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.

Tony Dorsey is an experienced Human Resources practitioner with ten years of experience in Business Partner roles. His specialties include employee recruitment and retention, staff development, conflict resolution, records management, policy development and legal compliance. Currently with The Economist, he has also worked for Ethan Allen Global, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Mastercard in his career.

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.

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.

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.

Joyce Andrasz is a Human Resources Business Partner with approximately 20 years of experience in Human Resources within multiple Fortune 500 companies. Her background includes broad generalist exposure in training and development, talent management, organizational change initiatives, executive coaching, mergers/acquisitions, employee relations, recruiting, compensation and benefits. She has worked in many industries including pharmaceutical, consumer products, apparel and petrochemical and is currently engaged as a Business Partner at Zoetis. She is a very active networker and mentor.

Joyce holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology from Drexel University.

Walter Schwab is a Global Organization Development & Learning Executive with 15+ years of experience implementing business solutions for organizations and external clients. As Capability Development Director for Accenture, he rolled out curricula, competency models, and cross-functional programs to develop critical business skills from leadership to operational excellence. In addition, Walter consulted and led projects for Accenture and Toppan Moore Systems to implement process and system transformations. He has extensive international experience, having worked with executives in 20 countries, and also speaks Japanese and Spanish. Walter has an MBA in International Business and a BA in East Asian Studies.

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."

Maritza Milanes, SPHR, is a human resources generalist with over 20 years experience in pharmaceutical, medical device, financial and chemical industries. She is currently the Vice President of Human Resources at SS White Burs, a leading international medical device manufacturer in the dental industry. She also brings experience of having worked for such Fortune 500 organizations as Siemens and Hoffman-La Roche. Maritza is a customer-driven leader with domestic and international experience and a strong track record for delivering results. Her experience includes leadership development, strategic staffing (domestic/international), mergers/acquisition, and employee/labor relations. She has an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been SPHR certified since 1998. She also holds a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

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.

Sergio Negrin is an experienced Human Resources Professional with broad generalist expertise and is currently a HRIS Specialist with Continuum Health Partners. He has industry expertise in real estate, property management and logistics, having worked in both large and small corporate settings, as well as union environments. He has previous experience with Realogy / Cendant and United Parcel Service.

Sergio carries a Bachelor of Science in Management Science from Kean University.

Jocelyne Durando is currently the Assistant Director of Human Resources for Atlantic Coast Media Group. Previous to her current role, she served as HR Representative for Aptium Oncology. As a Generalist/Business Partner, she specializes in performance management, on-boarding programs, talent management, HRIS database administration, mentoring, networking, research, staff development and training.

Jocelyne carries a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Pace University.

Karen is a highly-experienced corporate-side Staffing Specialist. Capitalizing on a paralegal background, she specializes in supporting the legal industry and has worked for American Legal Search and various law firms in the past.

Karen holds a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Long Island University and also a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

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.

Robert Weiss is a highly accomplished human resources and business leader with a career spanning a dozen years in HR Leadership. He specializes in Corporate Staffing and Talent Management, Employee Relations, Project Management, Training and Leadership Development, Performance Management, Coaching and Counseling, Succession Planning, Organizational Restructuring and Vendor Relations Management.

Rob also works with America's college students and creates visibility and credibility for them by employing personal branding and marketing strategies. He previously consulted with HR at News Corporation, New York Post and was Director of Field HR for one of their billion dollar advertising divisions. Prior to that, he served as VP and was responsible for all activities of an executive search firm. He began his career progressing in various regional and national field sales management positions.

Rob is an accomplished Rotary Club speaker and current national SHRM member. He carries a Master Certificate in Human Resources Management from Villanova, as well as a Certificate in Finance and Accounting and a Certificate HR Organizational Effectiveness, both also from Villanova.

Steve Green is the Director of Talent Acquisition and Human Resources at UMT Consulting Group. An accomplished HR Consultant, he has also provided HR services and support for organizations for 24 years, acting as business partner and recruitment expert in a variety of organizations over that time.

Steve carries a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from City University of New York - Brooklyn.

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.

Deb Finnegan is an HR Professional whose diverse experience encompasses Employee and Labor Relations, Employment, Performance Management, Benefits, Safety, Conflict and Problem Resolution as well as the run of Generalist responsibilities in both Corporate and Plant environments.

