Coming soon.

Mike Bechtel is a managing director and the chief futurist with Deloitte Consulting LLP. Mike helps clients develop strategies to thrive in the face of discontinuity and disruption. His team researches the novel and exponential technologies most likely to impact the future of business, and builds relationships with the startups, incumbents, and academic institutions creating them.

Prior to joining Deloitte, Bechtel led Ringleader Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm he co-founded in 2013. Before Ringleader, he served as CTO of Start Early, a national not-for-profit focused on early childhood education for at-risk youth. Bechtel began his career in technology R&D at a global professional services firm where his dozen US patents helped result in him being named that firm’s global innovation director. He currently serves as professor of corporate innovation at the University of Notre Dame.

ShaNae McCleskey is the Director of Technical Account Services at Awardco, where she leads teams focused on delivering exceptional support to Awardco’s largest clients across the globe. Passionate about the intersection of people-first initiatives and technology, ShaNae excels at creating meaningful, sustainable solutions for companies seeking tech solutions to improve employee satisfaction. She is an active participant in Awardco’s Women’s ERG, Pride ERG, and a proud member of the company’s Center of Excellence. Outside of work, ShaNae enjoys gardening and home DIY projects, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and watching documentaries with her 3 old dogs.

Rebecca brings a long interest in the effective development of positive workplace habits to her role as Accenture's product owner for recognition in the Americas. As an academic, she explored the best ways to teach people to communicate effectively, and she earned a doctorate in English with a specialization in Language, Literacy, and Rhetoric based on her research into the pedagogy of argumentation, which examines the best ways to make a message resonate as truly meaningful and authentic with a recipient—a focus that interleaves well with Accenture's recognition vision of reinforcing leadership essential behaviors, empowering shared success, and inspiring people to recognize the accomplishments, milestones, and unique traits of one another in the workplace.

At Accenture, she has led teams focused on creating durable, learner-focused learning experiences, advancing the design-thinking mindset, and cultivating a culture of recognition across a global organization of 775K+ employees

Coming soon.

Elisa Garn is the SVP of Talent Management & Sustainability at Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society). A seasoned senior HR leader with 20+ years transforming HR across industries, she leads enterprise sustainability, workforce planning and development, talent acquisition, internal mobility, and learning—designing skills-first, human- centric systems that make talent strategy clear, actionable, and agile.

Renowned for strategic insight and values-aligned employee experience design, she is a respected thought leader known for sparking progressive conversations that challenge traditional HR thinking. Beyond HR, she founded and bootstrapped an HR tech company; led brand strategy for Utah’s largest employee insurance broker, and built a personal brand consulting agency. Her work advances scalable people strategies and a better human experience at work.

Hunter Woodhall is a three-time Paralympian and 2024 Gold Medalist, redefining what it means to be both an athlete and entrepreneur. He has won five Paralympic medals and holds the American record in the 100m and 400m (T62). Born with fibular hemimelia, Woodhall had both legs amputated below the knees at 11 months old. Defying all odds, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship, competing for the University of Arkansas and becoming a four-time All-American.

Outside of competition, the Woodhall's enjoy life in Kansas with their two dogs, Milo and Winnie, and their cat, Azula. Davis-Woodhall is a passionate advocate for mental health and body positivity, openly sharing her experiences with depression and anxiety to raise awareness and support others. Woodhall’s entrepreneurial spirit drives him to build and scale businesses that reflect his values and passions.

With a remarkable love story, over 9M social media followers, and 150M+ organic views per month, they are among the most recognized and inspiring athletes today. Now building a thriving speaking business, the Woodhall's enjoy partaking in fireside chats and delivering a unique shared keynote that inspires students, individuals, and organizations alike.

Kasi Steinheimer is the Senior Manager of Broadbased Compensation, overseeing the Enterprise Broadbased Rewards and Recognition and Compensation Systems at Lockheed Martin. Kasi is a seasoned HR professional with over 14 years of experience, specializing in Total Rewards. Her expertise and dedication plays a pivotal role in managing and enhancing the company's recognition systems, and ensuring employees are rewarded and recognized in meaningful ways, contributing to a positive work environment. Kasi has Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado. She currently resides in Golden, CO with her husband and two daughters. Kasi enjoys being outdoors, checking things off her to-do list, and a good show.

