CALL FOR PRESENTERS

The Program Committee for the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) – NILG 2025 National Conference is seeking speakers who will innovatively and effectively address topics involving affirmative action, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), equal employment opportunity (EEO), ESG, Ethics, Wage and Hour, pay equity and transparency federal contractor compliance, key employment issues and other related areas of interest to Conference attendees in keeping with our theme of “FOSTERING INCLUSION, ENSURING EQUITY.”

We are looking for new topics and fresh perspectives on EEO compliance and affirmative action efforts, and for how to identify the bridges to drive change through meaningful initiatives. We are especially interested in presentations from employer representatives and experts who have not previously spoken at a NILG National Conference.

While the Conference will present the basic affirmative action, EEO, and regulatory compliance content, we also want to move beyond the basics and continue the conversation on DEIA, ESG, Testing, Wage and Hour, and other specialized topics that can help participants foster inclusion and ensure equity within their organizations for the better. For example, compliance and related employment laws comparisons across states have been highly requested by participants.

About The Conference

The Conference will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center July 22nd – July 25th in National Harbor, MD, and will be the premier meeting ground for EEO, affirmative action, HR compliance, DEIA and ESG representatives. Practitioners from business, educational institutions, government, and not-for-profit organizations attend this annual conference to hear from recognized experts as well as from leaders at federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). We are looking for speakers and participants to come and help us foster inclusion and ensure equity in these important areas.

Conference Benefits

The Conference is an excellent venue for sharing information and networking with professionals working in the EEO, affirmative action, and DEIA fields.
The Conference draws attendees from a broad cross-section of industries and practices including healthcare, aerospace, higher education, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, financial services, technology, and professional services.
The Conference provides presenters with an opportunity to demonstrate expertise in their areas of specialization and interest.
While all speakers must register for the Conference, there is no registration fee for speakers*. Speakers can attend Conference sessions, participate in Conference meals and attend the Exhibitor Receptions at no charge. *Note, there is a maximum of two (2) complimentary registrations per presentation, and all expenses other than Conference registration will be the responsibility of all speaker(s).

Instructions for Submitting a Proposal

If you are interested in presenting at the Conference, please click the “submission form” link at the end of this document.

We are seeking presentations for pre-conference and regular conference sessions. Proposals should be amenable to selection in either pre-conference and conference, but note the following about each session type.

Pre-Conference Sessions (approximately 16 total presentations of 75 minutes each):

These sessions should provide either:

learning opportunities for attendees who are new to the equal opportunity/affirmative action/regulatory compliance field; or
information on highly-specialized topics of interest to advanced practitioners or to practitioners in specific industries or employment sectors such as higher education or construction.

Conference Sessions (approximately 36 presentations of 60 minutes each):

These sessions should be new and innovative presentations that help attendees foster inclusion and ensure equity within their organizations within the EEO, affirmative action, DEIA fields, ESG and other specialized areas.
Other areas of importance are key compliance issues and practical takeaways for conference attendees.

You may submit multiple proposals; however, in most cases speakers will be selected for no more than two conference presentations. We strongly suggest not submitting a presentation that was previously presented at an NILG conference within the last three years – repeat presentations are highly unlikely to be selected. In addition, we limit the number of presentations from a company to four presentations in order to ensure a diverse array of perspectives and topics. For example, one presentation with speakers from company A and B would count as 1 presentation for EACH company. 1 presentation with presenters from company A would count as 1 presentation for company A. Diversity of thought is an important aspect of this conference and can explain why the same topic is presented by different speakers through different lenses. Priority in selection will be given to novel and innovative presentations and to presentations by employees of federal contractors. Interactive audience participation programs would be appreciated. Program Committee Chairs may authorize limited exceptions.

New for 2025: We are introducing enhanced benefits for sponsors. Depending on their sponsorship level, companies must qualify for additional presentation opportunities based on high scores in the blind scoring process.

· Silver = Max of 5 presentations

· Gold = Max of 6 presentations

· Platinum & above = Max of 7 presentations

Note: all proposals will be blind scored by the Programming Committee. Specifically, content will be scored separately from speaker quality. Unknown and new speakers will be provided a neutral score. As a result, content in the proposal is very important in the scoring process. We recommend potential speakers be thoughtful in their proposal(s).

Proposal Deadline

Completed proposals MUST be received by no later than end of day on November 25, 2024. Proposals received after 11:59 PM PST will not be considered.

Presentation Length

Pre-Conference presentation sessions will be 75 minutes. The session length for the Main Conference will be 60 minutes. Speakers should either allow audience questions during their session or leave time for questions at the end to encourage interactive workshops.

