2021 NEHRA’s Annual Functional Programming Bundle
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Register
- Non-member - $799
- Member - $599
- SEF Member - Free!
- Interested in attending all four of NEHRA’s Annual Functional Programming (Talent Summit, Legal Summit, Learning & Development Exchange, DE&I Symposium)? Register here for a discounted rate of just $599 for members and $799 for non-members and gain access to all four events in 2021!
Virtual Talent Summit: February 11 & 18, 2021
Virtual Legal Summit: May 6, 2021
Learning & Development Exchange: August 18, 2021
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium: December 9, 2021
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Includes Credits
Designed for professionals who handle some or all aspects of Talent Management in their organizations, NEHRA's Talent Summit will be held virtually on February 11 & 18. Participants can look forward to gaining insight from thought leaders and experts and walk away with ideas and tips to use back at the office. Click here for the schedule at a glance, and here for a list of speakers.
Designed for professionals who handle some or all aspects of Talent Management in their organizations, NEHRA's Talent Summit will be held virtually on February 11 & 18. Participants can look forward to gaining insight from thought leaders and experts and walk away with ideas and tips to use back at the office. Click here for the schedule at a glance, and here for a list of speakers.

Click here for full session descriptions and here for speaker bios!
DAY ONE - THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2021
9:00 - 10:00am: Opening Panel - The Future of Talent Management
Moderator - Aaron Green, Co-Founder & CEO, PSG
Panelists - Melissa Brown, Director, Center for Workplace Development/Instructor - Talent Management, Harvard University
Niles da Silva, VP, Talent Management & Development Manager - Americas, Wellington Management
Michelle La Fleur, Senior Director, Talent Development, Shawmut Design & Construction10:00 - 10:15am: Transition Break (offline)
10:15 - 11:15am: Keynote Session - Accelerating Onboarding in Remote Work Organizations: The Virtual First 90 Days
Speaker: Michael Watkins, Co-Founder, Genesis Advisers & Author of the international bestseller, The First 90 Days11:15am - 12:15pm: Lunch Break (offline)
12:15 - 1:30pm: Breakouts (choice of 2)
1 - The Business Immigration Landscape Under a Biden Administration
Speakers: Scott Fitzgerald, Fragomen
George Lester, Partner, Fragomen
Anne Roskum, Associate, Fragomen2 - Facilitating Effective Planning Sessions
Speaker: Kerry Unflat, CHRO, HealthcareSource1:30 - 1:45pm: Transition Break (offline)
1:45 - 3:00pm: General Session - How Inclusive Recruitment Empowers Selection
Speaker: Michelle Michelle Waters Ekanem, Director of Diversity and Civil Rights, Mass Dept. of Environmental Protection
DAY TWO - THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021
9:00 - 10:15am: Opening Session - Addressing Bias in Talent Management: From Siloed to Sustainable
Speaker: Shilpa Pherwani, Ibis Consulting Group10:15 - 10:30am: Transition Break (offline)
10:30 - 11:45am: Breakouts (choice of 2)
1 - The Surprising Benefits (and Dangers) of Performance Ranking Your Employees
Speaker: Dave Weaver, President, CHRG
2 - Insider Lessons on Attracting Top Talent in Uncertain Times
Speakers: Jen Voss, Managing Director, FlexProfessionals
Bob Kinder, CEO, Signal 8811:45am - 12:30pm: Lunch Break (offline)
12:30 - 1:45pm: General Session: How to Navigate Your HR Career While Helping Your Organization Navigate the Unknown
Speakers: Laura Poisson, President, ClearRock
Piper Sheer, Managing Director and Chief People Officer, AEW1:45 - 2:00pm: Transition Break (offline)
2:00 - 3:00pm: Closing Session - Energizing Your Talent – Creating Proactive vs. Reactive Changemakers
Speaker: Jason Alexander, Managing Partner, BANKW Staffing$i++ ?>Jason Alexander
Managing Partner
BANKW Staffing
Jason is Managing Partner of BANKW Staffing, LLC and its portfolio companies Alexander Technology Group, KBW Financial Staffing & Recruiting, The Nagler Group, Sales Search Partners and KNF&T Staffing Resources. BANKW companies were represented in the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 Inc. 5000 lists. His passion for client service and dedication to the local community have resulted in rapid growth and multiple awards for his businesses in recent years. Jason was named by Business NH Magazine as one of the state’s top 25 leaders for the future and was a past recipient of the New Hampshire Business Review’s Business Excellence Award. Prior to co-founding Alexander Technology Group and BANKW Staffing, LLC, Jason held management and director roles for multiple international services, staffing, and software companies.
