Cleveland HR Star Conference Thursday, August 6, 2026 Featured Presenters Christopher Boucher, Esq., AWI-CH, CLRM, SHRM-SCP is a Founding Attorney at Boucher Law and a Keynote Speaker. Christopher’s practice focuses on labor and employment law. His expertise includes representing employers in a union environment, including labor negotiations, and the meaning and application of labor contract provisions. He also serves as trusted counsel to employers throughout California regarding workplace investigations, employee discipline, grievance issues, reasonable accommodation issues and other labor and employment law matters. In addition, his clients value his practical HR experience. Prior to entering private practice, Christopher spent over a decade as a seasoned human resources executive with a broad spectrum of experience, including municipalities, public utilities, aviation, maritime, special districts, K-12 as well as higher education. Most notably, Christopher served as the Director of Human Resources for the Port of Oakland from 2014 to 2018. As an experienced workplace investigator, Christopher holds the Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder credential, in addition to serving as part-time faculty for the Association’s Training Institute for Workplace Investigators. Christopher has been featured as a “Top Five Rising Stars” by Human Resource Executive magazine, and has received many prominent recognitions for his accomplishments as an attorney, including America’s Top 50 Lawyers, MyLegalWin's Top 10 Employment Attorneys and Top Lawyer by the American Institute of Legal Advocates. Christopher earned his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and graduated cum laude with a J.D. from the Abraham Lincoln University School of Law. In addition, he received a professional certificate from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and attended the Harvard Negotiation Institute at Harvard Law School. Seth P. Briskin, Esq. is Managing Partner of Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis where he is Chair of the Labor & Employment group as well as Chair of the Affirmative Action & OFCCP Compliance group. Mr. Briskin provides labor and employment counsel to private, public sector and non-profit organizations. He represents employers and executives in employment litigation, wage and hour matters, non-competition and trade secret litigation, workers’ compensation claims/appeals, union organizing drives, collective bargaining, labor arbitrations and all manner of disputes involving the NLRB, OSHA, EEOC, OCRC, BWC and the Department of Labor. In addition, he prepares employment and consulting contracts, confidentiality and non-competition agreements and advises clients on severance packages and separation agreements. Before joining the firm Mr. Briskin practiced at boutique and general practice law firms where he developed his experience in all areas of labor and employment law. He also interned for the National Labor Relations Board. Honored as an "Ohio Super Lawyer” from 2015-2025, Seth frequently speaks on labor and employment law issues. He serves as an Officer on the Executive Boards of the Cleveland Leadership Center, American Jewish Committee, Beachwood Chamber of Commerce and the Cleveland Jewish News. Mr. Briskin earned his B.S. from Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve School of Law. Christina M. Royer, Esq., M.A. is a Partner with Employment Law Partners. She has practiced exclusively in the area of employment law representing individuals since 2004. Chris brings a breadth of experience in the area, in particular, her knowledge and skill regarding Ohio unemployment compensation law. Chris was selected as a "Rising Star" from 2009 to 2011 by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine, and she has also been selected as a "Super Lawyer" in the area of Employment Law by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine since 2012. Chris's practice includes representing individuals in cases involving employment discrimination and retaliation, unemployment compensation claims, non-compete agreements and severance negotiations. Chris is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, where she has served on the Board and the Amicus Committee since 2007. She also served as Chair of the Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Royer is also a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, serving as the 2014-2015 Chair of the Court Rules Committee. In addition to her law practice, Chris serves individuals in the workplace as an Executive Coach. She completed the coach certification program at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland in May 2013 and also holds an Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coach Federation. Chris's coaching practice focuses primarily on working with employees whose behaviors present challenges to the organization, assisting them to enhance their performance and become effective contributors in the workplace. She also coaches individuals who are seeking to attain greater career satisfaction and work/life balance, as well as assisting them to build or hone leadership skills. Chris was recently appointed