2026 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (subject to change)

  • The full conference is approved for 17 SHRM PDC's and 17 HRCI General credits. For those with SPHR designations, 16 sessions are approved for HRCI Business Credits and are noted within the schedule.  Two of the 16 HRCI Business Credits are also eligible for Ethics credit. 
  • Sessions will take place at the Marriott and Embassy Suites and are noted on the schedule as M=Marriott, E=Embassy Suites.  Session rooms are subject to change!
  • Attendees receive a printed schedule and use of the conference App - information coming soon.
  • Included with your registration: Sunday Reception, Breakfast M,T,W, Lunch M,T, Breaks M,T,W
Sunday, April 12, 2026
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Conference Check-In and Information
 
 
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: M-Executive Meeting Room 4th Fl
SHRM Virginia and DC State Council Meeting
 
 
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Marketplace Grand Opening, Networking
 
 
Monday, April 13, 2026
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Marriott 2nd Fl & Embassy Suites 1st Fl
Breakfast
 
 
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Conference Check-In and Information
 
 
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Room: M-Sinatra
SHRM Foundation 50/50 and Silent Auction
 
 
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Marketplace Hours
 
 
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Investigations as Culture Work: The Quiet Power of HR to Shape Trust
 
Patrick Noonan
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
We’re Not a Family- We’re a Team: Why Workplace Boundaries Matter
(HRCI-Ethics)
Maria Wood
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: M-Goodman
Empathy as a Superpower: Attracting and Landing Exceptional Talent
 
Angie Tinnell
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: M-Calloway
Wearing Your Superhero Cape While Handling The Unthinkable
 
Melissa Del Ferraro
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: E-Leeward
The 3% Rule: Building Margin and Mastery to Fight Captain Chaos
 
Travis Dommert
8:40 AM - 9:05 AM
8:40 AM - 9:05 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
Welcome and SHRM Virginia and DC Chapter Recognition
 
 
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: HR Without Boundaries - Deconstructing How We Practice to Move Organizations Forward
 
Steve Browne
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Break in the Marketplace
 
 
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Room: M-Calloway
Tailor-Made Mentoring
 
Chris Slininger
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Room: M-Goodman
Overwhelming Ownership: Why You’re Exhausted (and How to Stop Doing Everyone’s Job)
 
Jamie Lewis Smith
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Deepfakes and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Legal Risks and HR Responses
(HRCI Business)
Joon Hwang Leslie Currie
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Room: E-Leeward
Empathy Driven Performance Management
 
Michael Cohen
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Unboxed Leadership: Advanced Flight School for HR Heroes
(HRCI Business)
Elizabeth Veliz
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Beyond Burnout: How HR Heroes Develop Leaders Who Attract, Engage, and Retain Talent
(HRCI Business)
Courtney Jordan
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: M-Calloway
Rescuing New Managers: A Leadership Blueprint Every HR Team Needs
 
Christopher Jones
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
From Dating to Divorce: Legal Advice on Recruitment through Severances
 
Leah Stiegler Victor Cardwell
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Lunch
 
 
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Everything I Know About Solving Today’s HR Problems – I Learned from My Dog
(HRCI Business)
Michael Puck
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Truth, Justice, and the Arbitration Way: Helping Employees Feel Heard & Avoiding Risk with ADR
 
Michael McIntosh
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Room: M-Calloway
The Retention Reboot: Saving Mid-Career Talent Through Smarter Benefits
 
Christina Tunison
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: E-Leeward
Intentional Ascent: 8 Essential Keys to Strategic Skills-First, Future-Proof Succession Pipeline
 
Vanessa Zamy
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Engage the Brain, Engage the Employee: Recognition That Drives Results
 
Don Rheem
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: M-Goodman
The Strategic Advantage of Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
(HRCI Business)
Todd Walls
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Engaging the Invisibles: Practical Strategies for Mitigating Risks with Unseen Employees
 
Joon Hwang Leslie Currie
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: M-Calloway
Perspective: The HR Superpower—Powerful Thinking for Clarity, Courage & Compassion
 
Terrie Nathan
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Break in the Marketplace
 
 
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
The Strategic Leader’s Edge: Building Influence, Credibility, and Business Impact
(HRCI Business)
Stephanie Burton
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: E-Leeward
Adaptive Leadership – How to Fly Even When the Cape Feels Heavy
 
Loralyn Mears
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: M-Calloway
Did That Just Happen?! In the Moment Responses to Interrupt Inappropriate Workplace Behavior
 
Tara Taylor
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
HR as the First Line of Defense: Wage and Hour Compliances
 
Randy Sparks
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Everyday Heroes: Building Future-Ready Workplaces That Stand Strong
 
Julie Develin
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
 
Dinner on Your Own
 
 
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Marriott 2nd Fl & Embassy Suites 1st Fl
Breakfast
 
 
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Marketplace Hours
 
 
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Conference Check-In and Information
 
 
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Room: M-Sinatra
SHRM Foundation 50/50 and Silent Auction
 
 
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
The Team Alignment Playbook: 3 Strategies to Turn Siloed Teams into Collaborative Powerhouses
(HRCI Business)
Amy Yip
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: M-Goodman
It's Not You, It's Me... Why We Fall Out of Love with Work and What to Do About It.
 
