
Boston CHRO Community
Executive Summit
April 30, 2024 | Westin Copley Place
April 30, 2024
Westin Copley Place
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with Boston's top CHROs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CHROs today:
Transforming Workforce Planning From Tactical to Strategic
Reshaping a Corporate Culture that Exemplifies Efficiency and Resiliency
Identifying, Growing and Retaining Employees with the Skills Your Business Requires
Boston CHRO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CHROs, For CHROs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Lisa Britt
Thermo Fisher Scientific
SVP, CHRO

Mary Beth DeNooyer
Keurig Dr Pepper
CHRO

Janice Deskus
Staples
CHRO

Brendan Reidy
Acushnet Company
Chief People Officer

Joe Sangregorio
Curia
CHRO
What to Expect
Agenda
7:45am - 8:30am Registration & Breakfast
8:30am - 9:15am Keynote
The Performance Paradox — Mental Health and High Productivity

Kara Hardin
Registered Psychotherapist & LEO of The Practice Lab
Guest Speaker
Today's relentless pursuit of success can lead to profound dissatisfaction and dramatically affect mental health. Accomplishments lack satisfaction, work is ceaseless, sleep and self-care are sacrificed. Recognizing this, HR can play a pivotal role in breaking this cycle and nurturing a healthier and more fulfilled workforce.
Join this keynote from a mental health educator and former lawyer to learn:
- How time, efficiency and productivity challenges individual and community health
- Why mental health of individuals and teams drives performance (and not vice versa)
- What steps HR-leaders can take, for themselves and others, to shift away from the paradox and towards a more healthy relationship with work
9:15am - 9:40am Networking Break
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
Once Upon an Employee Value Proposition...

Mary Beth DeNooyer
CHRO
Keurig Dr Pepper

Jason Vlaun
Chief Human Resource Officer
NHP Rhode Island
As organizations navigate complex mergers and define cultural identities, creating a compelling narrative to align EVP with company values is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. By prioritizing authenticity, communication, and continuous improvement, CHROs ensure their organizations remain competitive in a dynamic landscape.
Join this session for case studies and a workshop on:
- Attracting and retaining employees by examining all elements of the employee lifecycle
- Crafting narratives that authentically reflect the organization's values and aspirations
- Fostering transparent communication with leadership while embracing employee feedback
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
Leading in the New World of Work
Hosted by Ezra Coaching

Nick Goldberg
Founder and CEO
Ezra Coaching
Navigating economic uncertainty requires companies to maintain performance while prioritizing employee well-being. Instead of allowing disruption to derail progress, leaders must harness it as an opportunity for growth.
Join this session to:
- Understand the behavioral science behind growing through disruption
- Leverage psychological capital to cultivate efficacy, resilience and hope
- Learn how to harness the power of disruption and avoid distraction
9:40am - 10:25am Executive Boardroom
Maximizing Boardroom Impact — Practical Guide for HR Executives

Evan Pierce
VP, People & Culture
Boston Celtics

Lara Martinez Gonzalez
Global Head of Talent Strategy
AstraZeneca
In the fast-changing corporate governance scene, there is a growing expectation for the board to dive deep into HR matters. As your organization's people leader, your ability to educate the board directly affects your influence and decisions made at that level.
Join this session to discuss:
- Unpacking what boards really want in terms of human capital
- Tying your people priorities directly to business outcomes
- Strengthening your presence and trust in the boardroom
Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CHROs).
10:25am - 11:05am Networking Break
10:30am - 10:55am Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.
11:05am - 11:50am Breakout Session
Crowdsourcing Your Talent and Skills Development

Sara Dionne
Vice President, Learning & Development
Comcast
In an ever-evolving work landscape, leading organizations collaborate cross-functionally to deliver skills-based talent development. While offering essential flexibility, migrating to this model presents a unique challenge for organizations with traditional learning and development methods. Comcast's data-driven approach answers the question, "what skills do you need to deliver within your business?"
Join this session to:
- Explore the dynamic landscape of skills-based development
- Leverage data to inform learning strategies and build engaging experiences
- Cultivate a culture of ongoing learning
11:05am - 11:50am Breakout Session
Reimagining a New People-Centric Future
Hosted by O.C. Tanner

Ryan Jensen
Workplace Culture Strategist
O.C. Tanner
Organizations face increased expectations to place their people at the center of business—and the next step is making that practical for all involved. Hear the latest research on how organizations everywhere can cultivate nimble resiliency amid change and enhance their people experience to create a future that allows employees to stay, feel fulfilled, and do their best work.
Join this session to learn:
- Leading with practical empathy
- Supporting the critical 80%
- Achieving equitable flexibility
11:05am - 11:50am Executive Boardroom
Finding Focus — Strategic Prioritization For CHROs

Gregory Pardo
Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, Care Delivery
Fresenius Medical Care

Debra Vasques Bruneau
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
JSR Life Sciences

Ellen Wallace
Vice President of Human Resources
Berkley One
Prioritization has always been a difficult task for HR leaders, and this challenge is further compounded by the near-constant external and internal disruptions of recent years. How can CHROs determine where they can add the most value while juggling routine tasks and unexpected change?
Join this session to discuss how to:
- Evaluate urgency and impact of the most critical enterprise objectives
- Enable teams to better handle competing priorities
- Effectively communicate the expectations with key stakeholders
Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CHROs).
11:50am - 12:35pm Lunch Service
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Boston CHRO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
Westin Copley PlaceWestin Copley Place Boston - Room Block Cancellation Policy:
- Any cancellations made after the Cut Off (April 8, 2024) are subject to a cancellation fee of one (1) night room charge plus tax.
Parking Information:
Discounted valet parking only: $45/no overnight privileges
Self-parking available at Copley Place Parking
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Westin Copley Place at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 617-262-9600. Please mention Boston CHRO Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $339 USD (plus tax) is April 8, 2024.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.