HRM, HRCI and CLE credits will be available for attendees of this conference
HRM, HRCI and CLE credits will be available for attendees of this conference
Retired NASA astronaut
A retired NASA astronaut, Joan Higginbotham is a trailblazing electrical engineer, who in December 2006, flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery to become the third African American woman to travel into space. On the nearly 13-day mission, the seven-member crew continued construction of the International Space Station (ISS), embarking on four space walks with Higginbotham operating the station’s robotic arm.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Higginbotham utilizes the International Space Station as the backdrop for sharing insights and lessons learned during her 20-year distinguished career with NASA, while inspiring and captivating audiences with her personal journey of breaking barriers to boldly go where few have gone: space. In doing so, she highlights the keys to succeeding in her missions – including seizing opportunities, being prepared, perseverance, working with diverse teams, and thriving in demanding, high-stakes environments – as well as how these tactics can be applied to any endeavor.
A real-life rocket scientist, Higginbotham began her career at NASA in 1987 as an aerospace technologist at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, where she worked her way through numerous promotions and actively participated in 53 space shuttle launches during her 9-year tenure. Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1996, she reported to the Johnson Space Center and was assigned various technical duties including testing modules of the ISS for operability, compatibility, and functionality prior to launch. Higginbotham has logged more than 308 hours in space, retiring in 2007 after 20 years with NASA, joining Marathon Oil to manage their corporate social responsibility office and the Bioko Island Malaria Control Program in Equatorial Guinea, Africa.
Widely recognized for her accomplishments, Higginbotham has been honored by President George W. Bush at the 81st White House Black History Month Celebration, featured in Alicia Keys’ Superwoman video, is the recipient of the National Space Medal, the Adler Planetarium Women in Space Award, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and was named one of Savoy Magazine’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America and one of Essence Magazine’s Top 50 Women, among other accolades.
Chief Accessibility Officer - Microsoft
As Chief Accessibility Officer of Microsoft Corporation, Jenny champions inclusion, equity, and views accessibility as a fundamental right. Joining Microsoft in 2005 to work on Hotmail and Bing, Jenny’s passion for accessibility led to the creation of the Disability Employee Resource Group at Microsoft, and her current role as CAO. Jenny has spearheaded the company’s comprehensive approach to accessibility since 2016, driving accountability across the company, and fostering a disability inclusive culture. From engineering processes, physical accessibility to skilling and inclusive hiring, Jenny advocates for inclusion of disabled talent as a driving force to deliver next generation technology, programs, and partnerships. Jenny identifies as deaf and disabled and believes accessibility is essential to innovation.
Assistant General Counsel - Microsoft
Stephanie is Assistant General Counsel for Microsoft leading their Workforce Regulations and Policy team. Stephanie's 10+ year career at Microsoft has been dedicated to addressing workforce issues, including artificial intelligence (AI) and Diversity & Inclusion. She is passionate about the intersection of law, technology, and people, and spearheading partnerships that define the future of work to benefit employers and employees alike. Through her advice on public policy and OFCCP issues, she often partners with Microsoft's Accessibility team.
Founder & CEO - BufferSprings
Rob Arndt, CEO & Founder of BufferSprings, is a distinguished veteran with a remarkable 14-year career in the United States Marine Corps. Rob actively deployed with the Marines and after returning from Iraq, contributed eight years to armed forces recruitment and retention, Rob possesses a wealth of experience in understanding and leveraging military talent.
His journey extends beyond service; As a seasoned subject matter expert, he now guides organizations in unlocking the value of military professionals. Under Rob's leadership, BufferSprings stands as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB), embodying an unwavering commitment to excellence in service delivery for clients and the veteran community. Rob's strategic acumen has left an indelible mark on a diverse range of clients, from Fortune 500 corporations to esteemed government agencies. His profound understanding of military talent and commitment to diversity and inclusion position him as a catalyst for creating workplaces that thrive on the unique contributions of dynamic individuals. In his current role, Rob leads BufferSprings in delivering innovative recruitment and compliance strategies. His bio reflects a journey from the frontlines of military service to the forefront of shaping inclusive and diverse workplaces.
Partner - McGuireWoods, LLP
Brian Barger is a labor and employment partner at McGuireWoods LLP with 30+ years of experience, focused on federal affirmative action law and strategic employment risk management. Mr. Barger defends clients in affirmative action systemic discrimination enforcement claims, audits, and complaint investigations throughout the country. He also regularly works on preparing affirmative action plans and counseling clients regarding applicant tracking and selection system design, diversity initiatives, compensation analyses, and pre-employment testing. Mr. Barger received his undergraduate (B.A., 1987) and law (J.D., 1990) degrees from the University of Virginia, both with honors, and is a member of the Charlotte ILG.
NILG presentations: 2023 National ILG Meeting (8/3/22): "Diverse Slate Policies: Tackling the Models and Risks of the NFL 'Rooney Rule' in Hiring"; 2022 National ILG Meeting (7/27/22): Disparate Impact Discrimination Law, Lore, Lies and Liability; 2021 National ILG Meeting (8/1/21): No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Legal Issues and Risk Considerations in Implementing ERGs; (2019 National ILG Meeting (7/30/19): Let’s Play Jeopardy: OFCCP Questions and Answers; 2018 National ILG Meeting (8/1/18): Temp to Perm: Practical Issues and Options for Addressing Compliance; 2017 National ILG meeting (8/3/17): Corporate Diversity Initiatives, Evaluating and Managing Relative Component Risk.
Of Counsel - FortneyScott LLC
Nita Beecher is a nationally recognized expert on Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) matters. She is Counsel to Fortney & Scott, LLC with a focus on OFCCP regulatory affairs. Ms. Beecher’s primary focus is labor and employment law with substantial experience with class investigations by the EEOC and OFCCP. She has more than 40 years of experience in labor and employment law particularly with class investigations by the OFCCP and the EEOC. A member of the Saint Louis ILG where she presents regularly, Ms. Beecher has presented at the National ILG nearly every year since her first appearance in 2004.
Assistant General Counsel - Microsoft
Stephanie is Assistant General Counsel for Microsoft leading their Workforce Regulations and Policy team. Stephanie's 10+ year career at Microsoft has been dedicated to addressing workforce issues, including artificial intelligence (AI) and Diversity & Inclusion. She is passionate about the intersection of law, technology, and people, and spearheading partnerships that define the future of work to benefit employers and employees alike. Through her advice on public policy and OFCCP issues, she often partners with Microsoft's Accessibility team.
Vice President - Charles River Associates
Hossein Borhani conducts statistical and economic analysis of employment data and provides court testimony in large class action cases involving claims of discrimination in employment, housing, and mortgages. His work also includes analyses of employment issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and analysis of pricing issues in antitrust litigation. Hossein Borhani is a Vice President at Charles River Associates (CRA).
Managing Partner - NT Lakis, LLP
Michael is a partner at the employer side law firm of NT Lakis, LLP where he advises clients on a myriad of workplace compliance issues with a focus on federal contractor/OFCCP obligations and pay equity. He helps clients with government reporting and proactive EEO/diversity initiatives, and defends employers of all sizes against government audits and investigations. When not practicing law, Michael can be found adventuring in the outdoors with his wife and three young children.
Shareholder - FortneyScott LLC
Elizabeth B. Bradley, Esq. has over twenty years of experience representing employers and federal contractors in litigation and mediation matters before state and federal agencies and courts, as well as counseling and training private, public, and non-profit employers in all aspects of employment law. Ms. Bradley has extensive knowledge and experience in counseling clients in employment law matters unique to federal contractors including OFCCP and prevailing wage compliance. She has represented U.S. corporations in successfully defending against OFCCP’s review of the contractor’s utilization rates and compensation practices.
Associate Director, Affirmative Action Programs - RTX (Formerly Raytheon)
C. Timothy Branner, An accomplished management professional with thirty-plus years of experience in advancing diverse talent acquisition, equal employment, and compliance, is currently the Associate Director of Affirmative Action Programs with Raytheon Technologies (RTX). In this role, Tim is responsible for directional leadership of Raytheon's Affirmative Action objectives and related strategic initiatives, partnerships, and activities.
Tim’s commitment to community and civic leadership includes roles on the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Greater Hartford, a past member of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation's (Amtrak) Customer Advisory Committee (ACAC) and the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees.
Partner - Proskauer
Guy Brenner is a Partner in Proskauer’s Labor & Employment Law Department and leads the Firm’s Washington, D.C. Labor & Employment practice. He is head of the firm’s Government Contractor Compliance Group, and co-head of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Group. Guy regularly advises federal government contractors and subcontractors all aspects of OFCCP regulations and requirements, including preparing affirmative action plans, complying with the myriad of OFCCP regulatory requirements, and representing contractors in OFCCP audits. Guy is a member of the WMILG and currently serves on its Board. Guy has presented at several NILG conferences.
Director, Institutional Equity and EEO - Princeton University
Cheri supports Princeton University’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access by coordinating the University’s affirmative action programs; ensuring compliance with state and federal laws through policy development, training, and consultation; and overseeing Princeton’s response programs for incidents of bias, discrimination, harassment, and cyber-harassment.
