About Us

Who we are

We are a professional development company that provides data, research, insights, and certification to Learning, Talent, and HR executives and organizations. We’ve been operating for 30 years and influenced the development of over 10 million employees and executives. We offer a cloud-based platform that provides evidence-based insights in various areas of Human Capital Management. The company is recognized for its HCM Excellence Awards®, known as the “Academy Awards of Human Capital Management”.

Learn more about our services:

When it comes to Human Capital Management, one size does not fit all. We produce three pieces of HCM content everyday, in a variety of formats, but how we apply those insights is up to you.

Our Vision

Inspiring a Better Workplace Experience

Our Mission

Empower excellence in organizations around the world through our research and tools each and every day

Our Core Values

We are dedicated to several core values to meet the needs of our clients and members:

  • Commitment: Provide exceptional service. Our success comes from your success. Our business rests on delivering to you an unparalleled level of service.
  • Quality: Perform with integrity. From client relationships to our proprietary research methods, our employees conduct themselves professionally and dedicate themselves to providing services and research you can depend on for critical decisions.
  • Candor: Act with your best interests. We are committed to providing you unbiased, direct, and honest feedback at all times.
  • Client Driven: Our clients are an important source of knowledge and information for our firm. The contribution of one client is leveraged to its full potential to help all our clients. Our clients mean everything to us.
  • Giving Back to our Community: We give back to the communities in which we do business. We donate time, money, and services to worthy charities and non-profit organizations every year.

Our Core Values

We are dedicated to several core values to meet the needs of our clients and members:

Commitment

Provide exceptional service. Our success comes from your success. Our business rests on delivering to you an unparalleled level of service.

Quality

Perform with integrity. From client relationships to our proprietary research methods, our employees conduct themselves professionally and dedicate themselves to providing services and research you can depend on for critical decisions.

Candor

Act with your best interests. We are committed to providing you unbiased, direct, and honest feedback at all times.

Client Driven

Our clients are an important source of knowledge and information for our firm. The contribution of one client is leveraged to its full potential to help all our clients. Our clients mean everything to us.

Giving Back to our Community

We give back to the communities in which we do business. We donate time, money, and services to worthy charities and non-profit organizations every year.

Mike Cooke

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Analyst

Prior to joining Brandon Hall Group, Mike was the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of AC Growth. Mike held leadership and executive positions for the majority of his career, responsible for steering sales and marketing teams to drive results and profitability. His background includes more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing, management, and operations in the research, consulting, software and technology industries. Mike has extensive experience in sales, marketing and management, having worked for several early high-growth emerging businesses and has implemented technology systems to support various critical sales, finance, marketing and client service functions. He is especially skilled in organizing the sales and service strategy to fully support a company’s growth strategy. The concept of growth was an absolute to Mike and a motivator in starting AC Growth, in order to help organizations achieve research-driven results.

Before co-founding AC Growth, Mike was the VP and General Manager of Field Operations at Bersin & Associates, a global analyst and consulting services firm focused on all areas of enterprise learning, talent management and talent acquisition. Tasked with leading the company’s global expansion, Mike led all sales operations worldwide. During Mike’s tenure, the company grew into a multi-national firm, conducting business in over 45 countries with over 4,500 multi-national organizations.

Mike started his career at MicroVideo Learning Systems in 1992, eventually holding a senior management position and leading all corporate sales before founding Dynamic Minds. Mike was CEO and Co-Founder of Dynamic Minds, a custom developer of software programs, working with clients like Goldman Sachs, Prentice Hall, McGraw Hill and Merrill Lynch. Also, Mike worked for Oddcast, a leading provider of customer experience and marketing solutions, where he held a senior management position leading the company into new markets across various industries.

 

Rachel Cooke

COO and Principal Analyst

Rachel Cooke is the Chief Operating Officer at Brandon Hall Group and Principal Analyst. Rachel is responsible for business operations, including client and member advisory services, marketing design, annual awards program, conferences, and overall accountability for the company’s project management function.  Also, she leads initiatives covering Advancing Women in the Workplace and Diversity and Inclusion research and events.  Rachel has worked in the HCM research industry for fifteen years and has held several key management and executive positions within Talent and Learning Research and Performance Improvement Industries.

Rachel received a BA in social science and interdisciplinary studies with honors from Florida Atlantic University. Rachel continued her postgraduate education by completing a series of executive management education courses from American Management Association.

Michael Rochelle

CSO and Principal Analyst

Prior to joining Brandon Hall Group, Michael was the Chief Strategy Officer and Co-founder at AC Growth. Michael serves in a variety of roles including overseeing research and advisory support for organizations and solution providers.   Michael is one of the company’s principal analysts covering learning and development, talent management, leadership development, HR, talent acquisition and DEI. 

