2023 Session Descriptions

Opening Keynote Address - The Performance Agreement: Creating a Culture of Highly Fulfilled, High-Performing People
Presenter: Gregory Offner

Good organizations develop their employees while great organizations develop their people. And right now you’re thinking: "What’s the difference?" The answer to that question is at the heart of solving leadership challenges, defeating disengagement, and increasing talent retention.

Using stories, statistics, and songs, this keynote will inspire and motivate attendees to take the ‘IRK’ out of WORK, make an impact (not just an income), and create something truly extraordinary every day.

You will learn how to create and increase emotional buy-in from your people.

You'll discover the two actionable steps you can take to perform better personally and professionally, instantly.

You'll be introduced to the psychology of engagement, and how to apply this knowledge to create a culture of leaders who thrive amid change and disruption

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Strategy and Decision-Making: The Logic Model Approach
Presenter: Dr. Sadie Gray

When creating a new initiative or revamping an old one, it often takes a lot of data collecting to visualize the program and its failure points. Logic models, often used in holistic program evaluation, are great for clarifying what the program hopes to achieve, monitoring program activities, and documenting what a program intends to do and what it is actually doing. This presentation provides a research-based approach through repeatable procedural steps and visual models.

Attendees will learn to develop and manage organizational change via Logic Models.

Attendees will learn repeatable procedures for organizational program design.

Attendees will learn to identify and define the requirements for achieving short and long-term goals.

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NLRB Update: Employers Beware
Presenter: Greg Guidry

As all HR pros should have noted, the current NLRB and its General Counsel are on a mission, and that mission is to help unions and employees, not employers. This presentation, by a seasoned labor and employment attorney, will bring you up to date on the radical changes to labor law that have already occurred, as well as others on the wish list of the General Counsel Abruzzo. This topic is not limited to union activity, but also covers the expansion of protected concerted activity by your employees, even in a nonunion setting.

Learn of recent and potential future developments of the National Labor Relations Board which protects concerted activity.

Gain awareness of the aggressive actions of the current NLRB to lessen employer control of the workplace and to make it easier for unions and employees to pursue unionization efforts and to make it easier for employees to establish that their rights to engage in protected concerted activity have been stifled.

Receive a sample checklist of items for review in achieving NLRB compliance.

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Top Family Support & Care Giving Trends & Workplace Strategies
Presenter:  Wendy King

A playbook for understanding innovative benefits including adoption, fertility, elder care and childcare. 

Learn how prevalent the needs within their workforce are concerning caregiving.

Learn how employees who have unmet caregiving needs affect their engagement and productivity and how to influence change.

Gain understanding around family forming solutions like adoption, fertility, egg freezing and IVF.

Gain insight into the vendor landscape and how to lead their organization to solutions to assist with eldercare, child care and family support.

Learn the keys to develop an organizational strategy to address these needs and decrease the risk of dissatisfaction and turnover in their employee population related to antiquated benefit strategies.

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The Performer's Process
Presenter: Gregory Offner

An individual's ability to quickly and effectively learn, unlearn, and re-learn skills is today’s most valuable competitive advantage.

The Performer’s Process is a simple four-step approach which is proven to accelerate the learning process, and reduce ramp-up time across a myriad of skills and industries.

Using stories and examples from the world of entertainment, sports, and business, participants will learn how this process is used by the world's top performing organizations; and how they can implement it in their own work as well.

You will leave with a functional understanding of the four steps.

You will discover why skill acquisition is a competitive advantage, and how to develop it within your organization.

You will learn simple steps they can take to implement The Performer’s Process in your organization's training & development plan.

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Keynote Presentation: A Little Speech About Fire
Presenter: Aileen Bennett

When creating a new initiative or revamping an old one, it often takes a lot of data collecting to visualize the program and its failure points. Logic models, often used in holistic program evaluation, are great for clarifying what the program hopes to achieve, monitoring program activities, and documenting what a program intends to do and what it is actually doing. This presentation provides a research-based approach through repeatable procedural steps and visual models.

