Cornell University's National HR in Hospitality Conference 2027 Exhibitor List

Barry Hartstein is the Co-Chair of Littler’s EEO and Inclusion Practice and Executive Editor of Littler’s Annual Report on EEOC Developments.

Dr. Sarah Sarkis is a licensed psychologist and certified executive leadership coach who collaborates with individuals, teams, and corporates using a science driven, BS-free approach.

After years of building and leading teams, Natalie Egan kept seeing the same pattern: training wasn’t sticking, and teams were still unprepared for the moments that actually mattered. The problem wasn’t a lack of learning content, it was a lack of shared, real-world practice. That realization led her to create Znario.

Emily Goldfischer is a journalist, storyteller, and trailblazing thought leader in hospitality, driven by a passion for gender equality. As the founder of hertelier - the go-to online platform for women in hospitality - Emily has built a vibrant community that inspires, informs, and empowers women to thrive in their careers. Having interviewed hundreds of women across the industry, Emily shines a light on their stories, delivers actionable career insights, and takes on workplace equality head-on. Recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality," "Top 50 Women in Hospitality" and a "Top 5 Social Media Influencer" for 2025, she is a sought-after speaker who brings energy, expertise, and fresh ideas to every stage and page. A graduate of Cornell's Nolan School of Hotel Administration with a master's from the London School of Economics, Emily is as engaging as she is knowledgeable, an unstoppable force in championing women and reshaping the future of hospitality.

Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson is a mindset transformation coach and former corporate HR executive dedicated to helping individuals and organizations cultivate greater clarity, purpose, and intentionality. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading companies such as Pixar, Google, Headspace, and Zillow, bringing deep expertise in leadership, personal development, and workplace culture. Dr. Cornell partners with individuals - particularly high-achieving professionals - to help them move beyond limiting beliefs and reconnect with lives rooted in purpose, joy, and fulfillment. He also works with organizations to create spaces that support reflection, growth, and meaningful engagement, equipping leaders and teams to navigate change with intention and authenticity. Through his coaching, workshops, and thought leadership, Dr. Cornell helps people and organizations take meaningful action toward the futures they want to build.

Adam Abraibesh is a human resources leader with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry with Hyatt Hotels. He currently serves as Senior Manager, HR Field Operations, supporting the U.S. Classics East and Owned & Leased portfolios, where he partners with field operations and HR leaders to strengthen performance, foster accountability, and support cultures where teams feel empowered and connected. Adam's experience includes hotel openings, transitions, and long-term property leadership, with a focus on employee relations, talent development, and practical, data-informed HR strategies. He is known for his collaborative, people-focused approach and for helping teams simplify processes, align around shared goals, and deliver strong results for both colleagues and guests.

Paul Ades is senior vice president for labor relations and Americas operations for Hilton. He leads Hilton's global labor relations function, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, provides strategic counsel on labor matters, and oversees Hilton's legal operations group. Prior to joining Hilton, Ades served as general counsel for labor and employment at MGM Resorts International, and as associate general counsel for Caesars Entertainment. He also practiced law at Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, D.C. Ades is a graduate of Williams College and the law school at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was editor of the law review.

Rachel Aleks is an Associate Professor of Management and Labor Studies at the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. Rachel received her Ph.D. in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from the University of Toronto. Her research interests include innovative union organizing strategies, gender dynamics within unions, and sexual harassment. Rachel teaches courses on labor relations, workplace conflict, and employment law. Prior to attending graduate school, Rachel worked as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union and recently served as Vice President - Grievance for her faculty association.

Carlos Aramayo is the President of UNITE HERE Local 26, the Union for hospitality workers in the greater Boston area and Rhode Island. He is also a Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, an International Vice President of UNITE HERE and a trustee of UNITE HERE Health and the Greater Boston Hospitality Employers Trust. In addition to his work in the Union, he is a member of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Board of Directors and a member of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy's Advisory Council on Latino Empowerment. During his eighteen years with UNITE HERE, he has organized casino gaming, hotel, and industrial food service workers in Connecticut, Nevada, Florida, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. As Organizing Director of UNITE HERE Local 26 from 2011-2016, he led successful campaigns to double the size of the Local. He first became involved with the labor movement as a rank-and-file organizer with the Graduate Employees and Students Organization (now Local 33) at Yale University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Latin American history.