Coming soon.

Tara Davis-Woodhall is the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in the long jump and has remained undefeated for the past two years. A two-time Olympian ranked #1 in the world, she holds titles as the 2024 World Champion and 2023 & 2024 U.S. National Champion. Known as “America’s Cowgirl,” Davis-Woodhall’s signature cowboy hats, boots, and infectious personality have made her a fan favorite on and off the field. As a former NCAA Division 1 athlete at the University of Texas, she became a four-time All-American, shattered two NCAA records, and earned the title of double-record breaker in the same week. Now serving as Assistant Track Coach at Kansas State, Davis-Woodhall mentors the next generation of athletes, sharing her expertise, work ethic, and unwavering dedication to the sport.

Hunter Woodhall is a three-time Paralympian and 2024 Gold Medalist, redefining what it means to be both an athlete and entrepreneur. He has won five Paralympic medals and holds the American record in the 100m and 400m (T62). Born with fibular hemimelia, Woodhall had both legs amputated below the knees at 11 months old. Defying all odds, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship, competing for the University of Arkansas and becoming a four-time All-American.

Outside of competition, the Woodhall's enjoy life in Kansas with their two dogs, Milo and Winnie, and their cat, Azula. Davis-Woodhall is a passionate advocate for mental health and body positivity, openly sharing her experiences with depression and anxiety to raise awareness and support others. Woodhall’s entrepreneurial spirit drives him to build and scale businesses that reflect his values and passions.

With a remarkable love story, over 9M social media followers, and 150M+ organic views per month, they are among the most recognized and inspiring athletes today. Now building a thriving speaking business, the Woodhall's enjoy partaking in fireside chats and delivering a unique shared keynote that inspires students, individuals, and organizations alike.

Coming soon.

Megan Bayless is the HRIS & Analytics Supervisor for the AMPA Region, where she leads data-informed strategies to enhance employee experience and HR effectiveness. With expertise in people analytics and systems optimization, Megan partners across HR functions to translate workforce data into actionable insights. She is passionate about using technology and analytics to support inclusive, scalable HR practices that drive meaningful impact.

Jenny Ketchepaw is the Vice President of Talent Engagement at Citizens Business Bank, where she leads Leadership Development, Engagement, and Culture initiatives. With 27 years in the financial industry, Jenny is a certified Gallup Strengths Trainer, Coach, and Engagement Champion. She also holds certifications in Predictive Index and national training distinctions with Junior Chamber International. Jenny has received numerous honors, including Santa Clarita Woman of the Year (2023), multiple “40 Under 40” awards, and recognition as one of the Signal Newspapers 51 Most Influential. A passionate community leader, she has served on and led several nonprofit boards, including the Boys and Girls Club, Circle of Hope, and the JCI Santa Clarita Foundation. Jenny co-founded WeWil and Lean In two organizations that empower women. She leads with positivity, values meaningful relationships, and strives to make a lasting impact. Jenny enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their two children, Connor and Lily.

When companies want to increase workplace belonging, human connection, and hybrid team engagement, they call ADAM “SMILEY” POSWOLSKY. Smiley is an internationally renowned keynote speaker, workplace belonging expert, and bestselling author of three books that have been translated into multiple languages, including most recently, Friendship in the Age of Loneliness. Smiley shares industry-shaping insights and practical tools to attract and retain top talent across generations, create a culture of belonging, and engage hybrid teams, at world-class organizations like Apple, Google, Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, and the U.S. Navy. Smiley’s TED talk has been viewed 2 million times, and he has delivered 600 keynotes in front of 250,000 people in 25 countries. Smiley’s work has been featured in 100 media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, the Wall St. Journal, Fast Company, the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the World Economic Forum.

Coming soon.

DeAndre Sinette is a yoga teacher and lifelong student dedicated to making the practice accessible, inclusive, and transformative for all. He completed his teacher training at The Yoga Movement in Dallas, Texas, earning his E-RYT 200 certification in 2015. Since then, DeAndre has led classes, workshops, and communities that emphasize not only the physical aspects of yoga, but also its power to unlock emotional release and personal growth.