Speaker Protocol

Objectives

All speakers at the Conference shall have the primary objective of providing materials of educational, developmental, and/or strategic value to Conference attendees. Each session must have tangible takeaways for attendees. Presentations MUST NOT include any overt solicitation on behalf of any individual, vendor, product, or commercial activity.

References to Materials

If speakers reference materials published by other organizations, they must receive approval to include the detail in their materials. Speakers are responsible for dealing with all copyright issues.

Speaker Submission Deadlines

Speakers MUST adhere to all submission deadlines set by the Conference Program Committee. Prior conferences have routinely experienced presenters not submitting timely materials or complying with other timelines. Attendees have reported that not having all presentation materials impacted their ability to capture key guidance not included in the presenter’s material real-time. As a result, unless an exception has been made by the Program Chair, Teresa Salinas, all session speakers who fail to submit requested materials or meet any submission deadlines will be responsible for their full Conference registration fee, and/or your presentation may be replaced on the agenda.

Speaker Cancellation

If a selected speaker cannot attend the Conference, the Conference Program Committee asks for at least a 60-day notice so that the speaker’s slot can be replaced. Any changes to a presenter or content must be approved by the program Committee. Requests will only be approved in rare circumstances.

Speaker No-Show

Failure by a speaker to appear at the Conference will mean that the speaker’s session will be cancelled. Speakers may not substitute another speaker without express written consent of the Conference Program Committee Chair, Teresa Salinas.

Speaker Attire

Speakers should adhere to business casual attire.

Speaker Technology

Speakers should be able to use microphones, laptop computers, and other tools required for their presentations.

Special Accommodations

The Conference is sensitive to the needs of speakers who require any type of special accommodations. A request for accommodation will have no negative impact on the selection process.

General Guidelines on Presentations

Expectations of Speakers

Exhibit a high level of professionalism.
Provide all materials by the designated deadlines, including timely submission of the presentation materials.
Begin and end presentations on time and allow time questions during or at the end of presentations.
Make presentations as interactive as possible.
Provide all participants with tangible takeaways.
Use the pre-formatted Conference presentation deck.

Speaker and Panel Representatives

Speakers: up to two (2) per presentation.
Panel: Up to three (3) speakers on the panel plus one (1) moderator (but registrations will only be provided for 2 speakers including the moderator).
Additional Speakers: Requests for additional speakers for any particular session beyond the numbers noted above must be approved in advance by the Conference Program Committee. Authorization for additional people will not affect the maximum number of complimentary registrations, which is capped at two (2) per presentation.

Sales Pitches and Promotional Materials

Speakers are not permitted to make sales pitches or include “commercials” as part of their presentations.
Speakers are required to use the PowerPoint template provided. Speakers are asked to provide their bio at the beginning of the presentation.
Promotional materials may not be handed out or provided to participants as part of the formal presentation.

Credits

CLE credits (including ethics and diversity) may be available. Please note that a number of states specifically request a copy of all presentations in order to receive CLE credits.
Business Credits for HRCI may be available.
SHRM credits also may be available.

Exhibitors

Opportunities are available for speakers to be formal Exhibitors at the Conference. If a speaker’s organization is also interested in exhibiting at the Conference, please contact Michael Wade at mwade@perteam.com.

Note: being an exhibitor or sponsor does not guarantee the selection process for proposals. As discussed herein, the process is blind scoring and selection for the program is based on proposals scores balanced with providing a variety of speakers and content.

Criteria for Selection of Speakers

We strive to offer a balanced schedule of programs to address current and emerging topics in the EEO, affirmative action, regulatory compliance, DEIA, and employment areas. Speakers should propose topics that will meet the needs and interests of Conference attendees. We are looking for new and innovative topics as well as presentations by employer representatives who can speak to the effective implementation of affirmative action, DEIA, EEO, ESG, Wage and Hour and other specialized topics in their organizations and communities. Presentations may include practical, immediately applicable work tools or innovative ideas that give Conference attendees insights into how to cope with ongoing changes in the regulatory environment and in the workplace.

There is no requirement that speakers have presented before at a NILG National Conference. We welcome newcomers! Our goal is to find the most effective speakers who can provide interesting, thought-provoking, valuable information to attendees.

The Conference Program Committee will select speakers for the Conference based on the speaker’s presentation abstract, speaker ability, the importance of the subject matter, and the content value-add that the presentation may bring to the Conference. The Conference Program Committee intends to provide a variety of speakers and topics to enhance the Conference program and, as a result, may limit the speaking opportunities for individual presenters. The Conference Program Committee will give particular weight to presentations by employer representatives and to presentations that are novel and innovative.

