2026 CHRO Fall Forum

Tim Richmond is Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for AbbVie, responsible for leading a global human resources organization focused on engaging high-performing employees and amplifying a culture that drives business performance. As a result of this focus, AbbVie has been named to more than 40 Great Place to Work® and Top Employer® lists and is prominently recognized on “Best of” lists related to workplace, diversity, employee engagement, corporate responsibility and business performance.

Prior to AbbVie, Mr. Richmond served as Divisional Vice President, Compensation and Benefits at Abbott. He also held various human resources management positions at 3M Company.

Mr. Richmond is chair of the board of directors for the Human Resources Policy Association and on the board of the University of South Carolina’s Center for Executive Succession. Mr. Richmond also serves on the Board of Directors for the Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation and the Travis Manion Foundation. In 2024, he was awarded the Distinguished HR Executive Award by the HR Division of the Academy of Management and was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2020.

Mr. Richmond earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in labor and industrial relations from Michigan State University.

Timothy J. Bartl is President and CEO of CHRO Association the nation’s leading public policy association of senior human resource executives, representing nearly 400 of the largest companies operating within the United States and globally. The Association focuses on the development of U.S. human resources and employment public policy, primarily at the federal level. At the same time, the Association uses the collective strength of its membership to facilitate chief human resource officer education and enrichment, and achieve market-based improvements in HR practices as well as developing unique member offerings such as its Retiree Health Access program.

Mr. Bartl joined the Association in 1997, and prior to helping found its Center On Executive Compensation in 2008, he served as the Association’s Assistant General Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Affairs, concentrating on executive and employee compensation, government relations, employment rights and retirement security matters.

Mr. Bartl served as Chief Executive Officer of HR Policy Association’s Center On Executive Compensation, a research and advocacy organization comprised of more than 130 HR Policy Association members dedicated to providing a reasoned perspective on executive compensation. In that role, he oversaw the Center’s operations, policy and best practice development and federal advocacy activities involving executive compensation design, disclosure, governance and taxation. He is also a frequent writer and speaker on the subject.

In addition to his work with the Association and Center, Mr. Bartl is also a Partner of Tributary LLP, an association management firm specializing in health care, employment, compensation, benefits and labor law.

Mr. Bartl formerly served as Legislative Director and Counsel to former Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI), and is a graduate of Marquette University and the University of Minnesota Law School. He was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2017.

Jade Kas is Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Total Rewards and Employee Services, with enterprise responsibility for compensation, health and welfare benefits, executive compensation, and retirement programs. He also oversees employee relations and HR investigations, HR technology and operations, and Global Security.

With more than 27 years of experience at Lilly and most of those being in human resources, Jade brings a practitioner’s perspective to total rewards strategy, governance, and execution. He has held multiple HR leadership roles, including several HR business partner assignments, enabling him to pair strategic intent with practical implementation. He is known for advancing sustainable, data-informed rewards and benefits solutions that balance competitiveness, affordability, and long-term business priorities.

Simon Camaj leads Mercer’s US Health business, overseeing a team of over 2,700 colleagues focused on creating effective health benefit solutions for employers. He and his team deliver practical, customized strategies that support the health and well-being of clients and their employees. They make a difference in people’s lives by helping to tackle the biggest issues in US healthcare — every single day. Simon champions a culture where colleagues can be their best — building future leaders and scaling the skills, recognition, and innovation that drive better client outcomes and a richer colleague experience. In addition, he is a member of Mercer’s US and Canada Regional Leadership team, where he participates in and supports broader strategic business and health initiatives.

Simon brings over 20 years of industry experience with deep expertise in absence management, operations, account service delivery, and distribution leadership. At Mercer, he has most recently led the West Zone for US Health, as well as the Life, Absence and Disability, and Voluntary Benefits practices. In these roles, he has cultivated a collaborative culture focused on colleague development, strengthening Mercer’s market position and driving results. Prior to joining Mercer, Simon led distribution for Aetna’s National Accounts Group insurance business, achieving record results in the Absence, Disability, and Life portfolio.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from The University of Olivet, Olivet, Michigan.

