January 2010

December 2009

June 2009

Updates on ADA and FEHA:

Medical leaves, the interactive p[rocess and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and California Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA") are some of the most challenging and complicated issues that Human Resources professionals face.  This presentation will provide attendees with a functional understanding of the relevant lasws including recent amendments to the ADA, analysis into case law that provides guidance on how to handle certain situations, insight into documents that should be utilized, and practical advice on these pertinent issues.

Attendeeswill be provided a foundational knowledge on  the relevant laws and cases, tools to properly handle medical leaves; guidance on how to navigate through the interactive process and beneficial steps to minimize risk and ensure that company policies and procedures are administered properly.

SPEAKER:

Lonnie Giamela is an associate in the Irvine office of the national law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP, practicing exclusively in labor and employment law representing management.  Lonnie received undergraduate degrees from the George Washington University and his law degree from Georgetown University.

Lonnie has utilized his legal knowledge and unique experiences from a family owned business in giving scores of presentations to national, state and local organizations including the Council on Education in Management, the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, PIHRA District Meetings and Conferences, SHRM, and other employer and human resource professional organizations.

May 2009

"4 Strategies for Controlling Healthcare Costs"

Discover four powerful strategies that control rapidly rising healthcare costs without reducing benefits:

• Change the Paradigm: Why you should consider a defined contribution plan
• Empower with Choice: How to provide your employee with choice
• Unbundle: How using two carriers to purchase benefits can reduce your costs
• Refinance: How new important tax code changes allow you to refinance how you pay for healthcare benefits

SPEAKER:

Brent Heurter is the President of Healthy Halo, specializing in employeebenefits and healthinsurance cost-control.

For 21 years, Brent has been a solid leader in the insurance industry:

• President andPrinciple, PWA
• Instructor, InsuranceEducation Association (IEA)
• Vice-President, Benefits,USI

A gifted speaker and writer, Brent has written extensive manuals, nearly 100 articles, and white papers which have been published in numerous trade and professional journals.

April 2009

"How to Develop a Salary Structure"

This presentation will provide a step by step process of how to build a basic salary structure from scratch.  It will cover such areas as the role of job descriptions, the importance and significance of job titles and job families, establishing pay grades and pay ranges, the role of salary surveys and job benchmarking, linking benchmarked jobs to different but comparable jobs within the organization, linking a pay structure to merit and promotional increases, and the role of red and green circled positions.  The presentation will also include examples of spreadsheets and charts that can help with the analysis of all incumbent data and how to link this data to the compensation structure you are building. 

SPEAKER:

Martin Levy is an HR Professional with over 25 years of management responsibility across several industries. Just prior to starting his own consulting company, Martin was the SVP of HR for PFF Bank & Trust. He has served as adjunct faculty for the University of Redlands, Keller Graduate School of Management, and the University of Phoenix. Martin has his SPHR, and BS and MA degrees. He has published articles in Personnel Journal, Manage Magazine, and Workspan magazine. He has also been a presenter at major conferences for ASTD, Benefits Management Forum and Exposition, World at Work, World Research Group, and PIHRA.

March 2009
"Train to Retain: How to keep your best employees"

People quit managers, not companies.  While employees may initially join a company for its reputation, high salary, or great benefits, it's ultimately the relationship with their managers that keep them there.  So, to ensure the retention of productive employees, companies need to invest in leadership training wisely.

February 2009
"Employment Law Legal and Legislative Update"

This presentation will provide attendees with an update and analysis on the new FMLA regulations, federal and state legislation that has gone into effet as of the beginning of the calendar year, relevant case law that impacts California employers, the status of immigration regulations and enforcement as well as a forecast of new legislation in the Obama Administration.

All employerss, regardless of size or composition of employees, must always be knowledgeable about new laws and trends both within the legislature and the courts.  This presentation will provide attendees with a comprehensive update on what new employment laws and cases will impact employers in the coming year.

SPEAKER:

Lonnie Giamela, Esq. is an associate in the Irvine office of the national law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP, practicing exclusively in labor and employment law representing management.  Lonnie received undergraduate degrees from The George Washington University and his law degree from Georgetown University.  Lonnie has utilized his legal knowldge and unique experiences from a family owned business in giving scores of presentations to national, state and local organizations including the Council on Education in Management, the Orange COunty Automobile Dealers Association, PIHRA District Meetings and Conferences, SHRM, and other employer and human resource professional organizations.

January 2009
No meeting this month

December 2008
"Virtual Influence:  Winning Support for Strategic HR Involvement"

Can't get not respect?  What's the problem?  In the end it doesn't matter.  The reswponsibility for creating a different experience is still in YOUR hands.  YOU must be able to influence executive decisions.  If you are not underutilizrd and underappreciated, this workship is not for you.  If you are, it is absolutely essential.

