2025 MCAP(My Career Accelerator Program)
Speakers and Coaches
Speakers
Stacey Bledsoe is the president of Mile High SHRM and has over 25 years of experience in human resources, serving companies that range from $150,000 – $10 billion in revenue. She has been a Mile High SHRM volunteer since 2018, and has served on the board of directors since 2020. In addition, she is a certified professional coach through the International Coaching Federation, holds advanced HR certifications through HRCI and SHRM, and has a master of human resources degree from Rollins College. Stacey is an avid reader and gardener and has been taking barre classes for the past 7 years. She enjoys hiking and being outdoors and has recently taken up golf and fly fishing.
Tracy Graf increases success for a variety of prestigious organizations across the globe via customized, engaging Leadership and Team Development workshops. She has 20 years of leadership experience in Learning and Development, Marketing, and Public Relations with Vail Resorts, Life Time Fitness, Disney on Ice, and Ruder Finn Public Relations. Her company, Fuse, customizes workshops to strengthen how teams Communicate, Connect, and Collaborate!
AJ Lauer helps leaders thrive both inside and outside of the workplace. She is an expert on STEM diversity and workforce development. After 20 years working in the higher education and non-profit research fields, AJ founded her company Thriving Ibis Leadership Solutions. Through Thriving Ibis, Dr. Lauer provides a tailored-to-you mix of workshops, coaching, retreats, and consulting to provide individual and team leadership development, and help build inclusive workplaces. Dr. AJ Lauer holds an EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, MS in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University, and BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her coaching certification from the Center for Executive Coaching.
Dayanne Izmirian, PhD SHRM CP, worked in Higher Education as an administrator and faculty before moving to her first Human Resources role at Regis University. Dayanne is currently the Culture & Engagement Specialist at StarRez, Inc, a global SaaS company. In her current role, she specializes in Onboarding, Engagement and Operations. Dayanne’s skills include coaching, leadership development and training, restorative practice and program planning and implementation. Dayanne values service to the profession and constant learning, which led to her involvement in MSHRM.
Melissa Leland brings 15 years of experience in designing and leading successful organizational change efforts in various sectors and global landscapes. She worked with C-suite sponsors and other stakeholders, providing thorough and timely communication, excellent organization, insight, successful implementations and sustainability, measurement, and feedback. Her areas of expertise are within Human Capital Management, focusing on learning and development, organizational development, and change management. Melissa has extensive experience in conducting needs assessments and administering psychometric tools, including providing individual results through debrief and coaching, along with group workshop facilitation. Melissa earned her master’s degree, Organizational Leadership, with an emphasis in Leadership & Management, Regis University. Most importantly, she’s a wife, along with a mom to a son and 4 *bonus* daughters…along with 3 chickens and fish. She enjoys volunteering with her faith’s women’s group, traveling, staying active, and learning about anything.
Courtney Murphy , SHRM-SCP, brings two decades of experience in corporate HR with degrees in Strategic HR Management, Psychology, and Diversity and Inclusion. With a passion for social and organizational psychology, she has extensively studied occupational stress to discover effective and sustainable methods to improve engagement and motivate performance. Courtney is the bestselling author of Life After Burnout: Reclaim, Recover, Renew, a Career & Leadership Coach, and HR Consultant. Her work focuses on helping employees and companies thrive in their success.
Jeremy Edmonds Jeremy Edmonds, VP of People and Culture at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, is a seasoned HR professional driven by a passion for cultivating exceptional employee experiences and vibrant organizational cultures. With over a decade in talent recruitment, he transitioned his focus to engagement science, becoming a thought leader in culture, performance development, and leadership. Jeremy's commitment extends beyond the workplace, serving on the boards of The Snooze Compass Foundation, Heart and Hand, and advising FSR and QSR magazines. A staunch champion for diversity, he spearheads initiatives to enhance the experience of underrepresented employees. Jeremy's love for food and beverage fuels his enthusiasm for creating memorable moments for Snooze employees nationwide, while his personal interests include reading, cooking, and exploring the world with his family.
Coaches
AJ Lauer helps leaders thrive both inside and outside of the workplace. She is an expert on STEM diversity and workforce development. After 20 years working in the higher education and non-profit research fields, AJ founded her company Thriving Ibis Leadership Solutions. Through Thriving Ibis, Dr. Lauer provides a tailored-to-you mix of workshops, coaching, retreats, and consulting to provide individual and team leadership development, and help build inclusive workplaces. Dr. AJ Lauer holds an EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, MS in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University, and BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her coaching certification from the Center for Executive Coaching.
Gillian Faith is the founder of Next Level Coaching and Consulting, designed to offer coaching services for individuals and groups for leadership and personal development. Originally from Scotland, she is experienced working in both the UK and the US and draws from a background in healthcare delivery and leadership, and human resources and business management. Gillian holds a Masters degree in Management, and is SHRM-SCP and SPHR certified, having worked as an HR Consultant, providing services for small businesses and nonprofits. She has completed coach training with the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds the ACC accreditation from ICF, as well as being a certified Positive Intelligence Coach. Gillian currently volunteers as the facilitator for the Mile High SHRM Senior HR Leader program. Outside of work, she is passionate about fitness and wellness and loves the outdoors.
Rachel Lucas helps HR professionals and leaders navigate tough conversations, build confidence, and develop the skills needed to grow their careers. With over 15 years of experience in HR, leadership development, and workplace conflict resolution, she understands the challenges HR professionals face—especially when stepping into new roles, managing difficult dynamics, or striving for the next level in their careers. As the founder of TrustWorks Coaching, Rachel specializes in leadership development, workplace conflict resolution, and career growth strategies. She combines her expertise in Energy Leadership™ with her "Unstuck" methodology—a practical approach that helps professionals move past frustration and overwhelm so they can see new opportunities and take action. She is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), holds a PHR and multiple certifications in leadership coaching, and is trained as a trauma-informed coach.
Rachel is passionate about helping emerging HR leaders strengthen their skills, gain clarity in their careers, and develop the confidence to lead effectively.
Yvette Costa is a Team Dynamics Coach + Consultant. Her passion is to help create teams that are HIP – Happy in Place; through Full Circle Coaching + Consulting. Her background is diverse, eclectic, and non-linear. She worked in corporate for 25+ years, has been trained as a yoga teacher and yoga therapist, continues to teach, and earned certifications in coaching from iPEC, The Science of Well Being from Yale, and Facilitating Happiness from Harvard’s Tal Ben-Shahar. Yvette is best known for taking a practical approach to melding eastern concepts with western logic to help clients become more self-aware, happier, productive, and solution-focused and to intentionally create the lives they want to live.
