OVERVIEW | WHY ATTEND | AGENDA | SPEAKERS | VENUE & ACCOMMODATIONS| WORKFLUENCER MEDIA | FAQ'S | GET YOUR TICKETS

EVOLVE 2026
TA & HR Experience:
THE RISE

A one-day, in-person conference for people-first TA & HR leaders.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026

9:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria | 200 Interstate North Parkway SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 | In-person only • One day • Three tracks | SHRM & HRCI (including SPHR) recertification credits awarded in partnership with Workology

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WHY ATTEND

WHY ATTEND

EVOLVE is for the TA & HR leaders who are done with fluffy keynotes and endless dashboards. This is where we talk honestly about what you’re navigating right now: burnout, hiring freezes, restructures, new tech, Gen Z, executive pressure AND give you tools that work in real organizations, not just on slides.

What We Focus On:

  • Modern recruiting & people operations

  • Human psychology, neurodiversity & inclusion

  • AI + data literacy without overwhelm

  • Culture, retention & leadership under pressure

  • The future of work through a human-first lens

Earn up to 6 SHRM or HRCI recertification credits when you attend EVOLVE.

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☽☾ THREE PILLARS ☽☾

  • Talent & Tech

    Talent & Tech

    Hear from people doing the work: TA leaders, HR execs, practitioners, and operators, sharing what’s working, what failed, and what they’d do differently

  • People & Culture

    People & Culture

    Walk away with frameworks, scripts, and templates you can plug straight into hiring manager meetings, team huddles, and executive updates. Less inspiration, more implementation.

  • Brand & Career

    Brand & Career

    EVOLVE is intentionally mid-sized and curated. You won’t get lost in a 5,000-person expo hall. You’ll meet peers who speak your language and want to collaborate, not compete.

Vendor & Solution Provider Attendance

EVOLVE is designed primarily for in-house and agency Talent Acquisition and HR leaders.

If your company provides products or services to HR or TA teams—including software platforms, consulting agencies, or other solutions—you are required to register using a Vendor Pass.

Vendor Passes:

  • Are priced at a higher rate.

  • Are limited in quantity to ensure a practitioner-led experience and meaningful conversations.

  • Are reviewed during registration and may be reclassified if submitted under the incorrect ticket type.

Ready to join EVOLVE as a vendor attendee?

Explore Partnership Opportunities

☽☾ EVOLVE PARTNERS ☽☾

Preferred Learning Partner

Hacking HR –Hacking HR is proud to be EVOLVE 2026’s Preferred Learning Partner. Together, we’re committed to empowering HR leaders and professionals with meaningful learning experiences and community connections. Join Hacking HR today and enjoy exclusive perks for EVOLVE attendees, including a 20% membership discount valid for one week after the event. Reach out to Clara Adams: clara@hackinghr.io to claim your 20% discount.

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EVOLVE Continuing Education Credit Partner

Workology is EVOLVE’s official CE Credit Partner, supporting the review and validation of qualifying sessions for HR continuing education. Founded by Jessica Miller-Merrell, Workology is a leading education and resource platform for HR, recruiting, and workplace leaders, known for practical training and recertification support. We’re grateful to Jessica and the Workology team for bringing trusted standards and career-advancing learning to the EVOLVE community.

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AGENDA AT GLANCE

AGENDA AT GLANCE

  • Morning – Check-in, keynote & breakouts
    Midday – Lunch & connection
    Afternoon – Breakouts, panel & roundtables
    Closing – Main stage sessions & reflections

  • Room Host: Jim Stroud

    • Kyle Samuels — Candidate Experience & Employer Brand Advantage

    • John Baldino — Grounded Gratitude: A Practical Path to Wellbeing

    • Lyndsey Taylor — Talent Acquisition Is Shrinking. Influence Is Not.