DeAndre believes that through consistent practice — whether in a handstand or a seated meditation — we learn to align the body, mind, and spirit in ways that extend far beyond the mat. His teaching style blends mindfulness, strength, and compassion, helping students discover new dimensions of themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. Despite his years of experience, he approaches yoga with humility and curiosity, always striving to remain present and to deepen his understanding of the practice.

Coming soon.

Alicia Rainwater is a Certified Keynote Speaker at The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK). Her speaking clients range from Bayer and Ebby Halliday Realtors to The Federation of State Medical Boards. Alicia is a Millennial who has a reputation as a leader in her own generation. She has extensive experience working firsthand to bridge generations in a variety of organizations from hospitals to global non-profits. Alicia has received a tremendous response to her engaging delivery that combines CGK’s latest research and how-to with her unique experience working with clients. She has spoken to thousands of people across the United States. Alicia’s personal experiences working with multiple generations as a non-profit leader, school counselor, and licensed medical social worker make her a powerful and inspiring speaker that effectively demonstrates how to solve generational challenges with employees and customers.

Coming soon.

Ryan Hanna is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sworkit Health, one of the most recognized digital wellness platforms, used by over 30 million people and boasting more than 500,000 5-star reviews. Sworkit delivers a unified solution for fitness, mental health, MSK care, and nutrition—backed by measurable engagement and outcomes for employers, health systems, and health plans.

Recognized globally as a top fitness and wellbeing app, Sworkit also leads the way in rewards + wellness integration, offering unmatched flexibility and engagement in connecting wellbeing with incentive programs. The platform is trusted by enterprise clients and government programs alike to deliver high-impact preventive care across diverse populations.

Ryan is a product visionary and certified group fitness instructor who leads with empathy, data, and a relentless drive to remove the barriers to better health.

Coming soon.

Christi Gilhoi is a strategic connector and influencer whose early career experiences teaching and living in the U.S., Asia, and Europe equipped her to engage with diverse, global workforces. Her career is marked by a deliberate pursuit of challenge, spanning employee experience/engagement, recognition, international education, marketing, and Total Rewards. She thrives leading in ambiguous environments, using innovation and urgency to solve problems and drive results.

Christi's expertise includes several major high-tech corporate roles. She most recently worked in Employee Experience and Mergers & Acquisitions at Cisco.Prior to that, as a Senior Director of Employee Experience at Okta, she built and led a global team, employee experience roadmap and employee survey, recognition, wellness, and social programs. She also previously led employee engagement and recognition at Qualcomm. Prior to high-tech, her background includes 10years in progressive academic/student affairs leadership roles at UC San Diego. She loves, cooking, gardening, playing music and travel.

Minda Harts is a bestselling author, workplace consultant, award-winning filmmaker, and sought-after keynote speaker who helps organizations turn trust into their greatest competitive advantage. Through her Seven Trust Languages® framework, she equips leaders and teams with actionable strategies to build high-trust, high-performance workplaces. Minda is the author of The Memo, Right Within, and You Are More Than Magic. Her new book, Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace, will redefine how organizations harness trust as a measurable asset. Her storytelling extends beyond the page—Minda served as Executive Producer for The Memo and wrote, directed, and produced The Distance Between, which won Best Short Film. Both projects explore themes of resilience and human connection. Recognized as LinkedIn’s #1 Top Voice in the Workplace and one of Business Insider’s 100 People Transforming Business, Minda has been trusted by companies like Nike, Google, Best Buy, JPMorgan Chase, and the United Nations to help redefine leadership and workplace culture. She is also an assistant professor at NYU and the founder of The Memo LLC.

Hebba Youssef is the Chief People Officer at Workweek and founder and creator of “I Hate it Here.” Her weekly newsletter has over 169,000+ subscribers and focuses on how HR/People teams can build great work cultures. Hebba has led a global learning and development teams, ran talent management teams, and was most recently the Head of People at a fintech startup. She's built People Ops teams from the ground up, scaled companies, and gained a few white hairs along the way. Hebba has worked across several industries like tech, fintech and media and was most recently at Axios and Lithic. In her free time, you can find her reading sci-fiction or fantasy novels and playing board games with her family.

Coming soon.

