This workshop will provide special focus on our work environment and how to change it from a negative to a positive, utilizing the tools, resources and people you already have in place. The workshop will also provide tools to help keep employees focused in times of rapid change, and help HR professionals and Management find opportunities in an economic environment that seems to be in total chaos.

Paul Pierce provides performance improvement consultation to business, education, government and non-profit organizations. Paul is recognized in the community for his leadership in the facilitation of strategic planning and visioning sessions, staff and board development retreats, and community, stakeholder and interest group meetings.

Paul has created and implemented employee development programs for leadership and management, safety awareness and respect in the workplace. His approach to teaching and group/team development is highly interactive and incorporates graphic facilitation, appreciative inquiry and a health does of humor to make things happen.

Paul's experience includes being a Division Manager for the City of Fresno, and Adjunct University Faculty members, Planning Commissioner for the County of Fresno, and the City Planner for the City of Fresno. Paul has also served as the Senior Trainer for the Valley Employers Association and Past President for the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development.

Paul's educational background includes a Master in Human Resource & Organization Development from the University of San Francisco, and a BA in English from California State University in Fresno, with additional studies in psychology, philosophy and industrial arts.

Participants in Paul's workshops learn together in an environment that enhances productivity and innovative thinking.

Work/Life Balance: The Best of Having it All
Dr. Jacqueline L. Ryle

Work/life balance is an important part of a comprehensive wellness program for employees. As employers we need to provide opportunities for our employees to attain that balance. Supporting programs like weight watchers at work, gym memberships, employee assistance programs, motivational speakers, safety training, health fairs, etc., are all great ways to support the balance in our employees’ lives.

From this workshop, participants will be able to take away information and tools that can help educate our employees on how to achieve the balance that brings out the best in them and how to get the best out of all parts of their lives, work and personal. Some of the tools will include successful methods and techniques for
Achieving better balance leading to more satisfaction and reduced stress on the job.
Greater insight on the elements of balancing work and personal life.
Enhanced understanding of methods and techniques for achieving that balance.
Identification of the rewards attainable in our work and personal lives when we accomplish a successful life balance.

Dr. Jacqueline L. "Jackie" Ryle owns Ryle Resources/Empowerment Strategies, offering individual and organizational facilitation and consultation. Known nationally for her training, facilitation, seminars and workshops, Dr. Ryle offers organizational intervention on a wide variety of topics, focusing on collaboration, communications, motivation, conflict resolution, and strategic planning. She is dedicated to assisting individuals to realize and fulfill their potential, and to assisting organizations in capacity building and strategic planning to effectively meet their goals and objectives.

Dr. Ryle hosts a weekly television interview program on community affairs, now in its 22nd year, and currently serves on the Advisory Council for CSUF American Humanics Program and the Boards of the Association for Conflict Resolution Fresno Chapter and Care Fresno. She is past President of the Marjaree Mason Center Board and the Fresno Metropolitan Rotary Club, and served as Charter President of the Central California Dispute Resolution Association and the Central California Division of the City Clerks Association of California. She is a graduate of the inaugural class of the San Joaquin Valley Civic Leadership Program, and Class One of Leadership Fresno.

Dr. Ryle has a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development, a Masters Degree in Human Resources and Organization Development, a Masters Degree in Human Development, and a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration. She holds a Lifetime Distinction with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Advanced Academy for Education, is a Certified Municipal Clerk, and holds certificates in facilitation, mediation, and managerial coaching.

Professionally, Dr. Ryle served as City Clerk for the City of Fresno for 28 of her 32 years with the City; coordinated the City's Human Resource and Organizational Development Program; and currently instructs courses for Alliant International University in the Masters in Organization Behavior and PsyD. Programs, and teaches in the American Humanics Program at California State University, Fresno. She has presented to delegations from Belarus, Kostromos and Vladivostok, Russia on behalf of the Community Connections Program, CSUF, and has facilitated nationally for the National Association for Community Mediation, and the Health Education Council.

Dr. Ryle's 40+ year span of community service is extensive, and includes service to dozens of non profit agencies and the Counties of Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings, Tulare, Stanislaus and Placer.

Workplace Violence: Top 10 Lessons
Mr. Barry Nixon
Nationally Renowned Speaker

This presentation will provide an overview of some of the prominent workplace violence incidents in the last several years and some of the key lessons learned along with specific tips on actions that can be implemented in an organization. The presentation will include the most current statistics and information on workplace violence and practical advice that small businesses can implement as well as insights for larger businesses.

