AI Enablement as a Strategic Initiative (Leadership Forum)

Robert Ribar is a New York based professional with over fifteen years of experience in programming diverse content, community engagement, executing dynamic events and comprehensive marketing campaigns. He currently leads PowerToFly’s B2C and B2B events, including the Diversity Reboot virtual summit series, the biggest conference in DEIB. Rob also oversees the company’s dual marketplace marketing strategy as well as playing a key role in community growth and partnership programs. At PowerToFly, Rob has produced events for American Express, Meta, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft and Slack, just to name a few. Prior to joining PowerToFly, Rob served as Production Coordinator at DKC/Hangar4, working on events for Pixar, Jaguar LandRover, FanDuel, L’Oreal and producing the reopening of the Hudson Theatre on Broadway. He also worked as the Associate Producer for the Tony Award winning production company Triptyk Studios developing works for film, television and the stage with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Linda Perry and James Gandolfini. In his spare time, he co-hosts the Dear Watchers comic book podcast, writes scary stories and programs film screenings under the Sleepover Trading Company banner.

Cristina Duke has a diverse background as an HR practitioner, SaaS Consultant, and top-performing saleswoman. She has worked on global teams at a 100,000+ person organization, as well as in start-ups where she had to wear many hats in order to keep the business operating. Cristina is an intelligent risk-taker and self-starter who thrives on change, with the ability to adapt and prepare for unexpected situations. It is through this varied experience that she has discovered her passions and strengths: Tech (particularly SaaS), managing client relationships, and training and developing others. She excels at learning a client's business and providing value-added solutions. Cristina believes a successful business model is created by building trusting and enduring partnerships with both internal and external customers.

George Rivera III serves as the Senior Vice President of SHRM Enterprise Solutions at the Society for Human Resource Management. He is responsible for broadening the awareness of SHRM's mission to enhance workforce development by building and strengthening partnerships with some of the largest enterprise organizations across the globe. In addition to helping bring to market the top ideas and innovations through outreach, representing all things workplace, workers, and work.

George is a proven business development thought leader who places a deep emphasis on people, with more than 15 years of experience building and scaling highly productive, results-driven sales organizations. Prior to joining SHRM George spent over a decade honing his expertise in HCM cloud technology, retirement, insurance, and other employee benefits, as well as HR services and PEO offerings as he led sales efforts of Paychex Inc., a top HR consulting organization. In addition to business-growth responsibilities, George also led critical cross-functional company initiatives throughout much of the organization including Learning and Development, Marketing and Lead Generation, Finance, and Talent Acquisition, but the most rewarding experience, by far, was his service on the board for the annual United Way Campaign.

George Rivera III recognizes that strong leaders build strong businesses and strong businesses build strong communities. George is firm believer in focusing on strategic growth for all partners.

When not at work, Rivera serves as Vice President for SHARE International a Non-Profit that aims to support the indigenous peoples of the Amazon in Peru.