Keynote Speaker:
Kelly Jones
Author, Unleashed Potential
Kelly Jones is a speaker, author and seasoned Human Resources professional specializing in helping people reach their full potential and succeed beyond their wildest dreams. He emphasizes and coaches people to utilize their story telling skills, their life experiences and their observations of human nature to help others succeed, which in turn, allows them to succeed without that being the motivation.
Unleashed Potential – Life and Business Tips from Baxter and His Best Friend
CHRO Panelists:
Marie Bowen
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
UMass Boston
Marie began her tenure at UMass Boston in January 2017, moving from UMass Amherst, where she served as assistant vice chancellor for Human Resources. Marie received a BA in English from Harvard College, a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, and an MA in Library and Information Sciences from Simmons College. She is also certified as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR). Marie is an accomplished human resources professional, with over 16 years of human resource leadership, including serving as associate dean and chief human resource officer at Harvard Law School and director of Human Resources at the Massachusetts Port Authority. She has significant experience in large-scale change management, strategic planning, organizational development, and design and implementation of process improvement initiatives.
Manuel Cuevas-Trisán
Vice President for Human Resources
Harvard University
Manuel joined Harvard University as Vice President for Human Resources in August of 2021. As the university’s chief people officer, he sets the strategic vision for Human Resources aimed at elevating the University’s profile as a progressive and dynamic employer, recruiting and retaining top talent, providing development opportunities for all members of the University workforce of ~20,000, and serving as a thought leader on how Harvard can thrive in the workplace of the future. He has oversight of and responsibility for staff employment policies, talent development, labor relations, total rewards and wellbeing programs for the entire University, and serves as the coordinating partner to the HR leaders at each of Harvard’s 12 individual faculties, Harvard College, and the Radcliffe Institute. He is also responsible for all aspects of HR for Central Administration and oversees Harvard’s contingent workforce suppliers.
Prior to joining Harvard, Manuel was Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer at Northwestern University. Previously, he had a successful career as a labor and employment lawyer at Motorola Solutions, Inc. in Chicago, which culminated in his service as Chief Human Resources Officer and Corporate Vice President of Employment Law and Data Protection.
He earned his BA from the University of Notre Dame and his Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law. He holds Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and a Master’s degree in Executive Coaching & Leadership from Universitat de Barcelona/OBS.
Michele Grazulis
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Northeastern University
Michele Grazulis serves as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Northeastern University, where she leads the HR function across one of higher education’s most expansive global networks — 14 campuses spanning the U.S., U.K., and Canada, supporting a workforce of 9,000 faculty, staff, and research scientists worldwide.
A strategic leader and change agent, Michele has been a driving force in the comprehensive transformation of Northeastern’s HR function — reimagining service delivery, modernizing infrastructure, and building centers of excellence across talent acquisition, total rewards, organizational effectiveness, and HR technology. Her work has elevated HR from a traditional administrative function to a proactive, people-centered partner, ensuring that the structures, systems, and talent strategies of the university are fully aligned to support Northeastern’s ambitions as a global research university. Equally central to her work is a deep commitment to fostering a thriving organizational culture — cultivating an environment where faculty, staff, and research scientists feel connected, valued, and empowered to do their best work in service of the university’s mission.
Michele brings a breadth of experience spanning Fortune 500 environments, including Xerox Corporation, and healthcare systems such as Unity Health System and Rochester Regional Health System, having held leadership roles across sales, advancement, and HR. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Siena College and is based in the Boston area.
Lauren Turner
Senior Vice president of Talent and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Since January 2022, Lauren Turner has served as senior vice president of talent and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Reporting directly to the President, she oversees all aspects of WPI’s human resources and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) functions, including compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, performance management, learning and development, organizational development, employee engagement, labor relations, and employee relations, HR information systems, data and analytics, DEI, and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME). WPI employs about 1,200 faculty and staff and serves about 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Before being appointed to her current position following a national search, Lauren was senior associate vice chancellor for human resources and organizational strategy & effectiveness at the University of Massachusetts Lowell from 2011 to 2022.
Lauren began her career at Mount Holyoke College, starting as a receptionist in the Office of Personnel Services and working her way to become the director of human resources/affirmative action officer. During her 30 years at Mount Holyoke, she completed her Bachelor of General Studies in human resources at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then her Master of Arts in psychology at Mount Holyoke College. There she began the teaching aspect of her career, which continued when she joined UMass Lowell, where she developed and taught undergraduate- and graduate level courses in human resources, leadership, workforce diversity and inclusion, fostering a learning organization, as well as leadership, law, and policy. Lauren earned her PhD in leadership and organizational studies at the Robert J. Manning School of Business at UMass Lowell in 2018. Her dissertation, Leader Cultural Intelligence and Transformational Leadership as Antecedents to Organizational Diversity Management Practice, aligns with her teaching and continued research focus. Her most recent publications have delved into why there aren’t more human resources leaders who are champions of diversity, how cultural intelligence influences diversity management practices, and restoring trust in a #MeToo workplace.
