Concurrent Session Speakers
Leah Lobato
Business Relations Specialist, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation
“Tapping in to Talent: Best Practices in Hiring, Retaining and Accommodating People with Disabilities“
Leah Lobato is a Business Relations Specialist for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR). The Business Relation Specialist position is a MIG Grant funded position housed within USOR. The mission of this position is to help promote the employment and retention of individuals with disabilities in competitive employment. With this position she is responsible for networking and connecting with state, regional and national employers. Leah coordinates with The NET (National Employment Team), Department of Workforce Services (DWS, Utah’s DOL) and Work Ability Utah (Utah’s Medicaid Infrastructure Grant) on various projects supporting employment of individuals with disabilities. She is responsible for coordinating bi-annual Employer Workshops on Employing and Retaining Individuals with Disabilities as well as the Work Ability Job Fairs in April and October.
Leah has worked with individual with disabilities in varying areas of services. She has worked with adolescents with mental health issues; she was also a coordinator for house affairs for disabled adults in independent living environments; she has also worked closely with the Department of Workforce of Services with the Choose To Work (CTW) project. CTW is an innovative project provided as a partnership between USOR and DWS to promote the competitive employment of individuals with disabilities. (more…)
Daken Tanner, SPHR
Vice President of Human Resources, Eagle Gate College
“A Positive Approach to Performance Management“
Daken S. Tanner, Vice President, Human Resources, has been with Eagle Gate College Group since January 2010. Prior to that, he was with ATK as HR Director. For a combined nine years, Daken was HR Director for Stock Building Supply, and prior to their being acquired by SBS, VP of HR for Anderson Lumber Company. Daken came to Utah in 1992 as Manager, Human Resources, for Franklin Quest, and was the Vice President of People Services of Franklin Covey Co. when he left. Prior to Franklin, Daken was in Human Resources with various Shell Oil companies in California and Houston.
Daken, a native of Southern California, received both his Bachelor’s Degree (1983) and his M.B.A. (1985) from Brigham Young University. (more…)
David Cherrington, DBA, SPHR
Professor of Organizational Leadership and Strategy, Brigham Young University
“Ethical Lapses in Human Resource Management“
David Cherrington is a professor at Brigham Young Universtiy where he teaches organizational behavior and human resource management. He has taught human resource management every year since 1968 when he was a graduate student at Indiana University. He is the author of three text books, three research books, three internet courses, the Human Resource Certification Preparation self-study materials, and about 50 research articles. He has conducted extensive research on the topics of honestly, character development, white collar fraud, and business ethics. (more…)
Nancy McGahey, M.A.
Executive Director, Utah Dispute Resolution
“Resolving Conflict in the Workplace”
Nancy McGahey is the Executive Director of Utah Dispute Resolution (UDR), a position she has held since 2004. Established in 1991, UDR is a nonprofit organization that provides mediation services and training in conflict resolution for Utah residents. As director of the organization, Nancy oversees programs, raises operating funds, facilitates workshops, and mentors newly trained mediators.
Originally trained in New Mexico, Nancy has mediated hundreds of disputes with a wide range of issues from small claims matters to workplace and domestic disputes. She is recognized by the Utah State Court system as a Master mediator, Mediation Trainer, and Domestic Mediation Mentor. In addition to her work at UDR, she mediates parenting disputes with high-conflict couples through the Utah Court Co-Parenting Mediation Program.
Nancy’s educational background includes two Masters Degrees in Communication and Training from the University of New Mexico, and a post-graduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Utah. her professional background includes over thirty years combined experience in education, training, instructional design, and human services. She has presented instruction for organizations and colleges on various topics including: mediation, conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and human resource management. (more…)
Monica Whalen, JD
President & CEO, Employers Council
“Conducting Internal Investigations“
Monica Whalen completed her undergraduate education at Montana State University, located in Bozeman, Montana. She graduated with honors earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Psychology and a K-12 teching certificate. After three years as a high English teacher in rural Montana, she attended the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, where she graduated with her Juris Doctorate Degree.
Following her law school graduation, Monica worked for several years as an attorney at Salt Lake City law firms, where she practiced in the area of employment law litigation. while working as an attorney, Monica defended companies against discrimination, harassment, OSHA, benefits, and wrongful discharge claims.
In 1994, Monica joined The Employers Council, a private non-profit human resources consulting firm. In 2002 she was promoted to President & CEO. At the Council, Monica uses her valuable experience to help member companies better manage employee relations. She spends her days consulting with managers and human resource personnel to assist them in resolving HR issues and complying with employment laws. She routinely offers guidance on matters such as wage-hour audits, supervision difficulties, government regulations, internal investigations, and resolution of legal claims. Monica facilitates HR roundtable groups and takes an active role in the seminars and training provided by the Council.
During her time at the Council, Monica has presented hundreds of workforce training sessions on topics including discrimination/harassment, the ADA, the FMLA, the FLSA, internal workplace investigations, documentation, employee discipline, substance abuse testing, performance evaluations, employee privacy, effective communication, employee handbooks, employment eligibility and verification (I-9), leadership and motivation, terminations, and the hiring process.(more…)
Nicky Firth
Vice President of Human Resources, Kennecott Utah Copper at Rio Tinto
“Workforce Planning: The Bedrock of HR Stragegy“
Nicky is currently Vice President of Human Resources at Kennecott Utah Copper in Salt Lake City.
Prior to this role, she was General Manager of Human Resources of Argyle Diamonds, from 2008. Argyle is the world’s largest diamond mine located in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia with significant focus on indigenous employment and development strategies.
