Speakers

• Jason Averbook
  CEO Knowledge Infusion
  
  

  Jason Averbook is CEO and Co-Founder of Knowledge Infusion. As CEO, he is responsible for the groundbreaking vision and strategy that has propelled the organization to the recognized leader in HR consulting. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the HR and technology industry, Averbook works closely with clients as the executive lead on strategic consulting engagements.

  Prior to co-founding Knowledge Infusion, Averbook held senior management positions at PeopleSoft and Ceridian where he built strong relationships with industry-leading companies, and strove to provide the best service to HR organizations around the world. Averbook is deeply involved in the global HR community having delivered more than 50 keynote addresses during 2009 as well as being a frequent contributor to leading publications, such as BusinessWeek, CIO, CFO, Talent Management, HR Executive and Workforce Management.

  A native of Minnesota, Averbook holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

• Marcus Buckingham
  New York Times Best Selling Author & Founder of TMBC The Marcus Buckingham Company
  
  

  Marcus Buckingham has dedicated his career to helping individuals discover and capitalize on their personal strengths. For nearly two decades, Buckingham served as a Senior Researcher at Gallup Organization, and his research laid the foundation for a string of New York Times bestselling books that challenge preconceptions about achievement. Buckingham founded The Marcus Buckingham Company in 2007 to create strengths based management training solutions for organizations worldwide. His latest book, Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently, was inspired by the overwhelming response to his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show — 100,000 unique contributors posted messages online after the show and 1.7 million people downloaded his three-hour workshop video. Buckingham graduated from Cambridge University with a Master’s degree in Social and Political Science and is a member of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Leadership and Management.

• Julian C. Dalzell
  Former VP, Human Resources, US Operations, Shell Oil Company & Lecturer University of South Carolina
  
  

  Julian C. Dalzell was with Shell for more than 43 years. Initial assignments in the U.K., mainly in distribution and labor relations, were followed by ten years in Southeast Asia where he held HR leadership roles in Brunei, Sarawak (Malaysia) and Kuala Lumpur.

  In 1988, Dalzell immigrated to the U.S. and joined Shell Oil Company in Houston. He headed up HR for Shell’s Offshore Gulf of Mexico operations based in New Orleans for three years, before moving back to Houston as Global VP, Human Resources for Shell Trading. Dalzell returned to the Far East in 2003 as VP, Human Resources for Shell Oil Products East, based in Singapore. A one-year assignment in London in 2005, where he set up the global Supply and Distribution HR organization, was followed by his assignment as VP, Human Resources for Shell’s Downstream HR organization in the U.S. The role was expanded to include Canada operations in 2008. In 2009, his role was changed to encompass operational HR accountability for all business lines in the U.S.

  Dalzell holds a B.A. in International Business from Eckerd College and is presently studying for his Master’s in Human Resource Development at Texas A&M University. He is currently a lecturer at the Moore School of Management, University of South Carolina.

• Bill Ennis
  SVP, Human Resources Academy Sports & Outdoors, Ltd.
  
  

  Bill Ennis joined Academy Sports & Outdoors in 2008 and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In this role, he oversees training and development, compensation, employee relations, and benefits for all associates in the company. Prior to joining Academy Sports & Outdoors, Ennis spent more than 19 years with Stage Stores, May Department Stores and Federated Department Stores in multiple capacities, including HR, stores, buying group, store operations and finance areas. Ennis graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas.

• Matt Ferguson
  CEO CareerBuilder
  
  

  Matt Ferguson is the CEO of CareerBuilder, the global leader in human capital solutions. Ferguson took CareerBuilder to the No. 1 position in the online recruitment industry within five years. Under his direction, CareerBuilder continues to outpace competitors in traffic, revenue and technology innovation, and is quickly expanding its global footprint with a presence in 55 countries worldwide.

  Focused on empowering employees and creating a culture of exceptional customer service, Ferguson has transformed CareerBuilder into a world-class organization that has revolutionized recruitment and job search. He set into motion an evolution that has taken CareerBuilder beyond being the largest job board in the nation to a company that offers a wide range of data intelligence and consulting services, targeted advertising and outplacement support. His ongoing commitment to delivering the greatest ROI to clients has driven dynamic growth that sets the bar for the industry.

