Agenda / Schedule

Learn. Collaborate. Innovate.

The Resource Management Global Symposium is comprised of keynote sessions, panel discussions, breakouts and case studies, and networking opportunities for all those interested in the RM and WFM disciplines. Attendees will learn both fundamentals and advanced practices in Resource and Workforce Management, have many opportunities to collaborate with industry peers, RM/WFM process experts, and service automation technology providers, and innovate with the very latest in RM/WFM research, leading practices, and digital transformation strategies. Symposium content is relevant to any project-based service delivery organization and specifically targeted participants with external customers (e.g. Professional/Consulting Services, Marketing and Creative Agencies, Accounting, Audit, Tax and Advisory firms, and Law firms) and internal customers (Enterprise/IT, Product Development, and Engineering).

April 23, 2024 – Day 1

Fuel up for an exciting first day at RMGS with our Welcome Breakfast. Enjoy a delicious breakfast while meeting and connecting with your fellow RMGS attendees.

DESCRIPTION: In today’s ever-evolving business environment, effective resource and workforce management is a critical capability that can significantly impact an organization’s success.  In this opening keynote, we will dive into the dynamic landscape of resource and workforce management, exploring strategies and insights that pave the way for a future-ready approach. Join us as we unravel the keys to cultivating an agile and resilient approach to resource management, ensuring organizations are well-prepared to thrive in the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Discover how forward-thinking resource management practices can unlock potential, foster innovation, and drive sustainable success in the years to come.

SPEAKER: Ryan Childers, Managing Director, RMI

DESCRIPTION:

According to a recent Gallup poll, over 70% of American workers are “Not Engaged” or are “Actively Disengaged” in their workplace.  Gallup continues to test this poll, and it has remained amazingly consistent over the last several years.  The truth is that individuals in the workplace are increasingly unfulfilled, uninspired, and lack a sense of purpose in their jobs, so they “disengage.”  While those in resource management know how important our work is, we’re not immune to feeling underappreciated, discouraged, and disconnected.  How do we overcome those challenging feelings, both for ourselves, and for our teams?  In this session, we will explore how our personal purpose, what our speaker calls our “Noble Why,” can reframe our situations, or help to create new ones!   

SPEAKERS: Wil Davis, Founder and Principal, Noble Why

DESCRIPTION: In this special session focused on services teams serving external clients, we will review and discuss trends affecting resource and workforce management supported by the very latest in RMI research. 

SPEAKERS: Greg Hensley, Director, RMI and Debra Olson, Sr. Principal Consultant RTM Consulting

DESCRIPTION: In this special session focused on services teams serving internal clients, we will review and discuss trends affecting resource and workforce management supported by the very latest in RMI research.  

SPEAKERS: Nick Cochran, Director, RMI and Jared West, Sr. Consultant, RTM Consulting

DESCRIPTION: In this session join Gary Ward, Global Director of Resource Staffing at Guidewire as he delves into the creation, maintenance & distribution of the RMO Charter – a foundational blueprint which orientates the resource managers, its key stakeholders and the leadership team.

SPEAKER: Gary Ward, Director, Global Resource Staffing, Guidewire Software

DESCRIPTION: Vivi Gehan will share the experience, wins, and lessons learned from the journey through the selection, implementation, and adoption of a robust Professional Services Application (PSA) for a global team of consultants. Hear about the company’s struggle to grow, staff, and manage projects at the right scale before implementing a PSA tool and the change management and adoption strategies (including failures!) that resulted in 20% year-over-year improvement in staff utilization.

SPEAKER: Vivi Gehan, Sr. Consultant of Services and Operations

DESCRIPTION: One of the goals of the RMO is to use the team optimally, but sometimes that can be challenging. Join us for a discussion with panelists who will share innovations that have helped them gain efficiency in staffing.

MODERATOR: Wade Little, Technology Practice Leader, RTMC

PANELISTS: Sean Doyle, Manager, Resource Management, Hyland | Christine Clardy, Operations Delivery Leader, Broadcom Software | Mike Lane, Vice President – Information Technology – Resource Management, The Cincinnati Insurance Company

DESCRIPTION:

Business Agility requires both routine and ad hoc alignment of resource capacity to strategy, delivery, budget, and other governance guardrails. Best capacity planning practices streamline this alignment to reduce risks, inform proposed change, and improve the flow of business value delivered from product, program, and portfolio roadmaps.

