Uniting Our Community in San Antonio!
Members of the HRO Today Association and the CHRO Today Executive Network (C-TEN) came together for impactful in-person meetings during the HRO Today Forum, held April 30 –to May 2 in San Antonio.
The Forum kicked off with the first of two half-day C-TEN retreats, offering our CHRO members a unique opportunity for collaboration and thought leadership. In addition to peer-driven discussions, the retreat featured two dynamic guest speakers:
- Jeff Bettinger, Chief Administrative Officer, HudsonRPO, led an engaging session titled “The CHRO Pivot: Staying Relevant, Resilient & Ready for What’s Next.”
- Kathleen Weslock, CHRO, Ansys, facilitated a thought-provoking discussion on “Navigating the Paradox of HR: Balancing Business Objectives with the Instinct to Support Employees.”
These sessions sparked valuable conversations, highlighting the power of connection and shared insight among senior HR leaders.
Celebrating C-TEN Excellence at the 2025 CHRO of the Year Awards
The 2025 CHRO of the Year category winners and Leaders of Distinction were announced at the HRO Today Forum — and I’m thrilled to share that three members of C-TEN were among the honorees!
Congratulations to our outstanding C-TEN winners:
Dan Chappell, EVP & CHRO, Seacoast Bank – Sustainable Workforce Award
Terilyn Juarez Monroe, CPO, Guardant Health – Lifetime Achievement Award
Laura Muir, CHRO, Polaris Transport – Small Market Award
These recognitions reflect the extraordinary leadership, innovation, and impact our members are making across the HR profession. Well done!
Closing the Forum with Strategic Insight: North America Board of Advisors Meeting
We concluded the HRO Today Forum with the annual breakfast meeting of our North America Board of Advisors. This influential group of senior executives from leading member organizations convened for a high-level discussion focused on emerging HR trends, common challenges, and forward-thinking solutions — all with the aim of shaping the future of the HR profession.
The meeting featured two timely and engaging discussions:
- Katie Brethel, SVP, Total Rewards at Kyndryl, facilitated a session on “Talent Acquisition and Total Rewards: Sharing Best Practices for Creating a Unified Talent Strategy.”
- Angela Montemarano, CHRO of Lee County School District, and David Ellis, SVP of Talent Transformation at Korn Ferry, led a dialogue exploring “Innovative Digital Strategies to Make Recruiting More Agile and Cost-Effective.”
These conversations underscored the board’s critical role in driving innovation and elevating HR’s strategic impact.
Calling all CHROs!
C-TEN — the CHRO Today Executive Network — is an exclusive, invitation-only community for senior HR leaders who are shaping the future of work. If you’re a CHRO or top HR executive, I personally invite you to be part of this dynamic network.
As a C-TEN member, you’ll gain access to a powerful peer community, executive-level development opportunities, and actionable insights — all designed to help you lead with greater impact, agility, and confidence, while respecting the demands of your schedule.
Hear directly from CHRO Carl Peers, OneBlood, on why being part of the C-TEN community has been so valuable. Watch here.
Interested in learning more or joining? Feel free to contact me at Renee.Preston@SharedXpertise.com.
Renée Preston
Senior Vice President of Membership Services
Global Executive Director of the HRO Today Association
