Special Guest Keynote
Dr. Robert Ballard, Renowned Ocean Explorer
This year’s event features renowned ocean explorer, Dr. Robert Ballard. Dr. Ballard is most famous for the discoveries of the wrecks of the RMS Titanic in 1985, the battleship Bismarck in 1989, and the wreck of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in 1998. Most recently he discovered the wreck of John F. Kennedy's PT-109 in 2003. Hear how Dr. Ballard assembles and leverages a winning team to make amazing discoveries.
Customer Keynote Presenters
Connie Linardakis, VP and Chief Human Resource Officer, Zions Bancorporation
Connie Linardakis joined the company in 2005. Linardakis has held senior-level HR positions at Fortune 50 companies such as Amoco Corporation, General Electric, Raytheon Company and Compaq Corporation. She has also worked in consulting with Drake Beam Morin and had roles in academia at the University of Utah, where she served on the board of the David Eccles School of Business. Linardakis received her B.A. degree in finance from the University of Utah and her M.B.A. from Purdue University, Krannert Graduate School of Management.
Mary Tilley, HR Leader, W.L. Gore and Associates
Mary Tilley joined W.L. Gore and Associates in 1982. Tilley’s initial work with Gore focused on product support and line management and included commitments in process and manufacturing engineering and new product development. She has provided engineering and operations leadership in Gore’s Industrial and Medical Products Divisions and has been part of a number of corporate leadership teams focused on organizational and people issues and operational improvement strategies. Her current role is HR Leader for Gore’s Medical Products Division.
Moderator / Panelists
Moderator: Paul Sparta, Chairman & CEO, Plateau
Paul Sparta is a pioneer in talent management. Before co-founding Plateau, Sparta served as Director of Training Systems at MRJ, Inc. (now part of General Dynamics) where he headed up the division that became Plateau Systems in 1996. Plateau has since won numerous industry and business awards. Sparta has led the continued expansion of Plateau, and has authored several articles in leading publications on workforce productivity and the role of performance management and development.
Panelists
Bill Kutik, Technology Columnist, Human Resource Executive Magazine 
Bill Kutik is considered the leading independent analyst of the HR technology marketplace with specialties in HRMS, recruiting, outsourcing and the talent management suite. For 18 years, he has been Technology Columnist for Human Resource Executive®, and serves as co-chairman of the magazine’s annual HR Technology Conference® & Exhibition.
David Smith, Managing Director—Talent & Organization Performance, Accenture
David Smith leads Accenture's Talent & Organization Performance practice in North America and specializes in designing and developing human performance strategies and solutions for clients. He has more than eighteen years experience working within Accenture's high technology industry, serving global high tech, communications and media clients. David is a frequent speaker at industry conference and events, speaking most recently at The Human Capital Summit. He also recently authored an article on 'Defusing the Talent Time Bomb', featured on the cover of the January 2008 issue of Talent Management magazine. David’s latest research is due to be published by Harvard Business School Press in early 2009 – “A Workforce of One.” David holds a Master's Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
Josh Bersin, CEO & President, Bersin & Associates
Josh Bersin founded Bersin & Associates in 2001 to provide research and advisory services focused on corporate learning, talent management, planning and strategy, blended learning, content development, learning management systems and employee performance management. Bersin has over 25 years of experience in the development, implementation, marketing and sales of e-learning and other enterprise technology products.
Nathan Swanson, Partner, Human Capital Management Research, ThinkPanmure
Nate Swanson is a Partner and Senior Software Analyst following the Knowledge and Human Capital Management industry. Areas of coverage include content management and collaboration, as well as talent management - software and services that help companies attract, retain and leverage their human capital assets.