Event Details

The Emporia Area Business Conference is a one-day event, organized by the Human Resource Professional Association of Greater Emporia (HR-PAGE), and designed to keep business owners, managers, and human resources professionals up-to-date on the ever changing world of work. The conference is July 15^th from 8am-4:30pm. All registered participants will receive access to the presentations, and breakfast and lunch will be available to in-person attendees. This conference is approved for 5 CEUs from SHRM.

Registration:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are offering a virtual option through Zoom for this year's conference. If you would feel more comfortable attending virtually, select that option during registration, and additional details will be emailed to you on July 13th. The cost to register is the same for either option, see pricing below:

• $0 for students
• $20 for HR-PAGE members
• $30 for non-members registered before July 1
• $40 for non-members registered July 1 or later

Click here to register.

Safety:

This conference will abide by all safety regulations that are in place at the time of the conference, as established by the local, state, and national health agencies. The Anderson Building at the Lyon County Fairgrounds is a large building with ample space to allow for social distancing. If additional restrictions are in place at the time of the conference, we will provide additional information by email.

Schedule of Events:

7:30 am - Coffee and Breakfast: Arrive early to check in, grab coffee and breakfast, and visit with vendors and sponsors.

8:00 am - Welcome and Announcements

8:20 am - Employment Law: Mitigating Risk and Avoiding Common Pitfalls with Lora Jennings Mizell from Martin Pringle Law Firm.

This presentation will discuss practical ways to help reduce an employer's legal risk in a variety of employment law areas. Employers of all sizes are responsible for complying with a number of federal and state employment laws, including wage and hour laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act, anti-discrimination statutes including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the American with Disabilities Act, and federal and state leave laws such as the Family and Mecial Leave Act. This presentation will provide practical tips on how employers can recognize and avoid common pitfalls in complying with a variety of employment laws. This session is intended for anyone who is responsible for working with employment issues within the company, including CEOs, CFOs, and Human Resources professionals.

9:35 am - Break and Visit with Vendors

9:55 am - Breaking Down Barriers of Understanding: Unconscious Bias with Loretta Summers, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, President - The Summers Advisory Group, Inc.

We all have prejudices we are not even aware we have. Buried prejudice and biases are surprisingly influential underpinnings to all the decisions we make, affecting our feelings and consequently actions. The phenomenon is called unconscious bias. The concept of unconscious bias or "hidden bias" has come into the forefront because the dynamics of diversity are changing. Primarily, it is very important to understand biases in order to overcome them. Your willingness to examine the filters through which you view and interpret yourselves and others is an important step in understanding the roots of stereotypes and prejudice in our society and in our workplaces.

Participants will 1) Understand the purpose of bias, 2) Raise awareness of the research behind unconscious bias, 3) Appreciate how unconscious bias can adversely affect judgment and decision making, and 4) Identify steps for controlling biases in your thinking.

11:05 am - Engaging Employees NOW with Donita Whitney-Bammerlin, PhD, Kansas State University.

In this workshop, you will learn relevant concepts, research findings, and workplace applications related to the importance of those with human resource responsibilities including supervisors and managers. Particular emphasis will be placed on the initial step of understanding the relevance of theories, so they can serve as a useful tool for decision makers in a global society and future economy. We will explore some of the causes and the consequences that current changes/trends can have for both the individual and the organization.

12:10 pm - Lunch and Visit with the Vendors

12:55 pm - Improving Your Leadership Conflict Management Skills with Jill Trego, Vice President of Culture and Engagement, Kansas State University Foundation.

As modern leaders, understanding our own natural tendencies, talents, and strengths can be an important first step in building a strong team. The word conflict has a negative connotation, but little is achieved, changed, or advanced without it.

In this session we will take a personal conflict assessment known as the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model Instrument (TKI) in order to better understand our own approach to conflict. We will work through exercises that will help us decode how our behavior in conflict can lead to more positive outcomes for ourselves and our teams. The assessment and Conflict Management booklet ($20 value) are included with your registration.

2:05 pm - Second Chances: Hiring People with Criminal Records with Jermaine Wilson, CEO - Unity in the Community.

Jermaine Wilson was once a convicted felon being held in Lansing Correctional state prison in a maximum security wing for selling drugs. This January he completed his year as Mayor of the City of Leavenworth. Mr. Wilson turned his life around in prison and later had his record expunged which opened doors to him that had been long closed. He now advocates for others to turn their lives around and models the determination and dedication it takes to get it done. He also speaks to those in Human Resources and business about hiring felons and giving them a chance to prove themselves. He will explain how certain business practices decrease the likelihood of hiring those with convictions and how that increases recidivism and ultimately hurts communities. he shares ways communities can embrace hiring those with convictions and support them as they become productive citizens and great employees.

2:35 pm - Break and Visit with Vendors

3:00 pm - Navigating the New Normal: Employment Law Issues Impacted by COVID 19 with Forrest T. Rhodes Jr., Partner at Foulston Siefkin LLP.

In this session, we'll discuss how COVID-19 has affected various employment law issues, including unemployment, telework arrangements, and paid and unpaid leave of absence situations under FFCRA, ADA, and FMLA. There will also be some time at the end to discuss other unique COVID-19 related issues you may be facing.

4:10 pm - Closing Comments, Survey and Prize Drawings (Must be present to win a prize; it's worth staying until the end!)

Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Thank you to all of the sponsors that make the Emporia Area Business Conference a quality event at an affordable price!