Paul Wesselmann

Presenter's Bio

Simon T. Bailey

Presenter's Bio

Catalyst for Brilliance Simon T. Bailey has a visionary ability to identify brilliant potential in people and organizations and ignite that brilliance into action for amazing results.

An internationally known speaker, author and consultant, he inspires individuals to take charge of change and transform their lives from the inside out. A thought leader and fresh voice in the businesses world, Bailey connects the dots between individual and organizational brilliance. He challenges and teaches businesses and organizations to clear obstacles to brilliance in their cultures, processes, and people, thereby achieving higher levels of engagement, retention, and productivity – and a brilliant bottom line.

This mission led him to found The Brilliance Institute, Inc., dedicated to building the world’s most valuable resource – people. Fortune 500 companies, national associations, government agencies and educational institutions both in the U.S. and abroad look to him to help transform their cultures and processes and release the potential in their people. Client list.

As a speaker, Simon captivates and inspires audiences with contagious energy, compassion, and humor. He teaches by his own example and provides pragmatic ideas and techniques that bring people's aspirations into reach. Engaged audiences consistently give him the highest ratings and say they left wanting more. Better yet, he leaves audiences ready to take action that can lead to profound changes in their personal and professional lives.

His books are a guiding light for those who seek to realize their inherent potential. His newest book, Release Your Brilliance, is receiving rave reviews and having a profound impact on people’s lives. He has authored three other books: Simon Believes…Brilliant Service is the Bottom Line, Simon Believes…Success is an Inside Job and Simon Says Dream: Live a Passionate Life.

1 - A

Optimizing Leadership Talent

Presenter: Rhonda Holler,
Covance

Rhonda Holler

Nothing is more exciting for Rhonda Holler, Director of Leadership and Employee Development for Covance, than being in an organization that is committed to developing leaders capable of creating an environment where all talents are optimized. For nearly 15 years Rhonda Holler has been intently focused on enhancing the skills of leaders within a corporate setting. She has had the good fortune to work in vastly different industries at times of tremendous growth and change. Incumbent with that growth and change was the requirement for more and great leadership. To support the organizations’ strategic growth Rhonda has held varying roles in Learning & Development and worked on a wide range of initiatives, such as designing competency models, implementing the use of assessment centers and 360 feedback tools, designing and delivering leadership experiences for all levels of leadership. Rhonda is a dynamic speaker who captivates her audience on whatever topic she is presenting.

Rhonda Holler

1 - B

Organizational Change: Stop Managing and Start Leading

Presenter: Trevor Nagle
American Family Insurance

Trevor Nagle

Trevor Nagle has spent over 15 years leading change and advising executive leaders in public, private and non-profit organizations. Merging change management principles with leadership theory and application, he challenges and engages leaders to proactively approach change from a holistic, systems perspective that balances human capital needs with organizational goals. Trevor holds an advanced degree in public administration and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in industrial & organizational psychology, researching leadership and organizational culture.

Trevor Nagle

1 - C

Think Like and Entreprenuer: 6 Essential Competencies for Effective Leaders

Presenter: Paul Wesselmann

Paul Wesselmann

Paul Wesselmann

2 - A

Top Companies for Leaders

Presenter: Diane Krieman, Hewitt and Associates

Diane Krieman

Diane is a senior consultant in Hewitt Associates’ Talent and Organization Consulting Practice located in Lincolnshire, IL. She has 17 years of HR and organization development experience. She partners with clients to develop solutions for attracting, motivating, and retaining employees. She has been a key contributor to Hewitt’s Top Companies for Leaders Study in assisting with the selection process as well as speaking with clients about the results and implications. Diane has specific experience in:

• Leadership development including designing and implementing development and succession planning processes;
• Designing and implementing performance management and compensation processes and programs;
• Supporting organizational change and restructuring, including providing project management support, conducting cultural assessments, and designing talent redeployment and retention processes and programs.
• HR strategy and organization structure design;
• Developing action plans to improve employee engagement and retention; and
• Designing talent development and career development processes.

Prior to joining Hewitt, Diane spent 10 years with AT&T in HR generalist, organization development, and recruitment roles. Diane has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Delaware and an M.S. in Organizational Psychology from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Diane Krieman

Jill Attkison

2 - B

HR Guardian or Strategic Advisor? Skills for the Transition

Presenters: Kathleen Cronin and Mal Jeffries , Howick Associates

Kathleen Cronin and Mal Jeffries

Kathleen Cronin and Mal Jeffris are partners with Howick Associates; a 25 year-old Madison based firm that has helped HR professionals at Lands End, TDS, US Cellular, The Kohler company, Children’s Hospital, Time Warner Cable, and many more to build staff capacity for strategic partnership, employee engagement, and change management support.

