Jack E. Appleman, prominent writing/communication coach and author of 10 Steps to Successful Business Writing—2nd edition (ATD Press), is driven by the belief that working professionals can dramatically improve their writing by following straightforward techniques.

His workshops and coaching for companies such as Wells Fargo, AMD and Bayer have helped thousands of individuals achieve better outcomes from their writing.

As president of Successful Business Writing, Jack brings more than 25 years' experience as a trainer, professor and communication professional. He has been a frequent speaker and has published many articles on effective communication, including a column for Ragan.com, Communicating with Feeling: 3 Keys to Breakthrough Employee Messaging.

In 2014, Jack received the Charles T. Morgan Award from the Northern New Jersey chapter of the Association for Talent Development for lifetime excellence in learning and performance. A professor since 2001, he teaches Business Communications at New York University. He received his accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America.

Jack earned his B.A. in Communication from Ohio State University and his M.S. in Journalism from Ohio University. He is a doctoral candidate at UAlbany, exploring the link between employee-manager communication and workplace engagement in pursuit of his Ph.D. in Organizational Communication.

Harnessing over three decades of nitty-gritty business experience into actionable insights, Tracy thrives on helping professionals and businesses perform at their peak. In recent years, she has turned her attention to a critical cornerstone of success: trustworthiness. Trust fuels relationships, builds customer loyalty, and shapes engaged and productive workplace cultures.

She is also the author of two books—“Trust Me: The Insider's Guide to Being the Go-To Person at Work” and “The Joychiever Journey”—where she provides actionable insights for professionals looking to stand out in their careers and enjoy the journey more along the way.

As Senior Vice President and Head of Talent Acquisition at Ipsos, Andrew leads a high-performing team driving the talent strategy for one of the world’s largest research organizations. With over 15 years of experience in recruitment, Andrew brings deep expertise in building data-driven, inclusive, and operationally efficient talent strategies that help organizations attract, hire, and retain top talent. A recognized advocate for diversity and inclusion, Andrew is Textio certified and passionate about interrupting bias in hiring and fostering more equitable workplaces.

Experienced Senior Executive Recruiter with a demonstrated history of placing exceptional talent within Banks, FinTechs, and Technology companies.

As a Talent Advisor at Expedia Group, Alex partners with leaders across technology and product organizations to build high-impact teams that fuel innovation and customer success. With deep expertise in recruiting for Product Management, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, and Technical Program Management, Alex brings a data-driven and inclusive approach to talent strategy. Specializing in mid to senior-level product hiring, Alex collaborates closely with senior leadership to shape hiring strategies, provide market insights, and create exceptional candidate experiences. Passionate about the intersection of talent and technology, Alex helps drive Expedia Group’s mission to power global travel for everyone, everywhere.

Rachell is a global HR executive and learning and development leader with extensive experience shaping people strategies.

Kason Morris is a Future of Work executive, founder, author, and LinkedIn Top Voice who helps leaders and organizations turn uncertainty into momentum for growth. For more than 20 years, he has guided global teams and professionals to build future-ready skills, cultivate strong mindsets, and thrive in fast-changing environments. Kason brings a people-first and practical approach to learning and transformation. His frameworks empower individuals and organizations to unlock the power of skills and personal stories, turning challenges into opportunities for lasting impact.

Dr. Eli Bendet-Traicher is a strategic, results-driven People & Culture and Learning & Development leader with over 20 years of international experience spanning the high-tech industry, academia, and government. A scientist turned award-winning lecturer, Dr. Bendet-Traicher blends analytical rigor with human-centered leadership to help organizations harness data, learning, and innovation to drive transformative change. As an expert in scaling high-growth organizations, he has led initiatives in global talent management, leadership development, and performance analytics, empowering teams to achieve operational excellence and sustainable success. His dynamic approach to learning design and people strategy has earned multiple industry honors, including recognition as a Top 10 Learning & Development Professional (OnCon 2025) and Learning Legacy Leader of the Year (CLN 2024).

Mies de Koning joined the Human Resources team at The Rockefeller Foundation in 2020 and currently serves as Vice President, Talent and Organizational Development. An award-winning leadership coach and facilitator, Mies specializes in group dynamics and adult development, helping organizations, communities, and teams across sectors navigate challenges, resolve conflict, and drive meaningful growth.

Mies began his career supporting youth and families through group therapy, later expanding into academic leadership, curriculum innovation, organizational change, and leadership development. He was honored with the Global Coaching Excellence Award by the World Institute for Action Learning in 2018 and is recognized for guiding groups through meaningful conversations, and complex transformation.

At the core of Mies’s practice is a commitment to creating space for individuals and teams to confront realities, address conflict safely and directly, and cultivate responsible autonomy by balancing personal learning with accountability and results. Mies holds a Master’s in Community Development from the DeMontfort University (Leicester, UK) and a Master’s in Advanced Change Methodologies from SIOO Inter University (Utrecht, The Netherlands).

Keith Metcalfe is a seasoned leader in enterprise software with over 20 years of experience building people, teams, and companies. With a career spanning IT, technical support, software sales, and training services, Keith has a deep understanding of how transformative organizations leverage technology and relationships to drive growth. He has extensive expertise in SaaS, corporate data governance, analytics design, international expansion, and new product go-to-market strategies. Passionate about developing talent and enabling high-performing teams, Keith combines strategic insight with practical experience to help organizations and individuals thrive in a technology-driven world.

Alexei Dunaway is the founder and CEO of Pinnacle, an AI-powered performance coaching platform designed to scale leadership development for managers and their teams. With over 14 years of experience coaching, advising, and consulting, Alexei has worked with more than 200 startups across four continents. A former CEO of an accelerator and experienced venture capital professional, he also coaches early- and growth-stage founders and executives. A Fulbright Scholar and top graduate of Stanford GSB, Alexei brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial insight, leadership expertise, and practical frameworks to help leaders and teams grow while they work.