Join this session as we review how resource, project, product, and portfolio management can:

  • Show how all people and teams align to work, business strategy, and value metrics.
  • Easily coordinate shared services across all agile, waterfall, and operations work.
  • Confidently adapt portfolio flow within financial, resource, and governance constraints.
  • Identify skills gaps early and mitigate their influence on strategy execution.
  • Use “What If” roadmaps to evaluate financial, talent, & flow impacts of proposed work.
  • Effectively convey the benefits of coordinated capacity planning to management.

SPEAKERS: Lloyd Norman, Vice President, Strategic Solutions, ProSymmetry

Refuel with delicious food and beverages at our Networking Lunch. Use this time to socialize and network with fellow attendees, speakers, and RMI team members. After lunch, check out the latest in RM automation from technology providers at the Tech Expo.

DESCRIPTION: What defines you? For internally-facing Resource Managers, ensuring that your multifaceted contributions are recognized can be a challenge. Just as companies cultivate distinct brands to stand out, your personal brand sets you apart within your professional sphere. A well-crafted personal brand not only fosters trust and credibility but also amplifies your visibility. Join Katy Mabbitt, who draws from nearly two decades of leading Resource Managers, as she shares strategies to pave the way for showcasing your expertise and becoming a force within your organization!

SPEAKER: Katy Mabbitt, Vice President, Resource Management & Operations, DMI (Digital Management, LLC)

DESCRIPTION: The PS Industry is transforming in many ways. The changes coming are directly impacting and impacted by having a mature RM function in place. This session will outline what is already underway for many and what changes are still to come over the next 3-5 years. Shoring up your current resource management capabilities now will help to ensure strategic success going forward.

SPEAKER: Dave Young, Sr Director of PS Research & Advisory, TSIA

DESCRIPTION: According to RMI research, Forecasting is the single biggest inhibitor to effective resource management. A well-oiled forecasting capability requires tight alignment with those who generate demand, having timely and accurate data, and strong governance processes. In this panel discussion, panelists will share insight to impact and benefit your organization’s resource forecasting capability.

MODERATOR: Marc Lacroix, Managing Partner, RTMC

PANELISTS: Gary Ward, Director, Global Resource Staffing, Guidewire Software | Heather Boss, Resource Manager, Tax, RSM US| Damen Profitt, Assistant Vice President, IT Resource Management, The Cincinnati Insurance Company

DESCRIPTION: Details coming soon! 

SPEAKERS: TBD, DayShape

DESCRIPTION:

Recharge mid-afternoon with the RMGS Collaboration Power Hour, a dynamic new addition to this year’s symposium.  Join us at the Tech Expo in Griffin Hall for an interactive session full of opportunities to learn, collaborate, and network with your fellow attendees, technology providers, and the RMI team!  

When you arrive at the Tech Expo, you’ll have the opportunity to choose one of the following:

1) Join a facilitated table topic discussion to network and learn from fellow attendees while exchanging ideas, solutions, and success stories.

2) Engage with technology providers to learn more about the latest products to help you get better at what you do.

3) Visit the RMI Lounge.  The lounge is the perfect place to network with your fellow attendees and the RMI team.

Grab a quick snack to recharge for the day.

DESCRIPTION: Learn what worked well and where attention was needed after one year of launching both a new resource management process and implementing a new Professional Services Automation (PSA) tool at WTW. It became noticeable that different regions were starting to go off course from what was established at the onset. Join this session to learn how that line of business was guided back on track.

SPEAKER: Dylan Brown, Associate Director, Resource Management, WTW

DESCRIPTION: The Cincinnati Insurance Company has a robust process for managing its relationships with vendors and contractors. We use best practices to vet, engage, onboard, monitor progress, and offboard third parties, ensuring that they meet our expectations and requirements. We also use a performance score card and automated processes to control the flow of information to Security and other stakeholders, ensuring compliance and confidentiality. Join this session to learn how The Cincinnati Insurance Company works with third-party vendors effectively and efficiently, while maintaining our high standards of quality and service.

