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• 7:45-8:15 Registration & Breakfast
• 8:15-8:20 Welcome
• 8:30-9:15 Plenary Address
  • Featured Speaker: John Dorrer, Director, Center for Workforce Research and Information, State of Maine Department of Labor
• 9:30-10:45 Break-out Sessions

• 11:00-12:15 Keynote Address
  • Featured Speaker: Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer, Manpower Inc.
• 12:15-1:15 Lunch (served)
• 1:30-2:15 Plenary Address & Business Awards
  • Featured Speaker: The Honorable Katherine O. McCary, Vice President, Human Resources, Compliance, and Diversity, SunTrust Banks Inc.
• 2:30-3:45 Break-out Sessions

The conference program is designed to help the business community prepare for and capitalize on shifts in the Maine’s population and the resulting changes in our workforce. Presentations and panel discussions will help decision-makers think about how a diverse workforce benefits every aspect of their business—especially their bottom line. Sessions will focus on strategic and/or operational business activities related to and affected by diversity.

The program kicks off with an address from John Dorrer, Director of the Center for Workplace Research and Information within Maine’s Department of Labor. With his background in economics and the best data at his fingertips, John will guide us through the sentinel points all businesses must understand to avoid being left behind as Maine’s workforce changes.

Then, participants will choose from three break-out session tracks – Recruitment, Workplace, and Business Strategy. Each session will feature a panel of topic experts and business leaders who will share first-hand experiences and take-away suggestions for best practices. Topics include leadership and diversity, effective diversity initiatives, the importance of diversity in a global economy, legal issues, cultural competency, and marketing your diversity policies and practices.

After the morning break-out sessions, Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer for the global corporation Manpower Inc., will deliver the keynote address. Martha will pull from her two decades of leadership in business strategy and diversity development to demonstrate how a diverse workforce leads to success.

The conference includes a networking lunch where participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and meet with speakers and provider agencies.

After lunch, the Honorable Katherine O. McCary, Vice President, Human Resources, Compliance and Diversity for SunTrust Banks Inc., will make a plenary address that will tie together the day’s main themes and leave you inspired to bring diversity into your own business. We are delighted to have Katherine back with us, following her very practical and highly engaging keynote address at our 2008 conference. Katherine will also present the following awards: 1) the Working Together 2009 Business Awards to three businesses that have shown outstanding commitment to employing people with disabilities, and 2) the Diversity Hiring Coalition 2009 Diversity Hiring Awards to three entities that have shown outstanding commitment to diversity in the workplace.

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8:30-9:15: Plenary Address

Featured Speaker: John Dorrer, Director, Center for Workforce Research and Information, State of Maine Department of Labor

John Dorrer is an economist and research administrator focused on workforce development, human capital and labor market policies at the state and region level. He is responsible for overseeing the State of Maine’s statistical systems for measuring employment, unemployment and labor market developments including forecasting skill requirements and workforce needs. He advises the Governor, the State Legislature and a wide range of public policy officials and leaders in private industry on workforce developments and challenges.

Prior to joining the Maine Department of Labor, he served as Deputy Director, Workforce Development at the National Center on Education and the Economy in Washington, DC where he consulted with America’s largest cities and states in areas of workforce and economic development.  He has consulted for the U.S Department of Labor on workforce information systems development and has performed a number of international consulting assignments for groups such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

He spent 20 years in Maine as senior vice president of Training and Development Corporation, a non-profit organization focused on workforce and regional development and has served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Maine.

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9:30-10:45: Break-out Session (A)

Leading the Way through Diversity: Why Diversity is Important for Business Leaders
Panelists: Cindy Talbot, Jason Blias, Jessica Fairclough
Track: Recruitment

Diversity in the workplace is a business imperative. Companies that embrace diversification increase their chances of successfully competing in the global economy, gain marketing edge, cultivate satisfied and loyal employees, and avoid falling victim to the disappearing traditional workforce. It only makes sense: diversity should be top of mind for all business executives. This session will help you learn how to become a leader in workplace diversity. Cindy Talbot of Barber Foods, Jason Blias of JobsinMe.com and Jessica Fairclough of U.S. Cellular will walk you through a compelling business case so you can return to the office as a champion of diversity, ready to distinguish yourself as a leader and help your company come out ahead.

