Spring 2020 Speakers

Keynote – 7:45-8:45 AM

Keynote Description

Like most people, David Woods Bartley has seen his fair share of successes and setbacks; from directing a nationally recognized nonprofit to battling a life-threatening mental illness. But over the last seven years, David has successfully navigated from the isolation of mental “hellness” to the inclusive space of mental wellness.

Currently, David is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the International Association for Youth Mental Health, the National Storytelling Network’s Healing Story Alliance, and Active Minds.

David holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid for Adults and Youth, SafeTALK (Suicide Awareness for Everyone), and is a national trainer for the groundbreaking suicide prevention technique known as QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer).

David has been invited to speak before a wide range of domestic and international audiences, giving keynote speeches and leading workshops on a variety of aspects of mental health, including suicide awareness and prevention, the power of connection to create hope, and the use of language as a tool for healing.

In addition to giving a TEDx talk in the fall of 2018, David has been invited to present to organizations such as the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, Novartis, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Lyft, Sutter Health, Vision Service Plan, the University of Connecticut, the California Northstate School of Medicine, UC Davis, Sacramento State, William Jessup University, along with various faith denominations, law enforcement agencies and community organizations at the local, state and national level.

David’s goal for each speech and workshop is the same: to shed light on the issue of mental illness, teach people how to leverage curiosity to overcome our fears and use connection to create hope.

Judge Scott J. Beattie was appointed to the bench in 2018 by Governor Kim Reynolds. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cedarville College in 1989 and his law degree with honors from Drake University in 1992. Before taking the bench, Judge Beattie served on active duty with the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Des Moines, and as a partner with the law firm of Peddicord Wharton LLP. While with Peddicord Wharton, Judge Beattie practiced in the areas of civil and employment litigation. Judge Beattie is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Polk County Bar Association, and the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is married and has three sons.

I am Executive Director of the Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence, and founder of Creative Solutions Group.

I have spent the last 25 years working and consulting in manufacturing, technology, education and health care industries.  In my professional career I have been in roles such as QA Manager, CI Manager, Organizational Development, Human Resources, SVP Quality & Improvement, and Chief Improvement Officer.

My goal is to use customer centric focus and facilitation techniques to optimize performance of the individual, department, leaders, and organization.  My passion is working with people to aid them in reaching their full potential

More details can be viewed at: www.linkedin.com/in/burgy

Heather is a compassionate leader with a heart for the underdog. Serving as the Program Compliance Manager for the Central Workforce Development Board, she oversees the partnership with the Missouri Department of Corrections in assisting justice-involved individuals with pre-employment services and intensive career counseling prior to, during, and post transition into Missouri’s workforce. Heather enjoys spending time with her two kiddos and cuddling up next to the fireplace with a good book in the wintertime.

Emily Cantwell is a litigation attorney whose practice focuses on business litigation, specifically in the areas of commercial, banking and real estate litigation, loan enforcement, employment, title disputes, and mechanic’s liens.

Business Litigation. In her representation of businesses, Emily handles all aspects of civil, commercial and real estate litigation matters. This includes all aspects of the case, from inception, to fact gathering, to completion. Her representation of her clients is founded on the ideas of superior service and the best possible results.    

Financial Institutions. Emily represents financial institutions, protecting and enforcing their rights through litigation of breach of contract actions, asset protection and other matters involving real estate and loan collateral.

Labor & Employment Law. Through her practice, Emily assists entities in navigating the employment law process, from the administrative level up to and including litigation. She serves as counsel in the defense of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour and other employment lawsuits, mediations and arbitrations. Additionally, she advises employers on daily human resources matters, including labor relations, non-compete issues and helps to conduct investigations of employee complaints.

Prior to her joining Lathrop Gage, Emily served as a congressional intern in the U.S. House of Representatives, as a communications intern for a non-profit organization, and as both a teaching assistant and faculty fellow at Saint Louis University and its School of Law, respectively.

Gail is a Future focused, hope based, energy engager! She now guides clients-including Wells Fargo, St. Jude Medical, Abbott, American Heart Association, Missouri Vein Associates, and the Community Foundation of the Lake in shortening the sales leadership gap. Heart Work Inspires focuses on capturing the Hearts of individuals and teams, while holding them accountable!

Hope and encouragement are still key players in the market. If individuals don’t know Why they want to help others take action, then they can not lead them through how to take action. Gail helps remove obstacles and barriers to personal and professional success. Shortening the sales leadership gap builds sales performance, competency and situational knowledge. In her executive coaching, leadership consulting, and keynote presentations, Gail calls you to be Transformational! Gail can help your team have transparent conversations to drive results and impact lives. Let’s maximize your impact!

