Blaise Adams, aPHR
OD & Data Analytics Specialist
HR Source

Blaise provides support to the Training and OD Department by assisting in the development of training materials, supplying customers with reference information on training content, and helping prepare and track proposals for potential new members. In his spare time Blaise enjoys reading classic Science Fiction, trying-out new recipes in the kitchen, and ordering pizza when those recipes fail spectacularly.

Kelly Durov
Assistant Director, Northbrook Public Library 

Kelly Durov is an experienced librarian currently serving as the Assistant Director at the Northbrook Public Library. In this role, she oversees various departments, including Circulation, IT, Maker Services, Security, Technical Services, and Events Production, with a focus on fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment. 

With two decades in the library field, Kelly has served in library management since 2004. Before joining Northbrook, Durov held Management Roles in Youth Services at the Park Ridge Public Library, LaGrange Public Library, and the Orland Park Public Library. She has managed budgets, spearheaded innovative programs, and collaborated on new services and policies, always with a focus on meeting community needs. 

Committed to community engagement, Durov actively participates in local, state, and national library organizations. She has played a key role in recent DEI staff initiatives at her library and the implementation of changes in the hiring process at Northbrook Public Library. As a speaker at the HR for All Conference, she looks forward to sharing insights gained from a journey marked by continuous learning and a genuine passion for serving the staff and community through library initiatives. 

Candace Fisher, SHRM-SCP, Certified Coach
Director, Organizational Development
HR Source

Candace Fisher is the Director of Organizational Development at HR Source. In this role, her responsibilities include assisting members with design and implementation of training and development programs for their Human Resource staff, supervisory and non-supervisory employees. In addition, Candace facilitates various training sessions at HR Source, including sessions in Spanish. She advises members and assists with organizational issues such as management coaching, change and performance management. She provides human resource, employee relations and supervisory/management services for member organizations via the HR Hotline. 

Prior to working for HR Source, Ms. Fisher was a Human Resource Manager and an HR Generalist for various organizations in the greater Chicagoland area. Her background includes work in training and development, employee relations, labor relations, benefits negotiation and administration, recruiting, workers’ compensation and overall strategic management of the Human Resource function. 

Ms. Fisher obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Illinois, Urbana, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) as designated through the Human Resource Certification Institute, a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) as designated through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a Certified Coach.

Kelly Hayden, JD
Chief Legal Counsel
HR Source

Kelly Hayden is Chief Legal Counsel for HR Source, a professional organization providing human resource solutions for member organizations for more than 100 years. In her role, Kelly provides representation to employers before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Labor, the US Department of Labor and other state and federal agencies. She also assists employers with hiring, discipline, and termination procedures; preparation of employment agreements; and the drafting and reviewing of employment policies and handbooks. She provides employment law compliance training for managers, supervisors, and HR professionals covering many topics including harassment, discipline and discharge, the FMLA, ADA, social media, employee handbooks, interviewing and hiring and drug and alcohol testing. As a representative of HR Source, Kelly frequently lectures to professional organizations on numerous employment law topics and contributes to the association’s website and has authored articles in numerous trade journals.

Kelly has a J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and a B.A. in English and psychology, also from Indiana University. Kelly is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and before the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.  Kelly came to the Association from a large Chicago law firm where she practiced for nine years defending employers in employment discrimination trials. Kelly is a member of the American Bar Association and its Section on Labor and Employment Law. Kelly has also served as a fire commissioner for the Village of Frankfort Fire Protection District for more than 10 years.

Kat Kibben
Founder
Three Ears Media  

Kat Kibben is an award-winning writer and renowned keynote speaker known for helping hiring teams write inclusive, unbiased job postings that help them hire the right person faster.  

Before founding Three Ears Media, Kat was a CMO, Technical Copywriter, and Managing Editor for leading companies like Monster.com, Care.com, and Randstad Worldwide. Today, they are frequently featured as an HR and recruiting expert in publications like The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes.  

Kat travels the country in their RV while dividing time between North Carolina, Colorado, and the dogs behind the name Three Ears Media.  

Marc Klemencic
Director Talent Management
AAR CORP

Marc Klemencic is Director Talent Management of AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading aviation services provider to commercial and government customers worldwide. Marc oversees AAR’s global Talent Management, Learning and Development and other functions. He is focused on leveraging his deep experience in leadership development, succession planning, career pathing, and employee engagement to position the Company for future growth. Marc drives Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the recruitment and development of diverse talent throughout the organization and helps provide guidance on the strategic initiatives for AAR’s six Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). 