With nearly 30 years’ experience in non‐discrimination, fair employment practices and employment law, Cheri has held positions in private practice, government, corporate, and higher education. She is a member and former chair of the New Jersey ILG and has presented at ILG and other national conferences on topics related to DEI in higher education.
Chair – EEOC
Charlotte A. Burrows was designated by President Biden as Chair of the EEOC on Jan. 20, 2021. She was initially nominated to serve as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2014 and then re-nominated in 2019. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed her to a second term ending in 2023.
Chair Burrows has advocated for strong civil rights protections and robust cooperation between the Commission, employers, and employees to advance equal opportunity in the workplace. She seeks to enhance the Commission's enforcement of all laws within its jurisdiction, focusing in particular on initiatives to combat harassment, foster pay equity, and advance diversity and inclusion. While at the Commission, she has worked to increase the agency's outreach to Native Americans, vulnerable immigrant and migrant communities, and other traditionally underserved populations. In addition, Chair Burrows is particularly interested in the impact of technology and big data on civil rights and employee privacy.
Manager of Compensation Services - Berkshire Associates
Thomas Carnahan, Ph.D is the Manager of Compensation Services and is responsible for managing Berkshire’s pay equity line of business by promoting the ability to conduct meaningful, statistical analyses of clients’ compensation data to ensure fair pay and compliance. With more than 20 years of experience, Thomas possesses advanced-level data capabilities and an extensive background that informs his work with clients, enabling him to deliver customized insights and fuel actionable strategies around pay equity and compensation. Thomas is rapidly becoming a sought-after speaker on pay-related issues – most recently presenting at regional ILGs, NILG, AAAED, and World at Work.
Branch Chief - U.S. Department of Labor
Quintin Carter serves as the Acting Deputy Director of Program Operations for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor. Mr. Carter joined OFCCP as a Program Analyst and served as the agency’s subject matter expert on performance reporting. Prior to joining OFCCP, Mr. Carter’s background in budget and financial operations was developed while working at the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Agriculture, the District of Columbia’s Department of Health, and Citigroup. Mr. Carter holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Masters of Business Administration in Accounting.
Senior Advisor Higher Education - </br>Center for Workplace Compliance
Inderdeep Chatrath, PH.D. is a thought leader and consultant engaged in enhancing diversity and equity. She is leading the Center for Workplace Compliance’s Higher Education Initiative to support universities in their development and implementation of high-impact workplace compliance, DEI, and risk management programs.
Dr. Chatrath served as Assistant Vice President of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action in the Office for Institutional Equity at Duke University/ Health System for 20 years. She offered guidance to peer institutions managing compliance and developing/formulating AAPs. She served on the Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations U.S. Census Bureau and on the National Industry Liaison Group Advisory Council.
Principal Attorney - Silberman Law, PC
Chris Chrisbens is a Principal attorney with Silberman Law, PC. He represents management in employment matters, focusing on affirmative action and OFCCP audit defense, pay equity, and DEI. Over his years as an attorney, manager, trainer and workplace investigator, Chris has developed a diverse array of employment law skills serving employers in a variety of legal and corporate settings. Chris joined Silberman Law after years as a manager of affirmative action planning and OFCCP audit defense. Chris earned a B.S. degree in international business from the University of Colorado, and his J.D. degree from the University of Illinois.
Sr. Specialist, Diversity and Inclusion - Merck & Co, Inc.
John Claus has 28 years with Merck—including 23 years in HR compliance. Mr. Claus manages the 30+ Functional Affirmative Action Programs (FAAP) for Merck’s US and Puerto Rico workforce. He helped to launch the Veterans Leadership Network EBRG in 2009. He is a long-time member of the ILG and served for 4 years in the New Jersey ILG Chapter—including the role of Chairperson in 2018. Work experience also includes reviewing EEO related policies, creating a global diversity & inclusion fundamentals module, self-id campaigns (e.g., Military Spouses), and informing strategy regarding compliance with all levels of governmental law.
Director, Audit & HR Services - Berkshire Associates
As Director of Audit & HR Services for Berkshire Associates, Lynn A. Clements oversees Berkshire’s Pay Equity, HR Services and Audit Defense practices. With 25 years of experience in the EEO and affirmative action space -- including eight years working as a senior official at EEOC and OFFCP -- Lynn brings a unique blend of regulatory knowledge and compliance experience to every project. Lynn is a faculty member at the Institute for Workplace Equality, co-authored the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Fall 2017 Report on Recommendations for Reform of the OFCCP, and has testified before Congress on EEO and pay equity issues. Lynn is secretary of the Baltimore ILG and has presented at national and local ILGs for over 15 years.
President - DCI Consulting
David Cohen is the founder and President of DCI Consulting. He provides consulting services to employers and management law firms on a wide range of human resource risk management strategies, particularly in the areas of EEO/affirmative action program development, systemic compensation statistical analyses, comprehensive human resources self-audits, and employee selection and test validation. In addition, Mr. Cohen is the co-founder of The Institute for Workplace Equality, a national nonprofit employer association that trains and educates federal contractors in understanding and complying with their affirmative action and equal employment obligations.
Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy - DCI Consulting
Joanna Colosimo is the Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy at DCI Consulting. Joanna has extensive experience working with Fortune 1000 clients to conduct and interpret complex analytics in the EEO context. Often, these analyses are conducted in response to formal high-stakes investigations initiated by Federal EEO enforcement agencies. Her background is primarily focused on the management and execution of pay equity and affirmative. Working in the field of industrial and organizational psychology since 2006, Joanna presents current OFCCP events which are distributed to the contractor community. She is the Past President of the WMILG.
Associate Director of Compliance and Data Solutions - DCI Consulting
Rosemary Cox is currently Associate Director of Compliance and Data Solutions at DCI Consulting Group, headquartered in Washington, DC, where she leads a team of consultants and data analysts.
Rosemary and her team provide consultation and data management specific to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action statutes and regulations. Specifically, Rosemary’s area of expertise includes AAP reporting, data reconciliation and management, recruitment process and metrics, strategic audit discussions, mock audits, compliance and diversity/inclusion training and strategy.
Rosemary is co-chair of DCIAbilities, a disability resource group and is a board member for the Ohio Industry Liaison Group (OILG) and an active member of the American Association for Access Equity and Diversity (AAAED), National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Rosemary, in addition to training as part of her job, has presented at several ILG groups across the country (Ohio, Minneapolis, Arizona, and Texas) as well as at numerous NILG and AAAED Conferences.
EEO and Diversity Data Analyst - Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding
Mark Craig is currently EEO and Diversity Data Analyst at Ingalls Shipbuilding a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula Mississippi where he manages the affirmative action plans, supports 9 ERGs, and supports the D&I strategic plan for the organization. Mark is the project lead for the hiring process improvement team, and the WorkKeys administration guide team. Where he makes recommendations that help keep the organization in compliance. Mark works with chief legal counsel to ensure audit compliance working across with multiple branches of the organization to ensure consistent application of company policy as well as messaging for the D&I Strategic plan. Prior to moving to the office of EEO and Diversity Mark was a Labor Relations Representative where he and his team represented 13 unions with 9 separate collective bargaining agreements covering over 7,000 represented employees.
Equity Partner - Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP
Cara Y. Crotty is a Partner in the Columbia, South Carolina office of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, where she practices employment litigation and affirmative action and is Chair of the firm’s Affirmative Action/OFCCP Compliance practice group. Cara advises all aspects of affirmative action compliance, plan development, and OFCCP compliance reviews. Cara also represents clients in all varieties of employment-related lawsuits and provides preventative advice to companies. Cara is Counsel to the NILG, a member of the SCILG, and routinely speaks to employer organizations and HR professionals, including the NILG, on affirmative action and employment law issues.
Senior Associate, Fair Employment Practices Compliance - Ernst & Young LLP
Austin is a Sr Compliance Associate at EY, that artfully manages massive data sets and streamlines Affirmative Action Plans. His diverse roles have shaped his understanding of HR compliance and OFCCP regulations. At various national and global firms, he effectively managed and supported Affirmative Action compliance, D&I initiatives, maintained hundreds of AAPs, and championed inclusivity. Marked by his comprehensive expertise and passion for the industry, Austin consistently strives to enhance workplace inclusivity and compliance, establishing himself as an invaluable asset. He is a KCILG Member, Kansas State University graduate, with certifications in Affirmative Action Compliance, Data Analytics, and a SHRM-CP.
Associate Solicitor - Civil Rights & Labor-Management Division (DOL)
Beverly Dankowitz has served as the Associate Solicitor for the Civil Rights and Labor-Management Division (CRLM) since May 2016. Prior to her appointment as Associate Solicitor, Ms. Dankowitz served as the Deputy Associate Solicitor for CRLM for five years. In this position, she oversees the Division within the Office of the Solicitor that provides legal services to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), Civil Rights Center (CRC), Women’s Bureau, Office of Disability Policy and to several other agencies on civil rights-related issues.
