Signature 2023
November 6 & 7, 2023 - Welcome Reception: Nov. 5th
The Hilton, Orlando
Signature is an innovative, research-based human resources conference that brings together talent, DEI, and learning & development executives. The 2023 Signature agenda will include interactive sessions, keynote presentations, peer-to-peer roundtables, and CHRO panel discussions.
Event Pricing
Member Rate
Early Bird: $1,695 USD
Regular Rate: $2,195 USD
Non-Member Rate
Early Bird: $2,295 USD
Regular Rate: $2,795 USD
*Early Bird rate available until
August 31, 2023
Why Attend Signature 2023?
At Signature, you will:
- Learn from McLean & Company analysts about emerging thinking in the HR and leadership space.
- Hear from industry leaders about how they've successfully tackled HR and leadership challenges.
- Network with fellow HR leaders from across North America.
- Receive practical tips and tools with real-world examples, actionable advice, and guidance.
What Previous Attendees Say About Signature:
The experience has been wonderful too. Great event location. Great food. Just a variety of different elements
that have made the whole experience a really valuable one.
It's nice being here with lots of others from the HR profession and be able to connect,
share best practices, and share some of the challenges that we all face and what we are
doing to address them. My biggest takeaway from attending the Signature event is the power
of building relationships.
I really enjoyed attending the Signature HR event. It's been a great opportunity to listen
to some great speakers but also to network with other practitioners.
2023 Signature Speakers
Brian Dickens
Chief Human Resources Officer, University of Tennessee System
Brian Dickens is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the University of Tennessee System. In this role, Dickens is responsible for planning, developing, & implementing statewide initiatives that support employee engagement. Areas of administration include system recruitment, employee & organizational development, compensation, inclusion, diversity & engagement, data analytics, reporting, payroll, benefits, & retirement services. The office also works to ensure compliance with federal, state & University labor standards & policies. He collaborates with UT system, campus & institute leadership, human resources officers & diversity officers. Dickens joined the UT System on Dec. 1, 2019, following a national search.
Sinead Bovell
Futurist | Future of Work Expert
Sinead Bovell is a futurist and the founder of WAYE, an organization that helps prepare the next generation of business leaders for a world radically transformed by technology with a focus on non-traditional and minority markets. She is an eight-time United Nations speaker, an experienced host, and certified in AI ethics from MIT. Bovell founded WAYE (Weekly Advice for Young Entrepreneurs) in 2018. To date, she has educated over 200,000 young entrepreneurs on the future of technology. She also serves as a strategic advisor on digital inclusion to the United Nations International Telecommunication Union. Dubbed the AI Educator for the “non-nerds” by Vogue and one of Refinery 29's “Top Ten Black Women Changing the Game”, Bovell has given formal addresses to presidents, royalty, and Fortune 500 leaders on topics ranging from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence. She also hosted WIRED magazine's hit YouTube series, “What We Will know” and gave a TEDx Talk on the ethics of avatars in 2022.
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe
Expert on Resiliency and Workplace Wellness
Described as one of the most sought-after, engaging, thought-provoking, and truly transformative international speakers and scholars in her field, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award-winning education and psychology instructor. She specializes in resiliency, navigating stress and change, wellness in the workplace, and optimal performance, both at home and work. Hanley-Dafoe's work is inspired by personal experience. She learned resiliency from the ground up as someone who has experienced significant obstacles throughout her life. This, combined with more than 18 years of university teaching and research experience, makes Hanley-Dafoe's work both accessible and relatable while providing realistic and sustainable strategies for understanding and practicing resiliency and wellness. Hanley-Dafoe is the author of the award-winning and bestselling book, Calm Within the Storm, which outlines a powerful and achievable path to everyday resiliency. She joined a group of highly esteemed authors from around the globe when her book won a 2022 Silver Nautilus Award.
