FEATURED NILG 2023 NATIONAL CONFERENCE Presenters
Click on the presenter's picture to read their biography OR click the presenter's name to see their sessions and biography.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Lisa Sun
Founder & CEO, GRAVITAS
Lisa Sun
Founder & CEO, GRAVITAS
What would happen if you let go of fear, got off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, electrifies audiences as she unpacks this vital question in her moving, motivating, and empowering talks. Catalyzing confidence and inspiring innovation, Sun seamlessly blends stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company to offer talks that encourage audiences to choose self-confidence, work to harness their “superpower,” and use gravitas to advance personally and professionally.
Sun founded GRAVITAS in 2012, and its origin story dates to her first professional review. The feedback that changed her life? Being told that she “comes across as young and overly enthusiastic at times,” that she “lacked gravitas,” and “should go buy a new dress, big jewelry, and great shoes.” With those words in mind, an understanding of the transformative power of clothing, and a determination to create a game-changing company, Sun filed for a global patent to build shapewear directly into dresses. She launched GRAVITAS as a “confidence company” that offers innovative apparel and styling solutions designed to makeover women from the inside-out. Two months after launch, her first collection was featured in O, The Oprah magazine, PEOPLE, and The TODAY Show in the same month. Sun and GRAVITAS have not slowed down since; she has been featured on CNN and in Forbes, Fast Company, New York magazine, Elle, Marie Claire, InStyle, and more.
Sun explores why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. Praised for her passion and warmth, she has spoken for groups including JPMorganChase, Mortgage Bankers Association Summit for Women in Real Estate Finance, HSN, Dress for Success Global Success Summit, The Nantucket Project, and more.
Prior to founding GRAVITAS, Sun spent 11 years at McKinsey & Company where she advised leading luxury, fashion and beauty brands and retailers in the US, Asia, Europe and Latin America on strategic and operational issues. At McKinsey, Sun was considered one of the firm’s top experts in the luxury and fashion space, Lisa published perspectives and gave keynote speeches at forums such as the American Express Luxury Summit. In many ways, Lisa “grew up” at McKinsey, being mentored by the firm’s best thinkers, learning from top executives, and having the privilege of leading teams of talented colleagues around the world.
Sun has always had a passion for style, for inclusivity, and for helping people look and feel their best, having been a size 22, a size 8, and now proudly a size 12. At every size and age, she has found creative ways to show off her style, having been named one of Washingtonian Magazine's Best Dressed Women. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University with distinction in Biology and Political Science.
Rob Arndt
Founder - BufferSprings
Rob Arndt
Founder - BufferSprings
Rob Arndt: CEO & Founder of BufferSprings, a veteran-owned consulting firm that merges the missions of smart companies and the military-connected community. Rob is a 14-year Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who has spent the past decade partnering with Fortune 500 companies, small & mid-sized organizations, federal contractors, government agencies, and educators to build effective military veteran and diversity recruitment and compliance systems. Rob leverages a vast array of insider connections, cutting-edge HR technology knowledge, and expansive community relationships to build military veteran talent solutions that provide immediate and ongoing results for his partners and the military-affiliated workforce.
Brian Barger
Partner - McGuireWoods, LLP
Brian Barger
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, pre-employment testing, and federal record keeping requirements. Mr. Barger received his undergraduate (B.A., 1987) and law (J.D., 1990) degrees from the University of Virginia, both with honors, including Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, Order of the Coif, and the Earl K. Shawe Labor Relations Award. Recent NILG presentations: 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.
Juanita (Nita) Beecher
Counsel - Fortney & Scott, LLC
Juanita (Nita) Beecher
Counsel - Fortney & Scott, LLC
Nita Beecher, Of Counsel to Fortney & Scott, LLC, is a nationally recognized expert on Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) matters. Ms. Beecher’s primary focus is labor and employment law with substantial experience with class investigations by the EEOC and OFCCP. During more than 40 years of practice, she has served as in-house counsel at various large corporations and as leader of employer networks. A member of the Saint Louis ILG, Ms. Beecher has presented at the National ILG nearly every year since her first appearance in 2004.
Michael Bracken
Partner - NT Lakis, LLP
Michael Bracken
Partner - NT Lakis, LLP
Mike Bracken, Partner at NT Lakis, LLP, advises and counsels clients on a full range of workplace compliance issues, including:
• Developing Affirmative Action Programs and defending OFCCP compliance evaluations
• Conducting effective investigations of alleged unlawful harassment and discrimination
• Performing self-critical analyses and internal audits of employment policies and practices
• Advising clients on EEO, wage and hour, and immigration matters
• Performing self-critical compensation analyses
C. Timothy Branner, II
Associate Director, Affirmative Action Programs - Raytheon Technologies
C. Timothy Branner, II
Associate Director, Affirmative Action Programs - Raytheon Technologies
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.
Guy Brenner
Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP
Guy Brenner
Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP
Guy Brenner is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and leads the Firm’s Washington, D.C. Labor & Employment practice. He has extensive experience helping employers with their most complex and high-stakes employment law challenges, with an emphasis on complex non-compete and trade secrets issues, pay equity matters, medical and disability leave challenges, and employee/independent contractor classification issues. He also regularly advises federal government contractors and subcontractors all aspects of Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) regulations and requirements, including preparing affirmative action plans, implementing robust compliance regimes, and representing clients in complex OFCCP audits.
Susanne Bruyère
Professor of Disability Studies and Academic Director - YTI
Susanne Bruyère
Professor of Disability Studies and Academic Director - YTI
Susanne M. Bruyère, Ph.D., CRC, is Professor of Disability Studies and Academic Director, of the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute (YTI) on Employment and Disability, in the Cornell University ILR (Industrial and Labor Relations) School. YTI is a national and global resource providing extensive research, training, and technical assistance focusing on disability inclusion in employment, education, and community. In her role, Dr. Bruyère serves as Institute administrative and strategic lead, and also personally serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Co-Director of the USDOL-Office of Disability Employment Policy-sponsored Employer Assistance Resource Network on Workplace Disability Inclusion (www.askEARN.org).
Daniel Butler
Associate - Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Daniel Butler
Associate - Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Dan represents businesses facing complex employment law issues. Dan regularly performs internal investigations and directs executives and managers on best practices to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws governing the workplace. He also provides labor and employment advice in M&A due diligence matters and is trusted as strategic employment counsel for business planning initiatives. As part of his litigation practice, Dan represents employers in state and federal courts in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation lawsuits, whistleblower claims, and wage and hour collective actions. He has extensive class action experience and also routinely appears before administrative agencies in employment-related matters.
