Meet the 2026 Speakers
DAN CAHILL, Ph.D. | Principal, HSD Metrics
Presentation – I Can Make Data Entertaining
Daniel J. Cahill, Ph.D., is a seasoned business leader and subject matter expert in employee experience, human capital strategy, and leadership development. As Managing Principal of HSD Metrics, Dr. Cahill helps organizations across industries harness data-driven insights to improve engagement, retention, and performance.
Blending rigorous academic grounding with over two decades of practical experience, Dr. Cahill advises executives on transforming workplace culture and aligning people strategies with business outcomes. His work centers on the intersection of analytics and human behavior — helping leaders move from feedback to measurable impact.
Before leading HSD Metrics, Dr. Cahill managed major consulting projects with PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, National City Bank, and Xerox. His diverse client portfolio includes global and Fortune 100 organizations such as Walgreens, Prospect Medical, AO Smith, IBM, Ford, P&G, Heinz, ConAgra, Xerox, Clorox, Mellon Bank, Dynegy, Lockheed Martin, FM Global, Macy’s, and Toyota Boshoku. He has also served on numerous not-for-profit boards and continues to contribute to advancing the field of employee experience management.
Christie Engler | Owner/HR Consultant, New Day HR LLC
Presentation – HR, You Can't Do It All
Christie Engler is an HR practitioner with 20 years of experience in the field. Engler has worked with hundreds of small and mid-sized businesses, primarily in the outsourcing space. Engler co-authored "People Fusion" which was an Amazon bestseller in January 2023. Engler launched her HR consulting firm, New Day HR, in 2025.
Engler is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. She has earned the SPHR and SHRM-CP certifications.
Engler lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her wonderful husband, James, and their two daughters, Avery and Emily. She spends a lot of time at Orangetheory Fitness and is a fanatic of Ohio State football.
Jonathan Brooks | CEO, Warehouse on Wheels
Presentation – It's Not A Talent Shortage, It's A Leadership Void
Jonathan Brooks is the CEO of Warehouse on Wheels. He builds culture where it is hardest: the gritty logistics industry. Rejecting corporate fluff, Brooks applies principles of Extreme Ownership and Humanocracy to drive actual performance. He believes culture is defined by what you tolerate, not what you preach.
Brooks dismantled traditional bureaucracy at his company to empower the front line. He trades control for speed and accountability. He argues that if your team fails, it is your fault. A husband and father, Brooks challenges leaders to stop managing people and start unleashing them.
Jessica Palatka | VP & CHRO, Miami University
Presentation – Transforming HR In Higher Education: Policies, Ethics, And The Leadership Frameworks Guiding Change
Jessica Palatka is the VP and CHRO for Miami University. Palatka leads HR functions throughout the university, including HR strategic programs and partnerships, operations and services, and compliance. Palatka is an Adjunct Professor teaching Human Capital Management (HCM). She advances scholarship and applied research in the areas of workforce planning, talent management, and the evolving role of data and technology in HCM.
Palatka earned a bachelor’s and a master’s from the University of Maryland. She is a doctoral student at Miami University and serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the United Sommelier Foundation, a 501(c)(3).
Rene Normand | VPHR, DeanHouston, Inc.
Presentation – What NOT To Do During A Company Crisis
Rene Normand brings over four decades of professional HR experience and a deep passion for coaching to every relationship, workplace, and life transition she supports. Her HR experience spans small-medium sized industries across the United States ranging from retail to tech, manufacturing, and nonprofits.
After turning in her briefcase for a diaper bag in 2005 to be a stay at home mom, she was called to HR consulting and started Elite Management Resources. In 2013 she joined DeanHouston, an advertising agency in Covington, Kentucky, and is currently the VP of Human Resources.
Whether in startups or global organizations, Normand’s work has always centered on one thing: people. She has led efforts in employee relations, culture building, organizational development, and leadership support, creating environments where individuals and teams thrive. In 2020 she followed a deeper calling and stepped into the world of coaching. That led to the founding of Life Storm Coaching and today she is a Certified Master Coach.
