Whine & Dine Networking

Keith Bogen founded Whine & Dine Networking in March 2003, following a dream to create pure networking forums for Human Resources professionals that would be unfettered by rules and excess process. As a Human Capital Expert, he has been delivering HR Director, Manager, Generalist and Consultant services, as a full-time employee and as a consultant, to organizations of all sizes and in many industries for the past 15 years. He is also proudly building a clean energy business with North American Power and providing life-changing opportunities to many through his network in that industry.

His networking groups and career development skills have also been of tremendous support to many thousands across the globe. He speaks to and teaches audiences in private business and organizations on the strategic power of networking for professional and personal development. The circle of those for whom he makes connections grows enormously each year. Keith's areas of expertise that have brought great benefit to companies and clients include Network Development, Change Management, Employee Relations, Talent Development, Process Improvement, Performance Management, as well as Behavioral and Legal Analysis. He has particular strengths in mergers & acquisitions, benefits, compensation, recruitment and career development. Keith is SPHR certified and holds dual Master's degrees in Human Resource Management and Labor & Industrial Relations, as well as certifications in Employment Law and Six Sigma White & Green Belts.

Abby Kohut is the Lead Consultant and President of Staffing Symphony, LLC, a staffing consulting and expansion company. In the past 15 years, Abby has held positions such as Senior Director of Recruiting & Career Development for Kaplan, Inc., Manager of Global Recruiting for Alpharma, Inc., and Interim Director of Recruiting for Continuum Health Partners.

Abby's goal for 2010 is to provide assistance to 1,000,000 job seekers. In that vein, she provides advice to job seekers at AbsolutelyAbby.com and offers live advice on job search topics via CareerWakeUpCalls.com. The author of the book "Absolutely Abby's 101 Job Search Secrets", Abby is a frequent speaker in the Northeast on job search topics, and her viewpoints have been quoted in the media on numerous occasions. Abby was a guest speaker on "Jobs For Candidates over 50" for Job1usa.com on WTOD Radio Station in Toledo and appeared on Career Corner which airs on SOMA TV in NJ. In 2010, Abby won a Pinnacle Award from SHRM for speaking on "Social Media Networking Strategies for Success" at the Ultimate Warrior Career Workshops and Job Fair in Fort Dix, NJ.

Jennifer M. Scott is the Founder of HireEffect LLC. With a background as a Manager of Recruitment and Human Resources Manager, Jennifer now is a recruiter, talent acquisition strategist and coach with over 17 years of recruiting experience and a passion for networking and social media. As a strategist she creates innovative recruitment processes which support the ever-evolving needs of her clients, and acts as a trusted consultant to help them achieve their recruitment and retention goals. She has proven success in sourcing across multiple functions at any level in an organization, developing a consistent candidate pipeline, creating a positive candidate experience, and increasing employee engagement through inspiring orientation and onboarding programs. As a social media job search coach Jennifer offers tactical approaches to the job search process in all of her one-to-one sessions and workshops, leveraging social media. With the ability to reverse-engineer the recruiting process for those in transition, she inspires people to take action in their career campaign. In addition to continuously building her recruitment, consulting and coaching practices Jennifer serves on the Board of Directors for the Brookfield Education Foundation and chairs the Media Relations and Social Networking Committee.

Lynn Woodhall, SPHR is a Human Resources Executive specializing in the development of Human Resources programs which drive business growth, motivate and retain teams, and mitigate risk for small to mid-sized entrepreneurial organizations. Currently, Lynn is providing consulting services to several clients in the publishing and hi-tech space. Previously, Lynn was VP, HR for VBrick Systems and she held leadership positions for MECA Software and Thomson Software Products, a U.S. division of Thomson, CSF.

Lynn received her B.A. from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and is a local and national member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Christopher is a Story Teller of HR Data and a workforce intelligence thought leader. As a Human Resources Practitioner with several years of experience focusing on global workforce planning and people analytics while providing excellence in sustainable leadership, he is viewed as a subject matter expert on predictive people analytics by connecting the human capital data with business intelligence, offering business leaders tangible report packages ensuring strategic decisions can be made to maximize both Top Line and Bottom Line Growth. He has been recognized as a thought leader in Human Resource Management with an appointment to the Connecticut SHRM State Council as Co-Director of Diversity & Inclusion. Christopher carries a BS in Agriculture Science from Rutgers University, as well as a MA in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and a MS in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

