HI, MY NAME IS KRISTIN

Kristin is chief content officer of Gannett/USA TODAY Network. She is a service-driven executive who leads media operations, executes transformations and advises leadership at for-profit and nonprofit entities. For more than 20 years, Kristin has worked in news operations at U.S. and global companies, including McClatchy, POLITICO, Atlantic Media and Reuters. She directed turnarounds at multiple organizations, engineering digital transitions while safeguarding brand reputation.

Kristin has built some of the most diverse leadership teams in the U.S. news business, and she acts as a coach and mentor to journalists and executives across the industry. Known as a talent magnet, Kristin has successfully reinvented entire business units through recruiting, and now advises other companies on strategic hires, leveraging a robust, global network of industry professionals.

Kristin -- a founding member of Chief in Miami -- advocates for constructive candor and responsible transparency as keys to building agile, growth-oriented teams. Kristin is an innovator in media products as well as team structure and process. She has managed strategic and tactical changes whose cumulative impact has removed millions in costs while creating new business categories.

Through the course of a corporate restructuring and multiple media-sector disruptions, Kristin has emerged as an expert in crisis communications, advising CEOs and boards on internal and external messaging. She is a frequent panelist at events and is quoted extensively as an industry expert. Over two decades, Kristin has managed teams that produced award winning work, including Pulitzer Prizes (one in 2023, two in 2022), George Polk Awards, regional Emmy Awards and more.

Her multi-layered background includes a master’s degree in National Security and Technology from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and the completion of Yale University’s Global Executive Leadership Program. She is active in local philanthropy and community causes, particularly with organizations protecting children from abuse and veterans from homelessness.

Tuesday, March 18 @11:30 am

The Future of Work

In the ever-evolving landscape of the workplace, this panel will explore key trends in shaping the "Future of Work," including the rise of automation, remote work flexibility, emerging technologies (AI and machine learning), the growing need for reskilling, and the shifting dynamics of employee expectations. This discussion will provide insights into how organizations can adapt and thrive in this dynamic environment, both as leaders and as organizations as a whole.

Our panel will feature 4 individuals who will share their professional experiences. They will provide valuable insights and perspectives, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of our workplace environment and culture:

John McHugh

Vice President of External Relations

Kwik Trip, Inc.

Ed Malaspina

President and CEO

HAI Group

Anna Newell

VP of Human Resources

Mungo Homes

Dr. Janet Nix

Chief Human Resources

Officer

Yavapai College

Wednesday, March 19 @11:30 am

Adapting to Change and Disruption

Growth and relevance are not products of luck but of deliberate planning and adaptation. Disruption requires that everyone in an organization shift their mindset from the status quo to fully embracing change—whether big or small—to remain relevant in the market. Well planned disruption equips us with the ability to withstand external threats, like competition, technology, government regulations, demographic shifts, economic uncertainty, and other influences.

JD Cummings

Senior Vice President of Recruiting, Fry Cook & Cashier

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

DeAnna Myers

Vice President of Learning and Organizational Change

Sargent & Lundy

Christine Ellinger

SPHR, SHRM-SCP

MOHELA

Tyffani Smith

Vice President, Human Resources, People & Culture

AAA