Cindy Talbot, Vice President of Human Resources, Barber Foods
Cindy is currently Vice President of Human Resources for Barber Foods where she has been employed for eight years. Prior to joining Barber Foods, Cindy held senior level human resources positions at various companies throughout New England, including Gabriel Electronics, Thomas & Betts, and Hewlett-Packard. Cindy has over 25 years of experience developing and managing various human resource functions, including compensation, organizational development, training, staffing, affirmative action and diversity, employee relations, safety, and benefits. Cindy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Salve Regina University, and a Master’s in Industrial Counseling from Framingham State. When not at Barber Foods, Cindy volunteers her time and expertise to benefit animal welfare organizations.

Jason Blais, Director of Development, JobsinME.com
As Director of Development, Jason is responsible for developing new partnerships and identifying new programs to help build the JobsInTheUS.com brand. Jason has spent more than a decade in business development and marketing, primarily for media companies. He started with JobsInTheUS.com in January of 2004, as a senior account manager, joining the company's esteemed President's Club in 2005 by virtue of excellence in internal and external service and commitment to innovation within the company. Jason developed and oversaw the company's field marketing program, created to establish a stronger local connection to the states served by the company. In this capacity, he managed all outreach and education programs, establishing professional development seminars for human resources professionals and workshops for job seekers, as well as building the largest event marketing presence in New England.

Jason has been a member of SHRM for five years, and is active in local HR associations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Currently, Jason sits on the board for the 2009 Granite State Human Resource Conference as the Information Management Chair. He has written and presented HRCI-Certified seminars on recruitment advertising to groups of employers all across New England and New York.

Jessica Fairclough, PHR, CDR, Regional Recruiter, U.S. Cellular®
Jessica is currently a regional recruiter for U.S. Cellular® responsible for providing staffing to their Maine and New Hampshire retail locations.  Jessica has twelve years of recruitment experience.  Prior to joining U.S. Cellular® in 2007, Jessica held HR and recruitment positions with MBNA America and Time Warner Cable.  Jessica has Professional in Human Resources and Certified Diversity Recruiter designations and is currently pursuing her MBA in HR Management with Franklin Pierce University.
 
Jessica has been an active member of the Diversity Hiring Coalition (DHC) for approximately 7 years and currently is completing her second term as co-chair for the DHC. She is a member of National SHRM as well as local chapters in Maine and New Hampshire.  She also leads U.S. Cellular®’s Diversity and Inclusion Council for the New England market.

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9:30-10:45: Break-out Session (B)

Effective Diversity Initiatives and What They Do for Your Business
Panelists: Katherine McCary, Jamie Kaplan, Esq.
Track: Workplace

This session has been designed to demonstrate the tangible, measurable and profitable results that come from a diversity program done right. Nationally recognized speaker and leading corporate executive, Katherine McCary, will discuss the critical factors that make diversity programs effective and how you can build your company’s program so that it delivers the results you want.

The Honorable Katherine O. McCary, Vice President, Human Resources, Compliance and Diversity, SunTrust Banks Inc.
Katherine McCary has corporate responsibility for SunTrust’s disability leadership and the Disability Resource Center, a program that seeks to increase the employment of people with disabilities throughout SunTrust’s workforce and to increase awareness of marketing opportunities for customers with disabilities. The Corporate Center provides disability information internally to employees and managers. She is co-chair for SunTrust’s National Disability Mentoring Day and acts as disability consultant to SunTrust’s 16 Diversity Councils.  Katherine is a long term member of SHRM, a SHRM certified Diversity Trainer, and a recognized national speaker.

In her 19 years with SunTrust, her contributions to SunTrust’s disability efforts have resulted in national recognition, including the SHRM HR Magazine 2000 Innovative Practice Award, the 2002 US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) Exceptional Leadership Award, and the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao’s 2004 New Freedom Initiative Award.

Katherine is responsible for SunTrust representation in the Business Leadership Network organization, was a founder of and now serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®), a national organization representing 5,000 businesses that educates employers on the business imperative of disability. She is the current chair of the Annual Conference Committee and serves on the Disability Supplier Diversity program committee which certifies disabled-owned business enterprises for corporate diversity supplier programs. In 2009, Katherine received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the USBLN®.