**Kimberly Solop**

*Director – People Experience and Wellbeing, NewYork-Presbyterian*

Kimberly has been part of the NYP family for 18 years, leading with heart and purpose. As Director of People Experience and Wellbeing, she champions the wellbeing strategy for over 50,000 team members—making sure everyone feels appreciated, seen, and supported. Her superpower? Turning big ideas into meaningful moments that make people say, “Wow, they really care.” Whether she’s launching a new initiative or simply spreading good vibes, Kimberly brings energy, empathy, and a whole lot of love to everything she does.

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Amberlee Taylor is a seasoned Enterprise Event Manager and manages employee engagement at Pacific Life with over a decade of experience designing hospitality-driven programs that connect people, elevate culture, and support strategic transformation. She specializes in curating seamless, memorable experiences across executive conferences, global rollouts, recognition programs, and cultural celebrations. She has been with Pacific Life for 26 years.

The mother of two adult sons and "Grams" to an adorable 5-year-old girl, she loves spending time with them as much as possible. She is an avid traveler in and outside the US (last trip was Kenya, next trip is the entire country of Italy). She enjoys hiking, biking, baseball, baking the best fudge and cookies you've ever tasted (she used to have her own business), attending concerts, karaoke, and storytelling through photography.

Gabriella is a Talent Development + Experience Program Lead at Okta, where she leads critical programs focused on enhancing professional growth, recognition, and the overall employee journey. She brings over a decade of experience across talent strategy, employee experience, HR management, and high-volume retail operations, consistently focusing on building supportive, impact-driven environments.

Prior to Okta, Gabriella navigated successive leadership roles with a major national retailer, including HR Manager and Store Director. This experience instilled core expertise in large-scale team leadership, fast-paced problem-solving, and a strong commitment to service excellence.

Beyond her core role, Gabriella serves as Co-Chair of the Caregivers ERG (Employee Resource Group) at Okta. She holds a Bachelor of Science from San Fransisco State University.

Madeline Quinn, DNP, APRN-ACCNS-P, CNE, CCRN, CPN, is the Employee Experience Program Manager at Children’s Nebraska. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education from Johns Hopkins University, where she focused her studies on reducing burnout through “Day in the Life” simulations for the families of ICU nurses. As a former Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurse and Clinical Nursing Educator, Madeline is proud to bring her patient care experience to her current role, shaping projects and advocacy efforts as part of the wellbeing team at Children’s Nebraska. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, being in nature, and sewing.

Trinten Ore is the Senior Manager of Global Recognition at Hilton, where he leads enterprise-wide initiatives that celebrate excellence and elevate team member engagement. Trinten’s career began on the front lines as a Guest Service Agent at Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, where his leadership and operational acumen quickly distinguished him. Without a college degree, he rose through the ranks by mastering the art of service, coaching high-performing teams, and driving results. His commitment to excellence earned him Hilton’s highest honor—the CEO Light & Warmth Award. Known for his ability to energize teams and deliver memorable guest experiences, Trinten has been tapped for high-impact roles across the company, including task force leadership in Chicago and shaping the global recognition strategy. His journey is a testament to grit, heart, and the power of showing up with purpose.

HR executive with 20+ years of experience designing and delivering Employee Benefits, Workplace Policies, and Employee Experience programs for global organizations. I’m passionate about creating initiatives that elevate engagement, performance, and well-being while aligning with business goals. A trusted partner to C-suite leaders, I blend strategy and execution to shape culture, celebrate employees, and help organizations thrive. My work includes building benefits and well-being programs, developing recognition initiatives that inspire excellence, and guiding leaders to create meaningful employee experiences across diverse global teams.

Outside of work, you’ll find me adventuring with my husband—hiking Myanmar’s mountains, exploring the Amazon, or standing atop an Antarctic glacier.

Laurie Willburn joined Children’s Nebraska in November 2021 as the Vice President of Total Rewards and People Strategies. She is responsible for designing and executing HR strategies that foster Children’s culture and delivers on the organization’s People First Promise. In her position she oversees HR Strategic Planning, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, Wellbeing, HR Information Systems, HR Service Center, Employee Relations and Employee Health.

