For-Profit Organization | Large Employer

Jason Lioy
Chief People Officer
Dawn Foods

Jason Lioy is the Chief People Officer for Dawn Foods, a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. As Chief People Officer, Jason manages the people, processes, policies, and procedures at Dawn Foods. He is responsible for developing over 4,000 of Dawn’s team members for long-term success globally – including across the company’s three core regions: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and North America. Jason also helps to build Dawn's brand and culture into one that attracts, motivates, and retains talented collaborators.

A people leader at Dawn since 2014, Jason's previous roles include global HR leadership and development experience, with a strong background on HR operations in manufacturing plants like Philips, GE, and Armstrong World Industries.

When he is not working hard at Dawn Foods, Jason enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two sons.

For-Profit Organization | Small Employer

Kimberly Simoneau
Director of Human Resources
Adrian Steel Company

Kim Simoneau is the Director of Human Resources at Adrian Steel Company, where she has led HR through a period of extraordinary growth while creating an organizational culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

With 20+ years of HR experience in a wide range of industries, Kim has established the HR function as a strategic cornerstone of Adrian Steel Company, aligning people strategies with business goals. Her influence goes far beyond traditional HR responsibilities – she is a change agent who challenges the status quo and consistently pushes the organization to innovate for both the business and its people. She is a trusted member of the leadership team whose insights are leveraged for key business decisions and strategies that shape the future of the company.

Kim has successfully integrated newly created or acquired companies, each with its own culture, systems, and people, resulting in improved benefits, dedicated HR support, and increased safety for employees.

Beyond her own team, Kim is a mentor and teacher to leaders across the organization. She invests time in helping others become more effective managers, more empathetic listeners, and more strategic thinkers.

Health & Human Services Organization | Large Employer

Natalie Brown, SPHR, SHRM-CP
Vice President of Human Resources
Emergent Health Partners

Natalie R. Brown, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is a Human Resources Executive with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience across healthcare, higher education, and professional services. As Vice President of Human Resources at Emergent Health Partners, she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, talent pipelines, and workforce engagement for over 900 employees.

Before joining Emergent, Natalie served as Human Resources Director at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where she aligned HR strategy with the institution’s academic mission and co-led diversity and racial healing initiatives. Earlier in her career, she directed national HR operations for PMA Consultants, overseeing multi-state teams and global assignments.  A respected thought leader and advocate for equity and inclusion, Natalie serves on the Brio Living Services Board of Trustees. 

Natalie holds an MBA and BS in Business Administration from Florida A&M University and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Eastern Michigan University. She is also a Certified Mediator and Mental Health First Aider.

Health & Human Services Organization | Small Employer

Cheryl Weiland, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Senior Director, Human Resources
UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust

Cheryl Weiland is the Senior Director, Human Resources for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust. She has over 25 years of experience as a performance-driven Human Resources Leader.

Cheryl has an exceptional talent for building HR departments from the ground up and oversees all elements of Human Resources to deliver best practices with unbiased guidance to all employees. She excels at building relationships globally at all levels, with a keen sensitivity to environmental cultures and regions. Cheryl is a strategic problem solver who works to balance individual and organizational needs. She is also dedicated to implementing work/life balance options to optimize the lives of employees while upholding the business culture. Cheryl constructively challenges differences of opinion and is always willing to share her insights, knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned with the team. She is a respected business partner with a proven track record of influencing executive leadership and implementing change.

Emerging HR Leader

Charles Fowlkes II
Manager – HR Client Relations
DTE Energy

Charles Fowlkes II is a human resources leader currently serving as Manager – HR Client Relations at DTE Energy. In this role, he supports HR initiatives within DTE Gas and collaborates closely with business leaders to align people strategies with organizational goals.

Throughout his career at DTE Energy, Charles has held a variety of roles, including Student Co-op, HR Representative, and HR Supervisor supporting DTE Electric. In these positions, he has led and contributed to key projects in talent acquisition, leadership and talent development, workforce planning, and employee engagement.

Before transitioning into human resources, Charles gained valuable experience in the healthcare sector as a Rehabilitation Technician and proudly served six years in the United States Army Reserve.