2026 State of the Workforce Conference

Meet the Experts Taking the Stage

Julie Develin, MSHRD, SHRM-SCP, GTML

Opening Keynote Speaker

Julie is a sought-after speaker, consultant, podcast host, and workplace strategist focused on the intersection of humanity and technology at work. Known for her clarity, candor, and contagious energy, Julie helps leaders make sense of today’s workplace shifts—from AI to employee experience to culture and beyond—and take meaningful action.

She brings a unique blend of corporate insight, academic grounding, and real-world pragmatism, shaped by her work with thousands of HR and business leaders across industries and her experience leading an HR department for more than 17 years. A longtime voice in the HCM space, Julie has been named a Top 100 HR Influencer and is often the one organizations turn to when they need to cut through the noise and refocus on what actually moves people and performance forward.

Julie teaches graduate-level HR courses, hosts the When Work Works podcast, and writes a popular LinkedIn newsletter called The Weekly Prompt. She’s been quoted in outlets including Vice, Fast Company, Axios, and HR Executive. When she’s not on stage, in the classroom, or cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies, she’s probably asking, “Wait, but why do we still do it that way?”—and helping someone find a better path forward.

Luke Goetting, Professional: Principal, LTG Strategy

Closing Keynote Speaker

Breakout Session: AI Won't Replace You, But Bad Leadership Might

Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, is an award-winning executive coach, organizational strategist, and founder of Carol Parker Walsh Consulting Group, a leadership development firm helping organizations cultivate People-Forward Leadership™. A CNBC Leadership Expert, Harvard Institute of Coaching Fellow, and Smith College Executive Education faculty member with a certificate in AI-Driven Leadership from Stanford University, her firm has earned four Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards. Recently named one of Portland Business Journal's 2025 Women of Influence, her thought leadership has reached over 100,000 professionals worldwide.

Janice Litvin

Breakout Session: Recruit to Retain in the Age of AI – The Power of Human Connection 

Janice is on a mission to help leaders and teams prevent burnout and drive up retention, even in a world where robots are helping to screen résumés. A SHRM Recertification provider, she brings many years of experience as a technology recruiter, combined with IT consulting, giving her a deep understanding of today’s talent challenges. Janice helps organizations recruit and retain talent by blending thoughtful use of AI with the human connection that employees and candidates need.

April Allen & Shawna Unger 

Breakout Session: Leading Humans, Not Just Hardware: Tools for Today’s World – Because chatbots can’t coach courage, handle conflict, or read the room

April Allen and Shawna Unger are dynamic leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with over 40 years of combined experience across healthcare, technology, and academia. April's expertise spans global DEI strategies, having led and advised initiatives at organizations like PeaceHealth and brands such as Daimler, Starbucks, and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Shawna brings extensive HR executive experience, specializing in talent development and workforce strategy, with a focus on promoting collaborative relationships and effective leadership approaches. Together, Allen & Unger is committed to empowering organizations to create inclusive workplaces where diversity is celebrated, and every individual is respected and empowered to contribute their best

Brandi Oldham

Breakout Session: When Everything Is Urgent – Building HR Systems That Protect Capacity

Brandi is the Founder and Lead Coach of Talent Career Coaching, where she partners with high-achieving professionals and organizations to build clarity, capacity, and sustainable performance. With over a decade of experience leading and mentoring teams in financial services and professional sports, Brandi has served in both hiring and HR leadership roles, giving her firsthand insight into the operational and human dynamics that shape workplace performance.

Brandi holds a Master of Science in Human Relations with a focus on Human Resource Diversity and Development and brings a systems-oriented, research-informed approach to her work. She specializes in helping leaders reduce unnecessary complexity, strengthen alignment, and create structures that allow people to do their best work.

As a first-generation professional, therapy dog volunteer, and working mother, Brandi is passionate about designing careers and organizations that are both high-performing and sustainable. Her work bridges strategy and humanity, helping individuals and teams move from reactive to intentional.

Kathy Gruver

Breakout Session: Overcoming Resistance to Change – Embracing Growth in the Face of the Inevitable

Dr. Kathy Gruver is an award-winning author, professional speaker, hypnotherapist, and ACC life and executive certified coach with over 30 years of experience in mind/body medicine and human behavior. An entertainer and educator imbuing all her programs with practicality and passion. With a West Coast mentality and an East Coast delivery, her humorous, down to earth, and engaging style has captivated hundreds of audiences on four continents, three cruise ships and a handful of islands. It’s been her true honor to have delivered two TEDx talks.

Kathy has written eight books which have garnered 12 awards, hosted a TV series based on her first book and developed a stress reduction program for the US military. She has penned countless articles and appears regularly as a guest on radio, TV and in print media including the Dr. Phil Show. She has earned her PhD in natural health and has studied mind-body medicine at the famed Benson Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard. For fun and stress relief Kathy does flying trapeze, aerial silks and plays Dungeons and Dragons.

