1. business and industrial
2. business operations
3. human resources

Summary of 2009 WISHRM State Conference Programming
Pre-conference sessions are listed first, followed by an alphabetical listing of the learning sessions.
Pre-Conference Executive Session
Making Business Strategy Work: How to Align HR Concepts With Your Company’s Business
Strategy
Margie Harvey, SPHR, Miles Kimball Company
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
HR executives are constantly being told that they need to align their department’s goals with the
company's goals, but no roadmap exists on how to do that. To gain a better understanding of how to
assess the business and competitive environment, create a new vision for your firm, and identify your
organization’s key business strategies, you’ll need to know how they relate to core competencies, gap
analysis, goal alignment, and leadership development. During this session you’ll hear from the Vice
President of Human Resources at Miles Kimball Company, a leader in the catalog business, on the ways
her HR Department has become a conduit for driving business value within her organization and helped
create a positive culture that has lead to improvements in recruitment and higher rates of employee
retention.
Margie Harvey, SPHR, is Vice President of Human Resources at Miles Kimball Company in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin. She has over 25 years of experience in human resources with companies including Wisconsin
Tissue, biotech company Genencor International, Ralston Purina, and The Dial Corporation. Her
experience includes working in both union and non-union settings, starting her career as an HR Assistant
and then a supervisor in a large unionized food manufacturer. She received her BA in Business and
Economics from Iowa Wesleyan College, her MBA from Western Illinois University, and is lifetime
SPHR certified. Margie is president of the Miles Kimball Foundation, an Advisory Board member of Fox
Valley Technical College, a board member of the Oshkosh Boys & Girls Club, and a board member of the
Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center. She also leads the Business & Education Partnership subcommittee of the “New North” Wisconsin region.
Pre-Conference Legal Session
President Obama’s Tilling the Landscape of Employment and Labor Matters
Thomas P. Krukowski, Krukowski & Costello, S.C.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This session is a three-part program exploring the changing terrain of employment law issues. First, an
overview of the legal system, including the structure of the U.S. Supreme Court and how its decisions,
along with recent and proposed federal and Wisconsin legislative changes and the rise in class action
lawsuits affects employers. Next, the seeds of labor law reform have been planted. Explore the field of
changes, from the National Labor Relations Board members and decisions to union organizing, including
the Employee Free Choice Act and other legislation. Third, cultivating good employment practices yields
positive relationships with employees and reduces conflicts regarding the greatest risks facing
employers—terminations. Learn how to effectively handle termination decisions by conducting and
documenting thorough and fair investigations and using the 7 Questions, last chance agreements and
waiver and release agreements.
Thomas P. Krukowski has been practicing labor and employment law since graduating from Marquette
University Business School and Law School. Representing management exclusively, he places an
emphasis on working with employers on how to avoid unions, employment claims and lawsuits. Before
state and federal courts, Tom has successfully litigated employment discrimination cases in every area of
employment and labor law, including claims under Title VII, the ADEA, ADA, OSHA, and the NLRA,
and has effectively sought sanctions against Plaintiff-employees who brought frivolous claims against
their employer. In addition to litigation, he also emphasizes the need for corporate strategic planning, a
focus that has proven successful in matters involving union avoidance, corporate campaigns, collective
bargaining and labor relations. Tom has conducted vulnerability analyses and developed programs for
clients to avoid becoming a target of a union and has also represented employers in numerous union
organizing campaigns. In addition to our numerous programs, we publish the 1,300 page, “How To”
book, the Employment Law Manual for Wisconsin Employers, which has been described by many owners
as “The HR Bible;” and our 800 page Family and Medical Leave Act Manual for Wisconsin Employers.
Tom is admitted and licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, Supreme Court
of Wisconsin, U.S. Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the U.S. Courts of Appeal
for the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Circuits and the District of Columbia, before the U.S. Court for
the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Court for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana, before the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Supreme Court of Missouri, U.S. Court for the Eastern and Western
Districts of Missouri, before the Supreme Court of Minnesota and the Federal Court of Minnesota.
Pre-Conference Other Session
Outplacement Services for HR Professionals
Lee Hecht Harrison Consultants
Please note this session is for personal development and does not count for recertification credit as the content is not
tied to the HR Certification Institute’s body of knowledge.
“Did you know…”
Did you know that less than 15% of active Job Seekers land their next position as a result of responding
to a posted opening? Between technology, social networking and the current job market, the process for
finding your next job has changed radically. Lee Hecht Harrison, a leading provider of Career Transition
Services, is holding a free seminar for Human Resource professionals to help bring your job search into
the 21st century.
Unfortunately, having a great resume is less than half the battle. In today’s job market, it is essential that
Job Seekers take a proactive approach to understand the current market and uncover openings before they
are made public. There are two essential tools you need to make this happen; a marketing plan and great
networking skills.
LHH Consultants can help you transform your resume from a description of your Job to a description of
your Accomplishments—capturing the specific and measurable contributions you made to your
company—to distinguish you from other candidates.
Did you know that Executive Recruiters are now using Twitter to find passive job seekers? Learn about
other social networking tools that lead to new opportunities.
Please join LHH for an introduction to job hunting in the current environment. After the seminar you can
also receive one-on-one phone consulting to help make sure your resume or marketing plan is your best
marketing tool.
Analyzing Organizational Culture - Giving You the Tools to Conduct a Cultural Analysis
Allison Kisting, PHR, Travel Guard
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
By understanding our corporate culture, we can determine the relative effectiveness of the organization’s
strategies to optimize organizational performance. We can determine if employee behavior reflects what
is defined as the organizational values, in other words, “Do we walk our talk?”. We can also determine
the relationship of workforce psychological characteristics (attitudes, behavioral preferences) and work
environment attributes, such as structure and culture, and change processes with respect to performance
outcomes. We can assess culture through the use of existing survey tools or a new approach using critical
incidents. The information gained can then be utilized to determine organizational effectiveness, identify
the need for a culture shift, or simply define what makes the culture our own. In this session, you will
learn the “Critical Incident Technique” used to identify current corporate culture, analytic techniques to
perform a gap analysis, and the key components necessary to provide top leadership with ROI.
Allison Kisting, PHR, has over 9 years of human resource experience in a variety of sectors including
non-profit, manufacturing, and service. She brings a wide range of expreinces in the areas of recruitment,
talent mangement, and organizational development. She has training in project management and
organizational development. Allison has been a long time member of SHRM and has volunteered
extensively within her local Stevens Point SHRM chapter.
Assessing Human Resource Practices Alignment: Development and Evolution of a Process
Herbert Heneman & Tony Milanowski, University of Wisconsin
Audience Level–Advanced
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
The concept of human resource alignment will be introduced, and its importance to the effectiveness of
the HR function emphasized. A process for assessing human resource alignment will be presented, with
actual examples used in a successful alignment assessment. In addition, tips for conducting HR
alignment assessment will be given, along with notes of caution.
Herb Heneman is a Dickson-Bascom Professor Emeritus of Human Resources and Senior Research
Associate in the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is
the author of 3 textbooks and over 150 articles and chapters; served as past Director of Research for the
SHRM Foundation and is a past winner of the SHRM Michael R. Losey Research Award.
Tony Milanowski is a Scientist in the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. He conducts research
on human resource issues in education, focusing on teacher and principal quality improvement, as well as
measurement of teacher effectiveness. He has published extensively on these topics, and previously
worked as an HR professional for 16 years with the state of Wisconsin.
Assessments as Management Tools
Jeffrey Percival, Percival Enterprises
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Most people hear "Employee Assessments" and they immediately think about pre-employment testing.
There are a variety of assessment tools that can act as a total management system. There is a full array of
pre-employment tools, simple honesty and dependabilty tools, basic personality, job capabilities, and job
matching assessments. What kind of information would you like to have on a new employee? Wouldn't
you like an operator's manual to help ramp your new employees up faster and manage them from their
strengths? Are your supervisors "wired" to supervise? How many times have you lost a top producer
because they were promoted to their highest level of incompetence? Attend this session to learn more
about the full range of assessments available and how they can help you increase the ROI you are
receiving on your human capital investment.
Jeff Percival has owned his own company for 22 years, specializing in employee assessment tools for the
last 15 years. His clients range from in size from 2 employees to over 1000 employees. As an
independent contractor, Percival Enterprises represents 9 different vendors. Percival’s approach is to find
out what the client wants to measure in the employees and then help clients find the best tool to
accomplish it.
Becoming a Best Place to Work
Bob Swanson, SPHR
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
ProHealth Care Medical Associates (f/k/a Medical Associates Health Centers) has been recognized as
“Best in Class for Staffing, Retention and Productivity” by MGMA (2006); “National Healthcare Practice
Leader for Nursing Engagement” by HealthStream Research (2007-2008); “America’s Healthiest Places
to Work – Gold Status” by the Wellness Council of America (2007), and “Milwaukee’s Best Places to
Work” by Milwaukee Magazine (2008). In this session, Bob will discuss the vision, strategic plan,
structure and initiatives that helped the HR team achieve success and gain credibility both inside and
outside the organization. He’ll emphasize the strategic importance of HR professionals demonstrating true
business acumen, helping to remove common HR barriers to organizational success.
Bob Swanson, SPHR, is Director of Human Resources for ProHealth Care, including HR oversight for
ProHealth Care Medical Associates -- a business division with 26 clinics, 225 physicians and 1,700
employees across Southeast Wisconsin. ProHealth Care Medical Associates has achieved “Best Places to
Work” distinction from Milwaukee Magazine (2008) and earned a “One of America’s Healthiest Places to
Work – Gold Award” from WELCOA (2007). Bob’s professional career includes 17 years of HR strategy
and operations leadership in health care, financial and manufacturing settings. Bob received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Business Administration and Psychology from Marquette University and is certified as a Senior
Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). He has been active in the HR professional community as past
president of Metro-Milwaukee Society for Human Resource Management (f/k/a HRMA), past SHRM
State Conference Co-Chair, and past Wisconsin SHRM State Council Director.