Jason also serves as a director, advisor, or trustee on the boards of local organizations such as the New Hampshire High Technology Council, NHTI, Granite State College, and Pinkerton Academy. He speaks frequently at college campuses and professional events throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. His specialties include talent acquisition and recruiting, entrepreneurship, networking, public speaking, and career development coaching.
$i++ ?>Melissa Brown
Director, Center for Workplace Development/Instructor - Talent Management
Harvard University
Human Resources professional with over 30 years experience in the learning and organizational development field. Specializing in HR strategy, change management, leadership development, organizational/strategic planning and facilitation.
Strong leadership and managerial skills, with experience leading large teams of professionals.
Experience in both the private and non-profit sectors.
Specialties: Talent management, organizational consulting, facilitation, instructional design, program delivery, project management
$i++ ?>Niles da Silva
VP, Talent Management & Development Manager, Americas
Wellington Management
Experienced Talent Management professional with an extensive history in the financial and consumer services industries. Enterprise-wide, Service, Sales, Operations, and internal and external client organizations.
$i++ ?>Scott Fitzgerald, Esq.
Managing Partner, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Scott is the Managing Partner of the Boston, Massachusetts office of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, and a Managing Director of Fragomen Immigration Services India Pvt., Ltd.
He has practiced exclusively in the field of corporate immigration and nationality law for more than 25 years. Scott provides multinational corporations, including leading e-commerce and technology companies as well as financial and educational institutions, with strategic counseling on all matters of U.S. immigration and nationality law, regulation, policy and compliance.
Scott is a Board Member of the American Immigration Council, the British American Business Council of New England, and the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs.
Scott provides pro bono immigration advocacy to Project Citizenship, a nonprofit agency that helps immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship, and Partners in Health, a Harvard-affiliated world health nonprofit organization.
$i++ ?>Aaron Green (Moderator)
President & Founder
Professional Staffing Group (PSG)
Aaron Green is a recognized authority on staffing, recruiting, and retention. Aaron founded the temporary and direct-hire staffing firm Professional Staffing Group ("PSG") fourteen years ago and has achieved many successes, including steady growth, recognition as one of Boston’s Best Places to Work and awards for customer loyalty from recognized customer service firms. PSG’s customer and employee loyalty program was honored with Staffing Industry Review’s Gold Award for having the best loyalty program in the industry and with a Best in Staffing award from the Inavero Institute, a customer loyalty research organization. PSG was the only local staffing firm in Massachusetts to be named the Best in Staffing by Inverno, an honor achieved by less than one percent of all staffing firms in the country. Each year PSG puts more than 5,000 people to work in the fields of Office Support, Creative, Technical and Finance.
Green currently serves as Vice Chairman of the American Staffing Association (ASA). The American Staffing Association is the national trade organization for the industry and represents 85% of the staffing business in this country. Aaron's involvement in the ASA provides him with immediate access to new developments and best practices in employment. Aaron is also a member of the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA) and co-chair of NEHRA's diversity scholarship committee. Aaron is also the founder of PSG Global Solutions, which provides offshore recruiting solutions to staffing firms and HR departments. Prior to establishing PSG, Aaron founded a successful executive search firm in Boston. Aaron is a lifelong Boston-area resident, having grown up in Sharon and graduated from Tufts University.
$i++ ?>Melissa James
Strategic Partnerships Lead
IBIS Consulting Group
Melissa James is the Strategic Partnerships Lead at IBIS. Over the past 10 years, she has successfully helped early stage companies grow revenue and scale their internal capacity. She is a seasoned HR professional with experience in strategic partnership development, a passion for increasing diversity and inclusion, and a proven strategist for effective diversity recruitment initiatives.
Melissa is also the author of “When Are You Going To Get A Real Career: A Guide to Designing a Career You Would Be Proud Of!”, a roadmap for millennials starting out in their career and experienced executives crafting their next move. Shared stories and experiences provide insightful knowledge and steps for anyone navigating different aspects of their career.
She is also the recipient of the U.S. Presidential Service Award, the UMass Distinguished Young Alumni Award, and the 2015 Pursuer Award from the African Youth Excellence organization for her relentless commitment to the community. Born and raised in Boston, Melissa graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a bachelors in journalism and legal studies. In 2019, Melissa was presented with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Pine Manor College.
$i++ ?>Bob Kinder
CEO
Signal88
A retired military officer with over 24 years of service in both the U.S. Air Force and Army special operations communities, he has led some of our Nation’s most elite counter-terrorism forces during combat operations in Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Bob is the owner and CEO of Signal 88 of New England, providing a full-suite of world-class and industry-leading security services for residential, commercial, retail and institutional customers. An accomplished communicator, Bob’s articles have been published in newspapers and journals nationwide and he is a regular analyst on television and radio stations across the country, providing expert commentary on America’s national security issues. He holds a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Masters-in-Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
$i++ ?>Michelle La Fleur, SPHR
Sr. Director, Talent Development
Shawmut Design and Construction
Committed HR professional, partnering with senior business leaders and employees to align people strategy with business goals; fosters a “culture of care” and creates positive employee engagement through open communication, coaching and consulting. Thrives in rapid-change, high growth environment. Specialties include: Employee Relations, Coaching, Change Management, On-boarding, Training & Development, Compensation and Benefits Implementation.