Prior to joining Children’s, Willburn held HR leadership roles in healthcare for over 15 years. Willburn also worked for Gallup as the Global Compensation and Benefits Director to design compensation, benefit, and wellbeing strategies for their worldwide workforce. Willburn obtained her MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Willburn’s passion is implementing strategies focusing on physical, financial, emotional, social, and community wellbeing and providing mentoring and leadership opportunities for women in the workplace. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friend as well as offering emergency foster home placement for teenage youth.

Elizabeth Okamura brings over 25 years of experience in corporate total rewards to her current role as Director-Executive Compensation at AT&T. She specializes in executive and management compensation design and strategy, incentive compensation, Board of Directors compensation committee support, proxy disclosures, M&A, compensation communications, and awards and recognition. Elizabeth is committed to demystifying compensation and total rewards for colleagues at all levels. She enjoys traveling with her husband and children, cheering for Duke basketball, and growing vegetables with varying degrees of success.

Sarah is a global lead on Awardco’s center of excellence team, advising organizations on managing and evolving their reward & recognition programs. As part of her work, Sarah designs and conducts research on the impact of recognition on employee behavior and subsequent organizational outcomes. Before joining Awardco, Sarah spent nine years at Qualtrics, leading EX solution design and delivery for some of their biggest global customers.

As an organizational psychologist, Sarah understands the principles of successfully motivating people at work. As a business leader, she understands the challenges associated with putting these principles into practice. Her work attempts to bridge this gap through well-designed solutions that find a balance between science and practicality.

Sarah has over 15 years of experience in organizational research, with employee insights roles at Tesco, Hay Group and Kenexa. She is a member of the British Psychological Society. Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Work and Organizational Behavior from Dublin City University and is completing her doctoral thesis in Evidence-Based HR at Birkbeck University, London.

Morgan Hobbs is a certified yoga instructor and software engineer at Sworkit Health. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Sampoorna Yoga in Goa, India, in 2019. Morgan's teaching style is inclusive, focusing on beginners while offering options to challenge more experienced yogis.

Morgan plays a key role in developing Sworkit's inclusive and engaging wellness experiences, helping users of all levels feel confident in their movement journey.

Tori Davis Boysel is the Head of Client Success at Sworkit Health, where she supports clients through thoughtful onboarding, wellbeing content development, and strong stakeholder relationships. Since 2021, she has helped grow the client base by 300% and significantly improved renewal rates, all while maintaining high satisfaction scores.

Starting her career as a music agent assistant, Tori has always loved working with people and building meaningful connections. A natural problem-solver and creative thinker, she is known for her adaptability and dedication to achieving meaningful results. Tori is an author and award-winning NBC-HWC Board Certified Health Coach and NASM Certified Personal Trainer, with over 10,000 coaching sessions and 500 wellbeing presentations to her name. In her spare time, she educates future health coaches, teaches mat Pilates, learns new languages, plays music and video games, hikes, travels, and enjoys cosplaying at festivals with her husband and two corgis.

As a Senior Director of Customer Success, Tyler Coggins oversees all customer success managers and global support teams at Awardco. Drawing on his experience working with global organizations, Tyler is passionate about developing strong partnerships with clients to help them achieve their employee recognition and engagement goals. Outside of his professional life, Tyler is an avid endurance sports competitor, volunteering at Hiring Heroes, and enjoys his downtime by watching college football.

Susan is the Head of Employee Engagement and sets strategy and executes on Global Mentoring, Recognition + Employee Appreciation Week, Employee Discounts, Global Volunteerism and Business Resource Groups which supports over 320K employees in over 65 countries. Her team serves as a horizontal support function for HR segments as well as Corporate Responsibility and Diversity Opportunity and Inclusion.

Amy Butler serves as the Vice President of People Operations at Awardco, where she leads the company’s human resources strategy with a people-first mindset and a deep understanding of what it takes to scale culture during rapid growth. With more than a decade of experience in HR and Total Rewards, Amy brings a unique blend of operational excellence, empathy, and innovation to the forefront of Awardco’s mission to transform how organizations recognize and engage their people.