Benefits in Hard Times
Cynthia Van Bogaert J.D., Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field LLP
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Employers are facing troubled economic times. What happens if employers must reduce or eliminate
employee benefits in order to survive? What protections are available to employers when an employer
must cut back? What is the best way to deal with employees upset about poor investment results in their
401(k) plans? Some employers may be in a situation in which bankruptcy filing is possible. Given the
economic conductions, even employers on sound footing may be concerned about the viability of their
service providers. This session will discuss some of the steps employers should take to protect against
troubled times, including ways to reduce benefits and the limitations that may face the employer.
Cynthia A. Van Bogaert, J.D., is the partner in the employee benefits law practice area at Boardman
Law Firm. She has helped clients with legal advice regarding the design, implementation, and
administration of all types of employee benefits plans. Cindy is a co-author of 401(k) Plans, published by
Employee Benefits Institute of America, and is author of a regular 401(k) column on BenefitsLink
(www.benefitslink.com), a national employee benefits Web site. As a faculty member of the Employee
Benefits Institute of America, Cindy has taught classes on 401(k) and COBRA topics in various locations
across the country. Cindy also teaches for the American Law Institute-American Bar Association ("ALIABA"). A past national president of the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, Cindy was recently
named a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. She is the only attorney in
Wisconsin with this honor.
Beyond the Water Cooler: Work / Life Challenges for Your Employees
Claire Culbertson, Area Agency on Aging of Dane County
Marilynn Lawler, Independent Living, Inc.
Mila Stahl, Independent Living, Inc.
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 6.30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Family caregivers struggle to balance their work and eldercare obligations. Fifteen to twenty-five percent
of the workforce provide care for an older or disabled relative; by 2010, this percentage is expected to
double. Of the caregivers, 40% are men and 60% are women. The estimated cost of a full-time employee
with intense caregiving responsibilities is $17.1 billion, with the costs to employers around $33.6 billion.
In this session, you will become knowledgeable about effective and cost-efficient solutions to address the
growing population of employed caregivers and how to minimize the negative financial impact on your
organization. You will also learn how to retain valued employees that juggle work and caregiving. Ways
to introduce or enhance “caregiver friendly” policies, programs and benefits will be reviewed and after
attending this session, you will walk away with helpful resources for your business.
Claire Culbertson presently serves as the National Family Caregiver Support Program Coordinator for
the Area Agency on Aging on Dane County, a program designed to provide information, education and
resources to adults providing care for friends or relatives with disabilities or chronic illness. Claire
administers the federal program, as well as educates groups about the many resources and services
available to them. Claire received her Master’s degree in Public Health from San Diego State University,
San Diego, California.
For more than 30 years, Marilynn Lawler's career has focused on issues of older adults. Her expertise
ranges from rehabilitation, in-home care, to senior housing. She has been with Independent Living, Inc.
for the past 7 years and currently works with family caregivers and senior-care agencies in Dane County.
Marilynn conducts workshops for employed family caregivers that offer ways of balancing the demands
of employer, care receipient, and themselves. Marilynn received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a Master's degree in Communication from Western
Michigan University.
Mila Stahl has over 15 years of varied human resources and accounting experience with particular
strengths in compensation and benefits. Prior to joining Independent Living, Inc. as HR Director, Mila
was a partner in a full-service HR consulting practice based in Madison, WI. Mila has taught the 12-week
SHRM certification course for PHR/SPHR certification through the UW-Madison Small Business
Development Center.
The Changing Legal Landscape of Employee Health and Welfare Benefits
Erin Freiberg, J.D., M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Employee benefits administration has been turned on its head in the past year with a flurry of legislative
and regulatory activity affecting everything from Family and Medical Leave to COBRA to Mental Health
Parity. This session focuses on the most pressing benefits changes facing employers and explains what
human resources professionals need to do to implement the new rules within their organizations. The
presentation also includes a discussion of the financial impact of the legal changes, necessary employee
communications, and a look at what is likely to transpire at the state and federal level in 2010 and beyond
that may affect the delivery of employee benefits.
Erin M. Freiberg, J.D., is the Compliance Attorney for M3 Insurance Solutions for Business. Erin leads
M3’s Governmental Compliance Unit, which researches and reports on regulatory and legislative issues
relating to business insurance and employee benefits. In addition to advising employers on compliance
with governmental mandates such as COBRA, HIPAA and FMLA, she promotes client education through
seminars and workshops, drafts Legislative Alerts to communicate regulatory changes, and prepares
Health & Welfare Form 5500 filings. Erin earned her Juris Doctor (JD) magna cum laude from the
University of Wisconsin Law School and also holds a B.A. in History. She is a member of the State Bar
of Wisconsin, American Bar Association, the Dane County Bar Association, and the Greater Madison
Area Society for Human Resource Management (GMA-SHRM). Erin frequently presents on topics
relating to compliance in employee benefits before local SHRM chapters and HR consortiums as well as
employer health care coalitions.
Developments in Labor Law: The Employee Free Choice Act
Dan Vliet, J.D.
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
The rules of the game are changing. The Employee Free Choice Act has the potential to radically change
the workplace. While the final legislation has not been written, it seems likely that big changes in the
National Labor Relations Act are coming soon. Companies must prepare now for unions being certified
based on card checks, elections on short notice and the possibility that outside union organizers will be
allowed in the workplace. Even more difficult for companies is the threat of arbitration to determine the
terms of the initial contract with a union. What can an employer do to minimize these risks and prevent
the union from coming between the company and its employees? If required to negotiate, how can a
company successfully bargain a contract? What happens if the union forces the company into arbitration
over the terms of the contract? This presentation will address any changes in the NLRA as a result of
EFCA and what an employer can do to minimize the risk of a union organizing employees under the
looser approach proposed under EFCA. The focus of the program will be on how active human resource
management can help companies address the new issues raised under EFCA.
Daniel G. Vliet, J.D., represents employers in all types of labor and employment issues, including labor
negotiations, grievance arbitrations, union organizing, employment discrimination, wage and hour issues
and plant closings. He counsels employers on employee disciplinary and termination issues, in order to
minimize any potential liability. He has a wide range of Wisconsin-based clients, including restaurant
chains, manufacturers, contractors, car dealers and service organizations. Dan has worked as an editor on
a number of BNA publications, including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical
Leave Act treatises. He currently serves as on the editorial board for the “Employer’s Guide to the Fair
Labor Standards Act” published by Thompson Publishing. He has a Master’s degree in Industrial
Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a law degree from Marquette University. He
has an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell and has been rated as one of the “Best Lawyers in Wisconsin.”
Diversity as a Core Value
Sharif Mansur
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
As we forge into the 21st century, diversity is an essential driver of success for organizations.
Organizations are becoming more global and the demographics of the workforce are changing. More than
ever, workers are asked to understand diversity and its impact on the corporate environment. HR
professionals are perfectly positioned to be the new thought leaders businesses look to for an ROI on
human capital by valuing and managing diversity with regard to the changing labor markets, population,
and consumer needs domestically and globally.
Sharif Mansur is an organizational development consultant specializing in career transitions, coaching,
diversity, employee engagement and workforce planning. He's a former HR Manager for a Fortune 150
company, as well as faculty member at Marquette University. Currently, he works for Lee Hecht
Harrison as a HR consultant.
Effectively Managing Human Capital in a Down Economy
John J. Kalter, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Christine Liu McLaughlin, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Todd M. Cleary, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Gene T. Schaeffer, Jr., Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Tom O’Day, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
A unique panel discussion, learn from experienced employment lawyers how to effectively make hard
decisions regarding staff and cost reductions, while avoiding legal pitfalls and communicating the right
message to employees. The panelists will answer the most sought-after legal questions raised by
employers in these economic times, including reduced work strategies, temporary lay-offs, voluntary
early retirement programs, reductions in force, severance agreements, benefit obligations, communication
strategies, and planning for the future economic up turn. Each panelist will present on a particular area of
expertise, with a significant portion of the presentation dedicated to audience questions and answers. You
will have an opportunity to have those tough questions answered by a panel of experienced employment
lawyers who bring with them over 70 years of experience.
John J. Kalter is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group in the Milwaukee and Waukesha
offices. He practices management-side employment and labor law and litigates such matters in state and
federal agencies and courts. John specializes in counseling and defending against employment
discrimination and civil rights claims, including unlawful harassment and race, age, sex, disability and
other discrimination matters, family and medical leave issues, wrongful discharge claims, and Fair Credit
Reporting Act issues. John provides counseling on legal challenges confronted by private sector
employers and trains supervisors and employees on human resource topics. He also provides counseling
on employment and labor due diligence, employee selection and retention, restrictive covenant
agreements, and plant closing/mass layoff and reduction-in-force issues. John received his undergraduate
degree with distinction from Cornell University, his master’s degree in journalism and mass
communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his law degree, magna cum laude and
Order of the Coif, from the University of Minnesota Law School.
Christine Liu McLaughlin is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group in the Milwaukee
office. She provides counsel on a wide variety of employment and labor issues ranging from
interpretation and application of federal and state employment laws to unique employee transition matters
in complex business transactions. Christine advises her clients on employee hiring, discipline and
termination, family and medical leave, federal and state disability discrimination, federal and state civil
rights and fair employment, sexual and other unlawful harassment, workplace violence, and contingent
workforce issues, as well as counseling on employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements and
plant closing/mass layoff and reduction-in-force issues. Christine routinely defends discrimination claims
that have been filed with the State of Wisconsin Equal Rights Division and the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission. Christine also has extensive experience in evaluating and drafting federal and
Wisconsin state affirmative action plans, as well as advising on compliance reviews. Christine also
advises on employment, contract and business entry issues relating to China. Christine received her
undergraduate degree from Marquette University and her law degree from the Marquette University Law
School.
