Annual Conference

Registration Has Closed

For questions on your registration, contact marie.gustafson@boli.oregon.gov or call 971-358-3942

We'll see you for BOLI's 41st Annual Employment Law Conference on

Thursday and Friday this week (November 6th and 7th).

BOLI's conference connects employers with resources for navigating complex and often changing workplace rules.

Our 41st annual event will include sessions on the topics that concern Oregon employers the most.

This year's conference will be 100% virtual.

One price for the whole event: $350.

Can't make a session? Attendees will have access to recorded sessions shortly after the event.

HRCI, SHRM, and CLE recertification credit approval pending.

Registration for 2025 Has Closed

Download a PDF of the agenda, showing session dates and times*

Session Description

In this session, Barran Liebman partner Nicole Elgin will cover several state and federal regulatory updates, including recommendations and best practices for employers. The updates will also cover the impact of the United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Loper, which fundamentally changes the deference that courts will give to agencies' reasonable interpretations of law. Furthermore, with the election days before the conference, Nicole will provide insights into what further regulatory changes employers should plan for based on the results of the election.

Specific topics will include:

DOL Increase to Salary Threshold for Exempt Employees
DOL Final Rule on Independent Contractors
FTC Non-competes
DOL Farmworker Protection Rule
Corporate Transparency Act Implementation
Final Rule on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
BOLI Requirements for Employer Responses to Harassment Allegations
PLO/OFLA

Speaker

Nicole Elgin Barran Liebman LLP

Nicole Elgin is a partner at Barran Liebman LLP, where she represents employers in traditional labor and employment law matters. Nicole’s labor practice ranges from strategizing employer campaigns during a unionization drive to negotiating collective bargaining agreements and representing employers in hearings before arbitrators and the National Labor Relations Board. Her employment law practice includes working with employers to adapt workplace policies to the latest legislative changes at the state and national levels. Nicole defends employers facing investigation by Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), Washington’s Labor & Industries (L&I), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Nicole earned her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D., cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Session Description

This year, Oregon enacted several changes to its employment laws, reshaping everything from paycheck transparency to expanded paid leave and unemployment benefits. Oregon also passed a law imposing strict joint and several liability on property owners and contractors for the wage theft violations of their subcontractors. This presentation will unpack the legislative updates that employers need to be aware of—including new disclosure requirements, leave eligibility expansions, and protections for striking workers—and explore what they mean for HR professionals and other organization leaders. Littler Mendelson attorneys Paul Cirner and Christine Sargent will provide practical insights to ensure compliance and confidently navigate Oregon’s evolving labor landscape.

Speakers

Christine Sargent and Paul Cirner Littler Mendelson P.C.

Christine Sargent and Paul Cirner are attorneys in Littler Mendelson's Portland, Oregon office, representing employers in all aspects of employment law.

Session Description

The traditional Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is no longer viable in today's dynamic workplace. What was intended as a lifeline for struggling employees has turned into a detour straight to the exit door. Let's face it: Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) are often the last stop before termination, leaving employees demoralized and disengaged.

But why do PIPs fail to improve performance?

They focus on symptoms, not the root causes.
They can kill morale instead of boosting it.
They're a band-aid, not a cure.
Performance is a shared responsibility, not just the employee's burden.
They're reactive, not proactive - like calling the ambulance after the final breath.
To many, a PIP is the corporate death warrant - signed, sealed, and delivered.

In this session, we'll put PIPs to rest and dive into a fresh approach that fosters employee development and addresses performance issues before they escalate. This isn't just about avoiding the pitfalls of PIPs; its about building a framework that gets ahead of issues before they become problems and empowers your workforce. Come discover a better way to nurture performance and foster growth.

Speaker

Deborah Jeffries SHRM-CP, PHR, CPC, Vice President for HR Answers Inc.

Deborah harbors a deep passion for people. With a diverse background spanning HR, Education, Service, Retail, Manufacturing, and Food Service, she has dedicated nearly four decades to training others in Recruitment, Communication, Team Building, HR, Supervisory Skills, and beyond. As a consultant, trainer, and coach, she zeroes in on inventive yet practical strategies for the modern workplace, divulging her secrets for aiding and guiding others. She captivates, inspires, and propels participants towards personal growth and skill enhancement, all while fostering introspection. Her workshops are characterized as humorous, slightly eccentric, and immensely educational, offering excellent tools, applicable frameworks, and invaluable insights, coupled with compelling stories and pertinent experiences.

Session Description

Incivility in the workplace has become a growing challenge. Offensive actions, impolite language, and outright rudeness aren’t confined to social media—they’re showing up in our offices, meetings, and day-to-day interactions. According to research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), two out of three U.S. workers have experienced or witnessed workplace incivility within the past month.

This session will empower you with tools and techniques to engage in civil dialogue, fostering a culture of trust, inclusivity, and collaboration. A respectful workplace isn’t just good for morale—it drives productivity, enhances retention, and builds stronger teams.

In this session, you will learn how to:

Recognize the warning signs of incivility before they escalate.
Apply active listening skills to create stronger, more positive interactions.
Use empathy and thoughtful communication techniques to improve workplace dynamics.
Use strategies like the "Yes, and" method to encourage collaboration and build consensus.