Before joining Awardco, Amy held leadership roles at several high-growth tech companies. She led the Global Benefits Team at Qualtrics, a leader in customer experience and experience management, and most recently served as Head of People Operations at Route, a company redefining the post-purchase experience. Across each role, Amy has built a reputation for developing strategic HR programs that drive business outcomes while fostering inclusive, connected workplaces.

At Awardco, Amy plays a critical role in aligning recognition with organizational success, helping companies understand and leverage the powerful link between employee engagement and business performance.

Amy earned her degree in Community Health and Administration from Utah Valley University and is passionate about creating better workplaces by putting people at the center of every initiative.

Coming soon.

Brian is a Director at Accenture, where he leads the company’s global recognition program—empowering Accenture’s 790,000+ people to perform at their best and feel valued across the organization. Over his 25+ year career with Accenture, Brian has held a variety of client-facing and corporate roles, ranging from implementing hospital and health insurance information systems to designing learning strategies that enhance workforce capabilities. His areas of expertise include complex program design, employee engagement, corporate learning, analytics, and large-scale transformation. Brian is a recognized leader in recognition strategy and execution, making him a trusted voice in advancing meaningful, scalable recognition across global enterprises.

Coming soon.

Melinda Amrein, PHR, SHRM-CP

Human Resources Director, Life Connection of Ohio

Melinda Amrein brings over 30 years of experience in human resources, organizational leadership, and executive coaching. She currently serves as Human Resources Director at Life Connection of Ohio, leading all facets of HR strategy, including employee relations, benefits, compensation, recruitment, employee engagement, and leadership training and development. Melinda also teaches at Ashland University, where she blends real-world expertise with academic insight to prepare future leaders.

She holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mount St. Joseph University and dual degrees from Northern Kentucky University. Her professional credentials include the PHR and SHRM-CP certifications, as well as recent completion of Mercy University’s Strategic AI in HR Program and Executive Education Instructor Program.

Her career spans Fortune 500 companies such as Mitsubishi Logisnext and Luxottica, as well as major healthcare systems like TriHealth. A seasoned facilitator and coach, Melinda is passionate about aligning people strategy with purpose to drive engagement and growth.

Andrew Taylor is a passionate people-experience strategist with over a decade of shaping how employees connect, learn, and thrive at work. Currently leading onboarding, recognition, and engagement at FanDuel, Andrew designs programs that turn culture into action - like Rookie Season, a six-week global onboarding experience that helps new hires start stronger and feel connected from day one.

Before FanDuel, he spent nearly a decade at JPMorgan Chase transforming learning and development experiences across global teams. His career has been defined by curiosity, creativity, and a deep belief that great workplaces are built through intentional design - where recognition is frequent, learning is accessible, and every employee feels seen.

Driven by data and heart in equal measure, Andrew brings vision and strategy to the employee journey - turning insights into meaningful moments that make people proud to belong.

Laura is a practitioner and advisor on Awardco’s Center of Excellence team—fluent in both client reality and platform possibility.

With deep knowledge of the recognition space and Awardco’s platform, Laura brings a practical, results-driven approach to every engagement. After a 16-year career in Employee Engagement, Communications and Recognition at Qualcomm, she led successful Awardco implementations at both Okta and DocuSign. With hands-on experience with Awardco and several other recognition platforms, Laura’s breadth of perspective helps clients make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

Laura helps organizations bring their recognition programs to life—whether standing up a brand-new initiative or overhauling one that’s been gathering dust. She offers real-world insight across every stage of the journey: vendor evaluation, implementation, adoption, and long-term growth.

As both a thought partner and practitioner, Laura knows what it’s like to walk in the client’s shoes—and down many different versions of the road. She meets each organization where they are and helps build recognition programs that are strategic, scalable, and built to last.

Tonya Fletcher

Director of Human Resources | Cache Creek Casino Resort

Tonya has over 30 years of experience in human resources, with a focus on employee relations and team building. She has held various roles in both the telecommunications and gambling industries, including human resources consultant, employee relations manager, and director of human resources. She has a strong background in managing employee satisfaction and implementing programs to improve team dynamics. She believes in building a strong company culture of mutual respect, integrity, commitment, and humility.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Steve Sonnenberg is the CEO and co-founder of Awardco. From an early age Steve learned from watching his father’s career in employee recognition with companies like McDonald’s and the Chicago Bulls. In 2015 Steve founded Awardco to use innovative technology to solve the pitfalls of traditional employee recognition programs: burdensome processes, exorbitant markups, and limited redemption options. Steve’s vision has resonated deeply within an industry in desperate need of change. Awardco has continued to grow and disrupt the employee recognition industry with its ability to build culture, incentivize performance, and power modern engagement strategies.