Peter Sursi
Former Head of Talent Acquisition; currently Senior Executive, Finance Modernization, FBI
Peter Sursi, SPHR, is the former head of talent acquisition for the FBI and is currently the FBI's senior executive for finance modernization, accounts payable and relocation services. He is widely sought-out as a speaker on change management and modernization efforts; building trust and emotionality at work; the future of work; and managing a remote workforce. He lives in Virginia.
Terri Lewis
Chief People Officer, One Call
Terri Lewis is the Chief People Officer for One Call, the leading managed care company for workers' compensation services. Terri is responsible for creating the company's overarching vision for culture & engagement, diversity & inclusion, & top talent acquisition & retention. Prior to One Call, she served as senior vice president of global human resources for Pontoon Solutions where she is credited with positioning the company as a leading 'Great Place to Work.' In total, she carries with her more than 25 years of experience leading cultural & engagement transformations. She was recently named a Top 50 Women Leaders in Jacksonville for 2023.
Andrea Agnew
Vice President, People, Inclusion, Culture, Hilton Grand Vacations
Andrea Agnew serves as the Vice President of People, Inclusion and Culture at Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) and is responsible for leading the global inclusion strategy, developing the philosophy, framework and executing the roadmap for leaders and Team Members across the HGV enterprise. In this newly created role reporting to the CHRO, Andrea is responsible for HGV's People Strategy to include People & Culture, Employee Engagement, Awards & Recognition, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Employee Volunteerism & Giving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Environment and Social Governance (ESG). Andrea's career spans over 23 years of experience as a well-rounded Human Resources professional within Financial Services, Media Entertainment, Telecommunications, Financial Services, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, IT, Hospitality, Government, and Defense industries.
Jessica Palatka
Chief Human Capital Officer, US Department of Commerce
Jessica S. Palatka is the Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) & a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), responsible for providing leadership, developing policies, & directing programs in all aspects of human resources & human capital management & administration for all bureaus of the Department of Commerce (DOC), covering nearly 55,000 employees located in all 50 states, every U.S. territory, & more than 86 countries. Concurrently, Ms. Palatka is an Adjunct Associate Professor for the University of Maryland, Global Campus, where she teaches undergraduate courses in Human Resources & Business.
Bhavna Dave
Chief People & Culture Officer, Schellman Compliance LLC
Bhavna Dave is the Chief People & Culture Officer at Shellman Compliance LLC. Bhavna has over 15 years of experience building & scaling small to mid-size global organizations & people functions by aligning the business & people strategy. She has primarily been in the tech industry working alongside CEOs & Executive teams to build high performing organizations & team-driven cultures. She lives in the Washington, DC metro area, but is originally from Dallas, Texas. She has a wonderful husband & two children that keep her busy outside of work.
Shannon Nihoff
Chief Talent and People Officer, MetLife Legal Plans
Shannon Nihoff is the Chief Talent & People Leader at MetLife Legal Plans. A subsidiary of MetLife, MetLife Legal Plans is the nation's largest provider of group legal plans, serving over five million people at more than 5,000 organizations, including over 220 Fortune 500® companies. In this role, Shannon is responsible for setting the direction and plan for all people-related strategies and operations, working closely with CEO and the Senior Leadership Team. A strategic and seasoned human resource professional, Shannon comes from MetLife, where she spent 16 years as a strategic business partner supporting both domestic and international business segments at MetLife. Highlights include onboarding for opening the Cary and Charlotte campuses in North Carolina and acting as H.R. lead for several acquisitions.
Nichole Thompson
Chief People Officer, FLS Transportation Services
Nichole A. Thompson is the Chief People Officer for FLS Transportation, the #1 3PL Cross Border Transportation Company in North America. With FLS since 2018, Nichole is a thought leader, responsible for all human resource functions including, Executive coaching, mergers & acquisitions, & crisis management. Thompson has held previous Senior Leadership roles at Benevis LLC, Union Pacific Railroad & Target Stores. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from Clark Atlanta University & a Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHPR) & SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM - SCP). Nichole resides in Metro Atlanta with her husband Troy & four children.