Elaina Campopiano is an Organizational Development Professional with 15 years of experience in Human Resources. As a Senior Manager of HR Processes, she led the project management of organizational development programs, designing processes and implementing programs across all functional areas for such companies as Gartner and Accenture. Elaina strategically structures change management methodologies, industry best practices and technology solutions to achieve business and HR goals. She has worked in the Information Technology and Global Consulting industries and has held prior positions as an HR Manager and Recruiter. Elaina is based in Fairfield County, Connecticut, has a Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Fairfield University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Asaf Carmeli, SPHR is a Senior Human Resources Business Partner with global experience within and outside the HR function. Most recently Asaf served as the HR Director for Unger Enterprises in Bridgeport CT. Prior to joining Unger he was part of IBM's HR organization in Talent, Workforce Programs, Compensation, and Business Development. Asaf specializes in Talent, Workforce & Resource Management, Executive & Employee Compensation, Global Performance Management, Strategic Planning, Workforce Reductions, Employee & Labor Relations, HRIS and Diversity.

Asaf carries a MBA from The University of Connecticut School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from Southern Connecticut State University.

David DeLuke is a Global Human Resources Executive, with a history of success in providing creative and innovative options to business partners. As a results-oriented leader, implements processes to retain talent, reduce expenses and optimize performance. Leverages human resources as a business tool to grow internal and external relationships, transforming the department into a strategic partner that makes significant contributions to an organization’s bottom line.

Jerome Laday has 25+ years of experience as an HR professional with generalist/recruiting experience in the pharmaceutical, management and benefits consulting, clinical laboratory, and personal care products industries. He is currently in the role of Director Talent Recruitment for Research & Innovation at L'Oreal USA in Clark, NJ providing generalist support and managing campus recruiting for the division. Jerome has been a member of SHRM (both National and local chapters) since 1987. He is the past Chapter Secretary & Chapter President for the Central NJ Chapter and the past Chapter Certification/Education Chairperson for the Morris County Chapter. He is the past Certification Director for the Garden State Council of SHRM and has been certified SPHR since 1993. Jerome has designed and facilitated one-day HR seminars at Middlesex County College and has been the FDU Instructor for the SHRM Learning System since 1993, teaching two classes per semester. Jerome is the founder of the term "Networking is NOT just for Not Working" which we now use at every Whine & Dine event. As Jerome was one of the original members of the Whine & Dine Networking Group, we are honored to have him on our leadership team.

Geri Weinberg has 20+ years as a Human Resources Professional with demonstrated generalist / talent acquisition and retention success in lean manufacturing, food and beverage production, electronics, consumer products, insurance, health care, finance, IT and non-profit industries. She is currently providing professional recruiting consulting services to SGS North America and has completed long-term consulting projects for many firms, including L'Oreal, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ's Horizon NJ Health division, and LG Electronics NA. Previously she held business partner and leadership roles with such organizations as the American Heart Association, Silver Line Windows, an Andersen Window Company MicroWarehouse and Garden State Medical Group.

One of her greatest assets is the ability to seamlessly step into varied types of industries and recruit on all levels for top talent, striving to meet and exceed the Company's talent acquisition and retention goals and expectations. Becoming a thread in the fabric of an organization, she delivers results with a sense of urgency and cost effectiveness consistent with company values and strategy.

Geri is an avid networking professional and was one of the original five members of the Whine & Dine Networking Group.

Tom is a highly experienced Human Resources Business Partner with experience in Compensation and Human Resources in the specialty pharmaceutical, clinical diagnostics, financial services, and information technology industries. He specializes in developing compensation programs which reward performance with rewards and recognition clearly linked to the business strategy. He is also certified in Sales Compensation and International Compensation. He is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified Workshop Facilitator. Tom has a BA in Psychology from Rutgers University and a MS in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from Rutgers University.

Mitch Gouze has multiple years of experience in a variety of industries as a Compensation and Benefits Executive along with experience as a Human Resource Business Partner. He has brought structure and process improvement in compensation and benefit programs to small to mid-sized companies. Most recently Mitch was Director, Compensation and Benefits at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and prior to that, he held a number of roles in HR and compensation & benefits at Innovex, Inc. He has worked in a variety of industries including specialty chemical manufacturing, retail, direct marketing, healthcare and retail banking. Mitch holds a Masters of Public Administration from the Bernard M. Baruch Graduate School of Public Administration and a BA in Political Science from Wilkes University.

