Spring 2023 Speakers

Owner
Coaching and Consulting by Ronee

Ronee Andersen is passionate about helping others become strong leaders and individuals both personally and professionally.   She founded Coaching and Consulting by Ronee in May 2019.   Her business focuses on helping others reach their full potential by leveraging leadership, emotional intelligence, team building, communication, and company culture.

Before starting her own business, Ronee worked in Human Resources for 20 years overseeing the HR function for eleven of those years.  She has experience working in companies from 50 to 6,000 employees.  Those companies have included family-owned businesses, private and publicly traded companies, as well as city and county government.  She has been a contributing member of the leadership and executive teams.

She has an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources.   She is a certified coach through Coach Training Alliance.  Ronee, also, has an Advanced Certificate in Strategic HR from Cornell University, a Certificate in Organizational Analysis from Stanford University, and a Certificate in Talent Optimization from Predictive Index.

Business Immigration Lawyer
Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm

Danielle practices in the area of corporate immigration law. She assists employers with immigration compliance plans, policies and procedures, I-9 audits, E-Verify compliance, and immigration related defense from ICE worksite enforcement investigations. Danielle assists the firm’s clients with visas for international personnel, investors, and executives, including E-1, E-2, L-1, H-1B, P, O visas, and employment-based green cards.

Bar Admissions
• Missouri, 2014
• Kansas, 2015

Education
• University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School of Management, M.B.A., 2019
• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D., 2014, Cum Laude
• University of Missouri-Columbia, B.A., 2010

Teaching
Ms. Atchison is an Adjunct Professor of Law by the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. She teaches practical, hands-on credit hour courses every year, alternating between Corporate Immigration Compliance, U.S. Employer Options for International Personnel Visas, and Relief for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence under Violence Against Women Act.

Professional Memberships / Leadership
• Missouri Bar, YLS District 3 Representative, Secretary/Treasurer
• Missouri Bar, Immigration Law Committee Past-Chair
• Kansas Bar Association, Board of Governors
• Earl O’Connor Inn of Court, Co-Treasurer
• Lawyers Association of Kansas City, President-Elect
• Johnson County Bar Association, Board of Directors
• Federal Bar Association, Secretary
• Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
• American Immigration Lawyers Association

Professional Recognition
• Kansas Bar Association, Pro Bono Award, 2017
• The Missouri Bar, Pro Bono Award, 2017
• KCMBA Volunteer of the Month, 2017
• Thomson Reuters: Super-Lawyer Rising Star, based on ratings by her peers, 2019 & 2020
• Missouri Lawyers’ Media Women’s Justice Pro Bono Award, 2020
• Missouri Lawyers’ Media Up-and-Coming Award, 2020
• The Missouri Bar Pro Bono Publico Award, 2020
• The Missouri Bar Tom Cochran Community Service Award, 2020

Attorney 1
Iowa Civil Rights Commission

Joe Austen is an attorney with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. The Commission is a neutral, fact-finding agency, and its mission is to end discrimination within the state of Iowa. He received his Bachelor’s degrees in secondary education and English from the University of Iowa in 2004, and his J.D. from the University of Iowa in 2010. His past experience included a decade of running a solo practice focusing on criminal defense, appeals, and consumer bankruptcy.

Director
A.W. Companies, Inc

Milan draws from 20 years of contact center operational experience from American Express and Blue Cross Blue Shield, and sales management experience.  Milan strives to improve companies’ hiring, onboarding, training, and employee engagement practices through The Predictive Index.  Milan holds several Certifications with The Predictive Index and Stanford University School of Medicine for Human Behaviors & Psychology for High Performance.

Business Strategist
Non-Profit Sector

Lisa is a business strategist and an executive in the nonprofit sector. In addition, she has traveled the globe to 21 countries and has brought the globe home hosting countless international students. These experiences have equipped her to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Organizations and individuals started to ask Lisa how to create connections and bring people together. In all of her work with organizations and individuals, she has realized the skills needed to connect people with different perspectives that work leaders need today in a hot button climate.

Lisa has 14 years skilled in presentation composition, and engaging, articulate audience presentations. She loves to speak and coach! She has been a public speaker for human trafficking awareness and food insecurity for schools, clubs, churches, and businesses. Lisa has now turned these awareness strategies into workshops to introduce proven tools to allow anyone to connect, learn from one another, and work toward a common goal in the face of hot button issues. She coached basketball and volleyball at the collegiate level.

