Molly King is the Employee Benefits Director for the City of Milwaukee, a role she has held for the past two years. A seasoned public finance and administration leader with more than 20 years of experience, she has served in senior fiscal, budget, and policy positions across city government, including Fiscal Policy Director in the Mayor’s Office. Throughout her career, Molly has overseen multi-million-dollar budgets, led strategic financial initiatives, and advanced operational improvements that strengthen accountability, transparency, and organizational performance. She is an elected member of the City of Milwaukee Pension Board and a mayoral appointee to the Deferred Compensation Board. Her commitment to public service, fiscal stewardship, and employee well-being has made a lasting impact on the City of Milwaukee and its workforce.

Beth Conradson Cleary is the Executive Director of the City of Milwaukee Deferred Compensation Plan, a nationally recognized Section 457(b) retirement plan serving more than 10,000 participants and overseeing more than $1.3 billion in assets. Since assuming the role in 2017, she has led innovative initiatives that integrate financial wellness, personalized guidance, and employee incentives to improve retirement readiness, increase savings behaviors, and expand access to long-term financial security across the City’s workforce.

Ms.Conradson Cleary brings more than 20 years of experience spanning retirement plan administration, fiduciary governance, investments, and public-sector law. Prior to leading the Deferred Compensation Plan, she served as Deputy Director and General Counsel to the City of Milwaukee Employes’ Retirement System. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) and is a frequent speaker on financial wellness, retirement readiness, and public-sector retirement plan governance. Ms. Cleary earned her BA from Creighton University, her MA in Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and her JD and Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Marquette University Law School.

Heather Newton, MA, SHRM-CP, serves as the Director of Talent and Training at Child & Family Center in Santa Clarita, California. A certified Human Resources professional with more than 13 years of experience in the mental health and addiction treatment field, Heather brings a unique blend of clinical insight and operational expertise to her role. 

With a master’s degree in clinical psychology, Heather has always been deeply passionate about the field of mental health. Though she chose to focus her career on people operations, she uses her clinical background to inform her approach to supporting and developing staff, recognizing that a healthy, empowered workforce is essential to fulfilling the Center’s mission. 

Heather obtained her SHRM-CP certification in 2021 and received her Certificate as a Workplace Mental Health Ally in 2024.

Heather is inspired every day by the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of the Center’s staff. She is committed to fostering a positive and supportive environment where employees feel valued, equipped, and connected to the life-changing work they do. Her efforts directly contribute to the Center’s success in providing vital services to children and families in the Santa Clarita Valley and beyond.

Jacalyn Epperson is a seasoned HR leader with more than 15 years of experience shaping total rewards strategies and driving organizational impact in healthcare. As Benefits Manager at St. Tammany Health System, she has led major benefit transformations, enhanced efficiencies through technology, and supported initiatives that strengthen workforce engagement and retention. She also oversees Worker’s Compensation and Leaves Administration, ensuring compliance while supporting employees through critical life and health events. Jacalyn is deeply committed to educating employees at all levels on the full value of their benefits, ensuring they understand available offerings and how to use them effectively to support their wellbeing. Her work is grounded in a passion for people, process improvement, and building sustainable programs that support both employees and organizational success. 

In 2024, Sheena was named HR Leader of the Year by the Houston Business Journal for her work in modernizing compensation structures, launching a holistic wellness program, and introducing innovative healthcare solutions that improve access to affordable, high-quality care. Known for her data-driven and employee-centered approach, she has led initiatives that strengthen employee well-being, enhance organizational effectiveness, and align people strategies with business objectives.

She regularly shares her expertise through industry conferences and leadership forums, speaking on benefits innovation, total rewards strategy, and healthcare trends.

Sheena holds a Master of Arts in Applied Social Research and Statistics and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Investigations from West Virginia University.

