Imagine Forward

2026 CHRO Fall Forum

September 9-10, 2026

The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. - 1150 22nd Street N.W.
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Conference Agenda

Wednesday

September 9

  • 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

    Welcome Reception & Dinner

  • 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

    The States Take the Lead: Policy, Politics, and the Future of the American Workforce

    As Washington gridlock persists, state governments are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping the policies that affect employers and workers. In this bipartisan conversation, two prominent governors discuss the economic, workforce, and technology challenges facing the states—and the decisions leaders must make to remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment. CHROs will gain insight into how state-level policy is evolving and what it means for organizations operating across the country.

Thursday

September 10

  • 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

    Check-In & Breakfast

    Pick up your name badge and meeting materials, grab a coffee, and ease into the day with breakfast and informal conversation among fellow attendees.

  • 8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.

    Welcome & Opening Remarks

  • 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

    The Strategic CEO-CHRO Partnership

    As organizations adapt to technological disruption and evolving workforce expectations, the CEO–CHRO partnership is becoming a central driver of enterprise strategy. David Joyner and Heidi Capozzi share how they work together to align business priorities with people strategy.

  • 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

    Leading the Workforce Through the AI Transformation

    Artificial intelligence is accelerating changes in how work is performed, how skills are developed, and how organizations prepare their people for the future. In this discussion, leading experts and corporate leaders explore how AI is reshaping jobs, how companies are approaching reskilling and workforce readiness, and what leaders must do to ensure their organizations remain adaptable in an era of rapid technological change. They will also examine how HR organizations themselves must evolve—developing new competencies, operating models, and leadership capabilities to support AI-enabled enterprises.

  • 10:15 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.

    Morning Break

    Recharge with coffee and light refreshments in the foyer while connecting with peers between sessions.

  • 10:35 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

    AI, Innovation, and the Future of American Competitiveness: A Keynote Conversation

    Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the global economy, the workplace, and the pace of technological innovation. Taylor Stockton shares the U.S. Department of Labor’s perspective on AI policy, digital innovation, and the strategies needed to ensure the United States remains a global leader in the age of intelligent technology. For CHROs leading workforce transformation, his insights will illuminate the policy and economic forces shaping the future of work.

  • 11:10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

    Breaking the Healthcare Cost Curve: Employer Innovation and the Future of Healthcare Purchasing

    Healthcare costs continue to be one of the largest and fastest-growing expenses for employers. In this panel discussion, senior HR leaders from major companies examine how large employers are rethinking healthcare purchasing, pharmacy benefits, and the role of employer purchasing power in shaping the future of healthcare markets. The conversation will explore emerging strategies to improve transparency, leverage innovation, and deliver better outcomes for employees while controlling costs. Beyond immediate cost-control tactics, this panel will also tackle a provocative strategic question: As costs climb and market power consolidates, should employers double down on aggressive active management, or is it time to rethink whether traditional health insurance remains a meaningful competitive advantage?

  • 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

    Networking Luncheon

    Get to know or reconnect with fellow attendees over lunch during this informal networking luncheon—an easy opportunity to make connections and ease into the afternoon’s discussions.

     

  • 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

    Capital, Geopolitics, and the Forces Shaping the Global Economy

    In a period defined by AI-driven technological disruption, geopolitical tension, and rapid economic change, business leaders must navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. 

  • 2:15 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.

    Afternoon Break

    Grab a beverage and a quick snack in the foyer as you pause and reconnect before the final session of the day.

  • 2:35 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.

    Closing Conversation: Culture as a Strategic Advantage

    As organizations navigate AI-driven transformation, geopolitical uncertainty, and evolving workforce expectations, culture has emerged as a defining factor in long-term success. In this closing conversation, members from diverse, mission-driven companies discuss how they have reinforced and evolved their cultures in a profound time of change.[

  • 3:35 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

    Final Reflections and Concluding Remarks

Register Now

DATE
September 9-10, 2026
Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon
LOCATION
Washington, DC
The Ritz-Carlton 1150 22nd Street N.W. 
Register
The agenda is flexible and additional topics or speakers may be added before the meeting.
OPEN TO ALL CHRO ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
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Janet Napolitano

20th President of the University of California (2013–2020); Secretary of Homeland Security (2009–2013); Governor of Arizona (2003–2009)

Janet Napolitano is a Professor of Public Policy and Director of the new Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley.