Lisa energizes, encourages, and knows how to command a room. She loves building her social and professional network! Lisa is involved in her community and is active member of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Community Leadership Program Class of 2023.

Founder
BecomeMore Group

Scott Burgmeyer, Leadership Excellence, Quality, Lean, Six Sigma & Baldrige Guru, is the founder & CEO of BecomeMore Group. For over 30 years, Scott has worked and consulted in manufacturing, technology, education, finance and health care industries.  Scott has held QA Manager, CI Manager, Human Resources & Talent Director, SVP Quality & Improvement, and Chief Improvement Officer titles.

As a Master Black Belt and creator of The DMAIC Way®, Scott’s goal is for everyone to Make it Better!  Make it Stick!

Immigration Department Chair
Dentons Davis Brown

Lori Chesser is a preeminent immigration lawyer and advocate. With a degree in finance, she initially practiced corporate law. Recognizing the need for immigration services in Iowa, she developed that practice and has worked primarily in immigration law for more than 30 years.

 Lori assists employers, business owners, and individuals as they navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. Her clients range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in sectors including healthcare, IT, insurance, agriculture, chemical, higher education, churches, and other non-profit entities.

 She also advises employers in I-9 compliance and defends them in Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) audits. She has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Verification and Documentation national liaison committee for several years, liaising directly with ICE and related agencies to clarify the process and advocate for improvements.

 One client recently provided this feedback, “I feel like I get top-notch really high-quality work from her; she’s so knowledgeable about the industry and has a ton of experience. She’s good at helping with strategic planning and whether it’s implementing a new policy or trying something new, she can really provide that expert opinion and advice. Her advice goes a long way.”

Shareholder
Dentons Davis Brown

Beth knows that the cornerstone of any effective human resources management strategy is a strong policy development and implementation process that adapts to the changing needs of her clients. Every report of discrimination, harassment or retaliation presents an opportunity for businesses to improve and every complex medical return to work situation or business visa conundrum presents an opportunity for businesses to foster a better connection with employees. From partnering with businesses to assess liability to training employees and fighting to protect confidential and trade secret information, it is important to Beth that her clients receive practical legal advice and a game plan for the future.

Employment
Beth represents businesses across a variety of industries including technology, manufacturing, and agriculture and partners with employers of all sizes to find solutions to their workforce-related challenges in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Hiring, Discipline and Discharge
Beth regularly works with employers to prepare enforceable employment agreements and when relationships break down, she devises creative solutions for separating employees while minimizing risk.

Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Workers’ Compensation
With an extensive background in workers’ compensation, FMLA and ADA, Beth helps her clients manage medical leave and return to work issues without falling out of compliance.

Discrimination, Retaliation and Harassment
Beth partners with her clients to develop workable policies to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and regularly provides training on these topics. She also serves as an independent investigator and is a certified mediator.

Restrictive Covenants
Having enforced and defended non-compete, non-solicitation, and other restrictive covenants on behalf of employers and employees and with talent management at a premium, Beth crafts these arrangements to protect her client in this highly competitive labor market.

Immigration
Beth works with employers to develop plans for recruitment and compliance when foreign-born talent is necessary. She guides employers through the business visa process and also advises on policies and procedures related to immigration.

Beth has experience handling:

• H-1B visas and transfers
• H-2A program compliance
• L-1 visas
• J-1 waivers
• F-1 student issues, including STEM OPT
• I-9 compliance and training

Experience

• Long-term care facility: Provided general employment advice and counseling on a myriad of complicated situations for a long-term care facility amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Manufacturer: Defended large manufacturer in a high dollar and complex lawsuit involving harassment discrimination assault and battery. Reached a low five-figure settlement, which was a positive outcome for the client.
• Business: Successfully negotiated a complex retention arrangement for a C-suite employee of a highly visible business.
• Manufacturer: Represented large manufacturer in administrative contested case litigation in front of the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner where the claimant was permanently and totally disabled. Secured exceedingly favorable settlement.
• Public retirement system: Defended a municipal retirement system in a certiorari action involving a member seeking to overturn a denial of an accidental disability pension. Defendant prevailed in having the writ annulled and costs assessed to the member.
• Manufacturer: Represented heavy manufacturer in trade secret misappropriation enforcement action involving a former employee which resulted in the employee’s payment of monetary damages and settlement.

