Keynote Speaker: Sam Kabert

SOUL/Life Balance: Try B.R.E.A.T.H. to Overcome Stress & Anxiety

Sam spent the early part of his career chasing success and in the process was named to Silicon Valley's 40 Under 40 list at just 31 years old and one of PPAI's "Rising Stars" in 2020.

Despite building a million dollar business as an Entrepreneur, Sam realized that he was unfulfilled and was lacking a deeper purpose to his life. Since 2019, Sam has courageously embraced a transformative path of self-discovery, centering his focus on prioritizing mental health.

This personal evolution has become the heartbeat of his message, as he passionately speaks about the profound practice of SOUL/Life Balance and how to Overcome Overwhelm with the 6-Step B.R.E.A.T.H. Process. Sam is a Breathwork Practitioner & Keynote Speaker on a mission to teach the tools to Overcome Overwhelm while encouraging the rise of Compassionate Leadership to eradicate the glorification of "Hustle Culture".

Sam is also a 2x Bestselling Author and Host of the top 3% podcast, SOUL SEEKR. 

Alise Isbell

Identifying Toxic Behavior Patterns

Alise Isbell is an award-winning communication expert, experienced trainer, facilitator and instructional designer. She empowers clients to transform ideas into clear messages.

She holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Business Communication. She published articles on effective communication in Nationwide Business Journals while also winning several IABC Bronze, Silver, Best in Division and Best in Show Quill Awards in Writing and Marketing Communication Strategy.

Alise was the President of ATD Houston in 2009 and is a member of the International Association for Business Communicators and HR Houston, Women's Energy Network and NAWBO. She frequently speaks at these organizations.

As an independent business owner, Alise provides instructional design services on any topic. She carefully determines the current needs, defines the goals of training and creates materials to bridge the gap. Alise also delivers instructor-led training courses in person or online in five categories: written, spoken, interpersonal communication, train-the-trainer and microlearning.

Susan Wood

Improve the S.C.O.P.E of Your Communication

Susan started IFI Training in 1995. She believed she could make a difference by giving individuals the skills they need to succeed in work and in life. That became the goal at IFI -- change the world one individual at a time. "When work is easier to do, everything you do outside of work gets better too." Change happens best when tools and principles are applied regularly and consistently -- becoming better one drop at a time. Susan works to improve people and the organizations they work for through workshops and presentations.

Susan has been instrumental in building a curriculum of workshops to transfer skills, leading workshops in organizations of all sizes across the United States.

Human Approach: Use Your Health Plan to Create a Culture of Wellbeing

As a Senior New Business manager, Andrea Woodworth's primary focus is to bring new business to Cigna. She works as a liaison between employer and broker partners and Cigna's underwriting partners to write business at a fair level to both parties involved. Andrea stays involved as the main point of contact for new Cigna clients from point of sale all the way through the implementation process.

As the Pharmacy Account Executive, Autavius Hobbs has responsibility of overall operational performance Strategy and execution for Cigna's Select clients. He develops and executes broad service strategy in support of client global benefit programs, wellness, and communications. Effectively managing business relationships, Autavius collaborates across all operational lines to ensure that systems and processes are in place to meet client needs.

Tanya Bellard joined Cigna in 2018 with a background in Human Resources, Benefits, and Corporate Wellness working directly with organizations in improving risk factors associated with their employee population. She leads a team of skilled Engagement Consultants focusing on driving impactful initiatives that help support clients to improve the health and vitality of their employees.

Podcast recording: Good Morning HR

Mike Coffey, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. He is also president of Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm. He is also the State Director-Elect for Texas SHRM. And each week, he hosts the Good Morning, HR podcast.

Gary Fowler is a mediator and arbitrator with JAMS. He has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994 and is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. With over 35 years of experience in all areas of labor and employment law, he has served as a mediator and arbitrator since 2015. He is a frequent speaker on alternative dispute resolution, focusing on mediation of discrimination, harassment, trade secret, executive compensation, and wage/hour disputes. He was co-chair of the Jackon Walker L&E section from 2013 to 2021, when he joined JAMS.

Dr. Nathan Mellor

Leadership and Well Being: Maximizing Efficiency and Effectiveness While Maintaining Well Being and Self Care

A thought-leader, two-time TEDx speaker, author, and CEO of Strata Leadership, Dr. Mellor is an experienced executive coach who has provided over 3,000 coaching sessions for executive leaders. He serves as a sounding board, thought partner, and a source of encouragement for leaders seeking to maximize their effectiveness.

Since its founding in 2009, Strata Leadership has pursued its mission of “Elevating Life at Work.” Each year, the professionals at Strata Leadership provide character and competence-based talent development services for hundreds of clients (non-profits, for-profits, educational institutions, and governmental agencies) throughout the United States and abroad.

His book, “Sleeping Giants: Authentic Stories and Insights For Building A Life That Matters” is available via Monocle Press, Amazon, and Audible. He also hosts the podcast, “The Strata Leadership Show.”