Attendees will learn to develop and manage organizational change via Logic Models.

Attendees will learn repeatable procedures for organizational program design.

Attendees will learn to identify and define the requirements for achieving short and long-term goals.

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The Strategy Behind the Leadership
Presenter: Keesha Buteau

Great leadership does not occur by happenstance or coincidence. Great leadership requires intentionality and strategy. This session pulls back the curtain on leadership to reveal the strategies that exist behind all great leaders. Participants will be guided through the steps of creating an intentional leadership strategy by exploring the following key points: The significance of vision The Head, Heart and Hand Leadership Model Modeling resilient leadership

Develop a personal leadership vision statement. Effectively communicate vision in a manner that will motivate employees and departments to accomplish a common goal. Incorporate the Head, Heart and Hand Leadership model within their individual leadership style. Develop a blueprint that will create employee engagement, development and commitment. Identify and demonstrate the qualities of a resilient leader.

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Recession-Proofing Your Organization: Keeping Money in Your Pocket by Creating a Culture of Compliance
Presenter:  Michelle Craig

A playbook for understanding innovative benefits including adoption, fertility, elder care and childcare. 

Learn how prevalent the needs within their workforce are concerning caregiving.

Learn how employees who have unmet caregiving needs affect their engagement and productivity and how to influence change.

Gain understanding around family forming solutions like adoption, fertility, egg freezing and IVF.

Gain insight into the vendor landscape and how to lead their organization to solutions to assist with eldercare, child care and family support.

Learn the keys to develop an organizational strategy to address these needs and decrease the risk of dissatisfaction and turnover in their employee population related to antiquated benefit strategies.

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Impacting Employee Wellness by Supporting Financial Health
Presenter: Lacey Maynor

Financial worry is the leading stressor for the majority of Americans. Employers are at the forefront to offer resources to empower employees make informed financial decisions. Reducing this stressor can lead to more productive time at work, contribute to employee engagement and loyalty and even increase utilization of other benefits. Offering solutions for your employees should be a strategic part of your overall wellness plan and might be easier to implement and friendlier to your budget than you think.

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Branding Strategies to Recruit Top Talent in a Competitive Marketplace
Presenter: Christina Boudreaux

This interactive session will demonstrate to participants how to develop and market a compelling employer value proposition (EVP), a critical organizational strategy, to identify and acquire top talent in today's competitive landscape. Strategies discussed will include differentiating recruitment brand and approach to build an overall recruitment marketing plan to recruit and retain the best talent.

organizations to recruit and retain top talent.

Outline the structure of successful recruitment campaigns to convey the EVP and enhance candidate pipelines.

Identify opportunities to leverage internal employees in the branding strategy, while demonstrating trust and authenticity as brand ambassadors.

Establish an understanding of modern tools and technology to accelerate reach and increase candidate flow.

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Inflation and Your Organization
Presenters: Sommer Mason & Tom Tielbur

Each person’s definition of their own financial wellbeing is constantly evolving with the economy, the industry, and their own progress. Today, Inflation is impacting the workforce in more ways that just higher wages and prices at the checkout lane. Learn how you can strategically position and differentiate your compensation and benefit programs to recruit and retain in today’s competitive labor market.

Exploring the current compensation landscape to help you develop and stay in front with a compensation strategy

An understanding of the recently passed SECURE 2.0 legislation and how you can position your retirement program to be a differentiator amongst your peers

Review strategies for designing a best-fit total rewards offering inclusive of key considerations and market trends

Learn the importance of defining a compensation philosophy and staying aligned with it long term

Solutions to support employee unexpected, day-to-day and future financial needs

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Challenges while leading a multi-generational workforce
Presenter:  Magdalen "Mag" Bickford

Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce” will provide relevant employment law and practical advice regarding intergenerational workplaces as we learn how communication styles can affect productivity and morale.

