Tracie Sponenberg

UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

MDM SHIFT Distribution Conference, Denver: Moderator, Mainstage Panels focused on Coaching & AI, and the Culture of Distribution (September 2023)

MDM SHIFT Distribution Conference, Denver: Pre-Conference Workshop Featuring newly unveiled Distribution Culture Assessment (September 2023)

HR Technology Conference, Las Vegas: Mainstage CHRO Panel (October 2023)

Strategic HR Conference, Mount Washington: Keynote Session- HR Transformation; Plenary Session - HR Innovation (October 2023)

TRANSFORM, Las Vegas (March, 2023)

Find out more

Previous Speaking Engagements, Articles, and More (pre-COVID

Speaker: HR Summer School

"Trust, Confidence, Networking and Risk-Taking"

June 1-5, 2020

https://hrsummerschool.org/

Guest Co-host: Harmony Insights Lunch Date

Discovering Your Voice

No professional journey would be complete without the fear and self-doubt that seem to surface right when they are least welcome.

More than a mere nuisance, this debilitating "noise" can threaten our very sense of identity and value in the world.

Join Erich Kurschat (owner, Harmony Insights LLC) and special guest Tracie Sponenberg (chief people officer, The Granite Group) for a meaningful, actionable conversation around discovering that which is uniquely us... our voice.

Keynote Speaker:

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The HR Voice Summit

May 19-21, 2020

20+ proven HR Leaders reveal how to obtain and make the most of your seat at the table.

https://www.hrvoicesummit.com/

Speaker: Workology Virtual HR Summit

"Transforming HR Through Transforming Yourself"

May 12-13, 2020

https://learn.workology.com/virtual-hr-summit/

Speaker: Boston HR Council Lunch Meeting

"The Human Side of COVID-19"

May 7, 2020

Speaking Engagement: HR Exchange Future of Work Online Event

"HR Automation for All"

March 24-25, 2020

https://www.hrexchangenetwork.com/online-events/future-of-work/?mac=HRIQ_OnlineEvents_Title_Listing

Speaker: HR Storytellers, At-Home Edition

https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/hr-storytellers/Pages/at-home-tracie-sponenberg.aspx?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial~HR%20Week~NL_2020-4-20_HR-Week&linktext=HR-Storytellers-At-Home-Edition-Tracie-Sponenberg&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTURVME9EVXhZV0U0T1dVMyIsInQiOiJnekhXWk84a2h3bVBLdnFvVGdHZFpxNmVXNmpwMXFxY2pzNGpFQXBFWmZPRFlWVDFIbjFRNkdFZFwvd1R4aW9MSk1wdVJsSm84MVlxbjhWUGpJSjFTN3lIeEk5eXFEaGQyTjR2SXhhajJkMXNsUnlCVEwyeVU5SnR3S0Fpbm5GdkYifQ%3D%3D

Panelist: COVID-19 Safety in the Workplace

ASA

April 3, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLvFELVAlAs&feature=youtu.be

Panelist: How HR Can Lead During the Coronavirus Pandemic

April 1, 2020

http://explore.careerarc.com/c/21-hr-questions-coronavirus?x=A_MtGx

Featured Speaker: HR and Future of Work

HR Exchange Network

Online Event

March 24-25, 2020

Interview: Leading During The Coronavirus Pandemic

UNLEASHWD, Dirk Beveridge

March 22, 2020

https://unleashwd.com/leading-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-replay/?utm_source=ONTRAPORT-email-broadcast&utm_medium=ONTRAPORT-email-broadcast&utm_term=All+%E2%80%93+Transactional&utm_content=Week+2+Videos+NOW+READY+for+you+[First+Name]&utm_campaign=03252020

Speaking Engagement: Hacking HR Global Online Event: HR Innovation and The Future of WorkPanel with Erich Kurchat and Julie Turney: "Branding Yourself - How to Put Your Introvert, Extrovert or Ambivert Self Out There"

March 3-5, 2020

https://hrinnovationconference.hackinghr.io/

Speaking Engagement: Transforming HR Through Technology (Closing Keynote Speaker)