Nathan lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with his wife and two daughters.

Keith Shaw

Leadership Reimagined:  A Formula for Accelerating the Impact of Leadership

Keith Shaw is a speaker, coach, trainer and DISC communication consultant that concentrates on leadership, personal development & building workplace culture. For over 20 years he has functioned as a trusted advisor to CEO’s, executives and managers and an advocate for workplace improvement and leadership development. Keith began his professional career as an aircraft mechanic and has a unique and interesting perspective on workplace dynamics based on his first-hand shop floor experience working in a production environment. He is a long time SHRM national member and is SCP certified. He is on a mission to make the workplace better…so we can make the world a better place.

Lisa Hammett

HR Resilience & Wellbeing: Building Mental Fitness for Sustainable Success

Lisa Hammett is a dynamic Transformational and TEDx speaker, an international best-selling author, a Certified Positive Intelligence PQ Coach, a wellness expert, and a vocal and personal advocate for obliterating burnout in healthcare and HR.

With over 26 years of experience as a leader in the corporate retail industry, Lisa knows firsthand the toll that stress and burnout can take on individuals. After a transformative health and wellness journey, where she lost 65 pounds, Lisa decided to dedicate her life to helping others achieve their health and wellness objectives.

Lisa has positively impacted the lives of thousands of individuals, empowering them to make lasting changes.

Her first book, From Burnout to Best Life. How to take charge of your health and happiness, reached best seller status in 16 categories globally.

Jackie Sinclair

Smart Communication: Leveraging AI to Personalize Team Engagement and Drive Results

Jackie Sinclair is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur with a foundation in corporate HR and a passion for cultivating positive team culture through adaptive communication. She has led multiple remote teams across diverse business ventures, leveraging personalized communication to enhance collaboration and productivity. Known for her people-centered approach, Jackie specializes in helping leaders understand and adapt to unique communication styles, building trust and unity within teams. Her expertise makes her a sought-after speaker on effective communication and remote team success.

Bridging Gaps: Employee Benefits Trends and Strategy Innovation

Monica Crishi

Monica’s goal is to positively impact the business health of her partners through employee benefits strategy, engagement, communication and administration.  Prior to her Advisor role at Marsh McLennan Agency, Monica was the Coach for the employee benefits service team in the Dallas office and earlier spent several years in various Human Resources leadership roles at other organizations.

Monica has held her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from HRCI since 2015.  She has achieved a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies from King’s College Holy Cross.  Also, Monica graduated from active-duty Army Basic Training and the Chemical Corps at Fort Leonardwood in 2004 and dedicated twelve years to the Army and then Marine Corps.

Always open to compete for life of the party at a nonprofit fundraising event, Monica’s free time is filled with crafty activities, learning new things, and snuggles with her French bulldogs, PB and Jay.  She and her husband Tim live in Flower Mound with their awesomely mischievous family.

Cory Yeager

Senior Advisor of Employee Health & Benefits, Dallas

As a Senior Advisor at MMA’s Dallas office, Cory Yeager provides executive leadership and mentorship to aspiring consultants, serving as a strategic partner in the planning, design, and implementation of comprehensive employee benefits programs. His expertise encompasses a wide range of areas, including benefits captives, self-insurance strategies, stop-loss insurance, and pharmacy benefit management, enabling him to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client.

Cory began his career in the insurance industry as a business development specialist with a global competitor. In 2019, he joined MMA to fulfill his passion for making a meaningful impact on employees' lives through strategic consulting. His extensive knowledge in benefits captives and self-insurance allows him to guide clients in optimizing their risk management and cost containment strategies.

With a background as a professional coach and small business owner, Cory brings a unique skill set and diverse experiences that enhance his ability to support his team and clients effectively. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, which complements his commitment to continuous learning and professional development in the ever-evolving landscape of employee health and benefits.

Jamie Lewis Smith

5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Retain Your Rock Star Talent

Jamie Lewis Smith, PhD (aka, the NeHRd Lady) is passionate about making people managers suck less by providing simple, science-backed actions to transform them into empowering leaders (aka Empowering Leaders)! She is the founder and CEO of Pixel Leadership Group, a team of “nerdy, but fun” executive coaches, psychologists, and data analysts who are on a mission to combat toxic cultures and supercharge employee engagement by bridging the gap between the science and practice of leadership. By offering a structured, data-driven methodology to coaching that can be applied at scale, Pixel creates real, sustainable change that turns managers into talent maximizers, builds people-centric organizational cultures, and fosters employee thriving. Jamie has spent her career as a human resources leader, coach, and advisor across private sector, nonprofit, and government agencies, working extensively in the technology, higher education, and healthcare industries. She is a contributing member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a published author, and an international speaker on the topics of leadership, assessment, and employee retention.

Dr. Davis McAlister

Future-Ready Talent Acquisition: Emerging Trends to Attract, Engage, and Retain Top Talent

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