Recognition

• Chambers USA 2021: Ranked Labor and Employment, Iowa Band 3. Beth has been ranked since 2019.
• The Best Lawyers in America^© 2020, Labor & Employment Law and Workers’ Compensation Law. Beth has been ranked since 2012 for Workers’ Compensation and since 2018 for Labor and Employment.
• Great Plains Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor Law since 2016. She was first named to the list in 2014 as a rising star.

Honors and Awards

• Junior League of Des Moines, Sustainer of the Year Award, 2020
• Des Moines Business Record Forty Under 40, 2011
• Junior League of Des Moines, Community Service Award, 2010

Insights

• Author, “New Opportunities to Hire Temporary Foreign Workers: the H-2B visa Program Gets a Needed Boost,” Greater Des Moines Partnership, April 2021
• Author, “Update from Social Security Administration on No-Match Letters,” The Global Mobility Review, March 2021
• Editor, Iowa Human Resource Manual, 2011-2021

Activities and Affiliations

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Iowa Association of Workers Compensation Attorneys
• Iowa State Bar Association
• Labor and Employment Law Section
• Polk County Bar Association
• Polk County Women Attorneys

Community Involvement and Pro Bono

• Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, Chair
• Iowa Department of Human Rights, board member
• Drake University Law School Board of Counselors, board member
• Dowling Catholic Riptide Swim Club, vice president
• Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, board member
• Greater Des Moines Partnership Talent Development Board, board member
• Iowa Center for Economic Success Strategic Advisory Committee, member
• Young Women’s Resource Center Advisory Board, member

Presentations

• Presenter, “Navigating Complex Return to Work Situations: Pandemic Issues and Beyond,” Iowa Employment Conference, April 2021
• Presenter, “Feed Your Mind – Navigating COVID-19: Vaccine, Leave, and Workforce Issues,” FuseDSM, April 2021
• Presenter, “Legal Implications of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives,” Iowa Employment Conference, October 2020
• Presenter, “Hiring and Discharge,” Union County Development Association, May 2020
• Presenter, “COVID-19 and Iowa’s Unemployment Compensation System,” Iowa Association of Business and Industry, May 2020
• Presenter, “Renaissance Executive Forum COVID-19,” April 2020
• Presenter, “Workers’ Compensation and Risk Management,” Master Builders of Iowa, February 2020

Memberships

• Society for Human Resource Management

Attorney/Shareholder
Nyemaster Goode, PC

Thomas M. Cunningham is the Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Department at Nyemaster, Goode, P. C. in Des Moines, Iowa.   Tom has been honored by being admitted to membership in the peer-reviewed societies Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Iowa Super Lawyers, Great Plains Super Lawyers and Chambers USA Leading Lawyers for Business, all in the area of Labor & Employment Law and related litigation.  He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa. His practice consists of representing private and public sector management clients in all areas of labor and employment law, with an emphasis on trials in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including discrimination and civil rights cases, and FMLA, ADA, wage/hour, OSHA, MSHA, and affirmative action matters. In addition, Tom represents employers in the traditional labor law arena, having advised employers in union avoidance tactics and organizational campaigns and defended employers from unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board.

Director
Accentus Health

Twenty-four years of success in the Behavioral/Mental Health and Coaching professions. COSMH works with parents, schools, organizations, & their student-athletes to provide support, tools, and coaching directly to families to create a Mental Health Safe Environment and develop Forever Maintenance plans.     As a result, dreams, goals, and outcomes are achieved by our Student-Athletes & their Families as they learn to manage and apply their playbooks in Social, Academic, and Athletic settings!

Keynote Speaker- Corporate Trainer
Rob Dubin

Rob Dubin was an award-winning filmmaker who traveled the world making TV programs and commercials for Fortune 500 companies. He is also a serial entrepreneur who created multiple 7 figure businesses. At the age of 42 Rob and his wife retired, sold their home, moved onto a 40’ sailboat, and spent the next 17 years sailing around the world studying human happiness and fulfillment. Today Rob gives back by teaching courses in employee happiness which increase engagement, reduce resignations, and add to profits. Rob interweaves lessons learned while sailing with the science of human happiness resulting in memorable talks with immediately applicable strategies for his audiences.