Influence demands good strategy and tactics.  The  workshop will pose the questions that reveal what you must do to influence the peodple that have power in your professional life - and provide answers.  Also receive a free copy of Dr. Saracco's book, 9, 9 Coaching: Team Management for Winners.

SPEAKER:

Dr. Don Saracco of MLC & Associates, Inc. has over thirty years experience in human and organizational development in manufacturing, health care, and government organizations.  His background includes the design and delivery of corporate education and training as well as executive coaching, facilitation or organizational change and process improvement.  He is the author of "9, 9 Coaching: Team Management for Winners" and a number of articles published in periodicals.

November 2008
"Stop! You Can't Take That! - How to Protect Your Company's Confidential Information"

Employers want to know how to prevent departing employees from taking confidential, proprietary and/or trade secret information, from unfairly competing, and from soliciting their employees.

Attend this lesson to learn what steps you can take to protect your confidential information and to prevent employees from using it to your company's disadvantage.

Employers will learn how to identify what information they want to keep confidential, how to prepare a confidentiality agreement, and how to make it consistent with other employment agreements.

Employers will also learn what steps they must take internally to protect confidential information, including proper termination protocol and consistent enforcement of confidentiality obligations.

SPEAKER:

Nancy Yaffe is a partner at Folger, Levin & Kahn LLP.  She graduated from UCLA (1987) and USC Law School (1995).  Nancy represents clients in employment litigation matters.  She provides pre-litigation counseling and advice to clients nationwide on employment-related issues including harassment, discrimination, ADA/disability compliance, age-and-hour, labor and employee relations.  Before law school Ms. Yaffe worked in the entertainment industry.

October 2008
(No meeting this month)

September 2008
"Untangling the Web of FMLA/CFRA/PDL and Other Medical Leaves"

This presentation will provide both a refresher course and advanced nuances to state and federal disability and medical leave laws such as ADA, FEHA, FMLA, CFRA, PDL, FTDI and Workers' Compensation.  The presentation will include discussion of these laws, relevant cases and real-life hypotheticals that attendees may encounter.

SPEAKER:

Lonnie D. Giamela, Esq. is an associate in the Irvine office of the national law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP, practicing exclusively in labor and employment law representing management.  Lonnie received undergraduate degrees from The George Washington University and his law degree from Georgetown University.  Lonnie has utilized his legal knowldge and unique experiences from a family owned business in giving scores of presentations to national, state and local organizations including the Council on Education in Management, the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, PIHRA district meetings and conferences, SHRM, and other employer and human resources organizations.

July 2008
"Learning Styles and Communication: The Link to Being Heard Loud and Clear in the Workplace"

There are four basic learning styles which dictate how we humans absorb information and then communicate information. Women use women-speak and men use men-speak to get their point across. With the use of learning styles, all barriers are easily and effortlessly crossed.

Listenig to Laurelle speak, you will learn the four basic styles of learning, how to identify the styles of others, and will be able to apply what you've learned immediately with others and to be heard loud and clear in the workplace.

SPEAKER:

Laurelle Johnson is the founder of Innerwealth Communications, a public speaking coaching firm that positions female executives and entrepreneurs on the fast track to success through the power of public speaking. Laurelle coaches leading entrepreneurs to power up their public speaking skills in order to increase revenues, build their client base and pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists.

He background in corporate America trained her to present, close large contracts upwards of $75m and helped her rise to the top of her profession to become a Sales and Marketing Executive for a Fortune 500 company.

Laurelle is also a sought-after public speaker herself. In her down to earth talks, entrepreneurs learn that today's marketplace demands more of them than simply being passionate about what they do. Her eye-opening sessions leave audiences feeling that they have finally received the key to professional success.

Laurelle completed a B.A. in Speech Communications and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.

June 2008
"Healing Dysfunction at Work"

Dysfunctional office behavior has traditionally been tolerated as an unavoidable by-product of what happens when a lot of different kinds of people work together every day.  The "crazy boss" or "rebel employee" is no laughing matter. Over the last decade, research efforts have demonstrated that incivility at the office has a direct impact on the bottom line. Often leadership identified a "problem individual" and focuses on changing him or her. This is only part what is needed. When leadership communicates that it prioritizes how employees treat one another through an equal, consistent enforcement of a code of conduct, then productivity increases.

"Healing Dysfunction at Work" addresses the perfectly legal, yet infinitely frustrating behavior of individuals commonly known as "jerks." Dr. Kohn presents relevant research, examines the problem from an organizational and individual perspective and offers practical solutions. This informative, fun and thought-provoking workshop provides participants with a take-away toolbox to help combat dysfunction, increase morale and positively impact the company's bottom line.

SPEAKER:

Dr. Jill R. Kohn is a clinical psychologist and an organizational consultant with Kohn Communications. As a consultant, she collaborates with leadership to identify and strengthen weakenesses within the firm culture that foster sysfunctional behavior, thereby improving quality of work life among individuals.  She also coaches individuals identified as disruptive, providing essential interpersonal skills training.