Ms. Dankowitz has been an attorney in CRLM and its predecessor, the Civil Rights Division, since 1985, serving as a trial attorney, Assistant Counsel, and Counsel. As Counsel for Litigation and Regional Coordination for 10 years, she supervised the division's enforcement-related activity under OFCCP’s laws, monitored OFCCP enforcement activity nation-wide and provided advice to OFCCP and the Regional Solicitors' Offices. She successfully resolved a number of systemic hiring discrimination cases, some in partnership with RSOL, oversaw administrative appeals that led to favorable final agency decisions, worked with DOJ successfully to defend final agency decisions and developed nation-wide procedures to strategically select cases for enforcement and improve the effectiveness of conciliation agreements.
Ms. Dankowitz received her J.D. from American University and her undergraduate degree from the University at Albany - SUNY.
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Michelle Duncan is a Principal in the Denver office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Michelle is a seasoned professional who represents employers in affirmative action and employment discrimination matters before OFCCP. She counsels employers on the design and implementation of company-wide AAP structures, applicant tracking systems, pre-employment tests, the use of AI and other real-world compliance issues. Michelle is Co-Chair of the Colorado ILG, on the faculty of The Institute for Workplace Equality and the American Association for Access Equity and Diversity. She is a frequent speaker on topics related to affirmative action, employment discrimination and the use of AI in hiring. Michelle is the Co-Chair of the Colorado ILG. Lisa is an active member and frequent presenter at the Colorado ILG. In 2023, Michelle presented two sessions at the NILG National Conference: “The Internet Applicant Rule and Beyond: Data Refinement Strategies” and “Recommendations from an Artificial Intelligence Technical Advisory Committee.” Over the years, Michelle has presented at many local ILG events including sessions for: Northern California ILG, Arizona ILG, Washington Metro ILG, Baltimore ILG, San Antonio ILG, North Texas ILG, Midlands ILG, Indiana ILG, South Carolina ILG , Greater Houston ILG .
Vice President, Employment and Litigation Services - DCI Consulting
Dr. Eric M. Dunleavy is Vice President of the Employment and Litigation Services Division at DCI Consulting Group, where he leads a group of Industrial/Organizational Psychologists and Labor Economists involved in a wide variety of personnel selection, work analysis, workforce analytics, and litigation support projects. Dr. Dunleavy has a unique perspective as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist practicing within the EEO landscape and frequently performs independent evaluations of HR practices. A number of recent projects have focused on artificial intelligence tools used in employment decision making. He has testified before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on matters related to big data/people analytics in employment and has been involved in a number of technical advisory committees related to artificial intelligence.
Partner - Duane Morris LLP
Christopher Durham practices in the area of employment law, providing strategic employment advice and counseling to employers and representing clients on various employment issues and matters. He regularly counsels businesses on affirmative action/OFFCP compliance, AAP development and implementation, and defends contractors in OFCCP audits. Mr. Durham represents businesses before courts and administrative agencies in employment disputes, including the defense of employment discrimination and retaliation claims, and wage and hour litigation. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a magna cum laude graduate of Miami University. Mr. Durham is a member of the Philadelphia ILG.
Associate - Ogletree Deakins
Morgan helps employers with OFCCP Compliance and Government Reporting, Pay Equity, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She advises federal contractors in construction and other industries, including analyzing coverage under federal regulations and translating complex compliance obligations into best practices for personnel-data management and analysis. Morgan assists clients in preparing affirmative action programs, and construction contractors in navigating the 16 affirmative action steps to develop and implement compliance programs. She advises employers on strategically integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with compliance requirements and brings her litigation experience to defend construction and supply and service clients in compliance reviews.
Vice President - Charles River Associates
Dr. Valentin Estevez is a labor economist and Vice President at Charles River Associates, where he consults and serves as an expert witness in employment discrimination and wage and hour matters. He regularly prepares proactive statistical analyses of compliance with pay equity, wage and hour, and artificial intelligence usage regulations. Dr. Estevez also supports companies undergoing audits from government agencies such as the EEOC, OFCCP, and the California CRD. Dr. Estevez has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. He is a member of the NILG Advisory Council and a lecturer in economics at Texas A&M University.
EEO/AA Compliance Director Employment Law - PEPSICO - NILG 2024 National Conference Co-Chair
Kevin Fitzpatrick is Co-Chair of the NILG 2024 National Conference. He is the EEO/AA Compliance Director – Employment Law Team at PepsiCo. He is an experienced Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a demonstrated history of working in the food and beverages industry. He is skilled in Consumer Products, Sales, Pricing Strategy, Management, and Shopper Marketing. He is a strong finance professional with a Masters focused in Human Resource Education. Kevin is a member of the NILG Board representing the Southwest Region, served on the Board’s Executive Committee and Chaired the NILG 2021 National Conference. He is a member of the North Texas ILG.
Co-Founder, FortneyScott LLC
David S. Fortney, co-founder of Fortney & Scott, LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm and former Acting Solicitor of Labor, has a broad-based practice representing and counseling employers and executives in employment and labor matters, including legal compliance with equal employment opportunity requirements and effective diversity, equity and inclusion and pay equity initiatives, wage and hour matters, and federal contractor’s affirmative action and non-discrimination obligations. He frequently represents clients before federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor’s agencies and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is also a Co-Chair of The Institute for Workplace Equality.
President - AAP Consultants LLC
Beverly Freeman is President of AAP Consultants LLC. For almost 20 years, Beverly has been providing companies of all backgrounds with compliant affirmative action plans. A self-avowed AAP “Geek”, Beverly is passionate about educating federal contractors on current trends and the risks involved with non-compliance and enjoys the challenge of OFCCP audits (sometimes). She values client relationships as much as she does their partnership. Beverly is a former member of the NILG and former president of the Triangle ILG. She has worked on ILG conferences locally, regionally and nationally for many years. She is best known among NILG as the brand monitor after initiating a brand change in 2019.
Branch Chief of Expert Service - OFCCP
David Garber leads OFCCP’s Branch of Expert Services, a team comprised of economists and statisticians that advises the Agency’s investigators, leadership, and Department of Labor legal experts on analytical elements of EEO compliance. Dr. Garber previously served as Labor Economist for the Agency and, as Principal Consultant for a top HR consulting firm, has provided expert assessment and guidance on EEO issues for a wide array of industry clients. David received his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His professional philosophy is founded on a desire to communicate advanced technical information in language that is accessible to and actionable for his clients.
Associate - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Michael A. Giarratano is an associate in the Melville, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. His practice focuses on preparing affirmative action plans for federal contractors and defending federal contractors in audits by the United States Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. He is a Long Island ILG Member and Frequent Speaker.
1. SWARM ILG 2023 (Ft. Worth): (1) Pay equity practices; (2) Leveraging Data for DEI.
2. Pay Equity in the Public Eye: New Rules for EEO-1 Reporting and Why Pay Equity Remains a Major Concern for Employers” New Jersey Industry Liaison Group (Bridgewater, NJ, July 2019) (co-presenter).
Consultant I - Biddle Consulting Group
Miguel Gill is a Consultant at Biddle Consulting Group with over 5 years of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) experience. He has worked with a large range of clients ranging from small organizations looking to become federal contractors to Fortune 500 companies. Through this time Miguel has assisted and been involved in the successful closure of dozens of OFCCP Supply & Service and Construction audits.
Analyst II - Biddle Consulting Group
Angela Gralin has been a valuable Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Analyst at Biddle Consulting Group since October 2020. She has a depth of experience with a wide range of clients, from small business to S&P/Fortune 100 companies. Angela provides exceptional service to support EEO/AA compliance across various industries including supply and service, higher education, construction, and local government.
Senior Attorney - Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Meredith provides advice and counseling on day-to-day employee-related and compliance matters, ranging from FMLA and ADA matters to termination best practices, restrictive covenants, and employment agreements, as well as advancements and changes in the pay equity space. She regularly assists clients through pay equity disputes and internal audits, and on global compliance with pay equity legislation. She also advises clients, including federal contractors, on affirmative action, legislative and regulatory changes affecting employment matters for federal contractors, and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance issues, developing affirmative action plans and representing companies during the audit process.
Associate - Duane Morris LLP
Zev Grumet-Morris advises and litigates on behalf of companies in employment matters in state and federal courts and agencies throughout the United States, as well as in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution venues. He also conducts HR training, investigations and audits, and counsels businesses on affirmative action compliance and in the development of their affirmation action programs, and also defends contractors in OFCCP audits. Mr. Grumet-Morris is a magna cum laude graduate of the university of Illinois College of Law, and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Grumet-Morris is a member of the Chicago ILG.
Of Counsel - Ogletree Deakins
Lauren Hicks is an attorney with Ogletree Deakins. She advises clients on proactive pay equity, inclusion and diversity, data analytics, and representing federal contractors in compliance evaluations and administrative enforcement actions triggered by the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Ms. Hicks previously served as a District Director for the OFCCP. In that role Ms. Hicks oversaw hundreds of OFCCP compliance evaluations, resolving several of the agency’s largest discrimination cases. She has extensive experience with investigating and resolving systemic discrimination issues stemming from statistical disparities in hiring, compensation, and testing.
Acting Director - OFCCP
As the Acting Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Michele Hodge leads a staff of professionals around the country dedicated to protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. She concurrently serves as the career Deputy Director and implements the agency’s operational goals, manages OFCCP’s budget, and oversees all human capital decision making. Ms. Hodge has 39 years of exemplary civil rights and nondiscrimination enforcement experience with OFCCP, starting with her first role as a Compliance Officer in the New Jersey District Office. For more than a decade, she has been a member of the Senior Executive Service, expertly administering OFCCP programs.
