Bruce Waller is not your ordinary relocation executive. He's a dynamic keynote speaker, best-selling author, and podcast host who brings a wealth of experience and inspiration to every stage he graces.

Professional Background: Currently serving as the Vice President of Corporate Relocation for The Armstrong Company in Dallas, Texas, Bruce specializes in helping HR professionals navigate the complex world of employee relocation and transportation services. With a focus on excellence and client satisfaction, Bruce ensures seamless relocations for individuals and families across the US and around the globe.

Leadership and Service: In addition to his corporate role, Bruce is deeply involved in volunteer leadership. As the Assistant State Director of Texas SHRM, he plays a pivotal role in serving and supporting over 23,000 HR professionals across Texas.

Author and Blogger: Bruce is the author of four influential books, including Find Your Lane, recognized by Book Authority as one of the Top 100 Career Change Books of All Time. His latest book, Drive with Purpose, soared to become a #1 New Release Best Seller. Through his blog, Move to Inspire, Bruce shares valuable insights and inspiration to help individuals find their purpose and achieve their goals.

Podcast Host: As the host of the Life in the Leadership Lane podcast, Bruce interviews high-performance leaders who are making a difference in the workplace. With over 200 episodes since 2020, Bruce continues to share wisdom and inspiration from some of the most influential voices in leadership and business.

Recognitions and Awards: Bruce's commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed. He has been honored with prestigious awards such as The Stewardship Award from UniGroup, Top 100 Global Mobility's Most Admired Service Providers, and recognition as a former Texas SHRM Volunteer Leader of the Year. He’s also a five-time recipient of The Armstrong Company Presidents Club Award, an honor recognizing his exceptional leadership and performance.

Member of National Speakers Association of North Texas: Bruce is an active member of the National Speakers Association of North Texas, further expanding his influence as a thought leader and professional speaker.

Fun Facts: Beyond his professional achievements, Bruce is a man of many talents and interests. He has bowled ten perfect 300 games, has a soft spot for peanut butter and coffee, and cherishes spending time with his grandchildren, Crosby and Sutton."

Jeffrey Riddle has over 23 years of experience in training and outreach, having served in the US Army and now working as a Training and Outreach Coordinator. With a history degree and a passion for knowledge, he's dedicated to helping people and organizations grow.

Jeffrey has trained hundreds of Texans from various sectors during his time with the TWC. His focus on connecting with people and bridging gaps has made him a respected and effective speaker. He's passionate about helping organizations succeed by investing in their most valuable resource: their people. In addition to his employment training, Jeffrey provides knowledge and understanding of Fair Housing practices to housing providers and tenants.

Outside of work, Jeffrey enjoys spending time with his family. He's an outdoors enthusiast who loves exploring all the different regions of Texas, from hiking scenic landscapes to road tripping. His love for adventure keeps him energized and motivated.

Laura Hees-Garcia has been named Vice President of Operations at Valley Regional Medical Center, effective April 10, 2024. Laura joined the Valley Regional Medical Center family in 2018 as the Human Resource Business Partner and then served the Hospital as the Director of Patient Experience, where she spearheaded the implementation of the facility-wide DAISY & BEE award program; assisted in obtaining an 80% participation goal for the essential services support survey; and initiated a discharge call program for inpatient units to increase productivity and compliance from 7% in 2022 to 57% in 2023.

As vice president of operations, Laura now supervises the dietary, environmental services, and respiratory departments.

Laura has a proven track record in human resources, education, restaurant management, and patient experience. She brings a unique blend of expertise in personnel management, project oversight, and customer service excellence. She is strong at fostering relationships and driving team success in multiple industries.

Laura's commitment to community service is truly inspiring. She serves on the Texas Southmost College advisory board for management and technology program and Leadership Brownsville board. Laura is also a Brownville Chamber of Commerce bienvenidos committee ambassador and a United Way of Southern Cameron County loaned executive.

Her academic accomplishments are a testament to her dedication and expertise. Laura holds a doctorate degree in leadership studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in La Feria, Texas, and a master's degree in counseling from St. Thomas University in Houston, Texas.

She is married to her husband, Anibal Garcia, a United States Submarine Navy Veteran. They have two very active children: Liam, who is three years old and loves learning, and Charlee, who is two years old and loves being the center of attention.

Cody Cox, Ph.D., received his doctorate from Rice University in 2010 and has taught undergraduate and graduate students in business and psychology programs. Cox teaches in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate Program and the Greehey Business School at St. Mary’s University. He teaches graduate courses on training and development, multivariate statistics, organizational behavior, organizational psychology and human resource management. At the undergraduate level, he teaches courses on organizational behavior and has taught courses on research methods, leadership, social psychology, psychological measurement and industrial/organizational psychology.

Cox won the National Society of Leadership and Success Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015. He joined St. Mary’s in 2016 after teaching at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the University of Texas at Brownsville.

Since receiving his Ph.D., Cox has published 17 peer-reviewed empirical papers, given 40 presentations at regional and national professional conferences, one of which was awarded the Best Symposium by a division of the Academy of Management. He has supervised numerous master’s theses. His current research focuses on talent development and workplace diversity with an emphasis on issues related to the generational differences and the aging workforce. Cox is an active member of the Society of Industrial Organizational Psychology, SHRM, the Academy of Management and the San Antonio Human Resource Management Association.