SPEAKERS
Shari Harley – Candid Culture, Founder and President
Shari Harley, author of the book How to Say Anything to Anyone, is known globally as an engaging, funny, content-rich business speaker. Her international training firm, Candid Culture, is making it easier to tell the truth at work. Shari is bringing candor back to the workplace. A former HR practitioner and operations leader, Shari’s practical approach has led her to speak and train in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Dubai and Australia. From ‘Making Meetings Work’ and ‘Delegating Better’ to ‘Managing Your Career’ and ‘Saying Anything to Anyone,’ Shari’s tips are sure to delight and inform in a real, direct and very funny way.
Edwin Foulke – Attorney, Partner, Fisher Phillips LLC
Ed Foulke is the only attorney in the country confirmed by the U.S. Senate to run the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He is currently a partner in the Atlanta office and the Washington, D.C. Metro office located in Arlington, Virginia. He is the former co-chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group. He is also the President of Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions, LLC.
Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Ed was the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health named by President George W. Bush He served from April 2006 to November 2008. During his tenure at OSHA, workplace injury, illness and fatality rates dropped to their lowest levels in recorded history.
For more than 30 years, Ed has worked in the labor and employment area, focusing on occupational safety and health issues, workplace violence risk assessment and prevention, whistleblower protection, and accident and fatality prevention. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on occupational safety and health and is a frequent keynote speaker and lecturer on workplace safety, leadership development, and other labor and employment topics.
Ed has testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Congressional Committees on occupational safety and health issues and appeared on CBS “60 Minutes.
He also served on the OSHA Review Commission in Washington, D.C., chairing the Commission from March 1990 to February 1994. Ed is the only person in the United States to serve as both head of OSHA and Chairman of the Review Commission. Ed was named one of the “50 Most Influential EHS Leaders” by both EHS Today (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013) and Occupational Hazards (2008) magazines.
Ed currently serves on the EHS Today Safety Leadership Board of Directors and on safety committees for the Georgia Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Poultry Association, , the National Association of Tower Erectors, and the American Foundry Association.
Gary Chambers – Co-Founder and COO, Premier Virtual
Gary Chambers is from Houston TX and currently living in South FL. He spent 9 years in the recruiting/event organization industry, when 3 years ago, his business partner had the idea to pivot towards virtual events. They determined rather than hosting events in different cities and incurring expenses for venues along with travel time and costs, that virtually they could host multiple events in multiple cities all at the same time at the same location. After exploring and testing some of the virtual platforms that were available at that time, they decided that nothing available could meet the needs of their current clients, so they decided to have their own virtual event software developed. They were 15 months into development when Covid restrictions were enforced last year, and the two decided they couldn’t wait any longer to market. A little over a year later Premier Virtual has hosted over 2,000 events, with more than 2,500 organizations and 200,000 attendees participating. Since early 2020, The Premier Virtual team has grown from 3 to over 20 and voted one of the best places to work in Florida.
Gary is also a full-time firefighter/paramedic for Broward County Fire Rescue in FL, so he has become proficient in maximizing his time to maintain a high-level proficiency and continuous learning between the two professions.
Zach Shifflet – Premier Virtual
Zach Shifflett is the Director of Business Solutions at Premier Virtual. Originally from Michigan and coming from a background geared towards sales and leadership, Zach has over 15 years of experience in both capacities. Zach has been with Premier Virtual for close to 2 years now. He was drawn to his current position by the prospect of selling and leading others to sell and use a product he truly believes in, the Premier Virtual platform.
John Jenks – Economic Initiatives Director, Wyoming Business Council
John is currently Economic Initiatives Director at the Wyoming Business Council (WBC). He joined the WBC in August of 2022. In his capacity, John identifies strategies, opportunities, and barriers to achieving sustained and vibrant economic growth for the State of Wyoming. Prior to this role, he was Director of Public Policy at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. At the Chamber, he oversaw the Chamber’s advocacy work in the Kansas and Missouri Legislatures.