Todd M. Cleary is a member of the Employee Benefits Practice Group in the Milwaukee office. He
works extensively with retirement plans, such as ESOPs, pension, profit sharing, 401(k), cash balance,
SIMPLE and SEP plans. Todd’s experience with welfare plans includes the design and compliance of
medical plans, including issues related to ERISA, COBRA and HIPAA, wellness programs, cafeteria
plans, disability plans, and group term life insurance plans. Todd has also worked with governmental
plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs),
voluntary employee benefit associations (VEBAs), and severance arrangements. In addition, he has
experience working with the IRS’ plan correction program. Todd received his undergraduate degree from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with honors and distinction, and his law degree from Cornell
University Law School.
Gene T. Schaeffer, Jr. is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group in the Madison office.
He concentrates his practice primarily in immigration and employment law. As a member of the
Immigration Team, Gene has worked with many clients on a variety of immigration-related business and
employment issues, including advising on appropriate temporary and permanent visa processing for alien
employees. Gene has also advised clients on employment issues related to I-9 compliance, I-9 audits and
mismatched social security numbers. Gene received his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania
State University with high distinction and his law degree, with honors, from the University of WisconsinMadison Law School.
Tom O’Day is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group in the Milwaukee office. His
practice involves advising and representing both private employers as well as public employers in every
aspect of labor and employment law. Tom’s experience involves cases before the Wisconsin Equal Rights
Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, National
Labor Relations Board, state courts and federal courts. He has advised and represented numerous clients
in cases regarding race, age, disability, sex and other kinds of discrimination. Tom also works with
Wisconsin school districts and Indian Tribes in addressing special education mandates, student expulsions
and other school law issues. Tom graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School and
holds a master’s degree in education leadership and policy analysis from the University of WisconsinMadison.
Effectively Measuring and Rewarding Customer Service Competency and Performance
Michael Maciekowich, Astron Solutions
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This session will focus on how to best set measures and the competency required to ensure all employees
are focused in delivery of exceptional customer service. The presentation will review best practices in
setting customer service measures and competencies, assessment methodologies, and alternatives in
rewarding outcomes.
Michael Maciekowich is a National Director for Astron Solutions. His areas of expertise include the
development, design, and implementation of executive, physician, and employee total cash compensation
and performance management systems in all industries. His primary focus is the integration of
compensation and human resource strategies with organization-specific missions, visions, values, and
strategic operating plans. Michael has 25 years of consulting and industry compensation experience.
Michael is an active member of WorldatWork (former American Compensation Association), American
Society of Healthcare Human Resource Administration, Society for Human Resource Management, and
SHRM’s Consultants Forum. He is also a member of various local and state human resource associations
in Massachusetts, Connecticut, upstate New York, greater New York City, and Louisiana.
Emerging Workforce Presentation
Patti Dunning, Spherion Corporation
Sandy Mazur, Spherion Corporation
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Spherion’s most recent study was conducted mid-2007 and will be updated in 2009. The study provides
the most comprehensive survey of U.S. workers from across the country. The 2007 Emerging Workforce
Study not only tracks the changes in workers' attitudes and beliefs, but provides an unprecedented look at
their career motivations, expectations, and their thoughts on success and failure. This data, combined
with professional analysis from Spherion and Harris Interactive experts, will provide employers with a
clear roadmap to attracting and retaining workers of all ages, levels, skills, and backgrounds. Extensive
profiling of today’s workers by Spherion’s experts has provided this crucial blueprint, as well as
identified specific tactics, to recruit these workers. If employers choose to ignore these sweeping
changes, they risk costly turnover, financial hardships, and will be at a significant disadvantage in
recruiting quality talent. Attend this session to learn more about the Emerging Workforce Study!
Patti Dunning is Regional Vice President of Staffing Services for Spherion Corporation, a leader in the
North American staffing industry that provides value-added recruiting, staffing, and workforce solutions.
Patti plays a vital role in Spherion’s franchise operations, supporting owners in more than 60 offices in
the United States. She provides guidance and critical support in a number of areas including sales
strategy and market development, as well as oversees a regional network that employs thousands of
flexible administrative, professional, and light industrial workers every year. With over 20 years of
experience in recruiting and staffing, Patti has a keen understanding of the North American workforce and
the issues that drive performance. She has shared the findings and implications of the Spherion®
Emerging Workforce® Study with numerous business groups.
Sandy Mazur, Senior Vice President of Franchise and Licensing, is responsible for the strategic
leadership and support of an extensive base of Spherion® franchise offices and licensees, as well as for
expanding the franchise program into new U.S. markets. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Spherion
is the largest national recruiting and staffing company actively pursuing market expansion through
franchising. Prior to this post, Mazur was responsible for product development and end-to-end product
life cycle management for Spherion’s extensive portfolio of recruiting and staffing services. These
include specialty offerings supporting customer service call centers, non-clinical healthcare and
educational institutions, and innovative web-based tools such as the Spherion Candidate Resource and
Client Resource Centers, among many others.
Employee Hold‘em: Strategies to Recruit, Retrain, Reward & Retain Top Talent
Marc Drizin, Employee Hold'em
Executive Session
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Fifty-seven percent of U.S. employees are reluctant to work hard at their jobs -- and worse yet, reluctant
to leave -- or they are unengaged and actively doing things that will threaten the organization. How can
any company be successful when only four in ten of their employees are likely to go the extra mile for
customers, believe ethics are more important than profits, and stay for the next two years? Effective
talent strategies can help your organization stimulate employee engagement and achieve the customer
satisfaction, loyalty, and retention required for overall business success. Seize the opportunity to play
“Employee Hold ’em,” the wildly popular card game that prepares players to better recruit, retrain,
reward, and retain top talent. Grounded in national research and delivered by a top SHRM speaker, this
unique experience offers a fun approach to learning about employee engagement and the strategies that
can make it a reality.
For decades, Marc Drizin has advised businesses on what employees and customers really need to feel
satisfied and engaged. His unique ability to link international research and digestible employee-centric
ideas to an organization’s bottom line performance takes him around the world to work with companies
and business leaders on a range of employee loyalty, engagement, and retention issues. Prior to launching
his firm, Employee Hold’em, Marc developed and managed the implementation of customer and
employee loyalty programs for thousands of clients worldwide during his tenure as Director of Workforce
Engagement Surveys and Solutions at Performance Assessment Network, Inc. (pan - a TALX Company),
and his more than 18 years at Walker Information, where he was most recently VP of Employee Loyalty
Research. He is the author of two WorldatWork books, Workforce Engagement: Strategies to Attract,
Motivate, and Retain Talent and Employee Engagement Fundamentals: A Guide for Managers and
Supervisors. A third will be released in 2009. With his daily blog at www.firefasthireslow.com, Marc
has also created a larger forum for professionals to discuss employee engagement and retention topics,
including his firm’s national trend data.
Employment Eligibility Verification: Are You in Compliance or Is It Only a Mirage?
Heather Tiltmann, J.D., Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 6.30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
The Immigration and Nationality Act, which was amended by the Immigration Reform and Control Act
of 1986, prohibits employers from employing unauthorized workers and requires employers to verify the
employment eligibility of each individual hired to work in the United States. Although, for most
employers, Form I-9 is the only mandatory employment eligibility verification method, many employers
are now utilizing additional, voluntary methods to verify the employment eligibility of their employees.
This presentation will outline the various mandatory and voluntary methods for verifying an individual’s
U.S. employment eligibility, as well as provide employers with practical advice as to how to avoid
common mistakes in the employment eligibility verification process. This session will also discuss how
employers can develop and implement practices and procedures to comply with the employment
eligibility verification rules and reduce exposure to the employer for immigration law violations.
Heather Tiltmann, J.D., is an attorney in the Milwaukee office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.,
where her practice is devoted entirely to the area of employment law. Her experience includes consulting
with and advising a wide range of corporate clients, from international corporations to small businesses,
on available and appropriate work visa options for foreign workers, non-immigrant and immigrant
petition preparation, and other related supporting documentation. She has received her B.S. and her J.D.
from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Executive Coaching: A Refreshing Oasis in Turbulent Times
Patricia Clason, Center for Creative Learning
Susan Lichty-Schmid, Centered for Success, LLC
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
The amount of information and technology available to us will double in the next 18 months. The speed
of communication demands motivated decision-makers and problem-solvers, with mastery of emotional
intelligence (EQ), to navigate the sandstorm of data bits that clouds the landscape of interpersonal
relationships and virtual teams.
In this session, discover why self-efficacy is so critical in this environment and how coaching builds EQ
skills and facilitates introspection and awareness and derails burn-out and chaos. We will define the
distinctions between internal and external coaches and how to know which is best for the situation, plus
you will receive a checklist to help you determine if coaching is the oasis that will bring relief and
renewal to the challenged employee.
For over thirty years, Patricia Clason has traveled across the continent doing speeches, workshops and
media appearances as a professional speaker, trainer, consultant and writer, giving over 4,000
presentations for corporations, associations, government agencies and non-profit organizations. Now the
Director of the Center for Creative Learning, which offers programs for personal and professional
development at offices in Milwaukee, Madison, and Detroit, Patricia has written many articles, training
programs, and personal growth seminars and is a sought-after guest for radio and television. She works
with large and small companies, as well as individuals, as a consultant and coach in the areas of
leadership, management skills, emotional intelligence, and ethics.
As a child, Susan Lichty-Schmid dreamed of being a pediatrician in a Spanish speaking community.
