While the DirectEmployers 2014 Annual Meeting & Conference (DEAM14) is first and foremost an educational event, it is also a time to network with industry peers and make new acquaintances in the professional arena. We have record-breaking attendance this year with a number of highly influential attendees. This post will focus on just a few of the many people you need to meet at the event so keep an eye out for these individuals at the conference, and in the meantime connect with them on social media!
John C. Fox (LinkedIn)
Having spent more than 300 days in trial as an employment law attorney and three years as an Executive Assistant to the Director at the OFCCP (1981-1984), Fox is an invaluable resource for federal contractors. You can see him as our keynote speaker on day one of the conference. Check out his blog, the OFCCP Fox Report.
James Emmett (Twitter)
James is a national leader in the development of employment services for persons with disabilities and also assists corporations in the creation of outreach strategies for individuals within the disability community. He also acts as a consultant for APSE HR Connect and is a partner at Two Steps Forward, Inc. Join in on his concurrent session on day two entitled, Disability & Inclusion: Lessons from the Past Guiding Our Bright Future.
Pam Gerassimides (LinkedIn)
As a long time partner of DirectEmployers Association, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) is proud to have Pam as their Assistant Executive Director and National Labor Exchange Director. Pam has been instrumental in securing signed data sharing agreements between the National Labor Exchange and all 50 states, D.C, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Jennifer Giering (LinkedIn)
Jennifer joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Business and State Engagement for Hiring Our Heroes in March 2013. In this role, Giering is responsible for coordinating with small businesses, local chambers of commerce, and regional business alliances to promote Hiring Our Heroes initiatives. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more during Jennifer’s session, How Hiring Our Heroes Assists with OFCCP Required Outreach Efforts and Recordkeeping Obligations.
Kathleen Lee (LinkedIn)
Kathleen Lee joined the Employment and Disability Institute in 2010 as the Business Outreach Specialist at Cornell University’s National Employer Technical Assistance, Policy, and Research Center on Employment of People with Disabilities. She provides technical assistance training and consultation for the business community on issues related to the employment of individuals and veterans with disabilities. This includes sourcing the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) to meet the recruitment needs of private business. You can catch Kathleen on day one along with Member Annette Rosta of KPMG during their session, Finding a Win-Win: Mastering Diverse Recruitment and Compliance Through WRP.
Heather Hoffman (Twitter)
As VP of Digital Strategy for DirectEmployers, Heather plays a major role in the advancement of the .JOBS top-level domain (TLD) within the Association initiatives. She currently focuses her time listening to the thoughts, needs and wishes of our Member companies and implements their suggestions into our product and service offerings. Have suggestions? Share your thoughts with her at DEAM14.
Candee Chambers (LinkedIn)
The latest addition to our Executive Team, Candee brings decades of experience in HR. Previously with Cardinal Health, she handled all of the Affirmative Action activities, including the development of over 100 Affirmative Action plans as well as all OFCCP desk and/or onsite audits. Today she helps the Association make strategic partnerships and assists Members with compliance questions.
Rhonda Stickley (Twitter)
A veteran with experience in the recruiting industry for more than 25 years, Rhonda also currently acts as the DirectEmployers Board of Directors President. If you are interested in becoming more involved with the Association, feel free to connect with her during the conference for more information.
John Robinson (Twitter)
Another of our keynote speakers, John was born a congenital amputee and has faced many challenges in life. With his tenacious spirit, talent and faith he has become an inspiration to many while also giving a fresh perspective on living with a disability. Network with John after his presentation as we close out the conference with a meet & greet session.
In addition to seeking out these individuals on social media, we’ve got some great evening networking opportunities to give attendees a chance to mingle and connect after a day of learning. The Demo Hall will also be open during breaks to allow for additional conversation. We hope to see everyone next week!
Get a jumpstart on your networking now! Join our DEAM LinkedIn Group, and be sure to follow and use the official event hashtag #DEAM14 on Twitter, or when posting on Facebook and Instagram.
