Conference Schedule
Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Please be advised this schedule may be subject to change.

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Wednesday, May 17, 2023

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Business

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION – Evolving Workplaces to create Exceptional Experiences & Results
Jessica Tietjen

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Many workplaces today are facing market and economic challenges while simultaneously struggling with decreased employee engagement, happiness, and well-being which is leading to more instances of turnover and quiet quitting. Meanwhile, people everywhere are dealing with record levels of stress, overwhelm, and burnout caused by the current sociopolitical environment, information overload, and the increasing rate of change, especially technology. People today are not equipped with the necessary performance capabilities to successfully navigate the challenges we are facing in the world today. These current challenges are the direct result of our historical and traditional approaches to workplace culture and performance.

Many workplaces have operated with systems and structures designed to treat employees more like parts of a machine than living beings. To create exceptional experiences and results, we must evolve our workplace cultures. Workplaces must update their systems and structures by implementing practices that evolve and optimize the performance of their people. To do so successfully, performance practices must go beyond surface level behavior change and instead facilitate transformational change and growth that occur on a neurological and physiological level.


Jessica Tietjen, J.D.

Jessica Tietjen, J.D., formerly a corporate executive operations leader (of HR, IT, OM, CS, Legal), is a speaker, lawyer, certified mBIT and Gallup Strengths Coach, author, podcast host, business/HR consultant, and founder of Evolving to Exceptional. Jessica created award-winning performance and leadership programs, authored three books, and developed two performance apps. She partners closely with businesses to improve their talent strategies and practices. Jessica’s programs integrate neuroscience-based techniques to ensure lasting performance transformations are the result. They also address the whole person by applying the same effective performance framework to a person’s roles at work and home.

SESSION 1

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM

Business

Compliance, Culture & Collaboration – Are you Part of the Equation?
Rhonda Travers

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Do you participate in strategic discussions regarding organizational culture and compliance matters with other company leaders? Or are you consistently reacting to situations relating to regulatory requirements or company policies and putting out fires?

Today’s environment has compounded the number of competing priorities for every organization. It is important for organizations to align culture, compliance, and communication between their key business leaders, including HR. During this session, Rhonda Travers, Founder & President of Travers Training & Consulting, will help you:

• Recognize the relationship between company culture and compliance
• Understand how to align HR-related compliance risks to your organization’s priorities
• Discover methods to collaborate with key business leaders so you are part of the compliance equation within your organization


Rhonda Travers

Rhonda Travers is a business-oriented leader recognized for making a positive impact, building teams and talent, and driving results.  As Founder & President of Travers Training & Consulting, she helps businesses and nonprofits overcome employee turnover and manager fatigue by creating a productive and engaged workplace. Rhonda leverages her 30 years of corporate leadership and compliance experience to share her unique approach to training and process improvement through People Advisory Services, Training Workshops, Leadership Development, and Speaking Engagements.

Rhonda is also committed to making a difference through positive community development. She has fulfilled  volunteer leadership roles over 17 years including the St. Louis Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Board of Governors, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Women’s Leadership Network Steering Committee, American Club Association (ACA) Chesterfield Business Club, Little Black Book – Women in Business, and the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Event Leadership Team.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Millikin University, Rhonda completed the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), as well as Master Practitioner and Certified Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) certifications.

HR (General)

Walking Through the Weeds:  Trends, Testing and Techniques for effective workplace drug and alcohol testing
John Throckmorton

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An overview of the benefits, procedures, and protocols of establishing, evaluating, and implementing a Drug-Free Workplace Program. We will discuss such topics as Amendment 3, policies, testing methodologies, supervisory and employee training requirements, as well as applicable federal and state regulations.

1. Be able to identify steps for development and implementation of a drug and alcohol testing policy
2. Know recent trends in controlled substance use and misuse
3. Understand options in drug and alcohol testing methodology
4. Learn an employer’s responsibility for compliance with state and federal regulations, as applicable
5. Be able to define training requirements for employees and supervisors
6. Recognize the potential impact and benefits of a Drug-Free Workplace


John Throckmorton
Senior Trainer Consultant
Tomo Drug Testing

John Throckmorton is a Senior Trainer Consultant with Tomo Drug Testing. He has been with Tomo since December 2000, serving as a collection technician, field manager, breath alcohol and drug collection trainer, operations manager and account executive.  Often referred to as “JT”, John has assisted businesses with the development and implementation of substance misuse testing programs as well as program reviews for compliance with State and Federal regulations. As a Senior Training Consultant, John annually conducts over 100 educational training seminars and webinars. John is a graduate of Baptist Bible College where he met Carol, his wife of 43 years. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. John has been involved in public speaking for over 45 years.

