Discover HR solutions at the 2025 California HR Conference in Anaheim, [City], on [Date]. Join [Job_Title]s for hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions.
HR Sunshine Sessions at CAHR19

HR Sunshine Sessions at CAHR19

Want to mix things up as you advance your HR career? Add some cool ocean breezes to your professional development this year at the 2019 California HR Conference in gorgeous Long Beach, CA. We’re proud to introduce a first in HR conference history (drumroll please…) OUTDOOR LEARNING!

This year we wanted to take even more advantage of the gorgeous weather in Long Beach, and so the Sunshine Sessions came to life. These sessions will be held between the Convention Center and the Hyatt and offer you the option to sharpen your HR edge outside in the gentle ocean air.

Let’s face it, even in Southern California we don’t get outside as much as we should. Now you can enjoy a portion of your top notch, world-class HR education and unique social experiences in a brand new light (pun intended) and get a little extra vitamin D.

Read up on each of the session’s details below and register today to join the fun (and learning) in the sun!

Professional Development Track | HR (General) Credit

Five Powerful Improv Exercises to Strengthen Soft Skills

Monday, August 26th from 11:15am – 12:30pm

Presented by Viet Hoang, Partner at Pint Size Ideas

Improv training has been trending in the talent development community as an effective method for developing soft skills. The premise of improv is simple. Performers work together to create unscripted scenes, without an opportunity to plan. Improv is successful when performers listen actively, support the ideas of others, contribute information to move the scene forward, and remain flexible to changes. These are the same soft skills HR professionals seek to develop in their workforce! For organizations, improv training is creative approach to strengthening communication, collaboration, creativity and agility. In this interactive session, you’ll be out of your seat experiencing firsthand five powerful improv exercises. Learn how to implement the exercises and discover an inquiry strategy to help translate improv skills to the workplace.

 

Talent Management Track | HR (General) Credit

Best Practices for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Workplace

Monday, August 26th from 2:00pm – 3:15pm 

Presented by Allison VanKuiken, Executive Director at Trans Can Work

The landscape for LGBTQ inclusion is changing every day. In the US, an estimated 1.4 million adults in the US identify as transgender. A study put out last year by the Williams Institute discovered that 27% of youth in California are identified as transgender or gender non- conforming. When thinking about younger generations, we know that in the year 2025, millennials will represent 75% of the workforce. And millennials are more than 2xs as likely to identify as LGBTQ and more likely to identify as non-binary or genderfluid than previous generations. For employers, it is no longer a matter of what to do if they have transgender employees, but a matter of preparing for when they have transgender employees. This session will provide an environment for professionals to elevate their cultural competency of transgender inclusion. Learn important human resources information about how to hire and support talented employees who are transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC). Topics covered will include: The business case for TGNC inclusion The gender spectrum & transgender identities Coming out & navigating transition in the workplace Concrete actions for employers to elevate the level of inclusion in the workplace

 

Professional Development Track | HR (General) Credit

Self-Awareness & Leadership: The Critical Impact of EQ on Your Results

Monday, August 26th from 4:00pm – 5:15pm

Presented by Camille McKinney, Leadership Coach and Consultant at Leveraged Leaders

Organizations invest in expensive leadership development programs, with the goal of positively impacting business results. Unfortunately, these programs are typically focused on leadership skills that are tactical, like how to manage performance, delegate tasks or write a performance review. While these tactical skills are important, these programs put little if any focus on WHO WE ARE as leaders… To up-level leadership effectiveness, consider how developing one’s Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can be an innovative approach to increasing personal and team effectiveness, improving employee engagement, and positively impacting overall business results.

 

Talent Management Track | HR (General) Credit

10 Minutes by Friday: Enhance Motivation and Accelerate Business Results

Tuesday, August 27th from 11:15am – 12:30pm

Presented by Gregg Lederman, President of Employee Engagement at Reward Gateway

Eighty-plus years of research has proven that humans CRAVE three things that enable them to become more motivated: Respect: Help me feel respected for the work I do. Purpose: Show me how what I do has purpose, makes a difference, and is relevant to the organization. Relationship: Help me build stronger connections with people, especially my immediate manager/supervisor. Lederman says, “We, as humans, love recognition, but we struggle to give enough of it. Whether we want to admit it or not, recognition plays a huge role in our everyday work lives— in our happiness, well-being, and working relationships. Learning to strategically recognize employees is the most effective and efficient way to give people what they CRAVE. Doing so leads to accelerated improvements in employee engagement and the work culture, which together inspire a more consistent customer experience.” In this highly interactive keynote, supervisors, managers, and executives commit to the 10 Minutes By Friday™ habit for giving people more of what they CRAVE! In return, they become better managers and leaders who are able to achieve the business results that matter most to their team, department, and/or organization.

 

Total Rewards Track | HR (General) Credit

Too Much of a Good Thing? The Perks and Pitfalls of Unlimited PTO

Tuesday, August 27th from 2:00pm – 3:15pm

Presented by Marina Galatro, Sr. HR Consultant at Gallagher

As the paid sick leave law wave continues to ripple across the country, companies are looking at ways to meet or exceed the now more than 40 different paid sick leave laws. The idea of unlimited PTO is still splashing through HR professionals’ minds as an alternative way to beat the explosion of paid sick leave laws and as a way to attract and retain talent. Need to go to Hawaii for five weeks? Yes, go — it’s paid time off! Need a “mental health” day or two (or five)? Why not — it’s paid time off! No questions asked. But before implementing such a program, is it too much of a good thing? Will it improve morale and work-life balance or will it cause fear within the organization? Is it a true total rewards element that attracts and retains top talent? What about employees who need an extended medical leave of absence? Are they paid for the full leave duration? “Unlimited” may not really mean without limits. Attend this session to learn what you should know and consider before transforming your total rewards strategy to include an unlimited paid time off program.

