The 2011 Wisconsin SHRM Legislative Conferences will provide HR professionals with an ideal forum to learn, discuss, network and engage with Representatives, Senators and our Legal Partner on important legislative topics.  We expect the recent trend on employment issues to continue and over the coming months we expect to see an enormous amount of activity on workplace legislative issues.  The Legislative Conferences offer HR Professionals the opportunity to hear about current and pending legislation and to ask questions and give feedback to local legislators.  You won't want to miss it !! 

 

 

 

 

SESSION: Current and Pending Legislation
Attendees at this program will learn about pending state labor and employment legislation, with a special emphasis on Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance and Workers Compensation initiatives under consideration by the Wisconsin Unemployment and Workers Compensation Advisory Councils.

 

BIOS:

James A. Buchen, Vice President, Government Relations/Membership
James Buchen is an attorney and serves as chief lobbyist for the Association. In this position he oversees the Association’s government affairs programs directing a team of lawyers, lobbyists, and policy experts. Together they work with legislators and agency officials to advance the Association’s pro-business, pro-jobs policy agenda. He also manages the Association’s political action and communications programs. Buchen graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a bachelor of science degree in history and a degree in law.

Prior to coming to WMC, Buchen worked for the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Real Estate Securities and Syndication Institute in Chicago. He currently serves as a management representative to the state Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council and the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council, as Treasurer for the Wisconsin Coalition for Civil Justice, and as a member of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Health Care Quality and the Wisconsin Quality Initiative Steering Committee. 

Daniel J. LaRocque, Director, Bureau of Legal Affairs, Unemployment Insurance Division, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Dan LaRocque is Chair of the Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council and Director of Legal Affairs for the Unemployment Insurance Division.  He supervises a staff of 70 responsible for unemployment appeals and litigation regarding unemployment taxes and benefits; and policy research for unemployment insurance.  In labor and employment matters Dan: represented individuals and employers in private practice of law for 10 years; served as Deputy General Counsel with CUNA Mutual Group; mediated cases in employment discrimination, wage and hour laws and other litigation; and trains managers in state government on conflict resolution in the workplace.  Dan is the President of the Dane County Bar Association (2010 – 2011).

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SESSION: Demystifying Health Care Reform and Legal Issues in Worksite Wellness
Just the mere mention of HIPAA regulations and Health Care Reform strikes fear into most business leaders and health promotion practitioners—but this need not be the case.  Nationally recognized expert, Abigail Nadler from M3, will help participants better understand the  legal issues as it relates to the development and implementation of worksite wellness program as well as leave with a better understanding of how Health Care Reform is effecting the development of such programs. 

 

BIO:
Ms. Abigail Nadler is the Health Promotion Advisor at M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc. (M3).  Her primary responsibilities are to:  Advise clients on the development of health promotion and wellness strategies that effectively engage employees in healthier lifestyles; develop and present roundtable discussions; and design wellness campaigns, sample communications and incentive structures.  Abigail also leads M3’s internal wellness program.  In 2006, the M3 wellness team completed the process to become a designated Well Workplace through the Wellness Councils of America.
 
Abigail graduated in 2005 from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in health promotion and wellness, and a minor in both occupational health & safety and psychology.  While attending college, Abigail worked as the Wellness Works Assistant at Watertown Memorial Hospital.  Abigail joined M3 in 2005.
 
Abigail is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and is certified by the American Lung Association as a Smoking Cessation Facilitator. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Wellness Council of Wisconsin.  Abigail is also a member of the Wisconsin Physical Activity and Nutrition Forum and the National Wellness Institute.
 
Abigail is a volunteer for the Niemann Pick Disease Foundation, including the Niemann Pick Golf Outing and Silent Auction.  She is also an active volunteer for Relay for Life and participates in the annual Susan J. Komen Race for the Cure, and is a member of a walking team for Tomorrow’s Hope.

 

 

SESSION: Mini Town Hall # 2 - A Chance to Get Your Questions Answered
TBD

 

BIO:
Born Ft. Leavenworth, KS, April 1952; married; 2 children. Graduate Racine Lutheran H.S. 1970; attended Green Bay Tech. Coll.; Racine Police Academy; course work at UW-Extension, UW-Parkside, Northwestern U. Traffic Institute, Racine Tech. Institute, Gateway Tech. Coll., Milw. Area Tech. Coll., Wis. State Patrol Academy, U.S. Coast Guard National SAR School. Full-time legislator. Former investigator, Racine Police Dept., adjunct instructor, Gateway Tech. Coll., police liaison and security, Racine Unified Sch. Dist., traffic accident consultant. Member: Racine Zoological Society (dir.); Racine Police Retired Officers Assn.; West Racine Business Assn.; Racine County Line Rifle Club (dir.); National Rifle Assn. (life mbr.); Racine Police Credit Union (fmr. pres., vice pres.). Former member: Racine Jaycees; Racine Police Explorers; Assn. of SWAT Personnel; Racine Innovative Youth Service Bd.; Racine Junior Deputy Sheriffs Assn.; Racine Alateen; Nat’l. Assn. for Search and Rescue. Racine Police and Fire Commission 2003-present. Racine Co. Board 2002-11.

 

Elected to Senate 2010.

 

 

Attendees at this program will learn about:

 

BIO: Deborah A. Krukowski
Deborah A. Krukowski joined the firm in 1996. She emphasizes her practice in the area of litigation and investigations before the ERD and the EEOC and matters under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, sexual harassment and general employment discrimination law. She successfully argued a Motion for Summary Judgment to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on the issue of race discrimination and retaliation for a large financial institution. She also has successfully argued and won cases in the areas of contract disputes, violations of non-compete agreements, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claims. She provides employee training in these areas as well and gives advice on employee handbooks and policies, including wrongful discharge. She provides employers with assistance in separation agreements and releases, and downsizing or plant closing planning. Further, she has enforced relocation contracts on behalf of employers throughout the United States. She presents seminars to employers on the subjects of FMLA, sexual harassment, retaliation, constructive discharge, ADA, domestic partner benefits, workplace violence, employee privacy rights and employment releases. Her practice focuses on industries such as financial services, retail, insurance, foods and distribution, manufacturing, and health care.
 
Upon graduation from law school, she worked on ADA and Title VII issues for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. She continues to be involved in litigation before Wisconsin state agencies, Wisconsin state courts, federal district courts and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She was also involved in the creation of the Education and Mentoring Initiative, and remains active through this Initiative in educating and mentoring girls, primarily in inner-city schools, who otherwise would not have exposure to professional women.
 
She is admitted to practice in all Wisconsin state courts, including the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, and before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

BIO: Keith E. Kopplin
Keith E. Kopplin joined the firm in 2006.  His practice focuses on employment litigation and general employment law matters.
 
Keith has assisted clients in resolving wage and hour class and collective action lawsuits. He advises clients in the areas of wage and hour, discipline and discharge, the Wisconsin and federal Family and Medical Leave Acts, reductions in force, waiver and release agreements, and affirmative action. He is also a frequent author and presenter for the firm, covering topics such as the COBRA subsidy provisions of the federal stimulus bill, the impact of H1N1 in the workplace, and social media use by employees. Keith also presents customized audio programs for employers.
 
He is admitted to practice in all Wisconsin State Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.