Ornella Castman
Head of Affirmative Action/EEO - Bayer
Ornella Castman
Head of Affirmative Action/EEO - Bayer
Ms. Castman is the Head of Affirmative Action/EEO at Bayer and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of preparation, execution and training of Bayer’s Affirmative Action Plans as well as provide advice on HR compliance matters. She has over 23 years of broad human resources experience advising in all areas of human resources with a strong focus on affirmative action program development and implementation, OFCCP audits, compensation systems development, and pay equity analysis. Ms. Castman serves as the Recording Secretary for the National Industry Liaison Group, the Alliance Manager for NOD, and past NILG Chair, and the Chair of the Mid-Atlantic ILG.
Inderdeep Chatrath, Ph.D.
Thought Leader, Advocate and Consultant
Inderdeep Chatrath, Ph.D.
Thought Leader, Advocate and Consultant
Inderdeep Chatrath is a thought leader, advocate, and consultant engaged in enhancing diversity and equity in employment practices. She leads the Center for Workplace Compliance’s Higher Education Initiative to support colleges and universities in their development and implementation of high-impact workplace compliance, DEI, and risk management programs. Dr. Chatrath served as the Assistant Vice President of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Programs in the Office for Institutional Equity at Duke University for 20 years. She recently concluded service on the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations of the U.S. Census Bureau and the NILG Advisory Council.
Mike Childers
Corporate Counsel - Amazon
Mike Childers
Corporate Counsel - Amazon
Mike Childers serves as Corporate Counsel on the Employment Legal team at Amazon where he focuses on the global issues concerning data privacy, DEI, pay equity, and artificial intelligence. Prior to working at Amazon, Mike worked at Seyfarth Shaw where his practice focused on helping employers navigate a wide spectrum of issues related to data analytics, artificial intelligence development and use, and government contract compliance.
Christopher Chrisbens
Principal - Silberman Law, PC
Christopher Chrisbens
Principal - 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.
Lynn Clements
Director of Audit & HR Services - Berkshire Associates, Inc.
Lynn Clements
Director of Audit & HR Services - Berkshire Associates, Inc.
As Berkshire’s Director of Audit & HR Services, Lynn Clements, Esq. manages Berkshire’s Pay Equity, HR Services and Audit Defense practices. With 25 years of experience in the EEO and affirmative action space -- including nearly eight years working as a former senior official at the EEOC and OFFCP -- Lynn brings a unique blend of regulatory knowledge and practical compliance expertise to every project she oversees. With over 20 years of experience, including serving in high level policy positions at both the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Lynn is a regular presenter of management and employee training at all levels of organizations and has testified before Congress regarding EEO and pay equity issues. She is currently Secretary for the Baltimore Industry Liaison Group (BILG) and a faculty member of the Institute for Workplace Equality. Lynn has presented at NILG 6+ times in the last two years, covering topics around audit support, OFCCP compliance trends, and affirmative action practices.
David Cohen
President - DCI Consulting Group Inc
David Cohen
President - DCI Consulting Group Inc
David Cohen is the founder and President of DCI Consulting Group, Inc. 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. Recognized as a national EEO and affirmative action compliance expert, Mr. Cohen speaks frequently before corporate leaders from Fortune 500 companies, and at regional and national ILG conferences and OFCCP events.
Maria Colacurcio
CEO - Syndio
Maria Colacurcio
CEO - Syndio
Maria Colacurcio is passionate about helping companies build equitable workplaces where every worker is valued for who they are and their contributions. Colacurcio is CEO of Syndio, a SaaS startup helping companies around the world create an equitable workplace for all employees, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity. Prior to Syndio, she co-founded Smartsheet.com, which went public in 2018, and spent three years at Starbucks, one of the first Fortune 50 companies to go public with pay equity results. Having started her career working on congressional campaigns, she has a long history of mission-driven work, and a compassionate and competitive attitude to spur change.
Aida Collins
Southeast Regional Director - OFCCP
Aida Collins
Southeast Regional Director - OFCCP
On June 4, 2021, Aida Collins was named Regional Director for the OFCCP's Southeast Region. Aida served as the Deputy Regional Director for the Southwest and Rocky Mountain Region (SWARM) since 2015. She started her career of public service in the United States Armed Forces. She honorably served in the US Army for more than 10 years. Aida continued her public service as a civil servant with the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of the Army and the Department of Labor. After two years as a Claims Examiner with the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP), Aida joined the OFCCP team. Formerly a compliance officer in the Dallas District Officer, Assistant District Director of the Houston District office and Director of Regional Operations, Aida has been with OFCCP for over 20 years.
Cara Crotty
Equity Partner – Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP
Cara Crotty
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.
Beverly Dankowtiz
Associate Solicitor Civil Rights & Labor-Management
Beverly Dankowtiz
Associate Solicitor Civil Rights & Labor-Management
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.
Alexis Davis
EEO / AA Analyst - Biddle Consulting Group
Alexis Davis
EEO / AA Analyst - Biddle Consulting Group
Alexis Davis is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Analyst with Biddle Consulting Group, with two years’ experience developing Affirmative Action Plans and consulting on all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and compliance matters with her federal contractor client base. While Alexis is passionate about bridging the gap for underutilized groups in employment and employment practices, she is also a proud military spouse, with a unique perspective to offer government contractors and organizations. She has seen the struggles veterans face while entering the civilian workforce and knows first-hand how military spouses are impacted in the workplace as well.
Frank DeLosReyes
Executive Director, Human Resources/Global Diversity & Inclusion - Merck & Co., Inc.
Frank DeLosReyes
Executive Director, Human Resources/Global Diversity & Inclusion - Merck & Co., Inc.
Frank DeLosReyes is an Executive Director, Global Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance at Merck & Co. Inc., Frank joined Merck in 2006 and has held several critical roles across the organization including, Global Talent Acquisition, HR Compliance, DEI & Compliance. Frank reports to the CDO where he is responsible for directing all global diversity, equity, and inclusion compliance activities. This includes developing, implementing, and maintaining equal opportunity policy for the company and acting as a consultant to the CDO, to Human Resources Centers of Excellence and other division and support functions on all EEO and AAP policies and diversity initiatives.
Cari Dominguez
Principal - Dominguez & Associates/Circa
Cari Dominguez
Principal - Dominguez & Associates/Circa
Cari Dominguez is nationally recognized for her expertise in public policymaking, workforce issues and corporate governance. A former Chair of the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she also served at the U.S. Department of Labor in roles including Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards and Labor Management, and Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. In the latter capacity, she created, launched, and led the Labor Department’s Glass Ceiling Initiative, designed to remove from the workplace invisible barriers affecting the advancement of women and underrepresented groups. She is also a founder of the Industry Liaison Group Initiative and served as its first national coordinator. Dominguez serves on the board of Circa and is a trustee of the Calvert Funds. She recently retired as lead director from the board of Triple-S Management Corporation, the exclusive BlueCross BlueShield managed healthcare company in Puerto Rico, and as a board member from ManpowerGroup, a global workforce solutions company.