 

Professional Development Track | HR (General) Credit

Success in a New Role: How to kick a$$!

Tuesday, August 27th from 4:00pm – 5:15pm

Presented by Carol Marzouk Executive Lion Tamer, CEO at Executive Lion Tamer

Do you have new managers in your organization that were promoted because they were excellent contributors? Have you ever seen a new executive take on a role that is bigger than they can handle? Have any of your leaders felt that they were way above their head? Have YOU ever felt that way? Help yourself or your leaders make a great impression when they take on a new role and want to succeed during the crucial first 90-100 days. In this session, you will go through the steps necessary in order to help yourself and your leaders kick a$$ in their new role. Some of which include helping your boss win, getting to know your team, aligning with the key players, avoiding landmines, observing and discovering before jumping in, Creating your development plan, and Creating your plan of action.

 

Let’s make this official.

Join the largest local HR community in the world for HR best practices on the beach!

California HR Conference attendees enjoy:

  • Advanced HR learning from nine tracks and more than 70 speakers like Stacey Lewis and Daniel Pink
  • Puppies. Yes, you can play with puppies in our Expo (and adopt them for free!)
  • Carefully planned lunch menus and snacks
  • The music show featuring Ezra Ray Hart and standup comedy with Al Madrigal
  • 3 Solutions Stages designed to make your HR life easier

Not registered yet? You still have time to register and join us! We all hope you can make it this year and look forward to seeing you.

See you in Long Beach!

Sincerely,
Team CAHR19

CAHR19 Keynote Speakers

Learn from World-Class Experts

Monday Keynote
DANIEL H. PINK

Bestselling Author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, To Sell is Human and Drive
Tuesday Keynote

LINDA A. HILL
Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School & Bestselling Author of Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation

Wednesday Keynote
AMBER BALDET

CEO, Clovyr, former Blockchain Program Lead at JP Morgan 

CAHR19 kicks off soon!

Day(s)

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Advance your organization.
Accelerate your professional growth.
Attend CAHR19.

A Taste of Long Beach Experiences at CAHR19

A Taste of Long Beach Experiences at CAHR19

Located in the heart of Southern California, Long Beach epitomizes the laid-back, leisure-and-learning vibe that’s at the core of CAHR19. This year, we wanted to craft even more unique experiences for you to enjoy the urban sophistication – and funky personality – of this beach town. Don’t you love choosing your own adventure? Our new CAHR19 Long Beach Experiences give you the chance to have a little fun before any learning begins. Sign up to come explore, create, or taste alongside local Long Beach artisans, curators, and advocates in our new CAHR19 Long Beach experiences!

Pie Making Class (CLOSED)

Sunday, August 25 from 11:15am – 12:45pm

Ever wanted to learn how to make the perfect pie crust? We will teach you to make a pie from scratch. We provide all the ingredients and tools to make the perfect pie! At the end of the class you will leave with your whole freshly baked pie to share with your friends and family. Your ticket includes: the making of four hand pies and bottomless Mimosas or Sangria. A fun experience you will always remember!

Pie Bar: 450 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

[Registration is closed for this experience]

Cost: $50

Aquarium of the Pacific Behind The Scenes Tour

Sunday, August 25 from 10:30am – 12:30pm

Venture behind the scenes *and* go above our largest exhibit, Tropical Reef, to feed the fish!

This tour provides a sneak peek into the daily operations of the Aquarium of the Pacific. Guests will enter the “wet side” of the aquarium, a section not normally open to the public. See what it takes to maintain a world class aquarium, from water filtration to animal care and feeding. Learn interesting facts about the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 11,000 animals. Come join us on a fun filled tour!

Upon Arrival: Guests will meet at the tour sign next to the Information Desk. The tour will begin promptly; it is important that guests arrive on time.

Restrictions: This tour is fully ADA accessible. Service animals may not be present at behind-the-scenes animal encounters. In order that our guests with disabilities may enjoy the Aquarium to the fullest, Aquarium staff members will be made available to hold/walk or kennel the service animal while other Aquarium staff accompany the guest through the tour/exhibit.

Aquarium of the Pacific: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

How to register: add within the “STEP 4 – SESSIONS AND ADD ONS” section of your online registration portal!

Cost: $50

Beachwood Brewery Tasting Tour

Sunday, August 25 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm

On this tasting tour, enjoy a cheese and charcuterie board, pimento cheese balls and deviled eggs. We will have 10 tasters and a guide to walk you through the barrel room and the tasting.

With this CAHR19 Experience, you’ll enjoy 6 – 8 beers to taste, a walk-through of brewing plants, an interactive discussion about beers and the brewing process, and an appetizer buffet.

After dominating the world of hoppy beers at their main brewery location, Beachwood Blendery opened up to innovate (and presumably dominate) the world of sour beers. After starting slow in 2015, the Blendery released its first lambic-style beer in 2016 which set the bar for the rest of their sour beers to come in terms of complexity and deliciousness. Their Long Beach Blvd taproom is cozy with an educated and caring staff who serves a frequently rotating selection of sour and funky beers. Many of their offerings are draft only! If you get hungry, Beachwood’s flagship BBQ & Brewery location is about 50 yards away.

