Live 2024: Seattle

As senior vice president of people, Andy Schneider is focused on delivering a remarkable employee experience for the nearly 22,000 people who've chosen to build careers at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Andy's leadership and collaborative spirit are helping our organization fulfill its purpose of creating an airline people love.

Her team is responsible for executing a people strategy that includes securing the best talent, providing competitive benefits our employees can be proud of, supporting our leaders and their teams through human resource operations, and elevating a diverse, inclusive and engaging culture.

Bringing a customer-service mindset with a deep appreciation of analytics, she leads her team with an emphasis on doing the right thing and delivering performance.

Previously, Andy was vice president of inflight and call centers services, leading teams to deliver a remarkable guest experience in the air and over the phone. It is through her leadership and joint efforts with marketing and operations that Alaska Airlines has won the J.D. Power Award for "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among traditional carriers for 12 years in a Row."

Prior to that she served as senior vice president of people and customer services, responsible for Horizon Air’s station operations. There she oversaw services training, customer relations, inflight services, facilities and network services, food and beverage services, human resources and labor relations. She's also held additional roles at Alaska in station operations and cargo services. She began her career as the airline's manager, financial accounting in 1989.

A native of Boise and graduate of Gonzaga University, Andy holds a degree in Accounting along with an Executive MBA from the University of Washington. She lives in Tacoma with her husband, Mike, and two children, Jaxson and Payton.

As the VP of Recruiting at Zillow, I am a talent acquisition leader focused on developing growth and talent strategies that connect and grow our organization. With extensive experience in building infrastructure, programs, and teams needed to scale companies massively, I have a reputation for delivering results aligned with business goals in fast-paced environments. I am deeply committed to both representation and internal talent investment. 

My passion lies in building talent attraction strategies and developing talent communities that intentionally engage with underserved and underrepresented communities to widen the access gap at all levels. I continue impacting those communities through hiring initiatives, developmental opportunities, and retention-motivated programming. I prioritize optimizing candidate channels, recruiting analytics, strategic and continued engagement, and stakeholder partnership. My leadership philosophy is rooted in balancing empathy and execution in a data-driven, candidate-centric environment, which is the key to building incredible recruiting teams at scale. 

In addition to my role at Zillow, I serve as an Executive Board Advisor to Lesbians Who Tech (LWT) and as a member of the Board of Directors for Rewriting the Code. As a dynamic and innovative speaker, I have spoken at leading events and organizations in the industry, such as SXSW, Lesbians Who Tech (LWT) Summit, Afrotech, and Unleash America. 

Lastly, I identify as a Lesbian, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.

Ambra Benjamin is the Global Head of Technical Recruiting at Datadog.

Muhammad Umar is the Divisional Vice President, Talent, Diversity and Change Management at REI.

Katie Oertli Mooney is a Managing Director at Seramount. She is an accomplished DEI leader and thought partner with expertise in driving strategy and growth of diversity and inclusion change management, planning and programs. Prior to joining Seramount, she was responsible for overseeing the client delivery, staffing, operations and growth as Vice President of Jennifer Brown Consulting. She was accountable for the firm’s successful consulting project delivery to clients from the Fortune 1000, government agencies, startups, to nonprofits.

Prior to that, she managed the DEI enterprise learning and development strategy at Capital One specializing in differential investment programming to support historically underrepresented talent and communities of color. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the GSBA; the largest LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce in North America and is supporting the organization in 2020, by advancing diversity, equity and inclusion for the Board of Directors, for the benefit of GSBA staff, members, partners and the LGBTQ+ and allied community of Washington State. Katie has a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management with a concentration on Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University. She is based in Seattle, WA.

Melinda has over 20 years of experience leading SaaS sales organizations. She began her leadership career with Fortune 500 leaders Wells Fargo and Paychex focused on the burgeoning HCM field in various verticals and market spaces. Most recently her career trajectory led to roles at start up organizations assisting with product launches and revenue team development at Daily Pay and SecureSave in the Fintech world. Throughout her career, leadership development programs with a focus on women in leadership have been an important initiative. The marketspace growth opportunity of SecureSave made this opportunity an ideal career move.  

Dr. Emily Pelosi is the Head of Employee Listening and Research at Intuit and an adjunct professor of I-O psychology at Seattle Pacific University. In her role at Intuit, she is responsible for developing and executing the enterprise-wide strategy for measuring the employee experience, including driving engagement surveys and leveraging other methods for gathering active and passive data on the employee experience. She has ten years of experience in talent analytics and research, including previous roles in Fortune 150 companies such as Amazon and Lumen Technologies.