Tanisha Russell Day is the Founder and Managing Consultant for KEY HR Consulting, LLC, which has been formed to assist individuals and emerging growth businesses around the world in establishing best practices in their Human Resources Operations. With over 10 years of professional HR experience, Tanisha has experience in working with the corporate, non profit and higher education sectors. She specializes in HR Implementation for Small Businesses, Recruiting, Career Coaching and Mentoring just to name a few. Tanisha is also an Adjunct Professor at Berkeley College in NJ teaching HR related courses. She holds an MBA and BS in HR Management and Organizational Behavior from Rider University. She serves as a member of SHRM and the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE). Her motto is, "Your network defines your net worth."

Joanne Louizides-Bates brings over 25 years of plant-based Human Resources experience in pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods, contract packaging, and semiconductor industries. Joanne is currently a Human Resources Manager for Church and Dwight Company, Inc. She is responsible for maintaining a strong employee relations and union avoidance program through ongoing evaluations of HR policies, performance review and development, recruitment, and training. Her management expertise lies in leading small, hands-on HR teams and in developing policies that meet the needs locally, while remaining compliant within a larger corporate structure.

Joanne has been an active member of SHRM since 1988 and served as Secretary and Program Chair for her Central NJ Chapter. For six years she chaired a number of committees on the Garden State Council SHRM Conference Committee and then served as NJ Conference Chairperson in 2000. It was during these years that Joanne began to learn the value of networking with HR colleagues across the state and the region and where she became involved with Whine & Dine Networking.

Joanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Masters of Human Resources Management; both from Rutgers University.

Scott Chase is a Human Resources Solutions Professional with in-depth knowledge of all HR functional areas, specializing in Health and Welfare Benefits, 401K, Pension, Total Rewards/Compensation, Talent Management/Recruiting, Learning and Development, Payroll, BPO and Sarbanes Oxley compliance. Currently the Manager of Human Capital for INTTRA, he has previously provided high-level services for Chubb Insurance.

Scott carries strong technical knowledge and began his career in HR closely tied to HRIS functions and he also has computer systems certification from Chubb.

Steve Gall, SPHR, is a Senior HR Professional with over 15 years of experience in Applications, Compensation, and Shared Services in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and chemical industries. Currently a HRIS consultant, other positions he has held include Manager of HR Shared Services/Service Integration at Merck and Co., and HR Business Analyst at Rohm and Haas Co. He has experience with both PeopleSoft and SAP including implementation and functional support of US and non-US audiences, as well as experience with SaaS HR software and compensation administration. Having held roles predominantly within human resources organizations, he has a strong customer focus and understanding of HR processes.

In addition to leading Whine and Dine in Princeton, Steve is also the VP of Membership for the Princeton HRMA (SHRM) chapter. Steve carries a Bachelor of Arts from Ursinus College.

Alyssa Satow is a Senior Learning & Organizational Development Professional with 15 years of experience, who strategically analyzes, develops, implements and evaluates learning and organizational development solutions to maximize Human Resources contribution to organizational effectiveness. She specializes in performance & talent management, leadership development, team building, organizational change initiatives, coaching, project management, HR policies, job competencies, recognition programs, instructor-led/online learning solutions, and learning management systems. She has held positions in healthcare, insurance, and biotechnology/pharmaceutical organizations, including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Group Health Incorporated and DFB Pharmaceuticals.

Alyssa earned her Master of Arts from Rider University in Curriculum, Instruction and Supervision, a Graduate Certificate in Multimedia Technology from New York University, and is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

Dennis is a results-driven leader, strategist, and problem-solver with knowledge and vast experience in managing all aspect of Human Resources Management. Successful track record managing multiple HR and Logistics/Transportation professionals while providing internal business partners with needed support to run their business operations successfully. Proven strengths in building, developing, motivating, and managing quality-driven teams. He identifies and manages key metrics that move organizations forward to achieve organization’s business goals and has expertise in assessing HR needs at multiple locations and providing helpful timely support. Dennis has a BA in Economics from Rutgers University.

Michael is an experienced Human Resources Professional with a strong knowledge of benefits administration, broker direction, worker's compensation, recruitment, new hire on-boarding and compliance, HRIS, time and labor systems, labor law, process flow, problem resolution and risk mitigation. He holds an Associate's in Business Administration from Central Piedmont Community College.

