
Minneapolis CHRO Virtual Executive Summit
December 1, 2020 | 8:00am - 1:15pm CST
December 1, 2020 | 8:00am - 1:15pm CST
Collaborate with your peers
Come together with your peers virtually to tackle top business challenges through peer-driven content and discussions at the Minneapolis CHRO Virtual Executive Summit.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CHROs today:
The Future of Work and Organizational Culture
Actionable Strategy for DE&I
Employee Sentiment and Engagement
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Ismat Aziz
US Bank
Chief Advocacy Officer

Patience Ferguson
City of Minneapolis
Chief Human Resources Officer

Melissa Kremer
Target
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer

Laurie Marsh
Ecolab
EVP, Human Resources

Carol Surface, Ph.D.
Medtronic
Chief Human Resources Officer
Agenda
December 1, 2020
11:00am - 12:00pm CST Virtual Summit Boardroom
Build the New World of Work on a Foundation of People Success
Hosted by Glint

Pat Schmitt
VP, Organizational Effectiveness & CHRO
UCare Health

Alice Wastag
Sr. People Science Consultant
Glint

Janet Hogan
SVP, Human Resources
Hormel
The path to the new world of work is different for each organization. But businesses that listen to their employees and help them adapt to change will set themselves up for long-term success.
In this session you will explore how to:
- Respond rapidly to your organization’s changing needs
- Create a thoughtful recovery plan that’s tailored to your unique situation
- Transform your strategy for long-term success by putting your people at the center
11:00am - 12:00pm CST Virtual Summit Boardroom
Wellness, Wellbeing and Everything in Between
Hosted by Gympass

Nikki Salenetri
VP of HR
Gympass

Kelly Baker
EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer
Pentair

Carol Grannis
Chief Self Esteem Builder
Self Esteem Brands
Wellness is different in 2020. As people struggle to balance home and work while coping with unprecedented uncertainty and stress, taking time for self-care is vital to resiliency. Employers have stepped up in many ways to support the workforce, and employees are taking advantage of these resources in record numbers.
Join this virtual boardroom to discuss:
- How wellness benefits correlate with employee engagement
- Trends in wellbeing and how employers can support the workforce
- The future of wellness in a remote environment
11:00am - 12:00pm CST Virtual Summit Boardroom
Sustaining the Present While Planning for the Future

Michael Rossman
Chief Human Resources Officer
Hennepin County Minnesota

Carrie Heimer
Chief Human Resources Officer
Red Wing Shoes
The future of work is far from defined, as organizations grapple with how to scale and sustain work in a remote environment, while balancing workplace culture and employee engagement. Absent a playbook of how to manage the many moving pieces, HR leaders must collaborate to share ideas and challenges they're facing.
Join this virtual boardroom to discuss:
- Sustaining engagement in a long term remote environment
- Challenges to maintaining workplace culture
- Changes to business operations and decision making strategy
12:00pm - 12:30pm CST Networking
Community Connection — A Social (Half) Hour
8:00am - 8:45am CST Virtual Summit Keynote
DE&I — A Movement Not a Moment

Kamy Scarlett
Chief Human Resources Officer
Best Buy

Rachel Schwalbach
Director of ESG and Corporate Responsibility
C.H. Robinson

Jared Nypen
VP, Talent
Great Clips
Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace has been a goal for decades, but this year the call for meaningful change has caused organizations to shift that goal to one of their top priorities. As leaders of people and culture, CHROs must blaze a path for the movement, taking action that propels the organization forward.
Join this keynote session to hear HR leaders discuss:
- The present and future of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Substantive actions organizations can take in advancing DE&I
- Road maps to impact change
8:45am - 9:00am CST Break
9:00am - 10:00am CST Virtual Summit Boardroom
Transforming Learning and Development
Hosted by Degreed

Jenny Guldseth
Chief Human Resources Officer
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Kelly Palmer
Chief Learning Officer
Degreed

Jim Williams
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Polaris
Remote work and restrictive travel policies have accelerated the pre-existing trend towards digital-first, on-demand learning and development. But delivery is only one aspect of L&D undergoing a transformation, as organizations rethink the roles and skills they need for the future.
Join this virtual boardroom to discuss:
- Aligning your L&D offerings with the changing demands of the business
- Meeting employee expectations of a consumer-like experience
- Onboarding new workers in a remote environment
9:00am - 10:00am CST Virtual Summit Boardroom
Mental Health — Continuing the Conversation
Hosted by BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota

Ruth Hafoka Gutierrez
SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer
BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota

Patience Ferguson
Chief Human Resources Officer
City of Minneapolis

Kristi Fox
Chief Human Resources Officer
Securian Financial
Mental health and wellbeing benefits are now a top priority for HR leaders, as employees struggle with prolonged uncertainty and fears for the health and safety of their households. The workplace has quickly become a social safety net as employers work to support employees in an unprecedented way. It's not surprising that COVID-19 has raised the urgency to find solutions aimed at improving the health of millennials and caregivers, both of whom face concerning mental and physical health challenges that are being magnified by the pandemic.
Join this virtual boardroom session to discuss:
- Best practices for optimizing behavioral health benefits
- Targeted focus on the behavioral health of millennials and caregivers
- Scaling and sustaining mental health and wellbeing benefits
9:00am - 10:00am CST Virtual Summit Boardroom
Employee Engagement — More Than a Metric

Laurie Marsh
EVP, Human Resources
Ecolab

Erin Feigal
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Prime Therapeutics
Maintaining an engaged workforce as employees navigate personal stress and an uncertain future is a challenge all HR leaders are facing. Monitoring and acting on employee sentiment is a necessary lever for employers to pull to maintain engagement and productivity.
Join this virtual boardroom to discuss:
- Trends in employee sentiment and engagement
- Meaningful actions employers can take to support the workforce
- Lessons learned after a year of disruption
10:00am - 10:45am CST Virtual Summit Keynote
Leveraging AI for Talent Development and Retention
Hosted by eightfold.ai

Kamal Ahluwalia
President
eightfold.ai

Srini Nallasivan
Chief Analytics Officer
US Bank
With 2021 promising continued uncertainty, it's imperative for your business to identify, retain, and develop the right talent to meet the challenges ahead. Forward-looking organizations are already taking full advantage of powerful technologies like artificial intelligence to build the workforce of the future.
This keynote session will cover:
- What future of the global workforce looks like
- Jobs lost, jobs gained, jobs changed - how AI can make you more proactive in managing talent
- How data and AI will change expectations of HR and business leaders
10:45am - 11:00am CST Break
December 1, 2020
Community Program Manager
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