California HR Conference 2026

Stacey Lewis is the Director of Human Resources for the Port of Long Beach, the second-busiest seaport in the United States. She is a seasoned HR executive with 30 plus years of professional HR experience, both in the private and public sectors. A dynamic and well sought after “transformational” speaker, Stacey holds senior professional certifications from Loyola Marymount University, HRCI, SHRM and IPMA-HR. Stacey expresses her passion to help others by serving as a Host on Every Way Woman, an internet talk-show committed to celebrating everyday women in every way. Her professional, relationship and parenting advice has been featured in several websites, publications and TV shows including the Rachael Ray Show and Parenting magazine.

Jacqueline Kuhn, HRIP is an HR professional with over 25 years’ experience in Strategic Planning, Systems Management, Project Management, Services Delivery and General Human Resources. Throughout Jacqueline’s career, she has worked with organizations in all sectors global and domestic to create strategic plans around their Human Capital Management systems, as well as leading selection and implementation projects for Talent Management, Talent Acquisition and HRIS systems.

Brian Nagatani co-founded Hixon Nagatan in 2008. Mr. Nagatani has an active counseling and litigation practice. He provides preventative counseling to employers on a number of employment-related issues including terminations, hiring and leaves of absence. He has experience handling claims before the EEOC, DFEH, EDD, and other administrative and governmental agencies.

Helene Wasserman is the National Co-Chair of the Jury Trial and Litigation Practice Group at Littler Mendelson. Helene has devoted her entire career, since 1987, to representing employers of all sizes and in all industries with regard to their labor and employment law needs. In addition to being an accomplished trial attorney, Helene litigates single and multiple plaintiff cases, as well as class actions, before all state and federal courts in California. Helene is often brought in to handle difficult cases and consult on trial-related matters and strategies. Helene also provides advice and counsel, and conducts group and individual training on important employment issues, such as harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Helene is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law matters.

Robert W. Conti represents both private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. On a daily basis, he also provides advice to clients on wage and hour issues, reasonable accommodation concerns, and the documentation, discipline, and discharge of employees. A regular lecturer for various educational groups, Robert also provides training in sexual harassment prevention and other topics to a variety of employers including private and public colleges and universities, local and national private employers, and school districts.

Juliette has 25 years of experience in consulting with companies as it relates to their HR and financial matters. She assists companies solve their most complex people-related organizational, financial, compliance and behavioral challenges. Juliette has assisted companies through all stages of their life cycles — from high-growth startups to established, mature companies — with the financial, cost, tax and risk implications of their compensation and benefits programs.

Afdhel Aziz is one of the world’s leading experts in marketing innovation. He is an award-winning marketer who has led brands for Procter & Gamble, Heineken, Absolut, and Nokia, in London and New York. He was most recently Director of Absolut Labs in the USA, highlighted by Forbes as ‘one of the top three marketing innovation labs to emulate’ in the world. He is currently the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Conspiracy of Love, a think-tank and idea incubator that helps Fortune 500 brands use culture and technology as a force for good.