Join National HR Association – Rochester Affiliate & Disrupt HR for an inspiring and thought-provoking event showcasing the value of bravery and innovation for HR professionals navigating the challenges of today’s dynamic workplace. HR Courage in the Face of Adversity is designed to build on the concepts from previous Disrupt HR speaker events to further empower and equip HR leaders with the insights and tools they need to pioneer positive change in the workplace.
Our dynamic panel of previous Disrupt HR speakers will elaborate on their experiences and strategies for overcoming obstacles and pioneering change in the workplace. Following the panel discussion, join us for a happy hour to network with fellow HR professionals, exchange ideas, and support one another in facing adversity head on.
This program is under review for Professional Development Credits (PDCs) by the Society for Human Resource Management and HR (General) recertification credit hours through HR Certification Institute (HRCI).
Meet our MC!
Patrick McDaniels
Patrick is a Talent Acquisition Sourcing Specialist at Excellus BCBS. His passion lies in people development and effectuating the employee lifecycle, from initial conversations about an opportunity to ongoing employee experience. Patrick has demonstrated success in the past 9 years at Excellus across the Customer Operations, Sales and HR divisions. These skills allowed him to successfully onboard the strategic sourcing model and in addition to the necessary soft skills in HR, is talented with technical aspects such as SWOT and Agile Methodologies to support long and short-term strategy planning.
Patrick is a leader of HR community and serves as co-Director of Marketing at the National Human Resources Association Rochester Affiliate. He enjoys modernizing Marketing in the HR space and promoting the wonderful events and programs the NHRA offers to the Rochester community and across the US. He is also president of the Management Development Association at Excellus BCBS which provides opportunity to improve business and management skills by offering networking activities that provide members with a chance to interact with their peers in support of a hybrid environment.
Meet our Speakers!
Adrian Hale
Adrian Hale is a proud son of Rochester, NY, and a civic leader throughout the Greater Rochester community. He was the immediate past Director of Economic & Community Development at Foundry and previously served as Senior Manager of Workforce Development, Talent Strategy, and Education Initiatives at the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Adrian has been driven by a deep belief in leadership through service and has been a passionate advocate for advancing equity and opportunity for all!
Adrian's life in public service began in the United States Marine Corps. He was an active-duty Marine for five years and as a Marine, he made two combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). After his honorable discharge from the Marines, Adrian re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he served for three years. As a Chamber of Commerce Executive Adrian worked to improve the educational outcomes for Greater Rochester’s youth, enhance the quality of its regional workforce, and promote a more inclusive economic development strategy. For his efforts at the chamber of commerce in 2019, he was awarded the Center for Teen Empowerment's Champion for Youth Leadership award, and in 2020 Adrian was recognized by Rochester Business Journal (RBJ) and the Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) as a member of their 40 Under 40.
As a thought leader, Adrian has and continues to serve on committees throughout the community, such as co-chairing the NYS FLREDC Regional Economic Development Council's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the NYS Governor's Workforce Development Initiative Committee, the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board, and currently the New York State Board of Regents.
For Adrian's contributions toward the progress in Rochester, he was a 2024 recipient of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s Ignite Award, an award annually bestowed upon one young professional who strives toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment in their given fields. Adrian lives by the ethos of "Do what you can today until you can do more tomorrow."
To learn more about him, check out this video link!
Alana Barend
Alana Barend (she/her) brings 12+ years of adventures in the HR space, with a strong focus in employee relations, recruitment and DEI for past 10 years across many industries including non-profit, corporations, manufacturing and creative advertising. She uses her experience in activism spaces for LGBTQ+, Mental Health, People of Color, Body Positivity, Neurodiversity and Feminism to build strong relationships in the community, and with her peers. She considers herself a Subject Matter Expert in meeting people where they are in their own personal DE&I journey; and always leading with empathy.
To hear more about Alana, check out this video link!
Karen LaGraff
Karen LaGraff is the Corporate Vice President, Human Resources at Rochester Midland Corporation (RMC). Karen joined RMC in 2020 and is a member of the executive team. Prior to RMC, she has performed HR executive consulting, with the majority of her 35 plus years’ experience in global senior HR roles at Xerox Corporation. Karen is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and an established leader in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging as well as Flexible Work Strategies. She wholeheartedly believes that business success is enabled by bringing one’s true self to work and treating people with dignity and respect. Karen holds an Executive MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology. She is an active member of the Rochester Women's Network, participating on the DEIB Committee as well as the Ambassador program. Karen has two sons, James Paul and Maxwell John of whom she is extremely proud.
To hear more from Karen, check out this video!
We want to extend our gratitude to ADP for their sponsorship at the Champion Level. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available! Please contact Matt Blakeslee (matt.blakeslee@aleragroup.com) or Miranda Leo (miranda@jkexec.com) for additional information.
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