Monica Gockowski is the senior learning director and SVP of leadership development at U.S. Bank.

Joffrey Wilson is Vice President of Human Resources, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Mortenson.  The company is a leader in the commercial construction, real estate development, and renewable energy.  Prior to joining Mortenson, Joffrey worked for General Mills and Ford Motor Company in Marketing, Sales and Corporate Strategy.  Outside of work, Joffrey enjoys playing and watching sports, along with coaching his two sons.  He and his wife also enjoy live music, and finding new restaurants.  Joffrey graduated from the University of Minnesota, with a bachelor’s degree in business and the University of Michigan, with an MBA.  He is from Minneapolis, MN and currently resides in St. Louis Park, MN with his wife and kids. 

 Michelle Anderson is the AVP of Global Learning & Development at AmTrust Financial. The company provides insurance protection, warranty programs and risk management expertise to small businesses worldwide and is the third largest writer of workers & compensation in the US. Prior to working for AmTrust, Michelle held various Learning & Development roles at other insurance companies and spent a few years as elementary school teacher straight out of college. Michelle has both her B.S. and M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota. (SKI-U-MAH) She is a MN native and currently resides in Lakeville, with her husband, two teenage sons and two adorable dogs.

Christa Emerson is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition for UnitedHealthcare. She and her team are responsible for the strategies to attract and source top talent for current and future business needs for all levels, from entry level to executive. The team advances UnitedHealthcare’s business priorities by enabling careers through internal mobility, creating an inclusive hiring culture, and improving the candidate experience.

Christa joined UnitedHealth Group in 2005 and has held a variety of roles during her tenure. She’s served as people business partner within several businesses including OptumHealth, Optum Technology, and UnitedHealth Group corporate. She also led Compensation Operations within UnitedHealth Group Total Rewards. Christa served as Vice President of People Team for UnitedHealthcare Global, which has employees around the world, primarily in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Portugal and the UK. Just before joining the UnitedHealthcare Talent Office in 2019, she led the people team for UnitedHealthcare Community & State.

Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group Christa held various human resources roles with Verizon, Citigroup and several non-profit organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, as well as a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Minnesota.

Outside of work Christa enjoys travel, time at the lake in northern Minnesota, and watching her husband coach her two children in many, many ice hockey games.

Joel Geary is Vice President, Human Resources, Global Business Units for Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.  Beckman Coulter’s mission is to relentlessly reimagine healthcare one diagnosis at a time.  With 10,000 global team members in more than 40 countries, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics is part of the Danaher Corporation family of global science and technology companies. 

Joel is inspired by the amazing, innovative, life-saving products developed by Beckman Coulter.  He takes great pride in working as a change catalyst to deliver on the strategic ambition of the product development teams through the levers of engagement, talent development, talent acquisition and executive coaching.  

Joel brings more than 20 years progressive HR experience, with a passion for enterprise level change management initiatives; balancing the strategic and tactical to deliver pragmatic solutions to complex organizational challenges.  Collaborative, thoughtful and balanced with a deep understanding of the business, he builds trust and seeks strategic opportunities to influence and challenge.  

Joel has a B.S. in Business from Xavier University and an M.A. in Organization Development & Change Leadership from St. Thomas University.  He is a board member of the Edina Soccer Association.  When not working, enjoys time hiking and biking in Lutsen, MN and spending time with his wife and 2 boys (ages 8 and 11).

Kari is the Chief Talent Officer for Schwan’s Company and has been with the company since 2011.  In her current role, she has enterprise responsibility for culture, talent development and succession, learning, change and talent acquisition.  In her previous roles at Schwan’s, she led HR for the Food Service and R&D businesses.  Kari has also held various HR leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group and RBC Capital Markets. 

Kari is passionate about culture, leadership and talent strategies that drive business performance. Her prior background in broadcasting and sales brings a unique point of view and allows her to communicate ideas and concepts in a way that resonates with leaders at all levels.