A distinguished public servant, Napolitano served as the president of the University of California from 2013 to 2020, as the US Secretary of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013, as Governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009, as Attorney General of Arizona from 1998 to 2003, and as US Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997. She earned her BS degree (summa cum laude in Political Science) in 1979 from Santa Clara University, where she was a Truman Scholar, and the university’s first female valedictorian. She received her law degree in 1983 from the University of Virginia School of Law.

As Secretary of Homeland Security, she led the nation’s efforts to prevent terrorist attacks, secure its borders, respond to natural disasters, and build domestic resiliency. She oversaw critical enhancements to aviation security, including initiatives like the creation of TSA Pre✓® that bolster security while improving the travel experience. Through the expansion of programs like Global Entry and pre-clearance, the Department expanded our borders, helping to identify threats before they depart for the U.S. The Department also significantly enhanced its readiness to meet and combat evolving cyber threats. During her time as Secretary, she also spearheaded the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, creating hope and relief for thousands of undocumented young people across the nation. She was the first woman and is to date the longest-serving Secretary of Homeland Security. Under her leadership, the Department transformed its security capabilities, becoming a more efficient, cohesive and effective organization.

As UC President, she was a steadfast advocate for California students, working to stabilize in-state tuition and to enroll historic numbers of California undergraduates. In 2017, under Napolitano’s leadership, the University of California was the first university in the country to file a lawsuit to stop the federal government’s rescission of the DACA program. The injunctions the University received prohibiting the rescission of DACA were upheld by the US Supreme Court. Napolitano also upheld the university’s legacy of leadership on global climate action, putting UC on a path to 100 percent reliance on clean electricity across all campuses and medical centers by 2025, the same year the university aims to achieve systemwide carbon neutrality. In 2017, she also spearheaded the formation of the University Climate Change Coalition, or UC3. This group of 18 leading North American research universities and systems are working to help local communities achieve their climate goals and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.

Napolitano is the recipient of nine honorary degrees as well as the Jefferson Medal from the University of Virginia, that University’s highest honor. In 2015, Napolitano was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She serves on the Council of the American Law Institute and is a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In March of 2019, Napolitano published How Safe Are We?: Homeland Security Since 9/11.

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Larry Hogan

Governor of Maryland (2015–2023)

While you may know him as the most popular Governor in Maryland’s history, Larry Hogan is also a respected business leader and passionate bipartisan problem-solver. A successful entrepreneur and lifelong small business owner before entering public service, Hogan brings practical, real-world leadership experience to a wide range of conversations, including economic growth, crisis management, leadership, public policy, workforce development, and bipartisan collaboration. In 2026, he launched the Hogan Institute at Washington College, a nonpartisan leadership initiative focused on restoring ethical leadership and encouraging political cooperation.

As Governor of Maryland from 2015–2023, he led one of the nation’s most dramatic state economic turnarounds, moving Maryland from near the bottom of national economic rankings to one of the country’s top-performing states for business and job growth. Throughout his terms, Governor Hogan guided Maryland through major crises, including civil unrest in Baltimore and the COVID-19 pandemic, all while fighting his own battle with cancer and serving as Chairman of the National Governors Association. His leadership earned praise from corporate executives, healthcare leaders, and policymakers across the political spectrum for its transparency, decisiveness, and focus on results. Hogan’s best-selling book, Still Standing: Surviving Cancer, Riots, and the Toxic Politics that Divide America was called a testament to the “perseverance when facing what appeared to be insurmountable odds” by Cal Ripken Jr.

Throughout his two terms, Hogan worked across party lines to deliver historic tax relief, strengthen Maryland’s business climate, invest in infrastructure and transportation, and improve government efficiency. His ability to build consensus in a politically divided environment has made him a sought-after keynote speaker for corporations, trade associations, healthcare organizations, leadership summits, universities, and public policy forums.

