Navigating emerging workforce challenges and AI adoption with clarity and confidence

David Robb is an entrepreneur and business leader with extensive experience in the staffing and recruiting industry, workforce development, and economic/labor market dynamics. David is the Co-Owner and Managing Partner of Express Employment Professionals of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Express Employment Professionals is the largest privately held staffing company in the country and the Grand Rapids office consistently performs in the top 2% of all franchises. Since joining the Express team in 2015, David has partnered with Founder Janis Petrini to also launch and lead Specialized Recruiting Group and Frontline Training Solutions. Between their group of three companies they assist clients with all levels of staffing services and executive recruitment as well as employee training, HR consulting, and workforce strategy. Across all three companies, David leads a team of over 35 employees, serving clients both locally and across the country.   Previously, David worked as the Director of  Data Analysis at a top digital advertising agency. David has degrees in Business Administration and Economics from Calvin University. David is a sought-after speaker on economic conditions and labor market forecasts. He is also a regular contributor and featured expert on various local and national business publications. He serves on the Western Michigan Economic Roundtable for the Federal Reserve, the Grand Rapids Chamber Workforce Development Committee, and is actively involved in a variety of local non-profits.

Mike Lee is an HR executive and trusted C-suite business partner with more than 25 years of leadership experience in human resources and organizational development. He brings a strong track record of leveraging talent management, organizational design, and learning initiatives to drive organizational performance, strengthen culture, and support business transformation. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornerstone University and began his career in the automotive industry, where he spent eight years applying Lean manufacturing principles and earned Six Sigma Green Belt certification. He later spent 15 years at Perrigo Company, leading the global learning & development function across more than 20 countries within a highly regulated environment. Following his time at Perrigo, Mike led the U.S. human resources team for Padagis, overseeing core HR functions including compensation and benefits, employee relations, and talent acquisition. Most recently, he led global talent management at Padagis, with a focus on strengthening the talent pipeline through best-in-class recruiting and onboarding, as well as enterprise-wide talent reviews and succession planning. Mike lives in Byron Center, Michigan with his wife, Elissa. They have two adult children: Blake, who resides in Kalamazoo, and Chloe, who attends Cornerstone University. Outside of work, Mike enjoys golf, travel, great food, and attending events.