Korie Holden is a Strategic Account Director with Coursera where she provides guidance, alignment and orchestration of our Enterprise partnerships.  Her focus with clients is centered on upskilling and reskilling employees through the Coursera Platform in order to drive mission critical priorities for organizations.  Korie's background is in consulting and account management where she spent over a decade with CEB and Gartner driving digital transformation across various business functions.  Korie is a first generation college graduate and has a passion for driving continuous learning.  She has seen first hand the transformative power of education and values the opportunity to marry that passion with organizational transformation of clients.

Neil Taylor is the Vice President of Product Marketing at Visier.

Nicole Johnson is a seasoned executive who has more than 30 years of a unique blend of corporate and nonprofit experience in finance, multicultural marketing, and DEI. She serves as a senior director of Advisory at Seramount. Prior to Seramount, Nicole was the senior director of DEI at the American Red Cross, where she supported efforts related to employee resource groups, leadership development, and community engagement. Nicole has built diversity departments for both Aramark and Wyndham Worldwide and is proud to see that both are thriving and award-winning. As a result, she has acquired critical knowledge and experience on how to build a diversity department from the ground up. Nicole has also led multicultural marketing efforts for Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Nicole has a passion for giving; she’s served on various boards and advisory committees and shared her knowledge as a visiting professor at Temple University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has a bachelor of science degree in economics from Rutgers University, but her first real job and real love is her role as a proud mother and life coach to her two children.

Jake is dedicated to fostering strong client relationships and believes in the importance of personal and positive interactions to achieve collaborative excellence. With a robust background in the health and wellness industry, Jake earned his bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He brings a passion for enhancing health and happiness in others, aligning seamlessly with MOBE's mission. Beyond his professional pursuits, Jake enjoys spending time outdoors, engaging in physical fitness, and spending quality time with his family.

Sianneh Mulbah is in her 10th season with the Timberwolves and Lynx. In 2018 Mulbah became the first female Timberwolves and Lynx C-level executive when she was named its Chief People Officer. In her current role Mulbah is responsible for the development and execution of the organization’s comprehensive human resources strategy. This includes talent acquisition, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, organizational and employee development, compensation and benefits, HR operations and technology, employee relations, and administrative services.

In 2019 Mulbah became the first Timberwolves and Lynx employee to receive the prestigious “Game Changers” award from the Sports Business Journal. Mulbah was one of forty women across the nation who were honored for their work transforming the sports industry and leading the next generation in sports business. In 2018 Mulbah was named to Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes high-achieving business leaders in the community.

During her tenure, Mulbah has played a crucial role in the transformation of the organization’s culture, using human resources to develop business strategies, guide decisions, and meet the needs and goals of the organization and its employees.

Mulbah was originally hired as the Timberwolves and Lynx Director of Human Resources in October 2011, and promoted to Vice President of Human Resources in November 2016.

Mulbah plays a key role in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Women in Sports Leadership Council, which focuses on the professional growth and development of women in the workplace. She is also on the board of directors of the Twin Cities chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE) and has served as a member of the Minneapolis Downtown Council.

A graduate of Bemidji State University, Mulbah received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She also received a Master’s degree in Organizational Management – HR and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Concordia University-St. Paul. Sianneh currently resides in Burnsville, MN with her children Christopher (18) and Olivia (8).

Kami Peterson is a distinguished Global Human Resources Leader with a successful track record spanning over 25 years, primarily within the Information Technology and Content Solution sectors. Known for her results-driven approach and adeptness in navigating the complexities of matrixed organizations, Kami has the reputation of being the connector, seamlessly bridging gaps and fostering collaboration across diverse teams. For 17 years, Kami has been an integral part of Thomson Reuters, serving in several HR capacities and contributing to the company's evolution and success, this also includes experience working and living abroad for 3.5 years. In the present capacity as the Senior Director of the US Regional and Employee Relations Team, Kami has a dual-faceted role. This involves leading a dedicated team of HR professionals who provide support to the US Go To Market Organizations, manufacturing, and Reuters News business, as well as spearheading Global Employee Relations initiatives. Passionate about fostering talent and driving organizational growth, Kami is a leader who continues to shape the future of human resources through strategic insight and a commitment to excellence in every endeavor.