as adjunct faculty at Cleveland State University teaching Human Resources topics to graduate level students in the Diversity Management Program. Chris is a frequent speaker on topics relating to employment issues. Chris earned her M.A. from Kent State University and her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law, Summa Cum Laude. Amy B. Shannon is both the President of Pinnacle Leadership Solutions as well as a Partner in Your Partner in HR. She has specialized in organizational development, human resources and training for over 25 years. Amy’s past roles include 15 years as Director of Human Resources with Western-Southern Enterprise and Kendle International. In both organizations, Amy built nationally recognized corporate universities. Kendle College served 1300 employees in 8 countries taught in 3 languages. She has also served as Executive Director of Corporate College where she built leadership training curriculum for her clients. Amy currently works in roles ranging from executive coach to strategic planning expert to facilitator to trainer. She holds certifications from several national training vendors and is also a certified mediator. In addition, Amy was a featured speaker at The Corporate University Week at Disney Institute and has been a regular presenter at the HR Star Conference for the past 18 years including in Atlanta - and next year in Los Angeles. Jennifer Corso, Esq. is a Partner at Petronzio Schneier Co. LPA and has represented organizations in labor and employment law for almost 30 years. Jennifer offers employers a proactive approach to employment matters, innovative solutions and top-rate advocacy in defending employee claims. She is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in Labor and Employment Law and represents employers in federal, state and appellate courts. Jennifer also performs workplace investigations, employment practices audits, supervisory training and employment counseling. In addition she represents clients participating in mediation, arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution procedures involving employment matters. She has written several articles and has spoken at numerous events on employment law topics. Jennifer has been named both a “Super Lawyer” (2015-2023) and a “Rising Star Super Lawyer” (2005) by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, which identifies outstanding Ohio lawyers who have demonstrated superior professional potential. Jennifer is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and earned her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Susan Pyles, MA is the Vice President, Professional Development at ERC where she oversees delivery of all client service solutions. An award-winning human resource leader, Susan brings more than 20 years of achievements in talent management and assessment, performance management, employee experience, HR analytics, leadership development, coaching and workforce planning. Susan has leadership experience in many industries, including manufacturing, retail, financial services, health care and academia. Previously as Director, Global Talent Management & HR Business Partner at MTD Products, Susan was responsible for talent acquisition, planning and development, HR analytics and employee engagement. Susan led a variety of global initiatives at MTD, including talent review, succession planning, leadership competency, 360 assessment, performance management as well as the launch of an online learning solution. Prior to MTD Susan was Manager, Talent Development at Invacare. Before that she was Practice Leader & Senior Consultant at ERC, where she led a variety of initiatives, including performance management, career development, executive coaching, leadership development, talent assessments and strategic planning projects. Before originally joining ERC Susan spent a decade in the learning and performance department of Ohio Savings/AmTrust Bank, ultimately leading the department as Vice President. Under her leadership, Ohio Savings was a multi-year recipient of ERC’s NorthCoast 99 Award and Training Magazine’s Top 100 Award. Susan carries nearly a dozen certifications, holds a Bachelor of Business Management degree from Ohio University and holds a Master of Arts degree from Kent State University. Sonya Weiland, PHR, SHRM-CP is the Founder of Your Partner in HR based in Northeast Ohio. Focused on building positive relationships as a strategic partner with clients, Sonya has partnered with senior executives developing talent management and HR solutions with clear links to business results. Her expertise includes creating, designing and implementing training, coaching and HR systems for clients such as Sandridge Foods, PIRHL Contractors, Taleris Credit Union and Ralston Instruments. Sonya is certified as a Professional in Human Resources through HRCI and is an active member of both SHRM and The Cleveland Coach Federation and has contributed to articles in The Cleveland Plain Dealer and various business publications. Sonya is recognized as an enthusiastic and interactive speaker and trainer supporting various companies, non-profit organizations and associations. A strong advocate for community involvement, Sonya