Whine & Dine Networking

Keith Bogen founded Whine & Dine Networking in March 2003, following a dream to provide pure networking forums for Human Resources professionals that would be unfettered by rules and excess process. As a Human Capital Enrichment Expert, he has delivered HR Director, Manager and Consultant services, as a full-time employee and as a consultant, to organizations of all sizes for the past 15 years. His networking groups and career development skills have also been of tremendous support to thousands across the United States and internationally. 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 greatly benefitted companies and clients include Network Development, Change Management, Employee Relations, Talent Development, Process Improvement, Performance Management, as well as Behavioral and Legal Analysis. He also 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.

Dena Moscola is the CEO/Founder of Resolutions – a national coaching and training firm specializing in personal excellence and professional achievement since 1997. She has been working with individuals and organizations of all sizes for over 25 years with a strong focus on rapid habit changing, strengthening relationships, leadership, communication, managing conflict, women's issues, career development and much more. Dena, is a graduate and former instructor for the Institute for Personal Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), certified as a train the trainer for Emotional Intelligence, Corporate Stress Management Consultant, Performance Enhancement Specialist and much more. Her dynamic and engaging presentation styles combined with her vibrant energy and love for life brings a refreshing delivery of strategic solutions to strengthen leadership in any organization. Being a nationally recognized motivational speaker, she is often called upon for keynote events. The team at Resolutions passionately provides solutions through one on one coaching, strategic consultation, team coaching, assessment tools, live workshops and training programs, customized services and teleclasses.

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 Scott, Founder of HireEffect LLC, is a Talent Acquisition Strategist with over 16 years of recruiting experience and a passion for networking and new media marketing. 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 coach Jennifer offers tactical approaches to the job search process in all of her workshops. 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 practice, Jennifer is a Career Coach in partnership with Hire Aspirations, and a member of the Program Committee for the Southern Connecticut chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is also a member of the ERE, NPA and the EMA.

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.

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 the HR Director for the Corporate Scientific Division (R&D) 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.

Joyce Andrasz is a Human Resources Business Partner with approximately 20 years of experience in Human Resources. Her background includes broad generalist exposure in talent management, organizational change initiatives, recruiting, executive coaching, outsourcing, compensation, benefits and employee relations. Currently, Joyce is a Corporate HR Business Partner for Wyeth, a pharmaceutical and consumer products company. Prior to joining Wyeth, Joyce held a variety of HR roles within Aris Isotoner, a division of Sara Lee Corporation, and Himont, a petrochemical manufacturer.

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."

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.

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.

Steve Gall is a Senior HR Professional with over 15 years of experience in Applications, Compensation, and Shared Services primarily in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. 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 a PeopleSoft HRMS background including implementation and functional support of US and non-US audiences, as well as experience with niche HR software and compensation administration. Having always held roles within human resources organizations, he has a strong customer focus and understanding of HR processes. In addition to leading Whine and Dine in Langhorne, Steve also currently co-facilitates the Princeton HRMA (SHRM) In-Transition group.

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 &emp; 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.

Mark W. Murata is a resourceful and intuitive Global HR Executive with over 25 + years of diverse multi industry experience with companies such as Porter Novelli, MasterCard International, Ernst & Young and Toyota Motor Corporation. As a strategic thought leader, Mark has been successful in building relationships, creating world-class global HR operations, overseeing the HR pyramid and defining HR strategy for Fortune 500 international corporations, small to midsized private firms and e-commerce consulting. He is often regarded as a hands-on leader who understands business of building strong ROI through collaborative team environments and fostering a sense of pride and integrity among the staff. Mark is a dynamic, energetic and outgoing senior professional that is passionate about the human resources profession.