    • Nicky Russell — Get Your Ducks in a Row

    • Shally Steckerl — Predictability Trumps Luck: See the Sourcing Method in Action

    • Adam Marx — Networks of Scale: Building Scalable Dialogues & Relationships in the Age of AI

  • Room Host: Brian Fink

    • Laurie Ruettimann (Opening Keynote) — Ready for More: Taking Ownership of Your Career

    • Jennifer McClure — Leading Through the AI Shift Without Losing Your People (Interactive)

    • Julia Arpag — Build Your LinkedIn Brand, 10x Your Career

    • Rocki Howard — Humanity Is the Job. HR Leads the Practice

    • Lee Cage Jr. — Do You Have the Right Flight Crew

    • Natalie Evie — The 4 EQ Keys to Break the Deadlock & Resolve People Conflicts

    • Panel Session — Agile Leader vs. Influential Leaders in the AI Era

      • Sam Del Bianco

      • Adam Meekhof

      • Dr. Edward Ho

  • Room Host: Larry Anderson

    • Tunji Oki — TA Analytics: Using Data to Inform TA Strategy

    • Chris “Aquaman” Carver — Building Community

    • Sarah Harris — Culture Starts Before Day One

    • Annette Dowdle — What Leadership Doesn’t See: The Hidden Costs Only HR Can Solve

    • Jackie Johnston — Unscripted Dialogue: Conversations for Growth, Role Identity, and the In-Between

    • Dr. Andrea Mata — How Gentle Parenting Failed Gen Z & What Leaders Can Do

  • Room Host: Barrett Gaines

    • Yarrow Spitzfaden & Nadine Lavigne — Gratitude in Action: Building Connection & Culture

    • Preston Sharpston — From Recruiter to Strategic Talent Partner

    • Christy Honeycutt — Don’t Be a D!ck: Shifting from Reactive Ego to Aligned Leadership

    • Maude Moreno — The Power of the Pause: Simple Practices for Presence and Human Performance

    • Dan Vasquenza — Not to DIS These ABILITIES(KultureCity & Sensory-Inclusive Workplaces)

    • Jess Miller-Merrell — Secrets to Building Rapport and Trust with Your Team

☽☾ 2026 SPEAKERS ☽☾

Venue & Accomodations

We’re gathering at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria, just minutes from Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta—home to walkable restaurants, coffee spots, and local favorites.

A special room rate of $169 per night is available.
Only 20 rooms left for Wednesday/Thursday

Wednesday, January 15, 2026

LAST DAY TO BOOK:

Book at the EVOLVE Rate

Official Media Partner

Workfluencer Media is EVOLVE’s official media partner, capturing onsite interviews with attendees, plus speaker and partner moments that keep the experience alive long after the event.

Explore Partnership Opportunities

The EVOLVE Content Lounge

Powered by Workfluencer Media

The Content Lounge is your space to capture a quick, high impact interview and create shareable moments while you’re already in the room. Workfluencer Media will be onsite conducting short interviews, capturing select speaker and partner clips, and capturing key event moments while producing EVOLVE’s live updates and podcast takeover.

  • Short interviews with attendees, speakers, and partners

  • Live updates and podcast takeover content captured onsite

What to expect:

FAQ’s

  • EVOLVE is for HR leaders, TA leaders, People Ops professionals, employer brand leaders, talent tech partners, and fractional HR/TA consultants. If you influence how people are hired, developed, led, or retained—this is your room.

  • EVOLVE 2026 is in-person only in Atlanta. We’re intentionally focused on real-life connection, nervous-system-aware pacing, and conversations you simply can’t have in a chat box.

  • Yes. Attendees will receive SHRM and HRCI (including SPHR) recertification credits, awarded in partnership with Workology. Final credit hours will be published once the full agenda is finalized.

  • Programming blends modern recruiting operations, human psychology, neurodiversity and inclusion, AI + data literacy, culture building and retention, identity and communication under pressure, and the future of work through a human-first lens.

  • No. EVOLVE is intentionally nervous-system aware. We talk about burnout, layoffs, and stretched teams explicitly—and focus on a few grounded moves you can actually make, not 100 more tasks.

  • Yes. Expect curated seating, guided networking, table prompts, and roundtables designed so you don’t have to “work the room” alone. Many 2025 attendees left with new collaborators and friends.

  • All content will be recorded, and may be shared as a Digital Evolve offer in the future. 

    1. Yes. We offer discounts for organizations sending 5+ attendees, including the option to feature your team on a practitioner panel. Email: anna@yourcareerbff.com to explore group options. 

  • Think conference-casual and comfortable. You’ll be learning, moving, and connecting throughout the day. Shoes you can stand and walk in are your best friend.

  • If you have questions about attending or need additional details to share with your manager, email Anna@yourcareerbff.com and we’re happy to help.

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☽☾

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