Katelyn Petti Hokenberg (Past Speaker)

Katelyn Petti Hokenberg, MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is a dynamic people and organizational leader possessing over 20 years of progressive practice in domestic and international Human Resources management and organizational development practice. Katelyn is valued by business leaders for providing strategic direction to optimize people, organizational structure and process, and culture. 

Katelyn’s first job was as a little league baseball umpire. When she realized she wasn’t going to the major league, she transitioned to learning & development and has worked in all facets of human resources and organizational development within the financial, tech and pharmaceutical industries. She has achieved significant impact with growing small and start-up organizations by aligning HR programs with business strategies to build effective teams and achieve results. Her strengths include relationship building and successfully influencing and interacting with all levels of management and employees across the organization.

In her current role as Head of Organizational Development with Merz North America, Katelyn leads all people development initiatives for Merz, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on aesthetics and neurosciences. During her tenure, Katelyn has contributed to the transformation of the company culture by attracting, acquiring and developing talent and building fun and rewarding work environments. She has created learning, training and career development programs across the Americas region and has enjoyed developing and advising the employee resource teams focused on philanthropy, women’s leadership and diversity initiatives. She represents Merz on the Board of Advisors for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Midtown Raleigh Alliance. Katelyn is elated for Merz and its 2019 awards wins of Best Places to Work, Fast 50 Growing Companies and Healthiest Employer of 2019.  Katelyn is a Merz Pharma 2018 CEO Award Winner and will soon be profiled in American Healthcare Leader’s July 2020 edition.

Katelyn holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Drew and Fordham Universities; she obtained her business coaching certification from North Carolina State University. Katelyn resides in the Raleigh area with her husband and two children. She enjoys spending time as a volunteer in her children’s schools and with local women’s and children’s organizations. She admittedly runs on coffee and wine to sustain her through long distance running and biking, cheering on her beloved Boston sports teams and planning her family’s next travel adventure.