Speaker, Coach, Joy Connoisseur
Lisa Even

Lisa is a corporate culture junkie, turned entrepreneur, who is cheering loud for all those who want to Have Good Ripple Effect.

She delivers high-energy keynotes and workshops that challenge leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to think beyond their backyards, and realize that they happen to the world, and not the other way around.

Trained in Public Relations and Public Administration, Lisa has a unique background in ops leadership and project management. She attributes her credibility to R&R Cafe, the tiny cafe in Eastern Iowa where she waitressed in high school, and the first group of direct reports that she had in corporate America, those 65 people did more than they will ever know!

Through Speaking at conferences and annual retreats, team workshops in organizations (big and small). and lxl coaching, Lisa helps individuals and teams make a BIG splash and Have a bigger and better Ripple Effect!

Senior Consultant
Rural Policy Partners

Haglund provides behavioral health subject matter expertise, public policy analysis, and system design consultation and is a founding member of Rural Policy Partners. Haglund brings with him over 20 years of experience leading, managing and navigating the behavioral healthcare system in numerous leadership and consultative roles.

Haglund provides candid guidance through challenging policy requirements. In addition, Haglund understands the uniqueness of rural Iowa and as a seasoned public speaker draws upon the lessons he has learned from his own multigenerational family farm. As co-owner of Boone County based Hickory Grove Family Farm, Haglund is the 5th generation to continue the
family farming tradition.

Keeping up with the constant evolving pace of science, technology, and management of uncertainty can be overwhelming. Haglund understands first hand juggling all of this is required to own and operate a technology informed, financially viable, sustainable family business. This unique perspective affords Haglund to lead engaging, relatable discussions on topics
such as stress management, emotional wellness, public policy, and burnout.

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

• Iowa Employment Conference
• IaPELRA Iowa Public Employers Labor Relations Association Conference
• Iowa Department of Public Health
• Iowa Caregivers
• Iowa Mental Health Counselor Association Annual Conference
• The Iowa Biotech Showcase & Conference
• AEI Play Cultivating Curiosity (Art Educators of Iowa)

SPEAKING TOPICS

• Farm and Ranch Succession Challenges
• Emotional Wellbeing
• Mental Health Literacy
• Emotional Support During Disaster Response
• Workplace and Employee Well-Being

Title Shareholder
Dentons Davis Brown

Maggie focuses on employment litigation, employment practices liability insurance defense, and providing day-to-day and strategic advice to employers. Maggie’s ability to navigate both the business and litigation aspects of employment law makes her an asset to her clients.

Employment Law and Litigation
Maggie defends a wide variety of employers including hospitals, municipalities, large and small businesses, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, rental property management companies, insurance companies, not-for-profit organizations, and manufacturers in disputes related to:

• Labor and unions
• Discrimination/harassment
• Civil rights claims
• FMLA interference and retaliation
• Drug Testing
• OSHA compliance
• Wrongful termination
• Retaliation
• Breach of contract/non-compete agreements
• Unemployment claims
• ADA compliance and reasonable accommodations
• Religious accommodations
• COVID-19

She advises and defends employers, managers, and HR professionals in court, mediation, arbitration, and administrative forums, including Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Iowa OSHA, OSHA, and Iowa Workforce Development.

Maggie also advises and counsels employers on how to minimize liability and exposure and avoid litigation by conducting employee trainings, drafting policies, advising on policy implementation, and reviewing existing policies and procedures for compliance.

Employment Practices Liability Insurance Defense
Maggie works with insurance companies and self-insured clients to defend a variety of employment-related claims and/or lawsuits. This includes defending employers through their employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policies for wrongful termination, harassment/discrimination, retaliation, and other civil rights complaints.

Leadership
Maggie is a member of the Dentons Davis Brown Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the firm’s Professional Personnel Committee, which handles attorney employment matters, including hiring, associate training. As an associate, Maggie previously served as the summer associate program coordinator and as the associate representative on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Personal
Maggie is an active member of the community and has volunteered her time with several local non-profit organizations. For the last five years, Maggie has volunteered hundreds of hours of her time coaching middle school and high school mock trial teams. Maggie was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She enjoys playing volleyball, watching Hawkeye football, and learning/speaking the Spanish language.

