Hear About the Future of Workforce Demographics | HR Panel at UConn Leadership Conference

We are excited to share that our Founder Candace Freedenberg will be among the featured speakers at the upcoming UConn Graduate Career & Human Resource Management Leadership Conference 2025.

This year’s panel centers on advancing conversations around inclusive talent strategies, spotlighting groups like mature workers, veterans, neurodivergent talent, and of course women returners, often overlooked by traditional hiring practices.

Featured Speakers

We're proud Untapped Potential will serve as the voice for returners along with stellar panel with voices from Seniors Job Bank, ESPN and Travelers.

Candace Freedenberg will share insights from her work with professional women re-entering the workforce. As a technologist, innovator, and award-winning business leader, Candace has used her platform to create access and visibility for talented women navigating career transitions. Through our work here at Untapped Potential Inc., she drives systemic change in hiring by connecting skilled professionals with forward-thinking employers.

In addition to Untapped Potential’s founder representing the voice of #returners, this year’s speaker lineup includes influential voices from business, academia, nonprofit, and military sectors—each committed to expanding opportunities for underrepresented talent:

Robin Clare, Executive Director, Seniors Job Bank

Robin Clare champions meaningful employment for mature professionals, drawing on her multifaceted career in HR, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship, while promoting lifelong vitality through her writing, speaking, and Seniors Rule: Age Like a Warrior podcast. She passionately advocates for the growing senior population, empowering them to remain vibrant, mentally sharp, physically fit, and financially secure.

Kristle Westry, HR Business Partner, ESPN & U.S. Army Warrant Officer

Kristle Westry brings over 18 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army Reserve to her current role as a 420A Human Resources Technician Warrant Officer. Leveraging military leadership and personnel management expertise, Kristle has developed a keen understanding of the unique skills and strengths that veterans offer in the civilian workforce. She specializes in helping individuals and organizations recognize and maximize transferable skills—particularly those developed through military experience. Passionate about veteran advocacy, Kristle has championed veteran recruitment programs, transition coaching, and tailored training sessions to ease service members’ adaptation to civilian roles.

Amanda Piazza, Senior Consultant, Emerging Talent Acquisition, Travelers

Amanda Piazza works on Emerging Talent Acquisition at Travelers. In addition to opening up recruiting pipelines, she was recently a featured speaker on a Spencer Education Foundation Virtual Campus live webinar, "What to Do in the First Six Months on the Job," sharing her insights on what it takes to start a new career successfully.

Amanda will share strategies that enhance how Travelers attracts, recruits, hires, and retains neurodivergent talent.

The panel will be moderated by Travis Grosser of UCONN School of Business.

Travis Grosser, Associate Professor & Interim Department Head, Boucher Department of Management & Entrepreneurship at the UConn School of Business

Travis Grosser came to UConn in 2013 after earning a PhD in Organizational Behavior from the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on how employees build and benefit from social networks at work, the factors that drive creativity in the workplace, and how organizations can effectively navigate change. He has conducted field research and consulted at organizations such as Intel, Novartis, Fisher-Price, Neogen Corp., Temper-Sealy International, and The U.S. National Parks Service. Prior to academia, Travis was an officer in the U.S. Army’s Transportation Corps.

The Event is sponsored by the leadership of New England Asset Management (NEAM). Untapped Potential candidates have launched with the company in roles that utilize skills in event management support, marketing, web development, and financial analysis. NEAM's support of the event and our candidates further demonstrates their leadership in advancing workplace equity and opportunity across the talent spectrum.

Interested in Attending?

If you're passionate about workforce innovation and inclusive hiring strategies, this is a must-attend event!

📍 Location: UConn School of Business (GBLC), 100 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103

Venue: 1st Floor Accelerator and Observation Deck

🗓️ Wednesday, June 4th, 4:30pm

Comment on this LinkedIn post to express interest in attending this invite-only event.