Coming soon.

Paige Bennett Carr is the Director of Experience Marketing at Awardco and the visionary leader behind the Recognize Summit. Since joining Awardco in January 2022, Paige has reimagined the Summit experience year over year, elevating it from a boutique gathering into a pivotal industry event that drives meaningful conversations, deep client engagement, and measurable go-to-market results. Her strategic vision and relentless focus on experience design have turned the Summit into a key growth lever for the business, blending creativity, community, and commerce in powerful, memorable ways.

With a career rooted in high-impact event execution and brand storytelling, Paige has partnered with global leaders like AWS, Google, SAP, and Esri to build immersive experiences that move markets and strengthen relationships. Her expertise lies in designing events that not only reflect the soul of a brand but also serve as catalysts for connection, education, and action—especially within the HR space. Through countless interactions with HR and people leaders across industries, Paige has developed a unique ability to craft experiences that speak directly to the challenges and aspirations of today’s workforce.

As a people-first leader, Paige oversees a growing team of event marketers and drives cross-functional alignment to ensure that every event serves a strategic purpose. Her leadership style is rooted in empowerment, innovation, and data-driven creativity, and her fingerprints are on every stage of the event lifecycle—from initial concepting to onsite execution to post-event optimization. Under her direction, Awardco’s event strategy has evolved into one of the company’s most valuable revenue-generating channels.

Paige is passionate about building environments where relationships flourish, ideas thrive, and individuals feel seen and celebrated. When she’s not planning the next unforgettable experience, you can find her reading, hiking Utah’s scenic trails, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, painting, puzzling, or weightlifting. Her combination of strategic leadership, creative energy, and passion for people make her a driving force behind the experiences that define Awardco’s brand and impact.

With over a decade of HR leadership experience, she leads global strategies that strengthen the employee experience through recognition and wellbeing. She spearheaded the launch of Bravo, a global recognition platform that continues to transform how employees feel valued, connected, and supported across the organization. Her work blends behavioral science and people-first leadership to deliver programs that enhance culture, engagement, and organizational performance. Backed by dual master’s degrees in Performance Psychology from Ithaca College and Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University, she applies data-driven insights to create solutions that are both human-centered and measurable in impact. Known for building initiatives that scale globally while resonating locally, she has established a track record of driving sustainable change across diverse workforces. Her expertise lies in designing strategies that not only improve the everyday employee experience but also contribute directly to long-term business success.

Chantale Callingham is a visionary leader with a global perspective and a deep commitment to empowering people through recognition and meaningful workplace experiences. As Vice President of Client Success at Awardco, she brings over 15 years of experience driving customer-centric strategies in SaaS and enterprise environments. Known for her authenticity and people-first leadership, Chantale builds inclusive, high-performing global teams that deliver measurable impact.

A certified PMP and MBA graduate, she is passionate about fostering belonging and equity in the workplace, challenging the status quo, and scaling innovation through strategic partnerships. Her career spans influential roles at Fortune 500 companies and trailblazing tech firms alike, always centered around transforming customer experiences and championing organizational culture.

Whether speaking to C-suites or frontline teams, Chantale is a sought-after voice on recognition strategy, leadership, and operational excellence—with a distinct ability to connect business outcomes to human impact.