By ensuring structure, organization and consistency, Deb has taken HR Departments to a higher level of professionalism while ensuring confidence. Deb is currently HR Manager for Westport Axel, a 450-employee Chassis Assembly Plant in the Lehigh Valley servicing Mack. In prior roles, Deb had been head of HR with a steel fabricator and within Publishing and Telecom. As well, she has built upon skills developed with Sandoz Chemicals and a division of Alcoa (AFL). Her formal education includes a Masters in Personnel Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a BA in Psychology from Seton Hall University.

In addition to leading Lehigh Valley Whine & Dine, Deb is a member of SHRM (National and Lehigh Valley), Business Executive Network Group (BENG) and Philadelphia Society of People & Strategies (PSPS). Deb continues to pursue her passion for the Spanish Language by coordinating a weekly conversation group.

Jim Fitzgerald is a diversified Human Resources Business Partner and Human Capital Consultant who currently runs his own consulting practice while also serving as an Adjunct Professor at Emmanuel College. He is a customer-centric HR and business leader who specializes in human capital/organizational development plans, process improvement, talent acquisition, coaching, compensation, benefits, performance management/appraisals, compliance, employee relations, union avoidance, labor relations and training.

Jim carries a Master of Science in Leadership from Northeastern University and Bachelor of Science in Individual and Family Studies (Human Development) and Psychology from Penn State. He is also SPHR certified.

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.

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.

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).

Kim Bair, PHR, is a Senior Human Resources professional with over 20 years of multi-faceted HR management experience. Currently, she leads the HR department at Dixie Sales Company in Brown's Summit. DSC was founded in 1914 and is an outdoor power equipment distributor with approximately 250 employees. Kim provides an organization with cost effective HR and excellence in talent acquisition programs that drive tremendous value to the bottom line. With her motto of "get them and keep them," she considers herself to be a company's best weapon in the war for talent and retention. Kim recently accepted the honor of participating as a Board Member for the Human Resource Management Association of Greensboro (HRMAG). She is the founder of the Members in Transition committee which has led 18 HRMAG members (and counting) to successful job searches in the professional HR field. In addition to her professional HR life, Kim is a published author, artist, and instructor in the paper-crafting field.

Darla Fain-Reed is a Champion of Freedom and Accountability in the Workplace with 10+ years leading Human Resources and Organizational Development. Darla brings a competitive business advantage through empowering employees and aligning people practices to strategy. Darla uses a creative yet common sense approach to business creating a positive environment where every employee can bring their genius to the table. Darla leads Appreciative Inquiry and large group change methods to facilitate provocative conversations needed in today's organizations. "Change the culture change the conversation." Darla has a business degree from Indiana University and attended the Positive Organizational Development and Change Masters program at Case Western Reserve University.

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, currently serving as HR Manager for Impellam North America. She has 15 years of extensive HR Operations experience and specializes in Employee Relations, Employee Communications, Policies and Procedure Development, Legal Compliance, Research, EEOC Investigations and Unemployment Claims.

Donna earned her PHR 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.

Jill Lutsky is an Executive Talent Acquisition Professional with Travelers Insurance. Prior to joining Travelers, Jill worked for The Hartford Insurance Group for four years as a Senior Recruiter with the Competitive Intelligence & Recruiting Group. She began her recruiting career with Remedy Staffing where she worked for over twelve years in a variety of leadership roles ranging from Area Operations Manager, Project Manager, Client Services Specialist, and Corporate Trainer.

Jill is an AIRS Certified Recruiter/ Researcher and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California at San Diego. Because of her commitment to the "Pay it Forward" philosophy, Jill founded The Recruiters' Networking Niche in 2003, an international networking site for Recruiters and HR Professionals. Jill resides in Southern California and pays it forward whenever she sees the opportunity to help others.

Lorraine Serva has 19 years in Human Resources Leadership for medium sized companies in hospitality, high tech and construction. She is currently the Director of Human Resources for Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurants. Her extensive experience as a senior generalist includes coaching managers to improve team performance, leading change initiatives, implementing an HRIS, developing and facilitating management and employee training, creating employee handbooks and employee relations. Lorraine has taught management undergraduate courses at Baylor University and is currently teaching at the University of Delaware. She is on the Board of Directors of Delaware SHRM and Girls Inc. of Delaware. Carrying the SPHR certification, Lorraine holds a Master in Business Administration with a concentration in Personnel and Industrial Relations, and is fluent in Spanish.