Business

The Power of the Awareness Quotient
Jenn Peterson

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When we drive – we know what our cars can do, and we know where our blind spots are. But do you know the extent of your personal power? The extent of your organizational leadership’s power? The extent of your organizational power? And do you know where your professional the blind spots are?

Many people don’t really know themselves. And Carter Cast, professor of business management for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University says we have “blind spots because most of us have a hard time being objective about ourselves and our organizations.”

Outcomes:
1. Identify their personal strengths and blind spots
2. Identify their organizational strengths and blind spots
3. Assist staff, leadership, and others in identifying their personal strengths and blind spots.
4. Learn how to maximize strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Weaknesses of your employees, your leadership team, your organization, and yourself.


Jenn Peterson
Talent Optimization Consultant
BecomeMore Group

Jenn has an extensive career in design and sales focused on aligning solutions to the needs of her clients.  Jen is a Talent Optimization Consultant with The BecomeMore Group and leverages her experience and passion for working with organizations and individuals to level-up and be the best they can be through hiring top talent, aligning strategy and building dream teams. 

9:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Business

Talent Management as an Integrated Organizational Strategy
Daryl Smith

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Organizations require an integrated approach to Talent Management to align with their overall business strategy. Organizations need to maximize their efforts in recruiting, retaining, and developing the knowledge, skills and abilities that will support the organizations strategic goals and initiatives. A strategic approach to Talent Management creates business success through increased revenue, growth and retaining and attracting top talent. In this session, participants will:
• learn about strategic planning tools and processes, and how to use them
• learn how to build a Strategy Map that includes Talent Management as a key driver to business success

Participants will leave the session with a Strategy Map that they create which includes details on how Talent Management contributes to the overall strategy. Specifically, it will show how Talent Management (owned by all leaders; not just HR/People Ops) contributes to key metrics, i.e., sales growth/revenue, profit / profit margin, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, product development, etc. It will also allow participants to think about which new initiatives will help improve the organization’s key metrics.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector


L. Daryl Smith

A recognized executive with 30 years of experience, Daryl Smith has the unique ability to apply progressive organizational and talent management strategies that consistently create value. He has a consistent track record of success in several industries, including manufacturing, sales and distribution, telecommunications and financial services. His early career included fiscal and operational assignments. He attributes these early experiences to helping shape his broad and comprehensive view of organizations.

With a reputation for creating award-winning workplaces. He is skilled in leading and facilitating cost-saving strategies including lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, systems thinking and TQM; and in improving employee engagement.

His past career assignments include: SVP Global Human Resources at ESPN / ABC Media Networks, VP Human Resources & Training at ARAMARK/Galls and VP Human Resources & Training at Cox Communications.

Today, Daryl is an award-winning teaching professor at the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri.  His areas of teaching include various courses in HR/OB. Daryl has received campus and national teaching awards, as well as awards for advising and service.

He has effectively served on over fifty (50) boards, including industry associations and non-profits.  He is passionate about causes relative to education, youth, diversity, people with disabilities and families in crisis.

Daryl holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia MO and a Master’s in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis MO.  He has completed executive education programs at Cornell University in Ithaca NY and Stanford University in Palo Alto CA.

SESSION 2

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Business

Play your hand: Lessons from Poker to Optimize Life
Steve Fredlund

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Lessons from the Felt: What Poker Teaches Us About Work and about Life

Steve Fredlund is a long-time recreational poker player with more than 30 casino tournament wins and the founder of RecPoker. Through entertaining stories and observations, he reveals the valuable lessons learned from poker and how we can apply them to any game we play… to our work and to our lives.

After the talk, the audience will:
1. Have a greater understanding of the risk-reward trade off in making life/work decisions
2. Recognize there are different overall strategies which impact every decision and outcome
3. Learn the importance of being fully present
4. Understanding the impact of variance on decision making and results
5. Learn to read those at the table and always make sure you have a seat.