SPEAKER: Dylan Mason, IT Resource Management, The Cincinnati Insurance Company

DESCRIPTION: Those in resource management innately understand the value RM provides to their organization, but in many organizations it can be challenging to build and maintain support from leadership that may not immediately recognize it. In this panel discussion, our panelists will share their experience gaining buy-in for resource management and influencing its growth in their organization.

MODERATOR: Nick Cochran, Director, Resource Management Institute

PANELISTS: Ligia Vail, Sr. Manager, Resource Planning – Consulting Service Line Leader, Baker Tilly | Katy Mabbitt, Vice President, Resource Management & Operations, DMI (Digital Management, LLC) | McKenzie Houston, Capacity and Capability Manager, AECOM

DESCRIPTION: Details coming soon! 

SPEAKERS: TBD, Kantata

DESCRIPTION: In 2022, our organization strategically identified resource managers as pivotal to our success in curbing attrition. To spearhead this initiative, we brought on board three dynamic individuals with diverse backgrounds to lay the foundation and implement our Resource Management (RM) program. As we delved into the program, it became evident that our organization had multifaceted needs that required targeted attention within the RM framework. Given our risk-averse nature, managing expectations and facilitating change were imperative, with leadership buy-in being a cornerstone.

This session will take you through the transformative journey undertaken in just one year, propelling us from ground zero to 2.5 on the RM Maturity Model.

SPEAKERS: Shannon McCarthy, Senior Consultant and Digital Analytics Services Resource Management Lead, LMI and Desiree Peyman, Resource Manager, LMI

DESCRIPTION: “Accelerating the Maturity of an RMO” is designed for Resource Managers aspiring to enhance the maturity of relationships, processes, governance, and overall success within their Resource Management Office (RMO) function.  This session aims to assist attendees in conducting a truthful evaluation of your current situation, enabling you to prioritize the next steps in your Resource Management Office (RMO) journey. By incorporating key concepts from the Resource Management Institute (RMI), you’ll enhance your capacity to prioritize and execute the subsequent stages, thereby advancing your influence in a cross-matrix environment. Whether you cater to internal or external customers, this session will provide insights on navigating beyond your daily workload to craft a personalized roadmap, fostering improved governance in resource management.

SPEAKER: David Cochran, Global Resource Management Office Leader, Nutanix

DESCRIPTION: Effective resource and workforce management is highly dependent on a strong governance capability to monitor and control the inputs and outputs related to all resource management functions. Please join this panel discussion to gain valuable insight from panelists on what their RMO is measuring, how they are measuring it, and how they utilize their dashboard and metrics in their RMO.

MODERATOR: Debra Olson, Sr. Principal Consultant, RTMC

PANELISTS: David Binnings, Sr Director, Services Strategy and Operations, DocuSign | Rob Dal Bianco, Professional Services Global PMO/RMO Director, Diebold Nixdorf | Elaine Brady, Resource Management, Henny Penny

DESCRIPTION: In her role as Head of Resourcing at KPMG UK,  Alison was responsible for the staffing of 1.6million projects per year. Drawing on her decades of practical experience, Alison will explore how resourcing powered by AI can impact profitability, employee experience, and tackle previously tough challenges like bench management. She will be joined by Sandy, National Director of Resource Management at CohnReznick, who will share her personal story and reflections, practical resourcing tips, and an insight to why CohnReznick chose to accelerate their resourcing maturity with ProFinda’s AI. 

SPEAKERS: Alison Driscoll, ProFinda and Sandra Stanfield RMCP, CohnReznick

Take a victory lap and socialize with your fellow RMGS attendees over light hors d’oevres and cocktails in the Tech Expo before hitting the town for dinner. While you are there, browse the industry’s latest innovations in RM automation from technology providers.

April 24, 2024 – Day 2

Time to fuel up for another exciting day at RMGS with our Power Up Breakfast. Enjoy a delicious full breakfast to help recharge for RMGS Day Two! Use this time to network and collaborate with fellow attendees and speakers.

DESCRIPTION: Resource management, at any scale, requires good technology. Software providers continue to invest in improving the basics of resource management functionality with an eye to providing more strategic capabilities to help RMOs make a difference for their organizations. Our panelists will share their views on trends in the marketplace and potential innovations that impact and benefit resource management.