Governor Hogan’s speaking engagements provide audiences with actionable insights on executive leadership, navigating uncertainty, resilient decision-making, economic competitiveness, bipartisan negotiation, innovation in government, and leading through disruption. Combining executive experience from both the private and public sectors, he offers audiences a rare perspective on how to drive measurable results in times of challenge and transformation.

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Timothy J. Bartl

Chief Executive Officer, CHRO Association

Timothy J. Bartl is President and CEO of CHRO Association the nation’s leading public policy association of senior human resource executives, representing nearly 400 of the largest companies operating within the United States and globally. The Association focuses on the development of U.S. human resources and employment public policy, primarily at the federal level. At the same time, the Association uses the collective strength of its membership to facilitate chief human resource officer education and enrichment, and achieve market-based improvements in HR practices as well as developing unique member offerings such as its Retiree Health Access program.

Mr. Bartl joined the Association in 1997, and prior to helping found its Center On Executive Compensation in 2008, he served as the Association’s Assistant General Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Affairs, concentrating on executive and employee compensation, government relations, employment rights and retirement security matters.

Mr. Bartl served as Chief Executive Officer of HR Policy Association’s Center On Executive Compensation, a research and advocacy organization comprised of more than 130 HR Policy Association members dedicated to providing a reasoned perspective on executive compensation. In that role, he oversaw the Center’s operations, policy and best practice development and federal advocacy activities involving executive compensation design, disclosure, governance and taxation. He is also a frequent writer and speaker on the subject.

In addition to his work with the Association and Center, Mr. Bartl is also a Partner of Tributary LLP, an association management firm specializing in health care, employment, compensation, benefits and labor law.

Mr. Bartl formerly served as Legislative Director and Counsel to former Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI), and is a graduate of Marquette University and the University of Minnesota Law School. He was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2017.

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Timothy J. Richmond

Chair, CHRO Association, Former Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, AbbVie

Tim Richmond is Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for AbbVie, responsible for leading a global human resources organization focused on engaging high-performing employees and amplifying a culture that drives business performance. As a result of this focus, AbbVie has been named to more than 40 Great Place to Work® and Top Employer® lists and is prominently recognized on “Best of” lists related to workplace, diversity, employee engagement, corporate responsibility and business performance.

Prior to AbbVie, Mr. Richmond served as Divisional Vice President, Compensation and Benefits at Abbott. He also held various human resources management positions at 3M Company.

Mr. Richmond is chair of the board of directors for the Human Resources Policy Association and on the board of the University of South Carolina’s Center for Executive Succession. Mr. Richmond also serves on the Board of Directors for the Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation and the Travis Manion Foundation. In 2024, he was awarded the Distinguished HR Executive Award by the HR Division of the Academy of Management and was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2020.

Mr. Richmond earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in labor and industrial relations from Michigan State University.

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Natalie Rothman

Chief Human Resources Officer, The Hershey Company

Natalie Rothman leads Hershey’s global human resources function. A seasoned CHRO and public/private company board member, she has over 25 years of human resources experience. She is recognized for building high-performing teams and modernizing HR operating models, with particular expertise working with hourly, frontline workforces across diverse industries, including consumer products, retail, food service, automotive and beauty.

Prior to joining Hershey, Rothman served as CHRO at Inspire Brands, where she modernized the company’s HR operations through business process automation and AI tools. Previously, as CHRO at Advance Auto Parts, she led comprehensive business transformation efforts to drive cultural change, grow talent and build organizational capabilities through technology-enabled solutions.

Rothman is a member of the New York and New Jersey Bar and the CHRO Association. She currently serves on the boards of Udemy (NASDAQ: UDMY) and Pearce Services and is an Advisory Board Member at Emory Goizueta Business School and New Mountain Capital.

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Jade Kas

Vice President, Total Rewards, Eli Lilly

Jade Kas is Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Total Rewards and Employee Services, with enterprise responsibility for compensation, health and welfare benefits, executive compensation, and retirement programs. He also oversees employee relations and HR investigations, HR technology and operations, and Global Security.

With more than 27 years of experience at Lilly and most of those being in human resources, Jade brings a practitioner’s perspective to total rewards strategy, governance, and execution. He has held multiple HR leadership roles, including several HR business partner assignments, enabling him to pair strategic intent with practical implementation. He is known for advancing sustainable, data-informed rewards and benefits solutions that balance competitiveness, affordability, and long-term business priorities.