David Bator thinks and writes about how work could work. David leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a strategic practice whose focus on Research, Community and Advisory empowers global executives with tactical, practical approaches to changing how the world works.

David is passionate about people, and has spent the last 20 years working closely and consultatively with HR, IT and Communications leaders to build programs that position individuals, teams and companies to grow.

As Senior Director of Communications & Culture at Marvin – a 112-year-old manufacturer of premium window and door solutions – Renee Rice is redefining what it’s like to work in manufacturing through innovative, people-first initiatives that deliver an increasingly meaningful employee experience. Renee’s leadership spans Human Resources, Employer Marketing, Community Programs, Candidate Experience, Internal and Executive Communications, Organizational Culture, DEI, Change Management, and People Analytics.

With Renee’s leadership, Marvin has taken a more holistic view of employee engagement, seeking to understand the most impactful drivers for teams and individuals, and connecting the importance of employee engagement to retention and, ultimately, business success. Three years ago, employee data uncovered communication as an organizational weak spot. Since Renee joined the team with that insight, she has converted business understanding and communication to one of the company’s top strengths as reported by employees.

Renee serves on Marvin’s Human Resources Leadership Team and is a 2023 National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Women MAKE Awards nominee. Her peers describe her as a strong thought leader and strategic partner, with a unique ability to frame a conversation in a way that positively disarms people of their views and opinions so they can join the discussion with an open mind. This approach fuels creativity, new ideas – and thinking differently, one of Marvin’s company values.

Renee is a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications, Public Relations, and English from the University of St. Thomas. Renee lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, four busy boys ages 19, 17, 6 and 4, and one “unbusy” cat.

Carita Hibben currently serves as Vice President, Human Resources (HR) at C.H. Robinson, where she leads a broad range of domestic & global programs and capabilities, including Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR Operations, HR Technology, Payroll, and Global Mobility. She also serves as Executive Sponsor for the company’s HR Digital Transformation and supports the Talent & Compensation Committee. Over the past 20+ years, Hibben has been formally recognized for her leadership, integrity, and collaboration, and is known for her sharp business acumen in aligning HR functions with organizational strategies. Her deep experience ranges from food & beverage to international defense to aerospace industries, among others, also encompassing both privately held and publicly traded companies in the Fortune 500. She currently serves on the Make-A-Wish Minnesota Board of Directors. Carita lives in Champlin, Minnesota with her husband Dan and her two sons and dog!

Siham has the privilege of developing long-term relationships with Talent and DEI leaders across a number of Fortune 500 organizations to help drive a culture of inclusion, belonging, and engagement. She works closely with each leader to identify opportunities to leverage immersive and scalable role play based simulations & coaching experiences to support people leaders in the most strategic and impactful way. Prior to joining Praxis Labs, Siham was a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group where she primarily focused on Education and Talent Development across the public sector and private sector. She later led strategic initiatives and investments across impact-focused organizations including Emerson Collective and The Academy Group.Siham received her MBA from Harvard Business School. She also has a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.Outside of work, Siham enjoys Salsa dancing and exploring the live music scene in New York. She gives back to the community through volunteer work with local K-12 schools.

Evan moved to the Twin Cities and joined the Star Tribune in 2013. Ramstad previously worked for The Wall Street Journal in Seoul, Hong Kong and Dallas, and the Associated Press in New York, Washington and Dallas and briefly at the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He grew up in Grinnell, Iowa, where he got a start in journalism at radio station KGRN.

Jason Radisson  is a serial unicorn breeder with over 20 years of experience in strategy, operations, and growth. He has scaled multiple tech unicorns that provide work and improved standards for millions of workers. Jason is the CEO and Founder of Movo, the Human Capital Management (HCM) platform that automates the process of hiring, engaging, and retaining today’s frontline workforce. Movo is helping solve the frontline worker problem globally, with more than 700,000 users in retail, logistics, manufacturing, engineering, and most recently, healthcare. 