Joanne Friedel has an extensive track record of success building, redesigning and leading business-focused HR functions for high growth organizations. She has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of several public and private financial and technology companies where she led the development and day to day operations of corporate HR functions. As an internal consultant, she has provided HR guidance and support for strategic business development, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and divestitures. Most recently, Joanne was SVP HR for First Data Corporation, a global financial services organization and CHRO for both Concord EFS and Electronic Payment Services. Joanne has provided counsel and coached C-Suite Executives, offering guidance in corporate business matters. leadership development, succession planning, high potential employee development, career assessment and transition. She is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group and serves on the Groups Sponsorship Committee, the Philadelphia HR Planning Society and SHRM.

Joanne holds a BS and MS in HR Management from Wilmington University and is a Certified Master Coach and a member of the International Coaching Council.

Jerry Dropcho is a Senior HR Professional with 20+ years of experience in manufacturing, training and human resources. He has worked in both union and non-union facilities, multi-site environments, and has designed and implemented performance management and recruiting strategies in several industries. He has held Director level positions at Burlington County College, Disc Makers, and Dietz & Watson over the last 10 years, citing employee and labor relations as his biggest challenges and strengths. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Tri-State HR Management Association for seven years in various capacities, and now serves as Immediate Past-President of the organization. In January 2010, he was selected to be Director-Elect of the Garden State Council – SHRM, the state level affiliate which acts as the liaison between SHRM and the eleven local chapters in New Jersey.

Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, along with a Master of Science in Training & Development from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

Aaron is currently the Human Resources Manager for Renaissance Marble & Granite in Blackwood, New Jersey. He has been in this position for four years. During his tenure, he originated the HR department for the 70+ employee company. He has also become involved in other facets of the business. He was instrumental in implementing a Lean Manufacturing program with Renaissance as well as acquiring grants to defray the cost and provide additional training for employees. Aaron is deeply involved with Renaissance's marketing program. Prior to joining Renaissance, he was a Senior Associate with EDS in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Aaron is a graduate of the College of New Jersey and is the Director of Programs for Tristate HRMA.

Jeremy Lucabaugh is the Consultant & Founder of Empirical Workplace Solutions. Pursuing his Ph.D in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Jeremy currently works as a business consultant, and is also an adjunct professor. His work includes human resource management, training & development, leadership development, process efficiency, employee engagement, change management, performance appraisals, and testing in the workplace. Jeremy has over 11 years of experience with change management, training, leadership, group facilitation, and results based on scholarly research. He has also led change and organizational success as a recruiting & training manager, and is the successful owner of a privately owned business of over 7 years. Jeremy is also the Founder of the Society of Evidence-Based Organizational Consulting.

Keith Wolsko is a senior-level Human Capital Specialist with specific expertise in Recruiting, Sourcing, Training, Talent Acquisition, Talent Pooling, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Recruitment Process Lifecycle Development and other process-based recruiting methodologies. He is the Principal and Founder of The Recruiters Roundtable, a global social media & networking group which combines traditional networking methods and Web 2.0 strategies and applies them the to human capital industry. Over the last 15+ years, Keith has provided recruiting, staffing, and talent acquisition solutions to organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to mid-cap and start-up operations. He also does training on utilizing social media/networking sites and how to maximize them for human capital needs. He has worked with Mellon Bank, Bank of America, Citrix Systems, FedEx, J.P. Morgan Chase, Nestle USA, Wachovia, Bayer, ALCOA, Metlife, Cisco Systems, SAP , H.J. Heinz Corporation, PNC Financial Services, Dell, McKesson, IBM , and Microsoft.

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.

As Whine & Dine's Creative Advisor, Ken Kohut has brought a multitude of technical advances to our organization. Ken is the owner and lead photographer of Ken Kohut Photography Inc. He specializes in corporate event photography, children's portraiture, macrophotography, and event novelties. Before beginning his photography career, Ken was an IT Project Manager at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood. Ken designed and continues to maintain our website.