$i++ ?>George Lester
Partner
Fragomen
George has 25 years’ experience practicing in the field of U.S. immigration and nationality law. He advises diverse U.S. and multinational companies seeking to hire foreign professionals, scientists, business persons and artists and represents them in all procedures to obtain temporary or permanent immigration status before relevant U.S. government agencies.
In Fragomen‘s Boston office, George manages a team of associate attorneys, paralegals and client service professionals working with clients in a wide variety of industries including technology, manufacturing, retail, finance, consulting services, academia and non-profit, of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies.
In addition to providing immigration representation and account management services to corporate clients, George has extensive experience advising companies on immigration-related compliance, including representing clients in government investigations, and in assisting clients in Congressional advocacy for H-1B and H-2B visa programs.
$i++ ?>Shilpa Pherwani
Principal, IBIS Consulting Group
Shilpa Pherwani, the principal of IBIS and a leading expert in diversity and inclusion, has been guiding global organizations for over 12 years on leveraging diversity as a business advantage. An organizational psychologist by training, she partners with organizations to effect sustainable organizational change by conducting cultural assessments, developing comprehensive strategic diversity action plans, and designing compelling and interactive classroom-based and online training.
Shilpa collaborates with key stakeholders to strategically plan, implement, and measure diversity initiatives. Shilpa has worked with global organizations to guide management and executives on being effective across cultural and geographical boundaries. She delivers outcome driven and systemic consultation to diversity committees, senior members of HR and business leaders. Shilpa’s clients include Aetna, Barclaycard US, Boeing, Campbell Soup, Framingham State University, Grainger, Genzyme, Microsoft, Nestle, Progress Software, Sun Life Financial, State Street Bank, Texas Health Resources, Thrivent Financial of Lutherans, Tredegar Corporation, and Williams Sonoma.
Shilpa Pherwani graduated from Kanpur University (India). She received her Master’s from Springfield College in Industrial/Organizational Psychology where her focus was on Organizational Development.
$i++ ?>Laura Poisson
President & Owner
Clearrock
As President and owner of ClearRock, Laura guides the strategic direction, evolution and growth of ClearRock’s three practice areas. She values the unique strengths of each member of her team and cultivates an environment of inclusivity, collaboration and transparency. Laura continues to strengthen ClearRock’s unparalleled reputation by remaining focused on delivery excellence, implementing infrastructure and expanding capabilities that allow ClearRock to grow, while remaining high-touch and relationship-focused. Laura has an unwavering belief that the cornerstone of success in business and in life is human connection.
With over 20 years of experience in talent management and talent acquisition, Laura is a trusted advisor to leaders across many industries as they navigate sensitive and complex business challenges. She is a sounding board and thoughtful listener who understands the needs of her clients, thereby employing an integrated approach that respects both the individual and the organization. Whether the goal is to improve hiring outcomes, manage staff reductions, build leadership capabilities or handle employee separations with care, Laura is a true partner in creating positive outcomes and optimizing talent.
$i++ ?>Anne Roskom
Associate
Fragomen
Anne is an Associate at Fragomen’s Boston office, where she counsels clients on a variety of employment-based visa categories.
Anne has experience representing foreign nationals and employers in a range of immigrant and nonimmigrant matters, including H, L, O, TN, J, K and E filings and all stages of the PERM process. She applies her legal research and writing skills to develop and implement strategies to solve complex immigration issues for clients.
Anne also has experience drafting legal briefs and assisting clients with other complex processes, such as responses to Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, PERM audits and Motions for Reconsideration.
Anne has provided pro bono legal services through Catholic Charities.
She speaks English and Spanish.
$i++ ?>Piper Sheer
Managing Director and Chief People Officer
AEW
Piper Sheer directs the activities of AEW's Human Resources Group. She has more than 27 years of broad-based human resources experience. Prior to joining AEW in April 2018, Ms. Sheer served as the Managing Director for the Global Human Resources Group at State Street Bank. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in Human Resources at IDG. Ms. Sheer is a graduate of University of Vermont (B.A.).