Daniel Duff
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Daniel Duff
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Daniel Duff is a Principal in the New York Metro Region of Jackson Lewis P.C. and a member of the firm's AAP and OFCCP Defense Practice Group. Dan has more than 25 years of experience in advising clients in a wide array of employment law and litigation areas, with a focus on affirmative action, diversity, EEO and pay equity matters. Dan has defended numerous OFCCP compliance evaluations, denial of access claims, on-site reviews and complaints of discrimination. In addition, he has handled numerous cases and administrative proceedings involving claims of race, gender, age, disability and sex discrimination, including class and collective action cases and pay equity claims. Dan has presented on multiple occasions at the National Industry Liaison Group’s Annual Conference and well as at numerous local ILG events.
Michelle Duncan
Attorney - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Michelle Duncan
Attorney - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Michelle Duncan is a Principal in the Affirmative Action, OFCCP and Government Contract Compliance practice group. Michelle focuses her practice on representing employers in affirmative action and employment discrimination matters before OFCCP. Since joining Jackson Lewis, Michelle has assisted employers in numerous OFCCP audits and compliant investigations throughout the country. In addition, Michelle counsels employers on issues related to pre-employment testing, pay equity, applicant tracking and diversity and inclusion.
Eric Dunleavy, Ph.D.
Vice President, Employment and Litigation Services - DCI Consulting
Eric Dunleavy, Ph.D.
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.
Christopher Durham
Partner - Duane Morris LLP
Christopher Durham
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.
Mike Eastman
SVP, Policy & Assistant General Council - Center for Workplace Compliance
Mike Eastman
SVP, Policy & Assistant General Council - Center for Workplace Compliance
Mike Eastman serves as senior vice president for policy and assistant general counsel for the Center for Workplace Compliance. Mike has been a leader representing the business community in numerous high-profile employment policy debates as well as nuanced and detailed negotiations. He is a frequent speaker on employment policy and has testified before Congress and federal enforcement agencies. Mike’s insights have frequently appeared in national news publications and major media outlets. Mike also serves as a partner of NT Lakis, LLP, and as a senior consultant for Employment Advisory Services, Inc.
ValentĂn EstĂ©vez, Ph.D.
Vice President - Charles River Associates
ValentĂn EstĂ©vez, Ph.D.
Vice President - Charles River Associates
Valentin Estevez is a Vice President at Charles River Associates where he assists government contractors across the country and in numerous industries during OFCCP audits. Dr. Estevez has also conducted hundreds of proactive pay equity and adverse impact studies. Dr. Estevez has also testified in employment discrimination and wage and hour litigation. Dr. Estevez has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago and is a lecturer in economics at Texas A&M University. He is a member of the NILG Advisory Council and has presented at the NILG National Conference and regional ILGs.
Kevin Fitzpatrick
EEO/AA Compliance Director Employment Law - PEPSICO
Kevin Fitzpatrick
EEO/AA Compliance Director Employment Law - PEPSICO
Kevin Fitzpatrick 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 2021 NILG National Conference. He is a member of the North Texas ILG.
Harvey Fort
Deputy Director, Division of Program Operations - Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor
Harvey Fort
Deputy Director, Division of Program Operations - Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor
Harvey D. Fort serves as the Deputy Director of the Division of Program Operations (DPO) for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Mr. Fort joined OFCCP after serving as Lead Economist in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP), Division of Regulation and Programmatic Policy, where he was responsible for providing subject matter and technical leadership on economic policy, rules, and legislation, for EBSA and OSHA within the Department of Labor. As a regulatory technician, Harvey advised the Department’s senior officials on labor–related policy and program matters. He ensured that appropriate economic and policy research provided by EBSA and OSHA were based on sound analysis for senior leadership to make essential policy decisions. Harvey oversaw the regulatory development process for EBSA and OSHA before rules were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Labor, Harvey served as Senior Economist for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Prior to working with the FRA, Harvey worked with Federal Aviation Administration as a Senior Electrical Engineer.
David Fortney
Co-Founder, FortneyScott
David Fortney
Co-Founder, FortneyScott
David S.Fortney is a co-founder of FortneyScott. His practice focuses on a wide array of compliance initiatives and litigation matters involving wage and hour, compensation, Equal Employment Opportunity, labor matters, federal contractor's affirmative action and non-discrimination obligations, collective bargaining, and workplace health and safety. He advises clients in developing and implementing strategic plans involving federal agencies, Congress, and the press that enhance a client's reputation and take into account the interests of various stakeholders, including stockholders, the workforce, and customers. David brings experience from both the public and private sectors and frequently represents clients before federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor's agencies, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. David is a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. For the past 10 years, he has been named one of the leading employment lawyers in Washington, D.C. by the CHAMBERS USA survey of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and has been selected for inclusion in the 2009 through 2016 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, Washington D.C.’s Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. He was also awarded an AV rating (the highest level) by Martindale-Hubbell. Before co-founding the firm, David served as the Acting Solicitor of Labor and held other senior policy positions in the U.S. Department of Labor. He is a frequent lecturer and writer on employment-related topics.
Beverly Freeman
President - AAP Consultants LLC
Beverly Freeman
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.
David Garber, Ph.D.
Branch Chief of Expert Service - OFCCP
David Garber, Ph.D.
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.
Vern Granger
Director of Admissions - University of Connecticut (UConn)
Vern Granger
Director of Admissions - University of Connecticut (UConn)
Vern Granger is Director of Admissions at the University of Connecticut (UConn). In his current role, he works on UConn’s worldwide outreach to high-achieving and diverse students, its selection process, development of the university admission process and practices, the transition of new students, and the advancement of UConn’s position as one of the preeminent institutions in the country. Vern is also the Chair-Elect of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and his master’s degree from North Carolina State University.
Meredith Gregston
Senior Attorney - Hunton Andrews Kurth
Meredith Gregston
Senior Attorney - Hunton Andrews Kurth
Meredith Gregston, Senior Attorney with Hunton Andrews Kurth, focuses on employment counseling and litigation, with a specialty in OFCCP compliance, pay equity, and DEI. Her litigation practice includes discrimination, harassment, retaliation, trade secrets and wage and hour. Mrs. Gregston also regularly assists and advises clients on OFCCP compliance and audits, pay equity analyses and disputes, internal audits and global compliance with pay equity legislation. She represents employers in state and federal courts, as well as proceedings before administrative agencies, such as EEOC and OFCCP Ms. Gregston is a NILG Board Member and the current Chair of the San Antonio ILG.