Steve Fredlund

Steve Fredlund (The Safari Dude) has thirty years of diverse leadership success, from Minnesota to Rwanda, nonprofits to corporations, and start-ups to Fortune 500s. His work in human resources analytics uncovered the surprising drivers of productivity, engagement and retention, the most critical people-based factors impacting organizational success. His insights and methodology are fundamentally transforming how leaders build powerful teams. Steve earned an MBA and fellowship in the Society of Actuaries; he is a two-time TEDx speaker passionate about disc golf, poker and trying to stay a loyal Minnesota sports fan.

Business

Learn Marketing From A GenZ’er
Carolyn B. Thompson / Caitlyn Bishop

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Let’s take a moment to understand digital marketing from a GenZer perspective; why would this be important for you to understand? The upcoming generation is coming, and it’s coming stronger than ever before. Why not take this time to learn from a young professional who has been in the space and has a proven track record of growing companies with these fundamental strategies? Take this, run with it; and grow your brand.

Learn Marketing From A GenZ’er

• Let’s Understand The Fundamentals Of Digital Marketing/Myth Busting.
• Let’s Understand The Fundamental Of Your Brand & Branding.
• Apply Your Digital Marketing Strategy * Without Going Blind*
• Applying Your Organizational Brand *Without Going Blind*


Carolyn B. Thompson
President
Training Systems, Inc.

Carolyn B. Thompson is President of , a customized performance improvement and HR consulting company dedicated to helping small and medium sized organizations enhance their ability to recruit, inspire and retain quality employees and improve performance
through training. also provides training design and delivery services to training companies, the training departments of large companies and trade &. professional associations. Carolyn is responsible for marketing and helping clients determine the best methods for achieving their performance needs.

She’s also thrilled to do lots of keynotes and her style is highly interactive, including many hands-on learning methods no matter how huge the group! Carolyn has facilitated sessions throughout the country for trade/professional associations and small, medium and large companies, both for profit and non-profit. Over the past fifteen years she has worked with tens of thousands of people from students to entry level staff to managers at all levels.


Caitlyn Bishop
Lake Life Nutrition
Owner

19 year old – Owner of Lake Life Nutrition in Greenview, Missouri. I take pride in giving back and providing for the area that I grew up in. At Lake Life Nutrition we are all about a healthy active lifestyle, on a day to day basis, my main focus is impacting my communities health and wellbeing. Whether that’s simply a healthy meal option or joining in on our Mind, Body, Soul Transformations.

Business

The Mess of Stress: Reduce and Use Stress to Your Advantage
Kelli Risse

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Chronic stress is a national epidemic causing burnout, high employee turnover and low employee engagement. Sadly, the negative effects of stress are widespread and growing in the workplace causing employee conflict, low productivity, and quiet quitting. Stress affects organizational culture and productivity on a daily basis.

During this presentation, you’ll learn strategies to reduce stress and use it to its advantage so employee engagement, productivity, and organizational culture increases.

Learning Points:
• Understand the major impact of unmanaged stress in the workplace
• See how different stress personalities cause employee conflict and low productivity
• Determine the right mindset and stress-management tools to reduce turnover and conflict and increase employee engagement and productivity.
• Learn ways to make stress reduction part of your strategy at all levels of your organization.


Kelli Risse
Founder and CEO
Rise Up and Live Wellness

Kelli Risse works with overstressed high-performing professionals who are pulled in too many directions use stress to their advantage.

Kelli is the founder and CEO of Rise Up and Live Wellness. She is a contributing author in the Amazon International Best Seller “Fearless and Fabulous,” and the podcast host of “Winning In Business.”

She is a master coach in neuroscience, mindset, and behaviors with multiple certifications.

Through her speaking engagements and private coaching business, Kelli has helped hundreds of people navigate stress, increase focus and productivity, avoid burnout, and move to the next level of success.

LUNCH & NETWORKING

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

SESSION 3

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

HR (General)

How to balance premiums with great benefits
Kent Friend

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Most employees desire employer subsidized health care benefits, but many employees believe that offering insurance benefits is just not in the cards. This session will educate you on the options available to you on how to save money and still offer a great insurance benefits platform. explore ways to balance your premium dollars with great benefits.