Jason started his career at McKinsey & Company, where he worked with the Firm’s top clients in Spain, Germany, and Latin America on high-profile, M&A, organizational design, and workforce projects. As a Regional General Manager at Uber, he launched and grew cities in the western US. He was then hired to run Brazil’s 99-Taxis, where as COO he grew the business 10x on $50M in invested capital, and sold it to Didi Chuxing for $1B, making it the most capital-efficient scale-up recorded by a gig marketplace. He is also a member of the Rappi-Mafia, where he was an early investor and helped the Rappi founders scale their Operations and Growth teams efficiently across Latin America. Today, more than 20 venture-backed CEOs are alumni of his earlier teams.

Jason is passionate about using mobile technology and algorithms to empower and uplift the frontline workforce, which he believes is the foundation of the economy and society. He founded Movo to address the challenges and opportunities of digitizing this workforce, which is overlooked and underserved by the horizontal technology incumbents. Jason holds a BA from the College of the Holy Cross, where he graduated with highest honors. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in Germany and attended Harvard University and Stanford GSB as a graduate student in Applied Math and Microeconomics. He is fluent in German, Spanish, and English. He spends his time outside of work with his spouse and their children. He’s also a lifelong outdoorsman, distance runner, cyclist and skier.

Megan Thompson is an award-winning television producer and special correspondent for PBS News Weekend. She spent thirteen years at WNET, New York City's PBS station, where she served as a substitute anchor, on-air reporter, editor and videographer for a variety of national news and documentary programs. She has reported on a wide range of issues - from health care and climate change to poverty and criminal justice - across the U.S. and from 20 countries around the world. Her work has earned her three Emmy nominations, four Headliner Awards, three Gracies and a Student Academy Award. Megan holds a BA from Wellesley College and an MA in Journalism from New York University. She lives in Minneapolis with her family.

Megan Ryan is an assistant business editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Prior to taking on an editing role, Ryan was a sports reporter at the Star Tribune covering the Twins for two seasons. She also previously reported on the Gophers and Minnesota United FC. Before returning to Minnesota, she spent two years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette covering Penn State football, Robert Morris basketball and high school sports. A Minnesota native and Minneapolis resident, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a major in journalism and minors in management and global studies. She has lived in Pennsylvania, Texas (covering the real Friday Night Lights for the Dallas Morning News) and New York (as a sports copy editor for a summer through the Dow Jones News Fund). She is deeply involved in the Star Tribune’s internship, hiring and internal training efforts. She is also a member of the Asian American Journalists Association and a graduate of its Executive Leadership Program.

Skai is the co-Founder and CEO at Guusto. This is his second venture, having successfully scaled and sold a food and wine tour company in Whistler, BC. Over the last decade he has helped hundreds of HR leaders build recognition programs from head office to the frontlines, and is passionate about creating cultures where people love to work.

Julia is passionate about all things employee experience and named an emerging people leader. Running HR at an HR tech company allows her to both implement progressive people practices and share learnings with customers. Outside of work, you can catch me taking pics of my cat, at the tennis courts, singing show tunes and skiing in the mountains!

Brandt Williams leads MPR’s Race, Class and Communities reporting team. Before taking on the new role, Brandt covered the city of Minneapolis for more than 30 years and has focused his reporting on city and county government, public safety, courts and racial disparities.  Brandt has produced investigative stories on gun violence in Minneapolis and its disparate impact on the city’s Black community. He has also written and produced numerous stories on the historical and ongoing rift between members of the black community and the Minneapolis police department.

Brandt has won several regional and national awards for his work including a Silver Gavel, an Eric Sevareid, a Salute to Excellence Award from the National Association of Black Journalists and was named a finalist for the Scripps Howard Foundation’s National Journalism Award. He was also a 2004 Knight Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow in 2011 and 2015 and Brandt is a board member of Criminal Justice Journalists. 

