Maxine is an accomplished consumer retail leader, board member, social entrepreneur, and investor in women- and minority-owned businesses.

As the Chief Inspirator of The Delmar DivINe, she spearheads a transformational real estate initiative that created the Midwest’s first collaborative hub for not-for-profit organizations. Prior to launching The Delmar DivINe, Maxine was the Founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop, the global retail company that reshaped the customer experience through personalization and interaction.

Maxine also teaches in Olin’s Women in Leadership program, serves as the CEO and President of the Clark-Fox Family Foundation, and sits on several regional boards dedicated to education, innovation, and community impact.

We are honored to welcome Maxine and look forward to the insights she will share from her remarkable career spanning the for-profit, not-for-profit, and higher education sectors.

Lauren Herring passionately provides leadership to IMPACT Group as CEO, where she has transformed the company into a global leader in employee career development. Prior to her current role, Lauren was President of Global Services where she was responsible for all international business development and operations. She guided the work of IMPACT Group’s international presence, providing leadership and support to all areas of the organization in assisting transferees with international issues and needs. Under Lauren’s leadership, IMPACT Group now operates in more than 65 international locations in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

In 2013 and 2014, Lauren led the charge as IMPACT Group acquired its long-time competitors, Vandover and Sally White & Associates. This supported three previous acquisitions in corporate outplacement solutions. IMPACT Group continues to be an industry expert in Relocation, Outplacement and Leadership Development while consistently innovating new career management solutions, developing cutting-edge service delivery options and expanding its reach into new markets.

In 2016, Lauren authored This Side Up! A Simple Guide to Your Successful Relocation, which provides expert advice on managing each phase of the relocation based on the thousands of individuals IMPACT Group has moved across the globe over the last three decades. In 2020, Lauren published her second book, Take Control of Your Job Search!, which offers the collective wisdom of hundreds of career coaches and provides tactical approaches that job seekers can implement to be successful in their search.

Lauren has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition including: Workforce Magazine’s Top 25 Game Changers Award, St. Louis Business Journal’s Top Women-owned Business,  St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in Business and 2015 Enterprising Women of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine.  Lauren was awarded the prestigious “40 Under 40″ Award by the St. Louis Business Journal and was previously awarded the “30 Under 30” Award.

In addition, Lauren is an internationally recognized speaker on the topic of career development and global mobility, has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine and has published in HR Executive and GlobalHR Magazine, among others. She is not only fluent in Spanish, but prior to joining IMPACT Group, Lauren worked in economic development in Puerto Rico.

Outside of the office, Lauren is on the Board for the St. Louis Regional Chamber, where she is excited to support the economic development of the St. Louis community. She is also on the board at COCA (the Center of Creative Arts), Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis, Connections to Success and serves on Washington University’s Steering Committee and Women’s Leadership Forum where she passionately dedicates her expertise, resources and time to making a difference in others’ lives. In addition to her professional endeavors, Lauren is married to Ted, also an entrepreneur, and they have two young children.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Registration: $599 USD

Register here for the 2026 Conference!

More program details to follow soon.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS & TOPICS
We’re building the 2026 CAP Alliance Conference—and we’d love your help. Join a planning committee and/or propose speakers and topics you want on the program. Just a few hours a month makes a real difference

• Sign-up here: 2026 CAP Alliance Conference Planning Sign-Up Sheet
• Suggested Speakers & Topics: 2026 CAP Conference Speakers & Topics

COMMITTEE AREAS INCLUDE:

• Keynote Presentations (2 speakers – Morning of Day 1 and Day 2 of the conference) Identify compelling keynote speakers and themes that prepare us for a changing world.

• General Session Presentations (4 speakers) Shape skills-focused sessions on coaching practice, evolving client demographics, and today’s challenges.

• Concurrent Sessions (6 sessions) Spotlight member-school innovations and proven best practices.

• Fun Committee (no limit—yes, we’re serious!) Create moments that energize the agenda and build connection throughout the conference.

Questions? Contact Don Halpin at donhalpin@wustl.edu.

Thank you for helping us design a conference that informs, inspires, and connects our community!