SHRM Connect Live: Building Member Value Through Growth, Innovation & Partnership

Mike Aitken is EVP of Membership & Communities at SHRM, following 15 years of leading SHRM’s successful advocacy programs as Vice President of Government Affairs. Mike is a leading authority on the issues important to the human resource profession and drives SHRM’s membership vision, ensuring excellent member experiences, and implementing the organization’s newly developed business strategy. He applies his proven model of engagement to shape the future of work, workers, and workplaces. He is an expert relationship-builder across diverse constituencies and stakeholders, always seeking out the “win-win” in every situation. As a member of SHRM’s executive team, Mike also plays a key role in setting the strategic direction of the organization, offering important counsel on SHRM’s educational programs and professional development opportunities. Prior to joining SHRM in 2003, he spent 14 years with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which represents more than 23,000 HR professionals at over 1,900 higher education institutions. In 2015 and 2016, Mike served as an employer representative on the U.S. delegation to the International Labour Conference.

Executive Vice President, Membership & Strategic Partnerships.

Tony currently leads SHRM’s Brand Partnerships team, overseeing Advertising and Exhibits & Sponsorship across SHRM’s events, membership, and content platforms. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing integrated partnership strategies that connect leading brands with SHRM’s global community of HR professionals, delivering value for partners while supporting SHRM’s mission and growth objectives. Previously, Tony served as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Channel Officer at ecoATM Gazelle, where he was a member of the Executive Committee and led global marketing, pricing, and channel strategy. Earlier, as Advisor to the CEO, he supported international expansion through strategic retail and sports partnerships in the UK and Germany.

Earlier in his career, Tony was President and Co-Founder of Codeblack Digital, a Lionsgate-affiliated venture, where he scaled the business through disciplined monetization, data-driven pricing, and strategic content partnerships, achieving profitability and sustained growth. He also served as Director of Sponsorship Sales at Events DC, accelerating sponsorship revenue and economic impact through customized commercial models, and as Founder and President of Maven Strategies, a boutique agency delivering sponsorship, advertising, and event-driven programs for national brands.

Tony is recognized for combining strategic creativity with financial rigor and for his ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership teams and external partners. He holds an MBA in marketing and Corporate Strategy and a BBA in Marketing from the University of Michigan.