Our authorsThe Top HR and Government experts

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 . . .

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.

Caitlyn Alford is a first-generation college graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. She earned her M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since 2019, Caitlyn has been leveraging her expertise as a manager and talent management consultant at Catching Leadership, where she specializes in organizational change, leadership development, visual creativity, and promoting mindfulness in the workplace. Her dedication to fostering growth and innovation within organizations allows her to help clients navigate today's ever-evolving business landscape. Michael Leytem has been a leadership coach and talent management consultant since 2011. He has worked with thousands of organizational leaders to customize talent strategies and leadership solutions that drive personal and organizational growth. As a published academic, with an M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Michael has studied the mental processes and social pressures that influence effective leadership. His life-long passion for leadership, psychology, and mindfulness transcends throughout his work and interactions with others. Michael brings over 13 years of leadership coaching and management consulting experience to the corporate events he hosts.

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.

Gabrielle is a Manhattan-based content creator who writes articles with actionable tips about professional development. She’s passionate about sharing her insights to empower people to succeed in their careers.