$i++ ?>Melissa Tobler
Health Strategies- National Practice Leader
Hays Companies
Melissa’s position at Hays Companies draws on her career as a registered nurse, during which time she has actively been involved in developing and overseeing case management, utilization review, quality assurance/improvement, and disease management strategies for insurance plans, vendors, and employers. Melissa is a patient advocate who has created win-win solutions for groups and employees, balancing the needs of the individual with the fiscal responsibilities of the group. In her role at Hays Companies, Melissa partners with employers to understand the impact of health on their productivity, absenteeism, health plan costs, and ultimately profitability. She works with clients in strategically designing and implementing health related programs to support individual health and well-being as well as organizational growth and development.
$i++ ?>Jen Voss
Managing Director
FlexProfessionals, LLC
Jennifer Voss is the Managing Director of FlexProfessionals, a niche recruiting and staffing service, specializing in part-time and full-time-flex professionals. She oversees all Boston operations, including business development, sales, account management, and recruiting. During her nearly 4 years in this role, Jennifer lead the Boston team in year-over-year 3-digit growth, a key contributor to the company's winning a spot on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list for the 4th year in a row.
Prior to FlexProfessionals, Jennifer was General Manager, New Markets at reacHIRE, spearheading growth into new markets. There, she initiated sales to several large Fortune 500 corporations. Prior to this, Jennifer filled a key role at Veritude, a Fidelity-owned staffing firm, focused on making sure the company was aware of, reacted to and anticipated the ongoing changes in the temporary staffing business.
Overall, Jennifer has more than fifteen years experience in the staffing and consulting industries, specializing in business growth, entrepreneurial marketing, and sales. Jennifer graduated from Williams College with a BA in Economics and received her MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and two children. An active member of the community, Jennifer has held leadership positions in her children’s school PTAs, Minuteman National Park and several Harvard Business School alumni organizations.
$i++ ?>Michelle Waters-Ekanem
Director of Diversity & Civil Rights
Mass Department of Environmental Protection
Michelle Waters-Ekanem is the Director of Diversity and Civil Rights for the Department of Environmental Protection [MassDEP] in Boston, MA. MassDEP is the state agency responsible for safeguarding the environment through research, policy, compliance, enforcement, and public participation. Ms. Waters-Ekanem is responsible for Governor Charles Baker’s equal opportunity mandate, Executive Order 529.
Michelle’s experience includes working with protected group members based on disability, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, and religion. Through this experience, she utilizes an inclusive process that has assisted in increasing hiring opportunities for diverse applicants and challenging to fill positions.
Michelle’s expertise includes strategic planning, coaching, organizational assessments, facilitation, cultural competency, mediation, and investigations. She also manages MassDEP’s Internship Program to equally accommodate internships for women and men of different backgrounds, and to assist with succession planning.
Ms. Waters-Ekanem is the recipient of many awards of distinction, including the Massachusetts Equity Award, the Dow Landrum Award for legal services to underrepresented groups, the National Lawyers Guild Award, and the Diversity Coalition Award. In her diversity work, she commonly says: “You have to do more than offer a seat at the table. Making sure that everyone is included at the table is the true art of cultural dining.”$i++ ?>Michael Watkins
Co-Founder
Genesis Advisers
Michael has spent the past two decades working with leaders, both corporate and public, as they transition to new roles, negotiate the future of their organizations, and craft their legacy as leaders. A recognized expert in his field, he ranked among Thinkers50’s top fifty management influencers globally in 2019. He is the author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, the globally acknowledged handbook for leadership and career transitions, which recently earned the accolade of Amazon’s Top 100 Leadership Books. He is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change Management at the IMD Business School in Switzerland and previously served on the faculty at INSEAD and Harvard University, where he earned his PhD in Decision Sciences.
$i++ ?>David Weaver
Founder, Compensation and HR Group
David is President of the Compensation & HR Group and is responsible for all consulting functions within the organization. He is the Author of the bestselling HR book Pay Matters: The Art and Science of Employee Compensation.
Prior to joining the Compensation & HR Group, David spent 20 years managing a human resources membership and consulting organization. He has also held positions with industry leaders Liberty Mutual, Honeywell and Hewlett-Packard as a corporate human resources professional. During this period, he gained essential hands-on experience in compensation program development, marketing and internal communications.
A graduate of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, David has also made his mark in academia, having served as adjunct faculty member for both Northeastern University and Newbury College where he taught courses in Compensation Management and Human Resource Management. He also worked as an instructor for the certification courses at the Compensation Analyst Academy, WorldatWork and the Society for Human Resource Management.$i++ ?>Kerry Unflat
Chief People Officer
Zipari
Kerry Unflat is the Chief People Officer at Zipari, a Consumer Experience Platform built specifically for health insurance. Previously, Kerry served as Chief Human Resources Officer at HealthcareSource, where she transformed their human capital function and developed people infrastructure to support business operations and prepare the organization for future growth. She also led the human resources operations for a major media organization with more than 1,000 employees and has overseen HR, administrative, and finance functions for the Harvard University Police Department.