 

Michael brings nearly 40 years’ experience in executive leadership roles, including human resources, information technologies, sales, marketing, business development, M&A, strategic and financial planning, program management and business operations in a wide variety of organizational settings.  

 

Michael is a graduate of the following certification programs: Kirkpatrick Four Levels™ Evaluation, Balanced Scorecard Collaborative and Strategy Focused Organization and Office of Strategic Management.

David Forry

Senior Vice President and Principal Analyst

David Forry is a Senior Vice President and Principal Analyst at Brandon Hall Group, where he has spent nearly ten years shaping the future of Human Capital Management through research, advisory services, and thought leadership. With 15 years of experience in the HCM industry since 2010, David has authored numerous research papers, conducted executive briefings for Fortune 500 companies, and provided strategic counsel to C-suite leaders navigating complex workforce transformations.

 

As a recognized voice in the HCM industry, David specializes in translating data-driven insights into actionable strategies across learning and development, talent management, leadership development, DEI, talent acquisition, and HR transformation. His research focuses on emerging trends, best practices, and innovative approaches that enable organizations to build more agile, engaged, and high-performing workforces.

 

David’s unique perspective combines deep analytical expertise with practical business acumen, helping organizations bridge the gap between HCM strategy and measurable business outcomes. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and executive forums, where he shares evidence-based insights on the evolving workplace and the future of work.

 

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, David brings passion and dedication to advancing the HCM field while maintaining a strong commitment to work-life balance with his wife and three daughters.

Dr. Marline C. Duroseau

Managing Director, HR & Leadership Development

Dr. Marline C. Duroseau is the Managing Director of HR & Leadership Development at Brandon Hall Group, where she partners with organizations to build human-centered, high-performance cultures. With more than two decades of experience as a CFO, executive leader, and leadership strategist, she brings a unique blend of financial acumen, people expertise, and research-driven insight to her clients.

Marline’s work focuses on developing resilient leaders, advancing women in leadership, and embedding inclusive practices into everyday business decisions. Her doctoral research, Leader Morphology in the Labyrinth, explores how women navigate personal and professional disruption, such as caregiving, grief, and infertility, while continuing to lead at a high level. She leverages these insights to help organizations design leadership, talent, and HR strategies that are both empathetic and effective.

A CPA by training, Marline has led complex transformations in finance and operations, giving her a practical understanding of how leadership decisions impact both people and the bottom line. She is also a keynote TEDx speaker, award-winning author, coach, and advocate, known for translating data, lived experience, and storytelling into actionable strategies for leaders and teams.

Claude Werder

Senior Vice President and Principal Analyst

Claude Werder runs Brandon Hall Group’s Talent Management, Leadership Development and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) practices. His specific areas of focus include how organizations must transform culturally and strategically to meet the needs of the emerging workforce and workplace.

Claude develops insights and solutions on employee experience, leadership, coaching, talent development, assessments, culture, DE&I, and other topics to help members and clients make talent development a competitive business advantage now and in the evolving future of work.

Before joining Brandon Hall Group in 2012, Claude was an HR consultant and also spent more than 25 years as an executive and people leader for media and news organizations. This included a decade as the producer of the HR Technology Conference and Expo. He helped transform it from a small event to the world’s largest HR technology conference.

Claude is a judge for the global Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards and Excellence in Technology Awards, contributes to the company’s HCM certification programs, and produces the firm’s annual HCM Excellence Conference. He is also a certified executive and leadership coach. He lives in Boynton Beach, FL.
Claude Werder

David Wentworth

Managing Director of Learning and Talent

David Wentworth is Brandon Hall Group’s Managing Director of Learning and Talent. In this role, he works with technology providers and enterprise organizations to better understand learning and talent challenges and what it takes to overcome them. David’s insights come from nearly two decades of experience conducting research, interviews, and data analysis in the learning and talent space.

Prior to joining Brandon Hall Group in 2012, David was a senior analyst with the Institute for Corporate Productivity, covering a wide array of human capital issues. David also spent 3 years as the Vice President and Talent Platform Evangelist at a large-scale LMS provider. He is a podcast host, a regular speaker at talent management, learning, and HR industry events, and has authored numerous articles in various HCM/Learning publications.

Love Joy Alameda Sew

Content Writer

Love Joy (LJ) Alameda Sew is a Content Writer for the Brandon Hall Group™. LJ holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Iloilo and a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Broadcast Communication, from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. She is a Certified Process Analyst and a Certified Subject Matter Expert Trainer.