Thomas R. Chibnall is an associate in the St. Louis, Missouri, office of Ogletree Deakins. He represents and counsels clients of all sizes in a variety of employment related matters before both state and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies, including the Missouri Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR), the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Tom is experienced in the phases of discovery, trial preparation, and negotiation of settlements. Tom handles matters involving discrimination. retaliation. whistleblowing, and many other employment-related matters.

Tom represents clients in a variety of employment litigation matters, including claims arising under Title VII, disability claims under Title ill, and claims arising under state law employment statutes. Tom also represents and assists clients in investigations, complains, and appeals addressing environmental and work safety conditions under federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Acts and regulations. Also experienced in traditional labor matters, Tom has represented clients in labor arbitrations, union organizing campaigns, and has provided union avoidance and traditional labor relations training for clients. Tom also has experience in counseling and representing clients in the business immigration needs such as Specialty Occupation (H-1B) visas and Permanent Resident statutes (Green Cards) for employees of corporate clients.

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Tom was an associate at a national labor and employment firm. During law school, Tom clerked for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company in St. Louis, participating in the Mergers and Acquisitions department, as well as the company’s real estate, environmental and immigration departments. He also served as a judicial extern to the Hon. Gary M. Gaertner, Jr. of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and as an intern in the Office of the General Counsel of Saint Louis University.

Sarah Davidson is the Director of Human Resources at Roeslein & Associates, an international engineering, manufacturing, and construction firm with 8 entities and over 650 employees, since joining them in 2013 they have tripled in size and have no plans to slow down.  Prior to Roeslein, Sarah served in HR and Safety leadership positions with manufacturing, logistics, and environmental companies.  She holds her PHR, SHRM-CP, and is currently working towards her California credential with SHRM.

Rex P. Fennessey represents the interests of employers in all areas of labor and employment law. Prior to joining McMahon Berger, Mr. Fennessey served for six years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri, where he defended the interests of the State, its agencies, and its elected and appointed officials in civil rights, employment discrimination, education law, and professional licensing matters.

His current practice includes all facets of employment law, including employment discrimination cases under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Missouri and Illinois Human Rights Acts.  Mr. Fennessey also routinely represents both public and private employers in cases brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and state wage and hour laws; such as the Missouri Minimum Wage Law, the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act.  Mr. Fennessey is recognized in the field of wage and hour litigation and has extensive experience representing employers in complex class action lawsuits.

Mr. Fennessey litigates before administrative agencies, Missouri and Illinois circuit courts, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern and Western District, the Missouri Supreme Court, both United States District Courts in Missouri, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Southern Division of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Mr. Fennessey further represents employers in U.S. Department of Labor investigations and audits, and represents management before the National Labor Relations Board in representation matters and unfair labor practice charges.

Mr. Fennessey is a sought-after speaker for companies and organizations on a broad range of employment topics.  His many presentations include wage-and-hour compliance, how employers can systematically handle complicated ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation leave issues, garnishments, and other constantly developing federal and state labor laws.

Mr. Fennessey is recognized for his experience guiding new and existing non-profit organizations on a broad range of issues, and regularly assists these clients in obtaining 501(c) exemption recognition before the Internal Revenue Service.

Kent joined Bukaty Companies with 30 years of experience building, running and consulting for companies ranging from small to Fortune 500. He understands what it takes to design an employee benefits program that is attractive to both employers and employees. With all his talents in the finance and operations world, Kent works diligently to provide solutions across the nation the many services Bukaty Companies can assist companies and executives with — Group Health Insurance, Commercial P&C, HIPAA compliance, COBRA administration and payroll, to mention a few.  By keeping the client’s needs as the driver, Kent implements a strategy that allows his clients to stay focused on what they do best.  His new clients have been averaging over a $1,600 per year savings per employee… and they now have better benefits.

Kent graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia, with a combined degree in Marketing/ Management/ Public Relations.  

Jason Herman has over 15 years of organizational development experience, including 10 years at a Fortune 100 company. He has spent the last 3 years at MU Health Care as an Organizational Development Specialist leading workforce development and talent management strategies.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and learning about cultures while traveling. He also enjoys a good story whether it be told through book, song, movie or the stage. He likes to incorporate his love for story into presentations and training sessions.

Jordan grew up in Tampa, Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Legal Studies. Jordan then earned her Juris Doctor degree at Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 2016. While in law school, Jordan was a Cordell Hull Teaching Fellow and was a member of the Judge James Edwin Horton Inn of Court.

Prior to joining VBM, Jordan practiced insurance defense for a wide variety of clients in Alabama handling workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and other insurance defense matters and later contract management and contract negotiations as in house counsel for a  Missouri engineering contracting company.

In her free time, Jordan enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with friends and family. Jordan is also an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Jordan is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and is admitted to practice in Missouri and Alabama courts.