LWHRA April 4th Lunch Meeting
Bellevue Hilton

Schedule: 

• 11:15AM Registration Desk Opens

• 11:30AM-12:15PM Lunch

• 12:15PM-1: 15PM 60min Presentation with Q&A 

Career Strategies for a 100 Year Life

We are living in the skills economy where the half life of a skill is less than 3 years and humans are outliving organizations. The 3 stage career model of Learn-Earn-Retire is obsolete. Work is no longer as central to our lives and careers will need to be reimagined for the Gen AI economy. 

Abhijit Bhaduri is an advisor to organizations on talent development and leadership development. As the former GM Global L&D of Microsoft, Abhijit led their onboarding and skilling strategy especially for people managers.

Forbes described him as "the most interesting generalist from India." The San Francisco Examiner described him as the "world’s foremost expert on talent and development" and among the ten most sought-after brand evangelists. He is rated among the top ten experts on learning across the world. He is a LinkedIn Top Voice with more than a million followers on social media. He teaches at the Doctoral Program for Chief Learning Officers at the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to being at Microsoft, he led an advisory practice helping organizations build their leadership, talent and culture strategy.

His latest book is called Career 3.0 – Six Skills You Must Have To Succeed. You can follow him on LinkedIn.com/in/AbhijitBhaduri and on Twitter @AbhijitBhaduri.

Key take aways

1. How to learn what you have never been formally taught.

2. Why your personal brand matters even if you are an employee

3. How to think like a Venture Capitalist to manage your career 

Location:  Pace Staffing
Overlake Workspace
2265 116th Ave NE Suite 110
Bellevue, WA 98004

* Free parking is available in the lot directly in front of the building.

Speakers:  Jennifer Levin,  PhD, LMFT, FT
Presents: The Resilience Blueprint: Strategic Planning for Unexpected Loss and Trauma

• 7:15 AM | Registration Desk Opens

• 7:30 AM | Coffee and Pastries

• 8:15 AM  | Presentation with Q&A

• 9:15 AM | Session Closes

Key Takeaways – HR Professionals Will Learn to: 
Assess how grief and trauma are currently handled in the workplace

• Understand the risks of being unprepared for traumatic events

• Develop proactive strategies to support employees while minimizing business disruption

• Recognize HR’s critical role in building a resilient workplace culture 

Grief and trauma are inevitable in the workplace, yet most organizations lack a clear plan to support employees through unexpected loss. The cost of being unprepared is high—impacting morale, productivity, and even the financial stability of a business. 

The Resilience Blueprint equips HR leaders with a proactive, strategic approach to prepare for traumatic events in the workplace. During this session, Dr. Levin explores how businesses can utilize a five-step model of proactive planning to protect their employees and ensure long-term organizational health. Participants will learn how to implement practical, forward-thinking strategies and how to begin shifting their worksite culture to be more inclusive of the grief and trauma already prevalent. Although as HR professionals it is not possible to prevent traumatic events from occurring, it is possible to arm yourself with tools and resources to meet the needs and well-being of your employees. . 

Jennifer R. Levin, PhD, LMFT, FT

Introduction 

Dr. Jennifer Levin is a leading expert in traumatic grief and unexpected, sudden loss. As the founder of Traumatic Grief Solutions, she helps business leaders navigate crisis, minimize disruptions, and foster a culture of care in the face of unexpected tragedy. Dr. Levin is also the host of the podcast Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death and the author of the upcoming book, The Traumatic Loss Workbook: Powerful Skills for Navigating the Grief Caused by a Sudden or Unexpected Death. 

Biography 

Dr. Jennifer R. Levin specializes in unexpected and sudden death, trauma, and post-traumatic growth. Jennifer is the founder of Traumatic Grief Solutions, a company that supports leaders in business through crisis and preparation for unexpected death and trauma. Jennifer is a licensed mental health therapist in California who received her doctorate from UCLA and her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She is also a recognized Fellow in Thanatology; the study of death, dying and bereavement.

Jennifer has over 30 years of experience speaking, providing trainings, consultation, and professional grief education to businesses, mental health professionals, clergy, and first responders working in the field of sudden or unexpected death. She is the host of the podcast “Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death.” Her upcoming book, The Traumatic Loss Workbook: Powerful Skills for Navigating the Grief Caused by a Sudden or Unexpected Death, will be released by New Harbinger Publications in July of 2025.  

Dr. Levin is skilled in conversing with employees and business leaders about topics that are difficult to discuss so they can stabilize and thrive in the chaos that often occurs with an unforeseen loss and trauma. Her expertise in traumatic grief helps businesses minimize disruptions and leaders create a culture of caring.

Jennifer’s work regarding sudden death provides a constant reminder of the fragility and unpredictability of life. During the pandemic, she decided to pursue her dream to live somewhere peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful, and Jennifer and her therapy dog, Winnie, relocated from southern California to Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, Washington. For her own restoration and enjoyment, she plays Mahjong with friends, practices Pilates, hikes, and spends time outside and exploring the Pacific Northwest. 

Location:  Pace Staffing
Overlake Workspace
2265 116th Ave NE Suite 110
Bellevue, WA 98004

* Free parking is available in the lot directly in front of the building.

Speakers:  Jennifer Levin,  PhD, LMFT, FT
Presents: From Crisis to Connection: Helping HR Leaders Navigate Trauma in the Workplace

• 11:15 AM | Registration Desk Opens

• 11:30 AM | Lunch

• 12:15 PM | Presentation with Q&A

• 1:15 PM | Session Closes

An unexpected death or traumatic event can deeply disrupt your team, affecting morale, productivity, and overall workplace culture. As an HR leader, your response can influence make whether employees feel supported or struggle in the aftermath.  

From Crisis to Connection is an interactive workshop designed to help HR professionals navigate trauma and loss in the workplace with confidence and compassion. Led by Dr. Jennifer R. Levin, MFT, FT, a grief and trauma expert, this session provides a structured framework to help organizations support employees through loss—while maintaining stability and connection. Through case studies and guided discussions, participants will gain practical strategies to use during a crisis, communicate with empathy, and create a workplace culture where employees feel safe to process grief. Participants will also learn how to turn workplace trauma into an opportunity to build stronger, more connected teams. 

Jennifer R. Levin, PhD, LMFT, FT

Introduction 

Dr. Jennifer Levin is a leading expert in traumatic grief and unexpected, sudden loss. As the founder of Traumatic Grief Solutions, she helps business leaders navigate crisis, minimize disruptions, and foster a culture of care in the face of unexpected tragedy. Dr. Levin is also the host of the podcast Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death and the author of the upcoming book, The Traumatic Loss Workbook: Powerful Skills for Navigating the Grief Caused by a Sudden or Unexpected Death. 

Biography 

Dr. Jennifer R. Levin specializes in unexpected and sudden death, trauma, and post-traumatic growth. Jennifer is the founder of Traumatic Grief Solutions, a company that supports leaders in business through crisis and preparation for unexpected death and trauma. Jennifer is a licensed mental health therapist in California who received her doctorate from UCLA and her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She is also a recognized Fellow in Thanatology; the study of death, dying and bereavement.