Dr. Kohn's clinical experience has direct relevance to her consulting practice.  She is trained to comprehend system dynamics and has extensive experience with behavior modification, including work with addictive behaviors, eating disorders and anger management. For several years, Dr. Kohn co-facilitated anger management groups for perpetrators of domestic violence as well as survivors. A prolific speaker on interpersonal communication in the workplace, her topics have included recognizing and correcting dysfunctional behavior, team building and change management. Dr. Kohn also maintains a private psychotherapy practice in West Los Angeles, California and is a member of the Society for Human Reseource Management.

May 2008
"Help! I'm Stuck in a Meeting and They Ran out of Donuts"

Most meetings lose money.  Chit chat, stories, and arguments seem to matter more than results. Decisions, if any, seldom last. In our competitive economy, no business can afford such waste. This program shows you how to lead meetings that end with decisions and solutions others will support. By the end of this program you will be able to:

• Set up a meeting that ends with results
• Stay in control of the meeting
• Get ideas from everyone
• Conduct a fair process that promotes accountability
• Maximize the use of everyone's time

SPEAKER:

Steve Kaye, Ph.D. shows leaders how to make their meetings profitable. He is a certified professional facilitator and the author of two books on effective meetings. He has published hundred of articles on leadership topics, worked with clients such as Avery Dennison, Epson, and Unocal, and appeared on radio and TV.

April 2008
"Fresh Thinking: Techniques to boost your Creative Abilities"

When we face persistent problems, we may feel there is simply no solution. But the real problem may that we've allowed our creativity to atrophy. Margaret Connery will help us develop our creative skills by teaching us three techniques for Fresh Thinking -techniques we can use to develop our creative skills and find more creative solutions to our persistent problems.

SPEAKER:

Margaret Connery has a Bachelor of Science in Education, her Masters in Business Administration, and extensive experience in health care, organizational development, and human resources. Her studies of creativity and organizational problem solving have helped her identify specific techniques for analyzing and solving complex and difficult problems. We will learn and practice three of these techniques that we can immediately apply to actual, persistent problems.

March 2008
"Managing the Gap "

This program is a fun, thought-provoking, somewhat sarcastic introspection, delving into the one element of our business that is the most difficult to manage - the people side. In this behavioral introspection, we will learn how to better manage the GAP that exists between who we are and who we need to be to get the job done.

Attendees will be able to objectively measure the behavioral requirements of all positions within their company and determine if their applicants or incumbents are a match for their position.

SPEAKER:

Bill Wagner, CSP is an engaging, passionate and humorous speaker who assists audiences and clients in identifying, analyzing, and developing solutions for a wide range of problems in today's business world. His expertise and straight- forward approach sets him apart from other industry specialists and allows participants to become their own organizational experts.

Bill's research is supported by metrics used strategically to maximize results and subsequently guide audiences to the behavioral "light at the end of the tunnel."

February 2008
"Internal Controls/Fraud Investigations "

This presentation covers the basics about fraud schemes that most commonly occur in the workplace. It will also identify common types of fraud; who is most likely to commit fraud; when fraud is most likely to occur; how fraud is typically detected; and action steps that can be taken by all organizations to promote a fraud-free environment and a culture of ethics and integrity. You will also be introduced to the some of the issues facing the HR Department in the prevention, detection, and investigation of fraud within the organization.

SPEAKER:

Linda Saddlemire, CPA, CFE and Ernie Cooper, CPA, CFE, Esq represent Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, an accounting services firm headquartered in Glendora, CA.

Linda's practice areas include audits, fraud investigation, and business and consulting services. She has been a partner for the last 18 years and has worked with a variety of industries including governmental agencies, school districts and not-for- profit organizations.

Ernie Cooper is a frequent speaker, trainer, and publisher on forensic accounting and fraud investigations. He was a Special Agent for the FBI for twenty years and before consulting with Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, was the Director of Forensic Investigative Practice for KPMG in Los Angeles.

December 2007
"Understanding Your Behavioral Style and That of Others "

No two people are alike.  People we meet have different values, temperaments and personalities.  While this makes life interesting, it often also makes communication difficult.  In order to communicate effectively, one must come to understand: oneself and what makes us unique; the very different styles of thinking and behaving that are found in the people we meet and in ourselves; and how to get into synch with these different people and their styles to eliminate barriers to communication that lead to misunderstandings and conflicts

SPEAKER:

Dr. Al Restivo, Ph.D., an organizational psychologist, served as Chairman of PIHRA District 3 for two terms.  He is president of Oaktree Learning Systems, Inc.  Oaktree provides training, consulting and coaching as well as outsourced human resources services.  Dr. Restivo is an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University where he teaches Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

November 2007
"Conflict Styles Workshop - How to deal with conflict effectively "

During this workshop you will: