Elizabeth is the North American Head of Strategic Benefits. She is a dynamic senior-level lead in benefits and wellbeing with 20 years of experience in benefits program design, development, and strategic implementation. She has amassed extensive knowledge of relevant regulations and legislation related to employee benefits. Elizabeth is focused on meeting organizational goals and staying ahead of the curve by thinking objectively and globally. She maintains clear communication with her team and is adept at troubleshooting while effectively managing relationships at all levels of the organization.

Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza is a freelance journalist and From Day One contributing editor who writes about work, the job market, and women’s experiences in the workplace. Her work has appeared in the BBC, The Washington Post, Quartz at Work, Fast Company, and Digiday’s Worklife.

Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Currently she is a contributing columnist for Harvard Business Review. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.
Rebecca frequently appears on national television and radio and as a moderator at conferences.
Originally from Maine, she's a graduate of Wesleyan University. She lives in Boston’s South End with her family.

Sheena A. Davis is the Director of Total Rewards, HRIS, and Internal Communications at Apache Industrial, where she has been a transformative leader in employee compensation, benefits, and culture. With over 15 years of experience in HR, Sheena is known for her strategic focus on developing reward systems and communication strategies that drive organizational success.

Sheena has led the design and implementation of innovative rewards programs that align with organizational goals while meeting the diverse needs of employees. Her leadership involves collaboration across departments to ensure these strategies effectively support and engage the workforce, driving performance at both individual and organizational levels.

In 2024, Sheena was named HR Leader of the Year by the Houston Business Journal, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Apache. She has spearheaded initiatives such as redesigning compensation structures for market competitiveness, launching a holistic wellness program, and implementing innovative benefits like Direct Care, which provides employees with affordable, high-quality healthcare by eliminating insurance intermediaries. This proactive approach improves both physical and mental well-being while enhancing overall employee satisfaction and controlling costs.

Her leadership extends beyond HR strategy. She fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth, guiding her team through mentorship and development. Sheena’s approach blends accountability with empathy, ensuring employees feel empowered and valued.

In addition to her core responsibilities, Sheena has expanded her impact through speaking engagements, sharing insights on Total Rewards best practices at industry conferences, leadership forums, and company-wide events.

Holding a Master’s in Applied Social Research and a Bachelor’s in Criminology & Investigations from West Virginia University, Sheena’s passion for people-driven leadership continues to inspire colleagues and make a lasting impact on Apache’s success and employee satisfaction.

With over 20+ years of experience in global benefits, global mobility, immigration, wellness, HRIS, and compensation, I am currently transforming benefits and programs at TransUnion, where I have been for the last 5-1/2 years. My focus is on supporting our associates and their families when it matters most.

I hold a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and have worked at esteemed organizations such as Fortune Brands, Suntory Global Spirits, Medline, and Sara Lee. These experiences have shaped my approach to creating impactful benefits programs.

As a mom of three young adults, I cherish traveling, cooking, entertaining, and making meaningful connections. These passions enrich my professional life, allowing me to bring a unique perspective and genuine care to my work. I am passionate about my role because I genuinely enjoy the people I get to work with, serve, and the impact my team and I make every day.

One quote that inspires me is: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi. This philosophy drives my commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those I work with and serve.

Joanne is the Director of Benefits at Davies Group.

Karl Ahlrichs helps organizations solve their talent shortage, using both AI tools and “next step” management tactics. He is a national speaker, author, and facilitator of challenging meetings, presenting on people issues with a focus on advanced HR tools, ethics and critical thinking. He is often quoted in the local and national media and is doing the final edits on his book “Best
Practices are Obsolete.” Karl has presented at every SHRM Annual Conference since 1999. He has held senior level positions in several Professional Services firms including Marsh & McLennan and Right Management Consultants, where his clients
included Apple, Frito-Lay, Boeing, and IBM. He was named the SHRM Human Resource Professional of the Year for the State of Indiana. He serves on the Boards of several organizations, including the Maryland CPA Society. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) with the National Speaker’s Association. Trained in journalism, Karl has written at every point in his career. He was a contributing author for the Journal of Accountancy for many years, writing a quarterly 10,000-word chapter on Human Resources issues. He is currently writing a monthly leadership column for Business Management Daily. Karl has lived in Scotland and Spain and is passionate about studying the healthcare systems in other countries. He loves intentionally improving himself by writing haiku, mastering photography, and improving his Spanish. He wishes he had stuck with his guitar lessons in high school and wants to learn ballroom dancing. He still owns the first car he ever drove, a 1927 Model T Ford.