Jennifer has over 30 years of experience speaking, providing trainings, consultation, and professional grief education to businesses, mental health professionals, clergy, and first responders working in the field of sudden or unexpected death. She is the host of the podcast “Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death.” Her upcoming book, The Traumatic Loss Workbook: Powerful Skills for Navigating the Grief Caused by a Sudden or Unexpected Death, will be released by New Harbinger Publications in July of 2025.  

Dr. Levin is skilled in conversing with employees and business leaders about topics that are difficult to discuss so they can stabilize and thrive in the chaos that often occurs with an unforeseen loss and trauma. Her expertise in traumatic grief helps businesses minimize disruptions and leaders create a culture of caring.

Jennifer’s work regarding sudden death provides a constant reminder of the fragility and unpredictability of life. During the pandemic, she decided to pursue her dream to live somewhere peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful, and Jennifer and her therapy dog, Winnie, relocated from southern California to Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, Washington. For her own restoration and enjoyment, she plays Mahjong with friends, practices Pilates, hikes, and spends time outside and exploring the Pacific Northwest. 

Date: February 25th, 2025
Time: 7:15AM - 9:30AM
Speaker: Loala McCann

Do you have a clear understanding of what is most important to you? Are you actively working to make sure that the way you spend your time aligns to these values?

Most of us can’t clearly articulate our values, and see a lot of room for improvement in how we spend our time. Clearly defined values can lead to better focus, better decision making and ultimately greater achievement.

In this interactive session, you will have the opportunity to:

• Define what values are and why they are important

• Identify your top five values and discuss them in small groups

• Articulate what each value means to you personally

• Explore ways to spend more time on the things that matter most to you

Meet Speaker Loala McCann
Executive Coach

Loala McCann is an Executive Coach who specializes in working with leaders in transition: promotions, role changes, career pivots, retirement and more. She’s passionate about removing the invisible barriers

that hold leaders and teams back from realizing their peak performance and full potential. Prior to becoming a full-time executive coach and facilitator, Loala navigated an extensive and rewarding career in Human Resources. She spent the majority of her corporate career in the healthcare industry, including healthcare insurance and medical technologies. Most recently, she led the HR teams for a global medical device company based in the Seattle area.

Loala has extensive experience in partnering with leaders to identify, design and implement talent management strategies. She is skilled in driving quality people programs that build culture and support the company’s mission, values and goals. Her HR background includes executive coaching, leadership development, succession planning, employee relations, strategic talent acquisition, and employee engagement. She holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University and her coaching credentials include the ICF PCC, iPEC CPC, ELI MP, and Gallup CSC. Loala is a Seattle native. She’s an avid reader and loves personal development, memoir, scifi, and fantasy genres. Her greatest creative outlet is writing. She’s passionate about health and fitness and enjoys hiking, spinning, running and yoga. She is a Seattle native and is based in the greater Seattle area.

Introduction to the 2025 Global Organizational Development Competency Framework

Feb 20, 2025 02:00 PM - 3:00PM
Speakers: Omar Morales, Head of the Organization Development Center of Excellence at Microsoft and Paul O’Beirne, Principal and Founder of ORCA HR Solutions

In today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving business landscape, organizations are facing unprecedented challenges—particularly in the context of workforce transformation and the rise of AI. To meet these challenges, HR leaders must evolve beyond traditional roles and become strategic architects of change. According to industry thought leaders like Josh Bersin and insights from Gartner, HR professionals who develop advanced Organization Development (OD) capabilities are uniquely positioned to lead organizational transformation, fostering agility, innovation, and long-term growth. As businesses increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making and adopt new technologies, OD skills—such as strategic thinking, systems thinking, and change leadership—are no longer optional; they are essential.

The 2025 Global OD Competency Framework Learning Series, launching on March 13th, offers a practical, future-focused approach to equipping HR and business leaders with the capabilities needed to navigate these shifts. Attendees of the training will gain critical skills that will enable them to consult with leaders, influence organizational design, and shape transformation strategies—all while ensuring their organizations remain competitive in the face of rapid change. This informational discussion, led by Omar Morales, Senior Director of Organization Development at Microsoft and a leader of the Professional Development Pillar for the Organizational Development Network (ODN), and Paul O’Beirne, former Global HR Leader at Microsoft, will provide an overview of how the ODN Learning Series is designed to help participants unlock their potential to drive real business impact.

Omar Morales
Head of the Organization Development Center of Excellence at Microsoft

Omar Morales brings over 15 years of global experience across HR Business Partnership, Talent Management, and Organization Development in Fortune 50 companies spanning CPG, Media & Entertainment, and Technology. Currently, he serves as Head of the Organization Development Center of Excellence at Microsoft, where he leads the People Pillar for AI Transformation, partnering closely with Continuous Improvement and Digital teams to drive a systemic, employee-centered, and process-driven approach to AI transformation.

Omar’s passion for leadership resilience and organizational adaptability is central to his doctoral research at Case Western Reserve University, where he explores strategies for thriving in the future of work. His work focuses on equipping leaders to succeed in times of transformation.

Throughout his career, Omar has architected and implemented workforce strategies, talent solutions, and organizational designs that accelerate innovation and business growth. In his current role, he oversees Operating Model, Team Effectiveness, and the OD Skilling Program, which democratizes critical capabilities—such as strategic clarity, team effectiveness, and organization design—across HR leaders.

Omar holds a Master’s in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and executive certifications in Executive Coaching from Georgetown and Business Management from Columbia. Grounded in a growth mindset, Omar’s leadership reflects his deep belief in empowering people and organizations to transform with purpose.

Paul O’Beirne
Principal and Founder of ORCA HR Solutions

Paul O’Beirne is the Principal and Founder of ORCA HR Solutions, whose mission is “transforming the consciousness and capabilities of leaders” to propel organizations to new levels of success”. ORCA works with diverse organizations bringing integrated leadership and management programs that combine data and insights, leadership coaching, and capabilities development supported by world-class facilitators and coaches.

With over 25 years as a former senior HR leader at Microsoft, he has built organizations in Ireland, India, China, the UK, and the US, with expertise in building organizational blueprints, and governance models and aligning HR with global business strategies.

He has deep experience in leadership and team development, having designed and delivered programs on Global Matrix Management, Performance Management, and Change Leadership. Notably, he collaborated with the London Business School to create a global leadership program for high-potential leaders. Paul’s and ORCA’s recent projects include rolling out a leadership program for 300 leaders across 15 countries on five continents.

Paul has a Masters Organizational Leadership, is an ICF- Professional certified coach, an ATD Master Facilitator, and one of the first certified coaches in Judith Glasser’s “Conversational Intelligence.”. Paul is on the Board of Neural Education which is focused on bringing brain-based learning to teachers and students.

Date: February 6th, 2025

Time: 7:15AM - 9:30AM

Location: In-Person
Bellevue Hilton
300 112th Avenue SE
Bellevue WA 98004

Organizational Psychologists help the workplace work better. We do this by helping leaders apply the science of psychology to the workplace, resulting in engaged employees and high-performing organizations. Join us as we discuss the science and practice that allows HR professionals and leaders to discern: How will I know if someone I just met will perform at a job they have never done before? This interview and interactive discussion with Clinical and Organizational Psychologist, Dr. Jevon Powell, will help provide a science-based lens on employee selection.

Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to their talent assessment approach:

• General Best Practices (and common mistakes)

• Tools and Methods

• Evaluating Success

• Talent Assessment in the Future

Meet Speaker Mariko Harman

Mariko believes in empowering individuals and organizations to grow and achieve their goals. She thrives on fostering high-impact teams, nurturing collaborative company culture, and helping organizations put their values into action. Mariko appreciates the profound impact the science of psychology can have on helping people flourish in the workplace. 

Mariko has a background in Strategic Planning and Insights. She holds an Executive Leadership Certificate and an MBA from Seattle University. She has worked at Merrill Lynch and served honorably in the United States Marine Corps. She has consulted with companies including Microsoft, Target, Starbucks, Pokémon, and Chevron. In addition to her consulting work, she is a doctoral student at Seattle Pacific University studying Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Meet Speaker Dr. Jevon Powell
Trusted Advisor to Senior Management to Various Industries

Jevon is a trusted advisor to senior management in a wide variety of industries, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Clients include Starbucks, Mattel, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Eddie Bauer, and many more. His specialties include executive coaching, employee engagement, change management, and team building. The center-point of Jevon’s work is helping clients see things from new perspectives. He asks provocative questions that lead to new insights and new behaviors.

He began graduate studies at the University of Washington and received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the New School for Social Research in New York City. Jevon began his consulting career in 1997 as a staff consultant with RHR International, a leading provider of management psychology services worldwide. He joined Scontrino-Powell in 2001 and is now the owner of the firm. He is also a proud member of Seattle Rotary Club.

Date:  January 14th, 2025
Time:  11:30AM - 1:30PM
Location:  In-person Meeting at Bellevue Hilton 300 112th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Speaker:  Ty Reed

In "Building Mental Health and Recovery-Friendly Workplaces: Compassionate Leadership and Transformational Support," HR professionals will learn how to create psychologically safe, non-toxic environments that support employees facing mental health and substance use challenges. The session highlights the business and cultural value of offering recovery coaching to help employees struggling with substances or transitioning back from treatment. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for ADA compliance, fostering a culture of compassion, and improving workforce retention and productivity.

Participants will leave energized with these key takeaways.

1. Understand the financial and cultural benefits of creating recovery-friendly and mental health-supportive workplaces.

2. Gain insights into ADA compliance and best practices for supporting employees dealing with mental health struggles or recovering from substance use disorders.

3. Learn how recovery coaching can help retain valuable talent by supporting employees struggling with substance use, improving their performance, and fostering long-term workplace engagement.

Speaker Info: Ty Reed
Author and Certified Recovery Coach

Ty Reed, a certified recovery coach and author, is passionate about helping businesses understand the value of second chance hiring. After overcoming his own struggles with addiction, homelessness, and incarceration, Ty rebuilt his life and now coaches individuals with similar backgrounds on how to regain their careers. Through Recovery Career Services, Ty has assisted dozens of people in recovery and criminal justice reentry, providing career coaching and job readiness training. He also delivers workshops and trainings for service providers and employers on how to better support justice-involved job seekers.

Date: December 5th, 2024
Time: 7:15 am- 9:00 am
Location: In-Person | Bellevue Hilton 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Title: Hello, It’s Me, Your Outdated Hiring Process (Workshop Edition)
Speaker: Zach Adams

SESSION TITLE: Hello, It’s Me, Your Outdated Hiring Process (Workshop Edition) 

Are you feeling the pressure to hire better, do more with fewer resources, and solve attrition problems? The solution, relevel the playing field using psychometrics. With unbiased data in your hands, you can hire more effectively and stop the cycle of attrition.

In this fun and highly interactive session participants will learn practical real-world solutions to improve hiring practices today and how to level up for tomorrow. Participants will leave energized with these key takeaways. 

• Understanding Hiring Challenges: We will explore the complexities involved in the hiring process, including common hiring traps and how to avoid them.

• Cost of Turnover: We will learn how to quantify the actual cost of turnover impacting an organization.

• Peter Principal: We will explore this principal in depth and why it’s important and incomplete.

• Utilizing Psychometrics: Participants will explore the use of psychometric assessments to enhance the objectivity and effectiveness of the hiring process.

• Role Design Reimagination: We will explore strategies for reimagining role design to align with organizational goals and mitigate conflicts in behavioral requirements. 

Prior to our session together, all attendees will need to take a brief survey on basic human motivation (only takes about 6-minutes to complete) to fully participate in our session. Please click on the following link to complete the online survey:

The results of the surveys will be used in our session. After you complete the survey, you will be emailed your individual results to review. A printed copy of your results will be furnished to you at the event.

Zach Adams is the CEO and Chief Problem Solver with GENESIS Consulting Group, a Seattle-based talent optimization & business operational consulting firm. Zach is a certified partner with the Predictive Index and a professional business speaker who is excited about sharing his passion for talent optimization (TO) to bring teams of people closer together and ensure the right people are in the right seats to achieve their best results.

Zach started his career following his love for architecture, rising to Chief Operations Officer for a large national architectural and engineering firm. He was responsible for all day-to-day operations while translating strategic vision into reality. In his COO role he was exposed to the world of psychometrics. Zach understood intuitively that people are the key to unlocking an organization’s potential and with the insights of psychometrics he found his true calling as a talent optimizer. His revelation inspired him to leave the COO role to establish and grow GENESIS Consulting Group—solving business problems with people solutions.

RoundGlass Bellevue
Aspenwood Building
1800 114 Ave #200
Bellevue, WA 98004

Members: $110; Non-Members $140
Includes full lunch and Legal Seminar

Schedule

Joshua Brittingham

Amy Robinson

Amy Robinson, a partner with Miller Nash LLP and the co-chair of the firm’s employment law & labor relations team, represents public and private employers throughout Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. She advises on a broad range of workplace-related issues and provides experienced counsel on compliance challenges and disputes covering the entire employment life cycle from hiring to separation. Before becoming an attorney, Amy was in the trenches as an HR professional, so she knows first-hand how workplaces function and the daily pressures and many responsibilities that fall to HR. Amy is also a past president of Southwest Washington SHRM, past Southwest Region Director on the Washington State Human Resources Council, and has held leadership positions in both legal and HR professional organizations.

Don Dowie

Don Dowie is a Lead Administrative Law Judge with the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings on the unemployment insurance caseload. In five years with the office, Don has adjudicated several thousand cases involving a myriad of issues. With more than 20 years in the legal profession, Don has also worked as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and as an assistant chief litigation counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.   He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his law degree.

Jennifer Berry

Jennifer Berry is an employment lawyer with over 20 years advising in the HR profession. She has been in-house counsel for DWT and Virginia Mason. Jennifer has been a “must see” speaker for LWHRA for many years – always sharing the latest in HR Law and supporting LWHRA and the HR industry.