He also founded and led the Chamber’s Workforce Opportunities for Returning Citizens Initiative which reemploys and reintegrates justice-involved individuals. As a part of this initiative, John also successfully led local, state, and federal efforts to enact policies to help returning citizens transition after incarceration. He also created the Chamber’s Greater KC Report economic dashboard that recognizes crucial economic and policy areas in Kansas City. John has a deep passion for economic development, policy, and politics and has served on campaigns.
John grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from the University of Mississippi’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and Trent Lott Public Policy Leadership School with a degree in Public Policy Leadership and Economics and a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications.
Melody Norris – Education & Training Specialist, DWS
Melody Norris is the Reentry Coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. She has worked for DWS for over three years and piloted the Career Compass Program. This program was created with the Department of Corrections and allows DWS to intervene while the offender is still incarcerated. She helped facilitate the Pathway Home 3 Grant which was awarded to DWS in July 2022. This grant will expand the Career Compass Program to all five correctional facilities. Her experience of working for the DOC for over 12 years has helped bridge the two departments together.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is currently working on her Masters of Arts in Education.
Mike Keller – Senior Director of Veteran Services, Volunteers of America Northern Rockies
Mike Keller is the Senior Director of Veteran Services for Volunteers of America Northern Rockies. Mike has been working with Veterans to find healing from moral injuries for over 15 years. Since joining Volunteers of America, Mike created the Mending Moral Injuries, Healing Wounded Souls peer-led program for Veterans. He currently oversees the Supportive Services for Veteran Families housing program and the SSG Gordon Parker Fox Suicide Prevention program. Volunteers of America serves to harness hope and re-shape futures through a faith-based ministry.
Trevor Mansfield – WIOA Policy Deputy Administrator, DWS
Trevor Mansfield is the Deputy Administrator for the WIOA Policy Team for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. Trevor began his career as a mental health case manager working with severely and persistently mentally ill individuals before joining the Department of Workforce Services. Before his current role, Trevor has been a Workers’ Compensation Claims Analyst, a Wyoming Preference Act compliance officer, and manager of the Preference Act Compliance Unit.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems, with a minor in Sociology and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting with a specialization in Organizational Leadership.
Shaye Moon – Business Training & Support Unit Program Manager, DWS
Shaye Moon is the Program Manager for the Business Training and Support Unit at the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. This unit oversees Apprenticeships and the Workforce Development Training Fund business training grants. Shaye has worked for DWS since 2007 when she moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming from Helena, Montana. She has served DWS as a Regional Manager, Program Consultant, and Rehabilitation Counselor for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation prior to making the transition to her current role with the Business Training and Support Unit in the Spring of 2021.
Outside of work, Shaye enjoys spending time with family and friends camping at the lake or in the mountains whenever possible.
Sharon Geissler – Workforce Development Training Fund Program Lead, DWS
Sharon Geissler is a detail-oriented, self-motivated professional with a strong customer service orientation. She has exceptional interpersonal communication skills and excels in working both independently and collaboratively in team environments.
Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Services that took her into the Hospitality and Tourism industry early in her career. She transitioned her communication skills and exemplary customer service focus to opportunities in Property Management, Business Consulting, and as a business owner with her husband for 19 years. Given an opportunity to pivot, Sharon earned her Elementary Education licensure and became a teacher in the public-school system. Moving to Wyoming as her husband completed his military career, she has brought all of her past experiences into play as the Workforce Development Training Fund (WDTF) Program Lead. She is excited to be able to help Wyoming businesses develop their workforce and her primary focus is learning what each business needs and how WDTF might be able to support them in their training endeavors.
As empty-nesters, Sharon and her husband of 28 years spend time traveling, camping, hiking, kayaking and swimming with their fur babies when not working or traveling to see their four children, spread out around the country.
