The Workforce Metrics Implementation Retreat 

This unique retreat will bring equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action (AA), and diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access (DEIBA+) professionals, subject matter experts (SMEs), and corporate voices (CVs) together for candid conversations related to the paths traveled “in pursuit of equal employment opportunity in the workforce.” At the same time, we will probe and question the seemingly endless resistance and rollback on several fronts related to AA and DEIAB+ initiatives in general.

We will dissect successes associated with AA and DEIBA+, the intersectionality of the terms used, as well as the baggage associated with both initiatives. Through conversations led by “Corporate Voices,” implementation strategies that go beyond the metrics to ensure a culture built on EEO in the workplace will be contemplated, shared, and assessed for future relevance.

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2023

10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Registration

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Pre-Conference - Welcoming Remarks Conference Moderators - Teresa Turner, President/Lead Consultant Synchronized Resources, Inc., Kevin McCloskey, Consultant, GoodGames 

Game On!  Any way you want to use it, gamification adds a fresh approach to ideation, solutions discovery, and employee engagement.

Teresa specializes in equal employment opportunity/affirmative action and diversity and inclusion program administration. Throughout her career, she has assisted many well-known organizations in developing and implementing EEO/AA/DEIBA+ programs designed to align these key compliance/HR functions with the core values of the organization.

Kevin will demonstrate how gamification technology will be used throughout the retreat to enhance the collective and individual learning experience while having fun doing so!  A consultant specializing in utilizing game tools to bolster DEIBA+ strategy, Kevin’s prior experience working directly with employers on developing programs to actively attract, hire and retain talent with disabilities, makes him a natural to lead not only this discussion, but it also prepares him to serve as a co-moderator throughout the retreat as well!

2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.: Break

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Pre-Conference Session - Understanding workforce metrics associated with today's affirmative action programs. Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.; Candee Chambers, Executive Director, DirectEmployers Association & CEO, Recruit Rooster

• What metrics are associated with today’s DEIBA+ programs?
  
  
• Given continued debate surrounding both AA and DEIBA+ initiatives, what does "in pursuit of EEO” look like in the future?

Candee is an extremely talented HR Executive who is not only an expert in the field of EEO and AA but a “mover and a shaker” when it comes to providing professional connections, resources, and case studies in success that assists federal contractors and related organizations with their DEIBA+ implementation and communication strategies.

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Break

3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion - What gets measured gets done.
Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.; Candee Chambers, DirectEmployers Association; Jeannie Stone, Trijicon; Bill Weier, Mazak Corporation; Joe Strechay, Strechay Consulting; John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C.; Moderator: Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames

• What are you measuring today?
  
  
• What would you measure in our "make believe" tomorrow?

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2023

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast/Opening Remarks Moderators: Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc., and Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames 

The stage is set for maximizing your investment in this retreat by incorporating many learning strategies, including the use of “gamification” for getting consistent feedback in real time in a fun, engaging and useful way. This feedback loop will allow presenters, SME’s and participants, to level set along the way, in a fun, interactive way, while building on retreat concepts each day.

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: A history of White Sulphur Springs — a story of community, resilience, and rebirth. Mayor, Bruce Bowling and City Manager, Lloyd Haynes, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: This is how we do it…Loretta Young, Executive Director, Race Matters, Inc. 

Race Matters, Inc. answers the calling to dismantle discrimination at its core throughout West Virginia, in all the facets of life and the human experience in which it continues to be a lived reality.  

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.: - Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Show me the money!! Aida Dismondy, Founder/Attorney, Dismondy, P.C.

• Understanding your government contracts and the obligations for maintaining affirmative action programs that may be embedded in them are key to long-term success as a government contractor. What you don’t know can hurt your future revenue streams.

Aida specializes in safeguarding the interests of small and midsize businesses in the aerospace and defense industry while they operate in international and U.S. government markets. Her niche areas of focus are international trade and government contracts, specifically U.S. Export Controls and Defense Contracts.

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Lunch – Keynote Speaker: What you need to know as the Supreme Court revisits the legality of race-based decisions in college admittances. John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C. 

John is an across-the-board nationally recognized employment lawyer representing management nationwide, including during the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) audits and other federal agency investigations. He assists companies in building human resource management systems designed to minimize legal risk associated with their employment practices.

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Break

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Keynote Speaker - It's my life...Joe Strechay, Television and Film Producer and Consultant at Strechay Consulting 

Joe shares his story regarding life lessons around his learning disability, blindness, mental health, and a slew of employment and life lessons built in. He shares his work in the film industry as a producer and consultant who is blind, helps in casting actors who are blind for most of the well-known networks and streaming services. He has worked on many shows, created accessibility for actors with disabilities, and provided input on many scripts in development. He loves sharing his story filled with humor and meaningful life lessons.

3:00 p.m. - 3:45p.m.: Exercises/Game On! Moderators - Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames; Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc. 

3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion/Closing Comments
Loretta Young, Race Matters, Inc.; Joe Strechay, Strechay Consulting; Bill Weier, Mazak Corporation; Candee Chambers, DirectEmployers Association; Jeannie Stone, Trijicon; Jason Greer, Greer Consulting, Inc.; John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C. Moderators - Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.; Kevin McCoskey, GoodGames 

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Evening Reception/Meet and Greet

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2023

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast/Opening Remarks Moderators: Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.; Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames 

8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.: - Keynote Speaker - Diversity and The Brain: What's Your Story? Jason Greer, Founder and President of Greer Consulting, Inc. (GCI)

Jason is widely known for his work in racial reconciliation based upon his experiences as a victim of cross burnings and racial harassment by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. This story and the resulting lessons have been given new perspective in his keynote, Diversity and The Brain: What’s Your Story?, wherein he champions and celebrates diversity as a means of overcoming barriers to success and experiencing the best that an organization and/or community has to offer.