Always feeling a strong sense of service, that dream led her to volunteer as a Spanish interpreter at a
children's hospital and to work in the International Banking Division of a Chicago bank. She then
ventured into Global Custody in Chicago and New York and moved to Frankfurt, Germany where she
worked in Global Asset Management. Now a Certified Coach, she works with The Passion Test and
other tools to help leaders find their visions and inspire others.
Go Directly to Jail: Personal and Corporate Liability
Darlene "Dolly" Clabault, PHR, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
HR professionals, supervisors, and managers may not be aware that the actions they take in response to a
workplace situation may have far-reaching implications. Some labor laws have provisions that can
directly affect them – not just the companies they work for. This session will point out some of the laws
in which they can be held personally liable for their actions, and ways to avoid getting into trouble.
Darlene Clabault, PHR, is a member of the Human Resources Publishing team and has been an editor at
J. J. Keller & Associates for over 12 years. In this role, Darlene researches and creates content on a
number of HR topics such as FMLA, ADA, and HIPAA. She also tracks employment-related legislation
in conjunction with her role as an editor and as the VP Legislative Representative for Fox Valley SHRM.
As the editor of the ADA Compliance Manual and HIPAA Privacy Compliance Manual, along with
Prospera, Darlene has helped many human resource professionals with their various issues and
challenges.
High-Octane Engagement
Malcolm Jeffris, Howick Associates
Kathleen Sahl, Briggs & Stratton Corp.
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
What do you get when the Midwest’s premier leadership experts and a powerhouse in home engines and
equipment collide? This session will explore and reveal the business needs, design, success factors, and
tangible project outcomes from this ongoing program for high potential managers within Briggs and
Stratton. Now in its third year, the Mid-Manager Development program has produced an enthusiatic
bench of emerging leaders who better understand how to truly engage employees at all levels in the
"Power Within" organizational strategy.
Malcolm (Mal) Jeffris is a Partner and Senior Consultant with Howick Associates, a 25 year old
Madison and Milwaukee-based firm that has been a trusted advisor and collaborative partner to leading
organizations in developing talent, driving change, and delivering results. Mal is committed to helping
leaders take action to achieve strategic priorities. He has been in the training and development field since
1988, specializing in 360-degree feedback, leadership development, facilitation skills, and employee
engagement challenges.
As the manager of Global Learning & Development at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Kathy Sahl is
responsible for all aspects of developing and implementing corporate wide training programs for
individual contributors and managers. Kathy is also responsible for management of the Saba Learning
Management system and eLearning initiatives. Prior to joining Briggs & Stratton, Kathy has led the
assessment, design, development, implementation and evaluation of instructional programs and learning
technologies at CA, Inc. and Deluxe Corporation. Kathy holds a B.A.Ed. from Southern Illinois
University and M.S.Ed. with an emphasis on instructional design and performance improvement from
Northern Illinois University.
How to Deal With Difficult People Without Using a Blowtorch
Michael Brandwein
Executive Session
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This nationally acclaimed, skill-packed session has skills you can use immediately and daily to resolve
conflicts constructively with more confidence and less stress while boosting persuasion and building
greater trust, credibility, and cooperation. It includes precisely what to say and not to say when resolving
disagreements, tailoring responses to the needs and concerns of others, and more.
Communication expert Michael Brandwein has presented in every one of the 50 states and on 6 of the 7
continents. He is the author of four best-selling books on training, leadership, and management and wrote
and presented three 1999 Emmy® award-winning televisions programs on communication. He has
provided training for over 150 national and international professional associations and Fortune 500
companies like Hewlett-Packard, Nordstrom, Mercedes-Benz, Gillette, Frito-Lay, and many others. He is
the one of the highest rated repeat national keynoters for SOCAP, the professional organization for the
service directors of the largest and best-known corporations in America. His undergraduate degree in
communication is from the University of Illinois, where he graduated summa cum laude as a Bronze
Tablet Scholar, the highest academic distinction awarded by the University. His Juris Doctor degree is
from the University of Chicago and he was a trial lawyer and partner in a Chicago firm before leaving in
1987 to pursue his true passion, teaching and speaking. Michael lives in the Chicago area with his wife
and two sons.
HR Certification - the Basics
Michelle Hauer, SPHR, Hauer Business Solutions, LLC
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 6.30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Please note this session is for personal development and does not count for recertification credit as the content is not
tied to the HR Certification Institute’s body of knowledge.
Are you considering certification? If so, this session is for you. Learn everything you wanted to know
about certification . . . and more! Learn about the importance of becoming HRCI certified, the credentials
offered, and how to successfully prepare for the exam.
Michelle Hauer, SPHR, established Hauer Business Solutions, LLC in 2007 and is also an adjunct
instructor for Northcentral Technical College. Volunteer positions include: current WISHRM State
Certification Director, WISHRM State District Director from 2006 – 2008, current Certification Director
for Central Wisconsin SHRM, and past board member and President of the Central Wisconsin SHRM
Chapter. Michelle holds a B.S. in HR Management from Upper Iowa University.
HR Metrics: How to Get the Numbers to Speak
Mary Hunter, SPHR, MRA - The Management Association
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
You regularly tally basic HR metrics – turnover rate, revenue per employee, absence rates, etc. But once
you have these and even more involved metrics such as HR expense factor and true cost per hire, what do
you do with them? What do they really tell you? Are your numbers good or not? And what do you do
with the information beyond asserting that you’ll “work to improve it”. This session will share key
findings and benchmark data from the 2009 National Employer Associations HR Metrics Survey. Even
more powerful, Mary will elaborate on the insights relayed by such numbers and how individual HR
practitioners can weave their metrics findings into ongoing HR and business strategy.
Mary Hunter, SPHR, holds the position of Senior HR Director, HR Information & Solutions, for MRA–
The Management Association, Inc. and has over 25 years of experience in all facets of human resources
management. She has provided talent management and employee relations services for businesses from
small to large and a variety of industries including automotive, electronics, food, health, manufacturing,
non-profit, personal care, religious and service. Mary also regularly conducts classes in HR compliance,
administration and leadership for both supervisory/managerial and human resource audiences. Mary
holds a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration
from the University of Wisconsin.
HR Recertification - It Is Easier Than You Think!
Michelle Hauer, SPHR, Hauer Business Solutions, LLC
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Please note this session is for personal development and does not count for recertification credit as the content is not
tied to the HR Certification Institute’s body of knowledge.
Have you recently been HRCI certified? Whether it was last spring, last year, or several years ago, this
session will explain what you need to do to maintain your hard earned certification. Learn your
recertification options and resources, as well as how some of your work experience can qualify for
recertification credit - including strategic management credit!
Michelle Hauer, SPHR, established Hauer Business Solutions, LLC in 2007 and is also an adjunct
instructor for Northcentral Technical College. Volunteer positions include: current WISHRM State
Certification Director, WISHRM State District Director from 2006 – 2008, current Certification Director
for Central Wisconsin SHRM, and past board member and President of the Central Wisconsin SHRM
Chapter. Michelle holds a B.S. in HR Management from Upper Iowa University.
HRAs - One Tool to Control Health Care Costs
Chris Kramer, Diversified Benefit Services, Inc.
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of Section 105 Health Reimbursement Arrangements
(HRAs) and how employers are using them to lower health care costs. The seminar will cover in detail
HRA rules and regulations, as well as the plan design options employers have when sculpting their health
care packages. A review of common plan designs and recent HRA trends from Wisconsin employers will
be presented.
Chris Kramer is the Sales Manager for DBS, Inc. and has been with the firm for 15 years. He has
worked with hundreds of clients to design, communicate, and implement Health Reimbursement
Arrangements, Flexible Benefit Plans and other reimbursement programs. Chris has conducted numerous
seminars on HRA and FSA programs for various colleges, Chambers of Commerce and trade groups. He
is also involved with training DBS, Inc. staff on the program’s rules and regulations. A graduate of UWMadison, Chris has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics and a Certificate in International
Marketing. He has served on the board of the New Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau as
both a board member and President.
Intelligent Design – Re-Engineering Rewards for Results
Todd Hanson, CRP, IP, Catalyst Performance Group, Inc.
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
It’s a fact. Rewards programs modify behavior. Does yours motivate the right behavior in order to
maximize business results? Few executives can answer the question with confidence. New rewards
program design methodology and a growing body of research are helping innovative companies
successfully engage and align people and programs in order to maximize results and retention. Attend
this session to learn more!
Todd Hanson, a Certified ROI Professional (CRP) and Incentive Professional (IP), offers 20 years of
experience helping organizations achieve people performance goals. Todd began his career as an award
winning sales representative for a global leader in agricultural chemicals. Next, he was a top performing
sales executive, a manager of sales professionals, and a key management executive and owner of a top ten
performance improvement, incentive and meeting planning provider with sales exceeding $100,000,000.
He brings personal experience in product launches, corporate reorganizations, marketing communications
strategy and fulfillment, web-site strategy and development, sales and non-sales incentives, channel
partner campaigns, medical symposia, training meetings, sales meetings, events, team-building programs,
board meetings and technology solutions for events, awards and communications. His accomplishments
include the creation of a highly profitable award product line called Creative Collection, several training
initiatives with sales forces that drove fundamental paradigm shifts from commodity to consultative
selling strategies, the start up of a people performance management company, the creation of web-based
integrated marketing campaigns and the development of powerful client-facing affinity programs. His
ability to develop holistic and integrated strategies, coupled with an ability to understand the granular
requirements for implementation, have lead to outstanding successes for clients.
Leadership Compensation and Governance in Turbulent Economic Times
Rena Somersan, RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Stephanie Kessler, RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Audience Level–Advanced
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This program is specifically designed to discuss the unique leadership compensation and governance
challenges facing area companies. The insights and solutions presented will be of value to human
resource professionals as they advise their CEOs and CFOs. The program will include the perspectives of
C Suite executives through various client case studies.