Learn to communicate with those from other generations to maximize and leverage the talents and opportunity which diverse generational teams bring to the workplace in a legally compliant manner. Navigate the legal and practical issues of an age-diverse workforce. Identify and avoid making age-based assumptions that diminish respect and trust, and can lead to litigation.

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Managing Current Compensation Challenges
Presenter: James "Jim" Stodd

You came to work early today with the hope of having some “quite time” to catch-up on that lengthy “to-do” list that seems to be growing each day. After a few minutes of peace, and half-way through your first cup of coffee, the phone rings and it’s your Procurement Manager who needs your help…right now! The manager informs you that one of his top employees just notified him of an offer she’s received from another employer, which includes a 20% pay increase. In addition, she told him that folks throughout the department have been talking about looking for work elsewhere, and that she shared her “good news” with 3 others in the department before coming to his office to discuss options. The manager is adamant that he cannot afford to lose these people and wants to counter-offer even though he knows that in doing so, this scenario will likely be repeated again and again, and that those willing to quit will likely negotiate pay rates far above their comparably qualified peers. Now he wants to know what you are willing to do to help him. Can you relate???

Understanding the critical economic and psychological forces driving “job changers” vs “job stayers” in today’s labor market.

Developing and implementing a “data-driven” human resource strategy that is responsive to the challenges of the day.

Adopting proactive strategies to the “salary compression” epidemic that is permeating today’s workplace, keep it from spreading, or better yet, “prevent” it from occurring in the first place.

Building a “business case” to support your strategies and plans.

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What Now? ...Company Culture in a Changing World
Presenter: Aileen Bennett

In a recent survey the most common reason for quitting was ‘culture’ - the very thing that we have been told was vital to the workplace. What now?

Culture v Strategy

Workplace practices aligned with organizations statements of vision, values and ethics

Interviewing skills

Marketing and branding

Impact of rewards on recruitment and retention

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Panel Discussion for Students and Emerging Professionals
Presenters: Dominique Juneau, Kylie Miller & Susie Cox

Join us for a panel discussion with local emerging professionals. We will learn about why they chose HR as a career, the challenges of finding a job, and how to progress in the HR field.

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Keynote Presentation: Be the One You Need
Presenter: Sophia Nelson

Drawing on lessons learned during the pandemic as chronicled in her 2022 memoir, Sophia Nelson shows audiences that doing the work of meaningful and consistent self-care not only makes us happier, but better spouses, parents, siblings, lovers, employers, and neighbors. and outlook.

How to manage your emotions before they manage you

How to protect your peace

Why the most important relationship you have is with yourself

How to be intentional about your choices

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After College
Presenters: Edward Gibbons, Ph.D.

Learn about the value of internships and networking opportunities for career development. Discover how internships provide practical experience and networking opportunities to connect with professionals and potential employers. We will discuss how to build a professional network and develop a strong personal brand to stand out in a competitive job market. We'll also cover how geographical location can impact job opportunities and learn how to navigate these factors strategically. A college degree alone isn't enough, so we will also explore complementary skills and experiences such as internships, volunteer work, and professional development to enhance your qualifications and make you more competitive upon graduation.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the value of internship and networking opportunities for career development: Identify the benefits of internships and networking events to enhance career prospects. Students will learn how internships provide practical experience and networking opportunities connect them with professionals and potential employers.

Through internships, students apply the theories learned in the classroom and gain practical skills relevant to their HR career interests. Internships also provide students with a glimpse into the real-world work environment and culture. Students will learn about the expectations and norms of the workplace and understand how to navigate different types of work environments. They will also learn about the importance of professional conduct and ethics in the workplace.

Build a professional network: Students will learn how to build a network of contacts through attending networking events, internships, and interacting with HR professionals. They will learn how to communicate effectively and establish professional relationships, which can help them in finding job opportunities and gaining references.

Understand the importance of personal branding: Students will learn how to market themselves effectively to potential employers by developing a strong personal brand. They will learn how to showcase their skills and achievements, and how to create a positive online presence, which can help them stand out in a competitive job market.