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Simon Camaj

Senior Partner, US Health Leader, Mercer

Simon Camaj leads Mercer’s US Health business, overseeing a team of over 2,700 colleagues focused on creating effective health benefit solutions for employers. He and his team deliver practical, customized strategies that support the health and well-being of clients and their employees. They make a difference in people’s lives by helping to tackle the biggest issues in US healthcare — every single day. Simon champions a culture where colleagues can be their best — building future leaders and scaling the skills, recognition, and innovation that drive better client outcomes and a richer colleague experience. In addition, he is a member of Mercer’s US and Canada Regional Leadership team, where he participates in and supports broader strategic business and health initiatives.

Simon brings over 20 years of industry experience with deep expertise in absence management, operations, account service delivery, and distribution leadership. At Mercer, he has most recently led the West Zone for US Health, as well as the Life, Absence and Disability, and Voluntary Benefits practices. In these roles, he has cultivated a collaborative culture focused on colleague development, strengthening Mercer’s market position and driving results. Prior to joining Mercer, Simon led distribution for Aetna’s National Accounts Group insurance business, achieving record results in the Absence, Disability, and Life portfolio.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from The University of Olivet, Olivet, Michigan.

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Dr. Chris DeCou

Director of Amazon Health Benefits, Amazon

Dr. Chris DeCou is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Amazon Health Benefits. His team is focused on reinventing health benefits on behalf of Amazonians, and ensuring that all employees and their families have access to high quality and evidence-based healthcare services. Chris also serves on the Board of Directors for the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC). He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and earned his PhD at Idaho State University. He has authored and co-authored 44 papers in peer-reviewed publications. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Chris has worked as an Alaskan wilderness guide and first responder. When not at work, Chris enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family, reading obscure books, and gardening at his home in North Bend, Washington.

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Chatrane Birbal

Senior Vice President, Practice, Policy and Government Relations, CHRO Association

Chatrane Birbal is Senior Vice President, Practice, Policy and Government Relations in the Association’s Arlington, Va. office. In this capacity Ms. Birbal is responsible for leading CHRO Association’s government relations strategy, building relationships with individuals in the U.S. Congress, Administration and regulatory agencies that oversee matters related to large employers and their workforces, including benefits, diversity and inclusion, labor, safety, immigration, and compensation policy.

Ms. Birbal brings nearly 20 years of high-level experience working in government affairs at the federal level. Most recently, she was the vice president, public policy for the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). In this role, she was directly engaged in many of the policy issues that impact the workplace and represented SHRM’s membership of over 300,000 individual HR and business executive members.

Prior to SHRM, Ms. Birbal was the director of government relations at the Council on Foundations, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit membership association of 2,000 grant making foundations and corporations, with assets totaling more than $282 billion. Ms. Birbal was also a federal legislative lobbyist at the American Psychiatric Association, a medical specialty society with over 38,000 U.S. and international member physicians who work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorders, including mental illness and substance-related disorders.

Chatrane obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Buffalo State University in Buffalo, N.Y. and received her graduate degree of public administration and public policy from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Ms. Birbal currently serves on the Board of Directors of Women in Government Relations (WGR) - the premier, non-partisan professional society dedicated to advancing and empowering women by fostering professional development and growth opportunities through a community that supports women’s leadership in government relations. She is a member of the Tax Coalition, which provides a forum for the exchange of ideas among professionals in federal tax policymaking to encourage the professional development of women in federal tax policy and Birbal also serves as a Director-at-large on George Mason University’s Alumni Board.

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David Autor

Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

David Autor is the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics, codirector of the NBER Labor Studies Program and the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work. His scholarship explores the labor-market impacts of technological change and globalization on job polarization, skill demands, earnings levels and inequality, and electoral outcomes.