Nicky commenced her career with an HR consulting firm then early development with WMC Resources, prior to working in Oil and Gas for a couple of years. Nicky joined Rio Tinto in 2003 and has worked in both operational and corporate roles in the Aluminum, Diamonds and Copper product groups.
Nicky holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with majors in HR and IR.
She is married with one child, and lives in Salt Lake City. Her interests include music, playing the drums and attempting to cook.
Jeanine Wilson, SPHR
Owner, Corporate Talent Advisors, LLC
“Working on Borrowed Time – Maximizing Your HR Department Using Someone Else’s Expertise“
Jeanine is currently owner of Corporate Talent Advisors, LLC, a full service HR consulting, training, and recruiting company.
Jeanine Wilson has worked in the Human Resources field for 25 years. She has worked in hospitality, finance, benefits management, broadcasting, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Jeanine has a Bachelor’s Degree is Human & Organizational Development from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, a Masters in Human Resources from Utah State University, and she achieved an SPHR certification from SHRM and HRCI. Jeanine currently teaches graduate HR courses for the University of Utah, Utah State University, and Webster University. Jeanine was the 2005 President of the Salt Lake SHRM Chapter, previous Crossroads Conference Director, and currently sits on the Utah SHRM State Council as the Utah State Certification Director. (more…)
Debbie Stone, SPHR
“Working on Borrowed Time – Maximizing Your HR Department Using Someone Else’s Expertise“
Deborah Stone has 25 years of Human Resources experience working with private employers, government agencies and non-profit entities. She founded Evolutionary HR in 1996 to provide contracted support to HR departments to meet their immediate and long-term goals. She has trained managers nationwide understand their obligations as employers and more recently has focused on helping organizations improve their management and leadership skills. She is particularly interested in helping companies create an environment that feels like a Great Place to Work for their employees.
In a past life, Debbie was the Human Resources Director for 10 years in two large law firms in Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City, UT. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and in History from George Mason University in Virginia and a Master of Science in Management from the University of Maryland. She was certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) in 1996.
Diann Cattani
“The Anatomy of a White Collar Crime and Flags to Potential Misconduct“
Diann Cattani studied Business Management and Psychology while on NCAA Division IA Volleyball Scholarship at Brigham Young University. Following college, Ms. Cattani accepted a position with a boutique Human Resources Consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia where she had the opportunity to facilitate leadership development training, executive coaching, team building for Fortune 100 and 500 companies.
As a result of professional and personal ethical dilemmas, Ms. Cattani switched fields and focus. She is currently a member of Enterprise Solutions Group, Inc. a firm specializing in franchise audits, forensic accounting and financial fraud investigations.
In addition, Ms. Cattani utilizes her background in psychology, experience with numerous financial fraud schemes and exposure to fraudsters as she travels the country offering insight into why good people make bad decisions and the flags to potential misconduct.
BrandE Faupell, M.S., SPHR
Executive Director of Human Resources, Utah State University
“Wellness at USU; the Vision, the Implementation, and Lessons Learned”
BrandE Faupell has over 15 years experience in the Human Resources field. She has been at USU since January 2000, first in AAEO and now in Human Resources. She is past present of the CUPA-HR Utah chapter, and is SPHR certified. She has owned two businesses.
She received her M.S. from Utah State University in Forestry, and her B.S. from Arizona State University in recreation and spanish. She has also done advanced degree work at both Utah State University and the University of Minnesota.
Kevin Cope
President & CEO, Acumen Learning
“See the Big Picture: Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career & Company”
Kevin Cope is not only a successful executive, he’s a trusted resource and confidante to top business leaders from around the world. Having mastered his business acumen at the Covey Leadership Institute, Kevin spent a decade helping FranklinCovey define the role of a leader in the 21st century. Recognizing that business acumen is essential to leadership development, Kevin partnered with Stephen M.R. Covey to start Acumen Learning in 2002 – a specialized training company that has introduced their Five Business Drivers model to 16 of the Fortune 50. “Smart, insightful, straightforward, engaging” are just some of the words used consistently by business leaders to describe Kevin. (more…)
Sherri Hollingsworth
Chief Hospitals Human Resources Officer, University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics
“Solutions to Getting Your Organization and Recruitment Team Working Together”
Sherri Hollingsworth is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the University of utah Hospitals and Clinics. The hospitals and clinics employ over 8,000 employees.
As a member of the University Hospital executive team, Sherri is responsible for human resources strategy and operations for the hospitals and clinics. her primary emphasis is on talent acquisition and retention, empoyee relations, compensation, training and development.
Sherri has spent over 20 years in healthcare human resources holding leadership positions at three Southern California hospitals and a health maintenance organization. She has also been an active board member and held several leadership positions, including President, for the Healthcare Human Resources Management Association. Sherri is a graduate of UCLA.
Luz Robles, M.A.
Utah State Senator
Luz Robles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.
In 2005 she was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman, as the first Director for the State Office of Ethnic Affairs focusing on institutional change when dealing with state agencies and the services they provide to the ethnic community of the state of Utah. In this position she oversaw the directors of the Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino and Pacific Islander Affairs. She currently works as Vice President for Zions Bank managin the Hispanic/Latino Market. She is committed to finding equity and justice for all people and has served in many capacities in different boards of non-profit organizations and other agencies. She currently serves on the boards of Guadalupe Schools, Kingsbury Hall, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Regence Caring Foundation, Utah Health Policy Project, and on the College of Social and Behavioral Science Advisory board for the University of Utah. On November 4, 2009, Luz was elected to the Utah State Senate representing District 1 (Westside of Salt Lake City and parts of West Valley City). (more…)
