Andy is a respected human resources executive and Total Rewards leader with more than  20 years of experience strengthening organizations across higher education, hospitality,  training, food service, project management, and information technology industries.  Throughout his career, he has built and led high-performing HR operations focused on  strategic workforce planning, compensation and benefits, compliance, organizational  development, employee engagement, and operational excellence. 

Currently serving as Director of Total Rewards at the California Institute of the Arts  (CalArts), Andy leads the institution’s comprehensive total rewards strategy, overseeing  compensation, benefits, wellness, leave administration, HR systems, and payroll  collaboration to support a dynamic and creative academic community. His leadership  emphasizes innovation, equity, employee experience, and data-driven decision-making  that aligns organizational goals with employee well-being. 

Andy has championed the development of robust human resources frameworks and  successful compliance initiatives while leading multiple technology implementations that  streamlined benefits administration, HRIS, and payroll processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Passionate about fostering inclusive workplace cultures, he has  spearheaded diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and developed morale-boosting  programs that cultivate engagement, collaboration, and high performance. 

Known for his strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style, Andy also specializes in  providing executive-level HR leadership and advisory support to organizations seeking  outsourced or fractional HR expertise. 

An active and highly respected leader within the human resources profession, Andy has  held numerous leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. He previously  served as President of the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management (SD SHRM)  and currently serves as the SHRM California State Director. In addition, he is the President Elect for SoCal CUPA-HR, where he helps advance professional development and  collaboration among higher education HR leaders throughout Southern California. 

Andy is also a sought-after instructor, speaker, and presenter on a wide range of HR and  leadership topics. He holds both the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and  Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designations. He earned his bachelor’s  degree from Webber International University and completed graduate studies in Human  Resource Management at Northeastern University.

In every role, Andy approaches workplace challenges with professionalism, strategic  insight, proactive leadership, and an optimistic outlook that inspires organizations and  teams to thrive. 

Lisa Coulson is senior vice president and chief human resources officer of Principal Financial Group®. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources (HR) for the company’s 19,000+ employees worldwide-developing and implementing HR strategies and delivering total rewards solutions that drive a high-performance culture.

Coulson joined Principal® in 2007 and has held several senior roles in HR, including most recently serving as vice president of the function. Her deep expertise spans HR strategy, executive compensation, total rewards, performance management, and executive coaching. Coulson combines strategic insight with operational excellence, helping to align HR functions with the company’s business goals and cultural values. Her leadership has positioned the company as a top employer, recognized for competitive and holistic rewards solutions that attract, motivate, and retain top talent.

Prior to Principal, Coulson was at Hewitt Associates for 15 years where she focused on total rewards, performance management, management development, leadership assessment and development, and change management.

Coulson received a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and her MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. She is also a Certified Compensation Professional and a Global Professional in Human Resources, and Certified Executive Coach.

David Contorno is a national trailblazer in the healthcare benefits industry, transforming how employers design and manage their health plans. As the Founder and President of E Powered Benefits, he has spent over two decades advocating for transparency, cost control, and innovative strategies that make healthcare more accessible and understandable for businesses and their employees. Forbes recognized David as one of “America’s Most Innovative Benefits Leaders” for his tireless work to reform a system often bogged down by rising costs and lack of transparency.

At the helm of E Powered Benefits, David focuses on creating tailored, high-value health plans that put employers back in control of their healthcare spending. He works closely with companies to identify and eliminate waste, leveraging data-driven strategies to reduce costs while improving employee health outcomes. His approach allows organizations to achieve substantial savings and provide better healthcare solutions while prioritizing access to high quality healthcare.

David also leads the E Powered Benefits Co-Consulting Program, a unique initiative where he shares his knowledge with other industry professionals. Through this platform, he teaches benefits consultants how to replicate his successful model of building health plans that emphasize transparency and cost-effectiveness. By mentoring others in the industry, David is amplifying his impact and fostering a new generation of leaders committed to transforming the healthcare benefits landscape.

In addition to his consulting work, David created and teaches the Certified Health Value Advisor (CHVA) course, credentialed by industry data giant, The Validation Institute, where he educates professionals on the importance of patient advocacy and smarter healthcare decision-making. His contributions to the industry have earned him accolades from top organizations like the World Healthcare Congress and BenefitsPro, where he was named Broker of the Year.

A sought-after public speaker, David regularly presents at major industry conferences internationally to audiences in the several thousands.

Outside of his professional achievements, David is dedicated to philanthropy, particularly in supporting autism advocacy. In his personal time, he enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time at home with his family. He resides in Davidson, North Carolina, with his wife, Emma, and their children.

VP of Total Rewards
Dawn Foods

Jennifer Campe is the Chief People Officer at Allstate Identity Protection (AIP) and Principal Talent Advisor Allstate PPS companies.

With 30+ years of experience, she has had an extensive career as a CHRO, leading enterprise HR across both public and private companies in a range of industries.

Julie Blume is a Total Rewards expert with decades of experience and a proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams. Her expertise lies in designing and implementing benefit programs that are comprehensive, easily understood, and highly valued by employees. Julie places a strong emphasis on offering unique solutions that enhance the overall employee experience, tailoring benefits to meet the diverse needs of the workforce. She serves on the Council on Employee Benefits (CEB) board of trustees.

With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of HR and Finance, Alex Bertin is the Director of Total Rewards at BambooHR, the leading software provider powering the strategic evolution of HR for small and medium-sized businesses. Alex takes a data-driven and collaborative approach to solving complex rewards challenges, partnering with business leaders to align compensation, benefits, and recognition programs with company strategy.

Throughout his career, Alex has built and scaled Total Rewards functions at some of Utah’s most successful tech companies, including BambooHR, Qualtrics and MX, driving outcomes that support growth, transparency, and the employee experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University.

As the Vice President of Population Health and Wellness for Marathon Health, Krista Beckwith oversees the solutioning and ongoing operations for company’s wellness, navigation, and cost of care management strategies. Krista has spent over 18 years in the health and healthcare space across non-profit, payer, government, employer, and international settings. For the last decade she has been designing and executing population management strategies for payers and primary care providers, and has worked deeply in the advanced primary care category for the last 4 years with Marathon Health.Krista holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from John’s Hopkins, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband and daughter.

VP of Benefits
Hyatt Hotels

Alicia Archer is a Master Trainer at STRETCHIT. With over a decade of teaching experience, Alicia Archer thoughtfully guides users through comprehensive stretching, mobility, and flexibility sequences, in order to unlock their movement potential. Alicia is Group Fitness Certified by AFAA (The Athletics and Fitness Association of America) and a Certified FRC® (Functional Range Conditioning) Mobility Specialist by Functional Anatomy Seminars. Her qualifications also include a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/The Ailey School.