In October 2008, Katherine was appointed to the National Council on Disability by President Bush and confirmed by the US Senate. NCD is an independent federal agency composed of members appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. NCD provides advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

Jamie Kaplan, Esq., Executive Director, The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness
Jamie Kaplan is Executive Director of the Cromwell Center.  Before co-founding the Center in 2003, he practiced law for nearly 25 years in the District of Columbia and Maine.  His practice focused on complex commercial litigation and disability law, including participation in several major disability rights cases in the federal courts of appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The Cromwell Center’s mission is to help ensure that people with all kinds of disabilities receive the respect, acceptance, and opportunity that everyone deserves as a birthright.  To this end, the Center has become an innovative leader in disabilities awareness education in workplaces, schools, and for prospective educators.  The Center has developed a unique method for teaching disabilities awareness that forms the basis for all of its educational programs.  The Cromwell Method does not teach about particular disabilities, conduct “show and tell” or simulations, or focus on one type disability.  Instead, the Center’s method attacks the core.  It changes attitudes with respect to all kinds of disabilities – learning, behavioral and emotional, developmental, and physical.  The Center’s programs can be implemented anywhere and in any language without modification. 

Jamie is currently one of 14 inaugural fellows in the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative, a collaboration among the graduate schools of business, education, government, law, and public health.  His fellowship work emphasizes leadership, strategic management, and innovations in education for all types of entities. 

A graduate of Brown University and the law school at the University of California at Berkeley, where he was an Editor-in-Chief of the law review, Jamie has written extensively on disabilities rights in education and regularly presents workshops and lectures on disabilities awareness. 

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9:30-10:45: Break-out Session (C)

The Importance of Diversity in a Global Economy
Panelists: Martha Artiles, John Dorrer, Adesina Kazeem Lawal
Track: Business Strategy

When you seek out and hire employees from varying ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, generational, and other backgrounds, your company can benefit from their experiences and world views. You can put diversity to work for your company to develop new products or services, find new market segments, adopt new technologies—innovations that could propel you into the global marketplace. The panelists in this session will walk you through how cultivating diversity in your workplace can help your company break through and thrive in the global marketplace. Use these experts and their years of proven experience and data to build your company’s diversity program as a deliberate and highly strategic component of your plan to go global.

Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer, Manpower Inc.
Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer, brings a unique combination of human resources, engineering and community experience from her 27-year career to Manpower where she oversees global strategic diversity and workforce development.  Her expertise spans many areas including diversity, organizational change, recruitment, quality management and mechanical engineering.

Prior to joining Manpower, Martha led diversity initiatives at global corporations in the manufacturing, IT and service sectors.  Her accomplishments include the initiation of a minority council to educate senior executives at a Fortune 300 global corporation, the creation and development of an executive-focused mentoring program and the co-founding of a Hispanic employee networking group. Most recently, she led the development and execution of Manpower’s global and North American diversity strategies.

Martha holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Santa Clara in California.  She serves on the Board of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN), Board of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM) and the Executive Board of the Silicon Valley National Society of Hispanic MBAs. She is also a member of the Conference Board’s Workforce Diversity Council, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the newly formed World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Agenda Council.  Martha is an accomplished speaker at a national and international level, addressing diversity-related issues in human resources, Hispanic, minority, professional and women’s groups, and is often cited as an expert in the media.

John Dorrer, Director, Center for Workforce Research and Information State of Maine, Department of Labor
John Dorrer is an economist and research administrator focused on workforce development, human capital, and labor market policies at the state and region level. He is responsible for overseeing the State of Maine’s statistical systems for measuring employment, unemployment, and labor market developments, including forecasting skill requirements and workforce needs. He advises the Governor, the State Legislature, and a wide range of public policy officials and leaders in private industry on workforce developments and challenges.

Prior to joining the Maine Department of Labor, he served as Deputy Director, Workforce Development at the National Center on Education and the Economy in Washington, D.C., where he consulted with America’s largest cities and states in areas of workforce and economic development. He has consulted for the U.S. Department of Labor on workforce information systems development and has performed a number of international consulting assignments for groups such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

He spent 20 years in Maine as senior vice president of Training and Development Corporation, a non-profit organization focused on workforce and regional development and has served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Maine.

Adesina “Kazeem” Lawal – Founder & Principal Novus Nigeria Ltd.; Founder and Executive Director of The Maine African Film Festival
Kazeem lives in Portland, Maine, and currently works for FairPoint Telecommunications as a product manager for Wholesale Services. He is the founder of Novus Nigeria Ltd., manufacturing bottled water and ice cubes in Lagos, Nigeria. He serves on the board of the Portland Public Library and is a recent graduate of the Institute for Civic Leadership Intensive Program (Pi Class). He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and M.B.A. from Rutgers University. He enjoys his volunteer activities around Portland, still plays soccer, enjoys traveling and of course films - especially independent and foreign.

