Procurewise Connect

Sameer Penakalapati

Founder & CEO – Ceipal

Sameer is a serial entrepreneur who is dedicated to advising and investing in technology startups, specifically in the HR & AI space. In the past 10 years, Sameer has founded and acquired over six companies, including a staffing firm, multiple SaaS platforms, and a digital marketing agency, serving thousands of customers around the world. As a regular contributor of thought leadership pieces to HR publications, Sameer was recently inducted into the Forbes HR Council. Sameer has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work, including accolades from Inc500/5000, Rochester top 100, Deloitte Fast 500, Forbes Best Startup Employers, USPAACC, SIA Fastest Growing Companies, and others.

James Lucier

EVP – Ceipal Procurewise

As Executive Vice President, Jim is responsible for executing go-to-market strategies, building client-driven growth, and driving the success of Procurewise. He co-founded a leading global MSP and a diverse staffing firm to national and global prominence. Jim embraces the transparency needed to build trust and develop valued client relationships and business partnerships for long-term success. As a hands-on practitioner, Jim provides advisor-led total talent solutions embracing AI-driven technology platforms, management interventions, and operational analytics. He is the founder of The National DEI Roundtable™ and creator of DEI Live™ and has been nationally recognized as a 2022 DEI Influencer by Staffing Industry Analysts and 2022 DEI Executive of the Year and Leader of Distinction by HRO Today. 

David Brown

US CEO – Hays Group

Dave has been running the US business for Hays plc, one of the largest recruitment companies in the world, for five years as CEO. Under his leadership, Hays reported US earnings of $640 million in 2022. Brown recently evolved Hays’ operating model and employee value proposition to provide world-class service to customers and candidates and created an environment where his staff feels empowered to achieve their goals. He plans to continue executing strategic business plans to expand Hays’ core offerings while keeping clients, candidates, and employees at the center of his initiatives. Dave was recognized as part of the 2023 North America Staffing 100 by Staffing Industry Analysts.

Dawn Siler-Nixon

Diversity Partner – FordHarrison

Dawn is nationally recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America and is a Certified Diversity Executive. Dawn has spent two decades partnering with her clients to help guide and direct their employment decisions to avoid the time and expense of litigation, and creating and executing a strategy to defend them through trial should the need arise. Dawn uses depth of knowledge and expertise to ensure that clients exceed their Diversity, Equity & Inclusion goals while avoiding legal landmines.

Terri Gallagher

President/CEO – Gallagher & Consultants

Terri Gallagher is the founder of Gallagher and Consultants, a WBENC-certified workforce consultancy. She has over 20 years of experience building out successful contingent workforce solutions using best-of-breed talent, technology, and alliance partners. Her passion is helping Staffing Providers “Level Up”, with the right services and technology approach, to increase effectiveness and expand their workforce solutions offerings to expand their revenue and growth. She is also an accomplished speaker, writer, and published author.

Tinisha Bookhart

Founder, Partner – Primary Talent Partners

Tinisha is a Partner and the Director of IT and Diversity for Primary Talent Partners. A Clemson alum with over 20 years of IT experience, Tinisha is a leader in her field who works with clients in finance, software, development, and project and program management. Tinisha is the technical subject matter expert at Primary Talent Partners as well as the architect behind their diversity initiatives. Tinisha was named a 2022 DEI Influencer by Staffing Industry Analysts.

John Healy

CEO – Whrrr.work

VP & Chair of Task Force on Digitalisation – World Employment Confederation

John Healy is a 30 year staffing industry veteran with a focus on connecting people with work and connecting enterprises to the talent needed to execute their business strategy. After a distinguished career at Kelly, John made a purpose-driven shift from a traditional employment model to one that prioritizes managing a portfolio of responsibilities. He believes that the current systems that connect people with work are broken, and that radical transformation in the systems, operating models, and beliefs that form the workforce strategy of enterprises is critical to competing in our new economy. Today as the Chief Exec at Whrrr.work, John is an independent workforce strategy advisor to G2000 businesses, investment firms, and workforce technology startups.