Experience

• Bank: Defended an Iowa bank in a wrongful termination and whistleblower matter; settled the matter out of court, a positive outcome, and helped the client create new processes and procedures to reduce risk going forward
• Agribusiness: Defended a cooperative in a wrongful death matter, successfully negotiated a confidential settlement, allowing the client to avoid the expense of litigation
• Municipality: Led a large, confidential workplace investigation, interviewing over 25 employees
• Financial Advisory: Defended the local branch and advisor of alleged sexual harassment; settled the case one week before a jury trial
• Commercial Real Estate Company: Obtained a positive jury verdict in a breach of contract matter before the Polk County District Court which enabled the client to recoup some lost revenue
• Municipality: Obtained a directed verdict in a breach of contract matter in a bench trial. Facing long litigation with numerous claims, with the directed verdict, the client saved significant money and time
• Individual: Argued an immigration issue involving the constitutional right to counsel and related issues before the Iowa Supreme Court
• Transportation Company: Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement with OSHA to reclassify and reduce penalties minimizing long-term and short-term risks following the death of an employee
• Retailer: Successfully obtained dismissal of a case against a retailer through its EPL insurance carrier for alleged violations of Iowa’s drug testing laws
• Hospital: Defended and settled a wrongful termination suit against a hospital for under $10,000
• Pro Bono, Individual: Obtained clemency from President Barack Obama for a federal prisoner who had been serving an extended sentence for non-violent drug offenses under sentencing guidelines no longer in effect
• Manufacturer: Successfully negotiated an early settlement with OSHA. As part of the settlement, advised the client on changes to procedures to reduce risk of future accidents

Recognition

• Great Plains Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2021: Ranked in Business Litigation. Maggie has been included on the list since 2016.

Honors and Awards

• Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, class of 2018

In the Media

• Quoted, “How to write an effective employee handbook,” Iowa Business Journal, February 2017

Insights

• Dentons Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog Contributor
• Author, “Waiting for the COVID-19 Vaccine? Don’t Waste Your Time, Create a Plan Now,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, September 2020
• Author, “Requiring Face Masks for Employees, Customers, and Visitors,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, August 2020
• Author, “Transitioning to a Permanent Remote Workforce,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, August 2020
• Author, “Growing Fears May Equal Growing Efforts to Unionize,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, May 2020
• Author, “It’s Never Too Early to Have a Plan,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, April 2020
• Author, “Fight the COVID-19 Virus, Not Employee Protected Speech,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, April 2020
• Co-Author, “Employer Paid Leave Policy for Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, April 2020
• Author, “Options for COVID-19 Reduced Work,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, March 2020
• Author, “Hijabs, Tattoos, Dreadlocks, and More: Grooming and Appearance Policy Drafting and Enforcement for Staying Out of Legal Trouble, Religious Accommodation and Discrimination,” BLR, October 2019
• Co-Author, “Bargaining Obligations when Acquiring a Unionized Business,” Davis Brown Employment and Labor Law Blog, August 2019

Activities and Affiliations

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, C. Edwin Moore American Inn of Court
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member, Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys
• Member, Iowa State Bar Association
  • District 5C Representative, Board of Governors
  • Founder, Diversity Committee of the Young Lawyers Division
• Member, Polk County Bar Association
  • Member, Board of Directors
• Member, Polk County Women Attorneys

Community Involvement and Pro Bono

• Coach, Valley High School Mock Trial 2014-2018; 2020-2021
• Coach, Johnston High School Mock Trial 2018-2021
• Volunteer, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Iowa
• Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity
• Volunteer, Meals from the Heartland
• Achieved clemency for a minor drug offender as Pro Bono counsel under the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice Clemency Initiative

Presentations

• Co-Presenter, “Independent Contractor Law Update,” Iowa State Bar Association Corporate Counsel and Trade Regulation Seminar, September 2022
• Co-Presenter, “FMLA Master Class,” BLR, September 2019
• Presenter, “Exploring the Interplay of the ADA and FMLA – Are you lost in the maze?” Davis Brown Spring Seminar, March 2019
• Presenter, “Social Media in the Workplace,” Greater Des Moines Partnership Small Business Workshop, February 2019
• Presenter, “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: it’s on us,” Iowa Association of Councils of Government Directors Retreat, December 2018
• Presenter, “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” Davis Brown Spring Seminar, April 2018
• Panelist, “Drug Testing in the Workplace & Labor Market Information,” Employers Council of Iowa, January 2018
• Co-Presenter, “Top Five Things to Know When Hiring Someone,” Greater Des Moines Partnership Small Business Workshop, October 2017
• Presenter, “Under Pressure? HR Solutions to Hiring, Firing, & Discipline,” Iowa Community Action Association Training Conference, July 2017
• Presenter, “From Hire to Fire: Employment Issues for New Employers,” Iowa Fruit and Vegetables Growers Conference, January 2017

