NHRMA | Agenda / Concurrent Workshop Descriptions

W1)
Unconventional HR Approaches for Supporting Foreign National Employees
Track: Strategic Contribution

Presenter:
Alexandria Crump, MA HR/IR, HR Project Manager, Microsoft, Renton, WA

To meet the challenges of green card retrogression, Microsoft’s Human Resources department provides a full-time resource to provide HR support to foreign national employees. In order to best serve employees and increase their engagement, Microsoft developed a holistic employee support strategy that consists of initiatives which uniquely touch employees, spouses, managers and HR. This workshop will detail how Microsoft developed its people agenda and the importance of creating internal and external partnerships to execute its agenda.

W2)
ER for HR: How to Deal With Difficult Situations
Track: Personal Growth/Credibility

Presenter:
Pamela C. Bezona, President and Chief Success Officer, Performance eSource, Bothell, WA

HR professionals have been given the task and responsibility of managing their Emotional Responses. This workshop provides the tools to positively adjust to difficult or challenging situations. Through self-discovery and small group interactions, participants will work through their own scenario using the emotional empowerment formula: E + M = R

W3)
How Stories Renew Commitment and Passion at Work
Track: Leadership Training

Presenters:
Stokley Towles, Principal, Culture Mine, LLC, Seattle, WA
Rachel Carey DeBusk, Principal, Culture Mine, LLC, Seattle, WA

We will explore how telling personal and organizational stories can strengthen corporate identity, belonging, commitment and retention in members of a group. Participants will take away creative tools for strengthening bonds between members and organizations. Participants will be able to:

W4)
The Secrets of Recruiting and Retaining Generations X and Y
Track: Best Practices

Presenter:
Kate Wildrick, SPHR, Vice President of Human Resources, Service Creek Lodge, Fossil, OR

With the Baby Boomer Generation occupying 45% of the job market, it is expected that massive retirement is soon to occur. Generations X and Y are next in line to assume new responsibilities, but there are growing concerns that these generations are ill-equipped to do so. This eye-opening presentation will discuss the myths and truths of what makes these generations "work" and how to develop strategic initiatives to attract and retain talent.

W5)
What Managers Need to Know About Union Avoidance
Track: Employee/Labor Relations

Presenter:
Corbett Gordon, JD, Senior Counsel, Fisher & Phillips, LLC, Portland, OR

Why does it suddenly get quiet when you enter the break room? Who are those people hanging around the employee parking lot? Find out what you can ask and what you can say if you get wind that a union is sniffing around your door. Participants will learn to recognize signs of impending unionization. The presentation will also cover non-union employer actions that can violate the National Labor Relations Act. Challenging scenarios for discussion will follow a review of underlying law.

W6)
The Truth About Due Diligence and Background Checks
Track: Legal Areas

Presenter:
Sandy Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Investigations Corporation, Spokane Valley, WA

The reality is that most background checks are built on information that is outdated and incomplete, the checks do not meet the standard of due diligence, and they are not compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This exposes the organization to tremendous liability. Attendees will learn about the inner workings of employment screening, what actually constitutes due diligence, and how they can ensure that their process is legally compliant.

Wednesday, September 17

Concurrent Sessions
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

W7)
Integrating HR into Your Risk Management Plan
Track: Strategic Contribution

Presenter:
Oscar S. Lewis, Ph.D., Controller, Umbra Cuscinetti, Inc., Everett, WA

Tying HR into your organization's Risk Management Plan and Strategic Plan calls for more action from HR professionals than ever before. Finding and keeping the right people in the right positions is one key to a healthy, vigorous enterprise. This session will help you work with senior management to effectively implement the plan.

W8)
Ethical and Legal Issues With Corporate Blogs
Track: Personal Growth/Credibility

Presenter:
Gundars Kaupins, Ph.D., SPHR, Department Chair and Professor, Boise State University, Department of Management, Boise, ID

Corporate blogging presents market and communication opportunities and ethical and legal challenges. Business-related blogging, monitoring notification, consistent monitoring, and appropriate discipline are recommended. This session summarizes the opportunities and challenges, incorporates participant experiences, and provides sample employee handbook policies participants can use.

W9)
Leading Technical Professionals: Virus, Trojan Horse or Worm?
Track: Leadership Training

Presenter:
Mira Ringler, Vice President, BlessingWhite, Inc., San Francisco, CA

Technical professionals are different. Do their leaders need to do anything differently? Absolutely. Unless, of course, they want a dangerous virus on their hands – one that erodes motivation, undermines contribution and, if left untreated, multiplies and threatens the organization’s success. We will explore:

W10)
Succession Planning: It's a Two-Way Street
Track: Best Practices

Presenter:
Colette E. Sheehan, M.S.I.R., Human Resources Consultant, Colette Sheehan Human Resources, Ashland, OR

Succession planning is not an end game – it's a process. This session will illustrate how real, robust succession planning fits into your complete talent management strategy. It will also take the burden off HR and make the succession planning process the responsibility of management and employee. Participants will gain new tools to turn an exercise into an integral part of their firm's business process.