In her two decades of HR experience, Kerry has developed and improved talent acquisition and retention processes, crafted new employee orientation programs, implemented HR solutions for leadership to improve operations, and developed compensation strategies and organizational philosophies, among other achievements -
Includes Credits
In our current ever-shifting environment, it is especially crucial for HR professionals to stay ahead of legal and legislative changes and updates. This summit equips attendees with the tools needed to prepare for upcoming local and federal modifications and give them a better overall picture of today’s employment law landscape. The day includes a combination of general sessions, breakouts and networking.
In our current ever-shifting environment, it is especially crucial for HR professionals to stay ahead of legal and legislative changes and updates. This summit equips attendees with the tools needed to prepare for upcoming local and federal modifications and give them a better overall picture of today’s employment law landscape.
Click here for full session descriptions, and here for speaker bios!
THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
9:00 - 10:30am: Opening Panel: Where Risk Meets Culture
Moderator: Nancy Persson, Principal, Leadership Growth Solutions
Panelists: Dan Klein, Partner, Labor & Employment, Seyfarth Shaw
Jane Moyer, SVP & CHRO, Commonwealth Financial Network
Doreen Nichols, Vice President of Talent, Culture and Organizational Development, Eversource
Bob Selle, Chief HR Officer, Ocean State Job Lot
10:30 - 10:45am: Transition Break (offline)
10:45am - 12:00pm: Breakouts (choice of 2)
1 - Business Immigration Update: New Direction Under a New Administration
Speakers - Scott Fitzgerald, Managing Partner, Fragomen
Michael Moore, Associate, Fragomen
Anne Roskom, Associate, Fragomen2 - Managing the Interplay Between PFML, FMLA, Earned Sick leave, PTO, Workers Comp
Speaker: Martha Zackin, Partner, Bello Welsh, LLP
12:00 - 1:00pm: Lunch Break (offline)
1:00 - 2:15pm: Breakouts (choice of 2)
1 - Uncertainty UI Update: Successfully Navigating Unemployment Insurance for Your Organization
Speakers: Tim Phelan, Esq., General Counsel & Vice-President of Client Services, UTCA, Inc.
Meghan Avery, SVP, UTCA, Inc.2 - When to Use an Outside Investigator
Speakers: Deb Cohen, Founding Partner & Attorney, Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC
Andrea Kraemer, Founding Partner & Attorney, Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC
2:15 - 2:30pm: Transition Break (offline)
2:30 - 3:30pm: Closing Keynote - Keeping Employee Mental Health a Priority While Staying Compliant
Speaker: Charla Stevens, Director, Litigation Department, McLane Middleton$i++ ?>Meghan Avery
SVP
UTCA, Inc.
As Senior Vice President, Meghan oversees client services and all aspects of the claims department, and management education. Meghan earned her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University and brings over a decade of professional experience to UTCA. She conducts education seminars for clients, industry associations and various employer groups across the country. Lauded for her insightful, humorous presentations, she has been instrumental in helping HR leaders effectively understand and control their unemployment costs.
$i++ ?>Deb Cohen
Founding Partner & Attorney
Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC
Deb Cohen is a founding partner of Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC in Massachusetts, where she focuses her practice on conducting workplace investigations. She also provides workplace training for managers and employees, develops employee handbooks and policies, and advises and counsels employers on labor and employment law matters. Deb has experience representing and advising public and private entities in various industries, including the banking, finance, technology, manufacturing, utility, health and related services, retail, restaurant, and hotel industries. With over twenty-five years of labor and employment law experience, Deb strives to help companies find better solutions to their most sensitive workplace issues, before they lead to employee turnover and costly litigation.
Prior to establishing Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC, Deb worked as an attorney at a labor and employment law firm in Boston and then as the sole proprietor of her own employment law firm. She regularly advises clients on a wide variety of personnel-related matters and compliance issues, including sexual harassment and discrimination complaints, matters surrounding hiring, performance, discipline, terminations and layoffs, wage and hour issues, and leave of absence and accommodation matters. She conducts workplace investigations involving complaints of discrimination, harassment and other alleged misconduct. She also regularly trains human resources professionals regarding how to conduct their own internal workplace investigations and develop effective investigative reports.
Deb is approved by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) to conduct workplace investigations and to conduct training to prevent discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. She has also completed Association of Workplace Investigators seminars on conducting workplace investigations in the public and private sectors. Deb currently serves as a member of the Personnel Board for the Town of Wayland, Massachusetts.$i++ ?>Scott Fitzgerald, Esq.
Managing Partner, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Scott is the Managing Partner of the Boston, Massachusetts office of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, and a Managing Director of Fragomen Immigration Services India Pvt., Ltd.