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11:00-12:15: Keynote Address

Featured Speaker: Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer, Manpower Inc.

Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer, brings a unique combination of human resources, engineering and community experience from her 27-year career to Manpower where she oversees global strategic diversity and workforce development.  Her expertise spans many areas including diversity, organizational change, recruitment, quality management and mechanical engineering.

Prior to joining Manpower, Martha led diversity initiatives at global corporations in the manufacturing, IT and service sectors.  Her accomplishments include the initiation of a minority council to educate senior executives at a Fortune 300 global corporation, the creation and development of an executive-focused mentoring program and the co-founding of a Hispanic employee networking group. Most recently, she led the development and execution of Manpower’s global and North American diversity strategies.

Martha holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Santa Clara in California.  She serves on the Board of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN), Board of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM) and the Executive Board of the Silicon Valley National Society of Hispanic MBAs. She is also a member of the Conference Board’s Workforce Diversity Council, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the newly formed World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Agenda Council.  Martha is an accomplished speaker at a national and international level, addressing diversity-related issues in human resources, Hispanic, minority, professional and women’s groups, and is often cited as an expert in the media.

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12:15-1:15: Lunch (served)

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1:30-2:15: Plenary Address & Business Awards

Featured Speaker: The Honorable Katherine O. McCary, Vice President, Human Resources, Compliance, and Diversity, SunTrust Banks Inc.

Katherine McCary has corporate responsibility for SunTrust’s disability leadership and the Disability Resource Center, a program that seeks to increase the employment of people with disabilities throughout SunTrust’s workforce and to increase awareness of marketing opportunities for customers with disabilities. The Corporate Center provides disability information internally to employees and managers. She is co-chair for SunTrust’s National Disability Mentoring Day and acts as disability consultant to SunTrust’s 16 Diversity Councils.  Katherine is a long term member of SHRM, a SHRM certified Diversity Trainer and a recognized national speaker.

In her 19 years with SunTrust, her contributions to SunTrust’s disability efforts have resulted in national recognition, including the SHRM HR Magazine 2000 Innovative Practice Award, the 2002 US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) Exceptional Leadership Award and the US Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao’s 2004 New Freedom Initiative Award.

Katherine is responsible for SunTrust representation in the Business Leadership Network organization, was a founder of and now serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®), a national organization representing 5,000 businesses that educates employers on the business imperative of disability. She is the current chair of the Annual Conference Committee and serves on the Disability Supplier Diversity program committee which certifies disabled owned business enterprises for corporate diversity supplier programs. In 2009, Katherine received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the USBLN®.

In October 2008, Katherine was appointed to the National Council on Disability by President Bush and confirmed by the US Senate. NCD is an independent federal agency composed of members appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. NCD provides advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

Katherine will present the following Awards: 1) the Working Together 2009 Business Awards to three businesses that have shown outstanding commitment to employing people with disabilities, and 2) the Diversity Hiring Coalition 2009 Diversity Hiring Awards to three entities that have shown outstanding commitment to diversity in the workplace.

2:30-3:45: Break-out Session (D)

Legal Overview: The Benefits of a Diverse Workplace
Panelists: Adam Taylor, Esq., Beth Stickley, Esq.
Track: Recruitment

One of the less obvious benefits of a diverse workforce is the reduction of exposure to legal risk. While the prospect of a law suit is inherent to running a business, diversifying your workforce, along with progressive workplace policies, makes it harder to make a showing of discrimination. The legal experts on this panel can help you understand the ins and outs of employment law and immigration law that make a diverse workforce a smart business choice.

Adam Taylor, Esq., Taylor, McCormack & Frame, LLC
Mr. Taylor, a founding member of Taylor, McCormack & Frame, LLC, practices in a variety of areas and assists businesses statewide. He advises and represents employers in all areas of labor and employment and corporate law. He has successfully defended businesses, large and small, in both state and federal courts and frequently appears before federal and state administrative agencies. Serving as corporate counsel to dozens of businesses, Mr. Taylor has facilitated successful start-ups, mergers, and corporate acquisitions. Mr. Taylor also has an active practice in the area of labor relations under the National Labor Relations Act, representing management before the National Labor Relations Board and throughout the country. He counsels employers on remaining union-free and represents employers in all aspects of unfair labor practice proceedings. He also represents management at the bargaining table in labor contract negotiations and arbitrations.