Lauren has been an active member and contributor to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) for over 35 years. She has served in multiple volunteer roles across CUPAHR, serving on its board of directors and as Chair of its board in 2011, during which time she provided leadership in the development of CUPA-HR’s DEI framework which continues to inform the work of the association and higher education human resources practitioners. Recognizing the extent and depth of her service to CUPA-HR and to the human resources profession, she received the Donald E. Dickason Award from CUPA-HR in 2014. Lauren is also an active member of the Eastern Academy of Management (EAM) and the national Academy of Management (AOM), communities of college and university educators and scholars dedicated to helping the world work better. She is a three-time recipient of the EAM’s Outstanding Reviewer Award and was nominated for best paper in 2015. She is a prolific reviewer of peer publications, including Human Resource Management, IGI Global, and Organizational Management Journal.
Lauren is a frequent presenter on topics related to human resource and organizational effectiveness at regional and national conferences including CUPA-HR, EAM, AOM, the National Association of College & University Business Officers, and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Academy of Management (AOM).
Breakout Session Presenters:
Presenter: Jamie Graceffa, Vice President of Talent Management, Culture & Employee Experience; Founder of Kind Cards
Institution/Organization: Quanterix
Program Title: The Kindness Advantage
Bio: Jamie Graceffa is the founder and author of Kind Cards®, as well as a speaker and facilitator focused on building stronger, more connected workplace cultures. He currently serves as Vice President of Talent Management, Culture & Employee Experience at Quanterix.
Jamie is also the author of Career Control. Follow him @GetKindCards on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn. To learn more about Kind Cards and his mission to make kindness a workplace standard, visit getkindcards.com.
Presenter: Elizabeth Hastings, Executive Director for Data Science
Institution/Organization: College of the Holy Cross
Program Title: The Intersection of AI and Mental Health
Bio: Elizabeth Hastings is the Executive Director of Data Science and Innovation at the College of the Holy Cross. She brings both enthusiasm and healthy skepticism to conversations around the college’s rapidly evolving AI strategy, always anchored by the question of what’s responsible and not just what’s possible. Elizabeth joined Holy Cross after a decade of analytics roles at Bose Corporation and prior experience in consulting and market research. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she teaches “Exploring Data Science with Friends”, a course that makes data literacy accessible and (dare she say) fun. Elizabeth is a proud mom of three young adults, all born before smartphones existed. Her experience parenting during the adoption of social media and constant connectivity informs her perspective on how algorithms influence human behavior at a personal level. Her presentation, The Intersection of AI and Mental Health, draws on her experience bridging technology and the human side of how we work and live.
Presenter: Matt Poepsel, PhD, Vice President & Godfather of Talent Optimization
Institution/Organization: The Predictive Index and Boston College – Woods College of Advancing Studies
Program Title: Why We’ve Drifted Apart (And the Four Forces That Pull Us Back Together)
Bio: Matt Poepsel, PhD is the author of Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work and host of the Lead the People podcast. He serves as Vice President & Godfather of Talent Optimization at The Predictive Index. He holds a PhD in Psychology, an MBA, and a Harvard Business School Certificate of Management Excellence. Matt is a part-time faculty member at Boston College where he teaches graduate courses in the areas of leadership, human resources, and business spirituality. He’s a coach to executive teams as well as a board member for the Cape Cod Human Resources Association (CCHRA). Matt is a US Marine, an Ironman triathlon finisher, and a student of Buddhist philosophy.
Presenter: Karen Pambianchi, Executive Leadership Coach
Institution/Organization: Swift Water Collaborative, LLC
Program Title: Rewriting the Meeting Narrative: A Practical Approach to Reducing Burnout
Bio: Karen Pambianchi is an executive leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and strategic team coach with an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation and an Advanced Certification in Team Coaching. She helps leaders and teams enhance their confidence, communication, and leadership presence, driving high-impact outcomes and fostering inclusive, high-performing workplaces. A dynamic speaker and sought-after facilitator, Karen delivers engaging keynotes and workshops that inspire action and transformation. Whether leading an intimate leadership retreat or energizing an audience of 1,500, she creates meaningful, results-driven experiences that empower professionals to lead with clarity and purpose.
With a background spanning corporate and nonprofit sectors—including event planning, marketing, fundraising, and coaching—Karen excels at building strong relationships, deep listening, and guiding leaders to align their values with their professional impact. She has partnered with professionals across nonprofit, healthcare, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, technology, financial services, education, architecture, construction, and law, as well as consultants and entrepreneurs.