Beachwood Brewery: 247 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, CA

How to register: add within the “STEP 4 – SESSIONS AND ADD ONS” section of your online registration portal!

Cost: $50

Registering for Your Long Beach Experience

Within your online registration, you’ll find the Long Beach Experience on the “Step 4 – Sessions and Add Ons” page. Simply check the box, complete your registration, and complete payment! We’ll send you a follow up email for you to select which experience you’ll attend.Registration for Long Beach Experience

IT’S TRUE THAT LONG BEACH:

  • ☀️ Averages 345 days of sunshine each year.

  • 🎶 Hosts more Food & Music Festivals than any other city in Southern California.

  • 🚢 Has one of the world’s largest seaports (and the second-busiest container port in America), handling millions of containers each year.

  • 🏙️ Is the 36th largest city in the United States.

  • 🌴 Has over 40 attractions for visitors to enjoy, and hosts over five million tourists annually.   

Join us for HR best practices in Long Beach!

Your paradise at the 2019 California HR Conference is waiting. Whether you’d love some peace and quiet after a long day of learning, a lively nightlife, great shopping, or just the chance to let the sound of ocean waves drift you to sleep… Long Beach is your destination, especially with our new Long Beach Experiences.

 

Don’t look back and wish you had joined us. Register for #CAHR19 today and tap into your local HR community!

CAHR19 Keynote Speakers

Learn from World-Class Experts

Monday Keynote
DANIEL H. PINK

Bestselling Author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, To Sell is Human and Drive
Tuesday Keynote

LINDA A. HILL
Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School & Bestselling Author of Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation

Wednesday Keynote
AMBER BALDET

CEO, Clovyr, former Blockchain Program Lead at JP Morgan 

Days Left Until CAHR19

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Advance your organization.
Accelerate your professional growth. Go ahead, have the time of your life, too.
Attend CAHR19!

Trust In HR – Interview with CAHR19 Keynote Speaker Amber Baldet

Trust In HR – Interview with CAHR19 Keynote Speaker Amber Baldet

Like most HR practitioners, Amber Baldet, CEO, Clovyr, builds bridges between worlds – a feat that demands a deep, mutual trust. With a history of collaborating with her executive peers at JP Morgan Chase and underground cypherpunks, Baldet spearheaded the development and growth of the JPMorgan Chase Blockchain Center of Excellence. If you struggle to build meaningful trust within your company to create (or even improve existing) systems, you won’t want to miss Amber’s wisdom.

Gutsy, glitter-loving CEO and blockchain technology pioneer Amber Baldet will be taking the #CAHR19 Main Stage on Wednesday at the 2019 California HR Conference – and we can’t wait. In our latest interview, we dive into Baldet’s extensive experience with building trust, internal advocacy for emerging tech, and understanding blockchain – and what it means for HR.

Amber Baldet, CEO, Clovyr
CAHR19: For those unfamiliar, can you tell us a bit about what blockchain is?
Amber Baldet: Technically, a blockchain is just away for people who don’t necessarily know or trust each other to share tamper-proof data. But when enterprises talk about blockchain technology today, they’re usually talking about applications that help them coordinate in new ways across the trust boundaries within their organization or industry.

CAHR19: What’s the question you’re most often asked about blockchain?
Amber Baldet: People often ask if it’s ready for prime time – the scaling and energy usage challenges of public blockchain projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum have highlighted some tradeoffs in permissionless blockchain networks. Most of the platforms enterprises are looking at, though, have made some different trust assumptions that allow them to scale more easily. There is still a long way to go from “useful technology” to “ubiquitous applications,” though.

CAHR19: What catalyzed your interest in blockchain? How were you able to incorporate this interest with your work at JP Morgan?
Amber Baldet: I’d followed the progression of Bitcoin since its early days, because it’s a technically interesting project that also combines aspects of economics, security, and social governance in new ways. Once people started talking about tokenizing other financial assets (making them digitally scare and trackable), it became very interesting to the banking sector and I was lucky to be in the right place to be able to explain things in a way that was helpful to many different stakeholders.

CAHR19: Why is staying on the pulse of emerging technology a crucial strategy for HR practitioners?
Amber Baldet: Everything about the workforce is changing, from how people work, to when and where they work, and how you discover the best talent in a global marketplace. Embracing that evolution keeps your company competitive, but it’s not always easy to transform legacy processes and systems. It’s a journey that never ends and requires dedicated resources to stay competitive.

CAHR19: What advice do you have for HR professionals fighting for technological advances within their own companies?
Amber Baldet: Excitement about digital innovation means that there is a great opportunity to drive investment in things you probably should have had already if you really were following all those best practices recommendations… whether that’s a deep dive security test to ensure there’s no employee data lost due to an embarrassing data breach or revisiting policies to allow employees to contribute to open source projects in their free time (an important recruiting checkbox for the best developer talent). Use the hype to do something real.

CAHR19: What do you recommend for HR professionals who want to make the case at their company to implement blockchain in relevant applications?
Amber Baldet: There’s no point in implementing a technology just to have the shiny new thing. Stay on top of interesting projects, like attestations that can reduce diploma fraud and simplify credential vetting, and be prepared to move when the time is right. That might mean revising vendor onboarding processes so they work better for startups, or identifying innovation-thinkers already in the organization that can help catalyze internal education.

