Global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company has added Brooke Ferguson, Chief Human Resources Officer at Gildan, and Manny Ocasio, Chief People Officer at Vitalant, to the mainstage lineup for its flagship annual HR conference, Signature 2026. The event is scheduled for October 4–6, 2026, at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Under the event's 2026 theme, "Human-Centric, Future-Ready," their sessions will examine how HR leaders can maintain focus, align stakeholders, and demonstrate value while their organizations navigate transformation, integration, and increasing operational complexity. The conference is expected to convene more than 700 HR leaders for three days of mainstage keynotes, interactive sessions, peer exchanges, CHRO panels, and direct access to McLean & Company analysts and advisors.

From Intent to Impact: Manny Ocasio on HR Transformation

At Signature 2026, Manny Ocasio will deliver his keynote, "From Intent to Impact: Powering HR Transformation." Drawing on his team's experience adopting objectives and key results (OKRs), Ocasio will explore how a disciplined approach helped Vitalant's HR function sharpen its priorities, improve organizational visibility, and demonstrate measurable impact during a complex ERP implementation.

Rather than presenting OKRs as a standalone solution, Ocasio will share how the team refined its approach through complementary tools and practices that accelerated execution. His session will address how HR leaders can translate strategic intent into clear priorities, connect work to outcomes, and communicate progress in ways that build alignment, momentum, and credibility across the organization.

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Leading Through a Company-Defining Transformation

Brooke Ferguson will present "Leading People Through a Company-Defining Transformation." Her keynote offers an inside look at the people and leadership considerations involved as Gildan works through its acquisition of HanesBrands — a deal that doubled Gildan's size and brought together two cultures and tens of thousands of employees around the world.

Ferguson will discuss how HR can prioritize critical workstreams when every issue feels urgent, align leaders while integration activities continue to evolve, and preserve business momentum during sustained uncertainty. She will also examine the balance between operational integration and intentional culture-building, sharing candid lessons about where HR is having the greatest influence, what has worked, and what has required adjustment along the way.

Signature 2026 attracts HR executives and leaders from technology services, higher education, healthcare, manufacturing, government, and financial services. In recent years, more than 60% of attendees have held senior leadership roles, making it a high-impact environment for strategic learning and peer networking. Additional agenda details, keynote speakers, and networking experiences will be released in the coming months.