Darren Feider

Darren Feider is a shareholder with SEBRIS BUSTO JAMES and the head of the firm’s litigation group. His practice involves general employment litigation, wage and hour disputes, trade secret, covenant not to compete and non-solicitation litigation as well as copyright infringement and trademark matters. Mr. Feider’s employment work focuses on wrongful discharge and discrimination claims, the drafting of employment and consulting contracts, non-compete agreements and severance packages for both employees and employers and conducting investigations for private and public employers in response to EEOC and Washington State Human Rights Commission complaints. He also handles general commercial litigation.

2024 In-Person LWHRA Symposium

Location: Bellevue Hilton – 300 112 Ave SE Bellevue, WA 98004

Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024

About the 2024 LWHRA Symposium

The world of work is evolving and HR is providing critical leadership in this evolution. The 2024 LWHRA symposium will grow your HR leadership and practices by providing you with updated tools, insights, and legal guidance. The time for change is now and organizations are looking for your guidance! Now is the time to invest in yourself and help you support organizational adaptability. 

Meeting Date & Time: September 18th, 7:30AM-9:00AM
Virtual or In-Person: In-Person, 929 Building
929 108the Ave NE #1300, Bellevue, WA 98004
(Conference room is located on the first floor, west side of the lobby)

Speaker: Brittany Grenard, 
Presentation: Revisiting the Return-to-Office Mandates: Insights from the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business Report 

Presentation Summary:
Join us for a data-driven session as we delve into the findings of the recent report by the University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business, titled "Return-to-Office Mandates." Our expert presenter, Brittany Grenard, will explore the determinants and consequences of return-to-office (RTO) mandates based on a comprehensive analysis of Standard and Poor's 500 firms. 

The report uncovers critical insights, revealing that RTO mandates are often used by managers to reassert control over employees and to deflect blame for poor firm performance. Contrary to popular belief, the research shows no evidence that managers believe RTO mandates enhance firm values. Instead, the imposition of these mandates leads to a significant decline in employee job satisfaction without yielding any notable improvements in financial performance or firm value. 

The presentation will also touch pm proximity bias, where managers favor employees who are physically present in the office, may play a role in the push for RTO mandates. This bias can lead to unequal treatment and hinder the performance and morale of remote employees. 

Key Takeaways:
This presentation will contribute to the ongoing debate between RTO and remote work, offering valuable, data-driven insights for HR professionals. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of RTO mandates on employee morale and organizational outcomes, equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions about workplace policies in their own firms. 

HR Domain (not required but nice to have): Workforce Strategy

Speaker(s) Bio: Brittany Grenard, SHRM-CP is a University of Washington Graduate with more than 15 years of Human Resources experience in the Engineering and Construction industry in both the US and Canada. She holds her SHRM-CP accredited by the Society of Human Resources Management and is also a Certified Payroll Manager accredited by the National Payroll Institute. Currently, she is the Washington Area Human Resources Manager at HDR Engineering, Inc – an international Engineering and Architecture powerhouse, consistently named by Engineering News-Record as one of the top Engineering and Architecture firms in the world.  Additionally, she is an instructor at the University of Washington, teaching Workforce Planning & Analytics in their Human Resources Management Program.

Meeting Date & Time: August 27, 2024, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Virtual or In-Person: Virtual
Speaker: Jathan Janove
Presentation: Confronting Three Sacred HR Cows: Performance Reviews, “Progressive” Discipline, and Anti-Harassment Training  

Presentation Summary: 
Over the past 40 years, employment law litigation has mushroomed into an ongoing reality.

Unfortunately, in an effort to prevent such litigation, employers and the HR profession have adopted three misguided practices.

In this session, former state bar “Employment Lawyer of the Year” and now executive coach and organization culture consultant Jathan Janove will show how to convert these three pieces of conventional “wisdom” into something much better at claim prevention that actually promotes overall organization health.  

Key Takeaways:

• Create and implement a performance management/feedback system that delivers true organization value.

• Replace conventional “progressive” discipline with a practice that’s both humane and effective.

• Convert traditional anti-harassment policy and practice into a far more organization healthy and effective approach based on civility.  

Speaker(s) Bio: 
Jathan Janove, a former state bar Employment Lawyer of the Year and now Executive Coach and Organization Development consultant, writes SHRM’s “Putting Humanity into HR Compliance” column, and is a Master Coach and Practice Leader with the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching organization, including writing its Ask the Coach column. He’s the author, most recently, of “Hard-Won Wisdom: True Stories From The Management Trenches” (HarperCollins 2017). He’s currently working on his next book, “From Compliance Cop to Culture Coach: Transforming the HR Profession.”  

Date: Aug 21, 2024 at 7:30 am- 9:00 am (PST)

Location: Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Speakers: Alex de Soto, Partner CFO Selections
Quinn Finnigan, Partner ASP

How HR can influence the accounting department?   

Please join two local finance and accounting recruiting experts, Quinn Finnigan of ASP, and Alex de Soto of CFO Selections as they lead this interactive workshop on how HR can influence the accounting department by the work done during recruiting to fill positions.  They will share some data to help you understand the challenges in recruiting for finance and accounting professionals, including providing a quick summary introduction to “what is accounting”.   They will also offer tips and ideas on what you can do to fill these tough to fill positions.  You will learn why there is a shortage of accounting employees, learn about changes over the years in media that has made it harder to attract candidates, and what steps an HR professional should take when working with a hiring manager from the accounting department.  They are both former accountants turned recruiters, so they know what it is like being in an accounting department and in working with HR professionals.  Alex even held an SPHR designation for nine years and worked in the HR department at Premera Blue Cross. 

Specific topics will include: 

Accounting 101 – a five minute primer on what is accounting.

Where are the accountants?

• Provide data on graduation trends covering the last 25 years

• Unemployment rates for accountants

Where and why are people looking for job?

• Lack of central point

• Indeed effect – how a new generation interacts with employers

• The mind of the young accountant

• More are going into consulting/data-oriented jobs

• Flexibility and path forward is critical

What to do: 

• Finding them:  multi-pronged approach 

• Engaging them:  Know how to attract them 

• Retaining them: understanding the rungs in the ladder for growth in accounting/finance

Bio: 

Alex de Soto anchors the CFO Selections search practice and brings over 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, human resources, and executive search to his role as leader of the search team. Since 2008, he has spent most of his time helping CEO’s and CFO’s of Pacific Northwest based companies find that unique match they seek in a CFO or Controller.

He began his career with eight years as a CPA with Coopers & Lybrand in their Seattle and London offices, and served nearly 15 years as a member of or advisor to numerous executive management teams in the Puget Sound area.    He has been a CFO of a small biotech company, held FP&A and HR management positions at Premera Blue Cross, and a member of management of two ultrasound start-up companies.  He also spent a number of years leading the recruiting efforts for Pacific Edge Software. 

He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Compass Health, a large community behavioral health organization serving the five northwest counties of Washington.  Alex’s years as a Board member, former CPA and CFO, HR consultant, and recruiter provides a unique combination of experiences enabling successful CFO and Controller placements. 

Alex has a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from the University of Southern California and held a SPHR designation from 2001 to 2010.  

