Two Ten's 2025 HR Summit

Two Ten's Summit for human resources professionals in the footwear industry is virtual this year. All sessions are free and open to the community. You are welcome even if you don't currently work in an HR role. Discussion will cover many topics of general interest to footwear employees.

SUMMIT AGENDA

12:00 PM ET Welcome

Lyndsey Benson, VP of Human Resources, Steve Madden, Ltd.
Tom McGurren, SVP of Human Resources, Marc Fisher Footwear
 

12:10 PM ET Two Ten Overview

Leslie Renner, VP of Development, Two Ten Footwear Foundation
 

12:25 PM ET Session 1: Employee Engagement and Wellbeing 

This session will explore how HR leaders are supporting employee engagement and wellbeing in today’s changing workplace. Panelists will discuss how to create a culture of care, support mental health, and build inclusive engagement strategies that reflect what employees need most. (45-minute discussion followed by 15-minute Q&A)

Moderator
Tom McGurren, SVP of Human Resources, Marc Fisher Footwear

Panelists
Alicia Austin, SVP, People & Organization, North America, PUMA North America
Michael Hoessl, VP, Human Resources and Training, Birkenstock Americas
Amanda Kirchoff, VP, Talent, Wolverine Worldwide
 

1:30 PM ET Session 2: Leading Through Uncertainty: Trade, Trends, Tariff Impacts, and Supporting Your Team 

In this this session, Matt Priest of FDRA will share insights on how evolving trade policies and tariff shifts continue to disrupt the footwear industry, contributing to workforce changes and heightened anxiety. This session will provide timely insights and resources to help leaders stay informed and better support their organizations during periods of change and will provide a clear, accessible overview of the current landscape and offer practical takeaways for navigating uncertainty, strengthening internal communication, and supporting your team. (25-minute presentation followed by 15-minute Q&A)

Featured Speaker
Matt Priest, President & CEO, Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)

2:15 PM ET Session 3: The State of Retail 

In this session, Beth Goldstein of Circana will offer a high-level overview of the current state of the footwear industry, with a focus on U.S. market trends, consumer behavior, and brand-level insights. HR professionals are often left out of conversations around business strategy, consumer trends, and market shifts, yet their roles are critical in building strong teams and responding to industry demands. This session will give participants a deeper understanding of shifts in shopping behavior, unit demand, demographic patterns, and what today’s consumers are prioritizing. It will also explore how these insights can inform recruiting, team development, and workforce planning, helping HR professionals better align their strategies with the realities of the market. The presentation will open with a comparison between footwear and other industries to provide helpful context. (25-minute presentation followed by 15-minute Q&A)

Featured Speaker
Beth Goldstein, Executive Director and Industry Advisor, Footwear, Circana

3:00 PM ET Session 4: The Future of HR

This session will explore how AI is changing the way HR works and how HR leaders are using new tools, data, and strategies to support people, shape decisions, and plan for the future. (30-minute discussion followed by 15 minute Q&A)

Moderator
Lyndsey Benson, VP of Human Resources, Steve Madden, Ltd.

Panelists
Alicia Austin, SVP, People & Organization, North America, PUMA North America
Tom McGurren, SVP of Human Resources, Marc Fisher Footwear
Juan Mejia, VP, Human Resources, Commercial, Foot Locker, Inc.

3:45 PM ET Closing Remarks

Lyndsey Benson, VP of Human Resources, Steve Madden, Ltd.
Tom McGurren, SVP of Human Resources, Marc Fisher Footwear