Montana Human Resource Conference | 2008

Speakers

"Passing the Torch: Human Resources Stewardship through Strategic Planning"

Marieke Beck

Marieke was born and raised in Helena, Montana. Marieke has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Oregon. After that, she attended the University of Montana School of Law. Marieke clerked for the Honorable Justice William E. Hunt at the Montana Supreme Court and then worked for five years with the Montana Advocacy Program. Marieke has been with the Department of Labor and Industry for five years as a labor and employment lawyer and has been assigned as counsel for the Human Rights Bureau and the Unemployment Insurance Division. When she's not working, Marieke spends her time with her devilishly handsome husband and their beautiful baby boy.
Session Topics:
Governmental Code of Fair Practices (with Kathe Kountz)
Disabilities Accommodations (with Kathe Kountz)

Jeanne Bender

Attorney Jeanne Bender is a partner in the Holland and Hart law firm in Billings and editor of the "Montana Employment Law Letter". Ms. Bender represents commercial and non-profit employers in a variety of employment matters including wage and hour claims, disability and discrimination, breach of contract, wrongful discharge, unemployment, and insurance coverage matters. In addition to extensive litigation experience, Jeanne assists clients in developing personnel policies, drafting handbooks, and in resolving personnel problems. A frequent lecturer on employment issues, she has given seminars on sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, discrimination, wage and hour requirements, and the ADA. Recent publications and articles include Protecting Yourself Against Wrongful Discharge Claims, Dealing Fairly with Sexual Harassment Claims, and with Patricia Peterman, the Montana chapter of Independent Contractor Status, State-by-State Legal Guide.
Session Topics:
Legal Update

Dick Clark

Dick Clark was hired by Governor Brian Schweitzer on November 15, 2005, to be Montana's second State Chief Information Officer. Taking over the operation of information technology in December 2005, Clark is responsible for establishing, approving, and enforcing statewide Information Technology architecture, policies and standards for the executive branch and for working closely with the Courts, Legislature and University system to coordinate IT in Montana. He is a member of the Governor's cabinet and testifies regularly before Legislative committees on Information Technology.

Dick previously served with the Montana Department of Transportation for 29 years in the fields of engineering and maintenance, and most recently as the Chief Information Officer where he was responsible for the Information Technology Planning and Management, which required him to provide agency wide leadership and direction in the management and operation of IT for the DOT. He represented the DOT at the Legislature, served as liaison to the Department of Administration; Division Technology Board; the Federal Highways, Information Technology Managers Council serving as Chair; and the Information Technology Board. He developed a customer-focused team of Bureau Chiefs, lead and guided the department's budgeting process for IT initiatives; oversaw the development of IT policies and processes at the DOT.

At a national level, Mr. Clark has served on National Transportation Research Board panels and committees in the fields of transportation engineering and maintenance. Currently, he sits on the Engineering Advisory Board of Carroll College (Helena, MT) and is a past member of the Montana State University Engineering Advisory Board (Bozeman, MT).

A native of Havre, Montana, Dick earned a BA in History from Northern Montana College and a MBA from the University of Montana.
Session Topics:
Workforce Planning

Katherine Kountz

Katherine has been the Bureau Chief of the Montana Human Rights Bureau since June 2002. Prior to that she worked as a Human Rights Investigator for approximately 10 years. Her other work experience includes several years as a Human Resource Director for a large bank system, as well as experience as an employment counselor. She attended Stanford University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Mills College. Katherine was raised on a ranch in Southwest Montana and has also worked in such nontraditional fields as mining and geology.
Session Topics:
Governmental Code of Fair Practices (with Marieke Beck)
Disabilities Accommodations (with Marieke Beck)

Margaret N. Morford

Margaret N. Morford is President for The HR Edge, Inc., an international management consulting and training company. Her clients have included Lockheed Martin, Chevron, Time Warner, Sara Lee Foods, Home and Garden Television, Nationwide Insurance, NAPA Auto Parts, New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell and Columbia Medical Centers), U.S. Marine Corps, Deloitte, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Vanderbilt University, McKee Foods, Skanska, Fox Broadcasting, Schwarz BioSciences, Fifth Third Bank, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, SAS (computer software), The Nashville Predators national hockey franchise, A.O. Smith, The Peabody Hotel, The Hartford, TECO Energy, AmSurg, Quorum Health Resources, the U.S. Naval Nuclear Submarine Group and various local and state governments. Previous to owning her own company, Margaret was Sr. Vice President, Human Resources Consulting for a national consulting firm out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has a BS degree from the University of Alabama and a JD degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. She has worked as an attorney, specializing in employment law as well as been Vice President of Human Resources for three large companies. She is often quoted as a business expert in newspapers and magazines across the country including Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today and Entrepreneur and appears regularly on local ABC, CBS, and Fox television affiliates. She is the author of the videos "Running with the Big dogs - How to Make HR a Strategic Player" and "The Confident Supervisor" as well as the business book, "Management Courage - Having the Heart of a Lion".
Session Topics:
Running with the Big Dogs - How to Make HR a Strategic Player
Getting in Front of the Elephant - How to Earn Immediate Respect for HR
The Savvy Owl - Politics, Power and Influence...What They Don't Teach You in Business School
HR Means Business - How to Write a Human Resources Strategic Plan

Jim Nys

Jim Nys has been the Legislative Affairs Director for the Montana state council of SHRM since 1987. He is a self-employed HR consultant who specializes in wrongful termination, wage and hour, civil rights and Montana employment law related issues. He has a master's degree from the University of Montana and has been an adjunct professor in several employment related graduate school programs. He owns Westaff, a Helena employment services agency, and Personnel Plus!, a Human Resource Consulting Service, serving clients in more than a dozen states. For additional information visit: http://www.personnel-plus.com/
Session Topics:
HR Differences between the Public and Private Sectors
Legislative Update - On the Horizon

Barbara Wagner

Barbara Wagner is the Senior Economist in the Research and Analysis Bureau at the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Born and raised in Nashua, MT, Barbara received a Bachelor's degree in political science and economics from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, followed by a Master's Degree in applied economics from the University of Minnesota. Barbara spent three years working for the U.S. Senate on legislation involving agriculture, labor, trade, and transportation. Prior to her current position, she worked as a tax policy analyst for the Montana Department of Revenue.
Session Topics:
Economic Outlook on Hiring and Recruiting in Montana - State of the Economy