Partner - Resolution Economics
Dr. Rick Holt is a labor economist and Partner in the D.C office of Resolution Economics. He has led projects for over 20 years covering a range of employment discrimination topics, including: compensation, hiring, promotion, and termination. Dr. Holt has worked with several companies on projects involving OFCCP compliance and audits. Over the last decade Dr. Holt has specialized in utilizing statistical methods to address employers’ pay equity analysis needs. Rick is an active member of the WMILG and is currently the ILG’s Treasurer. Rick has presented at several NILG Conferences.
Member Attorney - Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Josh and Alissa have been practicing OFCCP law together since 2003 – first at Morgan Lewis, then at Littler, and finally in their own law firm that they started in 2015. As a firm, Roffman Horvitz focuses its practice in the legal space where equal opportunity law intersects with data, statistics, and analytics. Josh and Alissa focus primarily on advising and overseeing the preparation of affirmative action plans and representing clients in various matters before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) across all six OFCCP regions, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits and onsite visits, responding to OFCCP information requests, conducting privileged pay equity analyses, and conducting privileged audits of contractor applicant tracking systems and recruiter dispositioning. In addition, they also advise clients on EEO-1 and VETS-4212 reporting requirements, as well as emerging state pay requirements like those California and Illinois as well as state- and local-based AAP obligations like those in Madison Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New Jersey. Josh and Alissa are members of the Washington Metro ILG and the Baltimore ILG, and they enjoy presenting at other ILG meetings in person and virtually.
Attorney - Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Kristie Iacopetta is a Senior Associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Kristie provides employers with strategic and practical approaches to compliance with Executive Order 11246, VEVRAA, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures. She collaborates with employers to design and maintain compliant affirmative action programs and defend those programs during compliance evaluations. Additionally, Kristie works closely with employers to conduct proactive pay equity analyses to identify and address any potential inequities. Kristie has presented at the New Jersey, Long Island, Philadelphia, and San Antonio ILGs meetings, as well as the 2022 NILG conference.
Chief of Staff - Office of Disability Employment Policy
Anupa Iyer Geevarghese is the Chief of Staff for the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), where she identifies and implements strategies for increasing the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Prior to joining the DOL, Anupa served as Senior Disability Policy Advisor at the Department of Defense and as a Confidential Assistant to Commissioner Chai Feldblum. Anupa was also employed in the EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations, where she was instrumental in implementing updates to Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act. Anupa also worked for various advocacy organizations, including the Mental Disability Advocacy Center.
Senior HR Analyst, EEO - Emerson Electric Co
Amanda Johnson is a Human Resources and I/O Psychology professional. Currently a Senior Human Resources Analyst, EEO at Emerson, Amanda is involved with ensuring fair outcomes throughout the employee lifecycle. In addition to her role-specific tasks at Emerson, Amanda is the global chair of the company’s employee resource group (ERG), Diverse Abilities, focused on disability inclusion and advocacy. She serves on SIOP’s DIAC committee, is a board member for NAMI, St. Louis, a member of the St. Louis ILG, and is committed to amplifying the voices of historically underrepresented people in work and all facets of life.
Owner/Primary Consultant - EEO Consulting, LLC
Judy Julius has owned her consulting business for 30 years. She is known as a census data “power user” by her colleagues at the census bureau and those who’ve attended her workshops and webinars about the new census data. Judy’s team develops AAPs for the Supply and Service sector. She also conducts training classes on all aspects of AA/EEO. Based in St. Louis, her company has clients from Vermont to Hawaii. Judy has been writing AAPs for over 43 years including 13 years in Corporate HR at McDonnell Douglas (Boeing), and Bunge Corporation (food and grain, not the cords). Judy is an active member of the St. Louis ILG.
Vice President - American Society of Employers
Anthony kaylin is currently VP at ASE and has worked for the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) as a compliance officer; as an affirmative action specialist for Tellabs, a telecommunications manufacturer in Illinois, as employee relations manager and EEO officer for NYU Langone Medical Center, and as EO Program Manager for IBM. Anthony has extensive experience writing and assisting employers to implement AAPs and defending audits and EEOC charges.
Shareholder - Ogletree Deakins
Scott co-chairs Ogletree Deakins’ OFCCP Compliance, Government Contracting, and Reporting Practice Group and advises clients on evaluating federal contractor status and federal and state affirmative action requirements. He also represents contractors, including construction, in OFCCP complaint investigations, compliance evaluations, and enforcement actions in every region. Scott defends OFCCP systemic discrimination cases stemming from statistical disparities in hiring, pay, and testing. He advises clients on proactive and regulatory pay equity analyses, defensible diversity and inclusion strategies, and government reporting. Scott is a member of several ILGs, the American Employment Law Council, and is an Institute of Workplace Equality faculty member.
Senior Director Employment Equity - L3Harris Technologies Inc. - NILG 2024 National Conference Co-Chair
Denise King is Co-Chair of the NILG 2024 National Conference. She is the Senior Director, Employment Equity & Compliance with L3Harris Corporation. For more than 30 years, Denise has been responsible for the strategic direction of the company’s Employment Verification, Affirmative Action and Employment Equity Programs in the United States and Canada. She is the primary corporate contact for related government audits and filings. Denise has held increasingly responsible positions in operations, training, and human resources and prior to her current position she also served as the Director of Business Conduct reporting to the Business Conduct and Corporate Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors. Denise represents the Southeast Region on the NILG Board and for 24 years she has served as the Chair of the Central Florida/Space Coast Industry Liaison Group.
Associate VP for Access and Equity/ Executive Director of Supplier Diversity - Clemson University
Jerry Knighton, Jr. serves as Associate Vice President/EEO Officer and Executive Director of Procurement Inclusion at Clemson University. In this role, he is responsible for monitoring the university's compliance with state and federal laws related to Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity and Equitable Treatment. In August of 2018, he was also appointed Executive Director of Procurement Inclusion where he is responsible for monitoring efforts to increase minority business participation which includes all Clemson University capital projects both public and private.
Knighton has been employed in higher education administration for over 30 years. A 2008 graduate of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Academy at Furman University, Knighton also provides a variety of training workshops designed to address issues related to AA/EEO compliance, unlawful discrimination and harassment, workplace diversity, and procurement inclusion.
Knighton served two terms as president of the South Carolina Professional Association for Access and Equity (SC-PAAE). In April 2010, he was recognized by SC-PAAE for his outstanding service and dedication to the field of access and equity in the state of South Carolina. From 2021-2022, Knighton served on the board of the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED) as Annual Conference Chair. He currently serves as the SC State Coordinator for AAAED Region IV. In October 2020 and 2021, he was presented with the AAAED President’s Award for outstanding service and leadership to the organization. Knighton also served as Chair of the South Carolina Industry Liaison Group (SCILG) Board from 2018-2020. This professional organization is an affiliate of the NILG and supports excellence in AA/EEO compliance. In 2023, he was appointed to the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) Board as a Southeast Region Representative. In the area of supplier diversity, Knighton serves on the Carolinas Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) Board as Chair of the Upstate SC Regional Industry Needs Group (RING). This group is an affiliate of the NMSDC and promotes business opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses. Under Knighton’s leadership, CVMSDC recognized Clemson for Best New Program for supplier diversity initiatives in 2017 and more recently as “Corporation of the Year” in 2023. Clemson University was also named among the 2021 and 2022 INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine Jesse L. Moore Supplier Diversity Award recipients for its accomplishments in the area of supplier inclusion.
Distinguished Fellow - BCGi
Dan Kuang is a Distinguished BCGi Fellow where he provides expert consulting to ensure that clients are in compliance with Federal guidelines and regulations and are prepared to respond to external legal threats and challenges. Dr. Kuang is an expert in analyzing and modeling complex and messy data, concentrating on high-stakes data analytics and social psychological research. He specializes in adverse impact and adverse treatment in class action employment matters including hiring, selection, promotion, termination, compensation, and discipline. Dr. Kuang has successfully applied his expertise to defend federal contractors against OFCCP audit actions and claims of employment discrimination.
Director of Enforcement - OFCCP
Dr. Robert (Bob) LaJeunesse is Director of Enforcement for OFCCP. Bob oversees the OFCCP’s statistical and economic analysis program and serves as the agency’s expert technical advisor in the development and resolution of systemic discrimination cases. Before joining OFCCP, Bob was a forensic labor economist at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He also served as an Economist for the U.S. Treasury and the AFL-CIO. Prior to joining federal service, Dr. LaJeunesse was an assistant professor of economics at the State University of New York (New Paltz) and a senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle in Australia.
NILG/ILG events: Bob has presented on multiple panels as the last 6 NILG conferences and many regional conferences such as the SWARM ILG in October, 2023.
Senior Partner - NT Lakis, LLP
Joe Lakis is a partner of NT Lakis, LLP, where he advises employers on a broad range of workplace compliance and diversity matters. He specializes in designing and implementing programs to mitigate systemic discrimination risk and is a frequent speaker on the requirements enforced by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Joe also serves as President of the Center for Workplace Compliance, an association of employers committed to compliance, DEI, and the sensible regulation of the workplace, and as President of Employment Advisory Services, Inc., where he maintains an active consulting practice as one of the firm’s Principal Consultants.