CAHR19: Why are you excited to speak at the California HR Conference?
Amber Baldet: People are the heart (and brain and muscles) of a company. Strong HR practices are crucial to a healthy, productive company – and to keeping employees safe – so it’s fun to get to engage with a group of practitioners that live that every day. It’s a good time to be thinking about what the organization of 2030 looks like.

Thanks so much for your time, Amber! We can’t wait to learn from you at the CAHR19 closing keynote session on Wednesday. It’s not too late to sign up – register today to join us at the largest HR event on the West Coast and earn 18.0 recertification credits!

Group Rates | Gain Approval

CAHR19 Keynote Speakers

Learn from World-Class Experts

Monday Keynote
DANIEL H. PINK

Bestselling Author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, To Sell is Human and Drive
Tuesday Keynote

LINDA A. HILL
Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School & Bestselling Author of Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation

Wednesday Keynote
AMBER BALDET

CEO, Clovyr, former Blockchain Program Lead at JP Morgan 

CAHR19 is coming soon!

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

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Second(s)

Advance your organization.
Accelerate your professional growth.
Attend CAHR19.

Announcing the CAHR19 Writers Coalition

Announcing the CAHR19 Writers Coalition

The California HR Conference provides the HR community with innovative learning experiences and networking opportunities that maximize your HR knowledge and advance your career. But beneath all that is a thriving community of friends, peers, co-workers, and industry leaders that make this event truly special. There’s no better way to stay connected and in-the-know on all things CAHR19 than to follow and interact with everyone about your conference experiences on social media.

We encourage selfies at CAHR19, in fact, tag us!

Here’s where the CAHR19 Writers Coalition comes in. We invited a team of HR industry leaders to share and digest the CAHR19 experience through the lens of their expertise.  They’ll be tweeting, hash-tagging, liking, replying, and posting their way through the Keynotes, nine educational tracks, Tuesday Night Music Show, multiple social gatherings and, of course, PUPPIES. If you can’t attend the California HR Conference this year, following and interacting with our Writers Coalition is the perfect way to stay caught up on everything you missed. At the end of the conference, keep an eye out for summaries they’ll post on their various channels.

Please help us welcome the CAHR19 Writers Coalition by following them now and reaching out to say hi! (Don’t forget to use the #CAHR19 hashtag!)

If you want to join in on the most fun and rewarding HR professional development event on the West Coast, register today before seats sell out!

Matt Charney | CAHR19 Writers CoalitionMatt Charney
@mattcharney on Twitter
Matt Charney on LinkedIn

Matt currently serves as the Chief Content Officer for Allegis Global Solutions, one of the biggest recruiting and staffing organizations in the world, overseeing the worldwide editorial and thought leadership functions supporting Allegis’ global businesses and brands. He is also a partner at RecruitingDaily, an award winning, independent news organization. Under his leadership as Executive Editor, RecruitingDaily emerged as one of the world’s largest content destination dedicated to recruiting and hiring.

Matt has been recognized as one of the top HR trendsetters of the year by HR Magazine & the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), is a 3 time winner of the HR Outsourcing Association Analyst Superstar of the Year and HR Technology Writer of the Year by HRMS World. He has been recognized as a top online influencer in HR and recruiting by publications such as Huffington Post, Forbes, LinkedIn and Glassdoor. He also serves as an advisor to over 20 high growth startups focused on recruiting and sourcing technology and works extensively with several VC and PE funds on their HR Tech investment strategies.

Teria Mahoney | CAHR19 Writers CoalitionTeria Mahoney, CSM
@HRCITeria on Twitter
Teria Mahoney on LinkedIn

Teria is the Digital Marketing Manager for HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).  She brings passion and visionary strategy to the social campaigns for the organization. One of the most recent campaigns (#HRCIShine) with over 8 million impressions, highlighted the achievements of our credentialed community.  Teria has over 13 years in various marketing roles in Entertainment, Sports and the Non-Profit industry. She previously worked in the Marketing department for the Washington Wizards with expertise in Game Day management, Sales and Community Relations. Teria holds a BBA in Marketing from Temple University and a Master’s in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University.  She is also a Certified Scrum Master.  In her spare time, Teria enjoys going to concerts, sporting events, traveling and spending time with her family.

Kevin Grossman | CAHR19 Writers CoalitionKevin W. Grossman, TAS, HCS
@KevinWGrossman on Twitter
Kevin W. Grossman on LinkedIn

Kevin is the Talent Board president and board member responsible for the Candidate Experience Awards worldwide, the first nonprofit research organization focused on the elevation and promotion of a quality candidate experience. He also hosts the popular #TheCandEs podcast that covered recruiting and candidate experience. Kevin has 20 years of domain expertise in the human resource and talent acquisition industry and related technology marketplace. He’s been a prolific “HR business” blogger and writer since 2004 and his first business book on career management titled Tech Job Hunt Handbook was released in December 2012 from Apress. Kevin holds a B.A. in Psychology from San Jose State University.