Autor has received numerous awards for both his scholarship — the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the Sherwin Rosen Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of Labor Economics, the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2019, the Society for Progress Medal in 2021 — and for his teaching, including the MIT MacVicar Faculty Fellowship. In 2020, Autor received the Heinz 25th Special Recognition Award from the Heinz Family Foundation for his work “transforming our understanding of how globalization and technological change are impacting jobs and earning prospects for American workers.” In 2023, Autor was selected as one of two researchers across all scientific fields as as a NOMIS Distinguished Scientist. Autor was one of five senior scholars selected by the Schmidt Sciences Foundation as an AI2050 Senior Fellow in 2024.

The Economist magazine labeled Autor in 2019 as “The academic voice of the American worker.” Later that same year, and with equal or greater justification, he was christened “Twerpy MIT Economist” by John Oliver of Last Week Tonight in a segment on automation and employment.

Autor earned a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 1999. Prior to graduate study, he spent three years directing computer skills education for economically disadvantaged children and adults in San Francisco and South Africa.

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Becky Schmitt

Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, PepsiCo

Becky Schmitt is a seasoned HR executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer (CPO) at PepsiCo. Under her leadership, PepsiCo’s global HR organization thrives, advancing the company’s mission to attract top talent and future-proof its workforce.

Since joining PepsiCo in 2023, Becky has spearheaded numerous initiatives that underscore her commitment to people management excellence.

Before PepsiCo, she was the CPO at Cognizant, where she honed her skills in managing a diverse, multinational workforce. Her tenure at Cognizant followed impressive stints at Walmart, where as Senior Vice President and CPO of Sam’s Club, she championed the career development of 100,000 associates across nearly 600 locations. Additionally, as CPO for Walmart’s U.S. eCommerce and Corporate Functions, she supported an extensive employee base of over 40,000 across 13 markets.

Becky’s career is further distinguished by her 21 years at Accenture, during which she held numerous senior HR roles globally. Notably, she led a transformative HR strategy in India, supporting the company’s growth from 45,000 to more than 70,000 employees.

Becky holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She serves on the Board of Tropicana Brands Group and the PepsiCo Foundation, further contributing to her industry expertise and leadership. Based in Purchase, N.Y., Becky continues to influence the HR landscape with her strategic vision and dedication.

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Ani Huang

President, Policy and Practice, CHRO Association, CEO, Center on Executive Compensation

Ani Huang is President, Policy and Practice of the CHRO Association, the only independent organization serving Chief Human Resource Officers and top HR executives of major multinational corporations.

Ani’s reputation and deep expertise in C-suite HR issues make her a trusted resource and confidant for CHROs and rewards executives. She regularly advises top executives and senior policymakers on human capital issues ranging from executive compensation and workforce AI to CEO succession. Her expertise also extends to the CHRO’s evolving role in driving business results by shaping corporate strategy.

As President, Policy and Practice, Ani leads the Association’s value offering to members. In this role, she guides a team of global experts in creating invaluable resources and peer engagement opportunities that CHROs and senior HR executives rely on.

Ani also serves as CEO of the Association’s Center on Executive Compensation. Her leadership established the Center as the top independent resource for CHROs and total rewards executives navigating complex executive compensation and governance challenges.

Before joining the CHRO Association, Ani held senior HR leadership roles including Vice President, Global Compensation and Benefits at Global Payments and HR Advisor at Deutsche Bank.

Ani earned her degree in International Relations from Stanford University and is frequently sought after by executives, policymakers, industry organizations, and the media for her insights on complex workplace issues and the voice of the CHRO.

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Dina Barmasse-Gray

Chief People Officer, The Cheesecake Factory

Dina is Chief People Officer for The Cheesecake Factory — named one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 13 years in a row. The Cheesecake Factory differentiates itself through their service and hospitality, menu innovation and operational excellence — each of which is dependent upon the strong performance of their 45,000 staff members and the common culture that binds them together. In her role, she is responsible to drive the overall effectiveness and strategy of the HR organization, building the capacity to meet the company’s talent challenges & opportunities.

Dina holds a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Psychology from California State University Northridge.

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Laura Fuentes

EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of Hilton Supply Management

As Hilton’s Chief Human Resources Officer and head of Hilton Supply Management, Laura Fuentes is responsible for human resources and leading the world’s largest hospitality supply chain organization. She joined Hilton in 2013 and became the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in 2020. Since then, she has spearheaded the company’s efforts to build an award-winning culture for its nearly half a million team members across corporate offices and hotels globally. The work has led to Hilton being named by Great Place to Work and Fortune as the #1 World’s Best Workplace and #1 Best Company to Work For in the U.S.

