Press & Recognition

Building the future of HR, in the open.

Jamie Viramontes, Founder & CEO of Konnect, contributes regularly on the questions shaping the next generation of human resources — from AI in the workplace to compensation strategy, talent acquisition, and people-first leadership at scale.

25+
Years in HR leadership
LA Times
Business Visionary
Forbes
Human Resources Council
Trustee
UC Irvine Foundation

As featured in

· · · · · · · · ·
Featured Keynote

Keeping HR Human at Transform 2026.

In April 2026, Jamie keynoted Transform — the largest HR & AI conference in the country — on what it takes to keep people at the center of an AI-driven workplace. The talk and the conversation that followed were captured by Transform Media and Bartko Pavia LLP.

Jamie Viramontes on stage at Transform 2026

Transform Media · Apr 16, 2026

Keeping HR Human: When AI Becomes a Colleague, Not a Replacement

HR and Legal cannot operate in silos when it comes to AI.

You can’t put culture before the tool. Culture determines how AI will be integrated into the workplace. Jamie Viramontes — Transform 2026

Watch & read

The keynote on Vimeo Transform Media The booth interview with An Nguyen Ruda Konnect The legal & HR realities of AI in the workplace Bartko Pavia LLP
Featured Partnership

UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business × Konnect.

In May 2026, the Leadership Development Institute at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business and Konnect announced a co-developed executive education certification program for senior HR leaders navigating the AI era.

UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and Konnect leadership announcing the executive education partnership: Dean Ian O. Williamson, Associate Professor Noah Askin, and Jamie Viramontes

May 20, 2026 · BusinessWire

“The Future of HR: AI Strategy & Leadership”

Equipping CHROs and senior people leaders to architect — not just adopt — enterprise AI strategy.

Co-developed by Merage School faculty and Konnect HR practitioners, the program blends academic frameworks with applied HR practice. Designed for CHROs, HR executives, and senior people leaders, participants gain AI-powered HR strategies that create measurable business value, frameworks for workforce transformation, and practitioner-led simulations focused on AI implementation and organizational change.

Format Blended · Virtual + In-Person
Dates Jul 17 – Sep 3, 2026
Cohort Senior HR leaders & CHROs
Read the announcement Program details & registration
Featured Coverage
HR Brew
“New UC Irvine professional certification program looks to bring HR into AI transformation”
HR people are in a prime position to be able to lead that cultural shift.
By Adam DeRose · May 26, 2026 Read on HR Brew →

Konnect perspective

UC Irvine’s reputation for innovation and forward-thinking business strategy made this the ideal partnership to help shape the future of HR leadership. Together, we’re helping HR executives build the confidence, strategic insight, and practical capabilities needed to lead AI transformation in ways that strengthen both business outcomes and employee experience.

Jamie Viramontes · Founder & CEO, Konnect

Academic perspective

We’re not just teaching HR leaders about AI. We’re helping them develop the organizational fluency to lead transformation from the inside out. The combination of rigorous academic thinking and genuine practitioner expertise is what makes this program distinctive.

Noah Askin, PhD · Associate Professor & Faculty Director, Leadership Development Institute, UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business

Forbes Human Resources Council 01 — Council Contributions

Selected to weigh in on the questions HR is wrestling with.

The Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for senior HR executives. Recent featured contributions, plus the back catalog.

Forbes May 8, 2026

12 Tips For Balancing Hiring Speed With Talent Quality

Speed and quality come down to discipline in the process. Clear role definition and a focused job description set the foundation, while structured interviews with defined roles keep decisions consistent. That balance prevents bias and keeps hiring efficient as you scale.
Talent Acquisition Read on Forbes
Forbes May 8, 2026

14 Ways To Adjust Compensation During Economic Uncertainty

In a downturn, compensation has to be more than salary; it needs to feel like a full value exchange. Strong benefits, growth opportunities and recognition create stability when cash is tight. When employees feel invested in, they stay engaged and help the business push through volatility.
Compensation Read on Forbes

More from the Forbes Council

02 — Product Milestones

Building the products HR teams actually need.

Konnect ships infrastructure, not just advice. From AI assistants to learning systems, each release is a step toward the full operating model.

September 17, 2025 · BusinessWire

The launch of KonnectAi.

A human-centered AI assistant set to transform HR support.

In September 2025, Konnect introduced Sophie — an AI-powered HR assistant designed to give time back to overstretched HR teams. The first integrated AI service offering for HR professionals, the launch was picked up by the Los Angeles Times and across financial and HR technology press.

We’re not replacing HR. We’re empowering HR.
Read the full release
Featured
Los Angeles Times Nov 16, 2025

Konnect Launches Sophie: An AI HR Assistant

By Paul Williams, Contributor

With KonnectAi, HR teams can bridge the gap between responsiveness and humanity by taking care of repetitive tasks so HR professionals can focus on what really matters: their people. Jamie Viramontes — Los Angeles Times
★ LA Times C-Suite Business Visionary Read in LA Times

November 15, 2023 · PR Newswire

The launch of KonnectEd.

Rescue retention rates with a custom learning platform.

Konnect’s centralized learning hub launched in late 2023 — helping organizations create stronger, more engaged leaders through self-paced courses on leadership, management, and compliance, curated by Konnect’s leadership team. Within weeks, organizations of any size can have a customized learning management system deployed nationally.