February 18, 2020

ADP Knowledge Summit -. Burlington, VT

Interview - HR Exchange

"HR Automation For All"

February 18, 2020

https://www.hrexchangenetwork.com/hr-tech/interviews/hr-automation-for-all

Speaking Engagement: The Evolution of Employer Branding (Closing Keynote Speaker)

February 12, 2020 NEHRA Talent Acquisition Summit, Boston

Podcast Interview - HR Exchange

February 16, 2020

http://hrexchange.b2biq.libsynpro.com/ep-028-granite-groups-chief-people-officer-tracie-sponenberg-talks-hr-automation

Interview - The Hennessy Report Podcast

February 11, 2020

https://soundcloud.com/user-351766730/episode-49-tracie-sponenberg-the-granite-group

Interview - Profile Magazine

"How To Transform HR"

January 27, 2020

https://profilemagazine.com/2020/tracie-sponenberg-granite-group/

Speaking Engagement: Glassdoor, from 0 to 5 Stars (Panel)

Nov 22, 2019 - OPTIMA Conference, Boston

Speaking Engagement: Bringing Sexy Back........ To Toilets

Nov 6, 2019 - DisruptHR Boston

https://disrupthr.co/vimeo-video/bringing-sexy-back-to-toilets-tracie-sponenberg-disrupthr-talks/

Speaking Engagement: The New Performance Management Reality (with Deb Ford)

Oct 28, 2019 - Strategic HR at Mt. Washington Conference

Speaking Engagement: Technology/Network Presentations (with Michelle Strasburger)

Sep 12, 2019 - VT State SHRM Conference

Interview: LiveStream - HR Experts from SHRM19

Jun 25, 2019 - Workforce Magazine

See publication Interview: LiveStream - HR Experts from SHRM19

Speaking Engagement: How to Transform Your HR Department Through Technology, Even If Your HR Department Is Just You

Jun 24, 2019 - SHRM National Conference, Las Vegas

How to Transform Your HR Department Through Technology, Even If Your HR Department Is Just You

Speaking Engagement: Finding Mentors, Networks and Friends to Help Reboot Your HR Career (with Michelle Strasburger)

Jun 4, 2019 - DisruptHR - Manchester, NH

Finding Mentors, Networks and Friends to Help Reboot Your HR Career (with Michelle Strasburger)

Speaking Engagement: Engaging Your Hourly Workforce in Wellness: Lessons From The Granite Group

Apr 10, 2019 - Emerging Trends In Wellness Conference - Wellness Workdays

Speaking Engagement: Embracing Technology While Keeping The Human in Human Resources (with Michelle Strasburger)

Mar 28, 2019 -HR Transform, Las Vegas

Speaking Engagement: Workforce Improvement (Panel)

Mar 12, 2019 - Financial Management Association of NH

Interview - HR Social Hour Podcast

January 31, 2019

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-thurmond/the-hr-social-hour-half-hour-podcast/e/58494285

Speaking Engagement: Not a Fad - Why PERKS Continue to Have Staying Power

Jan 29, 2019 - NEEBC

Interview: Saving For College: A Workplace Perk That Can Help Your Kids Avoid Debt

Dec 1, 2018 - USA Today

Saving For College: A Workplace Perk That Can Help Your Kids Avoid Debt

Oct 29, 2018 - USA Today

Savvy open enrollment choices could save you thousands of dollars

Interview: HR2025: 7 Critical Strategies to Prepare For the Future of HR

Oct 29, 2018 - HR Magazine

HR2025: 7 Critical Strategies to Prepare For the Future of HR

Interview: Attract and Retain Younger Workers by Aligning Your Pay Structure with Their Needs