Rena Somersan has more than 17 years of experience of developing, enhancing and sustaining effective
human resource programs for various industries, and leads the Strategy and Human Capital Consulting
team of RSM McGladrey in Milwaukee. She joined the firm from IMA Consulting, a management
consulting company, which she co-founded in 2000 in Istanbul Turkey. The company served more than
200 firms (including multinationals), providing total rewards consulting for executives and workforce,
performance management and leadership development and coaching. Rena is a co-chair of the Total
Rewards Committee of the Metro Milwaukee SHRM chapter and is also an active member of several
other MM SHRM committees. She is a TEMPO member and was a founding board member of the
Istanbul chapter of the International Business & Professional Women's Association. Rena, who grew up
in Wisconsin, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of WisconsinMadison and a Master of Business Administration degree from Koch University in Istanbul.
Stephanie Kessler, PHR, is a Manager with the Strategy and Human Capital practice at RSM
McGladrey and the leader of the compensation team in the Milwaukee office. In her more than seven
years of consulting experience, Stephanie has worked with healthcare, manufacturing, higher education,
banking, and non-profit organizations. The primary focus of these services has been to assist in valuing
work, designing compensation programs, and projecting the human resource investment required to
implement programs. Stephanie has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, as well as a Master’s
in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management. Stephanie is currently
an adjunct faculty member for Concordia University, where she teaches courses in the human resources
curriculum.
The Leadership Development Accelerator
Steve Riege, Ovation Leadership
Audience Level– Intermediate
Friday, October 15, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
The Leadership Development Accelerator™ provides valuable insight into opportunities for the
development of rising stars in an organization. Attendees should expect to gain a full understanding of
how The Leadership Development Accelerator will enhance an existing or new succession management
program within their organization. Attendees can expect to participate in a collaborative, learning
workshop format, supplemented by handouts and other takeaways.
Steve Riege has acquired a diverse portfolio of experiences during 30-plus years of working with senior
leaders in a wide array of occupations and industries. He has helped many private and public sector
organizations through key strategic roles in leadership, human resources, financial services, and
marketing. He has transformed many successful business leaders and leadership teams in his role as
Executive and Team Coach. Steve has become well respected for his group facilitation, leadership, and
family business acumen. Steve has served on the boards of several private, public and charitable
organizations currently serving on the Boards of MEMBERS Mutual Funds and Ultra Series Funds and
Stanek Tool Corporation. His new book, “Save Me A Seat At The Table - Maximizing HR’s Strategic
Potential” is expected to be released by publishers soon.
Leadership Run Amok: How Overachievers Can Destroy an Organization
Chris Huber, Hay Group
Audience Level– Basic
Friday, October 15, 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
If you believe too many executives think, “It’s all about me,” you’re right: Research shows that an ethos
celebrating individual achievement has been shoving aside other motivations, such as the drive to
empower people, that are essential for successful leadership. Attend this session to learn more!
Chris Huber is a Consultant with the Leadership and Talent practice of Hay Group. His focus is on
helping organizations improve performance by developing leaders and improving organizational
structures and processes. Chris is experienced with facilitating leadership development programs,
assessing and coaching around competencies, and analyzing and developing effective reward
programs. He has an MBA with a concentration in Strategic Human Resources Management from the
University of Southern California, a BS in Psychology from Santa Clara University, and a Certificate in
Training and Human Resource Development from the University of California, Berkeley. Chris is a
member of American Society of Training & Development, Dallas Chapter of Society for Human
Resource Management, and the DFW OD Network.
A Legal Workout: Negotiating New & Emerging Workplace Accommodations
Sara Johnston, Employment Resources, Inc.
Robin Jones, DBTAC-Great Lakes ADA Center
Dennis McBride, J.D., U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Oyvind Wistrom, Lindner & Marsack, S.C.
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Non-traditional workplace accommodations including telework, modified work schedules, and alternative
work-sites are emerging as desirable options for employees with disabilities. How do ADA laws and
employer attitudes hinder or support these unique accommodations? During this highly interactive
session, attorneys and ADA experts will “argue” three cases from both perspectives (employee and
employer), illustrate how differing federal and state laws may treat non-traditional accommodations, and
offer tips for navigating this complex human resource issue.
Sara Johnston is Project Director for the Wisconsin ADA Partnership, a statewide coalition of
government agencies, business groups, and advocacy organizations who collaborate to promote
education, awareness, and technical assistance regarding the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Ms.
Johnston has a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Iowa in the Rehabilitation Counselor
Education program, where she is employed as an online instructor. Ms. Johnston has worked as an
addictions counselor and a supported community living counselor. Before returning to school, she
worked as a court reporter, and owned and managed an apparel design business.
Robin Jones is the Project Director of the DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center located at the University of
Illinois at Chicago. Robin has served as the Director of the Center since its inception over 17 years ago.
The Great Lakes Center is one of 10 regional federally funded technical assistance centers on the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Center serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. As Director of the Great Lakes Center, Robin is actively involved in
providing training, consultation, and technical assistance on the provisions of the ADA and related laws
to business, employers, government and educational entities, architects, social service organizations, and
people with disabilities and their families. Robin’s academic preparation includes degrees in Public
Administration and Occupational Therapy.
Dennis R. McBride, J.D., is a Senior Trial Attorney and former Supervisory Trial Attorney in the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Milwaukee District Office, which investigates and
litigates employment discrimination cases in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Dennis is a graduate of
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa), Princeton University (M.P.A.), and New
York University School of Law (J.D.).
Oyvind Wistrom is a shareholder with the Milwaukee law firm of Lindner & Marsack, S.C. Mr.
Wistrom’s practice is focused primarily on the litigation of employment claims, equal employment
matters, and the development and oversight of personnel policies and procedures. Mr. Wistrom also
devotes a significant portion of his practice to assisting and counseling companies in various employment
matters. He is a frequent speaker on various employment related topics and has successfully litigated
innumerable cases before various state and federal agencies, as well as in both state and federal courts.
Mr. Wistrom education includes degress from University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Marquette
University Law School. He was named a “Rising Star” in 2006, 2007 and 2008 by Law & Politics and
Milwaukee Magazine, a designation reserved for the top 2½ percent of all lawyers in the state under the
age of 40.
The Levity Effect: It Pays to Lighten Up
Scott Christopher, Carrot Culture/OC Tanner
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
SHRM fixture, Scott Christopher, shares the serious science and data revealing remarkable returns of fun
and humor in business: that leaders who are light-hearted earn more than their peers; that entertaining
workplaces have more loyal employees and customers; and that associates who are considered humorous
are more likely to get promoted. This often hilarious session not only teaches you something practical,
but practices what it preaches, by leaving you aching with laughter.
Scott Christopher is co-author of the best-selling The Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Lighten Up and is
the Director of Speaking and Training at the O.C. Tanner Company. He has appeared on NBC’s Today
Show, Fox Business Channel, CNBC, National Public Radio, BBC and has been quoted in the New York
Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, New York Post, Newsweek, Economist magazine, Ladies Home
Journal and many other publications. A contributing author of the bestseller A Carrot a Day, a regular
columnist for Workplace HR magazine, and a consultant on strengthening work culture with recognition
and fun, Scott travels the world speaking to leadership groups at conferences and on-site client meetings.
He is a highly sought speaker at SHRM National conventions and has spoken at dozens of state and
regional SHRM conferences. With a background in radio, television, and film, Scott’s presenting style is
upbeat, witty, and unforgettable. In his rare spare time, Scott is a professional voiceover artist, emcee and
actor (SAG), appearing on network television series Everwood, Touched by an Angel, and in Disney
Channel movies. While an undergraduate at Brigham Young University, Scott was honored with the
United States’ most prestigious acting scholarship, the Irene Ryan Award, at the Kennedy Center in
Washington, D.C.
Litigation Avoidance: Steering Through the Minefield without Giving Up the Store
Mark Goldstein, Goldstein Law
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
We could be talking about a protracted or intermittent FMLA leave; trying to work with an employee’s
physical or psychological limitations; a complaint of harassment or discrimination; a union grievance; or
a claim for worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits. More and more, we find ourselves reacting
to these issues as they arise and – apart and aside from their merit (or lack of merit) – weighed down both
in terms of our time and our energy.
In this session, we will discuss and share proactive, creative approaches to hiring, employee engagement,
accommodation and leave issues, employee complaints, and severance – all designed to avoid litigation
and lighten your load. Learn how to extend kindness without showing weakness, and to impress the csuite and protect the company’s bottom line in the process.
Attorney Mark Goldstein, of Mark J. Goldstein S.C., is a trusted advisor and problem solver – helping
companies avoid the legal pitfalls that might otherwise drain their finances, energy, and other resources.
He has practiced law for over 15 years and focuses his practice primarily on counseling and representing
companies on issues involving labor and employment law, leadership, corporate culture, and systems.
Making the Complicated World of Benefits Uncomplicated
Robert Gevelinger, RHU, Ameritas Group
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
In today’s economic landscape, and with increased employee involvement in the benefit decision-making
process, it is more important than ever to provide cost-effective, quality benefits. An important part of
any benefits package is dental plan options, but not all dental plans are created equal. Bob Gevelinger,
Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), will help participants better understand how to review and
compare dental plans, discuss new and innovative options to differentiate plans, and present strategies that
help control costs for both employers and employees.
Robert G. Gevelinger, RHU, is a Regional Group Manager for Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas
Life Insurance Corp. Bob has 19 years of insurance industry experience and has been with Ameritas’
Madison group office for 10 years. He is a member of the Ameritas sales advisory council and is
consistently recognized as one of the division’s top sales representatives.
Managing Virtual Teams
Kyra Cavanaugh, Life Meets Work
Executive Session
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
The workplace as we know it is changing. Teams are scattered, telecommuting is on the rise, and
contractors fill out the new lean workforce. How are you managing people you cannot see? Join us for
this presentation to learn how to keep virtual teams engaged, promote collaboration, and overcome
communication challenges.