Ivie Moore – Apprenticeship State Expansion Program Lead, DWS
Ivie grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has been with the Department of Workforce Services since April of 2020, starting in the role of the Apprenticeships State Expansion Grant and Contract Analyst. As of February 2021, Ivie transitioned into the role of Program Lead for the Apprenticeship State Expansion where she worked to expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs in new and non-traditional occupations.
When her team is not collaborating with businesses across the state on behalf of registered apprenticeship programs, you can find Ivie spending free time with friends and family, hiking, fishing, playing with her 2 dogs, and in the gym! Ivie is very motivated to support existing registered apprenticeship programs and create new programs with employers across the state of Wyoming.
Lauren White – Risk Management Manager, DWS
Lauren was born and raised in Cheyenne and is a graduate of Central High School. Lauren has an Associate’s Degree in Health Sciences and a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology & Health Promotion. She has been with the Department of Workforce Services since 2014 as a Claims Analyst for Workers’ Compensation. In November 2016, she was promoted to Risk Manager and became certified in ergonomics in June 2017, and has since performed many ergonomic assessments. In 2020, she obtained her Certified Risk Manager designation through the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Lauren started leading the Risk Management team in December 2021 and continues to contribute to a variety of other divisions within DWS, making her an excellent resource for employers in Wyoming.
Ricardo Lind-Gonzalez – Risk Manager, DWS
Ricardo grew up in Casper, but he found his home and career in Cheyenne. Ricardo became a first-generation college graduate when he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming. Ricardo volunteers his time as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2019. He began with the Department of Workforce Services as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Analyst in March 2020 until he was promoted to Risk Manager in July 2022. As part of the Risk Management team, Ricardo manages the Deductible Program and the Student Learner Agreements. Starting January 2023, he will begin his journey toward becoming a Certified Risk Manager.
Alyssa Quinn – Risk Manager, DWS
Alyssa Quinn is Texas born but was eventually transplanted in Wyoming after several moves as a child with her military family. She plans on staying in the great state of Wyoming for the long haul. She studied Marketing and Finance at the University of Wyoming and graduated May of 2017 earning her Bachelor’sDegree in Marketing with a concentration in Customer Experience Management and a Minor in Finance. Prior to working for the State of Wyoming, Alyssa worked as a contracted FEMA Grants Compliance Specialist under the Disaster Recovery Reimbursement Program for the State of Florida and for the State of Louisiana. Alyssa started with the Department of Workforce Services in January of 2020 working as a Claims Analyst for the Division of Workers’ Compensation. In July of 2022, she was promoted to her current position with the Division as a Risk Manager. Alyssa manages discount programs and helps promote a safety culture and safety education across the state of Wyoming.
Michelle Sullivan – Wyoming After School Alliance
Michelle Sullivan is Director of the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance, a Priority Fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation. Most of Sullivan’s professional life has focused on the development of dynamic and connected communities. She has a particular interest in bridging the science of learning & development to practice. Sullivan has served as a member and former chair of the Wyoming State Board of Education, a Commissioner for State Parks and Cultural Resources and was appointed to the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees in 2015.
The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance a statewide network committed to helping create the conditions for all Wyoming youth to reach their full potential. It is a part of a 50-state network funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation dedicated to broadening afterschool and summer learning opportunities for youth.
Lee Williams – Workers’ Compensation Business Consultant, DWS
Lee Williams has been employed with the State of Wyoming for over twenty years. In 2001, Lee began his career as an inmate crew supervisor for a Type II wildland fire hand crew with the Forestry Division of State Lands and Investments. Lee was promoted to Site Manager for the program in 2004 and served in that role until 2014.
In 2014, Lee returned to the University of Wyoming to augment his degrees in criminal justice and fire science with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences, graduating in May of 2017. Lee joined the Workforce Services Division in the fall, 2017 as a Business Consultant. In February of this year, Lee moved into the Business Unit Manager position. Lee thoroughly enjoys educating employers on the Wyoming Preference Act, assisting them in obtaining residency certificates and answering any questions that arise.