Khristy has worked across a variety of industries, including insurance, financial technology, and human resources within the information technology, hospitality, and communications sectors. She is especially interested in talent acquisition, integrated talent management, organizational and leadership development, diversity and inclusion, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement. Khristy holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Tampa and a Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teachers College of Columbia University.

Talisa is building a portfolio of Human Resources experience at the generalist and administration levels across the financial sector, with specialties in employment, staffing and customer service. She holds a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from the State University of New York College at Old Westbury and is currently pursuing her Executive Master of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations at Baruch College CUNY.

After a distinguished career in law enforcement with the New York City Police Department that spanned over two decades, Rob Gasperetti took the human capital skills honed as a Detective and Patrol Officer to work in Human Capital Management. He has been the Director of Human Resources at Piping Rock Club on Long Island for over five years and also serves as Treasurer of the PMD Foundation, a group dedicated to raising awareness of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, supporting those afflicted and their families, reducing misdiagnosis and funding research.

Rob's expertise lays in Employee Relations, Public Speaking, Change & Performance Management and Leadership Development. He also has specialties in talent identification, budgeting, compliance, team building and mentoring. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Manhattan College.

Christopher E. Lopez is the President of National Association of African Americans in Human Resources – Philadelphia Chapter and the CEO of Bluerose Consulting Group, a Human Resource Consulting Firm. Chris has developed strategies that lead to permanent staffing solutions for companies within many industries and markets and has leveraged his proven experience in workforce development, human resource partnerships, sourcing and placing qualified candidates for medium and small organizations. Recognized throughout the industry, he works top-producing candidates in a variety of positions, including executive leadership. Chris has completed assignments for Hewitt Associates, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, West Chester University, ARAMARK and the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to Human Resources, Chris worked as a Food and Beverage Manager for Walt Disney World, Delaware North Park Services, Host Marriott Services and Woods Foodservice. A graduate of Cheyney University, Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and institutional Management. As a person who is dedicated to professional growth and business networking, Chris sits on the board for a variety of organizations in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Barbara Davidson is a HR and OD Executive and Consultant with significant successes designing and implementing programs across all functional areas of HR and OD (compensation, benefits, performance management, talent acquisition/development, Six Sigma, culture change and major change management initiatives). Her focus is in aligning and integrating HR and OD processes with business processes to optimize achievement of business and culture goals. In the evenings – at Temple University, Barbara earned a Ph.D. in Organization Development, an M.B.A. in Industrial Relations and Organization Behavior and worked on an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology. In addition to her consulting activities, Barbara is on the Board of the Philadelphia HR Planning Society as Co-Chair of the Programs Committee. She recently spent 7 years leading/building the HR and OD function for NBME where her team won the HR Department of the Year Award. Her career also includes a long tenure with both CIGNA and Corestates (now Wachovia/Wells Fargo), as well as various consulting projects with major Philadelphia based organizations.

Cindy Howes, Principal of Millennial Consultants LLC, is an Executive Coach and Organizational Change Consultant. She concentrates on helping leaders and organizations co-create their emerging futures, working with all generations to be current, inclusive and able to manage transformational change. With over 20 years of experience in corporations such as AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Vanguard Group Inc., Exelon, and PNC Bank, Cindy is a Licensed Psychologist who has spearheaded all aspects of talent management including performance management, competency development and implementation, leadership development and assessment, cultural change, and global team development. With a Masters degree from Temple University and a Bachelors degree from Bryn Mawr College, Cindy has made Philadelphia her home for many years. She also co-writes a blog LiveLikeaMillennial.com with her son.

Frank Bruno is a 25+ year Senior Human Resources Professional with experience in employee / labor relations, compensation and benefits, human capital management, talent acquisition, safety and health, worker compensation, training and development, organizational change. He has held VP / Director level positions for companies with populations ranging from 500-3000 employees multi-site in international operations. He has worked in aerospace, automotive, electronics, industrial manufacturing industries. Frank is currently under contract with Veolia Energy as an HR Consultant.

Frank holds an MBA with a concentration in Industrial Relations and Organizational Behavior from Temple University and a BA Psychology from The College of New Jersey.