Annette Martinez
Retired Senior Vice President, State Farm
Annette R. Martinez is a retired Senior Vice President for State Farm™ Mutual Automobile Insurance Companies. Her role as Senior Vice President included companywide oversight of Human Resources & Development, Corporate Responsibility, Public Affairs, & Diversity & Inclusion. She had over 34 years of experience with State Farm. She also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation & the Leadership Council for the Northern Colorado American Cancer Society. Annette has received several recognitions including the Black Enterprise Top Executive in Corporate Diversity in 2018, National Association of Female Executive's 2018 Diversity Champion for Women, Worldwide Top 100 CHRO 2019, Insurance Business America's Hot 100 in 2020, & awarded the National Diversity Council's Power 50 Award for 2020 & 2021.
Lori Wall
SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, Foremost Farms USA
Lori Wall is the SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer of Foremost Farms USA dairy cooperative. She is responsible for developing and executing the company's human resources and communications strategy to drive and achieve the overall Foremost Farms business objectives and results through investing in people and culture. Prior to Foremost Farms, Wall was Chief Human Resources Officer of Restaurant Technologies, a leading provider of cooking-oil management and cooking oil distribution to more than 24,000 food service operators to make their kitchens safer and more sustainable. In that role, she redesigned and transformed the organizational structure to support 10-15% top- and bottom-line growth and aligned HR strategies to drive operations and sales objectives.
Maureen Cahill
Managing Partner, Executive Services, McLean & Company
Maureen is a progressive executive with nearly three decades of experience as a human resources practitioner, consultant, advisor, and a business leader. As a former Chief HR Officer and strategic partner to dozens of HR executives, Maureen is uniquely positioned to lead McLean & Company's team of Executive Counselors and Advisors as they deliver the highest level of support and service to our members. She has deep expertise in translating a company's strategic business objectives into people priorities, action plans, and results. She is passionate about positioning HR leaders and their teams to optimize talent investments through development of business aligned HR strategies, effective business case development, and sound project execution.
Kelly Berte
Director, HR Research & Advisory Services, McLean & Company
Kelly Berte is a Director, HR Research & Advisory Services, with McLean & Company. She brings energy to translating scientific concepts to real-world application for HR leaders, promoting human-centered change that helps organizations support their people to be at their best. Prior to joining McLean & Company, Kelly worked in a variety of cross-functional HR roles, building her expertise in holistic wellbeing, engagement, change management, leadership development, and HR operations.
LynnAnn Brewer
Director, HR Research & Advisory Services, McLean & Company
As a Director for HR Research and Advisory Services at McLean & Company, LynnAnn brings knowledge in strategic human resources leadership. She has over 20 years of broad experience in all areas of Human Resources leadership, including strategy, design, change management, talent management, competencies, performance, talent acquisition, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. LynnAnn has worked in private and public sectors, including higher education, state and municipal government, maritime, hospitality, technology, healthcare, federal government contracting, small businesses, and startups. Before joining McLean & Company, she led a large public Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) university through innovation and change in HR and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to become a nationally recognized top employer for women and diversity and a national best employer.
Signature Conference Agenda
- May the Flow Be With You: Enabling Flow State to Positively Impact Wellbeing
- Amp up Engagement: Take a Holistic Approach to Leveraging Employee Lifecycle Data
- To be announced
- Psychological Safety Myth-Busting and Why it Matters for HR
- To be announced
- To be announced
The Venue
The Hilton, Orlando
6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Tucked away in the heart of Orlando, Hilton Orlando is a vibrant, contemporary resort with an exciting personality to complement an exceptional location. Featuring extensive leisure offerings with world class business amenities, this resort sits on over 26 acres of lush landscaping and tropical inspirations making it a true destination in of its own.