Alex lives in the Everett/Mukilteo area and with his wife remains busy helping their young adult children launch to a new phase of life.  Alex and his wife are very committed to building strong communities and spent 25 years in the city of Snohomish where his wife was on city council for nearly 12 years and Alex was co-chair of a city strategic planning committee.   Alex enjoys wandering around Whidbey Island throughout the year, reading or watching crime mysteries, and is creating an infinity bottle of scotch. 

Company Website Link: www.cfoselections.com

Bio: 

Quinn serves a dual role in the CFO Selections group of companies: leading the Contingent Recruiting Practice with The ASP Team (ASP) and assisting with Retained Executive Search services for CFO Selections. His 8-year career in recruiting combined with 11 years of experience in finance, audit, and accounting for several nationally recognized companies have given him a unique insight into the needs and requirements expected of finance professionals. He is equally skilled in working with clients and candidates.

A proud alumnus of The University of Portland, he received his undergraduate degree in accounting and began his career at Deloitte in the audit practice for three years prior to taking a “quarter-life crisis” break to live and play in Maui. After a year of fun and soul searching (surfing and sailing) he returned to his accounting roots and for the next seven years grew professionally in corporate accounting and finance working for the Seattle Seahawks and Amazon.

Quinn actively sought out the recruiting industry in 2015 seeking to redefine his definition of career success and has been serving Puget Sound based middle market companies helping them fill Accounting and Finance positions through contingent placements for over eight years. 

A native Washingtonian, Quinn was born and raised in Tacoma and Lakewood. Having lived and traveled all over the world with stints in Portland, OR, Salzburg, Austria and Maui, HI, he returned to his roots in 2008 and now lives with his wife and two children in Issaquah. 

Company Website Link: www.theaspteam.com

Meeting Date & Time: Tuesday, August 13th at 7:45 AM check in, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM panel and Q&A.    

New Location: 929 108the Ave NE #1300, Bellevue, WA 98004 
(Conference room is located on the first floor, west side of the lobby.)

Speakers:
Stacia Price, PHR,
Ushma Mehta, Human Resources Leader
Christiane Bayor, PHR

Stacia Price
Stacia Price brings nearly 20 years of experience in HR, people operations, and transformation, excelling at the intersection of talent and business. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Global People Operations & Transformation at Ogilvy, a global advertising agency. Her previous roles include leading HR functions at Edelman Public Relations and Bastyr University, where she honed her expertise in employee relations, strategic planning, change management, and more. Stacia has a proven track record of building and maintaining people functions and service delivery teams that support the recruitment and retention of top talent.

Stacia holds a PHR certification, a BA in Sociology, and an HR Management Certificate from the University of Washington, and she is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner. Known for her empathetic leadership style and data-driven strategies, she is passionate about creating satisfying employee experiences. 

Ushma Mehta
Ushma has over 24 years of combined Human Resources (HR) and Program Management (PM) experience with startups and established companies in the technology industry. She is a data-driven decision maker who utilizes her business expertise, passion for operational efficiencies and change management principles to provide leadership and support to organizations through growth, mergers, acquisitions, and downsizing.   

Ushma serves as a trusted, collaborative and results-oriented HR leader with breadth as well as depth of experience spanning from running departments, managing business programs, processes and projects, to hands-on day to day HR activities. She has demonstrated success in building strategy, executing operations, and programs supporting organizational development and business strategy. She is a trusted advisor to C-level executives and senior leadership, providing guidance and expertise in all HR functional areas. She is also a trusted confidant serving as a coach and advisor for a wide variety of management and employee relations scenarios.  

Ushma is a lifelong learner with a BS in Foods and Nutrition, a post graduate diploma in Human Resources, an MS in Information Systems Management, an active SHRM-SCP certification, and more recently, a Certification in the CHRO Program from the Wharton School of Business.  

Christiane Bayor
Christiane Bayor is dedicated to linking employee engagement with company success by coaching and advising leaders to develop their teams and create thriving work environments. Recognized for her expertise in change management and multicultural environments, Christiane leads with empathy, implementing strategies that simplify processes and enhance the employee experience.

She has been with Expedia Group since 2019 and currently works as a People Business Partner. As the Seattle chapter lead of Culture First, a global community committed to creating a better world of work, Christiane actively promotes workplace culture initiatives. Prior to joining Expedia Group, she worked as a consultant advising clients on people solutions and participated in an incubator focused on using Design Thinking for HR and culture transformation. Before moving into the people space, she worked as business manager running the rhythm of business for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. Christiane earned her MBA from Roosevelt University in 2017 and PHR certification in 2018.

Presentation Name: Navigating your HR career with purpose and passion. 

Presentation Summary: In this insightful discussion, seasoned HR experts will share their experiences, strategies, and invaluable insights to guide you through the maze of your HR career. Our panelists will explore the importance of purpose-driven decision-making, the significance of passion in driving success, and practical approaches to shaping a fulfilling HR career. Learn essential strategies to prevent and reduce burnout, ensuring a sustainable and rewarding professional path.  

Key Takeaways: 

• Understand the importance of aligning your career choices with your values and overarching purpose. 

• Acquire practical techniques to recognize and combat burnout before it takes a toll on your well-being. 

• Rediscover the joy in your HR role by exploring creative and engaging approaches to your work. 

Date: July 24th, 2024 at 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, 18675 NE 106th Street, Redmond, WA

Join us for the LWHRA Summer Barbecue on Wednesday, July 24th, 2024 from 4-7 p.m. at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Redmond, WA.  Our host, affectionately known as “Little Bit”, is a 501c3 non-profit that – for nearly 50 years – has provided equine-assisted services for people in our communities with disabilities.  During our barbecue, you’ll get the opportunity to indulge in great local fare and our horse-themed mocktails.  You’ll also have an opportunity to tour the facility and classroom, interact with the horses, network with fellow LWHRA Members, and even participate in a sample Equine-Assisted Leadership Development Academy (EALDA) workshop activity with horses (if desired).  Little Bit offers these EALDA corporate/professional development workshops for individuals and teams in the Seattle area.  These EALDA workshops focus on aspects of teambuilding and leadership development including Building Trust, Self Awareness, Diversity through Strengths, Inspiring Leadership, Workforce Engagement & Fulfillment, and more!  EALDA workshops are ideal for front-line teams through executives, and have been proven to help HR professionals become better leaders and more strategic partners to their organizations.  Oh yeah, and they’re more effective (and fun!) than traditional learning too!  LWHRA Members can also earn SHRM PDCs for attending the EALDA portion of the barbecue! 

July In-Person Chapter Meeting

Meeting Date & Time: Wednesday, July 17th (Lunch time)
Time: 11:30 am 1:30 pm
First 45 minutes for Lunch
1 h 15 mins for Presentation
Virtual or In-Person: In-Person, Bellevue Hilton
Speaker Name: Reanette Eltzer, reanette@cltcoachingllc.com
Presentation Name: Resilience and Recovery: Navigating Trauma in HR Careers
Presentation Summary: In the presentation "Resilience and Recovery: Navigating Trauma in HR Careers," we'll delve into HR professionals' unique emotional challenges, such as managing layoffs and workplace conflicts. Key takeaways include strategies for building resilience, the importance of support networks, and practical tools for handling traumatic situations. This presentation aims to equip HR professionals and business leaders with insights and tools to manage trauma effectively, understanding the traumatic situations that do occur for HR professionals and how to recognize them before they surface in other ways that create burnout or isolation. 