Heather Van Meter, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session(s):

DEI in the New Administration – Legal Implications of Recent Executive Actions & Sate-Level Challenges 

Red Flag Warnings – How to Handle Difficult Terminations 

Heather Van Meter is a partner with Miller Nash LLP and represents and advises private, public, and not-for-profit entities throughout the Pacific Northwest. She counsels employers on a full range of employment- and workplace-related issues, including employment handbook and policy development, compliance with complex state and federal leave laws, wage and hour issues, disability and religious accommodations, employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, and employee discipline and termination. Heather also helps employers draft, negotiate, and enforce employment-related contracts, such as noncompete, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure agreements, as well as employment and executive employee contracts. She regularly prepares employment-related and contractor agreements and advises on employee situations for regional, national, and international companies. As a former professor and teacher, Heather enjoys providing workplace trainings on a variety of topics to ensure legal compliance while fostering a culture of inclusion.

Amy Robinson, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session(s):

Managing Leave the Right Way

Beneath the Surface – A Case Study on the Hot-Button Legal Issues Shaping Today's Workplaces

Amy Robinson, a partner with Miller Nash LLP and chair of the firm’s employment law & labor relations team, represents public and private employers throughout Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. She advises on a broad range of workplace-related issues and provides experienced counsel on compliance challenges and disputes covering the entire employment life cycle from hiring to separation. Before becoming an attorney, Amy was in the trenches as an HR professional, so she knows first-hand how workplaces function and the daily pressures and many responsibilities that fall to HR. Amy is also a past president of Southwest Washington SHRM, past Southwest Region Director on the Washington State Human Resources Council, and has held leadership positions in both legal and HR professional organizations.

Ally McLain, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session: Beneath the Surface – A Case Study on the Hot-Button Legal Issues Shaping Today's Workplaces

Ally McLain is a member of the firm’s employment law & labor relations practice team. She counsels Oregon and Washington employers on compliance and litigation matters. Her counseling practice focuses on wage and hour compliance, navigating state and federal leave laws, workplace accommodations, workers’ compensation, and prevention of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. Ally also conducts independent workplace investigations addressing employee claims of discrimination (including sexual harassment), retaliation, leave law violations, and policy breaches. Additionally, she assists clients by drafting and revising employee handbooks, company policies, and employment-related contracts, and provides workplace trainings designed to foster legal compliance and improve organizational practices.

Stacie Damazo DeSimone, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session: Managing Leave the Right Way

Stacie Damazo DeSimone is a member of Miller Nash’s employment law & labor relations team. She represents employers in a variety of employment matters and provides proactive counsel to ensure compliance and identify legal issues before they arise. Stacie advises on complex leave situations for public and private businesses, including those involving the Family and Medical Leave Act, Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, Oregon Family Leave Act, Paid Leave Oregon, the ADA, and sick time requirements. Stacie also serves as an independent workplace investigator, conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other sensitive issues.

David Worley, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session: Labor Relations 101 – Navigating Unions, Rights, & Responsibilities 

David Worley is a partner on Miller Nash’s employment & labor relations practice team, providing both litigation and counselling services. David represents employers of all sizes in state and federal court against claims of wage and hour disputes, employment discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment issues. He also represents businesses with labor issues, including collective bargaining, contract interpretation and negotiation, grievance arbitration, and other traditional labor matters. David has represented institutions, public entities, and individuals in state and federal courts, including respective appellate courts. He also appears before state and federal regulatory authorities on behalf of clients, focusing on employment and labor issues.

Additionally, David counsels private and public employers, offering strategic employment and labor advice to help prevent problems before they become lawsuits. He frequently advises clients on compliance issues, works with various regulatory and administrative agencies on behalf of clients, and conducts compliance and policy audits. He reviews and drafts employment agreements, employee handbooks, collective bargaining agreements, and all manner of labor- and employment-related documents.

Celeste Mountain Monroe, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session: Sorting Fact From Fiction – Strengthening Workplace Investigations Through Credibility Analysis

Celeste Mountain Monroe is a member of Miller Nash’s employment and education teams. She is a seasoned employment lawyer and provides the type of well-informed, timely, effective, hands-on, and practical legal guidance that clients require. Celeste advises human resource teams and company leaders in public and private entities on all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, discipline, and termination, as well as disability accommodation and wage and hour compliance. She drafts critical contracts and policies and develops training programs for clients of all sizes.

Celeste also has significant experience conducting independent investigations. Over the past decade, Celeste has handled hundreds of investigations of alleged misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation arising in workplaces and schools throughout Washington and Oregon. She is also a certified sexual assault investigator through the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA).

Sarah Brenden, Miller Nash LLP

Breakout Session: Red Flag Warnings – How to Handle Difficult Terminations

Sarah Brenden is a member of Miller Nash’s employment law & labor relations and education teams. She defends and advises private, public, and nonprofit clients in a myriad of employment issues, including wage and overtime disputes, discrimination cases, and day-to-day employment advice and counsel. Sarah has experience managing cases from inception to resolution, resolving cases through settlement, mediation, and arbitration, and supporting trial teams in local, state, and federal court, as well as before a variety of agencies. Before joining Miller Nash, Sarah practiced at a Pacific Northwest law firm where she focused on litigation, with particular interest in employment, immigration, personal injury, and commercial disputes.