LeRoy is the President/Founder of the Society of Hispanic Human Resource Professionals (SHHRP), an organization serves as a guide, a blueprint and a conduit for information and an opportunity for those who believe in diversity, inclusion and social justice to connect and share. The goal is to foster leadership and professional development in Colorado’s diverse workforce/ SHHRP is very proud of the company it keeps, as well as its core values.

He is an accomplished Human Resources leader, business partner and educator with a three decade track record of success and impact on many around him. His career success has spanned both the public and private sectors. He earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. LeRoy will bring Whine & Dine Networking to the Greater Denver area in the Spring of 2017.

Shawn Lancaster is a seasoned Human Resources Professional with a wide variety of experiences including consulting, as an in-house HR professional and a small-business owner. He is currently a Senior Manager for Global HR Analytics and Employee Data Management at Boston Scientific in Natick, MA. Previously Shawn was an Advanced Strategy and Systems Adviser for Organization Metrics, Inc. (OMI) / ClearPicture, Inc. In this role, he advised clients on a variety of HR and Talent Management processes including performance management and development, strategic workforce planning, HR/HC Metrics, HR Technology implementation and employee engagement surveys. Previously, he worked for Personnel Decisions International (PDI) in Boston responsible for Talent Management Systems Consulting and HR Professional Development. He has also has worked in a variety of positions/projects in Compensation and Benefits, Diversity, HRIS, and HR Transformation for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Corning, and Becton Dickinson.

Shawn is a member of SHRM and the HR Leadership Forum (HRLF), and has a MILR (Masters Industrial Labor Relations, HR concentration) from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo.

Terri is a hands-on Human Resources Business Partner with a solid reputation for objectivity and integrity in meeting employee challenges in organizations. She has demonstrated effectiveness as a collaborative and resourceful HR professional with experience in technical, healthcare, consulting, non-profit and manufacturing, environments. Her specialties include coaching and counseling managers and employees, performance management, talent management, employee on-boarding, benefit administration and design, as well as compensation administration and analysis. She is a ASTD Certified Trainer and a DDI Certified Facilitator. Terri holds a BS in Business and Economics from Southern Connecticut State University.

Richard is an independent Human Resources Consultant known for effective career search coaching, as well as shaping and leading high-performing, strategically-aligned global talent acquisition organizations in the UK and US. For the past four years he has been based in North Carolina's Research Triangle and has Pharmaceutical, Enterprise Software, IT Services, Airline, Financial Services, Transportation, Not-For-Profit and Consulting sector experience. Richard is currently talking with organizations developing talent management strategies to position themselves successfully for the impending talent crisis.

Kathleen Koechling SPHR has over 20 years experience in the public sector, mostly as a generalist. Most recently, she led a division of sworn and civilian police employees for a North Carolina law enforcement agency. Kathleen's specialty is connecting people, ideas and resources. Her experience includes targeted recruitment, creating advertising initiatives to appeal a designated demographic, and designing selection processes that are job-related and promote diversity. She has expertise in a wide variety of employment laws and HR practices. Kathleen enjoys consulting with clients to provide customized services, collaborating to find solutions to problems, helping people use social media to aid in their work, and experimenting with new programs and initiatives. She is energized by ideas, networking, and learning almost anything new.

Kathleen was a founding member of the City's of Durham's Diversity Council, graduate of the City of Durham's Leadership Academy, served as President for the NC Chapter of IPMA-HR (International Public Management Association for Human Resources) and is an instructor for the IPMA-HR competencies training for certification. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources and is certified as SPHR from HRCI and IPMA-CP from IPMA-HR.

Jim Ullman is the founder of Spryghtly Culture and Engagement Solutions and believes that everything an organization does and everything it wants to do depends on culture and engagement. Through Spryghtly and his previous practice, Appleseed Consulting, he has consulted to a variety of non-profit, higher education, and government clients and is also a faculty member with the Center for Creative Leadership, having held several HR-related roles with FHI 360, Durham (NC) County Government, Lee Hecht Harrison, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cal brings more than 25 years Senior Human Resource Management experience in complex, matrixed organizations across multiple industries. Skilled at aligning HR initiatives with business strategy, continuous improvement processes and other cost effective solutions focused on bottom-line results. He has worked for ABC Television, Citigroup, AT&T Capitol, RBS Citizens Financial and is currently an HR Consultant. Cal's consulting experience includes talent management/organizational effectiveness and executive search assignments. In addition, he has served on several non-profit boards including the Urban League of RI, National Alliance of Business and the Northeast Human Resource Association (NEHRA). Cal has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University and is currently a member of the Triangle Society for Human Resources (TSHRM).