As president and founder of Life Meets Work, Kyra Cavanaugh is a champion for flexible work styles.
She believes they are a solution to the tough economic climate and looming labor shortages. Companies
who take advantage of flexible workers improve customer and employee loyalty, productivity, and
profitability. Through Life Meets Work, Kyra’s goal is to make flexible work options more mainstream
and to garner more respect for those who choose them. Kyra entered the flexible work field from a career
in consumer packaged goods. Through stints at major corporations, Kyra worked nearly every schedule
available from full-time, part-time and compressed work weeks to telecommuting and consulting.
Frustrated by the lack of meaningful opportunities for part-time, flex-time, and project-based workers,
Kyra made fostering flexible work her calling. She has built a flex work consultancy complete with job
placement services and an online community of job hunters, employers, and information seekers who
understand that workplace flexibility is the ultimate key to productivity. Kyra is a graduate of Aquinas
College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with degrees in Business Administration, Psychology and French.
Market Pricing Made Simple
Joseph Kilmartin, CCP, Salary.com
Lena Bottos, CCP, Salary.com
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
Approximately 75% of organizations in the United States have externally focused or "market-driven"
compensation programs. Maintaining such programs are both time-consuming and challenging. This
presentation covers market pricing basics including identifying competitive markets, deciding on a
competitive stance (by hierarchical level, by job family, by industry, by location, etc.), selecting (and
eliminating) data to be used in market pricing, developing market composites, and communicating market
pricing results to line managers and employees.
Joe Kilmartin, CCP, is the Managing Director of Compensation Consulting at Salary.com. In that role,
he provides leadership and direction on all client compensation consulting assignments. Joe has over 30
years of experience as a compensation practitioner, working for consulting firms and for corporations.
Joe was a senior consultant for Watson Wyatt Worldwide, working in that firm’s Boston, Philadelphia,
and San Juan offices. During his consulting career, he has consulted in virtually all segments of industry
including banks and other financial services organizations, hospitals and other healthcare providers,
insurance companies, manufacturers, pharmaceutical firms, colleges and universities, utilities, not-forprofits, and government agencies. Joe has also held human resources executive and senior management
positions at Wang Laboratories, GMAC Residential, and Danka Office Imaging. Joe holds a B.A. in
History from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is a Certified Compensation Professional
(CCP) and is the recipient of WorldatWork’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lena Bottos, CCP, Vice President of Salary.com's compensation team, manages data operations and
customer support. She is responsible for managing client relationships and assuring accurate and timely
delivery of services. With more than 8 years experience in compensation and benefits consulting, she
contributes to the management and quantitative analysis of compensation data used in Salary.com's
products and services. In addition to numerous interviews with media outlets such as NPR and the
Christian Science Monitor, Lena has contributed to several books including Work it!, The Guide to Basic
Resume Writing, and Slam Dunk Cover Letters. Lena holds a B.S. in mathematics from WPI in
Worcester, Mass. She is a Certified Compensation Professional and Global Remuneration Professional
and a member of WorldatWork and the Society for Human Resource Management.
Maximizing Your Recruiting Investment
David Freeman, Cytiva
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
You’ve got technology, practices and procedures in place, but are you realizing the full value from your
recruiting efforts? In this session, you’ll learn where to look for common leaks in your recruiting process,
how to manage your third party (agency) relationships, how to leverage your recruitment advertising
budget, and how to successfully find, attract, and retain Generation X and Y workers.
For the past ten years, David Freeman’s career has been dedicated to staffing and talent management.
Mr. Freeman’s passion for people and proven track record of hiring, training, and motivating high
performing teams has guided him through successful stints in both operations and staffing. With formal
training in Talent Management and Leadership from DDI (Development Dimensions International), Mr.
Freeman has managed numerous projects to identify recruiting process deficiencies, implemented process
changes/improvements, implemented technologies to aide the recruiting process, and developed out-ofthe-box concepts to drive applicant flow, hiring and retention resulting in faster time-to-fill, lower costper-hire, decreased turnover and measurably improved performance.
Move From "Confronting" to "Care-Fronting" Management
Doug Bergan, Goodwill NCW
Kristine Hackbarth-Horn, SPHR, CCP, Goodwill NCW
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Is your current disciplinary process working to change employee behaviors? Are you looking for a
different approach in holding your employees accountable for their performance? This session will
explore a different approach in conducting timely and respectful discussions with employees that places
an emphasis on assertively holding them accountable for performance in a non-confrontational way. If
traditional methods aren't working, consider this session for a different perspective and approach. This
session will cover key communication methods on how to have successful discussions with employees,
including how to deal with emotional and challenging employees during discussions.
Doug Bergen has almost 30 years of leadership experience in human resources, safety and security. In
his current role of Organizational Compliance Leader with Goodwill Industries of North Central
Wisconsin, he is responsible in working with a diverse work environment of 1,200 team members in
teaching cultural values in the areas of work performance and personal growth and development that
relies heavily on having effective discussions with one another. His organization abolished traditional
approaches to disciplinary processes and created a new approach called "care-fronting" that has an
empasis on both positive reinforcement and holding people accountable when they are struggling to meet
performance expectations.
Kristine Hackbarth-Horn has over 19 years of human resource management and leadership experience.
In her current role of Chief Operating Officer of People, she is responsible for working with over 1,200
team members, program participants and volunteer in the organization to insure fulfillment of Goodwill
NCW’s number one core value of “Putting People First”. Prior to her role at Goodwill she was the
Corporate HR Director for KI, responsible for over 3,000 team members in 10 US locations. Kristine is
an active member of Fox Valley Society of Human Resources Manager (SHRM) board, serving in
President-Elect, President and Past President positions. In addition, she has been a member of the State
of Wisconsin SHRM Council, serving twice as the co-chair for the WI State SHRM State Conference and
currently serving as the WI State Council Conference Liaison Director.
On Being A Professional Patient
John Shier, RN, Ph.D., thatguynurse.com
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
The American medical system demands that patients have knowledge and skill if they are to receive
maximum benefits. Last year nearly 300,000 patients died from hospital acquired infections or medical
errors, most of which could have been avoided if the patient fully understood the system and its operation.
In this sessions, attendees will learn about the importance of the patient role and will gain understanding
of the knowledge and skills required of the professional patient.
John Shier, RN, Ph.D., became a nurse at age 60, following his career as a Professor of Philsophy at the
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and 18 years as the Executive Director of two not-for-profit
organizations in Green Bay. He has worked for 15 years as a nurse, primarily in cardiac care and hospice.
Eight years ago he began to speak to corporations, conferences, and seminars and since then, has done
more than 1,700 presentations to more than 300 hundred clients. He speaks about the responsibility held
by every individual to take charge of his/her own health, to know how the medical system operates, and to
be able to make critical decisions at the end of life for yourself, for family members and, often for friends.
Privacy and Information Security Education
Joseph Campana, Ph.D, CIPP/G, CITRMS, J. Campana & Associates
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Every organization is subject to multiple state or federal laws pertaining to privacy and information
security. Most laws expect that all employees are educated on this subject and handlers of personally
identifiable information are trained in order to meet safe harbor considerations. While HR professionals
are sensitive to the privacy laws pertaining to HR activities, smaller organizations of all types--private,
public, and volunteer sectors are generally un-informed that they are covered by these other laws. This
presentation will present an overview of the state and federal identity theft, privacy, and information
security laws. Several of these laws require a related best practices program that includes employee
education and training. The components of privacy and information best practices will be reviewed with
an accent on the employee education component, including a mock employee education session.
Joseph Campana, Ph.D. is a certified identity theft, privacy, and information security risk management
professional and licensed investigator. Joseph is an author (Privacy MakeOver: The Essential Guide to
Best Practices), speaker, and trainer. He blogs daily on The Privacy Diary (www.PrivacyDiary.com) and
his topics are identity theft, privacy, and information security oriented to smaller enterprises, their
management and employees.
Professional Habits for Success in HR: Managing Your Career
Francis Wiesner, MHA, FJW Consulting, LLC
Audience Level–Advanced
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Please note this session is for personal development and does not count for recertification credit as the content is not
tied to the HR Certification Institute’s body of knowledge.
This presentation will address the need for professionals in human resource management to assess skill
sets and professional strengths, and then outline a specific career path to develop and maintain a life-long
learning attitude, including identification of specific learning objectives. This session will also explore
the good habits of career management: assessment, obtaining feedback, and networking. Practices for
minimizing the “blind spots” identified in the JOHARI Window model will also be discussed.
Fran Wiesner, MHA, has over 25 years in healthcare management at the senior level. He spent 12 years
with a national career management firm and is now President of his own consulting firm. Fran has
lectured nationally for ASHHRA, and ACHE, locally in Wisconsin at SHRM, WSSHRA, and other
annual conferences, and authored numerous articles in professional journals, i.e. Health Progress, and
AHA’s Trustee journal. Fran received his Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University
of Minnesota and is a Fellow from the Healthier Communities Fellow program with the American
Hospital Association/Health Forum.
Secret Ways to Reduce Your Worker's Compensation Costs
Kevin Glaser, Risk & Insurance Services Consulting, LLC (RISC)
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
We are all aware that healthcare plays an integral part of the overall cost of worker's compensation.
However, other factors also determine how much money your company ultimately spends on worker's
compensation insurance premiums. Attend this session to learn more about reducing costs, and how
through reducing costs, you will realize a direct positive impact on your company's balance sheet.
Kevin L. Glaser is President of Risk & Insurance Services Consulting, LLC, a fee-only property and
casualty consulting business located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Kevin’s responsibilities have included
overall results for both personal lines and commercial lines, as well as rate-making and management of
underwriters and support staff. In addition, Kevin was a select member of an American Reinsurance
driven, company-wide consulting project whose mission was to re-engineer existing internal structure.
