Col. Kris Saling
Director of Innovation, Army Talent Innovation
ASA for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, US Army
Col. Kris Saling is a trailblazer in government talent transformation, known for leading bold initiatives in talent driven workforce strategy, AI integration, and skills-based talent management across the U.S. Army. As the current lead for talent innovation, she prioritizes building solutions that prioritize Soldier and civilian capability, potential, and experience.
Michael Dorsey
Sr. Training and Development Administrator, Organizational Development and Training Team, Maryland Department of Transportation
Terrance Blackman Stroud
Deputy Commissioner, Training & Workforce Development, NYC Department of Social Services
Presently, Terrance Blackman Stroud serves as the Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Social Services (DSS) overseeing the Office of Training & Workforce Development. He leads the development and implementation of the agency’s learning strategy. DSS is the largest municipal social services agency in the nation and has an operating budget of $9.7 billion and over 14000 employees.
Stroud is an Adjunct Professor of Law overseeing Indiana University Maurer School of Law’s New York Externship Program and is the first black recipient of the Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award. Terrance was the inaugural Global Leader in Residence at the Indiana University Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and led the Global Leaders & Professionals Program.
Mika J. Cross
Government Workplace Expert
CEO & Founder, Strategy@Work
Mika J. Cross is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in human capital strategy, workplace transformation, and organizational health and performance. As an award-winning leader in workforce innovation, she has shaped precedent-setting policies and programs that enhance resilience, wellbeing, and performance for government employees, military personnel, contractors, and private-sector teams alike.
With over two decades of distinguished service, Mika has led enterprise-wide transformation efforts across the U.S. Intelligence Community, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management—impacting globally distributed workforces of 100,000+. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing holistic workplace solutions during post-9/11 reforms and beyond.
Mika’s expertise is trusted at the highest levels of government, with multiple Congressional Oversight testimonies shaping the future of federal work. Her insights have influenced national policy on organizational health, resilience, performance, engagement, and workforce wellbeing.
A proud U.S. Army veteran who served as both a commissioned officer and enlisted soldier, Mika brings firsthand knowledge of military culture to her transformative approach. She has advised private-sector organizations on talent strategies, recruitment, and workplace agility across industries, and international markets.
Driven to elevate the human experience at work, Mika is a sought-after keynote speaker and leadership strategist delivering custom training, executive development, and advisory solutions that ignite performance. A frequent speaker at events, conferences, and retreats, she partners with
advisory councils and global forums to build teams ready to lead boldly in the Future of Work.
To learn more about Mika’s work, visit http://www.mikacross.com/ or http://www.strategyatwork.us/.