Verjeigh Violet is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) thought leader with 10+ years of specialized experience building inclusive people & culture strategies for major organizations such as Amazon, Gap Inc. and Hilton Worldwide. She holds deep expertise in driving equitable talent strategies, building inclusive HR processes and leveraging data insights to drive systemic/organizational change. Her work and passional is dedicated to the advancement of equity for historically underserved communities. Verjeigh resides in Seattle, Washington with her two children and in her free time enjoys traveling and hiking.

Mark Brown is Starbucks’ senior vice president, talent and inclusion. In his role, Mark is responsible for leading global strategies inclusive of performance and partner development, talent management, talent acquisition, and guiding Starbucks journey to advance racial and social equity for our partners (employees), our community and our society. By bringing talent, inclusion and diversity together as one system, his team is focused on building talent as a true competitive advantage for Starbucks.  

With more than 20 years of experience leading, mentoring and developing diverse teams on behalf of some of the world’s most influential brands, Mark brings experience, expertise, and passion to the company.  Most recently, Mark led Starbucks talent acquisition function and the work to reimagine the hiring experience for partners (employees) and candidates.  He also served as interim global inclusion and diversity officer, focusing on strengthening Starbucks position as an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible company.

Before joining Starbucks in 2021, Mark worked as an auditor with Ernst & Young, and held various leadership positions in talent acquisition and recruitment at Comcast Cable, Nordstrom, and Microsoft. Some career highlights have included launching and sustaining sourcing organizations and early-in-career talent programs, as well as creating community partnerships that built recruiting pipelines with positive social impact. 

Mark holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Sam Houston State University. He is married and has two children and enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures.  In his spare time, you can find Mark somewhere near a lake or stream. Mark’s favorite Starbucks beverage is a grande americano.  

Cathy Duchamp is the Assistant Managing Editor at Puget Sound Business Journal.

Natasha Wahid is the Head of Content at Blueboard. She’s a natural storyteller who found her niche helping companies connect to their audiences through thoughtful communication. She believes in building spaces—both personal and professional—where people can be their full selves without fear or shame. She’s a seasoned speaker who’s presented at marketing conferences across the U.S. and is an alum of the incredible Shine Bootcamp (google it!)

When she’s not writing words for work, you’ll find Natasha hiking in the BC mountains, reading, laughing with friends, guzzling black coffee, and chasing sunshine.

Jake Whittenberg is the Morning News Anchor at KING 5 News.

Hannah Lucille is the Group Vice President of People & Culture at Warner Bros. Discovery. With over 10+ years of experience in human resources, Hannah is an expert in building and driving an organization’s talent strategy, and creating a results driven organization. She is focused on enabling systemic organizational change through effective strategies related to talent management, leadership development, and team effectiveness. Hannah is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine and received her Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University. She serves on the Advisory Board for C2HR, a human resources association for technology, media, and entertainment industries.

With a strategic focus on enterprise companies, Amy is dedicated to finding optimal solutions that empower businesses to attract, hire, and nurture underrepresented talent. Beyond her professional endeavors, Amy is a wife, mother, and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Her commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is evident in her passion for helping organizations grow their employer brand and showcase unique, inclusive cultures.

Dave Wilkin is the founder of Ten Thousand Coffees. As an award-winning serial LGBT+ entrepreneur who grew up in a small  town, Dave learned that mentors and meaningful connections were integral to accessing career-progressing and skills development opportunities. As a result, he has spent his career empowering organizations to build more inclusive workplaces using 10KC’s technology. Dave wants to share his vision with organizations and business leaders on how they can unlock opportunity by cultivating meaningful connections in today’s new working world of decentralized, remote, and hybrid environments.

Caelan Cooney is an experienced Learning Strategist at Hone, where she collaborates with customers to design and measure impactful learning journeys for their employees. With a Master’s in Applied Industrial Organizational Psychology from Colorado State University, Caelan’s expertise lies in learner engagement and measurement strategies. With 10 years of experience in the field, she has held roles as Director of Client Services for a global executive coaching organization, as well as various positions focused on designing and delivering customized trainings across diverse industries.

Sayar Lonial is the Associate Dean for Communications and Public Affairs at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, in Brooklyn. In that capacity he leads a team tasked with internal & external communications, press relations, and community outreach while maintaining a wide variety of public-private partnerships to further the school’s multifaceted mission.

In addition to his communications role at Tandon, he also serves as the Interim Executive Director of the NYC Media Lab, whose mission is to amplify media innovation and build a pipeline between companies and academia, while at the same time ensuring that all of these technologies are available to as diverse a community as possible.  Lonial’s other current titles include Chair of the DUMBO BID Board of Directors, Secretary of the MetroTech BID, Executive Board member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Board Representative to the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He is the former Chair of  Brooklyn's Community Board 6. Previously, Lonial served as the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.’s Director of Planning & Development, ensuring community input into the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, overseeing such initiatives as the rehabilitation and creation of more than 30 new parks and open spaces and the creation and preservation of some 3,000 affordable housing units in Lower Manhattan. In addition to State and Federal government experience, Sayar also served as Deputy Chief of Staff in Council District 1, Manhattan. Prior to his work at the Council, he served on the Master Planning team for Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Lonial hails from Louisville, Ky., and currently resides in Brooklyn.