Eric Osterhout

Sr. Category Management – Enbridge

Eric is a contingent workforce management expert, specializing in advising Procurement and HR leadership regarding contingent workforce program strategy development, program improvement, emerging technologies and trends, and supply base optimization. His unique blend of experience as both a supplier of talent, combined with over a decade of buyer-side program experience, allows him to offer a pragmatic approach to Total Talent Management. In 2022, Eric was recognized as CW Program Game Changer by SIA.

Tamara Rashid

SVP, Enterprise Transformation – AgileOne

Tamara Rashid is a uniquely talented Workforce Solutions Professional for AgileOne, division of the ACTOne Group of Companies, where she has worked for 19+ years. As Senior Vice President of the Enterprise Transformation Team, Tamara is responsible for leading the efforts for 5 key functions of AgileOne: Implementation Services, Supplier Partnership & Engagement, Change Management, Innovation & Optimization, and Product Management on a global scale. A recognized process reengineering professional known for her strategic vision and change management, Tamara offers a unique blend of executive acumen, global team building, supplier diversity mentorship, and human capital solutions development. Tamara’s career spans across talent acquisition, training, HR technology design, and global staffing. She is credited with delivering industry leading results in service delivery, process standardization, and business process outsourcing.

Casimir Turbak

VP Global Technology Strategy – Randstad Sourceright

As Vice President, Technology Strategy for Randstad Sourceright’s Digital Innovation team, Casimir Turbak is helping some of the world’s largest employers engage and recruit talent. In his role, Cas oversees a team of technology SMEs who evaluate tools and conduct pilots of new solutions, including: Candidate relationship management (CRM), video interviewing, assessment, and talent insight technologies. Throughout his career at Randstad Sourceright, Cas has overseen the evaluation, procurement, implementation, and support of a variety of HR and recruitment technology. He has also presented as a thought leader at several conferences, including the Recruitment Automation Conference and HCI’s Strategic Talent Acquisition Conference.

Jeff Nugent

Founder, Managing Editor – CW Strategies

Jeff Nugent is an experienced and highly respected leader in the field of contingent workforce management, with over two decades of success in the areas of global employer of record and independent contractor compliance, freelancer management, and direct sourcing. As the founder and Managing Director of Contingent Workforce Solutions (People 2.0) and Flextrack MSP/VMS, Jeff has built a strong reputation for helping organizations achieve positive ROI from their investments. He is a board member of the Canadian Staffing Association and founder and Managing Editor of the Contingent Workforce Strategies LinkedIn group. Most recently, Jeff is also one of the founders of Independently.ai, an agnostic compliance-as-a- service technology that automates a third-party assessment of independent contractors, enabling enterprise clients to engage ICs and freelancers across their entire supply chain consistently in a compliant and risk-free manner.

Michael Keiper

SVP, MSP Strategy & Operations – Pinnacle Group

Michael has 20+ years in workforce solutions and is the leader of Pinnacle’s Strategic Services practice which includes both the MSP and Payrolling divisions. He oversees client solution design principles in Pinnacle’s domestic and international markets including program adoption, savings creation/capture and the utilization of enterprise data to drive program strategy and results. He ensures strategies and metrics are aligned with critical business goals to achieve high performance at scale while being a champion for DE&I growth throughout Pinnacle’s landscape.

Robert Moffat

Global and Americas Head of Solutions, Enterprise Solutions – Hays Group

With a 25 year track record of designing, implementing, and managing talent services, Robert has a wealth of knowledge on the challenges and opportunities facing employers in maintaining a competitive advantage in talent acquisition, engagement, and retention. As Global and Americas Head of Solutions, Robert is part of the leadership team responsible for innovation and product development. Having lived and worked for Hays in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas, he is able to bring a diverse range of thought and experience to the new challenges in the world of work. He has a passion for new ideas, markets, and opportunities and has been instrumental in a number of Hays’ recent global projects—including the rollout of a Global Operating Method, Supplier Engagement Strategy, the evolution of Hays’ direct sourcing approach, and a quick deploy RPO service for start-up and high growth companies.