Key Takeaways: 

1. Understanding that our profession does cause trauma

2. How to recognize the trauma

3. How to address it appropriately

4. How to create an HR team environment that can talk about the issues 

HR Domain: Mental Health and Employee Wellbeing 

Speaker(s) Bio: Reanette Etzler is a dynamic and seasoned HR consultant, speaker, and AI expert, passionately dedicated to enhancing the landscape of human resources and leadership within the professional community. With a vibrant career spanning over three decades, Reanette has carved a niche by empowering HR practitioners and executive leaders to adopt cutting-edge HR practices, foster a culture of acceptance, and integrate AI technologies to revolutionize their strategies. Her strategic and hands-on approach makes her a sought-after consultant, coach and speaker who not only talks the talk but walks the walk.  Reanette is a certified coach, speaker, and consultant for the John Maxwell Team.

LWHRA 101 

Date: June 26th 2024 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Speaker: Lauren Hill

Are you:
New to LWHRA membership?
Curious about what LWHRA has to offer?
Interested in learning more about our various committees and their volunteer opportunities?

Join us for a quick LWHRA 101 call for an overview of our programs, learn how to get involved with your local HR community, and get any questions answered. 

Meeting Date & Time: Tuesday, June 11th (Lunch time)
11:30 am Registration Opens
11:45 am Lunch Served
12:15 pm Programming Begins
1:15 pm Programming Ends

Virtual or In-Person: In-Person, Bellevue Hilton

Speaker(s) Name and Email Address: Wendy Parslow

Presentation Name: Uplevel your Leadership by Cultivating a Strategic Mindset

Presentation Summary: No matter the HR role you hold in an organization, there’s one element that is key to success: having a strategic mindset. But what is a strategic mindset? How do we know we have it? How can we develop it? In this interactive presentation, our guest speaker, Wendy Parslow, will help us answer these questions and offer practical ways to apply our learnings to uplevel our leadership and grow in our ability to think and act strategically. 

Key Takeaways:

• Understand what a strategic mindset is (and is not), why you need it and how it will help you uplevel your leadership as an HR professional.

• Recognize the strategic thinking capabilities you already have 

• Learn tools to help build a strategic mindset and apply it to improve your ability to lead, influence and deliver business outcomes.

• How to support others in their own ability to think strategically. 

HR Domain (not required but nice to have): HR Strategy

Speaker(s) Bio: Wendy Parslow, SHRM-SCP, is a community-builder and senior people and operations leader who is on a mission to help one million people be better leaders. Wendy spent much of her career leading business and people operations for REI Co-Op Experiences - a division within REI offering a full suite of outdoor experiences across the country. 

In 2022, Wendy set a goal to help one million people be better leaders. Why? Because the world is a better place with better leaders. This goal shows up in all aspects of her life. She founded Snoqualmie Valley Women in Leadership to foster connection, growth and support for women leaders in her local community. She is a champion of leadership authenticity and actively posts content, resources and ideas to spur others to more effective leadership.  She also supports leaders and organizations with speaking, coaching and consulting services for leadership development, team culture transformation and strategic planning. She counts her six and three year old daughters as part of the one million leaders goal and enjoys exploring the northwest with them and her husband by foot, bike, boat, and skis.

Learn more about Wendy at www.wendyparslow.com. 

Date: June 6, 2024

Time: 4:30 pm- 6:00 pm

Location: Kelsey Creek Park | 410 130th Pl SE, Bellevue, WA 98002

Chapter Meeting

Date: May 29 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Virtual meeting
Speaker: Anuneha Mewawalla
Presents: Leveraging Generative AI in HR to Do More with Less

Anuneha Mewawalla is an award-winning communications leader with a trifecta across news media, agency PR and corporate communications. She is the former Head of Corporate Communications for F5, a NASDAQ listed large-cap cloud services, security and applications company. Prior to F5, Anuneha led and implemented communications strategies to advance the business priorities of Fortune 500 companies like Accenture, HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and high-growth companies backed by Google and Goldman Sachs. Her mastery in storytelling comes from roots in journalism. She served as an international TV News Anchor for a 24 hour-news network where she anchored a highly rated prime-time news show.

Anuneha led Accenture’s thought leadership around human + machine collaboration. She masterminded the thought leadership campaign for Accenture’s AI Book, Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI, which has been selected as Financial Times Business Book of the Week and listed amongst Forbes' Best Business Book. She also crafted messaging on collaborative intelligence, AI as society’s secret weapon of growth and responsible AI for high-visibility global events such as the World Economic Forum, Davos, to a global audience of policy-makers, influencers and decision-makers.

As a strategic communications consultant, Anuneha now provides companies with expertise to demystify and utilize next generation technologies such as Generative AI. For companies keen to learn how to harness the power of AI, Anuneha leads webinars and learning sessions packed with knowledge and practical insights to dive into one of the most transformative technologies of our times.

Anuneha@lexatoconsulting.com

Schedule:
7:30am to 8:00 – Coffee & Chat
8:00am to 9:00AM—LWHRA Special Interest Group Presentation & Interactive Conversation

·About LWHRA Special Interest Group Workshops:

These are limited attendance, engaging and dynamic audience driven conversations.  The subject matter specialist only presents for 10-20 minutes, then the rest of the conversation uses attendees’ specific questions regarding your own company needs as the driving force around the conversation.  Our goal is to provide direct and immediate value to attendees, addressing your unique needs and challenges, with your input shaping the direction of the conversation. You should be able to apply these conversations to your organization’s needs.  Additionally having social time before and after the formal conversations allows you to create and deepen professional connections. 

This Months Topic of Conversation:

Please join Chris Englin with Big Wave Recruiting as she leads this interactive Chat Workshop on all things HR recruiting. She will discuss working with a recruiting firm for your company and also as a candidate. With 30 years of experience in recruiting for Human Resources roles with many top companies, Chris brings practical knowledge based on years of learning. She can discuss the importance of candidate and company experience from both sides of the process. Chris will answer questions on how you can best position yourself for the next step in your career plus what to include on your resume and LinkedIn profile. There will be time to ask about how to close those hard to fill positions, job search strategy, resources, interviewing, and negotiating the offer. I’m sure there will also be some strange but true recruiting stories at this AMA Coffee Chat Workshop!

About the Speaker:

Chris Englin is the founder of Big Wave Recruiting. She is a trusted Talent Advisor to smart NW companies and nonprofit organizations planning to scale their People & Culture organization. Executives trust Chris to recruit and match the right talent and the right time to align with the needs of their business. Chris has helped many HR professionals get hired. And then they hire her to build out their teams. That’s one powerful, Big-Wave ripple effect!

The Business Case for Practical Strategies to Improve Employee Resilience

Meeting Date & Time: Tuesday, May 14th 11:30AM-1:30PM

Virtual or In-Person: In-Person

Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

First 45 minutes for Lunch

1 Hour and 15 Minutes for Presentation

Location: Hilton Bellevue; 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Pricing:

LWHRA Members | $60

LWHRA Non-Members | $90

Note: May Chapter Meeting will include lunch.