Thela Thatch | CAHR19 Writers CoalitionThelá Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP
@AskMrsHR on Twitter
Thelá Thatch on LinkedIn

Thelá has over 20 years of human resource and business experience.  Thelá is founder and owner of Management Resource Solutions dba MRS HR, LLC that she established in 2010. She has worked with various Fortune 500 organizations such as Live Nation, ADC, Paychex, Cablevision, Cosby Productions, and Fox Television.  Her role has consisted of auditing business practices, developing HR policy and procedures, and managing benefits while advising and coaching owners and executives. Most recently, she worked as an Executive Consultant & FUSE Corps Fellow for Los Angeles County, where she guided how to invest in human capital to support homeless initiatives.  Thelá served as Chief Diversity Officer for Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) where she laid the foundation, created and implemented the very first Diversity initiative within LNE.  Thelá’s Diversity and HR strategy implementation was successful in serving a global population of over 10,000 employees.  In addition, Thelá served as chair of the Executive Diversity Taskforce and the HR D&I Advisory Council, which she established within LNE.

She is currently a candidate for her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration with a Specialization in Law from Walden University expected to be completed in 2019. Thelá has written two books; Employee Handbooks 101 and The Dog Chef. She is the co-host and co-creator of the Inclusionomics™ podcast and contributor for Black Enterprise Magazine.

Jason Renda | CAHR19 Writers CoalitionJason Renda, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
@jasonrenda on Twitter
Jason Renda on LinkedIn

Jason is active as the PIHRA Membership Committee Chair (formerly Co-Chair of Membership for PIHRA South Orange Co. Chapter) when he’s not busy being the Sr. HR Business Partner with UST Global. He has worked internationally in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa). He is a member of the Premier Partners Advisory Council for Brandman University and Chapter Liaison, Orange County with Hacking HR. He likes to kick things up on Twitter.

Follow each Writers Coalition member on Twitter and LinkedIn. The best way for you to stay in the conversation on social media is to:

  • Share your experiences, group shots, and selfies using hashtags #CAHR19 #MyCAHR19
  • Interact with the CAHR19 Writers Coalition members on social media

And don’t forget to follow the 2019 California HR Conference on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and through the PIHRA LinkedIn page.

Register now so you don’t miss the chance to connect with our Writers Coalition and 2,700 California HR professionals. 

CAHR19 Speaker Spotlight: Interview with Stacey Lewis

CAHR19 Speaker Spotlight: Interview with Stacey Lewis

At the 2019 California HR Conference, we’re all about elevating HR’s position in the corporate world. Come get the knowledge you need to transform your role and ensure that you’re seen as a strategic business partner – especially at speaker Stacey Lewis’s Monday session, You Have Finally Got A Seat At The Table………Now What?!?!. Get the inside scoop on Stacey Lewis’s session in our CAHR19 Speaker Spotlight!

This interview is brought to you by Darlene Cohen, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, an official #CAHR19 writer. Darlene is Chief HR Strategist with HR On Call Solutions. Darlene’s interviews with CAHR19 Speakers feature key questions from an HR perspective to help you find the sessions and speakers that will best serve you and your HR career. Learn more about Darlene below.


CAHR19 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Written by Darlene Cohen
Featuring Stacey Lewis, CHRO & Director of HR, Port Of Long Beach

As HR professionals, we’re used to hearing the question, “how does HR get a seat at the table?” Stacey Lewis, CHRO for the Port of Long Beach is a leader in command who owns that “seat” HR professionals yearn for. You can hear her command of leadership in her voice, and her passion for human resources is inspiring.

Stacey Lewis at CAHR19

In college, Stacey Lewis majored in psychology, and her HR career started as summer internships at a real estate company and the FAA. After college, she landed a role as a technical recruiter, and the rest, as they say, is history. I had heard about the fascinating Stacey for years in conversations with one of my favorite HR Gal Pals who reported to Stacey at the Port of Long Beach. Stacey is an engaging, smart articulate HR professional with infinite energy, personality, and extensive HR experience. 

Stacey earned the CHRO role and her seat at the table using the same strategies she will passionately share with us during her session on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 11:15am to 12:30pm appropriately titled “You Have Finally Got A Seat At The Table………Now What?!?!” I spoke with Stacey to learn her thoughts, ideas along with recommendations on how anyone and everyone can earn a seat at the table.

Here are the results of our animated conversation.

CAHR19 – The current binary choices for HR is the term people and culture instead of human resources. In your opinion, what makes the focus on people and culture different from human resources?

Stacey Lewis – HR is the synergy, consciousness, and culture of organizations. All of those fancy titles focus on only one piece of HR. When talking about people, culture, and experience, we have to be careful these titles don’t box us in. Yes we want to be progressive, however we need to ensure these new titles accurately reflect our actions, deliverables, knowledge, competencies in alignment with our people, culture, business acumen combined with everything that is now human resources.

CAHR19 – As HR in most organizations continues to evolve, how can HR leaders navigate past outdated negative perceptions of HR as paper pushers and position themselves with not only a seat at the table but as independent confidants to the CEO? 

Stacey firmly believes HR professionals are so much more than “just HR,” we are strategists in addition the center of gravity for most organizations. According to Stacey, “if you’re in HR, you already have a seat at the table.” The CEO owns the dining room and to use Stacey’s words, “we are the table.” HR professionals should stop asking for something we already have. We need to position ourselves in alignment with the CEO and other leaders to navigate and execute sustainable organizational essentials.

CAHR19 – A critical component for having a seat at the table is business acumen. Please share any wisdom on how HR practitioners can sharpen business acumen and align action with organizational strategies?