He has practiced exclusively in the field of corporate immigration and nationality law for more than 25 years. Scott provides multinational corporations, including leading e-commerce and technology companies as well as financial and educational institutions, with strategic counseling on all matters of U.S. immigration and nationality law, regulation, policy and compliance.
Scott is a Board Member of the American Immigration Council, the British American Business Council of New England, and the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs.
Scott provides pro bono immigration advocacy to Project Citizenship, a nonprofit agency that helps immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship, and Partners in Health, a Harvard-affiliated world health nonprofit organization.
$i++ ?>Daniel B. Klein, Esq.
Partner
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Daniel Klein is a partner in the Labor and Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw's Boston office. Mr. Klein's practice includes the representation of management in employment and non-competition litigation matters before state and federal courts, at trial and appellate levels, as well as federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities.
Mr. Klein also counsels national, regional and local employers on a wide variety of employment matters, including disability accommodation, family and medical leave, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance, commissions disputes, performance assessment and discipline, terminations, reductions-in-force, training, background checks, whistleblower claims, defamation, handbook and policy review, and trade-secrets protection strategies.As a member of the firm's Complex Discrimination Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Klein has defended employers in a variety of complex discrimination cases, including multi-plaintiff discrimination lawsuits, EEOC pattern and practice cases, and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Mr. Klein also has defended employers against the full spectrum of cases involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, defamation, and wage and hour violations, as well as representing employers in non-competition and contract disputes.Mr. Klein regularly assists clients in drafting employment contracts, severance agreements, non-competition, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, personnel policies and company handbooks. He has represented employers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, staffing, professional services, transportation, and technology.Mr. Klein lectures frequently on a variety of employment law topics for human resource specialists and in-house counsel, including regular presentations on behalf of the Northeast Human Resources Association, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.
Mr. Klein served as a legal intern at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. From 2005 through the present, Boston Magazine and Law and Politics have named Mr. Klein one of Massachusetts' and New England's "Super Lawyer Rising Stars." Mr. Klein received his J.D., from Boston College Law School, and his B.A. from Colgate University.Daniel B. Klein
Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Phone: (617) 946-4840
Email: dklein@seyfarth.com
$i++ ?>Andrea Kraemer
Founding Partner & Attorney
Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC
Andrea is a founding partner of Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC and an experienced employment law attorney. Andrea focuses her practice on conducting workplace investigations and workplace training, developing employment policies and handbooks, and providing employment law counseling and advice.
Prior to establishing Cohen Kraemer Law, LLC, Andrea was a partner in the employment law and commercial law practice groups in the Boston office of a large national law firm where she counseled employers and Human Resources professionals regarding employment matters, including reasonable accommodation requests, reports of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, workplace investigations, and wage and hour issues; drafted employment policies and handbooks; conducted harassment and discrimination prevention training; and represented employers before administrative agencies and in state and federal court. Andrea also managed the defense of all Massachusetts cases for a major East Coast Health Club chain and supervised, mentored, and trained associates and paralegals through all phases of litigation.
Andrea draws on her extensive employment litigation and counseling experience to help her clients create a culture that reflects their organization’s core values and unique culture and avoid situations that may give rise to employment law claims.
Andrea doesn't just help you check a box when it comes to compliance. She helps you demonstrate your organization's core values by putting your values into your policies and your policies into action through impartial and thorough workplace investigations, dynamic and interactive workplace training, and reliable and effective employment law counseling and advice.
Andrea is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Women's Bar Association, and the Association of Workplace Investigators. She has been trained to conduct workplace investigations in the private and public sectors and to deliver training to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Andrea has completed Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) certified courses, including Train-the-Trainer: Preventing Workplace Discrimination & Harassment; and Conducting Internal Discrimination Complaint Investigations. She is on the MCAD referral list for employers seeking a discrimination prevention trainer or internal investigator.
Andrea is also a member of the American Diabetes Association's Advocacy Attorney Network and has been trained as a parent advocate through the Federation for Children with Special Needs. As a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, Andrea is passionate about using her professional skills to improve the lives of individuals and families living with diabetes. Andrea provides advice and counseling to parents of children with Type 1 diabetes, schools, and employers on drafting diabetes care plans, conducting training for school staff, and exploring accommodations in schools and the workplace.
Andrea earned her law degree from New England Law Boston, where she graduated cum laude. During law school, Andrea participated in an Honors Judicial Clerkship for the Honorable John T. Lu and published an article in the New England Journal of Criminal & Civil Confinement.
Prior to law school, Andrea earned her undergraduate degree in sociology and a certificate in human relations & work from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. During college, Andrea was a member of the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Team, earned an NCAA Division II All-Star Designation, was an Athletic Honor Roll, Bronze Finalist (top 11-15% of class), and received the Coach’s Award for leadership, commitment, and excellence on and off the field.
