Speakers

Elias Hernandez was appointed as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Chief Human Capital Officer on June 27, 2016.  Mr. Hernandez is responsible for developing and implementing SBA’s human capital strategy to carry out the Agency’s responsibilities for selecting, developing, and managing a high-caliber workforce ready to support America’s entrepreneurs as they seize opportunities to grow and reach new markets.  He is also accountable for the Agency’s overall human capital program, which includes human resources policy, recruitment, employee development, retention, executive resources, strategic workforce planning, performance management, compensation and benefits, leave administration, labor & employee relations, work/life, and HR IT systems.

Mr. Hernandez previously served as Chief Officer of the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA), Workforce Management and Consulting Office.  In this role, he provided technical expertise to the Under Secretary for Health and National Leadership Council on Human Capital Management matters and the overall delivery of Human Resources (HR) service to VHA.  He also had oversight of over 350 staff with a $155 million budget supporting over 5,000 HR Professionals located throughout the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.  Mr. Hernandez led the VHA’s HR program which supported 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks and 141 Medical Centers consisting of more than 317,000 clinical and administrative support employees and nearly 120,000 health professions trainees.             

Mr. Hernandez retired from the Army at the rank of E-9—Sergeant Major—after 24 years of distinguished active duty military service.  He holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management and Development from National-Louis University.

Steven Haedrich is the owner of New York Label & Box Works (NYLB), a packaging printer that has been in continuous operation since 1878. Steven is the third generation of his family to run the company that was purchased by his grandfather in the Great Depression of 1930. NYLB specializes in innovative packaging such as re-sealable labels, UV inks on clear films and folding carton packaging. NYLB recently has been recognized as a leader in brand protection and anti-counterfeiting technology for high value products. Their clients are mainly in the vitamin, cosmetic and food industries.

Steven became involved with Dr. Deming’s philosophy and earnestly adopted it shortly after taking over operations in 1996, when NYLB’s largest customer demanded improved quality from all its vendors. With that client edict, Steven began to read everything he could about quality. He soon discovered that in every book he read, he saw the name “Deming.”

That began Steven’s and NYLB’s “Deming journey.” Over the past twenty years NYLB has studied and implemented the Deming philosophy, advancing their systems, efficiency and quality rating. Their focus on R & D has given them a competitive advantage that has helped them grow and prosper even during economic fluctuations in the marketplace. Worker turnover is virtually zero and the management team has been intact for over 20 years. NYLB continues to aspire to be a model Deming Company to validate Dr. Deming’s theories and support his philosophy.

Steven joined the Board of Directors of The Deming Institute in 2015, is a member of the Advisory Board of Printing Industries of America, and Past President of the Northeast Label Manufacturers Association.

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Kim Price-Harwood joined Graduate School USA (GSUSA) in March 2016, as the organization’s Chief Marketing Officer. She was later promoted to Vice President, Marketing, Communications, and Customer Relations, and is responsible for the development and implementation of integrated marketing communications policies and strategy, brand development, digital presence, public relations, and creative services. She also serves as GSUSA’s head of Customer Relations, where she leads strategic planning for the Customer Relations Center. 

Prior to joining GSUSA, Kim was a member of the senior strategic communications team at LeapFrog Solutions, a marketing communications company located in Fairfax, Virginia. She has also held senior marketing positions at companies such as Verizon Federal Markets and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR). 

Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from American University and a Master of Science degree in Marketing Management from University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly University College).

Jack Maykoski holds the position of President and CEO at Graduate School USA. With more than thirty years in the fields of professional development and training, and international development, Mr. Maykoski has extensive experience leading results-oriented capacity-building programs and providing technical assistance in many regions of the world.

Prior to his career with Graduate School USA, Mr. Maykoski worked for the U.S. Peace Corps in several capacities: as Country Director for three countries; as Chief of Operations in Washington, DC; and as a training director supporting Peace Corps volunteers throughout the world.

Mr. Maykoski holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota.