About Our Breakout Session Speakers

Shana Allen

CEO, SM Coaching

Leadershift: How to Adapt in an Ever-Changing World!

As the CEO of SM Coaching, Shana Allen partners with Human Resource Professionals, Managers, and other People Leaders with challenges such as productivity, retention, turnover, conflict resolution, and communication. She has first-hand experience and knowledge of the day and life of an HR Professional with over 24 years in the field. This has given her a deep understanding of Leadership development, high-performance team building, and business strategy.

Leveraging the lessons she learned, Shana believes that a healthy work culture is a must for all companies and is attainable by creating and developing leaders and seeding and nurturing teams.

Through her challenging and fun workshops, masterminds, and one-on-one coaching, she brings curiosity, innovation, and productivity to a higher level.

Shana has a degree in Business Management. She is a Team Certified coach, speaker of the John Maxwell Team, and Certified DISC consultant. Recently, Shana has partnered with AAIM and facilitates Leadership training for their members.

Chris Hoffmann

CEO, Deutschmann Lane Holdings

Preserving Culture, Quality, and Reputation During Periods of High Growth

Chris currently serves as the CEO at Deutschmann Lane Holdings (DLH), which operates a family of companies, including Hoffmann Brothers, Ferguson Roofing & Exteriors, Deutschmann Lane Real Estate, and HBH Investment Company. Before joining DLH, Chris served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, leaving active duty in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Saint Louis University, an MBA from Olin (2016), and a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from Washington University School of Law (2018).

Chris is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and the Tugboat Institute and also serves on the Board of Directors of Nexstar Network, Hawkins Service Company, and Florida Energy Water & Air. Chris lives in Saint Louis with his wife, Teresa, and two daughters, Penelope (4) and Isabel (1).

Steve Hughes

Principal, Hit Your Stride; Author; Award-winning Speaker

Improvisational Leadership: How to Pivot and Thrive in Any Situation

Steve Hughes is an award-winning speaker who helps people look and sound smart when they talk. He’s the author of Captivate and has been featured on NPR, BBC Radio, and The Wall Street Journal. He’s a former owner of a 50-person ad agency in Clayton, and today, he works with companies large and small, top law firms, national associations, and leading universities.

Steve holds a BA in French Literature and European History from the University of Kansas and an MBA in Marketing from Washington University, where he was awarded the prestigious Olin Cup. When he’s not speaking, he can be found performing improv with ComedySportz St. Louis and training for the 500-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Heath Luehmann

Leadership Coach; Senior Training Consultant, AAIM

Understanding the Genius of Your Team

Heath is a growth coach and leadership consultant, leveraging his knowledge of human growth and development to effect lasting change in individuals and organizations. Originally from Minnesota, he has lived and worked in the St. Louis area since 2001. His training and certification are through the Townsend Institute and membership in the ICF (International Coaching Federation). Heath and his family live in Chesterfield, Missouri, and they are active in their community, looking for ways to participate in the good things happening in the St. Louis area.

Michael Maciekowich

National Director, Astron Solutions; Senior Compensation Consultant, AAIM

7 Key Compensation Issues Impacting Employers in 2024

Michael F. Maciekowich is a National Director for Astron Solutions. His areas of expertise include the development, design, and implementation of executive, physician, & employee base pay systems, short- & long-term incentive programs, sales incentive programs, and performance management systems in all industries. Michael has over 40 years of consulting and industry compensation experience. Prior to Astron, Michael worked for numerous consulting firms such as The Hay Group, Towers Watson, Adams, Nash & Haskell, and the Omni Group. He began his career in 1978 at Zenith Electronics, continuing his career at Honeywell and the American Hospital Association before moving into consulting.

Michael is a sought-after speaker in total rewards program design. He has presented to numerous local ASHHRA and SHRM chapters. His topics include current trends in compensation program design, design & utilization of gamification strategies in employee engagement, creative performance management program design, customer satisfaction driven rewards systems, and Compensation 101 for Beginners.

Michael is an active member of WorldatWork, the American Society of Healthcare Human Resource Administration, and the Society for Human Resource Management. He is also a member of various local and state human resource associations across the country. He has chaired the Business Partner Committee for the ASHHRA Region 1 conference for 10 years. Michael received a lifetime achievement award from WorldatWork.

Michael received bachelor’s degrees in political science and philosophy from Loyola University of Chicago and a master’s degree in industrial relations, from the Quinlan School of Business of Loyola University of Chicago.

Ann Cuiellette Marr

Former Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources, World Wide Technology

The Journey of a Lifetime – 12 Lessons in Leadership

WWT is a $18B global technology solutions provider, delivering business and technology outcomes in industry, technology and services. Ann oversees all global human resources functions (talent acquisition, strategic staffing, policy development, benefits and compensation, government compliance, training, employee development, immigration and communications). Ann also manages the company’s diversity efforts (Diversity & Inclusion, Supplier Diversity and Small Business Enterprise) and has managed tremendous growth over the years. Ann has successfully spearheaded the company’s multiple selections for the 100 Best Companies to Work For, globally. Ann is President of the WWT Charitable Foundation and is very active in the community. Ann previously held positions with Anheuser-Busch and Enterprise Holdings.

Ann serves on the board of directors for World Wide Technology, the Board of Trustees for Maryville University, Greater St. Louis, Inc., the St. Louis Police Foundation, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Cass Information Systems. Ann also completed the Deloitte Center for Board Effectiveness Program in 2020.