He has a B.A. from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and has earned several professional
insurance designations, including: Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified
Insurance Counselor (CIC).
Self Funding 202: Advanced Concepts
Dean Hoffman, Diversified Insurance Services
Audience Level–Intermediate
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This session of Advanced Self Funding Concepts is geared toward HR Professionals who currently are
responsible for self funded group health plans or have some basic knowledge of self funding. He provides
an in depth review of stop loss “contract types,” 12/12, 15/12, 12/15, 15/18, terminal liability and how
they work with, not against the employer’s risk tolerance and financial goals. The self funding of group
health plans is certainly not a new concept for larger employer groups. However, in many instances self
funding can be a compromise solution. Subtleties in the coordinated use of contracts can lead to liability
in many instances self funding can be a compromise solution. Subtleties in the coordinated use of
contracts can lead to liability issues for not only the employer but also to the intermediary. As a
frequently used expert witness in these considerations, Mr. Hoffman will provide information with which
to smooth out potential gaps and help facilitate the renewal process.
Dean Hoffman has been in the insurance industry for more than 30 years with an emphasis in large group
employee benefit plans. He is currently the Director of Large Group Services for Diversified Insurance
Services in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In addition to his employee benefit consulting duties, Dean has
extensive knowledge of health plan data integration, website design and other technology tools for the
employee benefit industry. Mr. Hoffman has expertise in a broad range of employee benefits including all
funding arrangements for large group plans including insured, minimum premium, stop loss and selffunding.
Six Steps to Yes (When You Need Instant Influence)
Deborah Laurel, Laurel and Associates, Ltd.
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
What plays a more powerful role in decision making: the potential of gain or of loss? How can a leader
be perceived as trustworthy when dealing with someone for the first time? Changes in organizations can
create uncertainty, anxiety, and a lack of trust. The most successful leaders know that it is better to get
buy-in through cooperation rather than coercion. However, this can be very time-consuming. During this
highly interactive session, participants will learn how and when to use six decision triggers that can
provide instant influence. These proven psychological principles are based on 25 years of research as
reported in the #1 top seller in Amazon.com's Top 50 Business Books of 1999: Influence: The
Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert B. Cialdini. Participants who missed the book should not miss this
chance to gain these timely tools to increase their interpersonal effectiveness.
Deborah Spring Laurel has been a trainer and a consultant in the areas of workplace learning and
performance improvement for over 30 years. She has 20 years of experience as the President of Laurel
and Associates, Ltd., an international human resource development training and consulting firm that
specializes in enhancing interpersonal dynamics within organizations. She has designed and delivered
hundreds of different skill-building participant-based and accelerated learning workshops on various
topics, all of which have been tailored to meet her clients’ needs. She taught management and
supervisory topics for the Executive Management Institute and the Small Business Development Center
in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for over 30 years. From 1998-2002,
she consulted with the University of Osijek in Croatia to design the first Eastern European participantbased Master’s Degree program in Entrepreneurship. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. Deborah has been published frequently, and “User Friendly Performance
Evaluation” is a chapter in a monograph published by the University of Minnesota and ASTD.
Social Security Retirement
Doug Nguyen, Social Security Administration
Patricia Hayes, Social Security Administration
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
As you prepare your employees for retirement you will undoubtedly face questions about Social Security.
During our session we will provide you with information on the following retirement topics: eligibility
factors, how continuing work can affect your benefits, requirements for dependent benefits,
widow/widowers, Medicare, our online services, when to file, and online business services. After
attending this session you will be able to better guide your employees as they make retirement choices.
Doug M. Nguyen is the Deputy Regional Communications Director for the Social Security
Administration’s (SSA) six-state Chicago Region. Mr. Nguyen is a graduate of SSA’s Advanced and
Operations Leadership Programs in which he held assignments in multiple cross-components, including
the Great Lakes Processing Center, the Office of the Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge, the
Office of Systems, and the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs in Washington DC. Mr.
Nguyen began his SSA career as a Bilingual Claims Representative and a Public Affairs Specialist at the
Chicago North, Illinois, Field Office. He holds an M.A. Degree in Communications from the University
of Illinois at Chicago. Mr. Nguyen has received numerous federal and community awards, including the
Social Security Administration’s Commissioner’s Citation Award for his community outreach efforts and
a community service award from the Asian American Coalition of Illinois in 1999.
Patricia Hayes is a Program Expert for the Social Security Administration in their Regional Office in
Chicago. She has extensive knowledge of the retirement, survivor, disability and health insurance
programs administered by Social Security. She is the coordinator for the electronic filing marketing
initiatives for wage reporting in the Chicago Region, and participates in national wage reporting projects
and workgroups. Before coming to Chicago as a Policy Expert, she was a Public Affairs Specialist for
Social Security. She furnished liaison and advisory services to a wide range of media, corporate, and
advocacy organizations and congressional staffs, and performed public relations and informational
activities. She has been recognized for her talents as a public speaker, and in 2005 received the SSA
Deputy Commissioner’s Citation from the Office of Communications in recognition of her exceptional
leadership and dedication in the promotion and marketing of electronic wage reporting.
Ms. Hayes holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance, graduating with high honors from Lewis
University. She is a past member of the professional organization, Women in Communication.
Strategic Leadership Development Solutions Providing Sustainable Impact for Any Organization
Lisa Raab, MSEd, Right Management
Audience Level–Advanced
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
Investing in the development of leaders within your organization is something that should not be
overlooked in any economy. It is one of the keys to remaining competitive, retaining talent and engaging
your entire workforce. To ensure the time and dollars spent on leadership development are strategic and
sustainable over time, several factors must be evident. In this session, Lisa Raab, VP of Right
Management, will present several integrated leadership development approaches that produce sustainable
results and are scalable to most organizations and development budgets.
Lisa Raab, MSEd, is Vice President and Talent Management Consultant, Right Management Consulting
and Coaching Experience. Lisa specializes in the area of talent management, specifically integrated
leadership development, and executive team alignment solutions. She has 13 years of experience and
proven skills working with leaders and teams in a variety of industries. Lisa’s key areas of expertise
include performance coaching, mentoring, high-performing teams, executive presence and presentation
skills, communication styles, conflict, delegation, time management, goal setting, and behavioral
interviewing. Lisa holds a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and
an M.S. Ed. in Counseling and Counselor Education from Indiana University. She is a frequent presenter
at professional association and university events.
Succession Planning: It’s Not As Hard As It Sounds
Paul Meese, SPHR, SingleSource Services
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for strategic recertification credits.
You have heard about it, but it sounds like it is either too challenging, too time consuming, or the Ops guy
already has his mind made up. In this session you will learn how to break down job descriptions so that
you can identify commonalities and competencies. You will also learn what to do with the competencies
after you have them, and then step by step, how to roll the planning session out to the management team.
You will be provided with suggested forms and hear case studies of organizations that have successfully
implemented and supported the plan.
Paul M. Meese, SPHR, has worked as a professional in human resources and operations for over 20
years, including leadership positions with national restaurant chains, retailers, hotels, banking, and notfor-profit organizations. Adept at problem solving, Paul's expertise and intuitiveness enhance his ability
to identify organizational solutions and create the plans to implement them. In his role as Vice President,
Client Services for SingleSource, Paul continually demonstrates how the company's services create
efficiencies that make HR personnel more valuable within the organization while aligning the HR
function with corporate objectives. Paul's educational background includes an M.A. from Michigan State
University and a B.A. from Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Ten Reasons Why Training is More Important Now More Than Ever
Jan Allen, SPHR, School of Continuing Ed, UW-Milwaukee
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
What is the first thing that gets cut from the budget? Training! This program will examine how targeted
training can boost morale, stimulate growth, develop teamwork, reinforce best practices, and improve
quality and productivity. Participants will be introduced a new model on ROL - Results Oriented
Learning. These tough economic times will not last forever. Is your organization working on it's
"Knowledge Storage" for the future? Spend 75 minutes learning how to re-energize your employee
development programs.
Jan Allen, SPHR, has over 25 years of experience in professional development. As the Director of
Business, Engineering & Technology programs at the School of Continuing Ed at UW-Milwaukee, Jan
has a staff of 15 who design, develop, and deliver over 200 different training programs. Jan moved to
Wisconsin two years ago from Richmond, Virginia. While living in Richmond, Jan served as the Director
of Corporate Education for the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University, owned her own
consulting business, and worked for an international law firm as the Manager of Training and
Development.
Top Technology Trends in Employment Background Screening
Nick Fishman, employeescreenIQ
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Employment screening is greatly impacted by technology. From topics such as vetting job candidates via
social networking sites to how to integrate employee screening with ATS and HRIS systems, technology
is omnipresent. Join employeescreenIQ’s Executive Vice President, Nick Fishman, for an informative
session about technology’s role in the screening process.
Nick Fishman helped to found employeescreenIQ, formerly Background Information Services, Inc., in
1999. He serves as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President for the company. Nick earned
his B.A. degree in Political Science from Ohio State University and has extensive experience in the
development of successful sales and marketing campaigns for both large and small organizations. As part
of his duties, Nick assisted in the development and implementation of employeescreen University
(http://university.employeescreen.com/), a first-of-its-kind online, educational learning resource for
human resource, security, and risk-management professionals. Nick has also served a term as co-chair of
the Public Awareness Committee for the National Association of Professional Background Screeners
(NAPBS). He is a contributor to his own company’s blog, http://blog.employeescreen.com/ . Nick resides
in Chicago, Illinois and proudly serves on the Chicago board of Prevent Child Abuse America.
employeescreenIQ is a global background screening company dedicated to superior client service.
