Employability: When Business Steps Up!

Adrian Hale is a proud son of Rochester, NY, and the Director of Economic & Community development for Foundry. Growing up in Rochester's 14621 neighborhood, Adrian had to overcome insurmountable odds to graduate high school, serve our country in combat as a US Marine, Airman, graduate with an A.S. from MCC, and a B.A. from Yale.

At 27 years old, Adrian became the youngest Greater Rochester Chamber executive in the organization's history and created its talent, workforce development, and education initiatives office. As a product of many of our community's most severe problems, Adrian committed his life to make progress. Throughout his professional career, Adrian has worked to improve educational outcomes for Rochester's youth and enhance the quality of our regional workforce.  

Adrian was a nominee for two 2019 ROC Black Men Achieve Awards, the Thomas A. Banister Jr. Community Leader of the Year Award, and the Ceremony's highest honor, Man of the Year. In both categories, Adrian is the youngest nominee to date. That year Adrian was awarded the Champion for Youth Leadership Award by the Center for Teen Empowerment. In 2020 Adrian was named a Rochester Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree and an Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) 40 under 40 honoree. Adrian looks forward to continuing to do what he can today until he can do more tomorrow.

Putting the HUMAN back in HR: Balancing Compliance and Compassion

Adrienne Schleigh is a SHRM certified Senior HR Professional with over fifteen years of experience in all facets of human resources. Adrienne’s experience in human resource management spans diverse industries, supporting clients of all sizes and in a variety of sectors. In her current role, Adrienne leads HR Works’ Direct Placement services and helps clients find top quality candidates in all areas of HR, from entry-level positions, up through Chief Human Resources Officers.

With a strong background in employee relations, compliance, and change management, Adrienne brings a consultative approach to helping clients understand today’s unique workforce challenges.

A personable and enthusiastic communicator, Adrienne is often invited to speak on talent acquisition and workforce trends. She has presented at multiple state SHRM conferences, local SHRM chapters, for NHRA Rochester, and was selected as the keynote speaker for the 2022 CNY SHRM annual conference.

Fire your Stars

I started my career in technical roles, gradually moved on to people and management roles, currently focusing on leveraging what I learned in 25 years in tech, with a product mindset.

For me, it all revolves around people and empathy, that is the common thread of my career. From advertising to building UX experiences. From building culture to planning strategy. From assembling high performance teams to diversity and inclusion. From improving processes to building HR Tech products that delight users.

I am a passionately curious technologist and a lifelong learner.

I was VP of Global Talent of ITX Corp for 10 years, I am currently focusing on several volunteer projects around civic tech, HR consulting, providing career mentoring, and consulting with startups to help them build products that create value and deliver delightful experiences.

The Edge of Optimism

Cory brings nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. In her role as COO, at both RDG + Partners and Employee Retention Solutions, she is responsible for strategic goal development and execution, driving firm culture and alignment, and ensuring efficient operations firm wide. Prior to RDG, Raggi led talent strategy for Paychex corporate leadership. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia and holds certificates from The Wharton School in HR Management and Analytics, and Villanova for Strategic Organizational Leadership. She resides in Penfield with her husband and two daughters.

Humans vs. Machines: Who's Learning Who in the Digital Age?

Described by my peers as a critical thinker, pattern recognizer, and complex problem solver.

Passionate about designing, building or leveraging new technology and methods to help people continuously transform into better versions of themselves.

With 20+ years of experience in Talent and Learning and Development, I consider myself a lifelong Philomath (lover of learning).

Fear, Resistance, and Lizzo

Alana Barend (she/her) brings 12+ years of adventures in the HR space, with a strong focus in employee relations, recruitment and DEI for past 10 years across many industries including non-profit, corporations, manufacturing and creative advertising. She uses her experience in activism spaces for LGBTQ+, Mental Health, People of Color, Body Positivity, Neurodiversity and Feminism to build strong relationships in the community, and with her peers. She considers herself a Subject Matter Expert in meeting people where they are in their own personal DE&I journey; and always leading with empathy.

Designing the Human (Resource) Experience: What Does It Feel Like To Be on the Other Side of You?

Jona Wright is a Rochesterian, an educator turned People practitioner. She focuses on building a metrics-based HR practice, collaboration and is focused on people development. She is passionate about co-creation within the business. Her foundation for HR built from design comes from her grad project focused on innovation and mindset.

How might you unknowingly be excluding the best person for the job?

Lori Sussle Bonanni is the founder of elssus, LLC, a multi-disciplined communications consultancy. Lori builds and grows companies’ reputations thereby increasing awareness, business results and credibility. Think of her as a nontraditional publicist for companies as early as startups and as established as Global 500s.

Prior to launching elssus, Lori held senior-level marketing, communication and business development roles at world-class organizations including Verizon, World 50, NBCUniversal and DDB. Her writing has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as U.S. News and World Report, Huffington Post and The Muse.

“I Really Don’t Want to Be Here”: A Radical Approach to Corporate Training

I am a teaching and training professional with two decades of experience in higher education, corporate communications, and online learning. I've worked in leading academic institutions and Fortune 500 companies. I combine technology with a deep understanding of pedagogical theory to help learners best absorb and use the knowledge they've acquired.

Small changes. BIG Wins!

Evelyn Parker M.S, CDP, CAPM, LSSWB, is a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) practitioner and BRIM Trainer (Bias Reduction in Internal Medicine) committed to ensuring an inclusive workplace for all employees. She is a strategic thought leader with 20 years of multi-faceted experience in D&I, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Talent Management, Coaching, Change Management, Project Management, and Business Operations within the corporate and higher education services and retail industries. Evelyn, is experienced in designing strategy and implementing large-scale programs aimed at developing, retaining, and advancing underrepresented employees. She is an expert in consulting with Executive Leadership, HR Business Partners, Cross-Functional Teams, and Employee Resource Groups to develop strategies regarding D&I as a discipline. Evelyn, has extensive relationship and coalition building skills, including a robust network of professional and diverse national and local organizations. Evelyn earned her Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Development from Medaille College and is a certified diversity professional from the Society for Diversity Inc. & Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC). Evelyn is also a Certified BRIM (Bias Reduction Internal Medicine) trainer. In 2019, Evelyn was nominated as an “Emerging Leader” an award recognizing female leaders in their careers who have strong engagement in the community, show strong leadership ability, and exhibit high potential for collaborations.

Also, a 2023 Athena International Award Finalist.

Work Hard, Rest Harder: A Path to Wellness Week

Meaghann began her career at GreenSpark Solar, a Top Workplace and Fastest Growing Company, as Director of Marketing & Public Relations in 2007. Meaghann immediately developed and executed a brand strategy to grow the GreenSpark name and increase the company’s market share. This strategy included developing channels and tactics not yet in place, creating relationships with media outlets, and working closely with customers to bolster public relations and community education within a budding renewable industry. In 2016, Meaghann's team of one (herself) grew to a team of six by August, and ten by the following January.

Meaghann led the 21 year-old company through two successful re-brands within two years of each other. Both re-brands included, but were not limited to, all digital aspects (website, social media, SEO, SEM, etc.), all internal and external collateral (i.e. brochures, banners, vehicles, construction equipment, and gear for all employees), and all communication and PR efforts with the required stakeholders, which garnered national media attention.

In 2019, Meaghann was named to the Leadership Team at GreenSpark and in 2021 was promoted to Executive Director of Communications, overseeing all marketing, public relations, and now residential sales, as well as taking on the task of internal communications and company culture. Meaghann has made it part of her mission to make GreenSpark a home for so many, which is reflected in being named a Top Workplace for six years running.

In her spare time Meaghann is an avid Philadelphia sports fan, finds herself on a golf course as much as she can. She considers her success not only through the people wins and environmental efforts at GreenSpark, but also in her amazing village of loving friends and family.