The NHRA Rochester Affiliate is proud to present our annual HR Executive of the Year Awards. This signature event hosted by the National Human Resources Association (NHRA) - Rochester Affiliate has recognized some of the best and brightest in the field of HR in our local community.

This prestigious award will distinguish and honor HR professionals who:

• Are innovative and consistently prepare their organizations for the future.
• Make significant contributions and impact their organizations and the HR community.
• Demonstrate leadership and operational excellence.
• Inspire others to excel.

This year’s HR Executive of the Year Honorees Include:

• Lori Florack, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer - Excellus BCBS
• Stacey Milliman, Director of Human Resources & Compliance - EWASTE
• Denee Stirpe, Chief People & Talent Officer - Baldwin Richardson Foods
• Kearston Vanderstyne, Vice President of Human Resources - Quality Vision International

We are also excited to announce honorees for our annual Rising Star Awards. Designed to recognize the contributions of emerging leaders in the field of HR.

This year's Rising Star Honorees Include:

• Vicky Bournival, Associate Director, Talent Acquisition & Retention - St. Ann’s Community
• Lindsay Fleming-Stumpf, Senior Human Resources Manager - Foodlink
• Raquel Lowry, Senior Benefits & Wellness Program Manager - Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
• Anthony Manfredi, Human Resources Manager - ingredients PLUS
• Betsy Truax, Vice President, Equity & Compensation - First American Equipment Finance
• Robyn Walsh, Human Resources Partner - HR Works

Ticket Prices:

• $90 for Individual Tickets
• $650 for Table Reservation (8 Tickets Total, please list all attendees at time of purchase)
• Ticket sales are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis. 

Sponsorship: 

Interested in hearing more about sponsorship opportunities? Please visit our sponsorship page or reach out to Gina Sullivan (gsullivan@mindex.com) and Michele Ebenhoch (michele.ebenhoch@belden.com) with any questions. 

A special thanks to our Sponsors! 

Presenting:

Giveaway:

Platinum:

Gold:

JOIN US IN-PERSON or VIRTUALLY!

DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE

AGENDA

5:30 PM IN-PERSON NETWORKING (dinner included)

6:00 PM VIRTUAL SESSION BEGINS

6:05 PM LEGAL UPDATES

6:15 PM PROGRAM

7:15 PM Q&A

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Steps Drama Learning Development

Steps is a drama-based learning and development organization that has been delivering engaging and transformative learning sessions for the past 34 years. Steps is passionate about creating a learning environment where participants can discover more about themselves, their strengths and areas for development individually and collectively as a team with the aim of inspiring people to act differently. Steps has had the privilege of partnering with small local business and large global organizations focusing on all areas of Learning and Development, Talent Development, Inclusion and Belonging and more. 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Human Resource Management Certificate Program

Join our mailing list to stay informed about National Human Resources Association events and programs.

Business Financial Intelligence

 for Today’s HR Professional 

What to Expect

In this engaging session, you'll discover what your CFO wishes you knew as a strategic HR partner. Paul breaks down key financial concepts—like ROI, ROE, accruals, and cash flow—through a practical HR lens. You'll also explore how everyday HR decisions impact the 7 drivers of business financial intelligence: customer, cash flow, profit, productivity, growth, teams, and community.

Key Takeaways: 

•Build business and financial fluency to strengthen HR’s strategic impact.

•Align rewards with financial drivers to support organizational success.

•Use business acumen to enhance talent acquisition and employer branding.

•Apply financial intelligence across functions, industries, and global markets.

•Develop skills to advance into senior HR leadership roles.

Paul Butler, Co-Owner

Newleaf Training

Paul is the co-founder of Newleaf Training & Development and has collaborated with over 300 HR professionals across 9 countries and 28 states to deliver customized staff and leadership training solutions that create lasting impact. With a background as Regional Finance Director for Marriott and Hilton, Paul brings a wealth of global business experience .

He is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a member of CIMA. Known for his engaging and humorous speaking style, Paul inspires audiences with practical insights that can be immediately applied both professionally and personally. Now a proud U.S. citizen, Paul recently published his first book, Business Financial Intelligence—a mindset and skillset few people have and all organizations need, available now on Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and e-book formats.

