Our authorsThe Top HR and Government experts

Allen was born in Avon Park, Florida on November 21, 1980 to a minister and a special needs instructor, both of who taught him the importance of service to ones fellow man. Known for his vision and perspective, he was raised in the agricultural based, rural city of Wauchula, Florida. After graduating from Hardee Senior High School in 1999, Allen went on to received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science with a concentration in Business Administration from Florida Southern College where he was elected Treasurer of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, FSC Chapter and soon thereafter, became the organization’s first African-American President. During this time, he was actively involved in community organizing initiatives. These efforts led to the creation of The Community Economic Council, Inc. in which he served as Treasurer and later serving as the organization’s advocate in Washington. The CEC was created to educate and inspire members of the community on the issues surrounding business ownership, trade and commerce. During his tenure at the CEC, Allen would host community forums, town hall meetings and events that were designed to strengthen the communities in the areas of business and home ownership, public-private partnerships, government contracting, financial literacy, trade and commerce. Allen founded the Center for Economic & Policy Development, Inc. (The Center) to facilitate economic growth throughout Central Florida and rural parts of the country. His vision, core philosophies and strong principles are igniting young future leaders from around the country through The Emerging Leaders Initiative, a project placed under The Center. This initiative facilitates his vision of pairing young bright minds with current leaders in the fields of medicine, science, engineering, law, policy and politics.

Allison Dretzin is a Human Resources expert with over eight years of experience in both private and public organizations.

Like most of us, Wellness Expert and Author, Angela Gaffney, thought life would go on no matter what. She was engrossed in her work, caring for her family of four, and living life to the fullest. Convenience food and diet coke kept her going until her energy tank ran dry each night. She’d wake up and repeat the next day, never realizing along the way that a much bigger story was brewing. And after a two-year struggle with a failing body, Angela was told to go home and prepare for a progressive disease to take her life. Angela had been succeeding, but with great sacrifice. And didn’t even realize it. But that’s not the end of the story . . . If there’s one thing you’ll quickly realize about this dynamic, big hearted keynote speaker it’s that she rarely takes no for an answer; giving up on life was not an option. Angela is the catalyst for healthy transformation! After devoting intense time, education and energy into regaining her own health and becoming a Certified Health Coach; she’s shared these same proven strategies to help hundreds of others lose weight, boost energy, rid the body of pain and regain a zest for life. Everyone wants to feel good, and deserves the right to do so! Are you ready to ignite transformation? Begin with Angela’s signature keynote One Simple Choice where she shares her powerful story of perseverance and uncovers the key strategies that transform lives. Add a VIP Session, Hot Seat Keynote, or private book signing for a little extra sizzle and your team will be ready to chart their course to healthy living! Beyond the keynote, Angela provides Worksite Wellness programs, creating a plan that’s right for you, your team and your budget. Are you ready to ignite transformation? It all begins with One Simple Choice . . .

Dr. Ashley Allen-Brown is Field Faculty in Regional Economic Development and Assistant Extension Professor with the University of Missouri Extension. For nearly three decades, she has worked with government agencies, community leaders, and workforce partners to strengthen human capital, leadership capacity, and economic resilience. Her work focuses on adult-centered professional development, communication training, and building adaptive public-sector teams prepared for the future of work.

Bill Treasurer is the Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) of Giant Leap Consulting, Inc. He is the author of international best-seller Courage Goes To Work, which introduced the new management practice of courage building and Leaders Open Doors, which became the #1 leadership training book on Amazon. All royalties from Leaders Open Doors are donated to programs that support kids with special needs. His latest book, A Leadership Kick In The Ass will be released this January. Bill has designed leadership and succession programs for emerging and experienced leaders for NASA, Saks Fifth Avenue, UBS Bank, Walsh Construction, Spanx, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs, and many others. For more information, visit giantleapconsulting.com, billtreasurer.com, or couragebuilding.com/kickass. Bill is also the author of Courage Goes to Work, an international bestselling book that introduces the concept of courage-building. He is also the author of Courageous Leadership: A Program for Using Courage to Transform the Workplace, an off-the-shelf training toolkit that organizations use to build workplace courage. Bill has worked with thousands of executives from top organizations, including NASA, Accenture, CNN, UBS Bank, Spanx, Hugo Boss, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Learn more at www.billtreasurer.com or www.couragebuilding.com.