• Attendees will learn how to improve/design their insurance benefits platform to save money and attract/ retain talent

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector


Kent Friend
National Strategic Benefit Consultant
Bukaty Companies

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 is a seasoned public speaker on multiple topics and is known a ones of the nation’s leading expert on Wellness programs, Contributions Strategies, Strategic Plan Design, Direct Contracting and Cost Containment programs. No one brings more passion to their clients than he does.  Kent and his team deliver a world class benefit / insurance experience -so his clients can stay focused on running their company. 

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

Licensed in Life & Health / Commercial Property & Casualty 

Verticals

 All companies over 10 employees – Associations, Auto, Banks, Churches, Construction, Distribution, Food Industry, Gaming and Hospitality, Manufacturing, Marine, Medical providers, Public, Schools, Utilities, 501-c3’s.

Business

Ripped from the Headlines: Employment Law Stories from Real Cases
Andrew Metcalf

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In this session, we’ll review employment lawsuits and regulatory actions from the past year alleging workplace discrimination, harassment, and wage-and-hour violations. We’ll cover situations that led to big courtroom “wins” and “losses” for employers and talk about the lessons that can be learned. Don’t miss this interactive discussion on the latest developments and risk areas for employers in 2023!
• Sharpen your understanding of operational decisions that are more likely to present risk to employers.
• Explore steps employers can take to reduce risk associated with certain decisions.
• Learn to identify fact patterns that more commonly lead to litigation of a workplace decision.
• Enhance communication and documentation efforts to be able to explain the legitimate reasons that motivated workplace decisions.


Andrew Metcalf
Employment Law Counsel
Human Interest Inc.

Andrew Metcalf is Employment Law Counsel for Human Interest Inc., a company that provides affordable and easy-to-administer 401(k) and 403(b) retirement solutions for employers. In that role, Andrew contributes to the company’s workforce compliance efforts, including leave administration, payroll, and workforce management. Prior to his current role, Andrew was a Shareholder at a national employment law firm.

 Presentations

2023 Legal Update

Time for your legal update! The past few years have brought no shortage of critical labor and employment developments that employers should be aware of. Come learn about them in this interactive discussion about workplace legal obligations in 2023 and beyond!

Ripped from the Headlines: Employment Law Stories from Real Cases

In this session, we’ll review employment lawsuits and regulatory actions from the past year alleging workplace discrimination, harassment, and wage-and-hour violations. We’ll cover situations that led to big courtroom “wins” and “losses” for employers and talk about the lessons that can be learned. Don’t miss this interactive discussion on the latest developments and risk areas for employers in 2023!

Law School for HR Professionals

Welcome to class! HR professionals wear many hats. They serve as workplace counselors, mediators of disputes, and occasionally, they contribute to legal matters. In this session, let’s head to law school and learn how legal disputes play out in court. Attendees will leave the session with a detailed knowledge of legal procedure as it applies to HR matters. After this session, if your company faces a legal hurdle, you’ll know what to expect and how it might be handled!

Audit your HRIS: How to Make Sure your Systems are Compliant with Labor and Employment Laws

Human Resources information systems make our lives so much easier. But how can we make sure they’re legally compliant? In this session, we’ll review some key aspects of pay, records management, and leave management. Attendees will leave with a checklist of items to review in their systems.

Business

Salary Disclosure, Remote Work and Lunch Breaks, Oh my! Updates in Employment Law 2023
Emily Cantwell/Ellen Rudolph

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Speaker Emily Cantwell will discuss the rapidly changing landscape of salary transparency, remote work, and break and leave laws affecting employers in Missouri and beyond. She will address what obligations Missouri employers currently have, and what obligations they may expect to have in the future. Additionally, Emily will share her thoughts on the nationwide trends in these areas, how they may continue to evolve in the coming years, and how they may impact business as we know it.
Learning Objective
• Salary Disclosure Trends
• Remote Work Trends
• Updates on break laws, leave laws, etc


Emily Cantwell
Partner
Lathrop GPM

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. Emily serves as the Partner in Charge of the firm’s St. Louis office.

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.

Receiverships. Emily has handled multiple receiverships for her clients, ranging from small commercial properties to expansive multiunit buildings. Serving as counsel for both lending institutions and the receivers, Emily is well versed in the requirements and issues surrounding this unique remedy available to her clients.

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 the firm, 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.