Brad is a leader within the Consulting function at Perceptyx. He has been with the company for over a decade and continues to support many of the company’s marquee clients. Brad specializes in leading complex listening programs aligned with organizational change initiatives. In his time with Perceptyx, he has partnered with leaders from over 300 of the world’s most admired companies including more than a dozen of the Fortune 100. Brad is especially adept at interpreting survey data and presenting the results in a way that

enables leaders to confidently move to action so their organizations can thrive. When Brad was 17, he skipped the last month of his junior year of high school to complete a solo thru-hike of the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. He successfully completed the hike in 89 days. In the last week on the trail, he began a conversation with other thru-hikers about what may have separated them from the more than 90% of hikers who begin but never finish the hike. The concept of what separates top performers from everyone else has driven him in his life, education, and career. At 19, he hiked from Mexico to Canada on the 2,685-mile Pacific Crest Trail. On the PCT, he averaged almost 40 miles per day and competed the trail in 67-days, the fastest known time at that point.

Brad’s undergraduate degree is in Communication and Leadership Development. He also has his MBA and a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology. His doctoral dissertation explored employees’ response to mergers and acquisitions within the technology industry. The results of the analysis established the statistical association between congruence of organizational cultures and structures, measured within one month of deal close, and employee retention through the post-merger integration. Outside of work, Brad remains an avid outdoorsman and now enjoys sharing adventures with his wife and their four kids.

Andy France is a leader on Burnalong’s Strategic Partnerships and Employee Well-being team. He moved across the country from Florida to Utah in May and has spent most of his career in HR Technology, consulting with leaders to help solve some of their biggest challenges in recruitment and employee engagement. In the past, he also ran his own staffing company, helping veterans transition into civilian life. He joined Burnalong because his wife, Kaleigh, is a doctor and offers Burnalong to her patients, and Andy witnessed firsthand the impact the wellness resources had on Kaleigh’s patients. She introduced him to Burnalong’s co-founder, Daniel, and the rest is history. Now, Andy loves introducing others to Burnalong and regularly uses the platform for guided meditations, which help him manage stress and anxiety. He also incorporates yoga and 5-minute office workouts into his daily routine.

Andy believes, “well-being is not a destination but an ongoing journey—-one filled with challenges, triumphs, and endless possibilities. And it is a journey that we must all embark on, for our own well-being and the well-being of those around us."

Jonathan Murray is the Head of Empowerly for Business, a pioneering organization that provides college & career counseling to high school, college, and post-graduate students - blending AI technology with personalized one-on-one guidance. As a recognized leader in the post-pandemic integration of EdTech into Employee Benefits, Jonathan has authored impactful research on the effects of college & career planning on mental health, family wellbeing, and employee productivity.

In 2023, EdTech magazine honored him as a Trendsetter for innovations in distribution and Time Magazine named his product a ‘Best Invention of 2022’. He brings experience as a CMO, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of multiple startups. Passionate views about community building, peer mentoring, and societal impacts of technology are a great way to spark a conversation.

Joey was a reporter at The Herald of Everett from 2019 to 2021 and before that, he was a contributor for The Spokesman-Review. He graduated from Gonzaga, where he was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. Joey joined the Business Journal in 2021 and covers airlines, hospitality and retail, including restaurants.

Diana Opong is a general-assignment reporter at KUOW Public Radio in Seattle, who focuses on telling the stories that matter to listeners in the region. From what’s going on with the weather, to history-making moments in the world of ballet. Curiosity grounds her understanding, and that desire to know more is the foundation of how she researches, writes, and collaborates with colleagues. Diana also works as a freelance host for NPR's Life Kit podcast, and a news reporter for NPR News.

Betsy Kippenhan is a highly experienced HR and Talent Leader and currently serving as the Vice President of Talent Attraction and Acquisition, overseeing the Global Recruiting Organization for Comcast. In 2022, Betsy joined the Headquarters team bringing with her a wealth of experience from various leadership roles in Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, and Human Resources. Before her most recent appointment, Betsy was instrumental in the West Division of Comcast, focusing on Talent Acquisition and Human Resources. Over the past ten years, she has held several key positions, including Vice President of HR for the Washington Region, and previously served as West Division’s Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Management. Prior to her time at Comcast, Betsy led Talent Acquisition for Wolters Kluwer and Advantage Resourcing, where she spent 13 years in several HR roles with increasing responsibility, and last served as the Vice President of Field Solutions. Betsy holds a Master of Science in Management with an emphasis on Organizational and Leadership Development from Regis University and a BA in Political Science from The Ohio State University.