Brent Ives has 15 years of experience in helping public agencies with organizational challenges and opportunities. He has been a successful engineering manager at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory with extensive experience in employee relations, career growth advocacy and career transition. Through his firm, BHI Management Consulting, he has taught hundreds of courses (many for CSDA) and spoken to many many groups and businesses on strategic planning, best practices for public agencies and organizational health. He works with public agencies every week to individualize strategic plans, training, executive recruiting and consultation in organizational health. Brent is also a 14 year City Councilman and currently the directly elected Mayor the City of Tracy, CA, a city of 85,000 in the central valley and serves as a commissioner of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE Train) Joint Powers Authority and a Director of the San Joaquin County Council of Governments. Brent can be reached via LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bhimanagementconsulting

Cachet Prescott, CPCC, PHR, is a Women’s Career & Business Coach. With purpose-aligned careers by design at the helm of her work, she provides coaching with a Proverbs 31 twist to mid-career professionals and aspiring service-based solopreneurs. She exercises expert prowess in enabling her counterparts to make thoughtful, strategically planned career transitions from career reinvention to returning home or re-entering the workforce to exploring the world of entrepreneurship. Cachet is also a speaker and college instructor who’s published career, entrepreneur and leadership related articles with Blue Star Families, Lead With Giants, Lioness Magazine, Military Spouse Corporate Career Network and Military Spouse Magazine. Outside of her entrepreneurial pursuits, Cachet is a proud military spouse and mother of three little girls.

Cheri Torres is an author and trainer cheritorres.com. She works with leaders to enhance their ability to fuel productive and meaningful engagement, including the art of reinvention. Her most recent bestselling book is Conversations Worth Having. You can download a free Conversation Toolkit and learn more about inspiring creative conversations at ConversationsWorthHaving.today.  For more information on how to have conversations worth having in difficult or crucial situations, visit www.cwh.today. Download the free Conversation Toolkit; read Conversations Worth Having. Coming soon (September): CWH QuickStart Guide for Employee Evaluations and Performance Appraisals, will be available on Amazon and in digital format at www.cwh.today.

Leading from within, enables others to do the same. Leadership therefore becomes the shining light to help others on their path to wholeness, great teamwork and positive results. I help leaders develop self- mastery, helping them to become confident in their own inner guidance. I collaborate with leadership experts, managers and HR professionals to help them get their own message and unique services and products to a wide audience. FCIPD Qualified with a BA Hons in Life Long Learning, Diploma and Certifcate in Coaching. Resident Guest HR Columnist for Barclays Connector. Connect with Christina https://linktr.ee/christinalattimer

Ms. Zack is CEO of Only Connect Consulting, Inc. (www.myonlyconnect.com) and author of Managing for People Who Hate Managing (Berrett-Koehler 2012) and Networking for People Who Hate Networking (Berrett-Koehler 2010). Her books have been translated into 12 languages, and she provides keynotes and seminars internationally. She consults to dozens of Federal agencies including TSA, IRS, Treasury, U.S. Education, and U.S. Patent & Trademark.

Eddie Francis is a career coach, blogger, and award-winning media professional. A job recruiting consultant with the Dallas-based company Career Resource Services, Eddie also worked with Monster Worldwide’s Making It Count Programs where he spoke to more than a quarter of a million students and parents in 28 states about educational and career achievement. He writes about career preparation for college students on his “From Lectures to the Livelihood” blog and is the career segment contributor for WYLD-FM’s (New Orleans) “Sunday Journal”. An advocate for African American fraternities and sororities, Eddie is also the author and presenter of “The Black Greek Success Program”, which helps college members build their leadership skills through the lens of career preparation. Eddie’s mass media experience includes a 19-year stint in radio where he won the 2011 Press Club of New Orleans award for “Best Radio Entertainment Feature” for his interview with Rwandan genocide survivor, Immaculée Ilibagiza. He also served as a higher education director of communications. Eddie graduated from Loyola University New Orleans where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication. In 2000, he was named one of New Orleans Magazine’s “30 People to Watch” and is a recipient of the 2014 President’s Volunteer Service Award.