  Working with the nation’s top employers on a daily basis, Ferguson is often called upon to provide insights on emerging trends, the impact of the economy on the job outlook, and advice for job seekers. He has appeared on CNBC Squawk Box, ABC World News, CBS Evening News, Bloomberg TV, the TODAY Show, FOX Your World with Neil Cavuto, Nightly Business Report and CNN Money, among others. He was named to Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” and ranked in the top ten list of Glassdoor.com’s “Highest Rated CEOs.”

  Ferguson first joined the company following CareerBuilder's acquisition of Headhunter.net, where he had been serving as senior vice president of business development. Prior to that, Ferguson developed strategic partnerships for DigitalWork.com. He also started two entrepreneurial ventures, and practiced law at Baker & McKenzie. Ferguson holds a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Northwestern University.

• Olivia Fox Cabane
  Expert in Charismatic Leadership
  
  

  An expert in the fields of charisma and leadership, Olivia Fox Cabane has lectured at Stanford, Yale, Harvard, MIT and the United Nations. As a frequent keynote speaker and executive coach to the leadership of Fortune 500 companies, she helps people increase their ability to influence, persuade and inspire others. From a base of thorough behavioral science, she extracts the most practical tools for business; giving her clients techniques she originally developed for Harvard and MIT.

  In addition to being a regular columnist for Forbes, Fox Cabane is often featured in media such as the New York Times, Bloomberg or BusinessWeek and was recently profiled in The Wall Street Journal. Her course at Berkeley’s Business School was so popular that university staff had to guard the entrance to ensure that only admitted students gained entrance.

  Fox Cabane has both French and American nationalities and is fluent in four languages. She is the youngest person ever to have been appointed Foreign Trade Advisor to the French Government.

• Ryland Harrelson
  EVP & Chief Human Resource Officer TSYS
  
  

  Ryland Harrelson has global human resources responsibility for TSYS (Total System Services, Inc.), one of the world's largest payment-services firms.

  As Chief Human Resource Officer, Harrelson partners with the TSYS business units to design and implement innovative people engagement strategies to improve the competitiveness of the organization. As an advocate of change readiness, he is responsible for aligning the corporate people strategy with the company's business strategy. Harrelson actively supports the TSYS philosophy and mission by staying attuned to the cultural needs of TSYS' global workforce.

  Harrelson's work in transforming the HR role into one of strategic partner has been recognized by several national publications. Harrelson earned a Bachelor's degree from North Carolina Wesleyan College and graduated from the human resources executive program at the University of Michigan's School of Business.

• Debi Hirshlag
  VP, Human Resources Flextronics International Ltd.
  
  

  Debi Hirshlag has more than 20 years of HR experience, including her current role as Vice President, Worldwide Human Resources at Flextronics International Ltd., a $30B, 200,000-person electronics manufacturing services company, operating in more than 30 countries. Previously, she worked for Trimble Navigation as VP, Human Resources; for Ariba as VP, Human Resources and Latitude Communication as VP, Corporate Services. In addition, she has held HR positions at Seagate Technology, Pepsi-Cola and Amoco Corporation (now part of British Petroleum), including roles working in Malaysia and China.

  Hirshlag received her B.S. in Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.A. in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois.

• Doug Keeley
  CEO & Chief Storyteller The Mark of a Leader
  
  

  Doug Keeley, CEO and Chief Storyteller of The Mark of a Leader, is one of North America’s leading communicators, a serial entrepreneur and a self-professed ‘leadership junkie.’ Today his revolutionary program is inspiring leaders and workforces to improved performance with a revolutionary approach called Five Level Leadership.

  Keeley started the first of several businesses in 1978, and quickly became a pioneer in the marketing and communications industry.

  In 2004, he embarked on a journey to help create a new generation of leaders with The Mark of a Leader. This unique, story-based program uses multimedia to share insights into the success of many of the world’s greatest leaders and brands to show how they can be applied to business today.

  Keeley has written a book of inspiring stories, authored many magazine features and columns, and has appeared in several books on creativity and corporate culture. He is also an inductee in the Meetings & Incentive Travel Hall of Fame.