Participation in Conference planning or acting as a sponsor or exhibitor DOES NOT guarantee selection as a speaker. We do not adhere at any time to “pay to play.” Speakers are selected based on the best topics and presentations as decided by the Program Committee.

There is no guarantee that if speakers who presented at a prior Conference or Conferences will be selected as a speaker for the 2025 Conference.

The Conference Program Chairs will notify selected speakers by January 31, 2025. The Conference Program Committee reserves the right to select all speakers for the Conference and to withdraw offers to speak at the Conference.

Information Needed for Proposal

Interested presenters will need to provide the information on the Submission Form.
SUBMISSION FORM SAMPLE – ALL FIELDS ARE MANDATORY

Entering your Submission

Please click on the link COMPLETE ONLINE CALL FOR PRESENTERS FORM below to complete your submission.

We will be accepting submissions until November 25, 2024.

Presenter/Panelist #1

Presenter Name (Last, First)

Business Title

Presenter Company/Organization Name

Telephone Number
Email Address

Presenter/Panelist #2 (if applicable)

Enter the same information as requested for Presenter/Panelist #1

Panelist #3 (if applicable)

Enter the same of information as requested for Panelist #1

Moderator (if applicable)

Enter the same information as requested for Panelist #1

Presentation Details

All Presentation Content Fields are mandatory submission fields. If a Presentation Content Field is not completed the submission will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered.

Indicate if the proposal is for a presentation or panel discussion
Presentation Title should be short and attention-drawing (8-12 words)

- Presentation Descriptions must be no more than 1,500 characters. This is your opportunity to explain to the Conference Program Committee why your proposal should be selected. You must include:
- A summary of the information you will present,
- How you will share this information with attendees,
- Why this session is important to attendees, and
- How you will incorporate audience interaction into your session.

Submit an Abstract of up to 75 words describing the presentation. This abstract will be included in the Conference program book. The abstract must include at least three (3) learning objectives.
Include a description of the tangible takeaways that participants will learn during your session. Your takeaways will be used to market your speaker session to attendees. Make them catchy and meaningful!
Indicate if the presentation should be considered for the following course credits: HRCI Business Credits, CLE Diversity, Ethics or Civility Credits, or General Credit Only.
Include a biography of up to 100 words for each presenter for inclusion in the program book. The biography should include name; title; organization; what the presenter; background on the presenter; whether the presenter is a member of an ILG; and whether speaker has presented at previous NILG National Conferences.
As a reminder, all proposals will be blind scored by the Programming Committee. Specifically, content will be scored separately from speaker quality. Unknown and new speakers will be provided a neutral score. As a result, content in the proposal is very important in the scoring process. We recommend potential speakers be thoughtful in their proposal(s).

Photo/headshot will be required to be submitted as part of a speakers’ acceptance of the Committee’s offer to present at the Conference.

Video/Audio/Photo Release & Acknowledgement

I understand that, if selected to present at the NILG 2025 National Conference, the NILG may record my session and may post that recording on its website and that the recording would then be publicly available. I also understand that the NILG will use the photo I provide for purposes of promoting the Conference.

By acknowledging below, I irrevocably consent to and authorize the reproduction, publication and/or any other use by the NILG and its licensees and assignees of any video/audio/photographs created for or at the NILG 2025 National Conference, in whole or in conjunction with other video/audio/photographs in any medium currently existing or hereinafter created and for any lawful purpose, including illustration, promotion, advertising or web content, without any royalty or compensation to me.

I assign the NILG any and all rights of ownership to any video/audio/photographs, tapes, transparencies or digital files created for or at the NILG 2025 National Conference and agree that the NILG has full right to copyright, use and publish the same in broadcast, print and/or electronically, with full right of lawful disposition in any manner.

I waive any right to notice, inspection or approval of any use of the video/audio/photographs which the NILG may make or authorize at the NILG 2025 National Conference, and I release NILG from any claim or liability arising from or in connection with NILG’s use of any of these video/audio/photographs or any alteration, processing or use of these materials in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise.

I acknowledge and consent to the foregoing:

Name ____________________________ Date _____________________________

Acknowledgement

I certify that all the information provided is correct and I authorize the NILG 2025 National Conference to use this proposal and all information contained herein for the purposes of review and consideration for selection as a Conference presenter. I acknowledge that I have read all instructions and will adhere to all deadlines, including submission of materials, if my proposal is selected. I agree that I will provide my presentation to the NILG no later than June 23, 2025. I also acknowledge that unless an exception has been approved by the Program Chair, Teresa Salinas, session speakers who fail to timely submit requested materials or meet any submission deadlines will be responsible for their full Conference registration fee, and/or your presentation may be replaced on the agenda.