Christopher Pavese, PE, CPM, CSP, MCLT | Principal, Gemba Services
Presentation – Culture Shift: How To Build A Firm People Never Want To Leave
With over a decade of leadership experience and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University, Christopher J. Pavese, PE, CPM, CSP, MCLT, is a specialist in transforming corporate culture into a strategic performance driver. As the founder of Gemba Services, he utilizes data-driven tools like "Cultural Scorecards" and DiSC assessments to move beyond surface-level changes and create high-performance environments.
Pavese’s expertise is rooted in the "Gemba" philosophy – the practice of going to the "real place" where work happens to drive accountability and innovation. During his tenure at Duke Energy, he famously championed an "Active Caring" cultural shift that resulted in a 43% increase in client satisfaction and retention. By bridging the gap between executive strategy and operational execution, he has successfully optimized resource allocation and reduced waste by up to 61%.
A licensed Professional Engineer and board leader, Pavese provides a unique blend of technical precision and human-centric leadership, teaching organizations how to make their culture an asset rather than an obstacle.
Kareem A. Simpson | Founder, Chief Imagination Officer, SparkLight Creates
Presentation – Mindshift: Unleashing Bold Creativity In Leadership
K.A. Simpson is the Founder and Chief Imagination Officer of SparkLight Creates, a creative consulting and community engagement firm dedicated to helping artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations transform ideas into impact. With over a decade of experience in storytelling, program development, and strategic consulting, Simpson has worked locally, regionally, and nationally to elevate unconventional voices and build sustainable creative and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
A passionate advocate for creative leadership, Simpson has facilitated workshops, moderated panels, and developed programs that empower Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, and non-traditional entrepreneurs to thrive. His work bridges art, business, and community, showing how imagination can drive meaningful change. Through his leadership, Simpson has helped secure significant funding for organizations, launched innovative initiatives, and amplified the work of emerging creatives across the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region and beyond.
Leighann Rechtin, Ed.D. | Faculty, Learning and Engagement, NKU, Talent Magnet Institute
Presentation – The Human Element Advantage: Micro-Practices That Transform Teams In 5 Minutes A Day
Dr. Leighann Rechtin is a leadership development strategist and educator whose work sits at the intersection of human behavior, organizational culture, and strengths-based leadership. As Program Director for the Doctor of Education program at Northern Kentucky University and Learning & Engagement Officer at the Talent Magnet Institute, Rechtin develops and facilitates programs that help leaders build trust, clarity, and collaboration through simple, repeatable practices that elevate team performance.
With more than ten years of experience coaching and teaching leaders across corporate, nonprofit, community, and education sectors, she is known for her warm presence, practical frameworks, and ability to translate complex ideas into actionable, human-centered micro-practices. Rechtin combines research, behavioral science, and values-driven leadership to help organizations create cultures where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to do their best work. A Northern Kentucky native, she is also a writer, facilitator, and lifelong lover of literature who brings curiosity and compassion into every room she leads.
Mark Nagy | Managing Partner, Work Psychology Consultants, LLC
Presentation – Civility In The Workplace: Why You Should Care
Mark S. Nagy has consulted for a diverse set of organizations for the last 25+ years, ranging from a nonprofit local women’s shelter consisting of 10 employees to a federal agency that employed more than 240,000 employees. He has also consulted on a variety of organizational initiatives, including developing and analyzing employee assessments, conducting training needs assessments, providing statistical consultation, implementing leadership development programs, and creating customized employee engagement surveys. He recently developed and validated measures of team workplace civility, team cohesion, and performance psychology.
Nagy received his master’s and doctoral degrees specializing in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Louisiana State University. He taught at Radford University before becoming the Director of the Industrial-Organizational Psychology Master of Arts graduate program at Xavier University in 2000. In 2021, Nagy retired as Professor Emeritus from Xavier University and served as the Chief Research and Behavioral Officer at Wendal, Inc., located in Covington, Kentucky, before becoming Managing Partner at Work Psychology Consultants, LLC. In addition to his consulting and work with Wendal, Inc., Nagy has over 45 national conference presentations and 20 published articles in several journals, including "Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice," the "Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology," "The Psychologist-Manager Journal," "The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist," and "Applied H.R.M. Research."
Cathleen Snyder | Director of Training & Development, Clark Schaefer Strategic HR
Presentation – Hey HR! Don't Lose Sight Of Our Impact
Cathleen Snyder's passion is helping people and companies have a great work environment. Whether it’s finding the right candidate for the right role, building a great team, or structuring training to help employees and leaders be successful, Snyder’s focus is to enable your company to grow and thrive.