Read the announcement

Konnect perspective

As the business environment continues to evolve, employee retention is an area of increasing importance for business leaders and our clients are paying attention. Leaders need easy solutions with quick implementation to track compliance, while simultaneously fostering professional development goals, especially at the manager level.

Jamie Viramontes · Founder & CEO, Konnect

Operations perspective

Learning is a human-centered function that is a crucial part of bringing value to organizations by hiring, training and developing its people. Through KonnectED, organizations can provide a virtual experience building talent capabilities while creating a more engaged and agile workforce.

Jessica Stones · COO, Konnect

03 — Partnerships & Client Wins

The proof is in the partnership.

Konnect partners with private equity-backed operating companies and consumer brands to build HR infrastructure that scales.

October 9, 2024 · BusinessWire

Konnect Secures Rubio’s Restaurant Group Account.

Multi-year partnership with TREW Capital Management to deliver comprehensive HR services and a learning management platform across Rubio’s 85 restaurant locations — including standardized HR infrastructure, employee relations, payroll, benefits administration, and tailored training programs through KonnectEd.

85 Locations
2,000+ Employees
3 States CA · NV · AZ
Read the announcement

Client perspective

We are excited to partner with Konnect to provide industry-leading HR services and an innovative learning platform to our Rubio’s team.

Jeff Crivello · Owner, Rubio’s Restaurant Group

Konnect perspective

HR has the power to shape culture, build trust, and elevate the entire organization. We are excited to partner with Rubio’s Restaurant Group to bring ‘best in class’ HR services that will help fuel this new chapter for Rubio’s.

Jamie Viramontes · Founder & CEO, Konnect

04 — Expert Commentary

Featured commentary on the work of HR.

Trade press and industry outlets regularly call on Jamie for perspective on layoffs, leadership, employee experience, and the evolving role of HR.

People Managing People Mar 27, 2026

Insights and Trends from Transform 2026

Don’t let perfect get in the way of great. Maybe you haven’t updated your handbook in two years, but start picking things off one at a time.
Read the recap
HR Dive Jan 22, 2024

Empathetic exits: How to avoid missteps during layoffs

Companies are taking the remote model too far. People should still be treated with respect and dignity no matter how the company operates.
Read on HR Dive
HR Dive Nov 6, 2023

Lead by listening: How HR leaders can impact the unexpected employee experience

If you don’t check in, you’re sending a strong message that could be interpreted as not caring about your people. That could be very damaging to your relationship with your team and to your company culture.
Read on HR Dive
HR Dive Sep 5, 2023

Summer is over. Now what? Leveraging seasonality to your advantage

Leaders must recognize that they need different strategies to manage employees who work remotely, hybrid, or in person. Those employees, regardless of where they sit, have significantly different expectations than they did a few years ago.
Read on HR Dive
SHRM Executive Network Apr 4, 2023

Bigger Pond: Seven Transition Tips for Leaders Moving to Larger Companies

When working for large companies, you’re constantly having to get buy-in from other leaders across the organization. It’s much more difficult to steer an initiative across the finish line if you have other leaders working against you due to competing priorities and opinions.
Read on SHRM
05 — Recognition & Affiliations

Recognized by peers and institutions.

Beyond the press, Jamie’s work has been recognized through awards nominations, leadership appointments, and speaking invitations across business education and industry forums.

UCI

University of California, Irvine

Trustee — UC Irvine Foundation

Ex-Officio · Representing the Paul Merage School of Business · 2026–2028

Appointed by Foundation Chair Gary J. Singer to serve as the Merage School’s representative on the UC Irvine Foundation Board of Trustees — the philanthropic governance body supporting UC Irvine’s mission of excellence in teaching, research, and public service.

About the Foundation →
VC

UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business

Vice Chair, Dean’s Leadership Circle

Annual giving society for executive alumni

Vice Chair of the DLC, the premier philanthropic and advisory body of the Merage School — supporting student grants, faculty research, and the next generation of business leaders.

About the DLC →
★

LA Times · OC Executive Awards

Nominee — CEO of the Year

Orange County, California · 2025

Recognized by the Los Angeles Times among Orange County’s top executives for leadership and business impact across the region. Featured in the 2025 OC Executive Forum & Leadership Awards magazine.

View nomination → Read in the magazine →
B

UCI Black Management Association

Speaker — innovate26

Black Innovation Summit · May 1, 2026

Featured panelist alongside leaders from PIMCO, Pacific Harbor Line, and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals at the BMA’s 6th annual conference: Unstoppable Excellence.

View summit →
06 — Podcast

Selected conversations.

Long-form conversations on building people-first cultures and the ROI of getting HR right.

Building People-First Cultures to Attract and Retain Top Talent

DEO Growth Secrets — Episode 207 · with Jake Puhl, CEO of the Dentist Entrepreneur Organization

Listen
Media Inquiries

Working on a story?

For interview requests, expert commentary, speaking engagements, or product briefings.

Press & Media Relations

Cheri Quigley

Fernleaf Marketing — for Konnect

cheri.quigley@fernleafmarketing.com 949 · 842 · 7371