Ryan Hagemann
Co-Director - IBM Policy Lab at IBM
Ryan Hagemann
Co-Director - IBM Policy Lab at IBM
Ryan's primary research and policy expertise is in the legal and regulatory approaches to governing emerging technologies. His issue area specialties cut across a broad cross-section of technologies, including: genetic modification and regenerative medicine, bioengineering and healthcare IT, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, commercial drones, the Internet of Things, and other issues at the intersection of technology, regulation, and the digital economy. Ryan has been published in a number of peer reviewed policy and law journals on topics ranging from “soft law” governance alternatives for regulating emerging technologies, the economic impacts of autonomous vehicles, and the privacy implications of commercial drones. His research and comments have been cited by, among others, The New York Times, MIT Technology Review, and The Atlantic, and I’ve been published in The Wall Street Journal, Wired, National Review, The Washington Examiner, US News & World Report, The Hill, and elsewhere.
Christine Hendrickson
VP of Strategic Initiatives - Syndio
Christine Hendrickson
VP of Strategic Initiatives - Syndio
Christine Hendrickson is a leader on corporate pay equity and international pay reporting laws. As Syndio's Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Christine works at the intersection of HR analytics and law, partnering with employers to drive strategic, practical, and cutting edge practices on pay equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion analysis. Prior to joining Syndio, Christine was a partner at Seyfarth Shaw, where she was the co-Chair of Seyfarth's Global Pay Equity Group. Christine is a frequent speaker, including several speaking opportunities at NILG.
Lauren Hicks
Attorney - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Lauren Hicks
Attorney - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
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.
Rick Holt
Partner - Resolution Economics, LLC
Rick Holt
Partner - Resolution Economics, LLC
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, including the three most recent iterations (Boston, Nashville, and Washington).
Angela Hood
Founder & CEO - ThisWay® Global
Angela Hood
Founder & CEO - ThisWay® Global
Following 4 years of R&D at the University of Cambridge in England, CEO and founder Angela Hood returned to Austin, Texas to build ThisWay Global Inc., a company that converges technology with talent networks(not job boards) to unlock human potential. Hood is a well respected thought leader and international keynote speaker on the topics of mitigating bias using artificial intelligence, the ROI of diversity and human-centric automation. While many know ThisWay through their acceleration by Google, Hood is also the technology advisor for the Board of Directors of Consort Institute at Clark Atlanta University (HBCU). Her groundbreaking work is covered in Simon & Schuster’s book, Hack Recruiting, and she was also recognized by ideaSpace - University of Cambridge and Texas A&M University as Outstanding Alumni in 2021.
Alissa Horvitz
Member Attorney – Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Alissa Horvitz
Member Attorney – Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Alissa Horvitz is an attorney in the Northern Virginia law firm she co-founded with her friend and partner Josh Roffman. Josh and Alissa have been practicing together since their days at Morgan Lewis and Littler Mendelson. Roffman Horvitz focuses its practice in the legal space where employment law and data analytics intersect. In addition to preparing affirmative action plans, helping employers that are being audited by OFCCP, and conducting privileged pay equity analyses and adverse impact analyses, Roffman Horvitz conducts analyses of applicant tracking systems and performs mock internal audits, also under attorney client privilege. Josh has presented at previous NILG conferences and is a member of the Baltimore ILG and Washington Metro ILG.
Judy Julius
Owner/Primary Consultant - EEO Consulting, LLC
Judy Julius
Owner/Primary Consultant - EEO Consulting, LLC
Judy Julius has owned her consulting business for almost 30 years. Her team, including Janice Riney and Dani Kuhn, 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 nearly 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 and has been doing presentations on the new census data since May 2021
Anthony Kaylin
Vice President, American Society of Employers (ASE)
Anthony Kaylin
Vice President, American Society of Employers (ASE)
Anthony Kaylin is a Vice President at ASE and has been with the company over 15 years. Anthony chairs the Michigan Industry Liaison Group and represents the Midwest Region for the National Industry Group as well as being its current Chair.
Before joining ASE, Kaylin 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. In each assignment he served in various HR roles, progressively taking on additional responsibilities in each one.
Clinton Kelly
Principal Consultant - ioPredict
Clinton Kelly
Principal Consultant - ioPredict
Clinton Kelly, Ph.D. is a Principal Consultant with ioPredict, and specializes in test development and validation. He has more than 15 years of experience developing and validating examinations used for employee selection and licensure/certification for private and public sector organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from California State University, Sacramento and a Doctorate in Applied Social Psychology from Brigham Young University.
Scott Kelly
Shareholder - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Scott Kelly
Shareholder - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Scott Kelly co-chairs the firm's Affirmative Action/OFCCP Compliance Practice Group and is a Shareholder residing in the Birmingham, Alabama office. Scott counsels and defends federal contractors and subcontractors throughout the United States on jurisdictional, compliance, and enforcement issues involving the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Scott's national practice includes representing employers in OFCCP compliance evaluations and administrative enforcement actions and assisting in the preparation, management and defense of affirmative action programs (AAPs). His clients have operations spanning numerous industries, including higher education, financial services, technology, and manufacturing, among others. Scott frequently works to design legally defensible hiring processes and practices to fit his clients' business needs and to assist employers with voluntary, privileged and proactive compensation analyses and fair pay audits.
Daniel Kuang, Ph.D.
BCGi Distinguished Fellow - BCG Institute
Daniel Kuang, Ph.D.
BCGi Distinguished Fellow - BCG Institute
Dan Kuang, Ph.D., has extensive experience developing and validating tests and measures for personnel selection and performance assessment. Additionally, Dr. Kuang has considerable experience evaluating, supporting, and challenging employment practices, procedures, and tests in the context of litigation support. His expertise in applied statistics is firmly grounded by his years of experience in high-stakes educational testing and medical health research. In his current role, his primary responsibility is to ensure that clients are in compliance with Federal guidelines and regulations, and are positioned to respond to external legal threats and challenges.
Bob LaJeunesse, Ph.D.
Director of Enforcement - OFCCP
Bob LaJeunesse, Ph.D.
Director of Enforcement - OFCCP
Bob LaJeunesse, Ph.D. is Director of Enforcement for Office of Federal Contract Compliance. Dr. Lajeunesse 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, Dr. LaJeunesse 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.
Joe Lakis
President - Employment Advisory Services, Inc
Joe Lakis
President - Employment Advisory Services, Inc
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.
Craig Leen
Partner - K&L Gates LLP
Craig Leen
Partner - K&L Gates LLP
Craig Leen is a partner in the DC office of K&L Gates in the labor, employment, and workplace safety practice group, and he co-leads the firm’s OFCCP and Affirmative Action Compliance Practice. He previously served as OFCCP Director and is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at GW Law. Craig serves on many boards and committees, including in the EEO area for Circa, Eightfold, RespectAbility, and Disability:IN DC Metro. Craig is admitted to practice law in DC, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York, and is board certified by The Florida Bar in city, county, and local government law. Craig has spoken numerous times at the NILG from 2018-2022, and he is a member of the Washington Metro ILG.