In his free time, Lee enjoys participating in equine events with his wife and six horses and enjoying the outdoors in beautiful Wyoming.
Hayley McKee – Prosper Public Relations
Hayley McKee is a strategic communications professional with more than fifteen years of experience in journalism, politics and the public relations fields. Expertise includes speech writing, public affairs, executive management, strategic messaging, and digital communication methods. Political communications experience includes advising roles to a U.S. Senator and a U.S. Congresswoman.
Lydia Davidson – Regional Supervisory Investigator, OSHA Region VIII, Whistleblower Protection Program
Lydia Davidson is the Regional Supervisory Investigator for OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program in Region VIII. She supervises a team of investigators who enforce the provisions of more than 20 federal whistleblower protection laws protecting employees from retaliation in the workplace. Lydia has an advanced degree in social work and over 13 years experience in the federal government enforcing anti-discrimination laws.
Sara Penney – Regional Investigator, OSHA Region VIII, Whistleblower Protection Program
Sara Penney is a Regional Investigator for OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program in Region VIII. She investigates and enforces the provisions of more than 20 federal whistleblower protection laws protecting employees from retaliation in the workplace. Sara has a criminal justice and legal studies degree and over 15 years experience in the federal government enforcing federal laws.
Daniel Glowatz is originally from Denver, Colorado, but currently resides in Cheyenne, Wy. He has spent the last 15 years in Health and Safety in multiple fields, from Oil and Gas, Heavy Civil, Mining (Surface and Underground), and Manufacturing. Mr. Glowatz has sat on the Wyoming Youth Challenge Academy Board and the Wyoming Oil and Gas Industry Safety Alliance. He obtained his degree in Occupational Safety and Health in 2014 from Columbia Southern University. He is involved with multiple safety groups, from the ASSP Colorado Chapter (American Society Of Safety Professionals), AGC of Colorado and Wyoming, and OSHA VPP. Mr. Glowatz holds multiple safety certifications through the Board of Certified Safety professionals and continues to lead the charge in Wyoming to help/mentor other Safety professionals earn safety credentials. He has also developed a successful online Mining Safety program for Parts 46 and 48, surface and underground.
Casey Dreux – Shur-Sales
Casey Dreux is a Colorado Native. Before starting with Shur-Sales in 2017, he worked in industrial distribution as a District Manager. Casey strives to be a quality resource for safety programs. He is always working to improve his presentations/training to make them as engaging and informational as possible. When Casey is not working, he enjoys working on his house, playing hockey or (occasionally) golf, and spending time with his wife and son.
Matt Schmidt – Shur-Sales
Matt Schmidt comes from the great state of Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in Kearney with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Distribution. He started working with Shur-Sales right out of college in 2007. Matt is extremely competitive and a hard worker. When he is not doing demos in Colorado or New Mexico, he is spending time with his wife, Lexi and his dog, Tyrion. He loves to travel, camping in Colorado, and long walks on the beach.
Dave Francis – National Safety Director, Little Giant Ladder Systems
David Francis has been in the ladder business for over thirty years. As a college student, he cleaned the offices of Little Giant Ladder Systems at night and has stayed with the company ever since. Working his way up the ladder (pun intended), Dave became the Director of R&D and holds five U.S. patents for improvements in ladder design. He is now the National Safety Director, with the sole purpose of preventing ladder accidents and hopefully saving lives by promoting ladder safety training and innovation in safe ladder design. His goal is the same as yours, getting everyone home to their families at the end of the day.