Jason is the "go to" diversity expert and trusted source in the latest race and labor relations news for media across the country. Jason is regular guest on CNBC’s Squawk Box, CBS Evening News With Norah O’Donnell, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News and NBC. He has been cited as a labor relations expert by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, L.A. Times, CBS & NBC.

9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.:  Break/GameOn

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.: Corporate Voice Speaker - Radical Candor: It's not as "Radical" as it sounds - what it is and how to use it for driving candid, meaningful, discussions in the workplace. Jeannie Stone, Vice President, and Chief Administrative Officer, Trijicon Inc.

Jeannie is responsible for the strategic, and functional development of human resources, health, safety, and environment (HS&E), import & export compliance, contract administration (for government contracts), facilities, risk management, and security for the corporation in multiple states and in the U.K. In addition to her functional and strategic areas of responsibility Jeannie is charged with legally protecting, and enhancing the strong Christian values, and culture of the organization.

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Lunch/Group Exercises- Game on!  Moderators: Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.; Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Corporate Voice Speaker - You want a talented Workforce — Invest in It! William (Bill) Weier, Director, Human Resources, Mazak Corporation

Bill is responsible for local HR located In, Schaumburg, IL; Florence, KY; Maquoketa, IA; Suwanee, GA; Elgin, IL; Houston, TX; Windsor Locks, CT; and Canda. Along with his operational accountabilities, he drives talent management initiatives and has been nationally recognized for successful apprenticeship programs and best-in-class outreach initiatives.

1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: Break 

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Subject Matter Expert - You want to Connect with Veterans? Good news: they want to connect with you, too! Rob Arndt, BufferSprings CEO & Founder 

A veteran-owned training & consulting firm that builds customized military veteran recruitment, engagement, and retention programs for smart companies. Rob leverages a vast array of insider connections, cutting-edge HR technology knowledge, and expansive community relationships to build military veteran talent acquisition, engagement, and retention solutions that provide immediate and ongoing results.

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Subject Matter Expert - Are visitors to your Career site "picking up what you are laying down?" How do you know for sure?  Candee Chambers, DirectEmployers Association & CEO, Recruit Rooster

Stated another way, do they see/feel themselves working there? Candee will outline steps you can take to ensure your career site delivers a positive message and experience for everyone that visits it!

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Break

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Closing Panel Discussion/ Comments/Remarks
Jason Greer, Greer Consulting, Inc.; Joe Strechay, Strechay Consulting; Jeannie Stone, Trijicon; Bill Weier, Mazak Corporation; Rob Arndt, BufferSprings; Candee Chambers, DirectEmployers Association and Recruit Rooster; John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C. Moderators – Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames and Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023 

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast/Opening Remarks Moderators – Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc., Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames 

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Keynote Speaker - Why Construction Contractors need to be prepared for future engagement with the OFCCP. John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C. 

President Joe Biden’s trillion-dollar infrastructure initiative has placed construction contractors front and center on OFCCP’s enforcement radar. Failure to adequately prepare for a construction audit, fulfill affirmative action requirements, and understand new compensation trends could prevent your access to that revenue stream. Maximize the opportunity to participate by knowing today’s construction contracting requirements.

9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.: Break

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Corporate Voice Speaker - When OFCCP comes knocking…Setting the stage – Make sure they understand your business.
Dennis Driskill, Principal Owner, D Square Construction, LLC, Tucson, AZ; Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.

Dennis Driskill, principal/owner is a service-disabled veteran with 29 years of federal construction projects to his credit. D Square Construction’s services center on quality and safety, accurate schedule, value engineering, and cost control. D Square Construction places strong emphasis on the substantial value added by being involved in pre-construction services, which, in turn, improves constructability, reduces costs, and integrates the construction process with design.

10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Panel Discussion - When OFCCP comes on-site…Lessons learned during recent OFCCP Construction Compliance reviews. Dennis Driskill, D Square Construction, LLC; John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C.; Candee Chambers, DirectEmployers Association; Moderator: Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.

11:30am - 12:30 p.m - Lunch 

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Corporate Voice Speaker - Lorin Gleeson, nVent, Global Talent Acquisition Director - "Switching on Diversity: Lighting the Path to a More Inclusive Future."

What if all we are left with as a talent generator is hanging out a sign that says, "EEO Employer?" Probably not much! Which is why we are thrilled to give up some stage time to Lorin Gleeson, Global Talent Acquistion Director, as she shares nVent's story in attracting and retaining global talent, and in particular, how EEO and Inclusion is the common thread woven through everything they do!

1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: Break 

1:45 p.m - 2:30 p.m. - Exercises - Game out! Until we meet again!
Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames, Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Closing Panel Discussion - Where do we go from here?Loretta Young, Race Matters, Inc.; Candee Chambers, DirectEmployers Association; John C. Fox, Esq., President & Partner, Fox, Wang, & Morgan P.C.; Joe Strechay, Strechay Consulting; Jeannie Stone, Trijicon; Rob Arndt, BufferSprings; Dennis Driskill, D Square Construction, LLC – Moderators: Kevin McCloskey, GoodGames and Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.

3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Closing Comments/Remarks Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.