Doretha Polite is an award-winning Human Resources executive, author, speaker, and advocate for compassionate leadership with more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning employee relations, organizational development, benefits strategy, workplace culture, and talent management. As a senior HR leader for a nonprofit civil rights organization, Doretha is recognized for transforming traditional HR and benefits practices into people-centered strategies that strengthen employee well-being, engagement, and organizational performance. Her innovative approach to Total Wellness focuses on emotional, mental, physical, financial, and professional well-being.

Doretha has also been recognized as an Influential Leader for her commitment to developing others, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and advancing conversations around compassionate leadership, resilience, and employee experience. Throughout her career, she has championed the belief that organizations achieve their greatest impact when they invest intentionally in their people. She has successfully led initiatives that expand employee development opportunities, enhance workplace culture, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and create environments where employees feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

In addition to her executive leadership work, Doretha is an accomplished author, leadership coach, and speaker whose work focuses on compassionate leadership, resilience, employee experience, career development, and organizational well-being. She is the creator of the HEART Leadership Framework, a people-centered approach that helps leaders balance empathy, accountability, and high performance. Known for her authentic storytelling and practical insights, Doretha inspires leaders to rethink how they support employees and build cultures where both people and organizations can flourish. Her work has been featured through leadership forums, professional organizations, and national recognition programs that celebrate women leaders making a meaningful impact in their industries and communities. She resides in Texas with her husband, Brett, and is passionate about helping individuals and organizations grow with purpose, excellence, and humanity at the center.

Lisa Woods serves as Vice President, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing for Walmart Stores, Inc. Lisa is a benefits professional with broad-based knowledge and has been recognized nationally as an innovator and thought leader in healthcare with a strong commitment to ensuring that more than a million Walmart associates have access to benefits that are comprehensive, affordable and competitive. Lisa has played a key role in developing a portfolio of innovative programs focused on payment reform, reducing waste in the system and ensuring the appropriateness of care for Walmart associates.

Lisa led the effort with her team to design and implement the Centers of Excellence program for heart, spine, joint replacements and cancer with leading quality health systems. Lisa has also worked on developing narrow network plans focused on quality, including direct contracting with ACO’s. Walmart was presented with the 2019 Helen Darling Award for Excellence in Health Care Value and Innovation by the National Business Group on Health for efforts to improve the health care delivery system. In addition, Lisa was named to Fortune magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders (#10) in 2019, as a result of her efforts, and most recently, she was awarded the 2020 Top 25 Health Care Innovators.

Lisa serves on many committees and boards, including board chair for the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH), board vice president for the Council of Employee Benefits, several National Business Group on Health (NBGH) affiliated committees, Leapfrog and the Catalyst for Payment Reform (CPR).

Head of Employee Sustainability and People Operations
Patagonia

Lindsey Garito is an award-winning human resources executive with two decades of experience transforming organizations through strategic and innovative people & culture practices. From talent acquisition to HR technology to total rewards, Lindsey has experience in various domains of human resources across diverse industries such as consumer services, hospitality, and healthcare in both private and nonprofit sectors. Lindsey’s passion lies in empowering people to cultivate workplaces and careers that are totally rewarding. 

Lindsey earned her BBA and MBA from Pace University. She holds SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications. Lindsey is the proud recipient of the 2024 SHRM NYS HR Professional of the Year award and 2023 Susan R. Meisinger Fellowship Award. Her team’s work also won two Workday Healthcare Innovation Awards in 2020 and 2021. 

Beyond her corporate achievements, Lindsey is deeply invested in the HR community and being of service, one of her personal core values. She serves as President-Elect for Westchester Human Resources Management Association and serves on the board of directors for Greater Mental Health of New York. Passionate about mentorship and paving the way for the next generation, Lindsey volunteers as a career mentor with several local and national organizations. 

Lindsey regularly shares her insights and experiences as a speaker, podcast host, features in various publications and media, and as a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council. Lindsey hosts the CEO of Your Career podcast and supports individuals on their professional journey as a career and executive coach.