MODERATOR: Wade Little, Technology Practice Leader, RTMC

PANELISTS: Alison Driscoll, Resourcing SME, ProFinda | Melissa Korzun, VP of CX Operations, Kantata | Christine Robinson, Strategic Advisor at DayShape | Jamie Skuse, Head of Product Development, Retain

DESCRIPTION: This working session will focus on the key traits that resource managers must have to be successful, how leadership can identify these traits within internal and external networks, and the skills that can be acquired through coaching, mentoring, on-the-job training, and RMI certification. We will also discuss best practices for building an effective, collaborative, and strategic RM team, which Ligia has successfully implemented at Baker Tilly.

SPEAKER: Ligia Vail, Sr. Manager, Resource Planning – Consulting Service Line Leader, Baker Tilly

DESCRIPTION: In this session, we will discuss how to establish, optimize, and operationalize your RMO design and buildout.  At CohnReznick, we have used the RMI’s maturity model and scorecard to move from a level 0 to level 3 within 2.5 years.  We will explore how we’ve built a Charter, developed our Strategy, invested in our people, and aligned key metrics and reporting to make this leap.  Whether you are just getting started or are well on your way through the journey, this session will provide insights into the processes that help accelerate excellence within your RMO.

SPEAKER: Sandra Stanfield, Global Resource Management Director, CohnReznick

DESCRIPTION: Most project-based services teams utilize third parties. How those third parties are integrated into your resource management processes is critical to project performance and the economics of your services business. Join us for a panel discussion with resource management leaders about their experiences and approaches to incorporating and managing third parties in a resource management process.

MODERATOR: Jared West, Sr. Consultant, RTMC

PANELISTS: Christine Thomas, Managing Director / Talent Alignment Group, FORVIS | Kristi Phelan, Resource Manager, Wolf and Co. | TBD

DESCRIPTION: When your most valuable asset is your people, getting the right people on the right projects at the right time is critical for RMOs. Best practices combined with the appropriate technologies can help RMOs get the most from their limited resources.  Matching employees with opportunities based on multiple inputs – skills, employee interests, cost, availability – offers a way to improve your resource planning, resolve conflicts, and reduce employee turnover, resulting in an improvement in your organization’s productivity and profitability.  This session will discuss ways to align a staff profile with opportunities which can improve retention, reduce burnout, and help your organization exceed your customers’ expectations. 

SPEAKER: Bill Cornfield, President and CEO, WSG Systems

DESCRIPTION: In this session, you will hear the story of how Susanne Finger and her team built and continue to develop a Resource Management Office (RMO) in their Professional Services organization.  She will share how they are maturing into a strategic business partner by managing change, centralizing data, defining success through KPIs and prioritizing continuous growth.  This session is suitable for anyone who is new to resource management or wants to optimize their existing RMO.

SPEAKER: Susanne Finger, Sr. Resource Manager, PointClickCare

DESCRIPTION: As resource managers we spend a lot of time thinking about how we maximize the placement and growth of resources in our organization.  Though who is thinking about us?   This session will layout a framework that leans into making the most of RMI materials, tools, and training to help put you on the winning track.  Whether you are an individual contributor or leader, you will come away with development practices that prepare you to win at resource management.

SPEAKER: Greg Hensley, Director, RMI

DESCRIPTION: Resource management continues to be a competitive and fast-growing profession, and as the profession matures, organizations face the challenge of providing better career development opportunities for RMs. Please join our panel discussion to gain insight to learn how organizations are creating career development opportunities and career paths for Resource Managers.

MODERATOR: Nick Cochran, Director, Resource Management Institute

PANELISTS: Dylan Brown, Associate Director, Resource Management Work & Rewards, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) | Vera Lawson, Sr. Manager, Enterprise Resource Management (ERM), Optiv | David Cochran, Global Resource Management Office Leader, Nutanix 

DESCRIPTION: Details coming soon! 

SPEAKER: TBD, Rocketlane

DESCRIPTION: Join us for a final lap with the RMI Town Hall. In this interactive session, we will discuss what we learned from each other and what we are taking back to our companies, while celebrating RMGS 2024 and the future of resource and workforce management. This is a special session full of interaction and surprises you won’t want to miss!

MODERATORS: Ryan Childers, RMI and Marc Lacroix, RTM Consulting