Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations
Collective Bargaining in State Government 2.0
Chris Grab and MG Kopjanski, DHRM
Meeting
Space B10
Schedule notice: Conference agenda is subject to change.
Day 1: Monday, September 28
7:30–8:30 AM
Breakfast
7:30 AM–5:00 PM
Registration: Vendor exhibits open
8:30–8:40 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks — DHRM Director Janet Lawson - Grand Ballroom B21AB
8:40–9:10 AM
Remarks from The Honorable Traci J. Deshazor, Secretary of Administration - Grand Ballroom B21AB
9:15–10:45 AM
Opening Keynote — Karen Michael, President of Karen Michael, PLC - Grand Ballroom B21AB
10:45–11:15 AM
Break
Concurrent Sessions
11:15 AM–12:30 PM
Compensation, Benefits, & Payroll
Payroll Accuracy and Compliance: Avoiding Costly Error
Shannon Gulasky, DOA
Meeting Space B15A
Talent Acquisition & Workforce
Beyond Mentoring: Reimagining Workforce Development Through the Commonwealth Mentorship Program
Dr. Marta Squadrito, Rik Cropley, Jonathan Singleton, DHRM
Meeting Space B11
HR Technology & Systems
Reimagining Onboarding: How Technology Can Improve the Employee Experience Before Day One
McCray Fider, OAG
Meeting Space
B15B
Leadership, Culture & Organizational Transaction
Culture Is the Story People Tell When Leadership Isn't in the Room: Building Culture Through Intention, Values, and Action
Dr. Millicent Lee, ODU
Meeting Space B15C
12:30–1:30 PM
Lunch with Sponsor Spotlight
Concurrent Session
1:45–3:00 PM
Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations
Beyond the Algorithm: Ensuring Fairness, Compliance, and Investigative Integrity in the Age of AI
Leigh Lyons
Meeting Space
B10
Compensation, Benefits, & Payroll
Stop Being the Medicare Help Desk!
Bryan Gay, Boomer Insurance Group
Meeting Space B15A
Talent Acquisition & Workforce
Virginia's Apprenticeship Accelerator: Exploring the Strategic HR Solution for Today's Workforce Challenges
Commissioner Nicole Overley and Kara Joyce, Virginia Works
Meeting Space B11
HR Technology & Systems
Securing Secure 2.0: Scaling Compliance and Mitigating Risk Through HR Automation
Krystin Carter and Owen Porter, VCU
Meeting Space B15B
Leadership, Culture & Organizational Transaction
From Paper to Pulse: Reimagining Recognition Culture
Sumi Lanneau, Energy
Meeting Space B15C
3:00–3:20 PM
Break
3:20–4:35 PM
Keynote - Reimagining Performance in Uncertain Times — Scott Wayne, Envoy Portfolio - Grand Ballroom B21AB
4:45–7:30 PM
Networking Social — The Hippodrome Theater
528 N 2nd St, Richmond, VA 23219
Day 2: Tuesday, September 29
7:30–8:30 AM
Breakfast
7:30 AM–5:00 PM
Registration: Vendor exhibits open
8:25–8:30 AM
Welcome and Announcements — DHRM Director Janet Lawson - Grand Ballroom B21AB
8:30–9:45 AM
Keynote - Change management fundamentals, including the Change Story and Impact Assessment tools — Ed Cook, PhD and Roxanne Brown, Founders of The Change Decision - Grand Ballroom B21AB
9:45–10:15 AM
Break
Concurrent Sessions
10:15–11:30 AM
Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations
ADA Accommodation Bootcamp: Avoiding Common Traps
Ponnette Smith, Justin Shreve, DHRM
Meeting Space
B10
Compensation, Benefits, & Payroll
Future-Proofed: Closing the Gap in Compensation
Natalie Brannon and Sara Waterman, DHRM
Meeting Space B15A
Talent Acquisition & Workforce
The Brief Is Better Together: Aligning Recruiters and Hiring Managers from Day One
Kimberly Alexander, DHRM and Roselyn Brown, DMV
Meeting Space
B15B
HR Technology & Systems
Accessibility Reboot: Preparing HR for the New Digital Workplace
Jon Carpenter, DHRM
Meeting Space B11
Leadership, Culture & Organizational Transformation
