First Breakouts:

Leslie Fiorenzo: After failing to win the top prize in a speech contest early in her career, Leslie began her journey toward excellence in public speaking. Over the next 30 years working in human resources and employee assistance Leslie mastered the art of captivating communication. In May of 2024 she founded Business Speaking Solutions, a coaching and training company focused on partnering with business professionals to build a confident, commanding presence using public speaking. Her unique approach is based on the skills she used throughout her career. She is the author of two books: “Twenty-One Lessons for Mastering the Difficult Conversation” and “Find Your Voice: Conquer Your Fear & Share Your Story with Confidence”, both available on Amazon.

Katie Narhi: With 18 years at Embers Credit Union, Katie Narhi has witnessed and helped shape the Embers evolution—working alongside leaders through a complete rebrand, two mergers, and the pursuit of an award-winning workplace culture. As VP, Director of HR, Katie is passionate about supporting #EmbersTeamMembers and creating a positive, people-first employee experience where every team member feels valued, empowered, and connected. Believing that great workplaces are built with intention, Embers champions engagement, leadership development, and a culture that fuels success.

Greg Coyne: During the past decade, as an awarded Sandler Consultant and Facilitator, Greg has developed powerful tools and techniques that have led companies to dramatically increase revenues; by changing their mindset around behaviors, attitudes, and the techniques they use. A significant number of his clients have a 30% or better increase in their revenues within the first twelve months of engagement. Greg has been featured in many publications including the Michigan Business Network and the Small Business Association of Michigan; as well as numerous podcasts, including, “Time to Shine,” “Business Vitality,” and “The J & K” Podcasts. Greg’s professional background also includes over 15 years as a business development and customer care agent, and for international companies EDS, Fleet Capital Leasing, and CBS Outdoor.

Lunch:

John Gardiner: John David Gardiner if his parents are present, is a member of Bodman PLC, working out of Bodman's Grand Rapids office, most often remotely from his home in Maple City, MI. Mr. Gardiner has a decade of experience practicing business and employment law throughout Michigan. His legal practice is focused on the representation of employers in employment law matters and on general business and civil litigation. He also represents business owners and their families in connection with alleged white collar crime and other criminal investigations. Mr. Gardiner and his wife Addie are the proud parents of five children and fifteen Suri alpaca; if Mr. Gardiner isn't at work, you're likely to find him trying to farm!

Second Breakouts:

Tom Isaacson, Ph.D. (Michigan State University): Assistant Department Head and Associate Professor of Public Relations at Northern Michigan University's College of Business. He teaches courses in Public Relations and Business Communication, and conducts research in Sports PR and the History of PR. His current sabbatical research is exploring the unknown aspects of soldier tourism in Italy during World War II. For fun, he combines professional and personal travel in Europe, whenever possible, and enjoys Marquette's trail network.

Todd Poquette:  Todd brings 37 years of professional experience to the UPHRA Spring Summit. He entered the workforce at 17 after moving out of his parent's home into an apartment. He worked full-time while completing his senior year of High School. His professional adventures include Retail, Sales, Operations, Management, Truck Driving, Hazardous Material, food service, Non-Profit Management, Event Management, Marketing, Brand Management, and Storytelling. In 2014, he founded 906 Adventure Team, a 501c3 located in Marquette, Michigan. When he started the organization, it was him and five kids. Today, 906AT serves 1,300 kids across 15 communities in the Midwest. They also train 500+ volunteers annually. While developing the youth resilience development program, Todd became "infamous" as the mastermind behind Polar Roll, The Crusher, and Marji Gesick, also known as the 906AT Endurance Trilogy: Three of the most difficult events you can find anywhere in the country. When he's not serving the community, Todd can be found doing hard things in the gym, in the woods, on his bike, or at camp, always trying to lead by example.

Katie Korpi: Katie brings 16 years of experience in higher education, including roles in Career Services, Academic Advising, and Housing and Residence Life. Despite demands on her time in her current position, Katie routinely works closely with students to encourage confidence in their career and professional development. Katie joined Career Services in 2018 as an Assistant Director with a 9-month appointment, was promoted to a 12-month Director in 2020, and hired two Assistant Directors in late 2020 and 2021, significantly increasing the department’s impact campus-wide. She has contributed to various campus and community partnerships, including Retention Committee, University Partnerships, and Strategic Planning, as well as contributed to various leadership trainings and workshops in her time at NMU. Prior to working in higher education, Katie worked in administrative roles at a non-profit child welfare organization in lower Michigan, including Human Resources. She is a certified Clifton Strengths coach, and a fanatic of positive psychology. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, and a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs, both from Northern Michigan University.

Third Breakouts:

Acrisure Panel: Dan Mannes, James Oliveri, Heather Mosher, Tom Snow  

Dan Mannes: Dan has over 30 years in the Outsourcing Industry with a focus on PEO and Human Capital Management. He also has both his Property & Casualty and Health Insurance Licenses. Dan is the Agents Broker for clients seeking alternative and creative solutions that solve challenges around the employee life cycle. Dan joined The Cambell Group (an Acrisure Agency partner) in 1997 to start a PEO brokering division and has since placed over a billion dollars in payroll with strategic partners delivering solutions to clients across the country. He is a graduate of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL with a Major in Human Resource Management and Marketing. He currently resides in Zeeland, Michigan and works at our Acrisure World Headquarters located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dan works in collaboration with Agency Partners to help build a robust Human Capital Management and PEO offering through the diverse services and capabilities of AcriSourse. He is very passionate about Total Client View and understanding the challenges businesses face and finding solutions to help them move forward. 