• Darryl Robinson
  SVP, Human Resources & Leadership Development URS Corporation
  
  

  Darryl Robinson joined URS Corporation in 2006 as SVP of Human Resources and Leadership Development for their global infrastructure engineering division. Robinson leads HR for a 21,000 person organization that operates in more than 40 countries. He manages a global staff of more than 150 professionals, with an annual budget of approximately $18M, and works in close partnership with 15 direct reports who lead the full range of HR activities.

  Throughout his nearly 30-year career, he has held progressively responsible positions in six major industry groups, including financial services, IT, healthcare, manufacturing, banking and remittance processing, and engineering services. Prior to joining URS, Robinson was recruited to join Charles Schwab, Inc. in San Francisco as SVP of Human Resources for their Schwab Technology organization. There, he led the HR function for a 4,200 person organization and gained his first exposure to working with software technology.

  Robinson began his HR career after completing his Master’s in HR and Labor Relations from Michigan State University.

• Larry Solomon
  EVP, Human Resources Dr Pepper Snapple Group
  
  

  Larry Solomon serves as Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS). He is responsible for approximately 20,000 colleagues in more than 250 facilities across North America and the Caribbean.

  Since assuming this position in 2003, Solomon has played a leading role in the company’s evolution into an independent, fully integrated beverage business. This includes the consolidation of four separate beverage companies, the acquisition and integration of Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Bottling Group and the establishment of DPS when it spun off from Cadbury Schweppes plc in 2008.

  Solomon has served DPS and Cadbury for more than 25 years, joining the company in 1985, serving on the board of management as director of HR for a wholly owned subsidiary. In 1999 he become SVP of HR for Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc. after serving as director of organizational development for Cadbury’s Global HR leadership team.

  Solomon received a training and development diploma through the Institute of Personnel Management in South Africa and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas.

• Caroline Stockdale
  SVP & CHRO Medtronic, Inc.
  
  

  Caroline Stockdale joined Medtronic, Inc. as Senior Vice President of Human Resources in 2010. In her role, Stockdale has responsibility for Medtronic’s worldwide HR activities including: global talent initiatives, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and compensation and benefits oversight.

  Prior to joining Medtronic, Stockdale served as VP of Revenue Cycle Operations at Accretive Health. She previously served as a senior HR executive in the U.S. and Europe at several major corporations, including Warner Music Group, where she was EVP of Global Human Resources and managed Six Sigma Operations; American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise), where she was the HR leader for the financial services arm of American Express; and GE Capital Corporation.

  Stockdale received a B.A. with honors from the University of Sheffield, England. She is a qualified U.K. chartered accountant (ACA) and a Six Sigma Black Belt.

• Dr. Warren Volker
  CEO/Chairman American Institute Minimally Invasive Surgery
  
  

  Dr. Warren Volker is the Chairman and CEO of AIMIS (American Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery). He is also an internationally recognized surgeon for his use of minimally invasive, robotic procedures.

  He has committed his surgical career and daily practice of medicine to offering his patients minimally invasive surgical procedures, and has advanced his surgical program to the point that approximately 90% of his major surgical procedures are performed through laparoscopy and robotic approaches.

  Over the years, he has presented and given lectures to thousands of surgeons on the methods of minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Volker has also been interviewed by ABC News, CBS News and CNN providing advisement on the treatment of menopause and related health problems. He has also been featured on numerous episodes of The Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel.

  Dr. Volker has received several awards including being first recipient of the ‘Outstanding National Physician in Humanism Award’ from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and ‘Distinguished Man in Southern Nevada’ in 2001. He is a member of the American Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American Medical Association and Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.

  Dr. Volker is the managing partner of Women’s Specialty Care, LLLP, the largest OB/GYN private practice in Las Vegas, and is the chief of staff at Centennial Hills Hospital and Medical Center. He has also held local, state and national positions in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

• Ann Weiser
  CHRO Activision Blizzard, Inc.
  
  

  Ann Weiser has served as CHRO of Activision Publishing, now Activision Blizzard, Inc., since 2007. Prior to joining Activision, Weiser served as CHRO of U.S. Foodservice and held a number of executive level HR positions at Royal Ahold, an international retail operator. Weiser has also held a series of HR leadership positions at such companies as Kraft, M&M Mars and U.S. Office Products. Weiser holds a B.A. in Sociology from California State University in Long Beach.