Prior and Present Employment

• Dentons Davis Brown (formerly Davis Brown Law Firm)

Attorney at Law
Hopkins & Huebner, P.C.

Brent Hinders has been practicing law in Iowa for over 15 years. Brent is a graduate of Simpson College and Drake University Law School. He has substantial experience in advising boards on legal matters, interpreting ordinances and statutes, writing policies, reviewing and recommending modifications to ordinances, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, representing municipalities in court and has tried numerous jury and non-jury trials.

Brent is a former assistant Warren County attorney. He has represented clients on cases involving on a wide variety of municipal law issues, including: wind turbine issues, agricultural exemptions for property, zoning issues, takings issues, and writs of certiorari. Brent has represented municipal boards of adjustment, Zoning Commissions, and drainage districts.

Consultant
Hit Your Stride, LLC

Steve Hughes is a sought-after speaker and consultant who helps people look and sound smart when they talk.  He’s the author of Captivate and he has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Businessweek. Steve is also the proud creator of “International Face Your Fears Day” celebrated on the second Tuesday in October. A former owner of a 50-person advertising agency, today he works with a select list of blue-chip clients including regional and Fortune 500 companies, national associations, courageous nonprofits, and leading universities. Steve holds a BA in French Literature and European History from the University of Kansas and an MBA in Marketing from Washington University’s Olin School of Business, where he was awarded the prestigious Olin Cup.

Engagement Director
Remodel Health

Amanda Brink Hull has over two decades of marketing and broadcast leadership before coming to Remodel Health in March of 2022; spending the last fourteen years at KCCI (CBS) in Des Moines as General Sales Manager. She is deeply passionate about helping others and strives for the overall wellbeing of our communities. Organic health and nutrition along with fitness have been the foundation of her life for decades; so much so that she was nominated to be a Hearst Wellness Champion helping employees lead healthier lives. As part of that role, she helped organize company walks/fundraisers for both the American Heart Association and NAMI. Working with small businesses and nonprofits has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her prior role. And serving as the voluntary Station Event Coordinator for the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots for ten years was most definitely a highlight. It has now grown it to be one of the largest Toys for Tots campaigns in the country!

Throughout her career she has been a tremendous leader sitting on several boards and committees (here in Iowa and in Washington DC) along with managing the multi-million-dollar revenue arm of a television station for fourteen years. She is a graduate of both the American Institute of Business and Simpson College along with having a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University.

Working for Remodel Health and helping nonprofits find better health benefits for their employees all while finding significant savings that can be reinvested into their mission really aligns with who I am as a person; both personally and professionally. I have been blessed to have found this opportunity helping others on a very meaningful level.

Amanda is also certified in personal training, nutrition, and health coaching through the International Sports Sciences Association and provides wellness coaching in her spare time. She cares deeply about the overall wellbeing of our communities and the people within them. Organic health and nutrition along with fitness have been the foundation of her life for decades.

Amanda resides in Altoona, Iowa with her husband Josh. They have one daughter, Maslyn who is finishing up her Associates in Business at DMACC and one son, Cameron who attends Southeast Polk High School.

Certified Prevention Specialist and Prevention Manager
Employee & Family Resources

Haley Pederson Hundley is a Certified Prevention Specialist and Prevention Manager at Employee and Family Resources. Before moving into the Prevention Manager role, Haley served as a grant coordinator specializing in the field of opioid misuse prevention and general prevention services for 8 years.

Haley has earned her MHA from Walden University and her Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Iowa State University. In her free time, Haley enjoys spending time with her
daughter and husband, reading, and baking.