Ann has been recognized for her leadership and business expertise by many organizations, some of which include Who’s Who in Black St. Louis, Corporate Executive of the Year by the St. Louis American Newspaper, 50 Most Powerful Minority Women in Business by the Minority Enterprise Advocate magazine, 25 Most Influential Business Women and Top Diverse Business Leaders by the St. Louis Business Journal and the recipient of the Leadership Award by the Great Place to Work Institute. And most recently, the 2022 Employee Experience Leader of the Year by Impact Awards and selected by Business Insider on the list of 2023 HR Innovators. Ann is a published Author of a New Orleans cookbook – Classic Creole – A Celebration of Food & Family.

Ann received a B.A. in Business & Human Resources Management from Webster University (the Walker School of Business & Technology), St. Louis, MO.

A native of New Orleans, Ann and her husband Craig have two daughters, and two granddaughters.

Scott Parres

Senior Training Consultant, AAIM

Adding Simple Communications to a Leader’s Toolbox: The Why

Scott Parres is a highly skilled training consultant focused on partnering with both business leaders and aspiring contributors to help them achieve their personal and business goals. For over 20 years, Scott has facilitated and coached at great companies, including General Electric, Edward Jones, CitiBank, and Express Scripts. For the past seven years, Scott has led his own training company, Parres Training and Development. During that time, he has worked with companies including Service Master, Lockton, MedImpact and others. In addition, for the past five years, Scott has partnered with AAIM to facilitate Leadership and Sales Training to many of their members.

Scott has delivered Sales, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Time Management, Conflict, and other key topics. His training expertise is in facilitated, discussion-focused training for either small or large groups; leading and coaching in both simple and complex role plays; and individual business development coaching.

Chuck Simikian, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Senior Consultant, Alliance HR Partners; Author; Podcaster; Senior HR Consultant, AAIM

Plotting Success: Strategic Team Mapping for Leaders

Chuck Simikian is a senior certified HR professional with a rich career spanning over 30 years. His expertise in Human Resources touches upon every facet from recruitment to HR compliance, across diverse industries like hospitality, themed attractions, retail, resorts, non-profits, and government.

Current Roles and Affiliations:

• Owner and Lead Consultant, Alliance HR Partners Consulting
• Associate Partner, AAIM Employers’ Association
• HR Task Force Associate, Strategic Solutions Partners (SSP)
• Chief HR Officer, The Team at HR Stories

Media Contributions and Creative Ventures:

• • Co-Host and Creator, HR Stories Podcast – A platform where Chuck shares insightful stories and experiences, embodying the motto “Listen. Learn. Act.”
  • Author, “The Ultimate Book of HR Checklists” – A comprehensive guide for getting HR right and avoiding costly mistakes.
  • Admin/Owner, the HR Team of One Community on Facebook.

Consultancy and Speaking Engagements: As an HR Consultant, Chuck adopts a risk-focused approach, dedicated to minimizing legal exposures for companies with respect to entities like EEOC, DOL, and OSHA. His pragmatic, relatable style has made him a favorite among clients. Chuck’s ability to connect with people across all levels of an organization is enhanced by his hands-on, collaborative, and adaptable approach.

Chuck’s passion for sharing knowledge extends to his role as a facilitator, where he continues to lead seminars for Pryor Learning, SkillPath, and The Team at HR Stories. His storytelling ability makes his sessions memorable, helping participants to truly internalize the lessons and insights he offers.

Tracey Wik

Business Advisor/Executive Coach, Tracey Wik & Associates; Senior AAIM Consultant

Unlocking Love for Monday Morning: Developing Leaders to Create Cultures of Engagement and Fulfillment

Tracey Wik is an executive coach, leadership development practitioner, and facilitator. She helps leaders reinvent what is possible for their work and lives, encouraging them to love Sunday nights rather than fear Monday mornings.

Her 20+ years of experience working with clients has included talent management, leadership, learning and development, employee engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging, and digital transformation.

Previously, Tracey was Managing Director of Leadership and Learning for an international firm that provided people analytics and consulting services to organizations in the private and public sectors. She is a founding board member of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Institute at DePaul University, the Nation’s first comprehensive institute for women business founders. A frequent guest contributor, her most recent article was featured in HBR’s How To Stay Engaged (Without Burning Out).

When not working, Tracey enjoys being outdoors with her husband, teenage daughter, and two water dogs.

Tanya Zion

Business Advisor & Executive Coach, Business Manager, Engagement Services, AAIM

2024 Retention Strategy Checklist

Tanya joined AAIM in 2021 and oversees Employee Opinion and Engagement Surveys and Affirmative Action Plans for AAIM Members.

Tanya is a results-driven leader with extensive experience in operations, change management, employee engagement, sales operations, and people development, serving Fortune 500 companies and startups across various industries. She specializes in process improvement, change management, and cross-functional team integration with her clients. Her success in these areas has led her to be a sought-after resource.

Tanya’s broad career experience is perfectly fitted for the requirements of businesses. Her career began in telecommunications, selling and implementing over $5MM in services for varying-sized projects. She was promoted to regional sales trainer, where she launched three regional training hubs and was responsible for double-digit sales growth through competitive replacement and new opportunity generation within the telecommunications industry. Her passion for entrepreneurial ventures led her to the executive suite of a startup business, which resulted in the acquisition by a Fortune 500 company. Additionally, she has helped businesses achieve triple-digit year-over-year growth, launched products internationally, and managed broad-scale systems integrations within matrix organizations. Tanya has spent the last 10+ years consulting with clients in strategic planning, change management, people development, information technology, and executive management. Tanya brings this wealth of experience and knowledge to her valued clients.

Tanya holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana State University and a J.D. in Health Care Law from Indiana University. In addition, she has a Yellow Belt in Lean Six Sigma and a certification in Mindfulness.