Christine Ippolito has spent 10 years serving in an advisory capacity to the President, executive team and board members for both small and mid-sized companies as the Vice President of Human Resources. Her current position is Director of Strategic Partnership Development, with The WorkPlace Group. In this role, she guides organizations through the design, development and deployment of full life cycle recruitment solutions and the change management process necessary to achieve recruitment objectives. Christine is a HR executive with a strong generalist foundation and extensive experience in high-growth & start up companies across health care, life sciences, Internet, technology, education, retail and manufacturing. Her prior experience as a front line manager provides her with a unique insight and the required business acumen to ensure the human resource function serves as a strategic business partner in achieving business goals and objectives. Christine presents to a variety of human resource audiences including the 2007 & 2008 Garden State SHRM Annual Conference. She has a Master's Degree in Management from North Park University in Chicago, IL and a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Wisconsin.

Sophia Bogues is a seasoned HR Professional with a proven ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse individuals, groups, and businesses in a variety of organizational environments. She is a successful recruiter with exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills. Sophia's 15 highly practical years of career coaching and training gives her the unique ability to help individuals and teams define and achieve their learning and development goals. She is a certified, well-practiced facilitator of a number of highly regarded career assessment and competency tools including the Strong Interest Inventory, Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP), Career Architect, and Oz Principal Accountability system. Sophia will also soon become a certified Global Career Development Facilitator with the National Career Development Association. Her past accomplishments also demonstrate a strong capacity for research, data analysis, and needs assessment - all in support of strategic problem solving and decision-making within organizations. Sophia is a dynamic project manager with a keen knack for handling multiple priorities, while meeting mission-critical deadlines on time and within budgetary constraints. Sophia is also an accomplished training professional that has delivered numerous workshops focused on workplace communications, mentoring, leadership, and job search strategies.

Gretchen Reising, PHR is an accomplished, energetic and focused Human Resource Executive with over fifteen years progressive human resources experience in selecting, retaining and developing people across multiple industries. She provides astute strategic planning and practical implementation of initiatives to drive business results. She is known for her ability to gain support from all levels within an organization, foster an environment of teamwork and accomplish goals. Her expertise encompasses change management, employee relations, organizational design, benefits, compensation , regulatory compliance , employee development, recruitment, and selection. Gretchen is currently the Director of Human Resources with IVI and oversees the HR function for the company. Prior to joining IVI, Gretchen worked for MISYS as the Head of Human Resources for the Americans overseeing the HR function in the US, Mexico, Brazil and Canada. She has a Bachelors' of Science degree in Business Administration and Psychology and volunteered with the Peace Corps for two years in the Republic of Yemen.

Andrew Gelfand is a resourceful problem-solving Human Resources Business Partner with 20 years of experience in sales and technical recruiting, employee and labor relations, training and development, management coaching, organizational development, employee rewards and recognition, performance management, and benefits and compensation. Andrew has held positions such as Regional International Employee Relations Manager & Contracts Administrator at Tiger Air, Aviquipo and Employee Relations Manager for a 240 Bed Proprietary for Profit Hospital. In his current role as Sales Recruitment Manager and Field Coach at ZEP, Inc., a specialty chemical manufacturer, Andrew handles full cycle recruitment, onboarding, training and mentoring. Andrew has a Masters Degree in Human Resources from George Washington University.

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.

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.

Joanne Friedel has an extensive track record of success building, redesigning and leading business-focused human resources 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, prior to First Data, she was CHRO for Concord EFS, and Electronic Payment Services, a multi-bank joint venture headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Joanne has provided counsel and coached C-Suite Executives throughout her career 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 Human Resources Planning Society and SHRM. Joanne holds a BS and MS in Human Resources Management from Wilmington University and is a Certified Master Coach and a member of the International Coaching Council.

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.

Lorrie has transformed the way human resource groups develop, build and measure business value for nearly three decades. As Vice President of Human Resources at PAREXEL International, a leading global biopharmaceutical service provider in 51 countries, she is the strategic leader responsible for the identification, development and implementation of global human resources strategies. In addition to her strategic, implementation and metrics expertise, she is a dynamic individual to work with. She continuously provides guidance to the PAREXEL Executive team, defining and transitioning internal client groups towards process improvement, increased outcome orientation, customer service and cost effectiveness.