Macky Arquilla

Art Director

Macky is an art director with 10 years of experience in the corporate, publishing, marketing, and communications industries. He specializes in creative content creation. As a graphic designer at Brandon Hall Group™, he handles all design and video-related tasks.

Cathy Cause

Solution Provider Account Development Specialist

Cathy Cause is a Solution Provider Account Development Specialist at Brandon Hall Group who works with organizations, particularly L&D, Talent, and HR technology solution providers, to build trusted partnerships grounded in research, insight, and long-term growth.

Andre Carrack

Graphic Designer

Andre is a graphic designer at Brandon Hall Group™, responsible for creating high-quality visual assets across digital and print. With 20+ years of experience, he brings a blend of precision and creativity to support the team’s marketing and branding goals.

Penelope Danyelle

Project-based Writer

Penelope Danyelle is a project-based writer at Brandon Hall Group, where she contributes to research-driven content in the human capital management space. Before joining BHG, she spent three years as a content writer and researcher for a Singapore-based company, producing a wide range of blog content that expanded on a myriad of diverse topics.

Ryan Emboy

Community Manager

As Community Manager, I foster engagement and relationships across our global network of judges, faculty, clients, and award winners. I support award applicants, manage faculty and judges year-round, and collaborate across teams to highlight community expertise while ensuring alignment with Brandon Hall Group’s goals.

Ivy Etchison

Solution Provider and Marketing Specialist

Ivy Etchison is a dedicated Solution Provider and Marketing Specialist at Brandon Hall Group, where she leads key initiatives across marketing, social media, and webinar coordination. She manages the planning and execution of the company’s webinar programs, ensuring seamless delivery and strong audience engagement. Ivy also drives marketing and social media efforts that elevate the organization’s brand and support its strategic goals. Known for her attention to detail and commitment to high-quality execution, she helps connect organizations with the insights and solutions they need to succeed.

 

As a lifelong Florida resident, Ivy is currently pursuing her business degree at Florida Atlantic University (Go Owls!). She is committed to learning as much as possible in a work environment that values innovation, hard work, and exceptional contributions. Ivy thrives in collaborative settings where everyone feels encouraged to share their ideas, and she is always eager to be part of projects that challenge her and contribute to the success of the entire team.

 

Outside of work and studies, Ivy recharges by visiting America’s national parks. These adventures fuel her creativity and bring new insights to her professional life.

 

With her dedication, enthusiasm, and strong work ethic, Ivy is poised to make a lasting impact in her career and beyond. She looks forward to the opportunities that lie ahead and is excited to continue growing both personally and professionally.

Patrick Fitzgerald

Analyst

Pat Fitzgerald is Content and Community Coordinator at Brandon Hall Group™. Prior to joining Brandon Hall Group™, he was an award-winning community journalist for 30 years and recognized for his writing, investigative reporting, editing, photography design and community service. He also started and then sold his own successful weekly newspaper in the Branson, Mo., area.

Herman JvR

Digital Media specialist

Herman is a digital media specialist who has 11 years of working experience in the film and marketing industry. He specializes in digital media content creation. As a graphic designer at Brandon Hall Group, he handles all design- and video-related tasks.

Mauricio Lopez

Corporate Solutions Manager

Mauricio López is a sales strategist with a passion for building strong partnerships and turning leads into long-term relationships.

Originally from Colombia, Mauricio brings over ten years of experience in business development.

When he’s not booking meetings or working on creative outreach strategies, Mauricio is a full-time family man.

You’ll usually find him building something new.

Charles Lord

Business Manager

Javier Perez

Director of Client Strategy

A strategic business leader with over 20 years of experience, I have driven revenue growth, global market expansion, client strategy, and organizational performance across multiple industries, including human capital management, consumer goods, and international sales. I currently lead Client Strategy at Brandon Hall Group, overseeing enterprise client engagement and thought leadership initiatives.

Previously, I served as Vice President at Cyclone Cups, managing three departments and 75+ employees, improving operational efficiency by 20% and growing revenue 10–12% annually, while securing 15–20 new enterprise clients and increasing recurring revenue by 25%. At Bang Energy, I built international sales and distribution infrastructure across 13 countries, driving $10–15 million in new revenue and achieving first-year profitability. As International Sales Manager at Europa Sports Products, I expanded operations into five new international territories, generating $5–10 million in incremental revenue and increasing global market share by 15%. Earlier, as Senior Vice President of Sales at Glanbia Performance Nutrition / BSN, I led a multi-channel sales organization of 100+ professionals, growing revenue from $12 million to $125 million over 10 years, negotiating major contracts adding over $50 million annually, and launching new product lines that increased market penetration by 30%. I also founded and ran Twenty-Three Engraving, growing revenue from $200K to $1M in five years and building long-term enterprise partnerships.