Prior to joining Hilton, Laura spent six years at Capital One Financial in various corporate strategy and human resources roles, including leading workforce analytics, recruitment, and compensation functions for the organization. Before Capital One, she worked at McKinsey & Company in their Madrid, New York, and Washington D.C offices, where she served clients across financial services and non-profit sectors.

Laura serves on the boards of directors of Chipotle Mexican Grill, University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, and is the chair of the Make-a-Wish Mid-Atlantic board. She also is a member of the Community Council for the Arlington Free Clinic. Originally from Spain, she holds a B.S. from the University of Virginia, a M.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. She lives outside Washington D.C., with her husband and two sons.

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Marvin Boakye

Chief Human Resources Officer, Cummins

Marvin Boakye is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Cummins Inc., a global power technology leader based in Columbus, Indiana (USA). Since 2022, he has led the company’s human resources practices for 60,000 employees across 190 countries and territories.

Prior to joining Cummins, Marvin served as Chief People and Diversity Officer at Papa John’s International, leading the team of corporate employees and franchise team members across the world. In both 2021 and 2022, Papa Johns was honored by Forbes Magazine on its “Best Employers for Diversity” list. Prior to his transformative work at Papa John’s International, Marvin served as Chief HR Officer and in other senior HR leadership roles for companies including MTS Allstream, Andeavor, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, The Pulte Group and The Home Depot.

A global leader specializing in organizational and cultural transformations, Marvin has successfully helped businesses transition from turnaround to growth. Active in the community, Marvin also sits on the Board of Advisors for the University of Louisville’s School of Business and is a National Trustee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Marvin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Conflict Resolution Studies from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University.

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David Reimer

Chief Executive Officer, The ExCo Group

As CEO and Managing Partner of The ExCo Group, David Reimer is a recognized expert in the leadership development of the C-suite. A former operator himself, David brings hands-on knowledge of leadership, strategy, operations, and mentoring to the subject of accelerating top executives’ impact. He is consulted by boards, operators, and senior HR leaders on the pragmatic development of leaders best suited for an era of disruption.

Prior to joining The ExCo Group, Reimer built his career leading companies of diverse sectors, from regional construction to global consulting, through various stages of growth and industry dominance. He has lived outside Geneva, in Hong Kong, and Sydney. His last corporate stint was helping lead a three-year turnaround under private equity ownership of Drake Beam Morin’s (DBM) North American business. During the heart of the financial crisis, Reimer worked with a highly effective team to refocus the organization on its core, reengage the workforce, and launch a game-changing business model. These efforts restored DBM’s quality to number one, doubled revenues over three years, and increased EBITDA by 350% — outpacing competitors’ results and significantly improving the realized exit price.

Reimer feels fortunate to have been engaged by hundreds of senior leaders facing major organizational change, industry disruptions, and career crossroads. “I have also benefited tremendously from mentors in my own career,” Reimer says. “Veteran leaders who didn’t need to help me but who did so anyway. They didn’t flinch from rattling my worldview — particularly at moments where the ‘standard’ business models were running aground and I needed to think more broadly. I see The ExCo Group’s work as a logical extension of the generosity that others showed me.”

In other leadership roles, Reimer consulted the three largest financial services integrations of the financial crisis. In Asia Pacific, his work included strategic and line roles juggling a mix of wholly-owned, JV, and affiliate business units in 14 countries, including launching wholly-owned operations in China. A frequent speaker at the Conference Board and other industry conferences, he has been interviewed on leadership by the New York Times, Fortune, Inc., and Huffington Post, among others. Adam Bryant profiled him for his “Corner Office” column.

Reimer holds a BA in history from Walla Walla College and currently lives in Traverse City, Michigan. Working on their 3rd decade of marriage, David and his wife Janelle have exchanged all notions of aging gracefully for the delights of raising their two children, Seneca and Holten.