Prior to AAR, Marc served as Manager Talent Management for Omron and was responsible for Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, and Learning and Development in the Americas and HR operations in the US. Marc is a transformational leader with a deep passion for engaging and developing individuals. He helped build Omron into a National Best and Brightest Company to Work For, Best Place to Work in Illinois and Best and Brightest Company to Work For in Chicago. 

Marc is passionate about educational outreach and volunteering in the community. He is currently a head coach for Huntley Park District girls recreation, Huntley High School boys feeder and Fox Valley Force AAU boys basketball programs. Marc has been a Career Advisor for Northern Illinois University and worked closely with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Feed My Starving Children, Kenneth Young Center and Northern Illinois Food Bank. He has been recognized as Volunteer Coach of the Year for Huntley Park District and won awards for creating an Internship Program and Community Outreach team at Omron. 

Marc earned his bachelor’s degree and his Master of Human Resource Management from Roosevelt University.

Bob Moore, MA, MS, FASAE, CAE
Executive Director
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

Bob Moore, CAE, is a Certified Association Executive with almost 20 years of association management experience. Moore currently serves as the first chief operating officer of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, a 33,000 member association.

Previously, Bob served as the first executive director for the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), an amalgamation of technology trade organizations representing more than 22,000 technology-related companies across North America where he grew membership and non-dues revenue by more than 25%. He has also served as vice president for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), an 18,000-member association. At IFT he and his team worked with the Board and 2,000 volunteers annually overseeing the development and implementation of the society’s content, community and certification strategies and programs.

Previously, Bob worked with a variety of associations, including technology user groups, as associate director of education at SmithBucklin Corp., the world’s largest association management company. Bob also worked as the director of community-based initiatives at the American Academy of Pediatrics, a 60,000-member professional society, where he secured several million dollars in grants, facilitated grantee best practice sharing, and supported policy development for children with special health care needs.

Bob received a B.S. degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Illinois State University and an M.A. degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Northern Iowa. He is a Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) scholar with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Kathryn O'Connor, PHR, SHRM-CP, CCP, GRP
Director, Compensation Services
HR Source

Kathryn O'Connor, PHR, SHRM-CP, CCP, GRP is Director, Compensation Services, for HR Source.  Kathryn leads both the compensation and survey departments, ensuring Chicagoland employers have access to accurate, timely benchmarking data for compensation, benefits, and human resources practices.  Kathryn consults with employers on compensation system design, pay range development, adherence to wage and hour laws, and performance management systems.  Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Northwestern University.  

Ben Opp, SPHR
HR Hotline Advisor
HR Source

Ben Opp, SPHR, serves as HR Hotline Advisor at HR Source, an association of employers in the Chicagoland area providing comprehensive and thoughtful HR support. Ben advises HR teams and executives regarding compliance, leading practices, difficult employee relations situations, and every other imaginable topic in the HR field.

A California native, Ben began his career as a professional classical musician and has since held leadership roles in sales, accounting, and human resources. His 19 years working in small business, including arts organizations, an engineering firm, and an industrial service company, lend him empathy toward the unique challenges of small and growing organizations and a holistic understanding of integrated business operations.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of the Pacific, a Master of Music from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Lisa Paolantonio, LCPC, CEAP
Senior Employee Assistance Counselor 
Metropolitan Family Services Employee Assistance Network

Lisa Paolantonio is a Senior Employee Assistance Counselor at Metropolitan Family Services Employee Assistance Network. She has a bachelor’s degree in International Business and a master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois, and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She practices primarily from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy perspective. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, Lisa consults with organizational leadership and HR professionals regarding mental health issues that impact the workplace. She also serves as the lead trainer for EAN, developing and presenting workshops and webinars to leadership, employees, and behavioral health professionals on topics such as work/life harmony, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, information overload, and other wellness topics.

Julius Rhodes
Founder and Principal
mpr group  

Julius E. Rhodes, SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), is a life-long resident of Chicago’s Southeast Side and the youngest of 4 children born to the 68-year marriage of Marzet and Pete Rhodes. His greatest accomplishment is his 30-year marriage to wife Linda G. Rhodes, CSP and their two adult children, Jerome, and Lauren.

Mr. Rhodes serves as the Founder and Principal of the mpr group (which is a tribute to his parents based upon their initials) of a full service broad-based Human Resources and Management Professional Services Firm that he has operated continuously since 1994. 