Presentation Summary

HR professionals, are you feeling like your workforce is running on fumes? Burnout, stress, and low engagement are plaguing workplaces, and traditional 'wellness initiatives' often take a siloed approach, addressing mental or physical health alone, and ignoring cultural causes. This interactive presentation goes beyond the band-aid, providing a holistic approach to improve worker resilience, and therefore productivity and engagement.

Presentation Learning Objectives

1. Crystal-clear understanding of how poor employee resilience impacts your business.

2. Tangible tools and strategies to cultivate a thriving, resilient workforce.

3. Confidence to advocate for and implement impactful HR initiatives that promote employee wellbeing and company profitability.

Speaker Bio:  

Cassie Christopher empowers leaders to create greater wellbeing during the workday through supportive management strategies and worker self-care practices. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Workplace Wellbeing Consultant, and humor-wielding energetic changemaker, Cassie injects action into building resilient, adaptable teams that thrive amidst change.  

Formally trained in designing and delivering workplace wellness programs, Cassie noticed that all the money spent on these programs was wasted unless employees experienced a supportive workplace culture and manager. Now, in addition to helping individuals improve their mental and physical health, Cassie trains leaders on the supportive policies and skills they can implement to empower their workers, leading to a more engaged workforce that experiences less burnout and a more profitable company. 

A University of Washington business grad with an MSc in Nutrition, Cassie blends evidence-based practices with real-world experience in high-growth companies. A recognized professional speaker, Cassie is a 2024 NSA Northwest Storytelling Champion. 

When not on stages or in boardrooms, she trains future well-being champions in the art of behavior change coaching at Bastyr University and works with women struggling with binge and emotional eating in her private nutrition practice. You can find Cassie eating good food or on beach walks with her family in Edmonds, WA. (Just don't mention sardines – she draws the line!)

When Mental Health Impacts Work - Virtual

SUMMARY 

Inevitably, managers will encounter an employee situation that intersects with a mental health concern. These situations can be uncomfortable at a minimum and frightening at their most severe. Knowing how to respond can make a profound and positive difference in the outcome. 

This learning opportunity provides managers with the knowledge to identify a possible mental health issue. Being aware is the first step. Next, it is essential to respond in a way that is compassionate and effective. Participants will learn strategies to intervene when performance problems and common mental health disorders intersect. 

Finally, we explore the emotional toll for managers and learn how to build capacity to maintain personal health and wellness while being a support for the team. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

Participants will: 

• Learn how to spot signs and symptoms of common mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. 

• Know effective ways to respond when performance declines and there is a suspected mental health concern. 

• Become aware of support resources and how to access them. 

• Gain insight into the emotional toll managing these situations takes. Learn strategies to maintain personal health and well-being while being a support for others. 

PRESENTER BIO 

Nancy has a long history in leadership, management, and performance development – not only as a manager but also as an employee assistance consultant supporting diverse organizations in healthcare, construction, government, tech, Native American tribes and more. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Senior Professional in Human Resources and has a great passion for helping people to draw out their innate talents and strengths. 

CREDENTIALS 

• Master’s in Education (Counseling Psychology) from University of Puget Sound 

• LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Served in private practice and as an employee assistance professional. 

• SPHR – Senior Professional in Human Resources 

• Gallup Certified Strengths Coach 

• Certified – Myers Briggs Type Indicator 

• Certified, Program in Applied Neuroscience, The Neuroscience School 

• Long history in management and leadership. (Army Officer, owned an insurance agency, consultant to hundreds of companies in the state and region ranging from small shops to Microsoft.) 

• Adjunct researcher for National Institute of Health funded study on workplace stress due to repeated downsizing. Research captured in the book, Turbulence. Boeing and the State of the American Worker. 

• Publication: Strategies for Developing Leadership Competency for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Construction Executive Magazine, January 1, 2020 

• Publication: The Responses to Male and Female Managers to Stress and Downsizing, North American Journal of Psychology, July 1, 2005. Paper presented at Western Psychological Association Convention, April 2004 

Hosted By: Genesis Consulting Group

No Fee to Participate

Schedule: April 18th, 2024 at Hilton Bellevue
7:30AM to 8:00AM – Coffee & Chat
8:00AM to 9:00AM – Presentation & Interactive Conversation 

RSVP REQUIRED

Topic of Conversation—“How do you hire and promote the right people” 

Every business stives to hire “best fit” talent, assemble and manage employees in a way that pushes everyone to the top of their game.  When the design of the organization, its leadership, its culture, and its team dynamics are approached intentionally and strategically—supported by people data—companies have a much better chance of achieving their desired business objectives.  We will explore best practices around hiring and promoting the right people in your organization. What tactics do you use in the interview and selection process to ensure the best hires? What methods have you seen be unsuccessful?  How do we ensure we are promoting the “RIGHT” people and what support do we provide them in their transition?  

We are providing all attendees the opportunity to experience “talent optimization” firsthand by taking a 6-minute “The Predictive Index” link included. We will send this result to all takers (regardless of attendance) and use the results of those attending to help elevate our conversation. Here is the link:  https://assessment.predictiveindex.com/bo/MFh/2024_LWHRA#page0  All LWHRA can complete this.  We will email your results even if you are not able to attend the meeting.   

About our speaker--Zach Adams 

Zach Adams is the CEO and Chief Problem Solver with GENESIS Consulting Group, a Seattle-based talent optimization & business operational consulting firm. Zach is a professional business speaker who is excited about sharing his passion for talent optimization (TO) to bring teams of people closer together and ensure the right people are in the right seats to achieve their best results.  

Zach started his career following his love for architecture, rising to Chief Operations Officer for a large national architectural and engineering firm. He was responsible for all day-to-day operations while translating strategic vision into reality. Zach also played a major role in hiring talent. In his COO role he was exposed to the world of psychometrics. Zach understood intuitively that people are the key to unlocking an organization’s potential and with the insights of psychometrics he found his true calling as a talent optimizer.  His revelation inspired him to leave the COO role to establish and grow GENESIS Consulting Group—solving business problems with people solutions. 

About the company:  Genesis Consulting Group 

GENESIS Consulting Group is a Seattle based consulting firm specializing in talent optimization and business operational consulting. We solve business problems with people solutions. We believe that people are the key to unlocking a business’s true potential, that’s why we focus on getting the right people in the right seats. We remove the subjectivity and mystery of human behavior by using workforce analytics combined with over 60 years of science, research and best in class tools. We help organizations hire smarter and retain longer.

About LWHRA Special Interest Group (SIG) Workshops 

These are limited attendance, engaging and dynamic audience driven conversations.  The subject matter specialist only presents for 5-15 minutes, then the rest of the conversation uses attendees’ specific questions regarding your own company needs as the driving forces around the conversation.  Our goal is to provide direct and immediate value to attendees, addressing your unique needs and challenges, with your input shaping the direction of the conversation. You should be able to apply these conversations to your organization’s needs.  Additionally having social time before and after the formal conversations allows you to create and deepen professional connections.  Connect with info@LWHRA.com if you have interest in presenting at a LWHRA SIG event.

