2025 HR LAB

The Changing Workplace: Strategies for an Agile and Future-Ready Workforce

About the Event

Join us April 10th at our 2025 HR Lab The Changing Workplace: Strategies for an Agile and Future-Ready Workforce. As workplaces continue to evolve, understanding the diverse needs and expectations of a multi-generational workforce is essential. Our panel will share insights on aligning career path expectations, engaging talent across generations, and building a culture that fosters growth and retention.

This dynamic event will bring together top HR professionals and executives from various industries to explore innovative approaches to developing a workforce that’s adaptable and future-ready.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network with peers and hear from this distinguished panel of leaders from Marvin, Sunrise Banks, Arctic Wolf, and Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting on practical strategies to attract, develop, and retain talent in today’s ever-changing work environment.

Registration is $30 per ticket, and all proceeds will go directly to Washburn Center for Children.

Date: Thursday, April 10th

Time: 8:00am-10:00am CST

Location: Wayzata Country Club
200 Wayzata Blvd W, Orono MN 55391

Moderator: Kathy Robideau, Chief Growth Officer at Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting

PANELISTS:

Val Johnson, Marvin
Kathleen Brenk, Sunrise Banks
Trisha Farrow, Arctic Wolf
Jenna Estlick, Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting

Food: Breakfast included

Cost: $30

About the Panelists

Val Johnson

Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Marvin

Valerie (Val) Johnson leads teams focused on creating a positive company culture and strong employee engagement. This includes all areas of the Marvin business to support empowerment of a healthy, safe, and meaningful employee experience. As Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Val oversees all facets of the function, including talent acquisition, leadership development, culture and communications, and total rewards.

Having joined Marvin in November 2023, Val is a member of Marvin’s senior leadership team and possesses a comprehensive, strategic view of the functions she leads along with the connection of employee experience to achieve business goals. She has more than 25 years of experience in leading Human Resources and other functions, primarily in the agriculture and retail industries, most notably with Christensen Farms, Best Buy, and Ascena Retail Group. She started her career as an HR transformation consultant with William M. Mercer Co.

Over her career, Val has served on multiple non-profit boards and committees, including the Warroad Senior Living Center, Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Board and Greater Mankato Growth through Project Green Seam.

Val holds dual degrees in Communications and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. She is a recent new resident of Warroad, MN – home of Marvin’s headquarters for more than 112 years – where she lives with her husband and two Golden Retrievers.

Kathleen Brenk

Chief People Officer at Sunrise Banks

Kathleen Brenk is the Chief People Officer at Sunrise Banks. In this role Kathleen leads HR, Marketing, Learning, Access|Belonging, and Administration. Kathleen leads strategic teams to connect mission to customer and employee experiences, ensuring the entire workforce is engaged and living the bank’s Core Values.

Kathleen believes in creative, strategic solutions and shaking up past practices to get things done smarter and faster. She is a Six Sigma greenbelt, with SHRM-SCP and SPHR credentials. With experience in everything from acquisitions to complex compliance issues to internal executive coaching, Kathleen brings a unique operational skillset with business-focused experience.

Prior to Sunrise, Kathleen held leadership roles at Marvin, CareerWise Colorado, Trust Company of America / eTrade, and Baxter Healthcare.

Trisha Farrow

Vice President, People at Arctic Wolf

With 20 years of experience in HR leadership and strategic business partner roles, Trisha Farrow has worked with a wide range of companies to identify HR solutions that drive business results.

As the Global Vice President of People at Arctic Wolf, she also serves as the Executive Sponsor for the company’s Pack Unity Council and Black Employee Alliance. She is dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusion and building a collaborative, high-performing work environment that embraces diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ideas. Her leadership supports Arctic Wolf’s continued growth and its mission to end cyber risk.

Trisha’s areas of expertise include organizational effectiveness, human capital management, talent development, performance management, compensation, organizational design, employee engagement, company culture and employee experience, safety & belonging, inclusion & diversity, change management, mergers & acquisitions, and leadership development and coaching.

Jenna Estlick

President of Human Resources solutions at Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting

Jenna now serves as the President of HR Solutions at Versique, bringing over 13 years of corporate Human Resources experience to the team.

Before joining Versique, she was the Vice President & Head of Human Resources for Radisson Hotel Group, Americas, where she led the HR and Responsible Business teams across the region. In this role, she was responsible for developing and executing HR business strategies aligned with the company’s five-year plan.

Jenna previously held the position of Senior Director, Human Resources, Americas, at Radisson Hotel Group, where she provided HR business partner support and led the corporate and managed hotels HR Business Partner teams. Prior to her tenure at Radisson, she held multiple HR Business Partner roles at Target. She holds a B.A. in International Business & Spanish from the University of St. Thomas.

As a thoughtful, approachable, and collaborative HR leader, Jenna builds strong relationships with her clients, taking the time to understand their business and both short- and long-term needs. She is a strategic problem solver who delivers effective solutions with a direct and transparent communication style. Her curiosity and passion for learning, combined with her extensive HR experience, make her a trusted advisor and partner.

Kathy Robideau

Chief Growth Officer at Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting

Kathy Robideau serves as the Chief Growth Officer at Versique Search & Consulting, a role she took on in June 2024.

Before joining Versique, she was the Market President and Publisher of the *Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal*, where she previously led the sales and advertising team and played a key role in launching several local and national products. Prior to her tenure at *MSPBJ*, she served as the Chief Operating Officer of a medical staffing organization based in Winter Park, Florida, where she led multiple acquisitions and helped implement the company’s proprietary database.

An Ohio native, Kathy attended the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of Capella University. She remains deeply involved in the Twin Cities business community and actively participates in several local organizations, including the Itasca Project. She currently serves on the boards of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, YMCA Eagan, Junior Achievement, and the Thielen Foundation.