Fall HR Partner Roundtable

Steve Pemberton is a visionary senior human resources executive, human capital strategist, best-selling author, and passionate human rights advocate. A dynamic communicator and sought-after speaker, he inspires organizations and individuals to lead with purpose, humanity, and impact.

He currently serves as Managing Director of the Human Resources Executive Board at Seramount, where he partners with HR leaders to advance innovative, people-centered workplace strategies.

Throughout his career—from leadership roles at Monster.com and Walgreens to serving as Chief Human Resources Officer at Workhuman®️—Steve has championed cultures that prioritize engagement, belonging, and high performance. He is also Founder and CEO of The Lighthouse Academy, a leadership and HR consultancy dedicated to developing purpose-driven leaders and award-winning workplace cultures.

Steve is the author of two acclaimed books. A Chance in the World recounts his remarkable journey from the foster care system to corporate leadership; it was adapted into a film and inspired a national social-emotional learning curriculum. His second book, The Lighthouse Effect, encourages individuals to transform adversity into service and impact.

A former U.S. Senate candidate and recipient of numerous honors, Steve serves on multiple nonprofit boards and remains committed to expanding opportunity so all may have “a chance in this world.”

Joe Infantino is Senior Director of Research at Seramount, part of EAB. In this role, he supports Chief Human Resource Officers with their most pressing issues through stakeholder education, as well as decision and implementation support. Before joining Seramount, Joe oversaw EAB’s research on enrollment growth strategy for higher education. Over 10+ years, he led research initiatives on various topics, including strategic planning, athletics, and maturity modeling.

Joe has a degree from Syracuse University. He is based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Cory Schneider (he/him) is Director of Partner Success at Seramount, bringing extensive experience to leaders, and organizations to build more human-centered, equitable, and high-performing cultures. With over 15 years of experience spanning talent, culture, inclusion and leadership advisory and strategy, Cory is known for translating complex behavioral science and organizational dynamics into practical, scalable strategies for change.
Cory has partnered with Fortune 500s, high-growth startups, global nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations across industries including healthcare, finance, consumer goods, technology, and education. His work spans systemic and personal levels, from redesigning equitable talent strategies and embedding inclusion into performance systems, to coaching executives through complex transitions. He has led DEI strategy, architected leadership development frameworks, and facilitated culture change grounded in behavioral science, emotional intelligence, and adult learning theory.
Cory holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in LGBTQ+ Studies from Antioch University Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s in Corporate Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Certified Senior Professional in HR (SPHR) and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), and a sought-after speaker on topics including inclusive leadership, belonging, and the intersection of mental health and organizational effectiveness.
Cory resides in Los Angeles with his husband, Randy, and their dog, Luna. Outside of work, you can find him hiking, gardening, facilitating LGBTQ+ workshops for youth, or exploring California’s coast and wine country.