Ellen Rudolph
Employment Attorney
Lathrop GPM

Ellen Rudolph is an employment attorney at the Lathrop GPM law firm. She works with employers of all sizes to defend claims of discrimination (including age, gender, race, religion, disability) and retaliation. Ellen has extensive litigation experience in state and federal court, and she also represents employers before various state and federal administrative agencies. Ellen also counsels her clients on a broad range of human resources issues including discipline and discharge, personnel policies, family and medical leave, disability accommodations, and workplace investigations.

CERTIFICATE SESSION

1:30 PM – 3:45 PM

Business

Why we should not….allow these Big 3 to control our workplace
Reggie Harris

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This will be an “in your face” session that will challenge us and make us uncomfortable. It will also grow us and help us solve problems, be relatable, move thru tasks and issues with more of a balanced approach. We develop and have tools to train others to eliminate the need to dominate and remove the feeling of not being heard. We will get to the core of the human experience and why it is important to embrace the task, goal, success, and doing what’s best for all, not a particular group.

* Effective and Efficient Workplace Environment
* Dealing with Conflict and Differences Effectively
* Proper Communication
* Preventing Turnover and Problems in the Workplace
* Less Money in Settlements/ Lawsuits / Training/ New Hires


Reggie Harris

  • Graduate and Former Football Player for the MISSISSIPPI STATE Bulldogs #hailstate
  • Former High School Biology, AP Biology Teacher, Football, Baseball, Track, Strength & Conditioning Coach
  • Banking Industry for 9 years
  • 7 ABA Certifications
  • Fitness & Yoga Enthusiast, & Fitness Instructor
  • Traveler and Philanthropist
  • Applications Trainer | Jack Henry & Associates, Inc

Reggie is Mississippi Boy, born and raised who moved to Missouri 11 years ago.  He known for his holistic and enthusiastic approach to presenting, facilitating, consulting and coaching.  He has a wide variety of experiences with people and organizations that has shaped and molded his approach

Reggie has been trained in a variety of presentation methods, personality assessments, emotional intelligence, time management, company culture, diversity and inclusion, strength finders and with his background as an educator, he has developed a unique approach to solving problems

SESSION 4

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

HR (General)

Navigating Employment Issues under Missouri’s Marijuana law
Thomas Chibnall/Sean Oliveira

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With Missouri’s recent passage of new marijuana laws, employers are now faced with certain issues of marijuana use that can affect the workplace. Understanding how recreational and medical marijuana laws affect Missouri employers can help you better address workplace issues before they arise and when they occur.

Learning objectives –
• understand Missouri’s Amendment 3 and its application to and effect upon the workplace;
• understand making personnel decisions concerning marijuana for both recreational and medical use;
• learn how drug testing and background checks may be affected by Amendment 3.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector


Thomas Chibnall

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 Tide VII, disability claims under Title HI, and claims arising under state law employment statutes. Tom is an experienced litigator, having conducted several jury and bench trials in federal and state courts. Tom also specializes in workplace safety law, as he represents and assists clients in investigations, complaints, and appeals addressing environmental and work safety conditions under federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Acts and regulations as well as under the Mine Safety and Health Act. 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.

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.


Sean Oliveira

Sean Oliveira is an associate in the St. Louis office of Ogletree Deakins. He joins the firm with nearly fifteen years of experience as a federal investigator with the EEOC. During his time as an investigator, he handled all aspects of the administrative process including systemic and class investigations and the negotiation of complex conciliations under every type of discrimination claim. That experience has given him expertise in practicing before state and federal agencies such as the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

A California, Bay Area native, Sean received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Philosophy from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He graduated with an employment law concentration from St. Louis University School of Law and acted as Articles Editor with the ABA Labor and Employment Law Journal.

Sean previously lived in Paris for a year teaching English.

HR (General)

Are Accidents Really Accidents?
Mark Woodward/Terri Sweeten

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When an employee is injured is it really an accident, or could the outcome have been predicted before the injury occurred? We’ll take a look into why employees get injured and how to prevent the accident before it happens. Case scenarios will be presented on what could have been done to prevent the accident, how to properly manage the claim after an injury, and the costs associated with workers compensation claims. MEM presenters will focus on identifying & mitigating hazards before an accident happens.

Learning Objectives:
• Instructors will review costs of preventable incidents and how they affect budgets and the bottom line
• Instructors will review the 2 components of a “loss”
• Instructors will review basic safety fundamentals that work across all industries and employers
• Instructors will review basic investigative principles
• Instructors will review claims management best practices


Mark Woodward
Senior Safety & Risk Services Trainer
Missouri Employers Mutual

Mark Woodward is the Senior Safety & Risk Services Trainer at Missouri Employers Mutual. He is responsible for conducting MEM employee and policyholder training, including customized training for associations, safety conferences and business groups.