Mr. Taylor works closely with all levels of management on cost containment and legal compliance through proactive human resource policy administration and risk management. He has represented employers in a wide variety of industries, including the construction, paper, retail, food service, health care, and direct marketing industries. He serves as counsel to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine and is a member of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Taylor received his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College, magna cum laude, also participating in undergraduate courses of study at Cornell University and the University of Queensland (Australia). Mr. Taylor received his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law, cum laude, while serving as an editor on the University of Richmond Law Review.

Beth Stickney, Esq., Executive Director, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project           
Beth co-founded ILAP in 1993 and became ILAP’s Executive Director in January, 2000. Beth is the key staff person for ILAP’s education and outreach and systemic advocacy projects. Beth graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 1985 and was the Directing Attorney of the Legal Department at the International Institute of Boston prior to returning to Maine to direct ILAP. Beth co-authored, with Sarah Ignatius, Immigration Law and the Family (Thompson West), the leading legal treatise on all aspects of how immigration law impacts families. She also created the Immigration Law Seminar at the University of Maine School of Law which she taught from 1994 until 2005. Beth is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and her practice in Maine is limited to immigration and nationality matters. She is fluent in Spanish.

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2:30-3:45: Break-out Session (E)

Cultural Competency—What It Is, How to Get It, and What It Can Do for Your Company
Panelists: Noel Bonem
Track: Workplace

What does it mean to have a company or individual employees with cultural competency? It’s more than having someone on staff that speaks a language other than English. Cultural competency is a key component to making the most of the diversity in your workforce, from attracting and retaining the best workers, to growing market share and penetrating new markets. The experts on this panel will start by explaining cultural competency then discuss how your company can achieve it and what you can expect as a result.

Noël Bonam, Director, State of Maine Office of Multicultural Affairs
Noël Bonam is the director for the Maine Office of Multicultural Affairs. He has an extensive cross-cultural organizational development background with a special focus on leadership development. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive in Government program from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is also a professional visual and performing artist. He is originally from Hyderbad, India and he currently lives in Portland, Maine.

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2:30-3:45: Break-out Session (F)

Marketing your Diversity Policies and Practices: Expanding your Bottom Line through Diversity
Panelists: Merritt Carey, Esq., Jodie Lapchick
Track: Business Strategy

There is nothing wrong with converting your diverse workplace into increased sales through marketing. In fact, parlaying your human resources policies and practices into your employment brand, corporate culture, and marketing platform is a highly effective strategy to pump up your overall brand image and increase market share. Merritt Carey and Jodie Lapchick, two of Maine’s leading social responsibility and marketing professionals will show you how.

Merritt Carey, Esq., Principal, GraffamSolutions
Merritt has been a lifelong champion of environmental and social justice, beginning with her high school years when she designed an award-winning wind farm and was politically active in the anti-apartheid movement. Today, Merritt’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainability is much broader and based on her expert knowledge of socially responsible workplace practices as well as green business initiatives.

Prior to receiving her law degree from University of Auckland, New Zealand, and University of Maine School of Law (magna cum laude), Merritt sailed around the world on the second-ever all women’s team to participate in the Whitbread-Round-the-World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race). She was also a team member on the first all women’s America’s Cup sailing team, America3. Merritt received her B.A. in American Civilization and History from Brown University and attended Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Jodie Lapchick, Creative Director, Cause Branding Consultant, Lapchick & Co.
Capitalizing on two decades of experience in marketing and advertising, beginning as an Ad Design major at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, Jodie founded and ran Lapchick Creative, a socially-responsible, strategic marketing firm from 1998 to 2009. During that time, Jodie planned and executed strategy and creative for both nonprofit and corporate clients; developed and oversaw client budgets; built and facilitated strategic alliances around cause marketing and branding; pitched and won new business. Now she is president of Lapchick & Co, focused solely on cause-branding, uniting and promoting the collaboration between nonprofits and for-profit corporations.

Jodie is an active member of her community, having served on boards such as the Cancer Community Center, Maine Small Business Alliance, Maine Ad Club, Portland Art Directors' Club, and a founding member and first president of the West End Neighborhood Association. Associations she belongs to include Cause Marketing Forum, Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility, Maine Association of Nonprofits, Maine Public Relations Council.