Meeting Date & Time: April 16th / Breakfast hour 
7:30am- 8:30 am Arrival & Plated Breakfast
8:30 am- 9:30 am Panel Discussion

Virtual or In-Person: In-Person at Bellevue Hilton 

Important Logistical Notes (if needed): N/A 

Pricing:
LWHRA Member | $55
LWHRA Non-Member | $85
Speaker Name: Walt Winter, Keith Mayfield, Paul Grutzner

Presentation Name: Employee Financial Wellbeing Panel

Presentation Summary and Takeaways:
Our April chapter meeting will feature a panel discussion on Employee Financial Wellbeing, comprising three local experts in the field. The session aims to address the critical importance of financial wellness programs in the workplace and provide insights into how organizations can support their employees' financial health. Each expert will share their perspectives, strategies, and best practices for promoting financial wellbeing among employees, ultimately contributing to a more engaged, productive, and satisfied workforce.

Key Takeaways Include:

• Highlight the significance of financial wellness for overall employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention.

• Discuss practical strategies for implementing financial wellbeing programs (including key benefits and 401k) tailored to the needs of employees.

• Share examples of successful communication strategies used by organizations to raise awareness and drive employee engagement of financial programs.

• Discuss how investing in employee financial wellbeing aligns with organizational goals and values.

• Provide insights into the unique financial challenges faced by employees in the local community and Northwest business landscape.

HR Domain: Employee Wellbeing/HR Strategy

Walt Winter
Senior Vice President & Partner, Employee Benefits

Woodruff Sawyer is the Nation’s largest employee-owned insurance brokerage with offices across the US, although mostly on the Westcoast. Woodruff Sawyer has been brokering insurance for the most sophisticated companies since 1918. With more than a decade of insurance industry experience, Walt's expertise and passion for solving clients’ most challenging benefits problems have helped him build strong client relationships. He works with startups to fortune 500 companies within construction, technology, transportation, and manufacturing industries.

Walt's goal is to simplify the often-difficult process of navigating employee benefits through data analysis and goal-oriented strategies. His unique perspective of working for two clients—companies and employees—helps bring sustainable benefit programs that employees value and meet the needs of the company. Building on his expertise in alternative funding, compliance, employee communication, data analytics, and wellness, he helps clients create employee benefits plans that meet their goals.

In 2018, Walt was named among the Rising Stars in Advising by Employee Benefit Adviser. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Washington.

Outside of work Walt enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters and occasionally enjoying any type of outdoor recreation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/walterwinter/

https://woodruffsawyer.com/

Keith Mayfield

Keith Mayfield is President and “Chief 401(k)-403(b) Advocate” at Planit Financial LLC. Keith believes in the importance of guiding sponsors and employees to more successful retirement plan and retirement income results. He brings over 25 years of 401k industry specific experience working with more than 1000 qualified (401k/403b/457/DB/CB/etc.) plans to his firm along with a genuine passion for providing exceptional qualified plan results for the plan sponsors and plan participants he serves.

Keith’s career experience spans most areas of qualified plan service including roles at a Third-Party Administration firm, a sponsor support desk, a dedicated employee education specialist, and a sponsor relationship manager. Keith spent nearly two decades wholesaling and directly coaching financial advisors on best practices of investment management, employee education, plan design, and fiduciary consulting while helping those advisors better service their own 401k plans. He has been recognized 6 times for Presidents Club Level contributions to his teams.

Throughout his career, Keith’s passion and expertise in this area has continued to grow. He is credentialed as a Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA), and a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA). He has earned the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing and Nonqualified Plan Advisor certificates. He is credentialed to offer the advanced qualified plan Fiduciary Essentials Training Course. He currently has or has held investment industry Series 6, Series 7, SIE, Series 63, and Series 66 investment securities licenses, and Washington State Life and Disability Insurance Licenses.

Keith is a current board member of the Western Pension and Benefits Council Seattle Chapter. He is also involved with several qualified plan specific organizations including the American Retirement Association (ARA), National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), Fi360, the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX), the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), and.

A lifetime resident of Washington State, Keith and Katy enjoy their time as empty nesters. They enjoy playing cribbage, cooking, working around the house, and spending time outdoors either water skiing, boat surfing, snow skiing, cycling, or hiking.

www.planitfinancial.com

Paul Grutzner

Paul Grutzner joined the Gallagher retirement plan consulting team in April of 2018 upon the acquisition of his firm, ClearPoint Financial. Previously, he led ClearPoint Financial as a Managing Partner and also served as a Retirement Plan Consultant. Active in retirement consulting since 1988, Paul was instrumental in developing CIBC Oppenheimer’s cash balance resources and also spent nine successful years at RBC Dain Rauscher.

At Gallagher Paul serves as the Western Region Market Leader, Sr. Area Vice President, Investment Advisory Representative and Retirement Plan Consulting in the Western Region. His team supports all types of retirement plans across all market segments from start-up to large complex plans, with a focus on being strategic partners in both retirement consulting and financial wellbeing strategies.

Paul works with all types of employers to support them in optimizing their performance of their 401(k), 403(b), Defined Benefit Pensions, Profit Sharing, Executive Retirement, financial wellbeing and education solutions. Paul is passionate about understanding the retirement needs of an organization’s overall business, helps employers design and establish significant retirement plans in support of their business objectives and goals. As the Western Region Market Leader, Paul also focuses on bringing vendor relationships and management, investment management, full fiduciary mitigation consulting, as well as developing participant communication and education goals. As an Investment Advisor Representative, he is able to service as an ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) plan fiduciary. 

In 2007, PlanAdviser magazine recognized Paul Grutzner and ClearPoint Financial as One of the Most Successful Retirement Plan Advisers of the Year.* 

PlanAdvisor Magazine recognized ClearPoint Financial as a Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisor in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and was consecutively nominated for their “Team of the Year” honor.** 

Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is active in a number of civic and charitable organizations in the Seattle area. He resides with his wife and four children in Issaquah, WA. 

www.ajg.com

LWHRA Coffee Chat

LWHRA Coffee Chat focusing on negotiating with your vendors regarding your employee benefits package March 21st, 8AM to 9AM 

Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004  There is no cost, the coffee and pastry is complimentary 

RSVP to Andrew Rose, atrose@psfinc.com 

Join Andrew Rose and Jim Gregson of Parker, Smith & Feek to talk about their field of expertise, asking the hard questions of your insurance vendors.  Do you know how they are paid?  Do you know what kind of margins they make?  Do you wonder what is negotiable and what isn’t?  If you’ve ever been curious but don’t know what or how or who to ask, join the group at the Bellevue Hilton on 112th St., at 8:00AM on Thursday, March 21st.   

“The Power of People,” the 2024 WA State Annual Conference, will be held from 8 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Thursday, March 14, 2024 in person at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA, This day-long event includes pre-conference webinars and exciting speakers for people managers all levels and industry. Don't miss this opportunity for professional development and networking.

Earn up to 10.5 PDCs!