Jon Baselice serves as Executive Vice President and Head of Government Relations at Vanteo, a Greenville, SC-based consulting firm, and is an Immigration Law and Policy Fellow at Cornell Law School. He is the former Vice President of Immigration Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. With a robust background in legislative and regulatory affairs, he has played a crucial role in shaping immigration policy, actively engaging with Congress and executive agencies to advocate for reforms to U.S. immigration laws. Before joining the Chamber, Jon worked as a Legislative Assistant/Counsel for then-U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, where he was instrumental in drafting key legislation and representing the Senator's positions on many critical issues. In this role, he served as a key advisor in then Senator Rubio's engagement in the gang of 8 and he helped usher S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, through the U.S. Senate in the 113th Congress. Jon earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and holds dual bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from Syracuse University. He is admitted to practice law in Florida and New York.

As Partner & Chief People Officer, Robert oversees Human Resources/Human Capital, for RDG. His career spans over 28 years of strategic Human Resources Management in the Hospitality and Professional Services industries. Prior to RDG, Robert joined from BPM LLP, a global Tax, Assurance and Advisory firm where he served as their Chief People, Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Prior to joining BPM, Robert was the Chief Human Resources Officer for TAO Group Hospitality. Robert also operated in the capacity as Vice President, Human Resources with Madison Square Garden and FIG & OLIVE Restaurant Group in New York City. Additionally, he has held management positions with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Continental Airlines. Robert was also an instructor in the graduate program at New York University for both HR and Hospitality programs. Robert maintains a master's in human resources management & development from Villanova University, a bachelor's in hospitality administration from Johnson & Wales University and a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. He also maintains his SPHR, PHR and SHRM-CP HR certifications.

Richard J. Block is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Lewis Brisbois and is Chair of the Immigration Practice. Richard has focused his practice on business immigration law for the past twenty years. He advises foreign nationals seeking to work in the United States, in addition to foreign investors, and domestic and international companies who wish to hire the most highly skilled individuals from around the world. Specialties include obtaining E-1 and E-2 visas, H-1B visas, L-1A and L-1B visas, O visas, TN visas, consular processing, and employment-based immigrant visas in all different categories and naturalization. He also counsels clients on compliance with ever-changing employment laws regarding foreign workers, including I-9 training and audits. Richard, who is fluent in spoken Japanese, also served as General Counsel for a large multi-national corporation based in Tokyo, Japan with worldwide operations and has handled all immigration matters involving the transfer of Japanese nationals from the parent company to the U.S.

Brenda Bradbury is a senior human resources and labor relations executive with extensive experience leading enterprise-wide workforce transformation initiatives across large, unionized hospitality and gaming organizations. She currently serves as Vice President of HR Transformation and Workforce Relations at Seminole Hard Rock, where she is responsible for modernizing HR service delivery, reimagining organizational structure and aligning labor strategy with business and regulatory requirements. Throughout her career, Ms. Bradbury has held HR and labor relations leadership roles with MGM Resorts International, Sonder, Sodexo North America, and Rio Las Vegas. Her background includes extensive collective bargaining experience, policy and governance development, and advising executive and operational leaders through periods of significant organizational change. Ms. Bradbury holds a B.S. in Hotel Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a B.A. in English Literature from Bryn Mawr College.

An accomplished & passionate Human Resources and hospitality leader, Debbie enjoyed a multi-dimensional career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. As the Vice-President of HR - Americas, she was the people and culture leader for fifty hotels and over 10,000 employees in the US, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Widely recognized as an employer of choice, Four Seasons was on the FORTUNE "Best 100 Companies to Work For" in each of the years in which Debbie held her position. Combining her HR and hospitality experience, she currently provides consulting services to small and mid-size private and family-owned businesses in which hospitable services is a key business deliverable and a company value. Debbie is a past member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association HR Committee; Cornell Institute for Hospitality Labor & Employment Relations; University of Denver School of Hospitality Executive Advisory Board as well as Washington State HR Executive Roundtable. In 2019, she was awarded a Lifetime HR Achievement Award by Cornell University. Originally from Minnesota, Debbie graduated from the University of Denver and began her hospitality career with Hyatt Hotels. She is based in Seattle, Washington.

Daniela Burga serves as the Vice President of Human Resources at Lark Hospitality, where she leads the HR function for their growing boutique portfolio. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Daniela's journey began at the front desk in 2009. She transitioned through Sales and Operations before finding her calling in Human Resources. A double alumna of the University of Connecticut, Daniela holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Master's in HR Business Management. Her expertise lies in high-level strategy, system management, and navigating the complexities of acquisitions & integrations. A passionate advocate for hospitality careers, she is dedicated to developing talent and sharing the "voice" of the industry. Daniela is a firm believer that the hospitality industry is a premier career destination, where passion and grit can take any hotelier from entry-level to reach their highest potential. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and two sons.