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM  Registration & Networking
7:30 AM  Breakfast & Introductions
7:45 AM  Legal Update
8:00 - 9:00 AM  Program & Q&A 

This event is pending for 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

Cancellation & Credit Policy:

Please note that all program registrations are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend, we are happy to offer a credit toward a future program of equal or lesser value, provided that the request is submitted prior to the scheduled event date. Credit requests made after the program date will not be honored. 

Join us on August 13th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM for our annual Summer Social! 

We can't think of a better way to celebrate summer than enjoying great food and drinks at Pane Vino while networking with even better company.

Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, and include one drink ticket per person and food. We cannot wait to see you! 

Special thanks to our Primary Sponsor: Alera Group & HRWorks!

AGENDA

FEATURED NONPROFIT

Samueli Academy is a public charter school in Santa Ana, Calif., serving grades 7–12 with a mission to support foster youth and underserved students. Founded in 2013 by philanthropists Susan Samueli and Sandi Jackson, the school offers hands-on, project-based STEM learning in partnership with UCI. Its 7.1-acre campus includes cutting-edge facilities and a pioneering dormitory for foster youth. With a 98% graduation rate (100% for foster students) and 96% college attendance, Samueli Academy is nationally recognized. Beyond academics, students benefit from health services, industry mentorship, and long-term alumni support through its Youth Connected program. Learn more: https://samueliacademy.org/.

Annual Sponsors

Most leaders are struggling.

Not because they’re ineffective—but because leadership hasn’t evolved with the new reality of distributed work.

Join i4cp’s Chief Research Officer Kevin Martin, and Senior Research Analyst Mollie Lombardi on August 20th at 4pm-PT and see key findings from i4cp’s new global study, Leading from Anywhere: Driving Results in the Age of Distributed Work, based on data gathered from 800+ participants.

Register Here

If you are ready to take the next step in advancing your HR career, join us as we prepare to take the PHR/SPHR exam.  

To assist you in your preparation NHRA St. Louis offers a complimentary benefit for our members, the NHRA PHR/SPHR Study Group. Non-NHRA members may join for a fee. 

This is a structured support system and educational setting for those members who are interested in pursuing PHR and SPHR certification. Exams can be taken any date of the year.

This group will meet once a week on Thursday evenings starting September 4, 2025 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST. 

This is an excellent forum for HR certification exam prep support, learning and motivation - all facilitated by seasoned HR professionals. 

Register below to join us! 

JOIN US IN-PERSON or VIRTUALLY!

Communication Breakthrough-Understanding and Applying DISC Communication Styles in Business

What to Expect: 

Effective communication is the foundation of great businesses and great leaders, but it requires a deeper understanding of people – their behavioral tendencies, communication preferences, and motivations.  Learn about the different behavioral and communication styles of DISC including how to identify them, adapt to them, and apply them in valuable ways that will help you become an even more effective communicator, manager, and leader.  

Key Takeaways: 

• Develop an awareness, understanding and appreciation for the each of the distinctive communication and behavioral styles from DISC
• Learn how understanding, applying, and adapting to these different styles can be used to improve communication effectiveness with those both inside and outside an organization
• Get principles and ideas on how to identify and adapt to different communication styles that can improve communications, collaborations, and overall effectiveness with people both inside and outside the organization
• Learn different areas within a company that DISC can be most useful in its application from hiring, to selling, to building strong teams, to better managing team members

Ken Malouf, President, Game Time Strategies, LLC

Ken Malouf is the President and Owner of Game Time Strategies, a business and executive coaching, training, and advisory organization.  Ken helps his clients get clarity in their business goals, develop their game plans for achieving them, and build their own leadership, teams, and overall effectiveness to get them to their aspirations faster and better than they could on their own.  Put simply, it’s about empowering and inspiring good people to build strong businesses and become great leaders.

With over 20 years of business management and executive experience at top companies like Nestle and Disney and entrepreneurial companies in the dynamic toy and entertainment industry, along with a Wharton MBA, Ken also knows firsthand what it takes to build and develop successful businesses and leaders.  As a FocalPointmaster coach and certified business and executive coach, Ken is also part of an elite network of over 200 coaches worldwide.

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM  Registration & Networking
7:30 AM  Breakfast & Introductions
7:45 AM  Legal Update
8:00 - 9:00 AM  Program & Q&A 

Cancellation & Credit Policy:

Please note that all program registrations are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend, we are happy to offer a credit toward a future program of equal or lesser value, provided that the request is submitted prior to the scheduled event date. Credit requests made after the program date will not be honored. 