Cicely C. Thornton has worked in the Human Resources profession for 15 years. Having worked in Pharmaceutical, Bio-Tech, Publishing, Telecommunications, Professional Services, and Insurance, these varied industries have allowed her to excel with client groups as diverse and culturally different as the human race. Strengths possessed by Cicely afford her the opportunity to do extremely well in areas such as Employee Relations, Employee and Organizational Development and Change, Recruiting, Benefits, and Training. She was most recently a Senior Human Resources Generalist for the bio-pharmaceutical UCB in Atlanta GA.

Cicely received her Masters degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and has parlayed that education for use in the enhancement of organizational optimism. She is actively involved in several volunteer groups, and is embarking on an in-depth study of the Love Languages, starting with Spanish.

S. Emma Washington is a seasoned HR Professional, devoted to implementing HR Best Practices within organizations to maintain legal compliance and create effective working environments. She has a diverse range of professional experience within various industries and business functions including, Educational Services, HR Consulting Firms, Retail Merchandising and Manufacturing Organizations. In addition, she specializes in Performance Management, Process Improvements, Employee Relations, Business Continuity Planning, Talent Management, Union and Non Union Environments. Emma also serves as a member of SHRM and National Association for Professional Women (NAPW). Moreover, she is dedicated to educating organizations on inclusion and diversity awareness as well as implementing effective communication strategies in order to streamline HR policies, procedures, and programs.

Emma holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Services Administration from SUNY Buffalo. She also has her Professional in Human Resources certification (PHR).

"Donna Sloane is an accomplished Human Resources Business Partner. She has 15 years of extensive HR Operations experience and specializes in Benefits, Compensation, Policies and Procedure Development, and Legal Compliance. Donna earned her PHR and SHRM-CP, and carries a Bachelor of Arts in English from Columbia University.

Tony Cephus is a Human Resources Manager with specific expertise in Recruitment, Employee Relations, HRIS, Open Enrollment and Unemployment Investigations. He has worked for several organizations in the Atlanta area and also dedicates a great deal of his time helping others in the HR community with business and employment challenges. He is an exceptionally organized and analytical practitioner, able to quickly adapt and perform at high levels in pressure environments.

Tony is an amazing communicator whose group leadership and interpersonal skills are consistently modeled in the Whine & Dine community.

Alexandra L. Kaplan, MBA, SPHR is a results-driven Human Resources Practitioner and Business Consultant who works with organizations, entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals in creating breakthroughs in business performance. As a consultant, trainer and coach, her expertise is in supporting businesses in achieving their mission and goals, resulting in direct impact on the bottom line and financial success. Alexandra has over 20 years of executive and leadership experience in Human Resources, Human Capital Development, and business experience, and she has worked at the Director level in Human Resources for a wide range of companies across multiple industries. She holds a MBA in Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior from California State University in Northridge.

Riva is a well rounded and results-oriented Human Resources Business Partner with two decades of leadership experience. Her core strengths include recruitment/staffing, benefits, employee communications, employee relations, policy development, performance management, and payroll. She is experienced with full employee life cycle and provides strategic input in hiring decisions, reviews and communicates policy and benefits information, while resolving employee relations issues.

A relationship builder with managers, employees and candidates, her strengths include providing the highest levels of service from Human Resources and delivering accurate data to make effective decision-making. Riva earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University Center at Binghamton at the State University of New York.

Olena describes herself as an analytical thinker, persistent doer, constant learner and self-motivated optimist. She is a business-savvy HR professional with nearly a decade of experience in human capital management, business operations and accounting practices, with expertise in talent management, compensation, training and employee relations. She manages human capital, oversees operational activity and monitors financial health for the organization. With a good sense of structure that allows her to build relationships between concepts and ideas, she has built a strong reputation as the go-to expert.

As a constant learner, Olena graduated at the top of her class at Baruch College (City University of New York) for Human Resources and Business Management and she will soon be SPHR certified. She is building knowledge and experience in HR Analytics, Strategic Compensation, Equity Plans, Employee Engagement and Performance Management.

Jasmine is a performance-driven Human Resources Business Partner with a solid track record of planning and executing aspects of operations and business strategy in the financial services sector, ranging from Fortune 500 organizations to mid-sized organizations. Including experience in employee recruitment and retention, staff development, benefits and compensation, Human Resource (HR) records management, HR policies development, legal & compliance, writing personnel manuals, corporate policies, and job profiles.