James Oliveri: James has over 30 years of industry experience specializing in the construction of alternative funding around human capital. He makes the complicated and confusing simplistic and sustainable. He approach has been innovative in the market. James joined Acrisure on 2014 as an Agency Partner managing an employee benefit practice. In 2022, he became a part of Acrisure corporate division called AcriSource, one of the leading industry experts in PEO evaluation and placements. James graduated from Arizona State University and currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. He enjoys cooking and all things in the culinary world especially when it includes his wife and 3 children. 

Heather Mosher: a Michigan native from Iron Mountain. She graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. Heather has been employed with Acrisure since graduating. She has held both a Property/Casualty and Life/Health license since 2008. She also holds her Accident and Health Counselor license. She received her Certified Insurance Service Representative designation in 2009 and in 2013 became certified in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She has previously served as a longtime officer on the board of the Marquette Noon Kiwanis Club and is a past board member of Connect Marquette Young Professionals group. In addition to that, Heather currently serves on the Marquette County Ambassadors board, the Northern Michigan University College of Business Advisory board as well as the Upper Peninsula Human Resource Association board. She is also a member of the internal Advisory Council for Acrisure Great Lakes Region, Marquette office.

Tom Snow: A native of Calumet, MI. I spend my free time with my family, and really enjoy fitness, food and fishing. At Acrisure, I am an Advisor in our Employee Benefit team, working with employers to develop plans to manage the ever changing needs of their workforce.

Fit Body Boot Camp: Cheryne Clements and Meli Loonsfoot 

Cheryne Clements: Owner- Marquette & Escanaba Fit Body Boot Camp Cheryne is a dedicated fitness professional and entrepreneur passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their health and wellness goals through sustainable lifestyle changes. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Management of Health and Fitness from Northern Michigan University, Cheryne returned to Marquette to focus on personal training and promoting fitness within the community. In 2020, Cheryne and her husband, Sean Clements, co-founded Marquette Fit Body Boot Camp with the mission to transform lives through effective, time-efficient workouts and personalized coaching. Over the past four years, their commitment has guided hundreds of clients toward healthier lifestyles by emphasizing the creation of healthy habits for sustainable results. This success led to the expansion of their mission, opening a second location in Escanaba, thereby extending their positive impact across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Balancing entrepreneurship and family, Cheryne is the proud mother of two sons, Easton and Brody. In 2022, she furthered her expertise by obtaining a master’s degree from Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, enhancing her ability to lead and inspire both clients and her team. As a speaker, Cheryne shares her insights on fostering sustainable health habits, drawing from her extensive experience in personal training and business ownership. Her passion lies in helping individuals feel good about themselves and instilling a sense of belonging, which she believes are crucial components of a successful fitness journey.

Meli Loonsfoot:  NASM-CPT, Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified, Certified Health Mindset Coach, Escanaba Fit Body Boot Camp Head Coach. Meli’s journey of grit and resilience began with an unwavering belief in herself. Forced to navigate life on her own before graduating high school, she worked full-time while pursuing online classes to achieve her goal of attending Culinary and Pastry Arts School. After honing her skills in kitchens and bakeries, Meli married her husband, Bret, and relocated from Colorado to the Upper Peninsula. In 2018, she began exploring the fitness industry, merging her culinary knowledge with a passion for health and wellness to inspire others to lead healthier lives. Since joining Marquette Fit Body Boot Camp in 2021, Meli has worked alongside Cheryne and other coaches and helped hundreds of clients reach their health and fitness goals. Her dedication and leadership skills led her to manage the second location in Escanaba with Bret. Since its launch in 2023, Escanaba Fit Body Boot Camp has flourished, growing to over 120 members. Meli and Bret have fostered a close-knit community by organizing member get-togethers, donating to local schools, running food drives for school pantries, and volunteering at local events. In addition to managing the facility, Meli is committed to developing fellow coaches and guiding her members toward sustainable healthy lifestyles. Meli has embraced personal growth by overcoming limiting beliefs, cultivating a positive mindset, and pushing her limits through consistent habits. She has participated in Spartan races, tackled David Goggins’ 4x4x48 challenge, and loves strapping on her weighted vest and going out for walks no matter the weather. Her favorite quote, “How you do anything is how you do everything,” summarizes her life’s philosophy and serves as her guide as she leads herself and those around her.

Philip Espinosa: Philip Espinosa is a seasoned HR senior leader with over 40 years of experience in the military, federal government, healthcare, and higher education. His HR practice focuses on leadership capacity, effective people practices, and viewing employees as integral contributors and investors in organizational success. In addition to serving as a CHRO, he is the founder of Leadership For Leaders, LLC, a boutique consulting firm specializing in "where leadership and people strategies meet."