Super Lawyers Magazine has recognized Andrea as a "Rising Star" (2017).
$i++ ?>Michael Moore
Associate
Fragomen
Michael is an Associate at Fragomen’s Boston office, where he practices U.S. business immigration law. He assists corporate clients with employment-based immigration matters, particularly nonimmigrant visas and the permanent residency process.
During law school, Michael served as a Law Clerk at Fragomen’s Boston office, where he assisted the legal team in responding to Requests for Evidence and supporting the nonimmigrant and immigrant visa needs of individual and corporate clients.
Michael has represented detained clients pro bono at bond hearings before the Boston Immigration Court as part of the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project’s “Home for the Holidays” campaign. He also volunteers at the annual Citizenship Day event in Boston.
$i++ ?>Jane Moyer
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Commonwealth Financial Network
Jane Moyer is the SVP & CHRO at Commonwealth Financial Network in Waltham where she is responsible for all aspects of the employee experience. Prior to heading HR at Commonwealth, she was the CHRO and Vice President, Human Resources Management at Northeastern University in Boston.
Jane was Vice President, Global HR Shared Services for ICON PLC, a worldwide provider of clinical research to the pharmaceutical and medical products industry based in Dublin, Ireland. There she managed all HR Shared Services and HRIT through regional service centers in the US, Europe and India and provided OD and business partner support to senior management. Prior to Ireland she lived in Copenhagen and was Global Head of HR for Operations at Maersk Line, the largest shipping company in the world, where she supported global business partnering and led a significant culture change resulting in a turnaround of the company to profitability. Jane has also held senior leadership roles at Starbucks including global organizational design, and Head of HR for Starbucks Canada, based in Toronto. At Kendall-Jackson Wines, Jane was the VP HR for Shared Services and led the comp and benefits, HRIT and staffing functions.
In addition to her corporate HR roles, Jane was a lecturer in Penn State’s World Campus for the School of Labor Studies and Employer Relations for ten years, and was the 2017 recipient of Penn State’s prestigious Kelly-Willits Award for excellence in online instruction. Jane is the current co-chair of the School of Labor Studies and Employer Relations’ Alumni program board that works to support the School and its students.
Jane has degrees from Penn State (including studies at the University of Cologne, Germany) and Cornell and has presented and lectured nationally on issues of compensation, equity and stock, AI and HR, organizational agility and justice in the workplace. She has been a featured executive in numerous publications including The Advocate and Fast Company. Jane was a Fellow at the Sierra Institute, an HR research and advocacy group, and currently serves as a Board member on the Northeast HR Association. She previously served on TIAA’s Advisory Council. She is a member of the International Guild of Sommeliers and has served on numerous boards for local charities and media arts organizations.$i++ ?>Doreen Nichols
Head of Talent and HR Business Partnering
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
As Head of Talent and HR Business Partnering, Doreen has primary responsibility of leading the Human Resources Business Partner function for the US and Canada. She partners with a diverse and talented employee population across Amylyx to develop and implement forward-thinking talent practices, plan and direct employee engagement strategies, sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, and execute initiatives that support Amylyx’s vision, mission, values, and business objectives.
Doreen made one last career change, going back to the Biopharma industry, and joined Amylyx in November of 2021. She brings more than 25 years of global human resources experience in both big brand corporations and early-stage start-ups. Prior to joining the Amylyx family, she led teams in outstanding companies and institutions such as Eversource Energy, Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, Staples Inc., LensCrafters, and Tulane University. She is recognized as a thought leader in global diversity and inclusion initiatives, operations, acquisitions, divestitures, talent strategy, and performance management. Doreen holds a BS in Human Resources Management from DeVry University, Certificate in Human Resources from Bentley, and both the SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications.In her spare time, Doreen is a make-up artist, and competitive tennis player on the USTA and Central Massachusetts Indoor Tennis Association teams. She enjoys traveling, recreational cooking and spending time with her family.
$i++ ?>Nancy Persson (Moderator)
Principal, Leadership Growth Solutions
Nancy Persson is an Executive Coach, Leadership Development Consultant, and Principal of Leadership Growth Solutions, LLC a management consultancy providing executive coaching, leadership development and strategic team solutions. She has significant experience in developing and driving talent and leadership strategies in a variety of business environments, including multi-channel operations, global businesses, and small entrepreneurial ones. Nancy’s 30+ years in business, and her 11+ years as an executive coach have forged a talented leader known for work ethic, versatility, passion, and compassion.
Nancy is an expert facilitator, and sought-after speaker in New England, widely recognized for her authenticity, energy, and creativity. She’s a member of the NEHRA Board of Directors, and a key contributor to the NEHRA Executive HR Women’s Program.
$i++ ?>Tim Phelan, Esq.