Chief Accessibility Officer - Microsoft
As Chief Accessibility Officer of Microsoft Corporation, Jenny champions inclusion, equity, and views accessibility as a fundamental right. Joining Microsoft in 2005 to work on Hotmail and Bing, Jenny’s passion for accessibility led to the creation of the Disability Employee Resource Group at Microsoft, and her current role as CAO. Jenny has spearheaded the company’s comprehensive approach to accessibility since 2016, driving accountability across the company, and fostering a disability inclusive culture. From engineering processes, physical accessibility to skilling and inclusive hiring, Jenny advocates for inclusion of disabled talent as a driving force to deliver next generation technology, programs, and partnerships. Jenny identifies as deaf and disabled and believes accessibility is essential to innovation.
Partner - K&L Gates LLP
Craig is a partner at K&L Gates in DC and co-leader of the OFCCP & Affirmative Action Compliance area. Craig was OFCCP Director from 2018-21. He is a member of the NILG Advisory Council and Washington Metro ILG. He is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington. He serves as Chair of the Bar Association of DC’s Civil and Human Rights Committee, Vice Chair of the DC Advisory Committee to the USCCR, and as a member of numerous other boards and committees, including for Disability:IN DC Metro, RespectAbility, and Eightfold. Craig is also a disability inclusion and accessibility advocate. Craig has attended and presented at each NILG Conference from 2018-23 and has presented at multiple ILGs as well. Leann and Kathleen presented at the 2023 NILG.
Associate Director, Fair Employment Practices Compliance - Ernst & Young LLP
Chris Liakos leads Fair Employment Practices Compliance at EY where he is responsible for the firm’s overall strategy in equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, diversity equity and inclusion, and federal / state regulatory adherence. He has extensive experience leading Fortune 500 organizations in federal defense contracting and professional financial services industries with a focus on three primary areas: equal employment opportunity compliance programs, equity-based workforce analysis, and strategic recruiting programs. Chris presented at the NILG conference on numerous occasions and maintains a leadership role on the Washington Metro ILG Steering committee and the DirectEmployers Association Board of Directors.
Partner - Resolution Economics
Victoria A. Lipnic is a Partner at Resolution Economics. She leads the Company’s Human Capital Strategy Group. The Human Capital Strategy Group combines the Company’s expertise in data analytics and deep knowledge of regulatory requirements with an interdisciplinary approach to advise organizations on the full range of their human capital needs and reporting requirements including recruitment, selection, promotions, DE&I, pay equity, and overall talent allocation.
Lipnic joined Resolution Economics in 2021. She has broad experience in the full range of human capital, labor and employment issues, especially from the regulatory enforcement perspective. Prior to joining the Company she served as Commissioner from 2010 to 2020 and Acting Chair from 2017 to 2019 of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She was appointed to the EEOC by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. At the EEOC she worked on policy, cases, and regulations under all of the statutes enforced by the Commission including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Equal Pay Act (EPA), the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). While at the EEOC she participated in numerous agency regulatory initiatives including the final GINA regulations, the ADA, as amended, regulations, and the revisions to the EEO-1 form to include pay data reporting. She organized the agency’s first public meeting on Big Data in Employment, created its Chief Data Officer position, oversaw development of the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics and published a significant report on age discrimination. She co-chaired the EEOC’s Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace, and co-authored its seminal report, issued in 2016, before the #MeToo movement.
Prior to joining the EEOC, she practiced law with Seyfarth Shaw, LLP. She also served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards from 2002 to January 2009, a position she was appointed to by President George W. Bush. At the Department of Labor she oversaw regulatory development and enforcement for the Wage and Hour Division, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the Office of Labor Management Standards and four national workers’ compensation programs. This included oversight and enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Executive Order 11246 and the Labor Management Reporting Disclosure Act. Vicki has presented numerous times at the NILG conference. She is a member of the NILG’s Advisory Council.
Vice President of Human Resources - Southwest Research Institute
Tony Magaro is the Vice President of Human Resources at Southwest Research Institute. He is responsible for all areas of HR to include recruitment and employment, compensation, EEO/AAP, employee development, benefits administration, work/life, wellness, and compliance. Mr. Magaro is active in regional nonprofit organizations that are focused on workforce development and is a past coordinator of the San Antonio Compensation Association and member of the Resource Center for the San Antonio Human Resource Management Association. Mr. Magaro maintains his professional certifications as a CCP, SPHR, CBP, GRP and SHRM-SCPP. Mr. Magaro was the recipient of the 2017 Lois Baumerich Lifetime Achievement Award.
MidAtlantic Regional Director - OFCCP
Sam recently rejoined the agency and brings expertise in resolving systemic discrimination cases. Sam a Compliance Officer, an Assistant District Director, and then Director of Regional Operations. Next, he served as the Deputy Regional Director for the Northeast Region and then as Regional Director in Atlanta in 2015 – a position he held through 2020. Sam brings a commitment to achieve results for workers.
Director, Biddle Consulting Group
Brian Marentette, Ph.D. specializes in research and statistical methods related to EEO compliance in employment selections and compensation decisions. Over the last 16+ years, he has consulted with national and global organizations in some of the most high-stakes, litigious settings to develop and defend more than 100 personnel selection systems. Dr. Marentette has also supported numerous organizations to comply with Federal consent decrees resulting from discrimination in past hiring and promotional practices. He is the Director of the People Insights Division at Biddle Consulting Group and leads the personnel selection/test validation, pay equity analytics, diversity metrics, and EEO/OFCCP analytics work.Dan Kuang, Ph.D., is a Distinguished BCGi Fellow where he provides expert consulting to ensure that clients are in compliance with Federal guidelines and regulations and are prepared to respond to external legal threats and challenges. Dr. Kuang is an expert in analyzing and modeling complex and messy data, concentrating on high-stakes data analytics and social psychological research. He specializes in adverse impact and adverse treatment in class action employment matters including hiring, selection, promotion, termination, compensation, and discipline. Dr. Kuang has successfully applied his expertise to defend federal contractors against OFCCP audit actions and claims of employment discrimination.
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Lisa B. Marsh is an attorney in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She represents management exclusively in all areas of employment law, focusing on affirmative action, pay equity, and EEO. Lisa assists clients with the drafting of affirmative action plans, representing government and non-government contractors in Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. Lisa also assists clients with conducting proactive pay equity analyses in partnership with Jackson Lewis statisticians, as well as providing pay equity advice and counsel. Lisa presented at the 2023 NILG event: “Responding to Demands for Accountability in DEI,” and has previously presented at the Colorado ILG on OFCCP Focused Reviews as well as the Ohio ILG on the Pre-Enforcement Notice & Conciliation Procedures.
Principal Consultant - Affirmity
Patrick McNiel, PhD, is a principal consultant for Affirmity. Dr. McNiel advises clients on issues related to workforce measurement and statistical analysis, diversity and inclusion, OFCCP and EEOC compliance, and pay equity. Dr. McNiel has over ten years of experience as a generalist in the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and has focused on selection and assessment for much of his career. He received his PhD in I-O Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Houston ILG, and has presented at several national conferences including APA, APS, SIOP, WorldatWork, AAAED, SWARM ILG, and NILG.
Corporate Director, EEO & Affirmative Action - Emerson Electric Company
Fred Melkey has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and Employment Law compliance. He is currently the Corporate Director of EEO and Affirmative Action for Emerson Electric Company. He has responsibility for development, delivery, and monitoring of over 100 affirmative action plans (AAPs) and coordinates the response to Department of Labor audits.
HR Policy Group & Compliance Counselor/Distinguished Fellow - Chevron/BCGi
Julia Méndez Achée is the HR Policy & Employment Compliance Counselor for Chevron. She also is a Distinguished Fellow for Biddle Consulting Group Institute for Workforce Development. Since 1995, she has assisted clients with preparing affirmative action reports, reviewing company policies and processes, and training on topics related to EEO compliance, affirmative action programs, and diversity/inclusion. She is passionate about consulting and training on inclusive practices for individuals with disabilities as well as veterans, military, and military spouses.
Julia is a current board member for the Louisiana Liaison Group. She has presented at the NILG conference (most recently in 2023).
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Laura A. Mitchell is a Principal in the Denver, Colorado office of Jackson Lewis P.C. As leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with employers to build programs that benefit employees and create a stable, high-functioning workplace. Understanding that an inclusive, values-based culture provides a crucial competitive advantage in the modern workplace, Laura enjoys counseling companies on the development of proactive and equitable pay and diversity practices. Laura also represents companies in OFCCP matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. She personally oversees the development of hundreds of Affirmative Action Plans for clients each year and is intimately involved in the defense of OFCCP audits. Her approach to compliance is one of facilitation and conciliation while simultaneously advocating in the best interests of her clients. Laura and Lisa are both members of the Rocky Mountain ILG. Lisa and Laura presented at the 2023 ILG national conference event: “Responding to Demands for Accountability in DEI”. Laura has presented at the past 5 ILG national conferences and most recently in September 2023 for the Northwest ILG. Lisa has previously presented at the Rocky Mountain ILG on OFCCP Focused Reviews and at the Ohio ILG on the Pre-Enforcement Notice & Conciliation Procedures.