serves on an advisory board and supports multiple non-profit organizations. Sonya is a graduate of John Carroll University. Cathi Canfield is the Vice President of Talent Development and Social Responsibility at Employbridge where she focuses on the upskilling of hourly workers and making a positive impact in communities served by the company. Cathi has been deeply invested in the development of Employbridge’s thought leadership and insights, including the Voice of the American Workforce survey, Employbridge’s Better WorkLife Academy and the Life Skills Studio. These efforts seek to improve associates’ work lives through empathy, understanding, education and stability, which leads to higher engagement and longevity with customers. Before joining Employbridge, Cathi worked with regional economic development groups and utility companies attracting and growing new business. Cathi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Government from Smith College. Tom Wirbel, MBA is Vice President of Alera Group. Originally joining CPI-HR as a Benefits Consultant, through innovative and successful strategies Tom has achieved notable results in aiding client-companies manage the escalating costs of health insurance. Motivated by client feedback that continues to point to health insurance as the number one HR concern, Tom focuses his expertise on developing and designing employee benefit plans. Throughout his career, Tom has also acted as an HR consultant to small and medium-sized businesses in Northeastern Ohio. A native of Cleveland, Tom graduated from John Carroll University with a BSBA and earned an MBA from Cleveland State University. Wendy Eldridge, MBA is a Retirement Plan Advisor with Carnegie Investment Counsel. She brings over 25 years of experience helping companies nationwide with their retirement plan benefits. Wendy is a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) and served on the 2025 NAPA 401(k) Summit steering committee. She is also a member of the Women in Pension Network (WIPN). Wendy holds a BSBA from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Kent State University. Wendy is an active volunteer for Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where she has served as the President of the Loyola Society. She also sits on the board of the West 30th St. Huddle. Wendy believes that every person deserves the opportunity to be on the path to a successful retirement. Tom Ault, MBA is Senior Solutions Consultant and Trainer at ERC. Tom has over 25 years of international experience in leadership effectiveness and operational development in 17 different countries. Previous to joining ERC Tom was Business Improvement Manager and Senior Organization Development Specialist at Diebold, Inc. His wide range of accomplishments include: leading LEAN Six Sigma deployment, implementing large-scale team certification, facilitating global leadership sessions and saving over $90 million for Diebold. In addition Tom's expertise includes training and consulting in performance management, team building, strategic planning, 360-degree assessments, change management and conflict management. Tom earned his Executive MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College and his B.S. in Accounting from West Liberty State College. Also he holds a Motorola Six Sigma Green Belt and has been through the Case Weatherhead Diebold Sales Leadership program. Tom's certifications include Master Trainer, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and The Leadership Circle 360. Kara Stafford, M.Ed., CPTD® is the Founder & President of Habit Leadership where she helps leaders and teams turn learning into practice to drive motivation, engagement and performance. With 25 years of experience in leadership and talent development, she has partnered with organizations including KeyBank, Progressive Insurance, ERC, YWCA Greater Cleveland, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and CareSource. Kara is a certified trainer with Jon Gordon Companies, delivering programs on mindset, leadership and teamwork. She also holds credentials in MBTI®, DEI, Human Performance Improvement and virtual facilitation. She earned her Master’s in Adult Learning and Development from Cleveland State University and is pursuing a certificate in Psychology of Leadership from Cornell University. Kara has spoken for Ohio ATD chapters and most recently presented at the 2024 Training Magazine Conference. Known for her practical and engaging style, Kara facilitates, consults and coaches to help build stronger workplace cultures one habit at a time. Braden Albert is the Founder and President of the HR Star Conference and its parent company, Abbington Court Media. A graduate of Yale University Braden began organizing job fairs and trade shows in the mid-1990's. Intrigued by the idea of bringing people together for a shared, learning experience - and impressed by the impact such an experience can provide - Braden organized his first HR Star Conference in 1999. Today the scope of the HR Star Conference includes annual events in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Cleveland, Ohio where he is based. Over 1,725 HR professionals attended an HR Star Conference in 2025.