Using Diversity Strategies to Meet Organizational Needs at Helwig Carbon Products
Earney Yocum SPHR, Helwig Carbon Products
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Helwig Carbon Products was honored to have received the Wisconsin Workplace Diversity Advocate
Award from SHRM in 2008. Helwig, a family owned company based in Milwaukee, successfully
implemented diversity strategies to help the organization meet its strategic objectives by aiding recruiting
efforts, retaining a loyal workforce, and creating an inclusive culture for all. Earney Yocum will share
how the business case was made for these initiatives, as well as how return on investment and measures
of success were and are evaluated.
Earney Yocum, SPHR, is a Human Resource Generalist at Helwig Carbon Products in Milwaukee.
After short stints in industrial engineering and quality, Earney Yocum started his human resources career
in 1993 as a Safety and Worker’s Compensation Supervisor. He joined Helwig Carbon Products in 2004,
where he is responsible for all aspects of human resources including employee relations, recruiting,
workers’ compensation and safety. Mr. Yocum received the Chairman’s Award for Training Excellence
and served on the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Curriculum Advisory Board. Earney
received his B.A. degree in Organizational Management from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
and a Certificate in Health and Safety Management from Lakeshore Technical College in 1995. He
earned his SPHR certification in 2005 and has been a member of SHRM since 2006.
Wellness Incentives
Melissa Tobler, RN, Hays Companies
Karin Peterson, Hays Companies
Audience Level–Intermediate
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Are you rewarding your employees to complete a series of tasks, or helping them make better choices in
regard to their health? In an effort to reduce healthcare claims, organizations are using a variety of
approaches to motivate their employees to live healthier lifestyles but, with varying degrees of success.
This program will discuss why similar tactics work better for some organizations than others. With
corporate culture providing the backdrop for employee engagement, or lack of it, what incentive approach
works best within your organization? Success with wellness initiatives may be more about setting
expectations than in using a carrot or a stick. This session will address these issues and discuss best
practices for structuring incentives to maximize the success of your wellness programs.
In her role at Hays Companies, Melissa Tobler, RN, helps employers to understand the impact of health
on their productivity, absenteeism, health plan costs, and ultimately, profitability. She has worked with
clients in strategically designing and implementing disease management programs, wellness programs,
and other medical care management programs that complement the unique needs of each employer group.
Melissa has been a registered nurse for over 20 years and was the first Benefits Consultant to be certified
by the Disease Management Purchasing Consortium in Critical Outcomes Report Analysis (CORA) for
disease management and wellness.
Karin Peterson serves as an expert resource in corporate wellness initiatives and provides “hands-on”
assistance in planning, communication, implementation and evaluation of effective corporate wellness
initiatives. Karin has over 15 years of experience in health and fitness, including personal training,
cardiac rehabilitation, wellness coaching, health education, and health and fitness consulting. She has
worked extensively with individual behavior change, and has served as a program consultant in corporate
wellness for small and mid-sized companies.
Why HOW We Do Anything Means Everything…in Business (and in Life)
David Greenberg, LRN
Audience Level–Advanced
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Thursday, October 15, 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
This session will help you understand the lasting benefits of doing the right thing and how to unleash the
power of values and principles-based behavior for lasting advantage. What’s more potent than any
business model, product pipeline or breakthrough technology? It’s human behavior—the one thing that
cannot be copied or turned into a commodity; the ultimate source of sustainable, competitive advantage.
Renowned business leader David Greenberg argues that how we do things—rather than what we do—is
the most powerful differentiator in business and every other part of life. David will illustrate how
companies, and individuals, can thrive in the hyper-transparent and hyper-connected 21st century.
As Executive Vice President of Knowledge, David Greenberg is responsible for developing the
knowledge that serves as the foundation of LRN’s market-leading solutions, industry viewpoints and
frameworks and approaches that address client business issues. As one of the leading experts in ethics
and compliance, corporate social responsibility and public affairs, Greenberg will further enhance LRN’s
core asset of knowledge and continue the company’s innovative approach to helping organizations inspire
and cultivate an ethical culture, as well as corporations’ entire relationship with society, using the power
of information.
Greenberg joins LRN from Altria Group, Inc., where his tenure of more than two decades culminated in
the role as Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, heading Altria’s enterprise-wide efforts
on compliance and integrity as one of only five senior vice presidents of the parent corporation. Prior to
this, he held numerous senior positions at Altria and its operating unit Philip Morris International in the
United States, Europe and globally, including responsibility for environment, social responsibility,
government affairs and communications. Greenberg also was a partner with the law firm of Arnold &
Porter, served as Legislative Director and General Counsel for the Consumer Federation of America, and
was a legislative representative, organizer and writer for Ralph Nader.
Greenberg received a J.D./M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Law School/Graduate School of
Business. He also attended Williams College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Workplace Leadership: Developing & Maintaining a Motivated Workforce
Brigadier General Kerry Denson
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
General Denson’s presentation is based on his experiences, not theory from a book. He has lead
everything from his own aircraft crew in combat to deploying over 7,700 soldiers for combat. During his
career he developed a “Leadership Toolbox” based on his experiences. In this session, he shares these
“tools” with his audience. He will assist you in implementing and maintaining an efficient, motivated
workforce that results in increased morale, loyalty and dedication, and reduced turnover with less
absenteeism. He will assist you to selecting leaders that have the trust, confidence, and respect of your
workforce. Kerry’s bottom line is: When your employees are at that last stoplight on their way to work,
he doesn’t want them “grinding their teeth”. In fact, he will assist you in creating the environment in
which they are not only happy and satisfied to report to work, but are proud to work there.
Brigadier General Kerry Denson served the nation with more than 40 years of service. Kerry began his
career when he was drafted in December, 1965. He volunteered for pilot training, graduated March 14,
1967 and reported to his unit in Vietnam within two weeks. Kerry’s assignments included two combat
tours in Vietnam as a pilot. Between tours he served as a flight instructor at Hunter Army Airfield,
Savannah, Georgia. After active duty he returned to Wisconsin and immediately joined the Wisconsin
Army National Guard. He served in a variety of Command & Staff assignments including commander of
the 147th Attack Helicopter Battalion, Director of Aviation for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and
culminated the last 9 years of his career as the Commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard and its
7,700 Soldiers. As the Commander, he was responsible for the largest mobilization of the Wisconsin
Army National Guard for combat since WWII. Kerry has flown over 10,000 hours — 1,277 of them in
combat. He is rated to fly both helicopters and airplanes. His many military awards include the
Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, the
Purple Heart, 35 Air Medals and many additional awards and decorations. Kerry is a graduate of the
Army’s Command and General Staff College, the Air Force’s Air War College, and numerous military
training courses.
Your Liability For Employees’ Off-The-Job Acts
Robert Gregg, Boardman Law Firm
Audience Level–Basic
Thursday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
Off-the-clock is not off-the-hook for liability. Why can customers or the public sue the company, and the
HR Director personally, for employees’ non-paid-time acts? Are you liable for what a worker did on
vacation? Why can a minor sue the company for the off-work sexual misconduct of an ex-employee?
Can an employer fire workers (including you) for “private” activities off-the-job (blogs, chat rooms,
social activities)? Where are the lines between invasion of employee privacy, employer responsibility,
and liability to the public? Learn the danger areas and have policies and practices to protect your
company and yourself.
Bob Gregg, a partner at the Boardman Law Firm in Madison, Wisconsin, has been involved in
employment relations for more than 30 years. He litigates employment cases. His main emphasis is
helping employers achieve enhanced productivity, creating positive work environments, and resolving
employment problems before they generate lawsuits. He has developed the employment policies of
numerous employers and reviewed hundreds of employee handbooks. Bob has conducted over 2,000
seminars throughout the United States and authored numerous articles on practical employment issues.
His career has encompassed canoe guide, carpenter, laborer, Army Sergeant, social worker, educator,
business owner, beer taster, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, and employment relations attorney.
Bob is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Speakers Association,
and is a National Faculty Member of the American Association for Affirmative Action.
You’ve Got (Too Much) Mail: Preserving Productivity Under Information Overload
Joanne Cantor, Ph.D, UW-Madison; Your Mind on Media
Audience Level–Basic
Friday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Program approved for general recertification credits.
It has been estimated that U. S. businesses suffer a loss of $650 billion in productivity due to the
interruptions and distractions produced by employees’ web-surfing, emailing, instant messaging, and cellphone use. This presentation helps both managers and employees cope with some of the problems that
come from technology-related multi-tasking (trying to do two things at once) and information overload
(being overwhelmed by input from multiple sources). By engaging in several brain “exercises” and
hearing about recent advances in neurophysiology, attendees learn why information overload and
multitasking are so counterproductive in performing routine tasks, in acquiring new information, and in
being creative (“thinking outside the box”). They are then given a series of strategies for increasing their
productivity and creativity at work and in their personal lives by becoming wiser users of technology.
Companies whose employees work at computers can especially benefit from this presentation.
Joanne Cantor, Ph.D, is an award-winning professor, speaker, and researcher and an internationally
recognized expert on the psychology of media and communications. After 26 years as a professor at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, she stepped out of the college classroom so that she could spread the
conclusions of her research more widely. She knows that television, computers, video games,
Blackberry’s, and the rest of our electronic appendages are profoundly affecting us in ways the average
person can’t see. Her entertaining and eye-opening presentations combine psychology, the latest in brain
research, amusing anecdotes, and sound practical advice for being more productive with our time,
keeping our own sanity, and raising healthy, happy children.
Over her career Joanne has produced almost 100 scholarly publications. Moreover, she has written a
highly acclaimed parenting book, Mommy, I’m Scared, and a children’s book, Teddy’s TV Troubles. Her
research has received much public attention. She has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, and
many other national television programs. She has testified repeatedly before Congress, FCC, and is
frequently quoted in the national press. In May 2000, she became Professor Emerita, and in 2006, she
assumed the position of Director of the Center for Communication Research at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.