Dr. Chris DeCou is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Amazon Health Benefits. His team is focused on reinventing health benefits on behalf of Amazonians, and ensuring that all employees and their families have access to high quality and evidence-based healthcare services. Chris also serves on the Board of Directors for the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC). He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and earned his PhD at Idaho State University. He has authored and co-authored 44 papers in peer-reviewed publications. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Chris has worked as an Alaskan wilderness guide and first responder. When not at work, Chris enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family, reading obscure books, and gardening at his home in North Bend, Washington.

Chatrane Birbal is Senior Vice President, Practice, Policy and Government Relations in the Association’s Arlington, Va. office. In this capacity Ms. Birbal is responsible for leading CHRO Association’s government relations strategy, building relationships with individuals in the U.S. Congress, Administration and regulatory agencies that oversee matters related to large employers and their workforces, including benefits, diversity and inclusion, labor, safety, immigration, and compensation policy.

Ms. Birbal brings nearly 20 years of high-level experience working in government affairs at the federal level. Most recently, she was the vice president, public policy for the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). In this role, she was directly engaged in many of the policy issues that impact the workplace and represented SHRM’s membership of over 300,000 individual HR and business executive members.

Prior to SHRM, Ms. Birbal was the director of government relations at the Council on Foundations, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit membership association of 2,000 grant making foundations and corporations, with assets totaling more than $282 billion. Ms. Birbal was also a federal legislative lobbyist at the American Psychiatric Association, a medical specialty society with over 38,000 U.S. and international member physicians who work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorders, including mental illness and substance-related disorders.

Chatrane obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Buffalo State University in Buffalo, N.Y. and received her graduate degree of public administration and public policy from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Ms. Birbal currently serves on the Board of Directors of Women in Government Relations (WGR) - the premier, non-partisan professional society dedicated to advancing and empowering women by fostering professional development and growth opportunities through a community that supports women’s leadership in government relations. She is a member of the Tax Coalition, which provides a forum for the exchange of ideas among professionals in federal tax policymaking to encourage the professional development of women in federal tax policy and Birbal also serves as a Director-at-large on George Mason University’s Alumni Board.

David Autor is the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics, codirector of the NBER Labor Studies Program and the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work. His scholarship explores the labor-market impacts of technological change and globalization on job polarization, skill demands, earnings levels and inequality, and electoral outcomes.

Autor has received numerous awards for both his scholarship — the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the Sherwin Rosen Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of Labor Economics, the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2019, the Society for Progress Medal in 2021 — and for his teaching, including the MIT MacVicar Faculty Fellowship. In 2020, Autor received the Heinz 25th Special Recognition Award from the Heinz Family Foundation for his work “transforming our understanding of how globalization and technological change are impacting jobs and earning prospects for American workers.” In 2023, Autor was selected as one of two researchers across all scientific fields as as a NOMIS Distinguished Scientist. Autor was one of five senior scholars selected by the Schmidt Sciences Foundation as an AI2050 Senior Fellow in 2024.

The Economist magazine labeled Autor in 2019 as “The academic voice of the American worker.” Later that same year, and with equal or greater justification, he was christened “Twerpy MIT Economist” by John Oliver of Last Week Tonight in a segment on automation and employment.

Autor earned a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 1999. Prior to graduate study, he spent three years directing computer skills education for economically disadvantaged children and adults in San Francisco and South Africa.

Becky Schmitt is a seasoned HR executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer (CPO) at PepsiCo. Under her leadership, PepsiCo’s global HR organization thrives, advancing the company’s mission to attract top talent and future-proof its workforce.

Since joining PepsiCo in 2023, Becky has spearheaded numerous initiatives that underscore her commitment to people management excellence.

Before PepsiCo, she was the CPO at Cognizant, where she honed her skills in managing a diverse, multinational workforce. Her tenure at Cognizant followed impressive stints at Walmart, where as Senior Vice President and CPO of Sam’s Club, she championed the career development of 100,000 associates across nearly 600 locations. Additionally, as CPO for Walmart’s U.S. eCommerce and Corporate Functions, she supported an extensive employee base of over 40,000 across 13 markets.

