Speakers

Karl Ahlrichs is an adviser to senior leadership on human resource and risk management issues, working for Gregory and Appel of Indianapolis. Karl has broad experience in senior level problem solving, with proven skills in handling complex organizational issues with uncommon sense. Karl is a national speaker and author, and is often quoted in the media on HR issues. He has facilitated a monthly CFO Roundtable for more than 10 years.

Michelle DiTondo is Chief Human Resources Officer for MGM Resorts International. As the company’s top Human Resources executive, Ms. DiTondo leads the team responsible for strategic development and implementation of the People Philosophy and Culture for MGM Resorts. In addition, she oversees the MGM Resorts Corporate Human Resources departments serving the 71,000 employees working at the company’s resorts around the world.

Mel Kleiman, CSP, is an internationally known authority on recruiting, selecting, and hiring employees. He is the founder of Humetrics and the onetime owner of three different businesses (including the largest Hertz franchise). Mel has over 30 years of consulting, writing and professional speaking experience.

Dave Newton has over 20 years experience in human resources and training, including six as Vice President of Human Resources at The Venetian Las Vegas, which won two awards for Workplace Excellence under his leadership.

Amy observed a fundamental change in our economy and the labor market that supports it. Generational shifts, disruptive business models, automation and rising economic uncertainty have changed the playing field and what is required of our workforce. Over the past two decades she has created a consulting practice to prepare leaders and their employees for our new economy.

Daniel A. Kaplan is a partner and litigation attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP and is co-chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. Mr. Kaplan counsels employers in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including wage and hour, employment contracts, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, worker’s and unemployment compensation, family and medical leave, disability accommodations and compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, and all state, federal and local discrimination laws. Mr. Kaplan has experience litigating before various state and federal agencies, various state courts, and federal courts throughout the country, including the Supreme Court.

Kathleen Dreyfus Bardunias is a special counsel with Foley & Lardner LLP, where she focuses her practice on employee benefits and executive compensation. Ms. Bardunias is admitted to practice in New York and Wisconsin.

John Alan Doran has over 25 years of experience counseling and successfully representing employers in all facets of labor and employment law matters. He regularly represents employers in mass employment, wage/hour class and collective action litigation, as well as employment discrimination, public accommodations discrimination, and wrongful termination litigation. He also represents management in areas of traditional labor law, including the defense of unfair labor practices charges, the orchestration of campaigns to prevent workplace unionization, representation proceedings, and arbitrations. In addition, John represents employers in restrictive covenant and trade secret matters in state and federal courts. He also regularly counsels clients on prevention strategies, executive employment contracts, downsizing, personnel policies, and merger/acquisition employment issues.

Rick is an experienced counselor and trial attorney who brings a practical, business-minded approach to litigation and litigation avoidance. Rick focuses on representing employers throughout the country in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage and hour collective and class actions; restrictive covenant and injunction matters; and complex and single-plaintiff harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuits. He also regularly represents employers in investigations and enforcement actions by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and state wage and hour compliance agencies; charges and complaints before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state anti-discrimination agencies; labor arbitrations and unfair labor practice charges and other proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); compliance reviews and enforcement actions by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP); and Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 lawsuits and investigations by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

Abe Howard-Gonzalez is a partner in the firm’s labor and employment department. He represents employers in federal and state courts in Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Howard-Gonzalez focuses his practice on defending employers in lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage issues involving overtime issues and minimum wage issues—among others. In addition to defending lawsuits, Mr. Howard-Gonzalez also defends employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor for wage claims and claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Joseph (“Joe”) Beachboard is a nationally recognized expert on labor and employment law issues who joined Ogletree Deakins in 2001. He helps employers avoid work-related legal exposure, including providing training to a variety of high-profile organizations. He regularly speaks at large employment law conferences around the country and has been quoted in a number of prestigious publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, National Law Journal, and HR Magazine.

Suzanne L. Martin started her legal career at a national labor and employment boutique in Irvine, California representing management. She relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000 and continued to specialize in employment law within a general practice setting before opening the Las Vegas office of Ogletree Deakins in January 2010.