Earning her Master's degree in Human Resources Management from Mercy College, she also holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and marketing from Mercy.

Susan is a natural connector of people as well as a strong assessor of talent having a solid foundation in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Given her high energy level, she is ideally suited for climates undergoing significant transformation, integration & consolidation. Her core strengths span talent strategies, technology solutions and implementations, external brand management, executive search management, transformation and culture change, internal mobility and candidate pipelining, career management, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, predictive modeling.and assessments.

She is comfortable leading teams, RPO relationships, vendor partnerships, M&A restructuring and leading technology implementations. Susan holds a Masters Degree in I/O Psychology from Fairfield University and a Bachelors in Business Administration (Minor in Computer Science) from Sacred Heart University.

Aoife is the Founder of Quinn HR Consulting Group. She is a Human Resources Architect building high performing organizations through engagement-centric training programs and executive coaching for transformation. She has held HR leadership roles at well-known companies: Nestle USA, Cadbury, Unilever, Frontier Communications and Bayer Healthcare. Prior to starting her consulting practice, she was the Vice President of Human Resources for the U.S. based division of HomeServe Plc. She has led training initiatives and workshops in both domestic and global companies and she is an expert in the field of Communications, Employee Relations, Leadership & Performance Management.

She holds degree in Culture and Society from the State University of New York, and a certificate in Spanish Language and Culture from the University of Salamanca in Spain. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources and is a Certified Executive Coach, Career Coach and Professional Coach. She is certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF) as an Associate Certified Coach. Aoife has resided in different countries from the Far East to Europe which has given her an appreciation for cultural integration within companies. Her first professional career brought her to the operatic stage by the age of 13, so she’s no stranger to working with large audiences. She is a fitness enthusiast and a student of Chinese martial arts where she practices mindfulness in an ever-changing world. This background, along with an impressive corporate career helps her to be a dynamic and motivational speaker with audiences around the globe. She is a dual citizen of the U.S. and United Kingdom.

Paul is a Total Rewards Leader with experience in implementing effective human resources programs on a global scale. He has a blend of strategic and tactical experience in standing up compensation and benefit programs that build scale for companies. He has demonstrated consistent success in total rewards design and implementation, while demonstrating global experience developing long-term incentive plans that drive growth in net income. His expertise covers executive pay programs & pay governance, proxy preparation and CD&A disclosures, career framework and progression, management and sales incentive plan design, board preparation and presentations, along with global benchmarking and data analytics.

Paul earned his Master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Steven's Institute of Technology and also has his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.

Ed Han is a wordsmith with a passion for networking and helping professionals optimally leverage opportunities. He is a collaborative client champion with particular expertise in online communities, relationship management and influencing skills. As a veteran of several industries, including publishing, financial services and fashion, Ed has honed these skills and traits in many environments, from a major Wall Street firm to a small financial services start-up to a sales office for an overseas fashion brand. Active in the community, Ed facilitates a professional group in Princeton NJ and also serves as the PR committee Chair for the Professional Service Group (PSG) of Mercer County.

Ed is a subject matter expert in major social media such as Twitter and LinkedIn and is currently is a LinkedIn trainer with Paul Buijs, The LinkedIn Guy. He writes a monthly column for the PSG of Mercer County newsletter called Staying Focused. You can check out the weekly updates to his blog here. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Albright College.

Liane Fisher is an experienced litigator focused on avoiding and resolving workplace issues. Prior to founding Liane Fisher Law, Liane worked at Jackson Lewis LLP, helping clients meet business goals while minimizing employee issues, by emphasizing preventive strategies and positive solutions in the practice of workplace law. She drafted company policies and procedures, and conducted employee trainings. She also achieved many notable litigation successes while defending management in state and federal court and before city, state and federal administrative agencies.

Liane received her juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, where she earned the Judge Doris A. Thompson and Edward Thompson Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Ms. Fisher graduated cum laude from George Washington University with a Bachelors in Business Administration. After college, she worked at UBS|PaineWebber. She is General Counsel for Liasa Marketing, a New York City based Marketing Firm. She is a member of the New York State Bar and is admitted to practice law in the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the New York Women's Bar Association and the New York County Lawyers Association.