®). Notably, she played a pivotal role in developing engagement skills training for clinical coach nurses at a startup in remote patient monitoring, a contribution that significantly enhanced patient engagement and retention in the healthcare field. Wellness Dimensions, LLC offers tailored wellness and leadership solutions for both individuals and organizations. Donna’s expertise lies in designing customized health promotion programs, leadership development initiatives, team-building programs, and strategic planning. Her deep understanding of team building and leadership training enables leaders to enhance employee development and organizational growth, empowering them to increase work engagement and resiliency. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Upper Iowa University and a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance from Northwestern University, with a concentration in Health Promotion.

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, 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.

Ed Hagar is responsible for administration and design of Ingalls Shipbuilding’s pay, executive compensation, and HRIS systems. At Ingalls, Ed has served as Manager of Compensation, Benefits, and HRIS since 2011, supporting a workforce of 11,000. Ed has over 25 years of experience in the human resources field. Prior to joining Ingalls Shipbuilding in 2003, Ed spent 7 years as an HR Generalist in positions of increasing responsibility. Before his HR career, Ed spent 3 years as an Economic Analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Intelligence. Ed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Management, both from The University of Alabama, summa cum laude. He is an instructor in Human Resources at the University of South Alabama, and past instructor of statistics at Samford University and economics at Birmingham-Southern College.

Barika McNeal Hamilton has proudly dedicated the last 23 years to serving the corporate, academic, and medical communities, making a meaningful impact in each sector. Her career began at Ryder System Inc. in Rainbow City, AL, where she served as a logistics manager for 14 years. She led a team of 150 dedicated to supply chain delivery for Honda Manufacturing of America. In 2017, Barika fulfilled her long-held dream of entering academia by joining the University of Alabama as a business consultant. From 2019 to 2023, she held the position of director of fiscal and administrative affairs at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. Currently, Barika is the director of the UAB Family Clinic in Birmingham. She is passionate about enhancing recruiting and retention strategies, human resources planning, driving continuous improvements, and championing patient advocacy. Her dedication to these areas not only fosters a thriving workplace environment but also ensures that patients and employees alike receive the highest quality experience possible. Barika also facilitates strategic planning for non-profits, hosts energizing staff retreats, and offers one-on-one leadership coaching and training for emerging leaders as well as seasoned professionals. Barika has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Studies in Law from Samford University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Alabama A&M University.

Kris joined AmFirst Financial in 2021 and is currently registered as an LPL Financial Advisor.  Kris has been in the securities industry since 2011.  He received a B.S. Degree from the University of Alabama in 2008 in Management and Psychology. 

In his spare time, Kris enjoys riding dirt bikes, motorcycles, ATV's and any other adrenaline rush activities, hunts and plays golf on occasion.  His other love is Alabama Football.  Kris has been involved in many charity and community activities while serving as a member and President of YP Civitan.  He also participates in community outreach through his church, Grace Fellowship. 

Dr. Kristin Powell is a psychologist and executive coach specializing in leadership development and behavioral change. With a background in psychology and organizational development, she combines rigorous psychometric expertise with practical coaching to help leaders strengthen their impact. As an external coach and consultant, Kristin has worked with leaders in manufacturing, utilities, financial services, technology, healthcare, education, government, and nonprofit organizations. Her practice focuses on using assessment data; including 360-degree feedback and personality instruments to create targeted development plans. She coaches executives through role transitions, helps emerging leaders establish their presence, and works with teams navigating culture shifts. She also serves as an assessor for executive selection processes and consults with organizations in developing internal coaching programs and evaluating coaching competencies, Lastly, she designs and delivers leadership development workshops on topics ranging from emotional intelligence to change management.

Frances Lucas is a speaker, author, trainer, and coach with more than 26 years of experience at Alabama Power, where she worked in professional development and training. Throughout her career, she has helped employees develop skills, navigate career decisions, prepare for leadership, and take ownership of their professional growth.

Today, Frances brings that experience to organizations through speaking, training, career development, and leadership programs. She is the author of "Examine Your Career" and the creator of practical tools that help individuals identify where they are, determine where they want to go, and take intentional steps toward what's next.

Nikita Mathews is the Financial Education Program Lead at AmFirst Federal Credit Union, where she leads initiatives designed to strengthen financial wellness for employees, members, and communities. With more than 19 years of experience in the credit union industry, she combines financial education, leadership development, and community engagement to create programs that help individuals build greater financial confidence and well-being. Nikita holds a master's degree in Organizational Leadership and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, with research interests centered on leadership and financial wellness. She is a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC), Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE), and Certified Credit Union Facilitator (CCUF), and she extends her leadership through nonprofit board service and community advocacy. Passionate about shaping stronger workplaces and communities, Nikita believes financial wellness is not simply a personal finance issue–it is a workforce, leadership, and organizational performance issue.

Jillian Miles Massey is a Talent Development Consultant with Horizon Point Consulting, bringing experience across higher education, industry, and nonprofit leadership. She specializes in talent and career development, drawing on a background in management, human resources, entrepreneurship, and organizational development. Jillian holds both a BSBA in Human Resources Management and an MBA from Auburn University and is a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Jason is a results-driven executive with a 25-year track record of transformational leadership across the corporate, nonprofit, and faith-based sectors. Known for his strategic vision and ability to mobilize people and resources, Jason has built scalable organizations, influenced national conversations on leadership, and delivered measurable impact at the local, regional, and international levels.

He is the CEO of The People Driven Leader, a leadership consulting firm specializing in inspiring keynotes, executive coaching, and professional development. Through his work, Jason has equipped thousands of professionals, from emerging leaders to C-suite executives, with actionable strategies to drive organizational culture and lead through complexity.

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.

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.

Tracy Webster, CWPM, CCP, is CEO and founder of HealthMed, Inc. He brings more than 25 years’ experience to the health and wellness promotion industry. Tracy recognized the challenges faced by employers in managing rising health care costs and developed a customizable wellness program to encourage, educate and empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health and lifestyle choices. Under Tracy’s leadership and expertise, this program has grown to support the continuum of health across diverse populations and is widely used as a resource for customizing programs and services that impact employee health and productivity. Recently, Tracy helped the Local Government Health Insurance Board (LGHIB) develop a protocol to keep employees safe while continuing to conduct screenings necessary to making employees aware of their health. He is also working with several companies to develop options needed to make sure the environment of workplaces are clean and safe for employees to return to the office. Tracy is an active member of the Wellness Counsel of America, the National Wellness Institute, and the American Telemedicine Association. Tracy graduated from the University of Montevallo in Business Administration. His certifications include Wellness Program Manager, Wellness Program Speaker, Motivational Interviewing on Healthy Behavior, and Chronic Care Professional.