2024 VMS Professionals 17th Annual Conference

Katie has been with Southwest since 2017 and has been working in the contingent labor space since 2019. She serves as the Program Manager for SWA Staffers, Southwest’s contingent labor program. SWA Staffers is an internal MSP with a large focus on Direct Sourcing. Outside of work she loves taking advantage of her flight benefits by traveling to National Parks, baseball stadiums and exploring new destinations!

Liz started with Discover in 2013 and is now managing the global external workforce program at Discover and has deep ties into procurement, IT, VMS strategy and global software deployments. Liz implemented a new VMS tool in 2023 and is instrumental in the partnership with the tool provider. Liz is already making great impact on the product and future enhancements.

Outside of contingent labor, Liz likes to spend her time with her family, traveling to new places and trying new restaurants.

Krishna Sai Charan is a Vice President at Everest Group and a member of the Business Process Services team. He assists clients on topics related to the entire talent acquisition and management value chain, covering permanent and contingent talent services and technology.

Krishna’s responsibilities include managing Everest Group’s Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Contingent Workforce Management (CWM), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), and Freelancer Management Systems (FMS) research across both published and custom decision support offerings.

Prior to joining Everest Group, Krishna was a Senior Business Analyst with Evalueserve. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan.

Leslie Vickrey is an author, podcast host, business leader, and advocate for unleashing the power of women. She is the founder of ClearEdge, a company dedicated to transforming the business of talent through marketing, recruiting, and leadership development services. She is also the co-founder of ARA, an organization that seeks to attract, retain and advance women in technology. Through her book, Together we Rise and TheEdge podcast Leslie hopes to break down stereotypes, instill confidence, and encourage the next generation of leaders to rise up. Leslie has been named to Staffing Industry Analysts DEI Influencer list two years running among a number of other accolades and industry recognitions. Leslie resides in Breckenridge with her husband and son. In her spare time, you can find her biking, hiking with her two dogs, skiing or skating with the Breck Betties hockey league.

With an impressive 20-year track record in recruiting across diverse industries and functions, Jeremy Kruse is a seasoned professional with a keen specialization in technical recruiting. His journey has taken him through renowned companies such as US Cellular, Sears, Epsilon, and Redbox.
Currently serving as the Director of Recruiting for CME Group, where he oversees US contingent staffing, Jeremy brings strategic leadership to the forefront of talent acquisition. What sets Jeremy apart is not just his extensive experience but also his commitment to professional development. Holding a Six Sigma Greenbelt certification, he integrates disciplined and data-driven practices into the recruitment process, emphasizing a dedication to continuous improvement and efficiency.
Beyond his corporate role, Jeremy is a distinguished guest speaker at procurement conventions, sharing invaluable insights with industry peers. As a co-founder of the Chicago Recruiter Network, he further solidifies his commitment to fostering professional connections within the recruitment community.

-Jessica Tiscione is a Program Manager with the FLEX Talent Solutions team at Marriott International. She has been in the contingent labor staffing industry for more than 13 years and has a range of experience both on the MSP and client side. She enjoys learning and growing professionally, building strong relationships, and implementing new processes that enable managed service programs to excel. Jessica resides in Maryland with her family and loves to explore local parks and eateries.

Lina, Strategic Sourcing Manager at Elevance Health, started her career in contingent labor in 2004 and program management and strategy in 2010 within various MSP partnerships and now on the corporate side since February 2022. Lina enjoys developing and implementing highly effective internal strategies and the reward of watching the efforts positively impact program efficiencies and improved quality of the contingent workforce.

Outside of Elevance Health, Lina enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends, and traveling to scenic and relaxing views.

Zoila Primo is an operations and data analytics professional, currently working at Netflix as a Project Manager within the Contingent Talent department – managing projects in learning & development, system implementations, and operational efficiency, all with a focus on deep data-based decision-making.

Previously, Zoila worked as the Head of Operations at a SaaS company within the Contingent Space, where she was responsible for client onboarding, customer service, and vendor management relationship strategy. She has also worked at General Assembly – helping mold the next generation of data analytics professionals. The bulk of Zoila’s professional experience is in start-up/early-stage companies, where she’s able to flex her varied experience to help in rapid company growth.

She has a BS in Data Analytics and is currently an EMBA candidate at the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University in Atlanta. Additionally, she has earned seven certificates in varied topics such as Project Management, Leadership, Business Process Management, and HR. Additionally, Zoila holds active SHRM-CP and PMP credentials. In her spare time, Zoila enjoys baking, traveling with her better half, and discovering additional ways to continue her professional advancement.

Marisa currently leads Contingent Talent at Netflix, bringing over 15 years of experience across HR, workforce management, and people experiences. She is focused on transforming the way business leaders get work done by leveraging non-employee talent to achieve business outcomes. Marisa’s specialization extends to global contingent workforce strategies, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering relationships across the organization and with external partners. Outside of work, Marisa enjoys outdoor activities, live music, comedy events, and traveling with her family.

Natalie Javid, is a dedicated leader in the contingent workforce space with over a decade of hands-on experience crafting impactful non-employee strategies for renowned organizations like Snowflake, Airbnb, ServiceNow, LinkedIn, and others. She has played a pivotal role in implementing and managing global programs, always striving to innovate and improve processes. Their efforts have led to the expansion into new regions and the implementation of resource tracking systems aimed at enhancing visibility and efficiency into the extended workforce. Beyond their professional achievements, Natalie is deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their programs, while maintaining a focus on building strong cross-functional relationships to achieve shared goals. In essence, Natalie embraces the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of contingent workforce management, guided by a genuine dedication to excellence, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.

Karl Wolf is the Senior Category Manager, Indirect Procurement at Molson Coors Beverage Co., based in Milwaukee, WI. His responsibilities include sourcing strategy, leading enterprise negotiations, contract implementation, and stakeholder engagement. Karl and his team manage large-scale enterprise deal structures involving HR services/benefits, contingent workforce, real estate, financial services, and EHS, among other indirect sourcing engagements. He is accountable for cost and cash savings results, supplier performance, and operational efficiency. Karl partners with strategic suppliers and stakeholders to deliver innovative, quality service solutions to support the Molson Coors enterprise.

Karl has over 20 years of supply chain management experience both within a Fortune 100 public sector environment, and the private sector. Prior to Molson Coors, he was the senior manager, procurement at Astronautics Corporation of America where his team managed engineering services, electronic components, subcontracting, and operational requirements for the aerospace OEM and defense market.

Karl holds an MBA in Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a BS in Supply Chain Management from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a professional certification in the field of supply chain management: Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.).