Brenda Reedy – Human Resources Manager, Wyoming Supreme Court
Over her twenty-plus year career, Brenda Reedy is a strong Human Resources professional with a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General, from Colorado State University. Now the Human Resources Manager with the Wyoming Supreme Court, Brenda has also worked as the Recruiting Manager and then the Human Resources Manager for the Wyoming Department of Corrections. She is skilled in Employee Relations, Coaching, Government, Law Enforcement, Policy Development and Public Speaking.
Lexie Garrett – CEO, Alexis Drake
Based out of downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, Lexie Garrett, founder and CEO of Alexis Drake, had its beginnings in 2013 in her garage on nights + weekends while working as a full-time elementary art teacher.
Her concept of creating a timeless collection, made from high-quality materials, along with the ability to customize—all while manufactured in-house, gave her customers a new connection to the people + the process of their handbag’s creation.
Alexis Drake currently has two locations, their flagship retail showroom + manufacturing space in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming and their newest retail space located in Ft. Collins, Colorado in Jessup Farm.
Today, not only can customers shop the seasonal collection, everyday favorites, or customize the many, available styles, but they can see the production team at work AND be part of the process. Lexie hosts workshops and parties to experience making in other creative ways. Leather scrap parties, bracelet-making workshops and more can be experienced while visiting their working studio.
Lexie was named Entrepreneur of the Year for 2020 by Wyoming Council for Women and she was named as part of Forbes Next 1000 for 2021. Alexis Drake was named Small Business of the Year by the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce in 2021 and also received the Business Beautification Award for 2022.
Lexie lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with her husband Tyler and two children, Jack + Genevieve. They enjoy traveling for sports as well as hiking, hunting + spending time with friends + family.
Laurel Vicklund – Chief Social Responsibility Officer, Peregrine Global Services
For most of her career, Laurel was an Environmental Scientist and Environmental Engineer for the surface coal mines in NE Wyoming, reclaiming mined lands, permitting, and working in regulatory affairs. Reclamation balances the needs of wildlife habitat with managing the land for grazing, which results in returning the mined land to its original land use: grazing and wildlife habitat. Laurel has assisted with various reclamation studies and co-authored journal articles and conference proceedings. She received her BS with major concentration in soil from Colorado State University.
She volunteers with wildlife conservation groups such as Thunder Basin Grasslands Prairie Ecosystem Association, Northeast Wyoming Local Sage-grouse Working Group, and WyomingNatural Diversity Database, and works to change food security with the EdiblePrairie Project. She has ranched,raising sheep and cattle, and this combined with her career has provided her with a diverse perspective.
Through a lifetime of professional and personal worldwide experiences, Laurel has observed the importance of developing skilled leaders who are values-based problem solvers,as well as continually improving the delivery of quality higher education to those who want to learn. Currently, Laurel works as Chief Social Responsibility Officer for Peregrine Global Services. She supports Peregrine’s increased strategic focus on impacting local, regional, and global communities through volunteerism, philanthropy, and ethically oriented activities. She works to foster international and cross-cultural relationships, provide guidance and direction to grow the company she and her husband started. She also serves as President of the Peregrine Global Foundation, the charitable arm of the company, which directs donations to help fund educational opportunities around the world.
JoAnn Skeim-True – Petroleum Geologist
JoAnn Skeim-True is a petroleum geologist from Casper and has worked in the oil and gas industry for 20+ years. She received her BS and MBA from the University of Wyoming.
JoAnn volunteers her time with nonprofits and serves on several boards, both in Casper as well as across the state, including CASA of Natrona County, Advance Casper, Platte River Trails, the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, Wyoming Ag in the Classroom, the Central Wyoming Fair Board, and the Wyoming State Geological Survey Advisory Board. In addition, she is involved with the Cowgirl Run Fund, a nonpartisan political action committee (PAC) that encourages women to run for public office in Wyoming at the local and state level. She is also a Leadership Wyoming graduate.
JoAnn and her husband, their six children, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law are all fortunate to live in the great state of Wyoming. She is passionate about the geology that abounds in the state and enjoys hiking and trail running with her dog.