2021 FALL Conference

 7:30 AM -  8:00 AM

Registration/Breakfast - Exhibitors Open

 8:00 AM -  8:15 AM

Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:15 AM -  9:30 AM

Stereotyped 101, Karith Foster

Stereotyped 101™ takes the "division" out of traditional DEI programming by offering a truly inclusive way to communicate, learn, and create an environment vital to current employee, management and company success. Karith's INVERSITY™ model invites all members of her audience to C.A.R.E. so they leave with the enhanced tools of Conscious Empathy, Active Listening, Responsible Reactions and Environmental Awareness. (SHRM & HRCI certified)

Karith Foster, CEO and Founder Foster Russell Organization

For over a decade Karith Foster has taken her passion for entertaining and critical thinking nationwide- from the airwaves to organizations; from universities to corporations creating a seismic shift in mindsets when addressing issues of true diversity and inclusion.

This former co-host of controversial radio personality Don Imus and former Fortune 500 human resources executive administrator brings the perfect blend of knowledge and experience when conveying the ever-present need to address diversity, inclusion and effective communication. Karith leaves her audiences feeling inspired and encouraged to commit to the journey of mutual respect, acceptance and a greater sense of belonging. 

“If you can laugh at it you can get through it,” is not only her motto, but the invaluable lesson Karith Foster seeks to instill in others. As a humorist, speaker, TV & radio personality, author, entrepreneur, wife, and mother whose sense of duty, service, along with her riotous sense of humor, have made her a positive force of change. The words “no” and “impossible” are not in her vocabulary as evidenced by her career path, life challenges, chosen adventures and desire to help others. Karith is Diversity Engagement Specialist whose signature programs “Stereotyped 101TM”, “You Are E.N.O.U.G.HTM”, “The Humor InitiativeTM” and “You Can Be Perfect...OR You Can Be HappyTM”are impacting lives at academic institutions, organizations and corporations across America in a time when humor, understanding, acceptance and respect are so desperately needed.

She is one of the featured comedians in the 2016 hit documentary about comedy and outrage culture, “Can We Take a Joke?” which garnered accolades in The Washington Post and TIME Magazine. She most recently founded the Foster Russell Family Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, whose mission is to inspire free speech, social change and empowerment through education and mentorship. www.FosterRussell.org  Karith is an alumna of Stephens College(Missouri) and Oxford University. In March 2017, Karith joined one of the highest echelons of the speaking world when she delivered her TEDx Talk “The Art of Defying Stereotypes: Learning to be True to Your Voice” at the TEDx LincolnSquare Risk Takers and Change Makers in New York City.

  9:30 AM -  9:45 AM

Break/Exhibitors Open

  9:45 AM -  11:00 AM

Talking Points for Effective Communication, Pam Goedde

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill that can be learned and practiced by anyone who wants to develop strong relationships. Those who demonstrate effective emotional intelligence have a greater ability to influence, persuade, and connect with others, which ultimately is about the way we communicate.  This session will help participants enhance their personal and social competence by focusing on communication skills in the four areas of emotional intelligence.

As a result of attending this session, participants will learn:

1. Self-Awareness:  How to identify their communication styles by learning about type
2. Self-Management:  How to tell a story succinctly and effectively 
3. Social Awareness:  How to value, give, and receive feedback
4. Relationship Management:  How to plan for and frame difficult conversations

Pam Goedde, Goedde Consulting     

Pam holds a BA from Hanover College and an MPA from Indiana State University. She has worked in the Human Resources (HR) field for over 35 years.  She has experience serving in lead HR roles at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Ivy Tech State College, and Southwestern Healthcare, Inc.  She has served as an HR consultant to clients in healthcare, education, manufacturing, banking, and technology since 2008.

She received the Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification in 1993 and the Society of Human Resource Management – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM–SCP) in 2015.  She served on the Board of the Evansville-area Human Resource Association (EHRA) for 18 years and 2 of the years as President. She received the HR Professional of the Year Award from EHRA in 1995 and again in 2010.  She has been a co-instructor for the SHRM certification course and SHRM Essentials of HR course at USI.  Pam was one of the founders of the IN State SHRM conference and served on the conference committee for 20 years.  She was the State Conference Chair 3 times.

11:00 AM -  11:15 AM

Break/Exhibitors Open

11:15 AM -  12:30 PM

New Laws and Issues Employers Face With Medical/Recreation Marijuana Use, Chad Sullivan, Attorney, Jackson & Kelly

Chad J. Sullivan is a Member in the labor & employment and litigation practice groups. He practices out of the Firm’s office in Evansville, Indiana.