Oct 4, 2018 - Monster

Retain Younger Workers by Aligning Your Pay Structure with Their Needs

Blog Post: What You Do Every Day Matters

Sep 26, 2018 - SHRM Blog

Blog Post: What You Do Every Day Matters

Blog Post: The Power of Women Supporting Each Other

Sep 19, 2018 - SHRM Blog

Blog Post: The Power of Women Supporting Each Other

Speaking Engagement: Panel - Climbing The Leadership Ladder

Sep 11, 2018 - HR Technology Conference, Women in HR Technology

Article: Investing in Employee Wellness Makes Good Business Sense

Sep 2018 - HR Tech Outlook Magazine

Article: Investing in Employee Wellness Makes Good Business Sense

Speaking Engagement: Negotiation Skills for Women

Aug 29, 2018 - Cape Coral Women's Leadership Conference

Interview with Mary Kaylor - "Climbing The Leadership Ladder"

Aug 18, 2018 - SHRM Blog

Interview with Mary Kaylor - "Climbing The Leadership Ladder"

Interview: Don't Forget to Take Advantage of All Your Employment Benefits

Aug 16, 2018 - Wink News/ABC affiliates

Don't Forget to Take Advantage of All Your Employment Benefits

Interview: Many state employees don’t get evaluated, auditors find, citing poor training of supervisors

Aug 1, 2018 - Baltimore Post-Examiner

Interview: Many state employees don’t get evaluated, auditors find, citing poor training of supervisors

Article: Transforming Your Small to Mid-Sized HR Department Through Technology

Aug 2018 - CIO Review Magazine

Article: Transforming Your Small to Mid-Sized HR Department Through Technology

Interview: How Your Association Can Help Employees Pay Off Student Loans

Jul 18, 2018 - Associations Now Magazine

Interview: How Your Association Can Help Employees Pay Off Student Loans

Interview: A benefit with benefits: Win-win of corporate volunteering programs point to continued expansion

Jun 27, 2018 - Employee Benefit News

Interview: A benefit with benefits: Win-win of corporate volunteering programs point to continued expansion

Article Quote: Here's What To Do If Someone Yells At You At Work

May 29, 2018 - Refinery29

Article Quote: Here's What To Do If Someone Yells At You At Work

Interview: Small HR Department? Don't Count Out Big Tech Changes

May 9, 2018 - Employee Benefit News

Interview: Small HR Department? Don't Count Out Big Tech Changes

Interview: Keep The Peace

May 9, 2018 - The College Store Magazine

Interview: Keep The Peace

Interview: How To Communicate About A Work Problem

May 9, 2018 - U.S. News and World Report

Interview: How To Communicate About A Work Problem

Article Quote: More U.S. Workers Test Positive For Illicit Drugs

May 8, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

Article Quote: More U.S. Workers Test Positive For Illicit Drugs

Panelist: Diversity and Inclusion Panel

Mar 30, 2018 - SNHU

Interview: Fired Via Tweet, Text or Voicemail

Mar 24, 2018 - NPR

Interview: Fired Via Tweet, Text or Voicemail

Speaking Engagement: The New Face of Diversity

Mar 6, 2018 - MAHRA Meeting

Panelist: Senior Leadership Panel

Feb 13, 2018 - SNHU

Interview: New Technology Worthless When Workers Lack Skills to Use It

Feb 6, 2018 - Bloomberg Law - Employers Group

Interview: New Technology Worthless When Workers Lack Skills to Use It

Webinar: The Connected Workplace in 2018: Anticipated Developments and Strategies

Jan 23, 2018 - Speaker, Bloomberg/Microsoft Webinar

Interview with Drew Fortin, The Predictive Index: Hiring Hacks

Nov 20, 2017

Interview with Drew Fortin, The Predictive Index: Hiring Hacks

Speaking Engagement: Leveraging Technology to Improve HR Office Functionality: Going Paperless

Nov 14, 2017 - Speaker, Greater Nashua Human Resources Association

Speaking Engagement: Supporting Your Transgender Employee

Oct 17, 2017 - HR Connect Summit, Chicago, IL

Speaking Engagement: The Granite Group's HR Technology Transformation

Oct 12, 2017 - HR Technology Conference, Las Vegas, NV

Interview: HR Technology Q & A With Tracie Sponenberg

Sep 6, 2017 - SHRM

Interview: HR Technology Q & A With Tracie Sponenberg

Speaking Engagement: Supporting Transgender Employees

May 24, 2017 - Speaker on a panel at the NH EAPA Association Meeting

Speaking Engagement: Planning for New HR Technology – What HR and the Organization Needs, and How to Get It Done