Snyder has provided Human Resources support for over 25 years to companies with 5-500+ employees in industries such as warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare, services, non-profit and retail. She has advised clients on the day-to-day aspects of HR as well as HR strategy, all with an eye towards achieving company objectives. Snyder advocates for companies to take a proactive approach in creating a positive culture in which every employee is valued for what they bring to the organization, and every employee is offered the opportunity to grow and develop. One of Snyder's many strengths include customizing training programs to suit the clients' needs which has led her to her current role.
Meghan Hensley, SHRM-SCP | VP of Talent & Culture, Beech Acres Parenting Center
Presentation – Stop Calling It Soft Skills...They're The Hardest Part of Leadership!
Meghan R. Hensley, SHRM-SCP, is an accomplished HR executive, leadership coach, and dynamic speaker with over 20 years of experience in Human Resources. Known for her engaging approach, Hensley has delivered keynotes, panels, and training sessions that inspire audiences to lead with clarity, compassion, impact and humor.
A longtime contributor to DisruptHR and the Ohio HR Conference, Hensley has served as a featured speaker, panelist, and partner over multiple years, sharing insights on leadership development, building inclusive cultures, and navigating organizational change.
Hensley holds the SHRM-SCP credential, Certified Life Coach, through the ICF. She has spent nearly a decade as a Vice President in HR and Organizational Development roles, where she has led enterprise-wide talent strategies, built high-performing teams, and championed employee experience. Her unique perspective is shaped not only by her corporate leadership but also by her experience as a multi-business owner and her deep commitment to the Cincinnati community. She is passionate about empowering leaders at all levels to develop authentic, sustainable, and equitable people practices. Whether on stage or in the training room, Hensley’s sessions blend practical expertise, strategic insight, and heartfelt storytelling to spark real change.
Gary Mertz | Founding Partner, Cardinal Compensation & Performance Consulting
Presentation – Don't Let Your "TOO" Define "YOU"
Founding Partner at Cardinal Compensation and Performance Consulting, LLC, Gary Mertz is a lifelong entrepreneur with over 40 years of expertise in Human Resources. Mertz earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Franklin University, the University of Georgia Executive Coaching program, and a Certificate in Health and Wellness counseling from the State University of New York.
In January 2025, Mertz was engaged as a contractor (People Development Manager) at Mubea North America, a global company based in Germany. From January 2020 to November of 2023, Mertz was a member of the North American Leadership Team at Unique Fabricating, first as the Manager of Leadership Development and Executive Coaching, then promoted to Director of Human Resources in April 2023.
Before joining Unique Fabricating, Mertz was Director of Training and Development at the Employers Resource Association now MRA, a Human Resource Consulting firm. Mertz facilitated Leadership Development training sessions at over 150 organizations.
Mertz also founded The Palmis Group, an executive leadership and corporate health coaching firm, and the founder of Mertz and Associates, an HR and career consulting firm. Before forming The Palmis Group, Gary was president of Remedy Intelligent Staffing and a founding partner of The Kreller Consulting Group.
Steve Browne | Chief People Officer, LaRosa's, Inc.
Presentation – HR Like A Hippie!!
Steve Browne is the Chief People Officer for LaRosa's, Inc., a regional pizzeria restaurant chain in Southwest Ohio with 10 locations and 1,000 Team Members.
Browne has been an HR professional for 35+ years and has worked in the Hospitality, Manufacturing, Consumer Products, and Professional Services industries in various HR roles.
He is a member of the SHRM Executive Network and a former member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Board of Directors. He has held several other national, regional, state, and local SHRM volunteer leader roles. He facilitates a monthly HR Roundtable as well as an HR internet forum, called the HR Net, which reaches over 14,000+ people globally each week.
Browne is an accomplished speaker who has been featured at local, regional, and national conferences, chambers of commerce, HR chapters, businesses, and several podcasts. He’s very active in social media, has a nationally recognized HR blog – Everyday People, and he has authored three bestselling books on HR, "HR on Purpose!!" "HR Rising!!" and "HR Unleashed!!"