Devin C. Hughes

Devin C. Hughes

Devin C. Hughes isn’t your average leadership speaker—unless your average speaker has a TED-worthy sense of humor, a black belt in culture transformation, and a résumé that includes everyone from Disney to the Department of Defense.

An award-winning speaker, author, and globally sought-after expert on organizational culture and team dynamics, Devin helps leaders and teams do more than check the box on engagement—he shows them how to light it on fire (in the good way). He’s got a sixth sense for sniffing out stale workplaces and helping turn them into thriving, connected ecosystems where people actually want to show up.

Named one of Peoplehum’s Top 200 Thought Leaders to Watch in 2025, Devin holds a BA from Colgate University and an MS from Southern New Hampshire University. His work spans Fortune 100 giants, scrappy startups, and mission-driven organizations that want more than just another PowerPoint parade.

He doesn’t just talk about better workplaces—he helps build them.

Lonely, Burned Out, and Checked Out: How HR Can Fight Back

The United Health Organization just confirmed what many of us already feel: America is facing an epidemic of loneliness. After years of isolation, upheaval, and disconnection, it’s no wonder—but it’s a huge problem. And it’s not just personal. Loneliness is quietly wrecking workplaces, crushing performance, killing engagement, and tanking productivity.

The big question: What can HR actually do about it?

Devin isn’t here to sugarcoat it. He’s bringing real, research-backed strategies to help leaders at every level rebuild something better—a culture built on civility, real human connection, and workplaces where people feel like they matter.

In this session, you’ll learn how to spot toxic patterns before they spiral, how to cut down the staggering costs of conflict and disengagement, and how to create a team culture where belonging isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the backbone.

Get ready for fresh, actionable insights on:

• Building authentic connections across in-person, remote, and hybrid teams
• Developing real empathy for the experiences of others (no performative stuff here)
• Recognizing and celebrating employees in ways that mean something
• Building a Culture of Civility and Authentic Connections: Implement best practices to foster environments where employees know they matter, whether in-person, remote, or hybrid.
• Identifying Negative Workplace Patterns: Learn how to recognize unhealthy team dynamics early and address them proactively.
• Mitigating the Costs of Conflict: Discover actionable steps to reduce workplace conflict, minimize disengagement, and cultivate a productive, connected team.
• Understanding Workforce Trends: Explore the latest research on connection in the workplace and what it means for employee satisfaction and success.

The workplace is changing. Let’s make sure it changes for the better.

Travis Daniel

Dale Carnegie Washington & Idaho

Travis is the local President & Owner for Dale Carnegie Training in Washington State & Idaho. He helps develop individuals and businesses to be more on purpose; giving them tools to increase their performance levels and outpace their competition.

Communicating with Different Personality Styles

In today’s world our human connection is more important than ever. Psychologists have identified four personality styles. When we begin to understand the four different styles it helps us relate and communicate at a higher level. Knowing our own personality style is one of the most important elements to help reach across barriers and connect with others. When we can effectively connect with others we gain more collaboration, resulting in positive results. During this session you will gain insights to:

• Identify their own personality style.
• Modify your communication to align with other behaviors to styles, resulting in more aligned communication.
• Influence the attitudes and behaviors of others.

Chance Brimhall

New Era HR Solutions

Chance is the President and CEO of New Era Staffing & HR Solutions. With more than 21 years of experience in HR, recruiting, and workforce solutions, he is a seasoned business consultant known for helping organizations thrive by attracting, retaining, and developing people and teams.

As President and CEO, Chance brings vision, strategic direction, and a people-first approach to every engagement. He is recognized for developing innovative strategies that align talent solutions with business goals, fostering long-lasting client partnerships, and empowering teams to deliver at the highest level. His leadership continues to position New Era as a trusted partner for organizations navigating today’s complex workforce landscape.

Leading Through Change: Building Adaptive and Resilient Organizations

Organizations are facing constant disruption — from technology shifts to evolving employee expectations. Success now depends on resilient teams, adaptive leaders, and intentional culture design. This session highlights practical steps HR and business leaders can take to build adaptability into their organizations, strengthen employee engagement, and foster cultures that thrive in change.

Outline:

1. The New Reality – Why adaptability and resilience are essential competencies for organizations in 2025–26.

2. The Human Factor – How leadership style, culture, and employee engagement directly drive organizational agility.

3. Practical OD Tools – Frameworks like SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results), change models, and coaching practices leaders can apply immediately.

4. Talent as a Lever – How intentional hiring, leadership development, and workforce planning strengthen resilience.

5. From Surviving to Thriving – Real-world examples and actionable steps HR and Operations leaders can implement to embed adaptability in their teams.

Key Takeaways:

• Gain a clear framework for building adaptability into both people and processes.
• Understand how leadership behaviors, culture, and workforce strategies shape organizational resilience.
• Leave with practical OD tools and examples to immediately start strengthening resilience in your organization.

Catharine Morisset

Fisher Phillips

Catharine is a litigation partner at Fisher Phillips, representing employers in all aspects of workplace law. She uses her litigation experience to work closely with clients to provide effective preventive counseling and workforce training. Catharine is an experienced management and workforce trainer, sharing her legal knowledge and experience in an accessible, dynamic, and interactive manner.

Laws, Lawsuits & Landmines: Staying Ahead in 2026

In this session, Catharine will highlight some of the important legal updates that span across the background screening industry and programs for employers, as well as what she believes are the most important pitfalls to look out for related to newer or upcoming laws and regulations. These include, WA State House Bill 1747, an expansion of the already in place Fair Chance Act, Pay Transparency, Senate Bill 5501, and any other class action lawsuits that her firm has been dealing with this year and beyond. Lastly, a brief discussion on why employers should not have their screening vendor adjudicate criminal records on the employers’ behalf.