Stacey Lewis – Development of assertion navigation techniques is required for HR practitioners to effectively assert themselves. Critical primary steps include learning the business and the operations side during meetings with leadership. An important rule, Stacey says is “never assert yourself in strategies you know nothing about which has the potential to ruin your success and potentially destroy your credibility.” Stacey recommends “offering” to attend CFO meetings, and other high-level meetings by contributing proactive HR support during the session. Conversely, another recommendation is extending HR meeting invites to the CFO and other highly visible leaders. Stacey refers to this as a strategic tradeoff” for the coveted seat at the table. HR professionals should frequently secure information on how HR can navigate and support organization leaders. Having leaders attend HR department meetings ensures leaders are not threatened by HR attending department meetings.

CAHR19 – HR continues to be the profession of choice for college graduates and individuals seeking career changes. What are your recommendations for transitioning into HR?

Stacey shared the first question, she asks anyone interested in an HR career is “why” are they interested? Stacey frequently speaks to undergrad business students at Cal State Long Beach. During these engagements, she shares her love for HR and informs students, HR is not for the faint-hearted, and interested candidates must be comfortable stepping out of cozy comfort zones into the fire. Being diligent and continuously studying your craft is also a requirement. Acknowledging and knowing when to push and when to step back is also of equal importance. It’s also imperative to be okay with identifying the pink elephant in the room and pointing out discrepancies.

CAHR19 – What books would you recommend to HR professionals?

Once I asked this question, Stacey’s excitement was evident, she is an avid book reader with an appetite for reading inspirational books. I have included her comments regarding the four books she firmly recommends any HR person should read:

  • Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell –  “I love this book, it’s an excellent book, a must-read, this book continues to inspire and impact my success as an HR professional.”
  • It’s Time For Something Different, by Lucy Adams – “I’m digging her”
  • Dare To Lead, by Brene Brown –  “Phenomenal book, I absolutely love it, it speaks to all the things I embrace as an HR leader.”
  • Make Your Bed, by Admiral William McRaven –  “A daily affirmation book, if you don’t manage the small tasks in life, no way are you able to do bigger things.”
  • The Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes –  “This book speaks to how HR professionals typical take care of everyone and frequently says yes to everybody but ourselves. This book inspires people to think I can do this or something else.”

CAHR19: What are three key takeaways for this program?

Stacey Lewis: One is the “Seat At The Table To-Do List.” You’ll have to come to the program and learn the other two.

It was an absolute joy speaking with Stacey. If you’re seeking to learn more about the HR seat at the table, please join Stacey for 75 minutes of highly engaged learning, fun, along with an impressive execution at the 2019 California HR Conference!



Written by Darlene Cohen
Darlene Cohen, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, is Chief HR Strategist with HR On Call Solutions. As PIHRA VP of Professional Development from 2014-2018, Darlene was instrumental in curating HR sessions at the 2015-2018 California HR Conferences.

A SHRM Certified Professional and certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, Darlene earned her Bachelor Degree in human resources management and organizational management, and earned a Master’s Degree in organizational leadership from Nichols College.

Darlene blogs on LinkedIn and you can also follow her on Twitter. Darlene is an esteemed member of the #CAHR19 Writers Coalition, covering the 2019 California HR Conference in Long Beach. Register today to join us August 25-28 for HR best practices and California fun!

Maximize Your PDCs and Recertification Credits at CAHR19

Maximize Your PDCs and Recertification Credits at CAHR19

Working in HR has made you an excellent multi-tasker, mediator, system-enhancer, negotiator, interviewer, culture champion…and, did we miss a few things? If so, it’s only because HR now encompasses 8,932 competencies in the modern 21st century workplace. And if you’ve earned an HR certification, you’re proving to the business community that you are an HR force to be reckoned with, and worthy of leading the charge.

Maintaining your HR certification will do fantastic things for your career (including a bump in salary!) and attending the 2019 California HR Conference is an efficient, and fun, to put a dent in those required triennial recertification hours.

Attendees who attend the full conference can earn up to a whopping 18.0 recertification credits, which exceeds most 4-day conferences. With our 70+ sessions that offer SHRM professional development credits (PDCs), California State Bar MCLE hours, and HR Certification Institute (HRCI) Business, California, Global and HR (General) recertification credits, you can earn a huge chunk of credits while meeting your own specific learning objectives.

With our breakdown below, you can strategically attend the CAHR19 sessions that focus on specific credentials. Take a look at your possible schedules and register today!

California-specific & MCLEBusinessGlobalHR (General)

 

California Credit

Working on your PHRca or California State Bar recertification?

Gain 15.0 California-specific credits or MCLE hours with this session schedule.

Plus, enjoy our new California Stage with expanded seating!

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

1:00pm – 2:15pmCalifornia General Session: Managing the Biggest Hurdles for California Employers with Jonathan Siegel (1.25)

2:30pm – 3:45pm – Managing Employee’s Off Duty Conduct: The Do’s and Don’ts with Jennifer Suberlak (1.25)

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

7:30am – 8:45am – Wage and Hour Bombshells with William Betley (1.25)

11:15am – 12:30pm – The Five Ws (and How) of Workplace Investigation with Jennifer Raphael Komsky (1.25)

2:00pm – 3:15pm – Legalities of the 24-7 Workplace with Brian Nagatani (1.25)

4:00pm – 5:15pm – Getting Down & Dirty with the Interactive Process with Nancy Yaffe (1.25)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27

7:30am – 8:45am – Leave Laws & Benefits with Marilyn Monahan (1.25)

11:15am – 12:30pm – Seeing 20/20 in 2020: A Look at the New Employment Laws Coming Next Year with Kelly Scott (1.25)

2:00pm – 2:15pm – ADA, Workers Compensation and Return to work: Handling Complex Leave Issues with Eric De Wames and Lisa Aguiar (1.25)

4:00pm – 5:15pm – Call Me Caitlyn: Navigating Protections in the Workplace for Transgender Employees with Jennifer Misetich and Joan Cochran (1.25)

 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28

7:30am – 8:30am – Disability Accommodation Law & Practice for California Employers in 2019 with Rich Falcone (1.25)

9:00am – 10:15am – Reasonable Accommodation – From The Employer And Attorney Perspective with Karen Nash and Nicole Golob Minkow (1.25)

Register for CAHR19 Today!

