Writing for Human Resource Professionals: Practical Tips for Making an Impact
– Joe Bardin
– Room 221C
Session Description
Effective writing is integral to many HR functions. Yet too often, the craft of writing is taken for granted and the results lack the impact they could otherwise have. This breakout session will offer practical strategies for enhancing written communications for all audiences. Gain a greater understanding of applying marketing communications principals to internal clients. Learn mechanics of writing that will make the job easier and more successful.
Speaker Bio
Joe Bardin is an award-winning writer with a decade of professional experience. He has written for a number of non-profit organizations, such as Arizona State University, the Arizona K-12 Center, KidsHealth.org, and the BHHS Legacy Foundation. Joe’s work has won industry recognition including an American Business Award, and publication in AR100 Black Book and the Print Regional Design Award. Joe’s feature stories have appeared in numerous publications including The Arizona Republic, The Phoenix New Times, Feng Shui (London), Learning & Leading, Baylor Balance, Arizona Foothills Magazine, BusinessEdge Magazine, BizAZ Magazine, The Ritz-Carlton Magazine, Your Health (Southern California Health Care System), South Coast Style, Trump Style Magazine. Joe has co-written and ghostwritten several books on subjects ranging from art, health and lifestyle change to prosperity and career transition. Joe has lived abroad in Israel and Ireland and is currently based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He graduated from Vassar College in 1089 with a BA in English, earning both departmental and general honors.
Courtroom Lessons for Employers: Advice from the Jury Box
– David Selden
– Room 221A-B
Session Description
This session will include insights from jury trials, factors that effect settlement value of cases, termination decisions that reduce the risk of litigation, how to minimize “nightmare” litigation, and feedback from jurors after trials.
Speaker Bio
DAVID A. SELDEN is a partner in the Phoenix office of the national law firm of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP. Mr. Selden’s practice is concentrated in representing management in a wide variety of employment law matters, including discrimination, wrongfuldischarge, workplace torts, EEOC, ACRD, OSHA, DOL, ICE and other employment litigation. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Phoenix School of Law, teaching courses in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination Law. Mr. Selden received his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was also an editor of The Tax Lawyer. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Examining Cultural Differences: Increased Awareness for Global Leaders
– Heather Keller
– Room 222C
Session Description
With the workplace becoming more and more global, and communities becoming more and more multicultural, understanding cultural differences and learning how to effectively interact with people from diverse backgrounds is imperative for today's human resource professional. By exploring differences in behaviors, values, attitudes, and beliefs across cultures, this breakout session is designed to provide participants with an understanding of how culture impacts organizations and the people who comprise them. During this session, participants will learn effective practices for communicating across cultures and managing multicultural teams both within the U.S. and abroad. The cultural differences that successful managers must be aware of when interacting with people from a wide range of cultures, including Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, will be examined. By focusing on a variety of cross-cultural dimensions, participants will be better equipped to effectively lead a global workforce.
Speaker Bio
For the past 14 years, Dr. Heather Keller, owner of Successfully Communicating, has dedicated her career to helping employees develop their intercultural communication and management skills. She designs and delivers customized training programs in the areas of cross-cultural communication, leadership, team building, and diversity. Heather works will all levels of employees from a variety of industries and organizations, including both government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. She provides cross-cultural training for employees from around the world who are relocating to live and work in other cultures. Dr. Keller is a published author and regularly speaks at national conferences on multicultural communication topics. Additionally, for ten years, she taught cross-cultural communication and management courses for several universities in both MBA and undergraduate programs. Heather obtained her Ph.D. from Ohio University with an emphasis in cross-cultural and organizational communication. She also holds a master's degree in education, a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a bachelor's degree in interpersonal communication.
The OPS Approach to Workforce Reduction – Optimization, Performance and Strategy
– Pattie Vargas
– Room 222A-B
Session Description
The OPS approach is designed to identify single points of failure, review employee performance, develop a communication strategy before, during and after, investigate opportunities for re-organization or restructure, eliminate redundancies and capture tribal knowledge. When a reduction in force is unavoidable, develop a strategy that won’t impact business productivity. By implementing the OPS approach, business continuity can be achieved. Too often a lack of pre-analysis leads to employers downsizing key, critical employees and single points of failure, losing access to historical knowledge and undocumented procedures.
Speaker Bio
Pattie Vargas assists organizations in achieving dramatic improvements in workplace performance. Her specialty in interpersonal skills facilitates the alignment of people and processes resulting in increased commitment, accountability and results. Pattie’s programs address issues with employee retention, management development and team effectiveness. Pattie has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, a Master's Degree in Organizational Management, and a PMP certification from Project Management Institute. Pattie is a Principal with the consulting firm, The Vargas Group, and serves as an adjunct faculty member with National University and UCSD Extension. Her first book, EXTREME Project Manager Makeover! is available at www.booklocker.com/books/3641.html.
Communication in a Crisis
– Jeff Lanza
– Room 224A-B
Session Description
In this age of instant mass communication, the long-term survivability of a business entity is often dependant not on what crisis occurred or what caused it to occur, but rather, on how information about the incident was communicated. This Crisis Communication seminar will enable and empower individuals in any organization to develop positive and effective communication with the media, the public and employees during critical situations. This presentation provides human resource personnel tools to develop positive themes and messages they can employ during an organizational crisis that requires timely and effective communication to internal and external company audiences.
Speaker Bio
Jeff Lanza was an FBI Agent for over 20 years. During his tenure at the FBI, he investigated corruption, corporate fraud, money laundering, computer crime and organized crime. He served as head of internal security of the Kansas City FBI and a regional spokesman. Mr. Lanza has participated in hundreds of television, radio and newspaper interviews including appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Larry King Live, Hannity and Colmes, Fox and Friends, CNN Primetime with Wolf Blitzer and National Public Radio. He has an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven (Connecticut) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas.
How Different Is HR in the Public/Not-For-Profit & Private Sectors?
– Robert Greene
– Room 223
Session Description
There are differences between the private and public/not-for-profit sectors relative to managing human resources. Laws and regulations often apply differently and the constituencies HR must answer to differ. Yet the primary mission of HR is the same: to attract, retain and motivate a workforce that is capable and willing to help the organization succeed in its mission and to meet its objectives. So how different should the staffing, development, performance management, rewards management and employee relations strategies be between the two sectors? Initiatives to “reinvent government” have resulted in some public sector organizations attempting to adopt strategies commonly used in the private sector. How they have worked/ not worked and why will be explored.
Speaker Bio
Robert J. Greene, PhD, SPHR, CCP, CBP, is the CEO of Reward $ystems, Inc., a consultancy whose mission is “Helping Organizations Succeed Through People.” He has authored over 90 articles and book chapters, and has a book on rewarding performance in publication. He was a principal contributor to the PHR and SPHR certification programs for SHRM and the CCP program for World at Work. Bob was awarded the first Keystone Award for achieving the highest level of excellence by the American Compensation Association (now World at Work).