W11)
How Employers Torpedo Themselves During EEOC Mediations
Track: Employee/Labor Relations

Presenter:
Carol Bowser, JD, President, Conflict Management Strategies, Puyallup, WA

As a professional mediator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Carol has seen well intentioned HR professionals hinder settlement of discrimination charges. Come and learn:

W12)
Check It Off: The Employee Benefits Legal Compliance Checklist
Track: Legal Areas

Presenter:
Sally Wineman, JD, Area Corporate Counsel, Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., Bellevue, WA

Benefits are one of the most heavily regulated areas in the HR arena, so HR professionals need a good map to navigate the complexities of compliance. In this workshop, a legal expert will guide participants through a checklist of the major "hot" areas for health & welfare employee benefits. Participants will identify the potential pitfalls to watch, define the best practices for compliance and walk away with a practical to-do list for their organization.

Wednesday, September 17

Concurrent Sessions
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

W13)
Getting a Snapshot of the Big Picture
Track: Strategic Contribution

Presenter:
Patti A. Dobrowlski, Chief Strategy & Creative Design, Alchemy: The Art of Transforming Business, Seattle, WA

In this highly interactive workshop, participants will learn how to accelerate strategic change within their own organization using a "Snapshot of the Big Picture" strategic visioning tool. This process provides participants hands-on experience to guide strategic visioning sessions with leadership teams. Participants will learn to identify and concentrate action plans to quickly shift direction and focus to meet the challenges of any change (local or global) they are facing.

W14)
Conquering the Gossip Monster
Track: Personal Growth/Credibility

Presenters:
Janice Corbin, Co-Owner, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, Mukilteo, WA
Janet May, Co-Owner, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, Mukilteo, WA

Workshop attendees will learn the impact gossip has on workplaces, including reduced work productivity, problematic team dynamics, and increased employee complaints and litigation. The instructors will share strategies for stopping gossip, gaining employee support in developing a no-gossip zone, and creating conversation tips for deflecting gossip.

W15)
Linking Classroom Learning to Workplace Application: The HR Internship Experience
Track: Leadership Training

Presenter:
Nancy A. Woolever, SPHR, manager of academic initiatives, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Alexandria, VA

Premiere event! Internships for HR students play a vital role in helping the student get relevant and current experience in HR. Entry level jobs in HR typically require 1-2 years experience, making the need for internships even more critical. Additionally, SHRM’s research into internships for university students shows a clear need to connect students with professionals and vice versa. This session provides just that—an opportunity for professionals to meet the next generation of HR professionals and for students to leverage the expertise of professionals to seek career guidance. Session includes a brief presentation followed by networking; refreshments will be served.

W16)
Change Resistance: Turning a Liability into an Asset
Track: Best Practices

Presenter:
Jim Steele, Ed.D., GPHR, Assistant Professor of Management, George Fox University, Portland, OR

Resistance is a certain result of organizational change. This interactive session is designed to equip participants to use resistance as a resource that leads to effective and sustainable change in organizations. Participants will:

W17)
Getting Employees Engaged and Performing Like You Want
Track: Employee/Labor Relations

Presenter:
Michael Dinius, MS, MA, Management Consultant, Performance Management Consulting, Richland, WA

Whether dealing with problem employees, getting employees to perform to standards, or implementing steps for employees to be personally engaged in their work, key performance management steps apply. HOW the steps are implemented is the difference between marginal and excellent performance.

This interactive seminar combines research on employee engagement, real-life examples and your own work situation to give you a comprehensive performance management checklist to achieve target performance and employee engagement.

W18)
From the Courtroom to the Boardroom - Recent Northwest Trends & Preventive HR
Track: Legal Areas

This presentation – designed for the advanced HR professional – will focus on an interactive discussion of the recent legislative and litigation developments affecting NW employers. A combination of:

Scenarios based on recent legislation will be presented to the audience for discussion of how their organization did or would respond.

Thursday, September 18

Concurrent Sessions
8:30 am – 10:00 am

Th1)
Securing the Future: Taking Succession Planning to the Next Level
Track: Strategic Contribution

Presenter:
Mira Ringler, Vice President, BlessingWhite, Inc., San Francisco, CA

Some organizations wait until a key office is empty before discussing succession planning. Others have systems filled with more data than they can handle. Still others think their process works until “chosen” future leaders pass on opportunities or, worse, fail miserably in new roles. We will pinpoint the elements that can turn succession planning, using real-life examples and practical tips, from just another HR exercise to a sound business practice that propels the organization forward. This session will prepare you to implement key strategies for a succession planning process that achieves the goals of the organization and meets the aspirations of top talent.