Business Credit

Working on your SPHR recertification?

Gain up to 14.75 Business credits with this schedule:

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

2:30pm – 3:45pm – PIHRA #RealHR: Unapologetically Toxic – HR’s Role in Cultivating Corporate Culture with Amos Marvel, Jennifer Blair, and Kerry Puglisi (1.25)

 

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

7:30am – 8:45am – What the CFO Wants You To Know as Their HR Business Partner with Paul Butler (1.25)

11:15am – 12:30pm – Organization Design: Going Beyond Drawing An Org Chart with Kifaya Thallam (1.25)

2:00pm – 4:00pm – Masters Series Session: Why Are We Still Lagging in People Analytics? From Idea to Action with David Swanson (2.0)

2:00pm – 3:15pm – How AI Can Prevent Workplace Harassment and Protect Your Bottom Line with Ben Mones (1.25)

4:00pm – 5:15pm – Three HR Concepts: A Facilitated Discussion with Mike Deblieux (1.25)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27

7:30am – 8:45am – What’s in It for Me? The Business Case for Tailored Employee Communications with Gregg Apirian (1.25)

9:00am – 10:30am – Keynote: Developing Talent That Can Lead Innovation and Digital Transformation with Linda A. Hill (1.0)

11:15am – 12:30pm

  • Technology is NOT the Solution: Bust the Myths about HR. Technology with Tina Robinson (1.25)
  • CHRO Summit (Invitation Only) – From HR to CEO: How HR Can Contribute Strategically to Organizations with Norma Diaz (1.25)

2:00pm – 3:15pm

  • PIVOT! Turn Change & Disruption Into a Culture of Innovation & Agility with Adam Markel (1.25)
  • CHRO Summit (Invitation Only) – The CFO-CHRO Dynamic: Unlocking a Vital Relationship with Paola Alvarez and Jeff Higgins (1.25)

2:00pm – 4:00pm – Masters Series Session: Making the Law Work for You: Leveraging Legal Requirements to Achieve Business Objectives with Patrick Noonan (2.0)

4:00pm – 5:15pm

  • Create an Effective Employee Experience Strategy Using HR Metrics with Melissa Anzman (1.25)
  • CHRO Summit (Invitation Only) – Disrupting the HR Model: What Happens When You Blow Up the Old Way? with Ramona Agrela (1.25)

 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28

7:30am – 8:45am – Workforce Trends That Will Redefine the Workplace, Workers, and the Work with Shirley Davis (1.25)

9:00am – 10:15am – Relationship Intelligence: HR’s Bridge Between People and Performance with Michael Patterson (1.25)

Register for CAHR19 Today!

Global Credit

Working on your GPHR recertification?

Gain 8.75 global credits with this schedule:

 

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

11:15am – 12:30pm – The ABC’s of International Benefits with Richard Polak (1.25)

2:00pm – 3:15pm – Coming Face to Face with Culture with Catherine Carr (1.25)

4:00pm – 5:15pm – Global Talent Management: It Is Time to Act! with Vlad Vaiman (1.25)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27

11:15am – 12:30pm – Fostering a Global Mindset to Thrive in our Complex Business Environment with Valerie Bath and Andrea Schnepf (1.25)

2:00pm – 3:15pm – Global DE&I Successses: Leveraging Cross Cultural Insights with Belinda Morris (1.25)

4:00pm – 5:15pm – Pushing the Boundaries: How HR Risks Multiply When Operating Overseas with Ragu Bhargava (1.25)


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28

9:00am – 10:15am – Empathy and Communication at Multilingual Workplaces with Micah Bellieu (1.25)

Register for CAHR19 Today!

HR (General) Credit

Recertifying your aPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP?

Earn up to 18.0 HR (General) recertification credits or Professional Development Credits by attending the full Sunday-Wednesday sessions.


DISCLAIMER:
Keep in mind, you can attend any approved session for general credit or professional development credits. The list below may not contain every possible session that you can earn credits from. You can view the full list of sessions on our Session Directory as well as our CAHR19 App (coming soon to registered attendees).

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

1:00pm – 2:15pmCalifornia General Session: Managing the Biggest Hurdles for California Employers with Jonathan Siegel (1.25)

2:30pm – 3:45pm (Choose one)

 

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

7:30am – 8:45am (Choose one)

  • (Nonprofit HR) Compensation & Benefits – Telling the Story Behind the Data with Christine Newkirk and Regina Birdsell (1.25)
  • Managing Communications During an Internal Investigation with Zach Olsoen and Tamara Devitt (1.25)

9:00am – 10:30am – Keynote: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing with Daniel H. Pink (1.0)

11:15am – 12:30pm (Choose one)