Adam Klaucke

Chief Sales Officer – Eastridge Workforce Solutions

Adam Klaucke is a results-orientated business development and operations leader with over 23 years of diversified experience in business development, staffing, and recruiting. At Eastridge Workforce Solutions, Adam is responsible for establishing, implementing, and managing the global sales strategy for Eastridge’s comprehensive contingent and direct workforce solutions. Adam has spent the past 10 years focused on MSP and total talent solutions for clients across various industry verticals including: Telecommunications, Insurance, Energy, Consumer Products, Healthcare, Technology, Retail Transaction Solutions, and Software.

Anu Rao

Director, Business Development & Marketing – Indotronix Avani Group

Anu is an experienced business development & marketing professional with a demonstrated history of success in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in sales, social media marketing, and business growth, Anu has over 10 years of experience in the staffing industry. Today, Anu serves as the director of business development & marketing for Indotronix, and serves on the board of ISM-NJ chapter where she serves on several committees including Supplier Diversity and Women & Leadership. She is also an award-winning speaker and President of Somerville Toastmasters.

Sergio Fernandez

Director of Marketing – SASR Workforce Solutions

Sergio is an innovative senior leader with a deep communication and marketing portfolio. He drives brand strategy through traditional marketing methods and cultural transformation with equal effectiveness by identifying and developing actionable roadmaps to success. He brings people together by partnering cross-functionally to build consensus and develop cohesion. To bring it all together, he develops strategic unified communication plans that advance brand identity while broadening awareness.

Amar Chadipirala

CTO – Ceipal

Amar has a flair to look into the future. He joined Ceipal in 2011, where he was tasked with building an internal database of the most sought-after profiles in the market. Little did anyone realize, this database would evolve into one of the most versatile and efficient HCM systems available on the market today. Now with three offices globally, Ceipal has managed to make its mark in the HCM market. Amar, known for his congenial demeanor, has and is playing a key role in molding Ceipal to its full potential.

Chad Douglas

Executive Partner – Primary Talent Partners

Chad is the founder and Executive Partner for Primary Talent Partners. A graduate of the University of South Carolina-Lancaster, Chad is a results-oriented business executive with over 25 years of experience leading talent acquisition teams. He is continually focused on delivering innovative solutions for the most challenging talent acquisition issues facing Fortune 1000 executives. Chad was named a 2022 DEI Influencer by Staffing Industry Analysts.

Venkat Mantha

President – Indotronix

Venkat Mantha is a senior professional with extensive experience in Business Development and Relationship Management in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and India. His initiatives have enabled Indotronix to win and expand several large nationwide contracts. Prior to Indotronix, Venkat worked in India and the Middle East, building businesses from the ground up and growing new divisions within large corporations. He is now responsible for leading Indotronix as it achieves the strategic goals set for the corporation.

Scott Montminy

Director of Marketing & Communications – Ceipal

Armed with years of management experience in the communications space, Scott leads and oversees Ceipal’s marketing presence as the Director of Marketing and Communications. Before joining Ceipal, Scott cofounded both MindLaunch Media, a communications and content marketing consultancy, and Across the Board Productions (ATB), a syndicated radio content and advertising network. He also served as Vice President at InkHouse, a top-ranked U.S. public relations agency, where he led client efforts for aerospace and defense contractor Raytheon as well as various cybersecurity players and high-tech startups.

Peter Velikin

CMO – Ceipal

Peter is an entrepreneur and marketing executive with a 20+ year track record of building companies and commercializing technologies in multiple high-tech and consumer products industries. Prior to joining Ceipal, Peter invented and brought to market a new consumer product, Gym1-Gorilla Gym, which has helped over 100,000 parents and children tackle the growing child obesity epidemic through active play. Prior to that he served as VP Marketing at early- and expansion-stage SaaS companies, including Velobit (acquired by Western Digital Corporation), PwnieExpress, and Zmags. He has also held senior management roles in sales, marketing, and business development at public corporations, including PTC and EMC.