Kathleen’s background is in adult education and educational design. She earned BS, MA, and MFA degrees from UW Madison, and an AD degree from the School of the Art Institute, Chicago.

Mal earned a BS degree in Communications and Organizational Behavior from Northwestern University, and has helped develop leaders and HR Professionals at GE, Motorola, TDS, US Cellular, Froedtert Hospital, and Northwestern Mutual Insurance.

Kathleen Cronin

Mal Jeffries

2 - C

Employment Branding

Presenter: Christine Benassi, Career Builder

Christine Benassi

Christine brings more than ten years' experience in consultative solutions sales and management with industry leading organizations across the technology and talent sectors such as CareerBuilder.com, Gartner and Thomson. Throughout her career, she has played key roles in building new business units or expanding into new markets. Fully understanding that the foundation of success for any organization is through the selection, retention and development of top talent, she was asked to join Personified, a talent optimization consulting organization which couples the intellectual capital of both industry leading HR professionals and the data repository of Careerbuilder.com to offer innovative solutions that will drive human capital strategies beyond traditional HR.

Christine Benassi

3 - A

The New World of Background Checks: Safely Maneuvering in the “MySpace” Age

Presenter: Jennifer Mirus, Boardman Law Firm

Jennifer Mirus

Jennifer Mirus is a partner in the Labor and Employment Law Practice Group at the Boardman Law Firm in Madison, Wisconsin. Jennifer represents clients in all aspects of employment relations, including litigation, hiring, discipline and terminations, wage issues, discrimination, FMLA, and harassment. She also has extensive experience providing counsel on insurance-related issues including HIPAA and wellness programs. Jennifer conducts workplace investigations and regularly conducts human resources and management trainings for clients of all sizes.

Jennifer is a 1993 honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School. She is a frequent speaker for human resources groups including SHRM, teaches employment law courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Small Business Development Center, and is an alumna of Leadership Greater Madison. She is also past President of the Legal Association for Women. In her bountiful free time, Jennifer is an avid football fan, likes to experiment in the kitchen, and does her best to keep up with her husband Kevin and her three young daughters.

Jennifer Mirus

3 - B

Credibility: Key to Effectiveness When Managing Projects

Presenter: Buck Joseph, Ed. D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Buck Joseph, Ed.D

Buck Joseph , Ed. D. is Professor Emeritus of Management, The School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He regularly teaches Business Communications in the Executive MBA program of the School of Business and teaches the following continuing education courses: How to Influence without Direct Authority and Professional Communications. In addition, he regularly works with companies throughout Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation, tailoring training programs for executives, managers, and first-line leaders.

Speaking to over 150 conferences on leadership, teamwork, motivation, and communications throughout the United States and the world since 1982, he has established a reputation as an engaging, thought-provoking presenter.

He regularly conducts in-house training and development programs for such clients as Abbott Laboratories, 3M Corporation, General Electric Health Care, and American Family Insurance. He has also presented management-training programs in Australia, Canada, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and Poland.

An energetic, enthusiastic communicator, Buck is dedicated to helping people grow in their abilities to communicate, lead, and manage in their professional and personal lives.

Buck Joseph, Ed.D.

3 - C

Optimizing Leadership Talent

Presenter: Rhonda Holler, Covance

Rhonda Holler

Nothing is more exciting for Rhonda Holler, Director of Leadership and Employee Development for Covance, than being in an organization that is committed to developing leaders capable of creating an environment where all talents are optimized. For nearly 15 years Rhonda Holler has been intently focused on enhancing the skills of leaders within a corporate setting. She has had the good fortune to work in vastly different industries at times of tremendous growth and change. Incumbent with that growth and change was the requirement for more and great leadership. To support the organizations’ strategic growth Rhonda has held varying roles in Learning & Development and worked on a wide range of initiatives, such as designing competency models, implementing the use of assessment centers and 360 feedback tools, designing and delivering leadership experiences for all levels of leadership. Rhonda is a dynamic speaker who captivates her audience on whatever topic she is presenting.

Rhonda Holler