Breezing Through Compliance Challenges

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Conference Check-in and Vendor Setup

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Bonus Workshop:
“Transforming Toxic Behavior” with Carol Marzouk

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Book Signing with Carol Marzouk
Author of the national bestseller “Taming Corporate Beasts”

5:30 PM
Welcome Reception
Join us as we kick off the CEAC Conference!
Reception sponsored by AALRR.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

7:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Registration and Exhibit Viewing

7:30 AM – 8:15 AM
Buffet Breakfast and Exhibit Viewing

8:15 AM – 9:15 AM
Welcome and Introduction by Tisha Snyder, CEAC President

GENERAL SESSION – "Breaking Waves: Employment Law Update" - William Betley, Partner AALRR

California employers continually update their policies and procedures to comply with new laws. This session will cover recent legislation, important court rulings, and practical strategies to reduce employer risk. Topics include:

1. Current HR, employment, and litigation trends
2. Overview of the latest California legal requirements
3. Best practices for ensuring compliance

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
Break and Exhibit Viewing

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Session 1 – Choose One of Two Workshops

• “Ripple or Current: Social Media in the Workplace”
  Glen Williams, Of Counsel, AALRR Social media has become an integral part of employees’ personal and professional lives. This presentation will address social media usage that affects the workplace, with a focus on privacy, harassment, discrimination, employee comments, NLRB compliance, and responsible usage. Attendees will gain understand how a social media policy can reduce company liability. Review how activities Off-campus can still be regulated. Receive key clauses to any policy addressing social media

• “Neuroscience of Workplace Performance & Engagement”
  Dr. Mayra Austin, CEO & Founder of Management Cue" In this immersive workshop, managers and HR professionals will explore the science behind workplace performance and engagement through the lens of neuroscience. Backed by cutting-edge research, this session uncovers how cognitive functions, stress responses, and brain-based strategies directly impact productivity, decision-making, and employee motivation.

Attendees will gain a deep understanding of how to optimize brain function for peak performance, enhance team engagement, and foster a work environment that supports focus, creativity, and resilience. Key takeaways include neuroscience-backed techniques for improving leadership effectiveness, reducing cognitive stress, and sustaining high-performance workplace cultures.

Designed specifically for managers and HR professionals, this workshop bridges the gap between theory and practical application, equipping participants with actionable strategies to drive performance, engagement, and well-being in their teams.

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
CEAC Veterans Employer of the Year Awards Recognition & Plated Luncheon

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Break and Exhibit Viewing

1:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Session 2 – Choose One of Two Workshops

• “When the Tide Goes Out: Administering Leaves in the Workplace”
  Ann Smith, Partner, AALRR Leave obligations continue to expand for California employers. This presentation will review the different types of leaves, the various California and federal laws that govern them, and best practices employers can leverage to stay compliant. In-depth discussion of California leave entitlements, (2) Tips to streamline the interactive process, and (3) Best practices when handling difficult leave situations
• "Group Benefits Programs: DOL Preparedness for Employers" - Rob Boldt, MBA, Executive Vice President, Employee Benefits, IMA Financial Group: Running an employer sponsored benefit program obligates employers to follow many different laws and regulations. These laws and regulations represent risk as employers endeavor to be compliant with all areas. Join Rob Boldt as he discusses what it means to be compliant and how to pass a DOL audit. The presentation will review areas of the law that govern group benefit programs including ERISA, ACA and IRS rules.

• Understand the risk of running a group benefits program

• Review major sections of laws governing benefit plans

· IRS non-discrimination rules

· ACA reporting requirements

· ERISA disclosure rules and more

• Learn how to pass a DOL audit

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Break and Exhibit Viewing

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Session 3 – Choose One Workshop

• “Wave Hopping and Wipeouts: Managing Across Generations”
  Susan Steward, Partner, AALRR With individuals enjoying longer careers, multiple generations often encompass the workforce. Each segment offers both rewards and challenges. From mindsets to communication styles managing the workforce can be challenging. Learn to bridge the gaps between generations and honor the strengths that each brings to the workplace so that managers and employees of all ages can flourish. Understanding the differences and maximizing each generation’s strengths will benefit both the organization and its workers.