Victoria Lipnic
Partner - Resolution Economics, LLP
Victoria Lipnic
Partner - Resolution Economics, LLP
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.
Jeffrey M. Lupardo
Counsel, Department of Labor Solicitor's Office
Jeffrey M. Lupardo
Counsel, Department of Labor Solicitor's Office
Jeff Lupardo is the Counsel for Labor-Management and Civil Rights Enforcement in the Department of Labor’s Solicitor’s Office. Jeff joined the Solicitor’s Office (SOL) in 2008 and has worked on numerous OFCCP enforcement actions and defensive cases brought against OFCCP under the Administrative Procedure Act. Further, Jeff works closely with OFCCP and SOL National Office leadership to implement agency enforcement and policy priorities. As part of his position, Jeff coordinates with the Regional Solicitors’ Offices regarding SOL involvement in OFCCP matters. Such involvement ranges from the time of scheduling through the filing of an enforcement action. In his current role, Jeff also advises the Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) on policy issues, formal rulemakings, as well as coordinates with the Department of Justice to litigate matters under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). Prior to joining the Solicitor’s Office, Jeff worked in the National Labor Relations Board’s Office of the General Counsel.
Tony Magaro
Director, Human Resources - Southwest Research Institute
Tony Magaro
Director, Human Resources - Southwest Research Institute
Tony Magaro, executive director of the Human Resources Department at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). Tony received the National Industry Liaison Group’s (NILG) 2017 Lois Baumerich Lifetime Achievement Award today for his work promoting equal opportunity and affirmative action. Magaro has been with SwRI for over 50 years. He joined SwRI in 1969 as a student clerk. Magaro transferred to human resources in 1989, now leading the Human Resources and Compensation function.
Sam Maiden
MidAtlantic Regional Director - OFCCP
Sam Maiden
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.
Lesley Marlin
Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Lesley Marlin
Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Lesley Marlin is an experienced, senior in-house attorney with a specialty in labor and employment law. She works for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as their Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment. FINRA is a not-for-profit organization, overseen by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through the regulation of brokerage firms doing business with the public in the United States. Although Ms. Marlin has not presented at previous NILG National Conferences, she has spoken frequently on workplace issues, including employment laws, culture and psychological safety, diversity and inclusion, and resilience.
Lisa Marsh
Associate - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Lisa Marsh
Associate - 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 Marsh is a member of Rocky Mountain ILG.
Catherine Massey
Associate Principal - Charles River Associates
Catherine Massey
Associate Principal - Charles River Associates
Dr. Massey is an Associate Principal at Charles River Associates Bryan Texas office, where she regularly helps clients conduct pay-equity audits and defend against pay equity claims. Prior to joining Charles River Associates, she was an Assistant Research Scientist in the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. While at the University of Michigan, she conducted research on intergenerational contributors to inequality. Dr. Massey received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder and her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She presented on COVID’s effect on pay equity and disparate impact at the 2021 National ILG in Nashville.
Paul McGovern
Managing Partner - Praxis Compliance
Paul McGovern
Managing Partner - Praxis Compliance
Paul McGovern is Managing Partner of Praxis Compliance, an HR Compliance consulting firm specializing in Affirmative Action, EEO/Employee Relations investigation and remediation, and Diversity & Inclusion program design. Paul is a National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) Board member representing the Northeast region. He served as NILG Chair from 2007 to 2020. Paul is former program lead for Verizon Communications’ Affirmative Action program and for EEO investigations. An attorney, Mr. McGovern was a member of Verizon Communication’s Legal Department and a litigator in private practice.
Rachel McInerney
Vice President, Employee Relations - Labcorp
Rachel McInerney
Vice President, Employee Relations - Labcorp
Rachel McInerney is a Vice President of Employee Relations for Labcorp. Driven by a passion to enable others to do their best work, Rachel has chosen roles in her career that have provided her the opportunity to influence change and strengthen leadership capability. While Rachel has spent the last six years leading a team that specializes in employee relations, she also has over fifteen years of comprehensive HR experience supporting business operations. In her current role, Rachel leads a global team focused on empowering leaders to make sound, fair, and unbiased decisions through a coaching model that is characterized by trust, openness, and collaboration.
Fred Melkey
Corporate Director of EEO & Affirmative Action - Emerson Electric Co.
Fred Melkey
Corporate Director of EEO & Affirmative Action - Emerson Electric Co.
Fred Melkey has over 18 years of experience related to Affirmative Action compliance. In his current role as the Corporate Director of EEO and Affirmative Action for Emerson Electric Co., he has responsibility for over 100 AAPs. Fred began his career as an Engineer. and moved into campus recruiting as his fist foray into HR. For his “midlife crisis” he attended law school in the evenings. He has held EEO/AA related roles in a wide variety of industries including working for Intel, The Hartford Insurance, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Emerson. Fred earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from the University of New Mexico, and a JD with Honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Julia Mendez Achee
Senior Consultant - Biddle Consulting Group
Julia Mendez Achee
Senior Consultant - Biddle Consulting Group
Julia Méndez Achée is Senior Consultant of People Insights for Biddle Consulting Group. She has experience working as an affirmative action, equal employment opportunity law, and diversity/inclusion consultant and trainer since 1995. Her duties include assisting federal contractor organizations with the preparation of their annual affirmative action programs as well as creating content and delivering training in areas such as equal employment opportunity laws, affirmative action compliance, and inclusive practices for individuals with disabilities, veterans, military, and military spouses. She has assisted hundreds of organizations through OFCCP compliance reviews and offered technical assistance both to clients and internal customers.
Christopher Metzler
Senior Vice President - National Urban League
Christopher Metzler
Senior Vice President - National Urban League
Dr. Christopher Metzler is Senior Vice President, DEI and ESG, National Urban League. Dr. Metzler created the first certification in DEI the nation at Cornell University where he was a faculty member in DEI, Law and related disciplines. He also launched the Master’s degree in H.R. and Diversity, Systems Engineering, Sports Industry Management, Emergency and Disaster Management, Technology Management, Urban and Regional Planning and The Executive Diversity Management Certificate at Georgetown. He has served on the faculties of Cornell, Georgetown, Thomas Jefferson School of Medicine, Bellarmine University, Kings College and others.
Laura Mitchell
Associate – Jackson Lewis P.C.
Laura Mitchell
Associate – 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 Mitchell is a member of Rocky Mountain ILG and is a frequent NILG and ILG chapter presenter.
Leigh Nason
Shareholder - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Leigh Nason
Shareholder - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
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.
Carmen Navarro
Regional Director Midwest Region, OFCCP
Carmen Navarro
Regional Director Midwest Region, 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.