Breaking Down Silos: Building Strategic Partnerships Between Safety & HR for Better Incident Management and Organizational Performance
Johnny Nugent, Loren Yourgal, Jon Whitby, Zain Afzal, DHRM
Meeting Space B15C
11:30 AM–12:30 PM
Lunch with Sponsor Spotlight
12:30–1:45 PM
Employment Law Updates & Hot Topics — Anne Bibeau and Michael Gardner, Woods Rogers - Grand Ballroom B21AB
Concurrent Sessions
2:00–3:15 PM
Organizational Transformation
Embracing the Future of HR: Strategic Agility for a Changing Workforce
Deanna Goldstein, DHRM
Meeting Space
B15A
Compensation, Benefits, & Payroll
Control the Chaos: Navigating Workers’ Compensation, VSDP, Leave, and Payroll (Part 1)
Mike Pote, VRS; Kitty Hughes, DHRM; Shannon Gulasky, DOA
Meeting Space
B10
Talent Acquisition & Workforce
Inclusive Hiring and Accommodations: A Strategic Approach for Employers
Melissa Edmonds, Beth Sullivan, Sandra Phipps, DARS
Meeting Space
B15B
General HR
The CommonHealth Blueprint: Integrating Employee Wellness into Agency Culture
Felix Johnson, Amy Moore, DHRM CommonHealth Team
Meeting Space B11
Leadership, Culture & Organizational Transformation
Tools to Become (and Remain) the Best State HR Leader
Janet Lawson, DHRM Director
Meeting Space B15C
3:15–3:45 PM
Break
Concurrent Sessions
3:45–5:00 PM
Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations
From Compliance to Culture: Developing Sustainable ADA Accommodation Programs
Emily Biereder, DMV
Meeting Space
B15A
Compensation, Benefits, & Payroll
Control the Chaos: Navigating Workers’ Compensation, VSDP, Leave, and Payroll (Part 2)
Mike Pote, VRS; Kitty Hughes, DHRM; Shannon Gulasky, DOA
Meeting Space B10
Talent Acquisition & Workforce
Performance Management That Performs: A Blueprint for Strategic Alignment and Goal Clarity
TJ Bilbrey, DMV
Meeting Space
B15B
General HR
Beyond Gen Z: Preparing Virginia’s Public-Sector Workforce for Generation Alpha
Alex Smith, Oracle
Meeting Space B11
Leadership, Culture & Organizational Transformation
Leading Change When the Margin is Gone: What Today’s Leaders Must Master to Drive Results in a Resource Constrained Environment.
Fred Gatty
Meeting Space B15C
5:00 PM
Dinner on your own
Day 3: Wednesday, September 30
7:30–8:30 AM
Breakfast
7:30 AM–12:30 PM
Registration: Vendor exhibits open
8:30–8:45 AM
Welcome — DHRM Director Janet Lawson - Grand Ballroom B21AB
8:45–10:00 AM
Closing Keynote — Fireside Chat with Johnny C. Taylor, President and CEO of SHRM - Grand Ballroom B21AB
Concurrent Sessions
10:15–11:30 AM
Repeat
Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations
ADA Accommodation Bootcamp
Ponnette Smith, Justin Shreve,DHRM
Meeting Space
B15A
Repeat
Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations
Collective Bargaining 2.0
Chris Grab and MG Kopjanski, DHRM
Meeting Space B10
Employers and VRS: Partners in Benefits Administration
Andy Feagans, VRS
Meeting Space
B15B
Repeat
The Brief Is Better Together: Aligning Recruiters and Hiring Managers from Day One
Kimberly Alexander, DHRM and Roselyn Brown, DMV
Meeting Space
B15C
Beyond the EAP: From Positive Test to Positive Outcome, A Practical Guide for HR Leaders
Dr. James Thompson, Master Center
Meeting Space B11
11:30–11:45 AM
Pick Up Boxed Lunches and Proceed to Roundtables
Roundtables
11:45 AM–1:00 PM
Policy Roundtable
DHRM Policy Team
Meeting Space
B15A
Benefits Administration/Workers’ Compensation Roundtable
DHRM Health Benefits and Workers’ Compensation Staff
Meeting Space B11
Talent Acquisition Roundtable
Kimberly Alexander, DHRM
Meeting Space
B15B
Compensation Roundtable
Sara Waterman, DHRM
Meeting Space
B15C
HRD Roundtable
Janet Lawson, DHRM
Meeting Space B10