• "The AI Tsunami is Approaching" - Paul Fleck, Of Counsel, AALRR Artificial Intelligence (AI) is arguably the wave of the future, and it seems to be creating as many questions for employers as it answers. This presentation will the address risk to employers and areas of consideration when developing company policies. (1) Receive the key compliance issues for your organization on AI in the workplace (2) In depth discussion of the potential risks employer are facing (3) The current state of the law governing IA usage

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Break and Exhibit Viewing

5:30 PM
Dinner and CEAC Awards Recognition Ceremony

Friday, June 6, 2025 – CEAC Business Meeting and Training
7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Buffet Breakfast
8:00 – 9:15 a.m. General Business Meeting, Introduction of CEAC Board Members, and Officer Elections
9:15 – 9:30 a.m. Break and Hotel Check-Out
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Joint EDD/EAC Training Session
12:00 p.m. Conference Concludes

Speakers BIO:

Rob Boldt is an Executive Vice President with IMA where he consults with for-profit and nonprofit businesses on ways to provide cost effective employee benefits programs that increase overall employee satisfaction. Rob helps clients to understand the latest industry trends in HR, employee benefits and compliance. Rob has been with IMA for 11 years and serves in a multi-faceted role of client service and consultation, business development and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Rob earned his MBA from Perpperdine’s Graziadio School of Business Management in 2011 and volunteers with several local nonprofits. Rob often speaks on topics related to employee benefits, compliance, leadership and communication.

Dr. Austin operates as a dynamic management and operations specialist based in Fullerton, California. Her expertise spans management science, training, development, and the integration of neuroscience principles. As CEO & Founder of Management Cues, LLC, Dr. Austin has collaborated nationwide, impacting organizations such as Babcock Laboratories, B-K Lighting, and ClearFreight. Her focus centers on elevating management and leadership effectiveness through a neuroscience-backed framework. With decades devoted to the workforce, Dr. Austin passionately champions workforce equity and the development of cultural competency among managers and leaders, skillfully executed through her expert strategic approach. When not immersed in her professional endeavors, Dr. Austin treasures time with her family—her husband, two teenage boys, and German Shepherd, Sally—whether hiking trails or cheering enthusiastically at basketball games.

Ann Smith is a skilled litigator who represents management in a wide range of employment litigation, defending against claims such as wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and leave violations. With extensive experience in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies like the U.S. Department of Labor and the EEOC, she also provides counsel on employment matters including employee discipline, wage and hour compliance, and family leave laws. A frequent drafter of employment agreements, policies, and compensation plans, Ms. Smith serves as Chair of AALRR’s Disability Leave Committee, where she addresses emerging issues in disability leave law. Active in her community, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Cerritos Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Brea Chamber of Commerce's Women Leadership Committee, regularly speaking on employment law topics to HR professionals and community groups.

Glen Williams has counseled and represented business management in all manner of employment matters including investigations and litigation of claims of discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination, as well as wage and hour matters and labor union relations. His broad range of legal experience ranges from representing corporate entities and individuals in labor, employment, personal injury, and construction defect matters to defending public entities and public officials in civil rights and employment matters. Mr. Williams has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of legal matters from back-pay disputes before the Labor Commissioner or single-plaintiff discrimination claims, to labor board hearings on election objections and multi-million dollar wage and hour class actions in state and federal courts.

William Betley represents employers in all areas of employment law, including unlawful harassment, discrimination, employee classification, wage and hour, class action, and PAGA matters. He provides his clients full service representation from advice and counsel through trial focusing on an aggressive yet practical approach to risk management and conflict resolution. Mr. Betley is a former President of the California Employers Advisory Council (CEAC) and was recently elected to serve as that organization’s Vice President. He is also the Chairperson of the Inland Valley Employers Advisory Council and acts as the CEAC’s Regional Vice President in the Inland Empire.

Paul Fleck, the former Chair of AALRR's Private Labor and Employment Practice Group, is a trusted advisor who helps businesses navigate the complexities of federal, state, and local employment and labor laws. Exclusively representing management in employment litigation, he defends clients against claims involving wage and hour violations, wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, and leave of absence violations. Mr. Fleck represents employers in both California and federal courts, as well as before agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the EEOC, the California Civil Rights Department, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. He is also an active educator, regularly conducting continuing education programs for attorneys and training sessions for managers, supervisors, and HR professionals nationwide. As the chair of AALRR’s Employment Law Conference, he oversees an event that attracts over 1,000 attendees each year.

Susan Steward provides expert legal representation to a diverse range of clients, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations, government entities, and trade associations, specializing in employment law matters such as defending claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She is highly skilled in handling class action cases and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) matters, offering comprehensive counsel on various employment issues. With a track record of securing significant victories and early out-of-court resolutions, Ms. Steward litigates both single and multi-plaintiff actions in state and federal courts, as well as representing clients in administrative agency matters and conducting large-scale workplace investigations. She serves a wide array of industries, from manufacturing to staffing companies, providing tailored advice, drafting staffing agreements, and delivering customized training. Ms. Steward’s legal expertise is bolstered by her prior experience in management and human resources in the healthcare sector, as well as her MBA, allowing her to offer practical, insightful advice that adds value to her clients' operations.

Note: If you chose to mail your reservation and payment, please include your name, email address, and state which sessions you are chosing, along with a check to: San Gabriel Valley EAC, P.O. Box 5080, Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Make checks payable to: CEAC

5.5 HRCI and SHRM Recertification Credits Available

Vendor Tables available.