Th2)
Building a Coaching Culture
Track: Personal Growth/Credibility

Presenters:
Nancy Edwards, MSW, Vice President and Master Coach, Lee Hecht Harrison, Portland, OR
Rolf Gruen, Senior Vice President and Executive Coach, Lee Hecht Harrison, Portland, OR

This presentation will provide specific steps in developing coaching competencies within organizations. It will include suggestions for a planned approach, with specific examples of strategies that have been effective in a variety of organizations. Participants will gain:

Th3)
Eldercare and Work: Supporting Retention, Morale and Productivity
Track: Leadership Training

Presenters:
Ann Nordquist, MBA, SPHR, Director and Certified Trainer, Express Home Health, Portland, OR
Hope Reffett, Owner and Certified Trainer, Quality Placement Services, Vancouver, WA

Metlife Mature Market Institute reports U.S. businesses lose $17.1 and $33.6 billion per year in lost productivity for caregivers who take time from work responsibilities to care for elderly family members. It is estimated there are 15.9 million employees who are also full-time caregivers. Participants will learn key trends regarding the aging population; the definition of employed caregiver and eldercare; the roots of conflict between employed caregiver needs and employer needs; and specific coping strategies and resources.

Th4)
The Technology Tool to Performance Management Success
Track: Best Practices

Presenters:
John Pyecha, Executive Vice President / Senior Partner, Competitive Solutions, Inc., Alpharetta, GA

This dynamic presentation will demonstrate how organizations can combine business processes with the latest technological tools to successfully achieve key business goals in a more effective and efficient manner. Attendees will gain a great perspective from these improvement processes in business focus, communication and accountability systems.

Th5)
Beyond the Magic 8-Ball; What do Employees REALLY Want?
Track: Employee/Labor Relations

Presenters:
Lynda Silsbee, SPHR, Founder and Principal Consultant, Performance Dimensions Group, Kirkland, WA
Catherine Dovey, CCP, SPHR, Principal, Compensation Works, Seattle, WA

Did you know that Employee Engagement (not satisfaction) is the primary determinant of organizational health? Do you know the engagement scores of your workforce and what they care about most? Are you wondering how to increase Employee Engagement? After our session, you will not need to consult your magic 8-ball for answers. You will know the key drivers of engagement, why employee engagement is so critical to any organization’s success now and in the future, and take away some new tools and practices to improve engagement in your organization.

Th6)
Immigration Law: Work Visas and I-9 Compliance
Track: Legal Areas

This session is designed to familiarize HR personnel with the primary nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories they are likely to encounter in connection with employment of foreign nationals and the requirements and processes for sponsoring foreign nationals for temporary employment visas and permanent residence (green card) based on employment. During this session we also will discuss proper completion of I-9 forms, including acceptable verification documents, re-verification and retention requirements, and how to ensure compliance under IRCA, including I-9 completion policies, conducting self-audits, and electronic I-9 programs. We also will address the steps that need to be taken in the event of a governmental audit and what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) serves a subpoena for a raid.

Thursday, September 18

Concurrent Sessions
10:15 am – 11:45 am

Th7)
Talent, the Global Trends and Labor Market
Track: Strategic Contribution

Presenter:
Rich Doherty, Senior Vice President, Client Services, Right Management, Bellevue, WA

Rich will discuss recent trends in global talent markets and tools Senior HR practitioners have been employing to match their global talent strategies with business strategies. Today's turbulent business environment leaves many HR practitioners struggling to catch up with their business partners. A recent Corporate Leadership Council survey of 550 CEOs ranked the HR function as 10th out of a possible 11 business functions in strategic relevance. Rich will discuss this problem and a path for HR practitioners.

Th8)
Influencing Change in an Organization
Track: Personal Growth/Credibility

Using a case study of a police department, the presenter will illustrate the process an organization used to change its culture over a five-year period. Follow his journey in using a "values" based thought process, and learn how any organization can face and overcome obstacles during a period of change.

Th9)
The Retention Dilemma: Balancing Cost and Benefits
Track: Leadership Training

Presenter:
Kevin Cipoletti, Area Vice President, Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., Bellevue, WA

Participants will learn the methodology for workforce evaluation. This proven strategic approach allows employers to strike the balance between the cost of benefits and employee satisfaction by tailoring programs, communications and work environment to the specific make-up and implicit needs of their workforce.

Th10)
Best Practices in Relocation Cost Savings
Track: Best Practices

Presenter:
Peter Wayman, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Cartus, Danbury, CT

This presentation will provide a detailed overview of the elements and components of total relocation spend. Learning objectives include balancing cost and service demands while facing increasing cost control pressures. The presentation also covers cost control best practices in today's real estate market.

Th11)
Appreciative Inquiry: The Yellow Brick Road
Track: Employee/Labor Relations

Presenter:
Sarah E. Minnis, SPHR, MBA; CEO, Minnis Consulting, LLC, Boise, ID

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a powerful tool that enables HR to focus on “what works” instead of focusing on problems. This interactive session introduces methods for less stress and greater success in individual or organizational change management.

Th12)
HR’s Best Friend? Making Your Employee Handbooks Work for You
Track: Legal Areas

Presenters:
Mary Drobka, JD, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, Seattle, WA
Mark Berry, JD, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, Seattle, WA

Employee handbooks can either be an important tool for you as an HR professional or the thorn in your side. We will explore the important essentials for effective handbooks, the common pitfalls and the latest trends and policies.