Becky’s career is further distinguished by her 21 years at Accenture, during which she held numerous senior HR roles globally. Notably, she led a transformative HR strategy in India, supporting the company’s growth from 45,000 to more than 70,000 employees.

Becky holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She serves on the Board of Tropicana Brands Group and the PepsiCo Foundation, further contributing to her industry expertise and leadership. Based in Purchase, N.Y., Becky continues to influence the HR landscape with her strategic vision and dedication.

Ani Huang is President, Policy and Practice of the CHRO Association, the only independent organization serving Chief Human Resource Officers and top HR executives of major multinational corporations.

Ani’s reputation and deep expertise in C-suite HR issues make her a trusted resource and confidant for CHROs and rewards executives. She regularly advises top executives and senior policymakers on human capital issues ranging from executive compensation and workforce AI to CEO succession. Her expertise also extends to the CHRO’s evolving role in driving business results by shaping corporate strategy.

As President, Policy and Practice, Ani leads the Association’s value offering to members. In this role, she guides a team of global experts in creating invaluable resources and peer engagement opportunities that CHROs and senior HR executives rely on.

Ani also serves as CEO of the Association’s Center on Executive Compensation. Her leadership established the Center as the top independent resource for CHROs and total rewards executives navigating complex executive compensation and governance challenges.

Before joining the CHRO Association, Ani held senior HR leadership roles including Vice President, Global Compensation and Benefits at Global Payments and HR Advisor at Deutsche Bank.

Ani earned her degree in International Relations from Stanford University and is frequently sought after by executives, policymakers, industry organizations, and the media for her insights on complex workplace issues and the voice of the CHRO.

Dina is Chief People Officer for The Cheesecake Factory — named one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 13 years in a row. The Cheesecake Factory differentiates itself through their service and hospitality, menu innovation and operational excellence — each of which is dependent upon the strong performance of their 45,000 staff members and the common culture that binds them together. In her role, she is responsible to drive the overall effectiveness and strategy of the HR organization, building the capacity to meet the company’s talent challenges & opportunities.

Dina holds a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Psychology from California State University Northridge.

As Hilton’s Chief Human Resources Officer and head of Hilton Supply Management, Laura Fuentes is responsible for human resources and leading the world’s largest hospitality supply chain organization. She joined Hilton in 2013 and became the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in 2020. Since then, she has spearheaded the company’s efforts to build an award-winning culture for its nearly half a million team members across corporate offices and hotels globally. The work has led to Hilton being named by Great Place to Work and Fortune as the #1 World’s Best Workplace and #1 Best Company to Work For in the U.S.

Prior to joining Hilton, Laura spent six years at Capital One Financial in various corporate strategy and human resources roles, including leading workforce analytics, recruitment, and compensation functions for the organization. Before Capital One, she worked at McKinsey & Company in their Madrid, New York, and Washington D.C offices, where she served clients across financial services and non-profit sectors.

Laura serves on the boards of directors of Chipotle Mexican Grill, University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, and is the chair of the Make-a-Wish Mid-Atlantic board. She also is a member of the Community Council for the Arlington Free Clinic. Originally from Spain, she holds a B.S. from the University of Virginia, a M.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. She lives outside Washington D.C., with her husband and two sons.

Marvin Boakye is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Cummins Inc., a global power technology leader based in Columbus, Indiana (USA). Since 2022, he has led the company’s human resources practices for 60,000 employees across 190 countries and territories.

Prior to joining Cummins, Marvin served as Chief People and Diversity Officer at Papa John’s International, leading the team of corporate employees and franchise team members across the world. In both 2021 and 2022, Papa Johns was honored by Forbes Magazine on its “Best Employers for Diversity” list. Prior to his transformative work at Papa John’s International, Marvin served as Chief HR Officer and in other senior HR leadership roles for companies including MTS Allstream, Andeavor, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, The Pulte Group and The Home Depot.