Throughout his career, Woodward has instructed tens of thousands of Missouri employees through more than 3,000 safety and risk management classes. He has presented on a national scale, including the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds, National Safety Council’s Congress & Expo, Public Risk Management Association Conference, American Society of Safety Engineers and National Common Ground Alliance.

Woodward is a certified safety consultant through the State of Missouri and a National Safety Council CPR, First Aid and AED trainer, defensive driving instructor and OSHA Outreach Trainer for courses including: OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 in Construction. He is also President of the Missouri Chapter of the Common Ground Alliance.

Woodward has a bachelor’s in Safety Management from the University of Central Missouri and a master’s in Education from William Woods University.
He is certified through both the University of Missouri and Association for Talent Development. Woodward is a long-time active volunteer in Missouri Ore and ambulance districts as a certified firefighter and emergency medical technician.


Terri Sweeten

Terri Sweeten is a Field Services Manager at Missouri Employers Mutual. She is responsible for conducting on-site incident investigations, holding educational presentations that enhance attendees’ knowledge about the world of worker’s compensation, and conducting one-on-one meetings with MEM policyholders. Sweeten shares policies and procedures that assist policyholders in controlling their work comp claims and lowering their premium costs.

Sweeten joined MEM during its foundation in 1995. She has previously held the roles of Regional Claims Manager and Loss Prevention Consultant. She has prior experience with the Central Accident Reporting Office and Missouri Highway Patrol and Highway Department. Sweeten has dedicated her career to expanding her knowledge of Missouri worker’s compensation. She is a regular presenter at the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation, SafeCon, and Dig-Rite annual conferences.

Sweeten has extensive claims technical knowledge, effective communication skills, a background in workplace safety, and extraordinary customer service abilities. She is an excellent choice to lead your next successful seminar or speaking event.

 

Business

Business Legislation Passed in the 2023 Legislative Session
Ray McCarty

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This presentation will focus on CURRENT issues AND BILLS impacting Missouri business, how they apply to and impact your workplace, and strategies for avoiding and mitigating legal risks.
• Attendees will know bills that passed that impact their business.
• Attendees will learn of bills that were proposed that did not pass in the Session.
• Attendees will learn some behind-the-scenes information about the 2023 Legislative Session.
• Speaker will answer questions regarding bills considered in the 2023 session.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector


Ray McCarty
President and CEO
Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM)

Ray McCarty has served as president and CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM) since 2008. He also serves as the executive director of the Taxpayers Research Institute of Missouri, the tax division of AIM.

McCarty previously served various employers of Missouri and trade associations as a governmental relations consultant and in various posts in the Missouri Department of Revenue ranging from revenue agent to legislative liaison. He has worked with the Missouri legislature since 1989.

McCarty works for the benefit of AIM members, drawing upon his wealth of experience in government and working with the business community, the public and the media.

In addition to his duties at AIM, Ray is a member of the National Public Affairs Steering Committee and the Tax & Budget Policy Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers, member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, member of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition, member of the Board of Directors of Missourians for Transportation Improvement, member of the Midwest Manufacturers Association, former member of the Board of Directors of the Clay County Economic Development Council and previously chaired the Missouri Business Alliance, a group that worked to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Associated Industries of Missouri was founded in 1919 and is the oldest general trade association in Missouri. Associated Industries serves as “The Voice of Missouri Business”®, representing employers in the Missouri legislature, courts, and general public.

SESSION 5

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

HR (General)

Law School for HR Professionals
Andrew Metcalf

MORE INFO

Welcome to class! HR professionals wear many hats. They serve as workplace counselors, mediators of disputes, and occasionally, they contribute to legal matters. In this session, let’s head to law school and learn how legal disputes play out in court. Attendees will leave the session with a detailed knowledge of legal procedure as it applies to HR matters. After this session, if your company faces a legal hurdle, you’ll know what to expect and how it might be handled!

• Understand how to support internal and external counsel in legal matters.
• Learn how HR documentation is used in courts.
• Enhance your contributions at stages of the legal process that HR typically gets involved in


Andrew Metcalf
Employment Law Counsel
Human Interest Inc.