Understand how geographical location can impact job opportunities: Students will be able to recognize the potential influence of their place of birth on their job prospects. They will learn how factors such as local industries, economic conditions, and cultural factors can affect job availability and requirements in different regions, and how to strategically navigate these factors to increase their chances of success in their job search.

A college degree alone, isn’t enough: Students will learn that while a college degree is a valuable asset, it may not be enough by itself to establish a successful career. Students will learn how developing complementary skills and experiences such as internships, volunteer work, and professional development can enhance their qualifications and make them more competitive in the job market.

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Aligning Data & Strategy: Starting with You at the Center
Presenters: Jamila Brown, Candyce Hunt, & Alicia Wade

Overlooking or undervaluing the quantitative measures used to assess the performance of a business in achieving its strategic goals and objectives is not an option in the 21st century.

What's required to align data & strategy starting with you at the center:

· Flexing skills that you may have to dust off to "get it right the first time" is a mandate.

· Leadership as an HR management skill from a 360-degree perspective.

· Accurate forecasting in a season of uncertainty with data points that have proven constant.

Develop and align workplace practices that support and embody the organization's statements of vision, values, ethics, and strategic goals.

Learn to influence and execute workplace practices that support and embody the organization's statements of vision, values, ethics, and strategic goals.

Assess and align organizational performance with the organization's strategic goals effectively and efficiently.

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Best Practices for Addressing EEOC Complaints and Preventing Retaliation
Presenter: Marina Guerra

The steps you take once you receive a complaint are crucial to conducting a proper internal investigation. It is more than just asking the right questions. Knowing the proper interviewing techniques and when to use them is key to a successful investigation.

Participants will learn to develop, implement and oversee strategies to increase employee retention, satisfaction and performance via proper classification and compensation programs and practices.

Discuss the EEOC’s perspective on different investigative tools

Share how to obtain the relevant information the first time

Share best practices for preventing retaliation following complaints of harassment and discrimination

Learn how to avoid bias during investigations

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Workplace Strategies for Mental Health Month
Presenter: Sommer Mason & Sarah Green

The pandemic has brought attention to the importance of emotional wellbeing and its connection to overall organizational success. With employees eager for help thriving at work, home, and in their communities, employers have an opportunity to set themselves apart by taking action now.

Discuss overall trends and concerns organizations are facing

Learn effective holistic human resource strategies to solve for workplace mental health

Leave with a summary of best practices to support improved workforce mental health

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Inclusion is the New Diversity
Presenter: Sophia Nelson

Sophia Nelson makes the case for why corporations must shift from a diversity model to a truly “inclusive” workplace where women, people of color, people of faith, and all have a voice in corporate management, strategy and outlook.

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Creating, Reinforcing, and Coaching a Company’s Purpose and Values
Presenter: Ross Trahan

A Process for Creating Vision, Mission, Values

Facilitation and Coaching Skills Needed in Utilizing Creation Process

Ways to Drive Mission and Values Throughout an Organization

Ways to Reinforce Missions and Values

Facilitation and Communication Skills Needed to Reinforce Mission and Values

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Avoiding the Pitfalls of Worker Misclassification
Presenter: Jay Stovall

Avoiding the most common pitfalls of worker misclassification, both as an employee v. independent contractor and as exempt v. non-exempt.

Participants will be empowered to more fully lead the HR function in their organizations by developing HR strategies to ensure compliance with both state and federal law regarding the classification of applicants and employees as either employees or independent contractors and as either exempt or non-exempt from overtime compensation.

Participants will learn how to develop organizational strategies and management practices to ensure that misclassification of applicants and employees is avoided, and identified and corrected if necessary.

Participants will be enabled to influence management to develop and implement strategies to mitigate the risk of misclassification of applicants and employees.

Participants will learn to develop, implement and oversee strategies to increase employee retention, satisfaction and performance via proper classification and compensation programs and practices.