  • You finally got a seat at the table…..now what?!?! with Stacey Lewis (1.25)
  • Ditch the Calculator — Using Analytics to Solve Broader Pay Inequities with Stefan Gaertner (1.25)
  • (Sunshine Session) Five Powerful Improv Exercises to Strengthen Soft Skills with Viet Hoang (1.25)
  • (Mega Session Panel with Great Place To Work) It’s Not About Perks — The Secret to Attracting and Retaining Top Talent with Julian Lute, Tina Jones, and Suzie Elliott (1.25)
  • (Nonprofit HR) Managing Mediation: Resolving Disputes without Litigation with Shereen Thor (1.25)
  • Prevention Strategies to Keep Your Company Out of Wage & Hour Trouble with Brandon Sylvia (1.25)
  • Recruit From Your Head and Your Heart with Kara Yarnot (1.25)

2:00pm – 4:00pmMasters Series Session: Why Are We Still Lagging in People Analytics? From Idea to Action with David Swanson (2.0)2:00pm – 3:15pm (Choose one)

  • Acknowledging and Dealing with Unconscious Bias with Sahar Andrade (1.25)
  • Best Practices for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Workplace with Allison VanKuiken (1.25)
  • California’s New Mandatory Retirement Program with Terri Mcgray (1.25)
  • ICE Raids, Green Cards, and Work Visas: Practical Guidance for HR Managers with David Fullmer and Bernard Wolfsdorf (1.25)
  • Navigating the New Harassment & #MeToo CA Laws Landscape with Beth Whittenbury (1.25)
  • (Nonprofit HR) Understanding Effective Board Membership with Leslie Robin

4:00pm – 5:15pm (Choose one)

  • (Nonprofit HR) Building the Bench: Transition and Succession Planning with Maura Harrington (1.25)
  • Free Speech in the Digital Media Era: Navigating a complex legal landscape with Grant Alexander (1.25)
  • Nine Minutes on Monday with James Robbins (1.25)
  • Pay Strategy as a Competitive Advantage: The Power of a Structured Approach with Greg Arnold and Margaret Hylas (1.25)
  • Self-Awareness & Leadership: The Critical Impact of EQ on Your Results with Camille McKinney (1.25)
  • Targeted Workplace Violence and Pre-Attack Indicators Training with Eddie Hernandez and David Perez (1.25)

 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27

7:30 – 8:45am

  • CHRO Summit (Invitation-only) Leading with Purpose to Create Strategic Impact with Bernice Ledbetter (1.25)
  • Workplace Bullies Are Too Expensive to Keep with Frank Mulcahy (1.25)

9:00am – 10:30am – Keynote: Developing Talent That Can Lead Innovation and Digital Transformation with Linda A. Hill (1.0)

11:15am – 12:30pm (Choose one)

  • Mega Session: Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation with Dan Schawbel (1.25)
  • 10 Data-Driven Methods for Better Engaging Your Employees with Ben Davis (1.25)
  • 10 Minutes by Friday: Enhance Motivation and Accelerate Business Results with Gregg Lederman(1.25)
  • Communication Mastery: Learn to Get Anything Done with Anyone with Kathy Gruver (1.25)
  • Nightmare on Elm Street: Rise of Local Employment Law Ordinances with Walter Stella and Michele Miller (1.25)
  • WORK + LIFE: Balance or Collision? Why Workplace Wellness Works with Lindsay Bailey and Kaleana Quibel (1.25)

2:00pm – 4:00pm – Masters Series Session: Making the Law Work for You: Leveraging Legal Requirements to Achieve Business Objectives with Patrick Noonan (2.0)

2:00pm – 3:15pm (Choose one)

  • Ethics: It’s All About The Little Things with Kimberly Miller (1.25)
  • The Need and Opportunities for Reward Innovation with Jon Ingham (1.25)
  • Too Much of a Good Thing? The Perks and Pitfalls of Unlimited PTO with Marina Galatro (1.25)
  • When No Witnesses Are Around: Tips for Assessing Credibility with Allison West (1.25)
  • Working with Difficult People: Suffering at Work Is Optional with Shari Harley (1.25)

4:00pm – 5:15pm (Choose one)

  • Addressing Mental Health Challenges: 3 Unique Perspectives with Noma Bruton, Scott Ripley, and Rachel Tilman (1.25)
  • (1.25)
  • Legality vs. Policy: Addressing Legal Marijuana Use in the Workplace with Tricia McLaurin (1.25)
  • Success in a New Role: How to kick a$$! with Carol Marzouk (1.25)
  • Pushing the Boundaries: How HR Risks Multiply When Operating Overseas with Ragu Bhargava (1.25)

 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28

7:30am – 8:45am (Choose one)

  • How to Hire a Criminal with Noelle Harling (1.25)
  • Disability Accommodation Law & Practice for California Employers in 2019 with Rich Falcone (1.25)
  • Workforce Trends That Will Redefine the Workplace, Workers, and the Work with Shirley Davis (1.25)

9:00am – 10:15am (Choose one)

10:30am – 12:00pm – Keynote: The Seamless Workforce: How Blockchain Technology Can Help Power Next-Generation Organizations with Amber Baldet (1.0)

Boost Your Recertification Efforts with CAHR19 On Demand

Upon registering for the California HR Conference, you can add “On Demand” to your registration for only $29. You’ll be able to view sessions you missed, and earn dozens more self-paced recertification credits on your own time, at your own pace!

You Belong at #CAHR19!

It’s not too late to join 2,700 California HR professionals and community members for three days of top-notch learning, meaningful connections, HR solutions, and social experiences! Register today and meet us at the Long Beach Convention Center, August 25-28!

Invest in your yourself and your career!