Chad frequently represents and counsels clients on a variety of matters across a number of industries. He advises employers on a variety of labor and employment issues, including covenants not to compete, wage and hour, civil rights discrimination, unfair labor practices, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), sexual harassment, union avoidance, union elections, and wrongful discharge. He also drafts companies’ employee policies and procedures and reviews those already in place for compliance. As part of his practice, he has defended clients before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, numerous state and federal courts and state and local Human Rights commissions.  He has a regional litigation practice and has won jury trials in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Texas.  He has also successfully litigated non-compete and trade secret claims in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, North Carolina and Texas.

Chad is also involved in the legal community and the community at large – he is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law topics, knowing that it’s important to ensure his clients are up-to-date on the latest changes to the law. He also supports the local and national election process through his roles as a precinct committeeman and as an Indiana Republican Delegate.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch/Exhibitors Open

 1:30 PM -  1:45 PM

Networking Event with Vendors

1:45 PM -  2:45 PM

Legislative and Labor Law Developments for Union and Non-Union Employers, Josh B. Gessling & Jake Fulcher

Management-side labor and employment lawyers Jake R. Fulcher and Joshua B. Gessling will talk about recent legislative and labor law developments, and discuss practical strategies for union and non-union employers to avoid trouble with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).  Updates include recent decisions that affect the rights of employees to use employer-provided technology for non-work purposes, the interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, the scrutiny of workplace policies commonly found in employee handbooks, and election rules.

Josh B. Gessling, Partner Kahn, Dees, Donavan and Kahn, LLP, Attorneys & Counselors at Law

Josh represents public and private employers in a broad range of labor and employment law matters, and provides litigation and trial services for the firm’s clients.  Josh devotes a substantial portion of his practice to counseling employers on strategies to avoid harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other labor and employment-related claims, including claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage and hour laws, Title VII, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  When litigation cannot be avoided or is preferred, Josh defends employers in federal and state courts and before local, state, and federal administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

He is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Evansville-Area Human Resource Association (EHRA) and its Legislative Affairs Chair, and is the former Chairman of the Evansville Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section.

Jake Fulcher, Partner Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors at Law

Jake is a management-side labor lawyer who devotes a significant part of his practice to negotiating labor contracts and defending employers in labor arbitrations.  Jake’s practice also includes union avoidance strategies, as well as counseling clients with labor agreements and the interpretation of those labor agreements in the day-to-day management of a business.  Jake regularly counsels employers on employment-related matters, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Jake prefers a proactive solution in lieu of litigation, but if litigation occurs, Jake defends employers in employment-related cases in both state and federal court and regularly appears in front of administrative agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

He is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and has served as a board member as well as the President of the Board of Directors for the Evansville-Area Human Resource Association (EHRA) for several years.     

2:45 PM -  3:00 PM

Break

3:00 PM -  4:15 PM

Servant Leadership that Transforms our Workplace, Lynn Miller Pease

Servant leadership through engaging people, building trust and valuing all people strengths will bring about positive cultural change. Lynn will teach methodology that when applied will build the strong teams that can and will thrive.   Participants will be able to identify how they authentically lead and will be able to lead others through that process. 

They will work on how they lead best through their strength development and how to teach others to recognize their strengths in leadership.   People who use their strengths are more engaged and perform at a high level.   All the work will be asset based and easily applied to the participants work. To lead through the service of others helps everyone grow and engage. 

Lynn Miller Pease, Executive Director of Leadership Everyone

Lynn has a passion for diversity, servant leadership, and the collaborative process. As Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Evansville, she develops servant leaders to transform communities, with the support of her board of directors, staff, alumni, and volunteers. Lynn has more than 25 years of experience in facilitation, leadership development, civic engagement, and visioning for strategic action. She has served as Chief Executive Officer of the 40-year organization since 2003.

Her extensive community leadership experience has culminated in a unique ability to facilitate the gathering of community visions that can be converted into actionable projects that better the community. Her collaborative process has become a sustainable model for civic engagement by empowering participants to convert their dreams into civic action. Lynn’s ability to attract diverse stakeholders to this process – giving all people a voice – has led to more creative, sustainable solutions for community transformation.

Lynn’s community service includes her roles as President of the Evansville Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series, past president of the Holly’s House Board of Directors, and past president and founding member of Alhambra Theatre, Inc. Board of Directors. She also serves on the Indiana Leadership Association board of directors and the Women’s Equality Day committee.  Lynn has been honored as the recipient of the 2011 ATHENA Award and was named one of the Evansville YWCA’s “100 Women in 100 Years.” As the 2010 recipient of the Sydney and Sadelle Berger Community Service Award, Lynn was recognized as “a tireless community advocate who promotes fairness, inclusion and respect for all.”

 4:15 PM -  4:45 PM

Wrap up/Prize Drawings - Giveaways - Remember you must be present to win!