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Infusing Inclusion to Attract and Keep Your Talent
Presenter: Thaisha Amen

At a time when candidates are demanding more and employee turnover is increasing, inclusion must be an integral part of your talent strategy. Learn how to rethink current approaches by embedding inclusion across the talent life cycle to attract and keep your talent.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn how to promote diversity by creating an inclusive culture.
• Participants will learn how to infuse inclusion into organizational strategy to rethink current talent processes and policies.
• Participants will be given tips on how to adopt inclusive practices using change management best practices.

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Reducing Burnout: Questions Leaders Forget to Ask Themselves
Presenter: Dr. Sadie Gray

Industries face difficulties navigating a new landscape where employees are willing now more than ever to leave their employment. Creating psychological safety through trust and communication has been shown to reduce employee turnover. This presentation defines and identifies the tenets of adult psychology that can influence your work environment for the better.

Attendees will learn the psychological needs of their employees based on longstanding principles of adult motivation.

Attendees will learn the importance of feedback mechanisms and examples of how to implement them starting tomorrow for a healthy culture of communication.

Attendees will learn the inherent dignity and trust-building of allowing the team to incorporate their knowledge into the goal.

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Creating a Compelling Business Case: More than just data to hone your Strategic Orientation and Business Acumen
Presenters: Jamila Brown, Candyce Hunt, & Alicia Wade

Creating a compelling business case provides a clear and persuasive argument for why an initiative is worth pursuing, including the benefits it will deliver and the resources required to achieve those benefits.

From forecasting, to influence, alignment, and communication to the ROI this workshop will provide you with insights and best practices to deliver your next business case.

In this workshop you will learn, interact, and gain hacks to add to your HR toolkit to create a compelling business case for business partners.

Gathering, analyzing, aligning communicating, and measuring the impact of HR initiatives to create sustainable programs and systems necessary for human capital maximization.

Apply experience, exposure, and education to the development, implementation, and progression of the vision, mission, and strategic goals of an organization.

Leverage emotional intelligence competencies like influence, effective communication, and organizational awareness to effectively manage relationships with key stakeholders.

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In the Weeds: An Update on Marijuana Laws
Presenter: Erin Kilgore & Brian Carnie

According to a new Gallup poll, more people are smoking marijuana than cigarettes. Louisiana, among other states, has recently expanded who is eligible to legally use medical marijuana. Brian Carnie and Erin Kilgore will discuss recent changes to state laws concerning marijuana, including how employers should handle positive drug tests for marijuana, whether you need a separate policy for employees who use medical marijuana, and other best practices.

Update on status of legislation

Creating the right policy for your organization

Complying with ADA & EEOC

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2023 Employee Benefits Trends: The Evolving Workplace
Presenter: Patrick Morrison, RHU

Touches on Shifting Employee Expectations, Mental Health, Changes in the healthcare economics and final legislation updates.

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Workplace Empathy and Compassion Fatigue: How HR Teams Without These Skills Are Impacting Their Workplace Culture
Presenter: Dr. Mechelle Roberthon

A recent survey shows that 98% of HR professionals are burned out (Workvivo)! Would you count yourself in that group of 98%? It is completely human to be burnout with your work, but are you burnout with being empathetic and compassionate to the people you serve? It takes many skills to be an effective and impactful human resources professional. Two of the skills that are artfully required are empathy and compassion. In this session, Dr. Mechelle Roberthon will lead participants through a meaningful discussion about:

• What empathy and compassion means
• Why these skills are needed for HR professionals.
• Self-care to protect HR pros from empathy and compassion fatigue.
• The impact to the workplace culture when empathy and compassion fatigue are unaddressed.

Come refill your empathy and compassion cup in this session!

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Closing General Session: Legal Panel: Don't leave your company in Jeopardy
Panelist: Jay Stovall and Andrew Halverson

In this closing legal general session, attendees will have an opportunity to test their employment law knowledge with an interactive game show format. The game board will feature questions on our most pressing HR topics such as compensation, hostile work environments, handbooks, recent case law and more.

Learning Objectives:

Understand application of current employment law.

Debunk employment law myths.

Discover opportunities to update human resources procedures.

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