Karen has been a featured speaker at IMFA, NEHRA, NEMA, NH NEA, the NH Center for Nonprofits, NAGGL, NE/SAE and the Maine Women’s Conference. Known for her engaging, interactive style, she ensures audiences leave with practical, actionable takeaways.
Based in Northern, MA, Karen enjoys alpine skiing and boating with her husband and two children. She’s also the loudest cheerleader at her son’s hockey, baseball, and football games and loves watching her daughter perform on stage.
Presenter: David Shettler, CIO and VP for Information Technology
Institution/Organization: College of the Holy Cross
Program Title: Agentic AI: A Practical Demonstration of the Future (and present) of Work
Bio: David Shettler is Chief Information Officer and Vice President for Information Technology at the College of the Holy Cross, where he has worked in various roles for over 25 years. He leads Holy Cross’ strategic technology initiatives, including the recent launch of “Suarez AI,” an AI access portal for the campus community, and soon, “FranciscoAI”, an agentic portal. As co-chair of the College’s AI Task Force, David shapes how AI integrates into both administrative functions and the liberal arts educational experience. He is currently orchestrating major digital transformation efforts, including an enterprise-wide Workday implementation, while exploring how AI can enhance institutional operations and decision-making.
Presenter: Mike R. Sweeney, Executive & Team Coach
Institution/Organization: Saber Coaching
Program Title: Take a Hike: Unconventional Practices to Deepen Transformation and Facilitate Change
Bio: Mike R. Sweeney is an executive coach and organizational psychologist who helps leaders and teams perform under pressure – whether in a boardroom or on a ridgeline. A former U.S. Army Cavalry officer turned coach, Mike brings both rigor and reflection to his work, helping leaders navigate the paradox between drive and presence, confidence and humility, results and relationships. He coaches senior executives and facilitates leadership team workshops, drawing on years as a VP at Bain & Company and as Chief Strategy Officer at RallyBright, where he helped organizations build resilient, high-performing teams. As an adjunct professor, Mike teaches graduate courses on group and team dynamics, blending evidence-based frameworks with real-world experience.
A proud Girl Dad of three teens, Mike knows leadership is as much about listening as pushing forward. He often takes his coaching outdoors – running, hiking, or skiing toward clarity – believing movement sharpens both mind and mission. Grounded yet adventurous, disciplined yet human, Mike helps leaders and teams embrace paradox and operate at their edge with courage, focus, and integrity. He resides near Boston, MA.
Presenter: Liz Meyers, Principal and Founder
Institution/Organization: Integrative Leadership Strategies
Program Title: Coaching Skills for People Leaders
Bio: Liz Myers MS PCC, Founder and Principal of Integrative Leadership Strategies LLC based in Boston and Chicago, is a seasoned executive coach and leadership team consultant specializing in leadership development and team effectiveness since 2007. Her specialty is giving structure to the intangible dynamics at work, blending practical, actionable steps with a deep inner journey to create progress at the individual, team, organization and system levels. Liz earned a Masters degree from Stanford University in structural engineering and earned her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential through the International Coach Federation. Learn more about Liz at https://www.integrative-leadership.com/or www.linkedin.com/in/liz-myers.
Presenter: Nancy Gervais, Associate Director, Talent Acquisition
Institution/Organization: Berklee College of Music
Program Title: Operationalizing AI in Talent Acquisition
Bio: Nancy Gervais is currently the Associate Director of Talent Acquisition at the Berklee College of Music. She has almost 20 years of experience specializing in the recruitment of talent. Nancy has worked in the financial services industry, education services, and higher education, bringing in both the quantity of talent needed, but more importantly, the exceptional quality required for institutions to grow. She utilizes technology and process improvements to find efficiencies where possible, and always keeps both the candidate and hiring manager experiences in mind. Nancy is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Presenter: Jen Moff, Leadership Development Facilitator
Institution/Organization: The Jen Moff Company
Program Title: Belonging by Design: Learning & Culture Strategies That Work
Bio: From the theater to corporate learning leader and back again, Jen Moff built a career at the intersection of professional development and human connection: equal parts strategy, story, and straight talk. Her work spans boardrooms and backstage, helping executives sharpen their leadership, small business owners set boundaries, and audiences everywhere rediscover their spark. Audiences love Jen because she’s not afraid to mix directness with humor. She can pivot from sharp business insights to laugh-out-loud stories in the same breath, and that’s what makes her unforgettable. Whether she’s facilitating storytelling, or sparking a laugh at just the right moment, Jen leaves people with clarity, energy, and the confidence to act. Her mix of honesty, humor, and hard-won insight makes her a favorite with hosts and organizers who want a guest that’s both memorable and actionable. At her core, Jen is a storyteller. Whatever the format—stage, screen, mic, or canvas—her mission is the same: to help people grow without losing themselves.