Lorrie is a Professor at Northeastern University and Middlesex Community College where she has taught a variety of undergraduate classes and the SHRM certification preparation class since 1999. She is certified PHR and CCP; a Magna Cum laude graduate, she holds a BS in International Business from Franklin Piece College.

John Casey, CBP is a senior human resources professional with more than 15 years of experience. He is currently Director, Compensation, Benefits & HRIS for Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation in Concord, Massachusetts, a global 3D CAD software company. John has a diverse background in global human resources, having worked in both the banking and high tech industries. He received his BS degree in Business Administration from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, along with a minor in French and is both PHR and CBP certified.

Tess Dedman is a seasoned consultant and veteran facilitator specializing in Organization and Individual Effectiveness. For over a decade, in multiple industries such as accounting, consulting, pharmaceuticals, marketing & advertising, electronics and banking, she has placed her focus on working with smaller organizations at critical stages of growth to ensure they make healthy choices and foster productive environments for both employees and the company as a whole. She brings a unique perspective to helping organizations and individuals capitalize on and create sustainable success. She has a range of business management, sales and project role experience in addition to her broad HR and organization development work underscoring her value as a business partner. Tess is known for her belief in "the right people in the right jobs doing the right work", supported by the right processes and structures as a way to achieve business goals and peak performance. She offers guidance and leadership for organizations seeking to review and define their mission, vision and values, and approaches to: talent acquisition and management, leadership development and succession planning.

With a part-time practice as an individual career coach, Tess furthers her commitment to help others find work that best fits and inspires them to earn a more satisfying living. She holds a B Sc in Organizational Psychology from Lesley University

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.

Norman Maskin is an accomplished Human Resources Leader with a proven track record for consistently achieving/exceeding overall business objectives by aligning HR goals to business objectives. He has been consistently recognized throughout his career for "hands-on" leadership in employee relations, coaching, organizational design, talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, mergers & acquisitions, development, and restructuring. He has led numerous business units at varying phases of the maturity curve/business cycle where cultural change has been a critical component. Norman's career has spanned two decades, covering Call Centers, Consulting, Distribution, Education, Financial Services, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Professional Services, Publishing, Software and Tele-Communications. His background includes such major organizations as Kaplan, Pharmacia, Amoco and Motorola.

Sharon Weilmuenster has a diverse background as an Human Resources Practitioner with experience in Human Resources, Information Systems and Finance She is known for her strong abilities to assess organizational needs and resolving issues efficiently. Her skills and experience have proven her ability to bring delinquent municipal audits up to date, implement systems, streamline processes, build policy and procedures, all while providing excellent customer service and establishing herself as the go-to person. Sharon is also involved in various non-profit and community groups as a volunteer and board member. Her career includes experience in higher education, manufacturing, oil and gas, federal and municipal government, software implementation / consulting, retail and healthcare with such entities as Taproot Foundation, The University of Chicago, The City of Berwyn, Department of Homeland Security and JD Edwards Worldwide Solutions. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois.

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 is a Senior Human Resources Professional with over 20 years experience in the public sector, mostly as a generalist. Currently, she leads a division of sworn and civilian employees providing human resource services for the Durham Police Department. Kathleen's recruitment initiatives, designed to appeal to a younger demographic and brand the department as female-friendly, have increased quality hires and female representation. Kathleen enjoys consulting with clients to provide customized services, collaborating to find solutions to problems, and experimenting with new programs and initiatives. She is energized by ideas, networking, and learning almost anything new. Kathleen is a founding member of the City's Diversity Council, graduate of the City's Management 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 has a Master of Science degree in Human Resources and holds certifications both as SPHR from SHRM and IPMA-CP from IPMA-HR.

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 is currently 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).

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.

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.

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.