Steve E. Malm is Executive Chairman of NIBCO INC., headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana.  Malm joined NIBCO in 1996 as Vice President - International and served in a variety of leadership positions including Senior Vice President - Supply Chain; Vice President and General Manager of TOLCO®, a subsidiary of NIBCO INC; and Vice President - International and Business Development. He held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer from 2006 to 2018, was elected to the NIBCO INC. Board of Directors in 2012. He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2018 and promoted to his current position in 2024. Prior to joining NIBCO, Malm worked at Kohler Company where he held various key executive management positions including Vice President - International Development; President - Kohler Europe; President - Jacob Delafon; and Director - International Marketing. During his career at Kohler, Malm led the acquisition and integration of five European companies into Kohler Company. He gained other valuable experience from Outboard Marine Corporation, Parker Pen Company; Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis; and Dain, Kalman & Quail. Combined, Malm has more than 40 years’ experience in international business, mergers and acquisitions and general management. Malm holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; a master's degree of international management from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) in Glendale, Arizona; and a master's degree in business administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Alison Levine is a history-making polar explorer, mountaineer, leadership expert, and bestselling author who has built a career breaking boundaries and inspiring others to push beyond perceived limits. As captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, she has climbed the highest peak on every continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—a rare feat known as the Adventure Grand Slam. Despite enduring three heart surgeries and living with Raynaud’s disease, she has completed record-setting expeditions across Antarctica and first ascents in Nepal and Antarctica. Beyond her adventures, Levine has held leadership roles at Allergan, Carl Zeiss, Iridex, and Goldman Sachs, and served as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s gubernatorial campaign. A former adjunct professor at West Point and current faculty member at the Thayer Leader Development Group, she trains leaders from the military to the corporate world. She founded the Climb High Foundation, empowering Ugandan women through mountaineering, and serves as executive producer of Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest. A member of the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame and recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Levine’s insights on leadership and resilience have inspired audiences worldwide, and her life story even inspired the craft beer Conquer the Route Chocolate Stout.

Cali Hyde is Awardco’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, where she plays a pivotal role in accelerating business outcomes with strategic clients and driving global expansion initiatives. As a founding member of Awardco’s Center of Excellence, Cali leverages over a decade of experience to help organizations worldwide reimagine their rewards and recognition strategies—delivering measurable impact through scalable SaaS solutions and streamlined operations.

Having lived and worked internationally, Cali brings a global perspective and a deep understanding of diverse markets—from blue chip enterprises and global agencies to government and financial institutions. Her work is rooted in connection, innovation, and a passion for creating long-term value.

A fierce advocate for purposeful leadership, Cali is setting a new standard for what it means to lead as a woman in business—empowering future generations to think boldly, act intentionally, and lead with heart.

When she’s not building business strategy, Cali is adventuring, traveling, and pouring love into her family, friends, and animals.

Lindsay Cook is the Co-Founder and CEO of FitOn, the largest health and wellness platform with over 20 million members and 1 billion workout minutes completed. FitOn provides instant access to premium workouts, nutrition, mindfulness, sleep, and condition management programs led by world-class trainers, experts, and celebrities. Partnering with leading enterprise customers, FitOn delivers best-in-class engagement and an integrated preventive care solution through its digital platform and expansive network of fitness studios and gyms. Recognized as the #1 Fitness App by Forbes with 500,000+ 5-star reviews, FitOn is redefining how people stay healthy, active, and well.

Prior to founding FitOn, Lindsay served as Head of Devices and VP of Product Marketing at Fitbit, where she led consumer insights, product strategy, and go-to-market for 12+ award-winning products. Her leadership contributed to Fitbit’s exponential growth and its rise as a globally recognized Top 20 brand.

Lindsay holds a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Outside of work, she is passionate about travel and hiking with her husband Russell (founder of All Trails) and two daughters.

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**Selia Wood**

**AVP, Talent & Engagement**

Selia Wood is a seasoned leader in talent and engagement, currently serving as AVP of Talent & Engagement. With a passion for building healthy corporate cultures, she specializes in creating positive associate experiences that drive organizational success. Selia’s expertise includes leadership development, employee engagement, and fostering inclusive, collaborative environments.

With over 13 years of experience at Southwest Airlines, Selia began her career in customer service and progressed into various leadership roles within Culture and Engagement. Notably, she played a key role in uniting teams and strengthening company culture following Southwest's acquisition of AirTran Airways.

Selia is a Certified Recognition Professional (CRP), underscoring her commitment to recognizing and empowering employees in the workplace. She’s driven by the belief that a thriving workplace culture is foundational to long-term success.

Outside of work, Selia is a dedicated mother of three boys, spending her weekends on the baseball and football fields. She’s also an avid traveler, always seeking new adventures and experiences.

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