ABIGAIL BARTH 
Foundation for Social Connection

Abigail Barth, MPH is the Research and Innovation Program Manager for the Foundation for Social Connection’s (F4SC) social isolation, loneliness, and connection initiatives. With a rich background in program management, health policy, and qualitative research, she brings a wealth of experience from organizations such as the National Association of Community Health Centers and Horizon Government Affairs. Abigail holds a B.A. in religion from Barnard College and a Master of Public Health from the George Washington University, where she received recognition for her thesis on social isolation and loneliness among young adults.

NICK BLOOM
Stanford University

Nick Bloom is a Professor of Economics at Stanford University. He has been researching remote work for almost 20 years, winning a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2022. He has been heavily involved with policy, including meeting President Obama, and speaking at the White House 2014 Working Families Summit. Professor Bloom has consulted with 100s of CEOs and managers, and has been covered extensively on remote and hybrid work by international media including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, Financial Times and the Economist. He was called the “Prophet of remote work” by Fortune Magazine and “America’s best work-from-home expert” by Business Insider.

RICHARD JONES
YouTurn Health

Richard Jones is an experienced therapist, clinician, and healthcare entrepreneur. His professional experience spans several behavioral health domains, including mental health, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities. Richard is passionate about providing quality care and is dedicated to disrupting the behavioral health space for the betterment of people in need.

LISA KOONIN
Health Preparedness Partners, LLC

Dr. Lisa Koonin founded Health Preparedness Partners, LLC after her 30+ year career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently she provides consultation to businesses and organizations about planning for and managing infectious disease outbreaks and other emergencies. In this role, she provides practical and detailed guidance to inform updating emergency response and business continuity plans, and guides organizations as they gather “lessons learned” from the COVID pandemic, to develop and update emergency planning for a future pandemic/health emergency.

For a limited time, she is offering a FREE copy of her e-book for businesses to take proactive steps to include pandemic preparedness in business continuity plans to safeguard their workforce, operations, and long-term viability at https://www.healthpreparednesspartners.com.

CAITLIN LANG, M.A.
National Safety Council

Caitlin Lang is a Senior Research Associate at the National Safety Council, where she conducts quantitative and qualitative research studying the impacts of the pandemic on U.S. employers and the workforce. Before joining NSC in 2021, she conducted applied human factors research in aviation and healthcare at a research institute in central Florida and an engineering firm. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Experimental Human Factors Psychology.

LORRAINE MARTIN
President and CEO, National Safety Council 

Lorraine Martin is the president and CEO of the National Safety Council. Martin began her career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. From there, she deepened her aerospace expertise as an executive at Lockheed Martin, where she led the largest defense aircraft program in history: the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. Throughout her 35-year career in aerospace, she made safety a top priority. And as leader of the National Safety Council for the last four years, she is passionate about helping people live their fullest lives, from the workplace to anyplace.

KEN MEADE
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Kenneth Mead is a mechanical engineer and industrial hygienist. He is the Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch within the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Dr. Mead has over 30 years of experience providing occupational safety and health engineering support, primarily to DoD, construction, and healthcare industries. His research experience encompasses a wide variety of occupational hazards including exposures to chemicals, silica, infectious aerosols, hazardous drugs, Anthrax and Ebola. Since the pandemic, Dr. Mead has used his knowledge of controlling infectious aerosols and other contaminants leading the development of CDC’s engineering controls and protective ventilation guidance.

AMAN PATEL 
Pandemic Defense

Aman Patel is the executive director of Technologies for Pandemic Defense, a nonprofit working to accelerate the development of biosecurity technologies using market-shaping mechanisms. He has previously published research on expanded access ethics and climate biogeochemistry, and has a B.S. in computational neuroscience from the University of Southern California.

MARK SOOHOO
Health Action Alliance (HAA)

Mark SooHoo is the Executive Director of the Health Action Alliance (HAA), which supports business leaders as they invest in healthier workplaces and stronger communities. HAA helps employers respond to their most pressing health challenges on issues ranging from respiratory health to workplace mental health, and recently launched the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health to help employers mitigate the health impacts of climate and extreme weather on the workforce. Find free resources, tools, and events on their website at HealthAction.org. 
 

DENNIS STOLLE
American Psychological Association

Dr. Dennis P. Stolle is the Senior Director of Applied Psychology for the American Psychological Association, where he oversees applied psychology initiatives across a variety of subject areas, including workplace psychology. Dennis is also a licensed attorney and he received his PhD in social and personality psychology and his law degree from the University of Nebraska. Stolle has published widely on the application of psychological science to solve real-world problems and to promote psychological and emotional wellbeing. He also frequently provides commentary for print and broadcast media, appearing for such sources as CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more.

SHANNA B. TIAYON, PHD
Yes Wellbeing Works

Dr. Shanna B. Tiayon, also known as “The Wellbeing Dr.” is a Social Psychologist, former Senior Global Human Resources professional, speaker and writer. Dr. Tiayon has over 20 years of experience in the field of human resources.  She’s the CEO and Founder of Yes Wellbeing Works, LLC and partners with organizations to create better workplaces through the power of employee wellbeing, offering services in research and metrics, science based trainings and strategy. She’s a TEDx speaker and her writing has appeared in Greater Good Magazine, The Guardian, Yes! Magazine, , Food and Wine,  and other media outlets. Shanna was also recently named one of 25 Emerging Culture Creators in 2024 for Culture Amp. Visit here to learn more. 

MELISSA WILLIAMS
National League of Cities

Melissa Williams is a nonprofit communications professional with over 15 years of experience in writing, marketing, strategic communications and public relations. Currently, she serves as director of marketing & communications with the National League of Cities. She has worked with small and medium-size nonprofits to shape their narrative and tell a compelling story of their mission to reach more stakeholders.  She graduated from Cameron University where she earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science; she also holds a Master of Public Administration.