The mpr group provides operational expertise in the areas of:

• Innovative training and development program design and delivery
• Leadership development and executive coaching
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging services
• Project management
• Keynote and motivational presentations
• Organizational design and organizational effectiveness
• Generalist human resources (HR) consulting

Mr. Rhodes is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow Class of 1999 and the author of “BRAND: YOU:  Personal Branding for Success in Life and Business” and “BRAND: YOU The Workbook”. In addition, has completed his coursework towards a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Business Ethics at Loyola University having received an Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunities Program Fellowship for his studies. In addition, he has a lifetime Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, the highest level of official recognition in his profession. 

In 1992, he completed a certified arbitrator development program through Cornell University and the New York State Employment Relations Board. A graduate of Mt. Carmel High School he has a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Roosevelt University and a Master of Science in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from Loyola University. Prior to forming the mpr group, Mr. Rhodes worked for several leading Fortune 100 Firms including Mobil Oil, General Electric, Baxter Healthcare and Sara Lee. In addition, he also served as a field examiner for the National Labor Relations Board. 

He is a much sought-after motivational speaker having presented nationally and internationally on a variety of topics related to HR, personal branding, diversity, and inclusion (D&I), risk management and safety, among others.

Sonal Shah, JD
Assistant Director, Employment Law Services
HR Source

Sonal Shah is Assistant Director of Employment Law Services for HR Source, a professional organization providing human resource solutions for member organizations for more than 100 years. As part of her practice, Sonal has represented employers against wrongful discharge and discrimination claims in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, and the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Sonal also has significant experience counseling employers on properly complying with the law and managing their workforce; preparing employment and severance agreements; drafting/revising disciplinary and termination notices; and crafting employment policies and handbooks. In addition, she provides employment law compliance training for managers, supervisors and HR professionals. Sonal also contributes to the Association’s monthly newsletter and website.

Sonal came to HR Source from a large Chicago law firm where she represented public and private employers, from the smallest private companies to corporations exceeding 10,000 employees, on a broad range of labor and employment law matters arising under federal and state law.

Sonal has a B.S. in Business Administration from The Ohio State University and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.

Lauren Soderstrom, PHR
Senior Organizational Development Partner
HR Source

Lauren’s passion is helping others realize their potential. She accomplishes this by conducting training at our members locations or at our public programs and through executive and interpersonal coaching. As a Gallup certified strength coach, Lauren’s feels her life’s mission is helping others discover and maximize their unique gifts and improve team performance.

Allison Sues, JD
Senior Employment Law Counsel
HR Source

Allison works with employers to proactively ensure compliance with the law, including revising employee handbooks and policies and counseling employers on legal or management questions. She is a member of the HR Source Hotline. As part of her practice, she also represents employers against charges of discrimination at the EEOC, IDHR, and other administrative agencies. She also conducts in-depth investigations into claims of workplace discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Prior to coming to HR Source, she was in private practice and litigated employment matters in state and federal court, giving her great insight into important ways that employers can best navigate complex personnel matters and protect themselves against legal liability.

Kate Temple, SPHR
Chief People Officer
Bostrom

Kate Temple, Chief People Officer for Bostrom, is a strategic and hands-on Human Resources business partner with experience in coaching, employee and labor relations, performance management, workforce planning, compensation programs, policy and procedure, and employment law compliance. Kate manages strategic HR initiatives as well as the day-to-day HR activities for Bostrom and its clients. 

Kate strives to build trust with her colleagues by listening and finding solutions that are true to Bostrom’s values and culture. She is passionate about leading Bostrom’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts because we encourage our people to bring their authentic, whole selves to work and we believe diversity drives innovation. 

Kate has been providing HR generalist and business partner support to small and mid-sized organizations in a variety of industries for 25 years. Kate is certified as a Senior Professional in HR (SPHR) by the HR Certification Institute.

Jackie Throop, SPHR
Director, Outsourced HR & Recruiting Services
HR Source

Jackie has a long history with HR Source. As a staff member from 1996 – 2002, she focused on training and started Interim HR, now known as Outsourced HR and Recruiting Services. She then spent many years with a member company focusing on Employee Benefits and HRIS. Jackie returned to HR Source in 2020 and now leads the Outsourced HR and Recruiting team. Jackie is always anxious to share her many years of HR experience with our members!