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Val Pitteroff

Chief Human Resources Officer, Cardinal Health

Val Pitteroff is chief human resources officer at Cardinal Health with oversight for the company’s Human Resources, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Community Relations, Communications, Environmental Health and Safety, Security, Real Estate and Facilities organizations.

With more than 20 years of experience at Cardinal Health, Pitteroff most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the company’s global medical products and distribution (GMPD) segment. In this role, she drove talent and workplace culture strategies that helped enable the business segment to achieve its financial goals, improve customer satisfaction and enhance the employee experience for its 24,000 global employees.

Previously, Pitteroff held a variety of senior roles within the Human Resources function at Cardinal Health supporting its enterprise, pharmaceutical and specialty solutions and GMPD business segments. In these roles, Pitteroff served as a strategic partner to the businesses and key business leaders to provide HR support to their teams. Her experience included a focus on leadership development, talent management, organization and team effectiveness, employee engagement and change management.

Pitteroff also served in the organization’s Talent Management Center of Excellence supporting all aspects of talent management for the organization, including performance management, talent and succession planning, development planning and goal setting. As part of her role, she led organizational design, change management and team effectiveness efforts and consulted with businesses on talent strategies to enable the execution of business plans.

Prior to joining Cardinal Health, Pitteroff was a member of the United States Peace Corps serving in Paraguay, South America, where her service focused on working with educators and farmers to establish a rural community cooperative and developing and facilitating educational programs for women and students.

Pitteroff holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Riverside.

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Taylor Stockton

Chief Innovation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor

Taylor Stockton currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer, leading the Department of Labor’s exploration of how AI and other emerging technologies impact the labor market and the overall experience of the American worker, as well as what new innovations can support workers in achieving the American Dream.

Stockton has spent his career at the intersection of education, the future of work, and technological progress. He was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of a workforce development technology company, partnering with state workforce agencies and local workforce boards around the country to harness AI-powered solutions to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers. Concurrently, Stockton was the Co-Founder of Pathway Ventures, a seed stage venture capital fund investing in the human side of the future of work, which the firm defined as startups driving new models of economic mobility. Previously, Stockton was the Chief of Staff of an education startup in South Africa that harnessed the power of technology in K-12 education to build the innovators and leaders of the 21st century economy.

Stockton earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Boston College and his master’s in business administration from Harvard Business School.

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Gregory C. Hoff

General Counsel, Senior Director, Practice and Policy, CHRO Association

Greg Hoff is General Counsel, Senior Director Practice and Policy and Policy at CHRO Association, primarily focusing on labor and employment law and policy issues. Mr. Hoff received his J.D. from George Mason University in 2019 and a B.A. in history with honors from Wake Forest University in 2016. Mr. Hoff is currently a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

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Dr. Timothy Naftali

Adjunct Professor, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia UniversityPresidential Historian, CNN

Dr. Timothy Naftali, formerly a clinical professor of public service at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, clinical professor of history in NYU’s College of Arts and Science, and director of NYU’s undergraduate public policy program, joined Columbia in July 2023 as a Senior Research Scholar at SIPA. Naftali, whose book Khrushchev’s Cold War with Aleksandr Fursenko, won the Royal United Services Institute’s Duke of Westminster’s medal for military literature in 2007, is a pioneer in the study of modern international and espionage history and is a well-recognized presidential historian. After serving as the first director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs’ presidential recordings program. Naftali became the founding director of the federal Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in 2007, where he curated a nationally recognized nonpartisan permanent exhibit on Watergate and oversaw the release of 1.3 million pages of records. Naftali is the author, co-author or editor of 8 books, including a biography of George Herbert Walker Bush and histories of US counterterrorism policy and of presidential impeachment. Naftali was an historical consultant to both the Nazi War Crimes and Imperial Japanese Government Records Interagency Working Group and to the 9/11 Commission. He is currently a member of the State Department’s Historical Advisory Committee, which provides oversight for the Foreign Relations of the United States series. Naftali, who is a CNN presidential historian, has appeared in several documentaries, most recently Prime Video’s “The Devil’s Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes” and CNN’s “2010s,” and has also consulted on CNN’s “Tricky Dick” and Netflix’s “Designated Survivor.” 

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