Gary W. Patterson has more than 30 years of senior management experience with high growth technology, wireless, manufacturing, and service companies. He has worked with more than 200 companies — from start-ups to Inc. 500 to Fortune 500 — providing high level strategic guidance and expertise. Gary’s financial acumen and extensive business knowledge have brought about significant outcomes for his clients, helping them to successfully navigate that often murky pathway to growth and profitability.

Dick Finnegan is the author of The Power of Stay Interviews for Engagement and Retention which is the top-selling SHRM-published book in history. He is also the author of Rethinking Retention in Good Times and Bad which was excerpted by BusinessWeek which said “Finnegan offers fresh thinking for solving the turnover problem in any economy”. His new books for 2015 include The Stay Interview: A Manager’s Guide to Keeping the Best and Brightest, to be published in over 20 languages and audio book, and HR’s Greatest Challenge: Driving the C-Suite to Improve Employee Engagement and Retention.

Dick is a humorous and insightful speaker for conference and corporate events. His day job is CEO of C-Suite Analytics which helps organizations improve engagement and retention including STAYview that guarantees turnover will decrease 20% in the first year or funds are returned. His experience includes solving turnover and engagement in Siberian banks, African gold mines, multi-national corporations in China, and for the CIA…as well as for healthcare, call centers, manufacturing, and other industries in the U.S.

James P. Meil is Principal, Industry Analysis with ACT Research, the recognized leader in data, analysis, and forecasting for the commercial vehicle and transportation industry.

Meil has been recognized as a leading industrial sector economist and planner for over 30 years. At ACT Research, he is responsible for forecasts and commentary on the North American economy, and analyzing how goods-producing sectors are contributing to freight conditions and vocational activity. He collaborates with ACT Research's senior team in the preparation of sales and production volume forecasts for commercial vehicles and trailers, and guides the model development efforts of the company.