Before coming to MPR in 2000, Brandt was the executive editor of Insight News, the state’s largest African American-owned newspaper.

Brandt was born in Flint, Michigan, but grew up in Minneapolis.  He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications in 1991. 

Chad Deshler, Senior Vice President of Sales at LifeSpeak Inc., has two decades of B2B sales experience, specializing in client success and marketing across the healthcare landscape. With a degree in Business Communications from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Deshler has applied his knowledge and skills across health plans, on and near-site clinics, value-based care, and wellness and digital health solutions.

 Having held many leadership positions across digital health organizations, Deshler has built B2B marketing, channel partnerships, and sales operations teams from the ground up. Deshler has a history of leading tremendous revenue growth by developing and executing sales plans while also building and managing customer relationships along the way.

 Deshler is currently responsible for expanding LifeSpeak Inc.’s suite of solutions across the U.S. in B2B channels through partner distribution, full-cycle sales funnels, and client expansion.

Chris Harrington is the SVP at Randstad RiseSmart.

Patrick Kennedy has been a business reporter with the Star Tribune for 27 years. He covers public companies and executive compensation. He produces annual lists of the largest public companies in Minnesota as well as the highest paid CEOs of those companies.

Jason Grosz is VP and head of global talent acquisition for Ecolab, the St. Paul-based global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Ecolab has annual sales of $15 billion, employs more than 48,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in HR and management from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in HR and industrial relations from the university’s Carlson School of Management.

Andrew helps organizations develop sustainable, human-centered processes to thrive in today’s always-on, always-connected work world.

After years as a high-performing sales leader in a fast-paced, demanding role, Andrew saw how his exhaustion and inability to separate life from work was impacting his relationships, energy and sense of purpose. He found a new way to manage my time and energy and now teaches other corporate leaders and their teams to do the same.

Through his leadership of Regenerate, Andrew has helped thousands of leaders develop energy-inspired practices to transform their workplaces — including Apple, Booz Allen Hamilton, Intel, Coca Cola, Accenture, Edelman, Genentech, GE, Lego Systems, DPR Construction, and American Express, and the US Air Force.

Sharon Sackett, Ph.D. is the SVP of CEO and Board Services and Executive Assessment at MDA Leadership.

Bethany Kurbis is an experienced Senior Executive Coach & Consultant at The Bailey Group, a firm renowned for its expertise in individual, group, and institutional coaching. Bethany brings 15 years of experience in Talent Management, Organizational Development, and Conflict Resolution. In her mission to facilitate purpose-driven work, Bethany collaborates with leaders and organizations to craft clear visions, strategies, and operations that translate aspirations into tangible achievements. She specializes in uncovering core values, strengths, and motivators, enabling her clients to build a robust toolkit of strategies to accomplish their goals and live out their purpose.

With a rich tapestry of diverse experiences, Bethany has solidified her successful coaching and consulting practices with individuals and organizations around the globe by cultivating the mindsets of curiosity, humility, and learning. Bethany’s unique approach is not just about overcoming challenges; it's about nurturing the inner strength and resilience needed to live authentically with purpose and alignment.

In her early career, Bethany worked with individuals in Sudan, The Republic of South Sudan, and Northern Iraq, an experience that underscored the importance of creating supportive environments where vulnerability leads to significant breakthroughs and deep self-realization. In her coaching sessions, Bethany cultivates a safe environment, allowing her to facilitate transformative moments that empower her clients to uncover hidden strengths, overcome challenges, and embrace their unique journeys. Bethany's interventions transcend surface-level approaches, delving into the intricate patterns of fears, stressors, and habits that may hinder untapped potential.

Bethany holds a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resource Management from The Catholic University of America and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Crown College. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and holds multiple industry certifications, including Prosci’s change management pilot professional, and the Hogan assessment suite.