Andrew Metcalf is Employment Law Counsel for Human Interest Inc., a company that provides affordable and easy-to-administer 401(k) and 403(b) retirement solutions for employers. In that role, Andrew contributes to the company’s workforce compliance efforts, including leave administration, payroll, and workforce management. Prior to his current role, Andrew was a Shareholder at a national employment law firm.

 Presentations

2023 Legal Update

Time for your legal update! The past few years have brought no shortage of critical labor and employment developments that employers should be aware of. Come learn about them in this interactive discussion about workplace legal obligations in 2023 and beyond!

Ripped from the Headlines: Employment Law Stories from Real Cases

In this session, we’ll review employment lawsuits and regulatory actions from the past year alleging workplace discrimination, harassment, and wage-and-hour violations. We’ll cover situations that led to big courtroom “wins” and “losses” for employers and talk about the lessons that can be learned. Don’t miss this interactive discussion on the latest developments and risk areas for employers in 2023!

Law School for HR Professionals

Welcome to class! HR professionals wear many hats. They serve as workplace counselors, mediators of disputes, and occasionally, they contribute to legal matters. In this session, let’s head to law school and learn how legal disputes play out in court. Attendees will leave the session with a detailed knowledge of legal procedure as it applies to HR matters. After this session, if your company faces a legal hurdle, you’ll know what to expect and how it might be handled!

Audit your HRIS: How to Make Sure your Systems are Compliant with Labor and Employment Laws

Human Resources information systems make our lives so much easier. But how can we make sure they’re legally compliant? In this session, we’ll review some key aspects of pay, records management, and leave management. Attendees will leave with a checklist of items to review in their systems.

HR (General)

Understanding Financial Reports
Tom McNeill

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Would an improved working knowledge of financial statements benefit you? Does the fear of financial statements have you unsure of the decisions you are required to make? You are not alone. Everyday business professionals and managers are given financial data to analyze, interpret and use for decision making. And, every day, there are professionals who do not want to admit that they do not fully understand how to strategically analyze, read, and interpret the information.  As HR professionals we need to be able to, not only understand but analyze this information in order to earn our “seat at the table. 

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Have you been handed a financial statement to use in decision making, only to find yourself confused  by how your work and your department can influence the numbers?
  • Do your eyes glaze over when you are given a financial statement that you are expected to analyze and understand?

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the working dynamics of their Organizations Financial Documents.
  • Develop and interpret Financial Statements.
  • Give an overview of common financial reports that you encounter;
  • Address how to determine the impact of HR related decisions; and,
  • How to use this knowledge in the presentation of your proposals to the decision making team in your organization.

 


Tom McNeill

After graduating from Southwest Baptist University, with his degree in Business Administration, he quickly entered the real world of work. Holding finance and administration positions in the Healthcare industry for 20years, where he became very familiar with the impact of Human Relation related expenses on the financial performance of the organizations. He then moved to the Insurance industry and has continued to deal with the impacts of HR related expenditures on business operations. Tom has assisted numerous organizations with operational analysis and strategic planning guidance.

Currently he takes time to be involved in community organizations; including Camdenton Rotary Club and the Lake West Chamber of Commerce. While he enjoys many activities on and around the Lake his real passions are to watch his grandchildren’s sporting events and ride his Harley down any open road.

HR (General)

Wasted Excellence
Tammy Rogers

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Quality experts know all about the “eight types of waste”. And for many of the rest of us – we assume that this concept must be above our skill set. It must be some technical manufacturing process improvement techniques that requires a lot of analysis and match. Nope, This is a misconception.

How often have you seen people:
Spend time on the wrong priority?
Put additional effort in a project that had no return on investment?
Run down details and information that were superfluous?


Tammy Rogers

Tammy Rogers is best known for helping leaders experience “Aha” moments in order to develop new ways of thinking, new attitudes and new behaviors that transfer to the real world.

Tammy is a certified coach. She’s been instrumental in nine business start-ups. She’s held Vice President titles in both Human Resources and Operations – and has had the opportunity to lead more than 200 employees in remote offices from Boston to Los
Angeles and Minneapolis to Atlanta.

Tammy has written more than 50 internationally distributed training programs. She has worked with best-selling authors like James Autry and Bob Nelson. And she has partnered with hundreds of companies – both large and small – to help them improve results through the building of people, processes and procedures.