A global leader specializing in organizational and cultural transformations, Marvin has successfully helped businesses transition from turnaround to growth. Active in the community, Marvin also sits on the Board of Advisors for the University of Louisville’s School of Business and is a National Trustee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Marvin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Conflict Resolution Studies from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University.

As CEO and Managing Partner of The ExCo Group, David Reimer is a recognized expert in the leadership development of the C-suite. A former operator himself, David brings hands-on knowledge of leadership, strategy, operations, and mentoring to the subject of accelerating top executives’ impact. He is consulted by boards, operators, and senior HR leaders on the pragmatic development of leaders best suited for an era of disruption.

Prior to joining The ExCo Group, Reimer built his career leading companies of diverse sectors, from regional construction to global consulting, through various stages of growth and industry dominance. He has lived outside Geneva, in Hong Kong, and Sydney. His last corporate stint was helping lead a three-year turnaround under private equity ownership of Drake Beam Morin’s (DBM) North American business. During the heart of the financial crisis, Reimer worked with a highly effective team to refocus the organization on its core, reengage the workforce, and launch a game-changing business model. These efforts restored DBM’s quality to number one, doubled revenues over three years, and increased EBITDA by 350% — outpacing competitors’ results and significantly improving the realized exit price.

Reimer feels fortunate to have been engaged by hundreds of senior leaders facing major organizational change, industry disruptions, and career crossroads. “I have also benefited tremendously from mentors in my own career,” Reimer says. “Veteran leaders who didn’t need to help me but who did so anyway. They didn’t flinch from rattling my worldview — particularly at moments where the ‘standard’ business models were running aground and I needed to think more broadly. I see The ExCo Group’s work as a logical extension of the generosity that others showed me.”

In other leadership roles, Reimer consulted the three largest financial services integrations of the financial crisis. In Asia Pacific, his work included strategic and line roles juggling a mix of wholly-owned, JV, and affiliate business units in 14 countries, including launching wholly-owned operations in China. A frequent speaker at the Conference Board and other industry conferences, he has been interviewed on leadership by the New York Times, Fortune, Inc., and Huffington Post, among others. Adam Bryant profiled him for his “Corner Office” column.

Reimer holds a BA in history from Walla Walla College and currently lives in Traverse City, Michigan. Working on their 3rd decade of marriage, David and his wife Janelle have exchanged all notions of aging gracefully for the delights of raising their two children, Seneca and Holten.

Samantha is responsible for unlocking the full potential of Verizon’s workforce, because it takes more than the best technology to move the world forward, it also takes the best people.

Sam is preparing Verizon’s workforce to deliver on the promise of 5G. By supporting a culture of continuous development and learning, all teams, no matter where they sit in the organization, are ready to accelerate Verizon’s business strategies and build the future.

Core to her strategy is to foster an inclusive workplace and champion diverse talent at all levels and across the business. With recognition from leading industry authorities, Verizon has received top honors from Forbes, Newsweek, Seramount, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), Black Enterprise, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Disability: IN and Military Friendly®.

Sam joined Verizon in December 2020 as senior vice president of global talent, leading the HR Talent Center of Excellence. Given the transformative time for the industry, she strengthened learning and development practices and introduced new programs to recruit and retain the right skills and talent to deliver on the company’s priorities.

Prior to Verizon, she spent over 14 years at American Express in various executive roles, from finance and banking to leadership positions across HR. Most recently, she was head of talent and learning, where she transformed how the company attracted and engaged its workforce by building a dynamic talent ecosystem. Sam also implemented a culture of continuous learning to reinforce talent readiness across American Express. Before joining American Express, she worked for JPMorgan Chase for six years, based out of Chicago.

Leading by example, Sam is tireless in her pursuit of gender equality by creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace for women. As the co-executive sponsor of the Women’s Association of Verizon Employees (WAVE) employee resource group, she works to amplify opportunities for women to thrive at work. Sam is sponsor of Women’s CoLab, which helps women advance in their careers by providing a constellation of free resources and peer-to-peer support.

Sam received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University and holds an MBA in Finance from Wayne State University. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three children and three dogs.