Who's Who

Blaise Adams, aPHR
Data Analytics Specialist, HR Source

Blaise believes that good decision-making starts with reliable data. He specializes in managing and analyzing HR Source's data infrastructure, uncovering trends that help shape and support the organization’s mission. Blaise also assists in the adoption of new technologies and optimizing HR Source’s systems to improve efficiency. When the spreadsheets and dashboards are tucked away, you can find Blaise exploring new tech, catching up on classic sci-fi, or rambling on his Halcyon 250.

Keith Bailey
Co-Founder, Articulated Intelligence 

Keith's journey from the Netherlands to the United States at 8 years old wasn't just a change of scenery, it was a crash course in making connections. Picture this, a kid who doesn't speak the language, clad in mom made outfits, trying to navigate the complex social waters of a new country. It was a challenge that Keith dove into headfirst, fueled by curiosity. Keith’s time in the United States Marine Corps as a photojournalist added another layer to his approach. There he learned the power of storytelling and a "go-giver" mindset. Putting the person before the profession became his mantra and weaving stories into his practice became his superpower. From the hospitality industry to fitness coaching to global corporate sales, Keith honed his speaking skills leveraging Toastmasters and the National Speakers Association as his training ground and improv stages as his playground. Now, as the co-founder of Articulated Intelligence, Keith is on a mission to share the secrets of effective communication and help business professionals live life well spoken.

Stephanie Dorning, JD
Employment Law Counsel, HR Source

Stephanie’s interest in employment law began when she joined the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. In more than nine years with the department, she acted as lead investigator in over 120 investigations and helped employers across northern Illinois come into compliance with laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Davis Bacon Act, and more. Stephanie uses her first-hand agency experience to help employers navigate complicated legal issues and avoid potential violations.

Mary Lynn Fayoumi, CAE, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
President & CEO, HR Source

Mary Lynn Fayoumi, CAE, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is the President and CEO of HR Source, a Chicago-based employers’ association with over 1300 member organizations. She is a highly respected writer, presenter, and advisor and an accepted authority on a variety of workplace and HR issues including engagement, culture, employment trends.

Mary Lynn currently serves as the Lead Director of the World at Work Board and is also the Board Treasurer of the Employers Association of America.  She is the Past Chair of the Board of the Association Forum of Chicagoland and currently serves on the Board of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation. Mary Lynn was selected by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in HR in 2020. She was also honored by the Association Forum with the Woman of Influence Award in 2021 and as the Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement in 2025.    

Mary Lynn is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Industrial Relations/Human Resources. She also holds an MBA with honors from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  

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.

Ben Opp, SPHR
HR Hotline & Content Advisor, HR Source

Ben serves as a trusted advisor to executives and HR teams on every imaginable topic in the HR field. He has held leadership roles in sales, accounting, and human resources in addition to his experience as a performing and teaching musician. His 20+ years working in small business, including arts organizations, engineering, and industrial services, lend him empathy toward the unique challenges of growing organizations and a holistic understanding of integrated business operations. A lifelong learner, Ben holds two degrees in music performance, the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from HRCI, and is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Julius E. Rhodes, SPHR
Founder and Principal, mpr group

Julius E. Rhodes, SPHR, is a nationally recognized human resources leader, consultant, and speaker with decades of experience helping organizations strengthen leadership, culture, and performance. A Chicago native and long-time HR practitioner, Rhodes is the Founder and Principal of the mpr group, a firm he has led since 1994, providing training, leadership development, DEIB services, organizational effectiveness support, and keynote presentations.

Rhodes is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow (Class of 1999) and author of BRAND: YOU – Personal Branding for Success in Life and Business and its companion workbook. He has completed doctoral coursework in Philosophy and Business Ethics at Loyola University and holds lifetime SPHR certification, the highest professional designation in his field.

Before launching his consultancy, Rhodes built a distinguished career with major Fortune 100 companies – including Mobil Oil, General Electric, Baxter Healthcare, and Sara Lee – and served as a field examiner for the National Labor Relations Board. A sought‑after national and international speaker, he is known for his expertise in HR strategy, personal branding, diversity and inclusion, and organizational leadership.

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.

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.

Jackie Throop, SPHR
Director, Outsourced HR & Recruiting Services

Jackie has a long history with HR Source. As a staff member from 1996 – 2002, she focused on HR training and started Interim HR, now known as Outsourced HR and Recruiting Services. She then spent many years with a member company focusing on Human Resources, Employee Benefits and HRIS. Jackie returned to HR Source in 2020 and now leads the Outsourced HR and Recruiting team. 

In this role, she works as a matchmaker, connecting her team of experienced HR Professionals to help manage members’ HR needs. This requires actively engaging with the member to identify what help they need. These needs include recruiting, day-to-day HR support, and sometimes even the most challenging of HR projects. Additionally, Jackie stays on top of the latest HR and labor trends and regularly shares her knowledge as a speaker for various associations and HR groups.