Sr. Accessibility Advisor - Government Accountability Office
Michael Murray’s lifelong drive for inclusion is fueled by his experience as a person with a learning disability and ADHD. His long professional history of fighting for full inclusion, includes working as the Deputy Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the federal government, and leading the federal government to successfully hire 100,000 people with disabilities over five years. Michael also served as the COO for the American Association of People with Disabilities. Michael is currently leading accessibility efforts for the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Michael is not a member of an ILG and has presented at three previous NILG conferences.
Shareholder - Ogletree Deakins
Leigh Nason is a shareholder in the Columbia, South Carolina office of Ogletree Deakins and co-chairs the firm’s Affirmative Action/OFCCP Compliance Practice Group. Leigh provides on the preparation, management, and defense of their affirmative action programs and related matters, including jurisdictional analyses, preventative strategies, complaint investigations, and compliance evaluations. She is often retained to assist with OFCCP systemic discrimination cases stemming from statistical disparities in hiring, pay, and testing and has successfully defended allegations of significant monetary liability. An experienced litigator, Leigh has defended discrimination claims before federal and state courts as well as administrative tribunals.
Midwest Regional Director – OFCCP
Carmen Navarro is the Regional Director for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Midwest Region. In her current role, she leads a team of skilled employees charged with carrying out the agency’s mission of protecting workers, promoting diversity and enforcing federal employment law.
Ms. Navarro has more than 34 years of federal service, over 20 of them with OFCCP where she has played a key role in identifying and resolving numerous cases of systemic discrimination.
President - Biddle Consulting Group
Patrick is the President of Biddle Consulting Group, Inc. Patrick has over 20 years of experience in the EEO/AA industry and has worked with hundreds of clients of all sizes to develop their Affirmative Action Plans and support them during audits. He has conducted training in cities across the nation and has authored numerous articles and software programs in the areas of affirmative action, disparate impact, test validation, compensation analysis, and EEO. Patrick is also the primary author and editor for the book titled, Compensation Analysis: A Practitioner’s Guide to Identifying and Addressing Compensation Disparities.
Patrick is a member of NCILG and has presented at dozens of ILGs and NILGs from the early 2000's through today.
Director - Biddle Consulting’s Group
Matt Nusbaum, Director of Biddle Consulting’s BCG Institute, provides consulting on workplace compliance requirements to federal contractors regarding the nondiscrimination and affirmative action requirements enforced by the OFCCP of the U.S. DOL. Mr. Nusbaum regularly consults on other related employment law requirements. Matt has more than ten years’ experience as a practicing attorney counseling and representing employers on matters before the OFCCP and other federal, state, and local workplace regulatory and enforcement agencies. Matt is passionate about EEO/AA and strives to bring energy and enthusiasm to the conversation - not overly popular at cocktail parties, but he cannot be dissuaded.
Sr. AA/EEO & Diversity Consultant - Principal Financial Group
Julie O’Hara Harvey is the Senior Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Program Manager at Principal Financial Group®. With a career spanning over three decades, Julie has been a driving force behind affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across various organizations. Julie joined Principal Financial Group® in 2021, where she has spearheaded efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the organization. Prior to her tenure at Principal®, Julie spent over 26 years at Wells Fargo, primarily in Human Resources. During her time at Wells Fargo, Julie collaborated with various departments to ensure compliance with affirmative action regulations and implemented proactive measures to address regulatory changes and trends. Julie's commitment to promoting equal employment opportunity extends beyond her corporate roles. She has served on the DirectEmployer Board of Directors and the National Industry Liaison Group, advocating for practical and effective affirmative action programs for federal contractors. Julie's leadership in these organizations has facilitated collaboration between federal contractors and regulatory agencies, fostering dialogue and shaping affirmative action and equal employment opportunity regulations.
Director of Business Strategy - DCI Consulting
William Osterndorf is Director of Business Strategy for DCI Consulting Group. He has worked in the affirmative action/equal opportunity field for more than 35 years. Bill has been involved in many compliance reviews involving OFCCP and has a specialization in dealing with OFCCP construction compliance and state/local affirmative action laws. Prior to joining DCI in 2021, Bill was President and founder of HR Analytical Services. Bill is former President of the Milwaukee ILG and was chair of the 2019 ILG National Conference in Milwaukee.
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Chris Patrick is a Principal in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and is a member of the Firm’s Affirmative Action Compliance and OFCCP Defense practice group and Pay Equity resource group. Chris partners with employers on practical solutions to ensure equal employment opportunity (EEO), including counseling on affirmative action, pay equity and transparency, and diversity. In short, Chris develops actionable strategies under privilege that identify and eliminate unseen barriers to EEO in personnel practices—often informed by trends in employee data. He is a Colorado ILG Member and Northern California ILG Steering Committee Member. He is a frequent speaker at NILG and regional programs:
1. SWARM ILG 2023 (Ft. Worth): (1) Pay equity practices; (2) Strategies for more complaint practices.
2. NILG 2023 (Phoenix): Internet Applicant Rule refinement strategies.
3. NILG 2022 (Boston): (1) Logistic regression as a tool for hiring discrimination claims; (2) best practices to avoid risk while implementing DEI practices.
4. NILG 2021 (Nashville): (1) OFCCP audit preparation; (2) Pay transparency laws.
5. NILG 2019 (Milwaukee): Pay equity (focusing on the importance of base pay).
Vice President – Kairos Services, Inc.
Nicolas Paul, Vice President of Kairos Services, is responsible for managing the firm's strategic direction in the development and execution of comprehensive Affirmative Action Programs for a diverse client base. Drawing upon 20 years of industry experience, Mr. Paul’s role extends beyond management, encompassing the provision of expert guidance to ensure adherence to federal regulations. Leveraging his unique insights as a disabled veteran, Mr. Paul is a respected voice in the field, frequently sharing his expertise at industry events. Mr. Paul is a North Texas ILG board member and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Director, Affirmative Action - Tyson Foods, Inc
Vicki Pearson has over 25 years of human resources experience in progressively responsible roles focused on equal opportunity, affirmative action, diversity, and HR/Employment compliance. In her current role as Director Affirmative Action for Tyson Foods, Vicki provides long-term planning, strategic direction, and guidance to ensure companywide compliance with Tyson’s Affirmative Action Plans. She is responsible for managing employment compliance programs including remediation in procedural gaps and training. Vicki also ensures companywide compliance with government regulations and handles government regulatory reporting.
Prior to Tyson, Vicki was a Human Resources Consultant where she helped employers develop policies and procedures aimed at preventing workplace problems including discrimination and harassment. Her efforts included conducting comprehensive employment audits, providing management training, and developing or reviewing policy and procedure manuals aimed at ensuring compliance with federal and state laws.
Vice President, Client Services - Employment Advisory Services, Inc.
Danny Petrella serves as Vice President, Client Services, with Employment Advisory Services, Inc. (EASI). Danny has more than 18 years of professional experience advising employers on the specific workplace implications of federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, with a particular emphasis on the nondiscrimination and affirmative action requirements enforced by the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Danny provides EASI clients with a full range of compliance services, including:
• Conducting statistical disparity analyses for employment-related decisions and data;
• Developing risk management strategies for implementing federally compliant talent acquisition policies and procedures;
• Directing privileged self-critical analyses of employer compensation practices; and
• Developing training programs for HR professionals and management personnel
Danny also serves as Senior Vice President, Compliance and Assistant General Counsel to the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), where he helps CWC members understand and meet their workplace compliance requirements. Danny is also an attorney and partner with NT Lakis, LLP.
Partner - PintoBrown PLLC
Consuela Pinto is a Partner at PintoBrown, where she focuses on the representation of employers in all matters related to employment law. Having practiced in the both the public and private sectors for more than 25 years, Consuela has a unique perspective in the representation of clients. She is particularly adept in advising on compliance with non-discrimination laws, federal government EEO investigations, pattern and practice systemic claims, compliance with federal contractors' affirmative action and non-discrimination obligations, pay equity and DE&I strategies. Consuela's significant private practice experience includes representing employers on a nationwide basis in compliance reviews before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Director of Education and Partner Engagement - OFCCP
Nakisha Pugh is the Director of Education and Partner Engagement in the Division of Policy and Program Development. She oversees the agency’s stakeholder engagement, outreach and compliance assistance and training efforts.
Nakisha previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor with the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. In this capacity she advised on the development of disability employment policies and played a lead role in overseeing the education and outreach programs for private and public sector employers – to include several federal contractors.
Prior to joining ODEP, Nakisha served in many roles with OFCCP including Branch Chief of Functional Affirmative Action Programs (FAAP). As the FAAP Branch Chief, Nakisha oversaw the day-to-day operations of the FAAP Branch. She was also instrumental in the development of the Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Review programs, including, the development of resource materials, development, and delivery of training, participation in OFCCP Townhalls, conducting outreach with stakeholders, and participating as a panelist in plenary sessions including the Annual NILG Conference.
Nakisha has a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Learning from The George Washington University. She also has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Morgan State University.
Vice President, EEO/AA Division - Biddle Consulting Group, Inc.
Marife Ramos has been practicing in the field of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) since 1996 and is currently the Vice President of the EEO/AA Division at Biddle Consulting Group, Inc. Her primary responsibilities include litigation support, affirmative action plan (AAP) development, and OFCCP audit support. Her breadth of knowledge and expertise include conducting statistical adverse impact analyses of personnel actions (hires, promotions, and terminations), conducting compensation analyses, and providing guidance to AAP practitioners on the laws and regulations around EO 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and VEVRAA. Ms. Ramos has conducted numerous training programs across the United States on AAP methodology, adverse impact analysis, and compensation analysis. She earned her Master’s degree in Business Analytics from CA State University, Sacramento.
Managing Attorney - Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Josh and Alissa have been practicing OFCCP law together since 2003 – first at Morgan Lewis, then at Littler, and finally in their own law firm that they started in 2015. As a firm, Roffman Horvitz focuses its practice in the legal space where equal opportunity law intersects with data, statistics, and analytics. Josh and Alissa focus primarily on advising and overseeing the preparation of affirmative action plans and representing clients in various matters before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) across all six OFCCP regions, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits and onsite visits, responding to OFCCP information requests, conducting privileged pay equity analyses, and conducting privileged audits of contractor applicant tracking systems and recruiter dispositioning. In addition, they also advise clients on EEO-1 and VETS-4212 reporting requirements, as well as emerging state pay requirements like those California and Illinois as well as state- and local-based AAP obligations like those in Madison Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New Jersey. Josh and Alissa are members of the Washington Metro ILG and the Baltimore ILG, and they enjoy presenting at other ILG meetings in person and virtually.
President - Berkshire Associates
As President of Berkshire Associates, Beth Ronnenburg leads the team to ensure the delivery of high-caliber solutions to clients. She uses her 25 years of industry experience to offer guidance to top companies and law firms navigate through the complex regulatory requirements of OFCCP. Beth is a frequent speaker at national events, including last year’s NILG. She currently serves as a board member for the National ILG, where she represents the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is also the Chair of the Baltimore ILG. Beth holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Organization Development from The Johns Hopkins University.
Senior Director, Equal Opportunity & Compliance - Labcorp
Teresa Salinas is the Senior Director, Equal Opportunity & Compliance for Labcorp. She leads the corporate strategy for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and U.S. Affirmative Action (AA) programs. Teresa has over 26 years of comprehensive HR and legal operations experience with 13 years of experience in Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance management. She serves as the Chairperson of the Kansas City Industry Liaison Group, a board member of the National Industry Liaison Group, an Executive Committee member for the Center for Workplace Compliance Board of Directors, and Past President of Center for Disability Inclusion.
Northeast Regional Director - OFCCP
Diana Sen is the Regional Director of OFCCP for the Northeast Region. In this capacity, she leads the agency's enforcement and outreach efforts in the Northeast, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. She is based in New York City. Diana is an experienced and highly skilled civil rights lawyer and advocate for the most vulnerable populations in our country, with significant experience in government, non-profit and in the private sector.
Managing Consultant - Biddle Consulting Group
As one of Biddle’s most requested EEO Consultants for large ‘enterprise’ clients, data expert Cassie Shamber specializes in streamlining project management for highly complex organizations, and for treating every client as if they are her only client. Cassie has trained under Biddle Ph.D.s for 14 years and has supported 100+ OFCCP audits (100% success rate). As a Managing Consultant, Cassie supervises a group of EEO professionals, each with their own clients. A talented EEO/AA presenter and trainer, Cassie specializes in advancing the knowledge base of human resource professionals in areas such as equal employment opportunity, OFCCP compliance, employment discrimination statistics, pay equity analysis, and a variety of other human resource topics with a focus on EEO.
Global Equal Opportunity Compliance & Analytics Solutions Leader
Sumi Shukla is a specialist in HR Analytics and Diversity, Inclusion & Equal opportunity with 20+ years at Fortune 500 companies. Sumi has been with IBM for 16 years and currently the Global Equal Opportunity Compliance & Analytics Solutions Leader. Sumi lead a global team of Diversity Compliance Leaders supporting clients with Equal Opportunity and Employment Equity legislation compliance. As the technology leader on D&I topics, Sumi managed the Integration and Deployment of HR processes i.e. self-ID declaration for gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, nationality, LGBT+, and persons with disabilities and accommodations. On Diversity Analytics, Sumi provides read-outs to global teams on metrics and scorecards via automated and interactive Analytics dashboards.
Shareholder & Founder - Silberman Law PC
Mickey Silberman is the founder of Silberman Law, PC. For almost 30 years, Mickey has worked with clients across the country and in every industry on affirmative action plans preparation, OFCCP compliance and audit defense, pay equity analyses, and diversity, equity & inclusion. He is recognized nationally as a leading expert in these areas. Mickey has overseen the preparation of thousands of AAPs, has directed the defense of many hundreds of OFCCP compliance audits and OFCCP and EEOC systemic discrimination investigations, and has overseen the preparation of hundreds of pay equity analyses.
Shareholder - FortneyScott LLC
Leslie E. Silverman, a shareholder at Fortney & Scott, LLC, advises clients on complying with workplace laws, and a wide range of workplace issues, including harassment, disability and religious discrimination, employment screening, pay equity and diversity and inclusion. Ms. Silverman frequently represents clients before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as she previously served as the Vice Chair of the EEOC until September 2008, and as a Member of the Commission starting in 2002. Ms. Silverman has also served as an independent monitor in multiple EEOC systemic settlements involving allegations of widespread sexual, gender-based, and racial harassment and disability discrimination.
Assistant Director, Fair Employment Practices Compliance - Ernst & Young LLP
Adam J. Smith, currently an Assistant Director of Americas Risk Management – Fair Employment Practices Compliance at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP. With over 17 years of professional experience at EY, Adam has honed his skills in various risk and talent related compliance activities. He possesses a strong academic background with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Systems Development and a minor in Business Administration from the State University of New York, Fredonia. His unique blend of technical and business insight is instrumental to his current role.
Vice President, Consulting Services - Affirmity
Mauri Spears has served Affirmity clients since 1997, providing leadership in workforce compliance, succession planning, and training management. She has managed process re-engineering initiatives for both workforce compliance and recruitment management. As Vice President, Ms. Spears oversees Affirmity's consulting and implementation services and leads our data analytics team. She also drives corporate management, employee consulting, and training engagements.
Ms. Spears is a frequent presenter at professional conferences focused on executive leadership and management, as well as HR industry and related professional associations.
Executive Director Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs - University of Pennsylvania
Sam Starks is currently the Executive Director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs at Penn providing leadership ensuring that the University meets its obligations as an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and educational institution.
Prior to coming to Penn, Sam served in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services at both Vanderbilt University and Western Kentucky University. Sam earned a bachelor’s degree in speech from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and a master’s degree in organizational and corporate communication from Western Kentucky University.
Manager, HR Compliance & Global Mobility - Oshkosh Corporation
Lori Stewart is a Human Resources Manager who is also learning Global Mobility. Her current role as the Manger, HR Compliance & Global Mobility at Oshkosh Corporation, means that she is responsible for in house affirmative action program management and all HR compliance processes. In addition to these tasks, Lori supports the Oshkosh Human Rights Committee and chairs the Fox Valley ILG. She participates in both the Milwaukee ILG and Michigan ILG. You may have seen Lori at prior NILG conferences as she has presented at both the Milwaukee NILG (2019) and Phoenix NILG (2023) conferences.
Pacific Regional Director - OFCCP
Jane Suhr is the Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Pacific Region. In this role, she leads the Pacific Region’s enforcement, outreach, and compliance assistance programs and policies to carry out the mission and objectives of the Agency. Ms. Suhr has devoted her career to government service and protecting the rights of American workers.
Regional Director - Southwest & Rocky Mountain Regional Director - OFCCP
Ronald has served as the Deputy Regional Director for the SWARM Region since 2022. He joined OFCCP in 2006 as a compliance officer. Over the years, he was promoted to regional liaison and the Director of Regional Operations. He was recently promoted to SWARM Regional Director. During his tenure, he also served as the Acting Dallas District Director and Acting Denver District Director. Ronald has over 17 years of in-depth field experience and significant institutional and historical knowledge regarding past and current policy, enforcement, and operational initiatives in the SWARM Region.
Senior Affirmative Action Specialist - Virginia Tech
Jasmine Tucker (MHR, SHRM-CP) is a retired Army First Sergeant with experience as a HR generalist, coordinator, and deputy director, as well as holding a variety of leadership roles. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma (Masters of Human Relations and Inclusive Leadership) and Post University (Bachelor of Science, Business Management). She currently works for Virginia Tech as the Senior Human Resources Specialist, and is a member of the Mid-Atlantic ILG.
Partner - Morrison & Foerster LLP
Andrew Turnbull is a Partner at Morrison & Foerster and co-leader of the Pay Equity Task Force. Andrew has deep expertise in representing federal contractors in various unique employment matters, including OFCCP compliance and audits, pay equity audits and litigation, DEI and affirmative action plans, high-stakes workplace investigations, SCA/DBA compliance and defense, executive disputes, and employee mobility and trade secrets litigation. Andrew is an active member and has served on the steering committee for the Washington Metro ILG. He frequently speaks on a variety of employment topics, including at the NILG Conferences in 2017 and 2023.
Sr. Affirmative Action Compliance Specialist/Global Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - The Boeing Company
Alicia Turner Roberson is a Senior Affirmative Action Specialist at the Boeing Company. Alicia is an experienced AA/EEO professional with 20 years navigating and managing complex compliance programs and initiatives across a myriad of organizational business structures. Alicia is a member of the NILG Board representing the Midwest Region and Chair of the St. Louis ILG.
Partner - Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Annette Tyman is a Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Chair of the People Analytics practice group. She regularly advises employers on DEI, pay equity, affirmative action and the use of advanced technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and machine learning algorithms. Annette has provided testimony on proposed employment legislation and regulations pending before the US Senate, House of Representatives, the EEOC, and various state and local jurisdictions. Annette regularly presents before various association groups, including at local ILG meetings and at multiple NILG conferences.
Head of Employment Law & Labor Relations - Wayfair
Rae Vann leads the global Employment Law and Labor Relations team for Wayfair. She is responsible for guiding and counseling cross-functional Talent teams and business leaders on ensuring compliance with a wide range of labor and employment laws and requirements, supporting and executing practical strategies for proactively preventing and mitigating legal risk, and responding to, and coordinating the defense of, employee disputes and contested proceedings. Prior to joining Wayfair in January 2022, Rae spent more than two decades in private practice, where she represented and advised corporate clients on a variety of workplace compliance and DEI matters.
Senior Associate - Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Joe Vele is a Senior Associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Joe advises employers on workplace legal and compliance requirements under federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, with a particular emphasis on the nondiscrimination, affirmative action, and reporting requirements enforced by the OFCCP. He has helped clients in the telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, and defense industries manage and defend OFCCP compliance evaluations, mitigate their affirmative action and systemic discrimination risks—specifically in the areas of talent acquisition and compensation—and develop legally defensible diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Joe has presented at local ILG meetings and the 2021 NILG conference.
Partner - McGuireWoods LLP
Sarah Wake is a partner in the labor and employment group at McGuireWoods LLP and represents employers and colleges and universities in a variety of issues, including employment discrimination claims, internal investigations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion matters. Sarah spent 9 years at top universities and oversaw the universities’ response to complaints of discrimination and harassment, affirmative action programs, and accommodating individuals with disabilities. Ms. Wake received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame.
VP, DE&I Business Unit Manager - Comerica Bank
Lori Walker, CDP, is the Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Business Unit Manager at Comerica Bank. In her current role, she has primary responsibility for integrating the bank’s DEI strategies into the key revenue lines of business. She partners with leadership to drive DEI achievement of the Diversity Scorecard goals, leads workforce inclusion and equity programs, and facilitates and recommends DEI education. She previously served as the bank’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action program manager for 13 years.
Ms. Walker is a member of the Midwest Industry Liaison Group, on the Board of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion and the Michigan Diversity Council.
Associate Director – Affirmative Action and EEO Compliance - Eli Lilly and Company - NILG 2024 National Conference Co-Chair
Alicia Wallace, MBA, SHRM-CP, Sr. CAAP leads the Affirmative Action and EEO Compliance with Eli Lilly and Company. Alicia is an experienced AA/EEO professional with 25+ years managing corporate compliance programs as well as diversity initiatives launching employee resource groups and managing disability and veteran programs with fortune 100 organizations. Alicia was a Senior Compliance Officer with OFCCP, Contracting Officer with the Department of Defense and is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. She is a member of the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) board, Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) Board of Directors, Past Co-Chair of the Indiana ILG and past member of Disability:In Corporate Advisory Board. She is Co-Chair of the NILG 2024 National Conference.
CEO - Center for Disability Inclusion
Meaghan Walls is the CEO for the Center for Disability Inclusion. In all her roles she has endeavored to break down barriers for people with disabilities to participate in life’s activities. Meaghan is a certified Assistive Technology Professional with a MS in Rehab Engineering from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a BS in Mathematics from Saint Mary’s College - Notre Dame. Meaghan has robust speaking experience including DisruptHR, regional (AIA Rocky Mountain Green, AIA South Dakota, Omaha CODE Conference) and national conference stages (ATIA). Meaghan is not a member of an ILG and has not presented at previous NILG Conferences.
Director of Audit Services - Kairos Services
Will Waymel, Director of Audit Services at Kairos Services, provides affirmative action program development and implementation, auditing, and training to clients. His prior years of experience as a Compliance Officer at the OFCCP provide unique insights into audits. Mr. Waymel has a passion for working with data - excelling in finding ways to utilize large and/or unstructured datasets using Excel’s Power Query and VBA. Earning an MBA and MSIB from the University of Colorado, Will is a native Coloradoan, living there with his wife and eight children.
Director - Resolution Economics
As a Director at Resolution Economics, Kevin Weissman is an expert in designing complicated pay equity studies and selections analyses for internal audits as well as in response to legal claims. He has over 20 years of experience in constructing analytical databases and analyzing results using a wide variety of statistical techniques.
Kevin’s practice areas involve all aspects of employment discrimination including analysis of hiring, promotions, terminations and compensation. Additionally, Kevin has extensive knowledge and experience calculating damages for various wage & hour matters. Kevin also performs statistical analysis related to DEI&A matters and selection processes relying on Artificial Intelligence.
Lead Statistician - Silberman Law PC
Krystal Welland is Silberman Law’s Lead Statistician. Krystal performs complex statistical analyses related to pay equity, affirmative action, adverse impact, and DE&I. Krystal works closely with the firm’s clients to develop meaningful, practical and strategic analyses that help employers address pay gaps, enhance EEO and OFCCP compliance, and move the needle on diversity. Krystal regularly presents at local, regional, and national ILG conferences.
Corporate Manager – EEO, Diversity & Inclusion - Huntington Ingalls Industries
Margaret Williams is the Manager of EEO, Diversity and Inclusion at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Corporate Office where she serves as the EEO manager for the corporate office staff and ensures full compliance with all AAP and EEO requirements. She also has oversight of AAPs, EEO and D&I programs for HII’s three division.
In this role, Margaret collaborates with the divisions and the company’s consultant, DCI, to ensure the company’s AAP is based on complete and accurate data, establishes focused review areas and monitor progress for both the corporate office and the divisions to ensure compliance and consistency.
Margaret is a member of the Hampton Roads ILG and serves as a board member of the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG).
Assistant Secretary - Office of Disability Employment Policy
Taryn Mackenzie Williams is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. In this position, she advises the Secretary of Labor on how the Department’s policies and programs impact the employment of people with disabilities and leads the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which works with employers and all levels of government to promote evidence-based policy that improves employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities. Previously, Williams was the managing director for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at American Progress, which works on progressive policies focused on a broad range of anti-poverty strategies. Before joining American Progress, she worked at ODEP on a variety of issues related to education, workforce policy, Social Security, Medicaid and civil rights. In her role as director of youth policy, Williams led agency efforts to coordinate education and employment policy in support of improved labor force outcomes for disabled youth. From 2014 through 2016, Williams served as ODEP’s chief of staff. She also undertook detail assignments as associate director for public engagement and liaison to the disability community at the White House from 2014 through 2015 and as a policy adviser on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions from 2012 through 2013.
Director of Policy and Program Development - OFCCP
Tina Williams is the Policy Director for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), National Office; where she is responsible for overseeing the development and coordination of new directives, regulations, agency policies and procedures, the OFCCP Training Academy, and the development of public education and outreach materials. In 2006, she began her federal career with the U.S. Department of Justice and joined OFCCP in 2013. Mrs. Williams brings a wealth of knowledge in federal government compliance, EEO, Title VII, ADA, Public Policy and Rulemaking.
Labor Economist - Charles River Associates
As a labor economist at Charles River Associates, Quenton assists employers with pay audits, diversity monitoring, government investigations, and several of the largest class-action discrimination matters in the country. Quenton specializes in the application of statistical techniques to analyses of employment practices, such as compensation, hiring, promotion, and termination. Her particular niche is in measuring and mitigating her clients' risk, especially with respect to pay equity. Quenton has presented on compensation and diversity topics at the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), WorldatWork, National Employment Law Institute (NELI), and Industry Liaison Group (NILG and ILG) events.
ILG/NILG events
• “Assessing Promotions and Placement in a Post-Pandemic Labor Market.” National Industry Liaison Group Conference, August 2021
• “To FAAP or Not to FAAP—That is the Question.” National Industry Liaison Group Webinar Conference, July 2020
• “How Do You Measure Up? Use Metrics to Elevate Diversity & Inclusion in Your Organization.” Colorado Industry Liaison Group, January 2020
• “Equal Pay Audits: Assessing Risk and Developing a Plan of Action,” National Industry Liaison Group Conference, August 2018
• “Understanding and Managing Pay Equity and Pay Gaps in a Changing Legal Environment and Dynamic Marketplace,” National Industry Liaison Group Conference, August 2017
SHRM, HRCI and CLE credits will be available for attendees of this conference.