Travis Nicholson
Deputy Director – Houston District Office - EEOC
Travis Nicholson
Deputy Director – Houston District Office - EEOC
Travis Nicholson is the district director of the Dallas District of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In the Dallas District, Nicholson oversees and manages the EEOC’s work in more than 200 counties in north, central, and west Texas, including the district office, the San Antonio Field Office, and the El Paso Area office. The EEOC’s Dallas District has about 100 employees; received approximately 4,500 discrimination charges in fiscal year 2021; and obtained over $32 million in monetary benefits in FY 2021 for 1,550 individuals subjected to discrimination. He also supervises the EEOC’s work with several of the agency’s state and local Fair Employment Practices Agencies that work with the EEOC to combat employment discrimination in the state of Texas.
Matt Nusbaum
Director - BCGi
Matt Nusbaum
Director - BCGi
Matt Nusbaum is a recovering attorney, now the Director of the Biddle Consulting Group's Institute for Workforce Development (BCGi). As an attorney he prepared thousands of AAPs and defended hundreds of them. Today he focuses on education and training, and is determined to find ways to "do" affirmative action better.
Zach Olsen
Senior Consultant - DCI Consulting Group, Inc.
Zach Olsen
Senior Consultant - DCI Consulting Group, Inc.
Zach Olsen is a Senior Consultant at DCI Consulting and has worked in the AA/EEO compliance industry since 2014. Zach works with his clients to develop their overall AA/EEO compliance strategy, including preparation and consulting for clients regarding affirmative action programs, adverse impact analysis, pay equity analysis, and audits with the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
William Osterndorf
Director of Business Strategy - DCI Consulting Group
William Osterndorf
Director of Business Strategy - DCI Consulting Group
William Osterndorf, Director of Business Strategy and Principal Consultant for DCI Consulting Group, has more than 30 years of experience in helping organizations handle the complexities of state and federal affirmative action laws and regulations. Bill was president of HR Analytical Services for 27 years before joining DCI in 2021. He has a proven track record for closely monitoring new developments at OFCCP and in the affirmative action world so he can provide sound and practical solutions to clients. Bill is President of the Milwaukee ILG and was chair of the 2019 ILG National Conference.
Kathleen Parker
Partner - K&L Gates
Kathleen Parker
Partner - K&L Gates
Kathleen Parker is a partner in the Boston office of K&L Gates, where she is a member of the labor, employment & workplace safety practice group and co-chair of the office’s Hiring Committee. Kathleen focuses her practice on counseling international and domestic businesses on various employment issues, including preparing and revising internal policies, navigating pre- and post-employment relationships, and properly classifying employees and contractors. She also regularly conducts discrimination and harassment prevention training for corporate clients, represents businesses in civil and administrative employment litigation matters, and conducts internal employment investigations on behalf of her clients.
Christopher Patrick
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Christopher Patrick
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. His work focuses on developing affirmative action programs, proactive pay analyses, diversity analyses, statistical evaluation of employment practices, and defending United States Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance reviews. Chris is a Northern California ILG Steering Committee Member; Colorado ILG and prior presenter at NILG conferences.
Nicolas Paul
Vice President – Kairos Services
Nicolas Paul
Vice President – Kairos Services
Nicolas Paul, Kairos Services’ Vice President, is responsible for managing the preparation and implementation of Affirmative Action Programs for its clients. In addition to providing guidance to ensure clients comply with the rules and regulations enforced by OFCCP and EEOC, Mr. Paul assists contractors with the development and implementation of workplace compliance strategies. Speaking from his first-hand experience as a disabled veteran, Mr. Paul regularly presents at local, regional, and national ILG Conferences as well as SHRM meetings. Mr. Paul is a North Texas ILG Board Member. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Vicki Pearson
Director Affirmative Action - Tyson Foods, Inc
Vicki Pearson
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.
Scott Pechaitis
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Scott Pechaitis
Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Scott Pechaitis is an employment law attorney in Jackson Lewis’ Affirmative Action & Pay Equity Resource Groups. Scott works closely with companies to evaluate data to investigate and assist with diversity & inclusion efforts, including proactive Pay Equity Audits. Scott also helps companies prepare Affirmative Action Plans and defends employers in audits by the OFCCP. Through a combination of data expertise and fifteen years’ experience counseling employers, Scott helps companies design custom, impactful diversity analyses under the attorney-client privilege.
Danny Petrella
Senior Vice President, Compliance and Assistant General Counsel - Center for Workplace Compliance
Danny Petrella
Senior Vice President, Compliance and Assistant General Counsel - Center for Workplace Compliance
Danny Petrella 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 specializes in 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 has more than 17 years of professional experience counseling and representing employers on matters before the OFCCP, EEOC, NLRB, and other federal, state, and local agencies.
Consuela Pinto
Partner - FordHarrison
Consuela Pinto
Partner - FordHarrison
Consuela A. Pinto is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of FordHarrison, where she represents employers in all matters related to employment law. Having practiced in the both the public and private sectors, Consuela has a unique perspective in the representation of clients. She is particularly adept in advising employers on compliance with federal contractors' affirmative action and non-discrimination obligations, federal government EEO investigations, pattern and practice systemic claims, , pay equity and DE&I strategies. Consuela's significant experience includes representing employers on a nationwide basis in compliance reviews before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Vincenzo Piscopo
President & CEO - United Spinal Association
Vincenzo Piscopo
President & CEO - United Spinal Association
Vincenzo Piscopo is the CEO of United Spinal Association, the largest membership organization of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders in the U.S. Prior to United Spinal, Vincenzo was part of The Coca Cola Company, where he founded This-Ability BRG, and promulgated the company’s first disability inclusion agenda. Vincenzo is the founder of the Wheels of Happiness Foundation, assisting people with motor disabilities in developing nations. Additionally, he is a board member of Respectability, FODAC (Friends of the Disabled Adults and Children), and the Shepherd Center. Vincenzo has an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a MA in Creativity from Buffalo State College.
Frida Polli
Chief Data Science Officer - Harver
Frida Polli
Chief Data Science Officer - Harver
Dr. Frida Polli is a former Harvard and MIT neuroscientist. She is the Chief Data Science Officer at Harver, the industry leading hiring solution helping organizations optimize their talent decisions. Previously, she was the CEO and founder of Pymetrics, the leader in unbiased soft skills assessments. Under Frida’s leadership, Pymetrics was a World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneer, Global Innovator, and Global Future Council member, an Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing company, and Forbes AI 50 company.
Patricia Pryor
Office Managing Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Patricia Pryor
Office Managing Principal - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Patty Pryor is a core team member of Jackson Lewis’ Disability, Leave & Health Management practice group as well as a member of its Affirmative Action & Pay Equity Resource Groups. She regularly advises employers on the intersection of affirmative action obligations with every-day employment law risks, including the challenges under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act. In addition to developing and defending affirmative action programs, Patty develops and defends employer wellness programs and employer leave and accommodation policies and programs. She helps employers meet compliance obligations while also proactively managing other employment law risks and challenges.
