Keynote Details
Executive Panel: “Proactive HR: Steering Clear of Crisis”
In today’s fast-moving world of work, HR professionals can no longer afford to be reactive. This dynamic executive panel brings together seasoned HR leaders to discuss how they stay ahead of the curve and proactively shape policies, culture, and strategy to prevent workplace crises before they happen. Attendees will leave with practical insights and actionable takeaways for moving from a reactive stance to a proactive, crisis-preventing HR mindset.
Key Objectives
Through real-world examples, Q&A, and open discussion, panelists will explore critical topics like: • Identifying early warning signs of potential issues • Embedding accountability and communication at every level • Leveraging HR data to make strategic, timely decisions • Preparing leaders and managers to be your front line of prevention • Creating a culture where trust and transparency take center stage
Matt Bumgarner
Senior VP, Global Labor Strategy and Risk Mitigati at Tyson Foods
With almost two decades of HR experience, Matt Bumgarner is the Senior Vice President of Global Labor Strategy & Risk Mitigation at Tyson Foods. In this role, he leads the development and execution of the company’s labor strategy, focusing on risk mitigation, workforce planning, and operational efficiency. Prior to this, Matt served as Vice President, HR, Poultry & Cobb, where he contributed to HR initiatives that enhanced business performance and supported the growth of the Poultry & Cobb-Vantress business. Matt has extensive experience in HR strategy and operations, with a strong focus on talent development, employee engagement, and labor relations. He has worked across various areas of HR to ensure alignment with business goals and create an environment that supports growth and stability. Matt served in the Arkansas Army National Guard for 20 years, where he held numerous leadership roles and retired as an Infantry First Sergeant. His time in the military significantly shaped his leadership style and thought process, instilling a strong sense of discipline, strategic thinking, and adaptability that he applies to the corporate space. He holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an Executive MBA from the University of Arkansas. A firm believer in mentorship, Matt has had two successful matches through Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as mentoring MBA students at the University of Arkansas and colleagues at Tyson Foods. Beyond his corporate role, Matt is deeply committed to community involvement. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Safety Center, the University of Arkansas MBA Alumni Advisory Board, and the Leadership Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife, Gena, and their 3-year-old son, Riss, participating in the annual Tyson Softball Tournament, and engaging in a variety of outdoor activities. His strong sense of family, leadership, and community fuels his dedication to creating a meaningful impact both professionally and personally.
Jules Gianneschi
Chief Human Resources Officer at America's Car Mart, Inc.
Jules serves as the CHRO at America's CAR-MART, Inc., where she has served since 2022. She has over 15 years of extensive experience in senior people leadership roles, honed during her +25 tenure at a Fortune One retailer. Her journey in the business world has equipped her to navigate a variety of business challenges from start-ups to turnarounds. She has done this by focusing her energy and time on executive coaching, developing high performance cultures, and driving organizational success through empowering associates to achieve their full potential. At America's CAR-MART, she heads the people function of a public automotive retail and finance organization, overseeing the associate experience of corporate and dealerships with operations in 12 states with a network of over 150 dealerships. Her role involves shaping forward-looking talent strategies, fostering collaborative partnerships, and creating business value that positions the company for sustained growth and excellence. She draws on her experience of prior senior leadership roles where she led teams that supported diverse global functions and business units. From human resources to aviation, security, innovation, marketing, real estate, finance, legal, compliance, and ethics, she navigated the complexities of a large-scale enterprise. As a passionate advocate for helping others reach their aspirations, she leverages P&L and general management experience to not only develop talent benches but also empower executives and businesses to excel. Her reach extends beyond conventional HR roles; actively engaged in collaborative initiatives, driving change, and championing business initiatives that enhance the associate and customer experience.
Stephanie Quillen
Chief People Officer at 7 Brew
Stephanie Quillen is Chief People Officer at 7 Brew, bringing 15+ years of experience building people strategies, leading large-scale transformation, and creating cultures where teams and talent thrive. She has held leadership roles with Guild, IndigoAg, Tyson Foods, and Walmart—driving global initiatives in talent strategy, performance, DEIB, HR tech, and employee experience for workforces of 100K+. Most recently at Guild, Stephanie advised Fortune 500 companies on future-ready workforce strategies. At IndigoAg, she led global talent and transformation during rapid growth, and at Tyson Foods, she launched enterprise-wide systems for performance, leadership development, and engagement. Her early career at Walmart sharpened her expertise in executive selection, high-volume hiring, and global HR operations. Known for blending data, heart, and hands-on execution, Stephanie builds scalable people systems that connect business needs to employee success. She holds a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, is passionate about developing leaders and creating authentic, high-impact employee experiences, and was recently named to Arkansas Business’s 40 Under 40. At 7 Brew, she leads all aspects of HR to support a brand that’s fast, fun, and full of opportunity... ensuring it’s the best job you’ll ever have.
Makele Ndessokia
Chief People Officer at Art + Wellness Enterprises
As Chief Human Resources Officer, Makele Ndessokia is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategies in support of the mission and strategic initiatives of Art and Wellness Enterprises and the non-profit organizations that it serves. Areas of focus include talent management, organizational and performance management, training and development, compensation/payroll, succession planning, HR data/analytics, and change management. Previously, Makele served as Chief People Officer for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary from 2019 to 2023. In that role, she oversaw HR operations and fostered a culture of engagement and impact. She was also part of the senior leadership team that launched the Momentary, navigated Crystal Bridges and the Momentary’s closure and reopening during the COVID pandemic, and initiated the strategic planning for the museum's expansion. Makele was most recently the VP of People and Culture at Team Direct, a retail company where she helped align the people services practices with the company's mission and vision. She also has experience in the academic and public sectors, having worked as a Senior Human Resources Manager and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri, and as an HR Director at the Missouri Dept of Agriculture. She holds a Master of Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, MO and a Bachelor of Science from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO.
Please Note: Speakers and topics are subject to change without notice.