Pre-Conference Workshops - Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Full Day Options

Full-day Rates:

$250 for Paid Conference Attendees

$325 for Non-Conference Attendees

$300 for On-site Paid Conference Attendees

$375 for On-site Non-Conference Attendees

Option 1:
PHR/SPHR Certification Crash Course

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Deborah Avrin, SPHR, Management Skills Resource, Inc.

Donna Howard, SPHR, Sonic Healthcare USA

Alice Dendinger, SPHR, Alice Dendinger Alliance Group

Recertification credits are not available for this workshop

HRCI’s Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certifications are highly valued testimonies to knowledge and experience in all facets of the profession.  More than 70,000 HR professional in Texas currently have earned their certification making this designation a competitive advantage for job seekers.  HR SOUTHWEST’s “Crash Course” for the PHR and SPHR exam will help individuals prepare for this extensive exam by providing participants with overviews of the HRCI Body of Knowledge categories, study materials and resources, and exam taking tips. 

Option 2:
IHRIM's HR Metrics and Workforce Analytics Basics

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Kevin Carlson, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech

7.5 Strategic Recertification Credit Hours

Organizations need human resource professionals to be strategic in their thinking and in their processes!  In this highly informative session, attendees will learn how to use metrics as a tool for performance improvement and decision making.  This course is designed for individuals that are new to either data analysis or HR metrics.  Participants will learn the fundamentals of data analytic techniques, data interpretation and the fundamentals or report data to decision makers.

Option 3:
Cobra-Compliance Galore

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Ouida Peterson, Conexis Inc.

7.5 General Recertification Credit Hours

Do you find yourself wanting to hide your head in the sand rather than attempting to deal with the complex legalities that surround COBRA?  If so, you will not want to miss this extremely informative (and entertaining) session on this complex benefit program.  During this full day session, Ouida Peterson, affectionately known as the Queen of COBRA, will walk participants through COBRA law and how to coordinate COBRA with the many other benefit laws including Worker’s Compensation, FMLA, and Disability – not to mention the new little twist to COBRA courtesy of the 2009 stimulus package!  After this workshop, attendees will feel more confident in their abilities to comply with all of the complex requirements surrounding COBRA and other health benefits and will be caught up to date with all of the recent legislative changes to COBRA.

Half Day Options

Half-day Rates:

$150 for Paid Conference Attendees

$175 for Non-Conference Attendees

$180 for On-site Paid Conference Attendees

$205 for On-site Non-Conference Attendees

Morning Option 1:
The "Cutting Edge" Employment Law Update

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presented by Stephen Fox & Elizabeth Bedell, Fish & Richardson, P.C.

3.75 General Recertification Credit Hours

After last year's HR SOUTHWEST Conference, Congress and the courts made sweeping changes to employment law, including passage of the ADA Amendments Act, the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act, the DOL's revised FMLA regulations, and the EEOC's new guidance on religious discrimination. This movement of change is expected to accelerate in 2009 with the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Act, Congress' consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act, and the Supreme Court's consideration of more retaliation cases and its first pregnancy discrimination case.

Attendees of this presentation will learn about the recent changes in employment law on both the National and Regional level and will obtain valuable insight into more changes we may see in the coming year and, finally, will be among the few prepared to defend against claims brought under these new laws and legal theories.   

Morning Option 2:
A Slice of Life

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presented by Al Lucia, CSP, ADL Associates Inc.

3.75 General Recertification Credit Hours

During a tight economy businesses are constantly looking for ways to maximize performance at little to no cost.  But, do they make the connection between performance and employee engagement?  Do you?  In this highly interactive workshop, Al Lucia will make the business case for workplace commitment and personal involvement.  This program will help employees at all levels identify the benefits to be gained by developing personal action strategies that convert good intentions into actual behaviors.

Afternoon Option 1:
Look Out...They're Coming!  How to Be Ready for the IRS-Preparing for Plan and Compensations Audits

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Kathleen R. Barrow, Jackson Lewis LLP

3.75 General Recertification Credit Hours

2009 has definitely been the year of change!  And change is no more evident than in the current audit environment of employee plans and compensation arrangements.  In this “hands-on” workshop, Kathleen Barrow will walk participants through a variety of compliance tools necessary to prepare their employers for a plan or compensation audit.  Ms. Barrow will also provide attendees with tips on how to recognize and resolve compliance issues when they arise.

Afternoon Option 2:
"Why Did We Hire That Guy?":  A Workshop on How Cognitive Thinking Influences Hiring Decisions. 

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Rodney Klein and Mike Fetzer, EEOC

3.75 General Recertification Credit Hours

Ever wonder why you hire certain employees?  Employers often complain that they don't get the kind of employees they want through their hiring processes.  No process is perfect, but in this workshop you will learn how and why employers make certain hiring decisions.  You will discover that not all the reasons are known or understood by the hiring officials, and this can lead, at times, to illegal discrimination.  You will work through hiring scenarios that will expose your own tendencies.  And, you will hear a pragmatic approach to decision making that will help you refine your selection procedures and minimize illegal influences.