General Counsel & Vice-President of Client Services
UTCA, Inc.
Timothy Phelan, J.D. manages the Client Services area of UTCA and is lead faculty speaker and trainer in his role with UTCA. Tim has been a featured trainer for numerous employer groups including the nationally recognized training companies, Council on Education in Management and Lorman Education Services. Tim also provides in-house legal guidance to staff and field associates and is widely recognized as a foremost leading expert in unemployment law with over 25 years experience in the UI field and employment law.
$i++ ?>Anne Roskom
Associate
Fragomen
Anne is an Associate at Fragomen’s Boston office, where she counsels clients on a variety of employment-based visa categories.
Anne has experience representing foreign nationals and employers in a range of immigrant and nonimmigrant matters, including H, L, O, TN, J, K and E filings and all stages of the PERM process. She applies her legal research and writing skills to develop and implement strategies to solve complex immigration issues for clients.
Anne also has experience drafting legal briefs and assisting clients with other complex processes, such as responses to Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, PERM audits and Motions for Reconsideration.
Anne has provided pro bono legal services through Catholic Charities.
She speaks English and Spanish.
$i++ ?>Bob Selle
Chief People Officer
Ocean State Job Lot
Recognized as an HR ICon, Futurist, and Culture Transformation Influencer. Bob is fortunate to head people operations for the northeast's premier close-out retailer Ocean State Job Lot. His team is leading a transformation that has named them a Forbes Best Midsize Employer three of the past four years as well as DEI recognition and multi state safety and associate wellbeing awards.
He feels blessed to be considered a thought leader on topics such as working human, culture, transformational leadership, and organizational transformation in the new world of work. He makes time to share insights through writing and speaking on the importance of focusing on value alignment and creating a purpose driven workforce. As a believer in collaboration and giving back, he is a published writer, presenter, and collaborator for conferences, networks and organizations. He is also inspired to pay it forward by consulting and advising several startups. His volunteer work includes the Rhode Island Free Clinic and mentoring at the Non violence Institute. Simply put, we need to lead with LOVE. You can follow his work on bobsellethehrguy.com.$i++ ?>Charla Bizios Stevens, Esq.
Principal
Charla B. Stevens practiced law in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for more than 37 years before retiring from McLane Middleton where she chaired the employment law practice group and also represented schools and health care practices. Stevens is the principal of Charla Stevens Consulting LLC where she continues to offer services to businesses which include workplace training, independent investigations, strategic human resources consulting, and mediation and conflict resolution.
During her years of practice she was recognized as a top lawyer in employment law by Chambers and Partners, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers, among others. She has been the recipient of numerous awards to include the Granite State HR Hero Award, the Jack B. Middleton Pro Bono Services Award, the Business and Industry Association's Above and Beyond Award, and the NH Business Review Business Excellence Award.
Charla is currently the chair of the Granite United Way Board of Directors, a Trustee of Solution Health, a Commissioner of the New Hampshire Lawyers' Assistance Program, and serves on the American Bar Association Section of Litigation's Task Force on Mental Health and Wellness.$i++ ?>Martha Zackin, Esq.
Partner, Bello Welsh, LLP
Martha has 30 years of experience advising and representing clients on a broad range of employment law issues and in adversarial proceedings. In her role as an advisor to employers, boards of directors, and executives, she regularly provides practical advice and counsel on a wide range of employment-related issues, including employee relations and policy matters; employee classification and wage and hour laws; violations of noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure agreements; employee training; employment and separation agreements; affirmative action; mergers and acquisitions; and internal investigations. Martha has represented clients before administrative and governmental agencies, courts, arbitrators, and mediators.
Before joining Bello / Welsh, Martha was Of Counsel to Mintz Levin, a large Boston law firm, where she was a member of the Employment, Labor and Benefits department. From 1994 through 2007, Martha was corporate counsel for Keane, Inc., a billion-dollar multinational corporation with, at its peak, approximately 12,000 employees. Beyond her responsibilities as the sole employment lawyer for Keane, (now NTT DATA, Inc.) Martha assisted the company with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, corporate governance, M&A due diligence, SEC matters, and risk assessment. Prior to joining Keane in 1994, Martha was with another major Boston law firm.
Martha was the Editor of and a frequent contributor to Mintz Levin’s Employment, Labor & Benefits blog, Employment Matters. She is frequently asked to provide expert commentary on various employment issues, and has appeared on The Emily Rooney Show and been quoted in MSNBC.com, Boston Business Journal, Business Insurance, and Workforce Management, among other publications.
Martha is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., and before the Federal District Court in Massachusetts, the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the Central District of Illinois. She received her B.A. from Emory University, her M.A. in Psychology from Boston College, and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.