Vice-President
BCC Advisers

As Vice President and Shareholder of BCC Advisers, Lindy’s practice includes valuation and consulting for ESOP companies and those exploring employee ownership. She combines experience and technical expertise with a personable approach, focused on an individual company’s operational challenges and value drivers. Lindy has over thirty years of experience in financial compliance, planning and analytical roles. She joined the business valuation division of BCC Advisers in 2006, and is a frequent presenter at local, regional, and national ESOP events on topics related to employee ownership.

Co-founder
Leading Like a Buffalo

Mike is originally from Cedarburg, WI. He started his career in the middle school classroom and has continued his professional journey into executive leadership roles. Mike studied at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Concordia University Wisconsin, and Edgewood College in Madison, WI where he ultimately completed his doctoral work in the area of high-achieving organizations.

Mike continues to grow and learn as a leader while supporting others to increase their leadership skills and abilities. His leadership style focuses on building strong relationships that help individuals and teams grow together.

In 2022, Mike cofounded Leading Like a Buffalo, Inc., with a focus on helping leaders grow and organizations thrive.

Professor
University of Iowa

Brian Kaskie is a gerontologist who has studied the intersection between aging and work for more than 20 years. He has evaluated programs concerning aging workers in California, Colorado and Iowa, collaborated with the TIAA Corporation to illuminate the challenges presented by an aging academic workforce, and directed an investigation of America’s older workforce for the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. In collaboration with the nonprofit Transamerica Institute and with support provided by the Next50Initiative, Brian directed the Colorado Above-Fifty Employment Strategies (CAFES) study and then created the Colorado Age Inclusive Management Strategies (AIMS) platform. The AIMS platform offers information for employers to learn about the positive value to recruiting and retaining experienced employees, and offers a set of organizational assessments to identify different strategies that might be pursued. Over the past year, the AIMS platform onboarded the “first generation” of 34 Colorado employers. With so many entering their retirement years with the potential of living to 100,  today’s older Americans want and need to extend their working lives, especially those who have experienced setbacks during the COVID pandemic. Through this work, Brian Kaskie seeks to better understand what leads employers to recognize value in America’s aging workforce and move to adopt age-inclusive management strategies.

Vice-President
Inquirehire, Inc.

Alan Kinsey is Vice President of Inquirehire, a national provider of human resources solutions. Alan is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and he has more than 25 years of Fortune 500 executive management experience in computer software, outsourced services and consulting.

At Inquirehire, Alan is responsible for the company’s overall growth strategy with a particular focus on technology driven hiring process solutions.

Alan has spoken on the topic of human capital management to a number of local and state SHRM chapters, several state banking association human resource groups, and many other organization’s training and education events.

www.inquirehire.com

Co-Founder
Leading Like a Buffalo

Dan is originally from Platteville, WI. After high school, he entered the United States Army as a military police officer serving in Frankfurt, Germany, The Republic of Panamá, and Fort Devens, MA. Dan served in various leadership roles in the military prior to transitioning into public education where he taught and ultimately held several executive roles.

In 2019, Dan and two partners started Dinamico, where he works as a compensation expert and helps their partner clients refine the art of aligning compensation with employee input. With DinamiComp® their clients create and easily manage compensation systems that help them attract candidates who fit, retain great people, build trust with their employees, and ensure compensation equity.

In July 2022, Dan followed his passion and started Leading Like a Buffalo, and continues to train, coach, and mentor leaders across the country.

Dan practices situational leadership while focusing on those he serves.

In September 2022, Dan released his first book: The Power of Me Leadership: 9 Leadership Tenets for EVERY Leader, in which he discusses tenets that will help everyone become a better leader.

Leadership Coach
Erin Lego Coaching

Erin is an experienced Leadership Coach with more than 1,200 logged hours of formal coaching conversations. She’s passionate about helping leaders and teams work better together through gaining greater self-awareness, building trusted relationships through understanding how people relate to one another, and improving communication along the way.

CREDENTIALS

• Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation
• 160+ hours of coach specific training complete with accreditation through the International Coach Federation
• Certified Enneagram & Relationship Coach with InnerLife Skills

Program Manager
Homeland Security Investigations

Samantha Macken is the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) national program manager for the IMAGE program. She has worked with the government as a contractor and federal employee for 13 years spanning an array of subject areas from student visas to national security to labor exploitation. She has been the IMAGE program manager since August, 2022 and looks forward to expanding and improving the relationship between government and employers.