Nakisha Pugh
U.S. Department of Labor
Nakisha Pugh
U.S. Department of Labor
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.
Josh Roffman
Managing Attorney - Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Josh Roffman
Managing Attorney - Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Josh Roffman is the Managing Attorney of the law firm that he co-founded with his friend and colleague, Alissa Horvitz. The firm practices in the legal space where equal opportunity law and data analytics intersect, with a particular focus on helping government contractor organizations prepare affirmative action plans, evaluate pay equity under attorney client privilege, prepare for and participate in OFCCP compliance reviews, and comply with the OFCCP's regulatory requirements. Josh has presented at previous NILG conferences and is a member of the Baltimore ILG and Washington Metro ILG.
Amber Rogers
Partner - Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Amber Rogers
Partner - Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Amber is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is a trial lawyer who has extensive experience representing and advising clients in traditional labor relations, such as collective bargaining, representation elections, decertification elections, unfair labor practice charges, arbitrating grievances, contract administration and interpretation, and union avoidance strategies.
Amber’s litigation experience includes regularly representing clients in wage and hour collective and class actions, trade secrets and post-employment restrictive covenant disputes, and complex employment discrimination. As a part of Amber’s partnership with clients to avoid litigation, she frequently conducts and coordinates sensitive corporate investigations, and provides training presentations for clients on a multitude of topics.
Nancy Romanyshyn
Senior Directive Total Rewards Strategy and Solutions - Syndio
Nancy Romanyshyn
Senior Directive Total Rewards Strategy and Solutions - Syndio
Nancy Romanyshyn is the Senior Directive Total Rewards Strategy and Solutions at Syndio. She helps organizations embed fairness in their Total Rewards programs. She provides expert guidance, insights, and education to Syndio's clients. Prior to Syndio, Nancy led the North America Fair Pay team at Willis Towers Watson, leading analyses testing compensation programs for fairness. She has 30 years of experience in compensation design and management, both in-house and consulting, as well as expertise in leadership communications related to Fair Pay and compensation programs.
Beth Ronnenburg
President - Berkshire Associates, Inc.
Beth Ronnenburg
President - Berkshire Associates, Inc.
As President of Berkshire, Beth Ronnenburg, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is responsible for leading one of the most reputable and respected brands in affirmative action compliance solutions. Beth, who became President in June 2011, is the steward of Berkshire's strategic vision, “to lead the HR industry in building a society where equal access to employment opportunities, compensation equity, and an inclusive work environment are fundamental for all businesses.” She oversees all business interests and operations, and more importantly, Beth is a well-known thought leader who speaks regularly at conferences including SHRM, National Industry Liaison Group (NILG), and other national events. She currently serves as a board member for the NILG, where she represents the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is also the Chair of the Baltimore ILG.
Teresa Salinas
Senior Director, Equal Opportunity & Compliance - Labcorp
Teresa Salinas
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 25 years of comprehensive HR and legal operations experience with 12 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.
Marilynn Schuyler
Of Counsel, Fisher Phillips
Marilynn Schuyler
Of Counsel, Fisher Phillips
Marilynn L. Schuyler, JD, is Of Counsel with Fisher Phillips. From 2010 to 2022, she led Schuyler Affirmative Action Practice, a law firm specializing in federal contractor compliance. Ms. Schuyler worked at DOL for over 13 years and was the AA Officer for the Office of the President at the University of California. She served as President of the WMILG, Chair of the 2014 NILG Conference, and on the board of AAAED for 10 years. Ms. Schuyler has presented at numerous NILGs, as well as local ILGs. She is a member of the Sacramento and Northern CA ILGs.
Diana S. Sen
Northeast Regional Director - OFCCP
Diana S. Sen
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.
Nonnie Shivers
Shareholder - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Nonnie Shivers
Shareholder - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Nonnie Shivers partners with employers and managers in three primary ways: litigation avoidance through proactive and maximally compliant 50-state counseling and training; complex workplace investigations including at the C-Suite level; and litigating legally complex and factually challenging cases to defend employers actions.
Mickey Silberman
Shareholder - Silberman Law P.C.
Mickey Silberman
Shareholder - Silberman Law P.C.
Mickey Silberman is the founder of Silberman Law, PC. For almost 30 years Mickey has represented employers throughout the nation in every industry regarding affirmative action, OFCCP, pay equity, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. He is a nationally recognized expert and public speaker in these areas. Mickey helps employers navigate the often tricky world of “systemic EEO”. He provides creative, practical and strategic counsel and legal representation.
Leslie Silverman
Shareholder - FortneyScott LLC
Leslie Silverman
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.
Melissa Speer
SWARM Regional Director - OFCCP
Melissa Speer
SWARM Regional Director - OFCCP
Melissa L. Speer has been with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), for over 32 years. She began her career as a Compliance Officer in Little Rock, Arkansas where she spent ten years before being promoted to the Dallas, Texas. She has worked throughout the SWARM Region as a Liaison Officer, District Director in Dallas, Director of Regional Operations, Deputy Regional Director and Regional Director. As the Regional Director, she provides leadership for more than 50 employees spanning 11 states and five offices. She has been the Acting Deputy Director in 2019 and recently completed a stint as the Acting Regional Director for the Southeast Region. Ms. Speer received a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1988 and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1991. Melissa is a dedicated civil servant and is committed to fairness in the workplace.
Lori Stewart
HR Compliance Manager - Oshkosh
Lori Stewart
HR Compliance Manager - Oshkosh
Lori Stewart, HR Compliance Manager at Oshkosh Corporation, has over 15 years of experience in Affirmative Action and EEO. In her current role, she is responsible for all things Affirmative Action and compliance with all pre-employment processes. Lori is also the co-chair of both the Fox Valley WI ILG and the Madison, WI ILG. She actively participates in the Milwaukee ILG and the Michigan ILG. The last time she presented at the National Conference was in 2019, where she was also a Committee Chair.
Jane Suhr
Pacific Regional Director, OFCCP
Jane Suhr
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.
Adam Swanlund
Compensation Manager - Elevance Health
Adam Swanlund
Compensation Manager - Elevance Health
Adam Swanlund, Compensation Manager with over 18 years of experience in HR and Compensation in industry leading companies, will provide an overview of Elevance Health’s (formerly Anthem's) innovative approaches to pay transparency using workplace equity to better attract, retain and engage their employees. This is Adam's first NILG.
Sadé Tidwell
Associate, Attorney - Morrison & Foerster
Sadé Tidwell
Associate, Attorney - Morrison & Foerster
Sadé’s practice includes a broad range of employment counseling and litigation, with a focus on pay equity, OFCCP and affirmative action compliance, and diversity and inclusion counseling. Sadé has extensive experience working with clients to improve their personnel policies, create best practices and assessment tools, and ensure optimal compliance with government mandates impacting recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, performance evaluation, discipline, termination, and workforce restructuring. Most recently, she successfully defended a multi-national investment firm with over 18,000 employees in a CMCE audit, which ended with a Notice of Compliance.