 

I am a father of six, married to my wife Carli, and proud owner of three dogs. My hobbies include weight training—I am currently a Hyrax athlete—as well as all watersports, including fishing, and coaching baseball at both high school and national levels for the past 20 years.

I bring a proven track record of operational excellence, strategic growth, and leadership across domestic and international markets, along with a passion for family, athletics, and mentorship.

Sam Roehm

Awards Manager

As Awards Manager at Brandon Hall Group, Sam Roehm ​manages the organization’s prestigious awards programs, facilitating all facets of the HCM Excellence Awards, Excellence in Technology Awards, Education Technology Awards, and Excellence in Action Awards. A University of Florida graduate with two bachelor’s degrees, Sam Roehm brings exceptional organizational capabilities and client relations expertise to the role, having successfully launched and executed all of Brandon Hall Group’s awards programs since 2022.

In this multifaceted position, Sam Roehm provides high-level support while maintaining daily communication with clients across the globe, managing hundreds of inquiries and leading meetings with both existing and prospective clients. [Your Name] oversees Brandon Hall Group’s extensive judging panel of over 1000 active members, conducting reviews and interviews to ensure the integrity and excellence of each awards program. With proficiency across multiple enterprise platforms, Sam Roehm combines strong project management skills with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional client experiences that uphold Brandon Hall Group’s reputation for excellence in the industry.

Mark Robinson

Director of Client Strategy

Mark Robinson is the Director of Client Strategy at Brandon Hall Group, leading transformative sales efforts for corporate institutions.  With over two decades of expertise in enterprise sales an SaaS solutions, Mark has a proven track record of driving revenue growth and building strategic partnerships across multiple industries.  At Brandon Hall Group, he’s passionate about helping organizations revolutionize their workforce strategies.  
 
Outside of work Mark attempts Crossfit and enjoys building airline miles.

Rudolph Salvacion

Corporate Solutions Associate

Shea Salvato

Manager of Client Success

Shea Salvato has been a dedicated member of the team for over three years, bringing expertise and enthusiasm to her role in client services. Based in South Florida, she specializes in managing solution provider clients while leading the company’s event strategy, planning, and execution. As a certified marketing and social media specialist, Shea brings a strategic edge to everything she touches, blending data-driven insights with a genuine passion for connecting with people and creating memorable experiences.

When she’s not orchestrating events or managing client relationships, you’ll find Shea on the golf course working on her swing, in the kitchen perfecting her latest baking creation, or at her sewing machine bringing DIY projects to life. Above all, she treasures time spent with her family, which keeps her grounded and inspired both in and out of the office.

Stephen Schneider

I.T.

Keishey Tuppil

Solution Provider Specialist

Keishey Tuppil specializes in connecting organizations with tailored HCM and learning solutions.

Lorie Watson

Director of Client Services

Lorie Watson is the Director of Client Services at Brandon Hall Group, a position she has held since 2013. In this role, Lorie is dedicated to providing excellent customer service to the members and clients of Brandon Hall Group.

 

Lorie draws on her past professional experience as she serves the Brandon Hall Group team and community. She worked as a Paralegal for 28 years prior to joining Brandon Hall Group, cultivating a strong skill set in areas like organization, communication, and relationship-building.

 

In her 9 years at Brandon Hall Group so far, Lorie has served in various roles within the Client Services department. Her institutional knowledge and passion for delivering an exceptional client experience have made Lorie an invaluable member of the team.

 

Going forward, Lorie aims to continue elevating the standard of service at Brandon Hall Group. She enjoys forming meaningful connections with clients and team members alike. Lorie sees every interaction as an opportunity to make a positive impact through her dedication and care.

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Elevate Your Strategy.
Empower Your Team.

Get instant access to research, on demand learning, certifications and expert advisory – all in one membership.
Wether you’re navigating change or building what’s next, Institute gives you the insights and tools to lead with clarity and confidence.

Elevate Your Strategy.
Empower Your Team.

Get instant access to research, on demand learning, certifications and expert advisory – all in one membership.
Wether you’re navigating change or building what’s next, Institute gives you the insights and tools to lead with clarity and confidence.

Elevate Your Strategy. Empower Your Team.

Get instant access to research, on demand learning, certifications and expert advisory – all in one membership.
Wether you’re navigating change or building what’s next, Institute gives you the insights and tools to lead with clarity and confidence.