W. Barry Nixon is the Executive Director, the National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc., a company focused on assisting organizations to effectively implement programs to prevent workplace violence. With over 20 years in Human Resources and Organization Development in Fortune 500 companies, Mr. Nixon is well grounded in the real issues companies face and develops practical solutions based on his real life experiences.

Prior to founding the Institute, Mr. Nixon studied 'General Management' in the Executive Management Program, University of Hawaii. He earned a masters’ degree in Human Resource Development from the New School University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Northeastern University. Mr. Nixon has also completed the Advanced Human Resource Management program of Babson College, as well as the certification programs in Organization Development from National Training Laboratories, Systems Thinking from MIT, and the highly acclaimed "Creating Competitive Advantage through Human Resources," program from the University of Michigan's School of Industrial Relations. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a trained Mediator, certified Anger Management facilitator, Security Specialist, Trauma Response Specialist and earned a certificate in Background Investigations from the Public Safety Institute, Santa Rosa College.

In addition, he is a member of ASIS International’s Crisis Management Council and served on ASIS International’s Workplace Violence Prevention Guidelines Committee. He is currently representing SHRM on a joint commission with ASIS International to create the first Standard for Workplace Violence Prevention. He is also a member of the Security Executive Council Advising Editors for Security Magazine, the past National President of the American Association for Anger Management Providers and is currently Co-Chair, International Committee, NAPBS leading their effort to establish an international network of professional background screening firms. As a specialist in workplace violence prevention he has gained a reputation for developing comprehensive programs that are practical in nature and which fit the needs of the client. His Workplace Violence Prevention programs cover the full realm of this troubling issue helping companies to assess their vulnerability, implement readiness programs, establish crisis management teams, train employees and managers, address physical security issues and revise or add new policies to effectively address this critical issue. In essence, he helps organizations to implement an effective program to minimize the likeliness of a major workplace violence incident occurring and to be ready in the event one should actually occur.

He served as the Workplace Violence Prevention consultant for the State of California for over nine years, providing consulting and training to managers and employees. Some of his other clients include Gillette, Canon, Beckman-Coulter, CA Department of Transportation, Southern California Edison, Orange County Sanitation, National Transit Institute, City of Pasadena, Blue Shield Foundation, Macy’s, Peterson Brothers Construction, District of Columbia Water & Sanitation Authority, etc. He also teaches human resource management courses at several universities. In addition, Mr. Nixon is a frequently requested speaker both in the US and internationally on the subject of Workplace Violence and Background Screening. He recently presented at the World HR Congress held in Singapore and the Annual India’s Preemployment Conference in Bangalore.

He is the creator of the award winning web site www.Workplaceviolence911.com and the leading directory of background screening firms, www.PreemploymentDirectory.com. He has written three books on workplace violence and a new book ‘Background Screening and Investigations: Managing Risk in the Hiring Process from the HR and Security Perspective.‘ He Published The Employment Screening Journal, the first magazine to focus on employment screening processes, practices and resources.

He has appeared on CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal Radio, United Kingdom – National Talk Radio and hosted the popular radio talk show - 'Workplace Violence Today," and authored the ‘Ask the Expert’ column in The Workplace Violence Reporter. His firm recently purchased the publication and will re-launch it as The Workplace Violence Report in 2010. He was also named as ‘One of the Top 25 Most Influential People in Security’ by Security Magazine in 2009.

Mock Trial
Mr. Douglas Larsen, Esq.

The mock trial will focus on an important part of any wrongful termination lawsuit – the deposition of the HR professional. The deposition of the HR professional is a critical part of the case. The HR manager must present the company’s best case, be familiar with all of the facts of the case, and present him or herself as appear sincere, empathetic and competent.

What should you expect? What will be asked of you? Why is it important? How important are the answers provided by the HR professional to the lawsuit? What are the consequences of “wrong” answers and the benefits of “good” answers? What can the HR professional do now to prepare for the deposition?

Doug Larsen is an employment law and business litigation attorney with Fishman, Larsen, Goldring & Zeitler. Much of his practice is devoted to compliance – helping employers avoid litigation with their workers. He counsels management on establishing and maintaining appropriate employment practices, and resolving personnel issues. He also handles disputes and represents businesses in state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Labor Commissioner, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and the Employment Development Department.