Richard Tonowski
Former Chief Psychologist (retired) - EEOC
Richard Tonowski
Former Chief Psychologist (retired) - EEOC
Dr. Richard Tonowski joined the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2001 as a Psychologist, worked as the assistant HR director for strategic policy and planning from 2003 to 2006, and then served as Chief Psychologist from 2006 to 2020, until his retirement. In that role he was an in-house expert witness for selection procedures and statistical analyses. He wrote and edited the “On the Legal Front” column in the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology's (SIOP’s) The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist from 2014 to 2020 and has participated in several sessions at annual SIOP conferences involving legal issues, Big Data, and artificial intelligence. During that time, he has also taught a graduate course regarding law, ethics, and I-O psychology issues; previously he had taught a graduate course in human resources management.
Frank Torres
Manager of EEO/AA Programs - M&T Bank
Frank Torres
Manager of EEO/AA Programs - M&T Bank
Frank serves as Manager of EEO/AA Programs for M&T Bank — headquartered in Buffalo NY with more than 21.000 employees domestically and abroad. His role resides within the HR Risk & Compliance Department allowing him to readily apply his 20+ years of HR/Diversity/AA/EEO experience in the banking industry. Frank represents M&T on multiple local ILGs including Baltimore’s ILG (serving as Program Chair), the National ILG board and the Institute for Workplace Equality’s Advisory Council. He is also a member of the New York State, Erie County NY and Minority Bar Association of Western New York.
Andrew Turnbull
Attorney, Partner - Morrison & Foerster
Andrew Turnbull
Attorney, Partner - Morrison & Foerster
A primary focus of Andrew’s practice involves helping companies navigate employment issues that arise when doing business with the federal government, including advising on all aspects of OFCCP compliance, establishing strong ringfencing to avoid OFCCP coverage of non-contractor corporate affiliates, creating and implementing affirmative action plans, defending OFCCP audits, and conducting pay equity audits. Andrew is an active member and has served on the steering committee for the Washington Metro ILG for several years. He also speaks on a variety of employment topics, including at the NILG Conference in San Antonio in 2017.
Annette Tyman
Partner - Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Annette Tyman
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.
Alicia Wallace
Associate Director – Affirmative Action and EEO Compliance - Eli Lilly and Company
Alicia Wallace
Associate Director – Affirmative Action and EEO Compliance - Eli Lilly and Company
Alicia is the Associate Director, 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 DOD and is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. She is a member of the NILG board, CWC Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Indiana ILG and past member of the USBLN (now Disability In) Corporate Advisory Board.
Leann Walsh
Partner - K&L Gates LLP
Leann Walsh
Partner - K&L Gates LLP
Leann Walsh is a partner in the Raleigh office of K&L Gates where she is a member of the labor, employment, and workplace safety practice group and health care practice group. She is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Massachusetts. She co-leads the firm's OFCCP and Affirmative Action Compliance Practice. Leann regularly advises clients regarding compliance issues relating to affirmative action programs, including the development and implementation of affirmative action plan documents. She also advises clients relating to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including examination accommodations and the accessibility of continuing professional education courses, websites, and physical buildings and facilities.
Will Waymel
Director of Audit Services - Kairos Services, Inc.
Will Waymel
Director of Audit Services - Kairos Services, Inc.
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.
Krystal Welland
Senior Statistician - Silberman Law, PC
Krystal Welland
Senior Statistician - Silberman Law, PC
Krystal Welland is Silberman Law’s Senior Statistician. Krystal performs complex statistical analyses related to pay equity, affirmative action, adverse impact, and DE&I. Krystal works closely with Mickey on behalf of the firm’s clients to develop meaningful and practical analyses that help employers address pay gaps, enhance EEO and OFCCP compliance, and move the needle on diversity.
Taryn Williams
Assistant Secretary - ODEP
Taryn Williams
Assistant Secretary - ODEP
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.
Tina Williams
Director of Policy and Program Development, U.S. Department of Labor (OFCCP)
Tina Williams
Director of Policy and Program Development, U.S. Department of Labor (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.
Sheila Willis
Partner - Fisher Phillips LLP
Sheila Willis
Partner - Fisher Phillips LLP
Sheila Willis is a partner with Fisher Phillips, LLP, and as of January 1, 2023, she will also serve as Co-Chair of the firm’s Affirmative Action and Federal Contractor Compliance Practice Group. She is committed to finding practical, real-world solutions to her clients’ employment law needs. She has extensive experience providing compliance advice to federal contractors on affirmative action and OFCCP regulations and audits. Sheila also has extensive experience working on collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), class actions under wage and hour state laws, and providing pay equity compliance.
Keli Wilson
Director of Workforce Equity - DCI Consulting Group, Inc.
Keli Wilson
Director of Workforce Equity - DCI Consulting Group, Inc.
Keli Wilson is the Director of Workforce Equity at DCI Consulting, where her primary focus is on advancing employment diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. She leads consultants through holistic organizational reviews and creates strategic roadmaps to mitigate barriers that hinder equitable workforces and workplaces. Keli has an M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Xavier University. She writes and presents at the national level and is actively engaged in diversity related boards and committees. She is Diversity Committee Chair for the Howard County Human Resources Society and the Communications Chair for the Baltimore Industry Liaison Group. She last spoke at the National ILG virtual conference in 2020.
Jenny R. Yang
OFCCP Director
Jenny R. Yang
OFCCP Director
Jenny R. Yang joined the OFCCP as its Director on January 20, 2021. In the Obama-Biden Administration, from 2013-2018, she served as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), after unanimous Senate confirmation. She led efforts to tackle systemic discrimination, including enhancing the EEOC’s annual data collection to include employer reporting of pay data and initiated the Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace. She led comprehensive investments in agency-wide technology, launching new digital systems to expand access to the public.
Ye Zhang
Director - Resolution Economics, LLC
Ye Zhang
Director - Resolution Economics, LLC
Ye Zhang is a Director at Resolution Economics, LLC and a labor economist with significant expertise in economic modelling and statistical analysis in all areas involving labor and employment issues. His practice areas address employment discrimination cases including compensation, hiring, promotion, and termination. Dr. Zhang also specializes in FLSA wage and hour cases, FMLA, state law issues of minimum wage and employee misclassification, EEOC investigations, and OFCCP investigations of federal contractors. Dr. Zhang is also an expert in designing and implementing rigorous policy research and program evaluations. He has developed and applied econometric evaluation methods and statistical analyses to a variety of projects funded by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) of Department of Labor (DOL), State, and local government agencies. Prior to his consulting career, Dr. Zhang served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Indiana University.