Apr 19, 2017 - Speaker, panel discussion at The Granite State HR Conference

Speaking Engagement: Transgender Inclusion In The Workplace

Mar 23, 2017 - Speaker, with Linda Johnson, at Diversity Workforce Coalition Annual Conference

Speaking Engagement: Subconscious Bias and Transgendered Workers, with Linda Johnson

Oct 24, 2016 - Strategic HR Conference New England

Podcast: A Sound Strategy For Making Rock Solid Talent Decisions

Oct 5, 2016 - Interviewed by Human Capital Institute for Nine-to-Thrive HR Podcast Series

Podcast: A Sound Strategy For Making Rock Solid Talent Decisions

Webcast: Get Better Hiring Results from a Smarter Talent Strategy

Sep 22, 2016 - Interviewed by Matt Poepsal, The Predictive Index, for Human Capital Institute

Webcast: Get Better Hiring Results from a Smarter Talent Strategy

Speaking Engagement: Transgender Inclusion In The Workplace

Mar 17, 2016 - Speaker, with Linda Johnson, at Human Resources Association - Greater Concord,

MY BIO

Tracie Sponenberg is a global speaker on HR, leadership, technology and business issues, and is also currently Chief People Officer of The Granite Group, based in Concord, NH. Tracie is responsible for leading all People functions throughout the company, with 60 locations and growing.

While Tracie used to describe herself as “working in HR,” she now describes herself as a “Business leader specializing in People” - a change that came after her transformation from paper-first to people-first leader, and after embracing the importance of learning about the business, technology, the critical nature of relationships, the importance of a growth mindset, speaking up, and learning to always put people before profits.

With expertise in people development and engagement, strategic business planning, technology selection and deployment, wellness, employment branding, culture development and turnaround, coaching, leadership, team organizational and strategy development, Tracie has gained broad experience across a wide range of industries in her nearly three decades in human resources, with much of her career focused on working with CEOs to develop people strategies to help change and enhance the culture, and help the organizations and their people grow. She began her career in HR while in college, interning with a global public transportation company, and advanced through the organization over the next five years. Tracie found her business home in medium sized private companies, where she could have the most impact on the organization. She has led the HR function at an award-winning multi-state professional services firm; a Pulitzer-prize winning newspaper and publishing company, and a national private-equity owned wellness distribution and technology company.

Tracie has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The College of The Holy Cross, and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from Framingham State University. She is SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified; was the recipient of the 2019 GSHRC Ry Perry HR Hero Award; was named one of the 2020 “35 Employer Branding Experts” by Eightfold.ai; was named to the 2022 Most Inclusive Influencer List; was named by PeopleHum as one of the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders, by AIHR as one of 22 Innovative HR Leaders to Follow, by Skedda as one of the Top 20 Chief People Officers to follow, and one of the top 50 Global HR Professionals by The OnCon Icon Awards.

She is a co-founder of HR Rebels, HR on the House, DisruptHR NH and HR Rebooted; a founding member of Hacking HR Experts Council and CPOHQ; Chair of the ASA Women in Industry Executive Council and an Expert Council Member for Select Software Reviews. Her articles have appeared in CIO Review Magazine, Supply House Times, ASA Review, HR Jolt and HR Tech Outlook, and she has been a guest on numerous HR podcasts and interview series. Her HR expertise has been featured on the BBC, NPR, and in publications including USA Today, US News and World Report, Employee Benefits News, Chicago Sun-Times and The Wall Street Journal.

A bookworm and introvert who never spoke in class until college, in recent years Tracie started getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Though she now realizes she won’t die speaking in public, to the media, or on camera, she still hates parties and crowds - but loves espresso and movies. She loves traveling, spending time outdoors and occassionally slowly running. When not hanging out with her family at home in Concord, NH, you can find her traveling – often to Disney World with her family, visiting local coffee shops with her husband, or hiking the local trails.