This event is pending for 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

JOIN US IN-PERSON or VIRTUALLY!

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE TALENT ACQUISITION FUNCTION AND STRATEGY

AGENDA

5:30 PM IN-PERSON NETWORKING (dinner included)

6:00 PM VIRTUAL SESSION BEGINS

6:05 PM LEGAL UPDATES

6:15 PM PROGRAM

7:15 PM Q&A

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Claudio Vespucci

Claudio Vespucci is a global HR executive and business partner with experience leading and driving HR strategy, vision, execution, and people.

Most recently, Claudio was vice president, Human Resources for the Global Sales & Marketing, Lifecycle Services operating segments, and Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Rockwell Automation.

Claudio led the evolution of Rockwell’s Global Talent Acquisition function to ensure the company had the people and processes in place to attract and hire great new talent to drive the business strategy. In his role, Claudio partnered closely with the Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, and with the Senior Vice President of Lifecycle Services.

Claudio brings significant global leadership expertise, having built his skills at companies with substantial software sales, including SAP, where he led the HR function for the Success Factors organization. Claudio also spent a number of years at Hewlett-Packard, where he progressed through a number of functional and business HR roles at both the global and regional levels, within the U.S. and in Europe. He has also held other HR leadership roles at Samsung and TriNet.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Human Resource Management Certificate Program

Join our mailing list to stay informed about National Human Resources Association events and programs.

Ethical AI Use and Upskilling for an AI Driven Workplace

(NOTE: This event will be offered both in-person and online. Please select the ticket type that reflects how you will attend.)

- More information to come!

James Nagy

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM Registration & Networking

7:30 -9:00 AM Program and Q&A

This event is pending for 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

Are you ready to take your HR career to the Next Level? 

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Mentoring Program, designed to empower HR professionals through invaluable connections and insights. 

Whether you're an experienced mentor or a driven mentee, this program offers a unique opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed together. 

Who is eligible?

All active NHRA members are eligible to participate as a mentor or mentee. 

Program Kick-off in October: 

• Meet your Match and other members 
• Monthly Engagement Activities
• Commit 4 - 6 hours per month over the 6-month program (this includes monthly activities, but actual time commitment may vary by the mentor/mentee match)

Monthly meetings in The Bracket Room at the Holiday Inn, dinner included. 

Register now to become a mentor or mentee! 

Once we receive your registration, we will send a quick survey to ensure that we match you with the perfect mentor. 

Legal update

(NOTE: This event will be offered both in-person and online. Please select the ticket type that reflects how you will attend.)

- More information to come!

Ryan Haws

Laura Withrow

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM Registration & Networking

7:30 -9:00 AM Program and Q&A

This event is pending for 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

Join us for our 28th Annual Benefit Auction!

Thursday, November 13th, 2025, 6:00PM at Midvale Country Club

The National Human Resources Association has focused on the development of human resources management professionals for more than 70 years. Our local Rochester Affiliate is dedicated to giving back to our community by supporting local nonprofits that work to advance employment opportunities in the Rochester region.

We are pleased to be working with Taproot Collective to support their Youth Employment Program.

· What they do: Taproot's mission is to support community gardens through programs, materials, and policy, and to use urban agriculture as the setting for high quality youth workforce development. They use a youth-led model to offer summer and school-year employment to low-income Monroe County youth ages 14+. Taproot builds long-term relationships with their youth and helps them develop skills in leadership, communication, food systems, landscaping, and carpentry that will prepare them for careers and education in a variety of fields.

Don’t forget about Tax Deductions! (check with your accounting professional)

Contact Janine Corea: 585-721-4144 or corea@hrworks-inc.com

for more information

Stay Ahead of Employment Law Changes: Join Our 2026 Legal Update

California has long been, and remains, one of the most challenging states in the country for employers. With a myriad of new laws and case developments, 2025 promises to continue California’s reputation as a complicated labyrinth for employment law compliance.

Join NHRA Orange County and featured speakers Maria Stearns and Brandon Sylvia from Rutan & Tucker, LLP for the 2026 Legal Update to hear about important employment law changes. They will summarize new employment laws for 2025, discuss significant cases from 2025 and their anticipated impact on employers.

Attendees will learn about the new and evolving laws and regulations governing workplaces and compliant practices, and gain insight into identifying potential problem areas for further analysis and risk mitigation.

Annual Sponsors