David Shar
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: M-Calloway
Rehumanizing Work in the Age of AI: Building the Human Skills That Technology Can’t Replace
 
Victoria McCausland
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Outrageous Employment Law Cases ... and the Lessons We Can Learn!
 
Randy Sparks
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Room: E-Leeward
Heroic Engagement Methods that Build Culture - Top-down, Bottom-up, and Sideways
 
Scott Boddie
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
Announcements, SHRM Update
 
 
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Unmasking Greatness: Workplace Superhero Strategies for HR Professionals
 
Orlena Cowan-Bailey
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Break in the Marketplace
 
 
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Room: M-Goodman
HERO Flow: How HR Rehydrates Workplace Culture When Relationship Runs Dry
 
Shelley Smith
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Power Up: Accommodating Religious, Pregnancy and Disability Issues in the Workplace
 
Michael Gardner King Tower
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Black Mirror: The Ethics of AI in HR
(HRCI-Ethics)
Shari Simpson
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Room: E-Leeward
Living the D.R.E.A.M: Creating Organizational Culture of Growth, Connection, and Dialogue
 
Henry Yampolsky
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Room: M-Calloway
Are Goats the Secret to Beating Burnout?
 
Jamie Lewis Smith
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Shift Your Thinking: Unlock High-Performance Communication
(HRCI Business)
Lei Comerford
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
AI at Work: Innovation Meets Regulation
 
Yvette Gatling
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
The Strategic HR Hero - From Tactical Executor to Strategic Architect
(HRCI Business)
Tiffany Fortune
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Lunch
 
 
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Retention is an Outcome, Not a Strategy
(HRCI Business)
April Thomas
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Humor is Serious Business…But We Should Still be Laughing
 
Greg Schwem
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Room: M-Calloway
Every Hero Has a Villain: Leadership Lessons from the Worst
 
Sheri Bender Kate Bray
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: E-Leeward
Peer Power: Why Peer Coaching is HR’s Secret to Thriving Leaders and Teams
 
Noa Ronen
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Mission Brief: Employment Law Updates
 
Anne Bibeau Tom Winn
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: M-Calloway
In the Age of AI, Authentic Leadership is HR's Competitive Edge
 
Tacy Riehm
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Small Business HEROes in Action
(HRCI Business)
Katie Garcia
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Human Intelligence Meets AI - Crafting Job Ads that Attract Top Talent
 
Steven Smith
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom & Prefunction Spaces
Break in the Marketplace - Booth prize drawings
 
 
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: M-Goodman
Unmasking the Hero in Your Team—One Evaluation at a Time
 
Albert Foster
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: E-Leeward
Future of Workforce Development: Preparing for a Skills-Based Future
 
Brian Winterstein
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
Navigating the DEI Legal Maze: Compliance & Inclusion in Today’s Workplace
 
Yvette Gatling Lauren Bridenbaugh Janea Hawkins
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Unmasking the Talent Lifecycle: How HR Superheroes Align Community, Culture, and Business Strategy
(HRCI Business)
Karis Richardson
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: M-Calloway
HR Super Powers - AI Unleashed
 
Ryan Malkes
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
 
Dinner on Your Own
 
 
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Marriott 2nd Fl & Embassy Suites 1st Fl
Breakfast
 
 
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Room: M-Sinatra
SHRM Foundation 50/50 raffle and Silent Auction Close at 11:00 AM
 
 
7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Conference Check-In and Information
 
 
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
Evaluation That Elevates: Leveraging Data to Drive Meaningful DEI Initiatives
(HRCI Business)
Dr. Lisa Marie Lee
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
When A Hero Comes Along - Saving the Workplace One Investigation at a Time
 
Karen Michael
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Room: M-Goodman
AI and the HR Hero’s Journey: Leading the Last All-Human Workforce
 
Shayna Cooke
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Room: E-Leeward
Supporting Transgender Employees: Updating Your Anti-Harassment Policy
 
Reid Whyte
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Room: M-Calloway
Leading Through Change Like an HR Hero: Got Change? I Got You!
 
Shari Collins
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Location: Marriott 2nd Fl
Break
 
 
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: E-Mainsail West (B)
HR Like A Boss
(HRCI Business)
John Bernatovicz
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: E-Mainsail East (A)
The Accommodation League: Employers v. the New Era of Work
 
Kristina Vaquera
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: E-Leeward
Joy as a Competitive Advantage: The Human Edge in the Age of AI
 
Damilare Adeyeri
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: M-Goodman
Respectful Workplaces: The Missing Link Between Belonging and Harassment Prevention
 
Sharon Harrington
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Room: M-Calloway
Beyond the Paycheck: Unlocking the True Value of Workplace Benefits
 
Justin Steil
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The Hidden Hero: HR for HR
 
Jamie Jackson
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Room: M-Seaside Ballroom
2027 Conference Preview, Closing Remarks, SHRM Foundation 50/50 & Silent Auction Winners, Passport Winners Announced