Speaker

Deborah Jeffries SHRM-CP, PHR, CPC, Vice President for HR Answers Inc.

Deborah Jeffries brings over 40 years of HR and training experience to her role as Vice President at HR Answers. A dynamic facilitator and certified HR professional, she specializes in leadership development, compliance, communication, and workplace culture. Her engaging, practical approach helps individuals and teams build confidence, improve performance, and navigate change with integrity. Deborah has taught HR courses at multiple universities, prepared students for SHRM certification, and served in SHRM leadership roles. Known for her humor, insight, and energy, she inspires professionals to reflect, grow, and lead with purpose.

Session Description

Paid Leave Oregon ensures individuals and families — of every kind — have the time and support they need to care for themselves and their loved ones when life’s important moments affect their health and safety. It is also a program that has evolved dramatically over recent legislative sessions.

Staff from both Paid Leave Oregon and BOLI Employer Assistance will make sure you are up to date with this overview and discussion on:

Paid Leave eligibility
Benefits and leave types
Employer responsibilities with Paid Leave
Where employers can find help and resources
How Paid Leave and BOLI work together

Speakers

Laura Ayala, Paid Leave Oregon

Laura has served as a Paid Leave Oregon Outreach Program Analyst since September 2022. She presents information and explains program rules and guidelines to department staff, program participants or the public to assist in their understanding and compliance. Laura monitors program outcomes, evaluates results, and recommends program improvements. Previously, Laura worked as a Business and Employment Specialist, and Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Outreach Rep for Oregon Employment Department for 8 years. One of the Laura's greatest achievements was getting in place a MOU with California and Oregon to help the Migrant Seasonal Farmworker population in both states.

Joseph Tam Employer Assistance, BOLI

Joseph Tam is a Learning and Development Specialist with the Employer Assistance team and a former Senior Civil Rights Investigator with the Civil Rights Division of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. He has been working for the agency for about 39 years. He is a graduate of Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho and Portland State University. He has been co-presenting with the Oregon Employment Department on Paid Leave Oregon throughout Oregon since 2023. He conducts in-person seminars and webinars on Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Oregon Sick Time Law, Legal Hiring Practices, Effective Supervisory Practices, Documentation, Discipline and Discharge, Workplace Harassment and Discrimination, Life of a Workers' Compensation Claim, Injured Workers Laws, Disability Laws, Workplace Accommodations Issues, Wage and Hour Laws, Payroll Issues, Dealing with Difficult Employees, Drug and Alcohol Issues in the Workplace, etc.. He is known to make the Recordkeeping seminar “interesting." He has regularly presented in BOLI's Annual Employment Law Conference since 2007. In the 2022 conference, he presented “How to track OFLA, FMLA, and Paid Leave Oregon in 2023." An Oregon employment law attorney wrote, “I watched your video yesterday from the Annual Conference and found your presentation on OFMLI/OFLA/FMLA imminently helpful and entertaining!".

Jeff Burgess Employer Assistance, BOLI

Jeff received his undergraduate degrees in Business Economics and Law and Society from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he was a Scottish Rite scholar. He went on to law school at the University of Mississippi and practiced law in California and Colorado for 15 years, focusing on litigation. He joined the Bureau of Labor and Industries in 2002 where he was an agency prosecutor for 7 years, taking civil rights and wage and hour cases to administrative hearing. In 2009 he joined the Employer Assistance Program where he teaches seminars, edits handbooks and answers inquiries about employment law for business owners, managers, human resources professionals and attorneys. Jeff lives in McMinnville with his wife Tiffany and various critters.

Session Description

As the pace of legislative changes to Paid Leave Oregon and the Oregon Family Leave Act begins to slow, it's time to rediscover your rhythm for administering protected leaves!

Targeted toward those familiar with the basic contours of the Oregon sick time law, the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), the Federal Family Leave Act (FMLA), and the Paid Leave Oregon program, this presentation will offer up several common scenarios as opportunities to unpack best practices for disentangling protected leave entitlements and navigating leave administration.

Join Joseph and Karlee for an interactive look at how to divide and conquer protected leaves in 2025 and keep your sanity too!

Speakers

Joseph Tam Employer Assistance, BOLI

Joseph Tam is a Learning and Development Specialist with the Employer Assistance team and a former Senior Civil Rights Investigator with the Civil Rights Division of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. He has been working for the agency for about 40 years. He is a graduate of Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho and Portland State University. He has been co-presenting with the Oregon Employment Department on Paid Leave Oregon throughout Oregon since 2023. He conducts in-person seminars and webinars on Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Oregon Sick Time Law, Legal Hiring Practices, Effective Supervisory Practices, Documentation, Discipline and Discharge, Workplace Harassment and Discrimination, Life of a Workers' Compensation Claim, Injured Workers Laws, Disability Laws, Workplace Accommodations Issues, Wage and Hour Laws, Payroll Issues, Dealing with Difficult Employees, Drug and Alcohol Issues in the Workplace, etc.. He is known to make the Recordkeeping seminar “interesting." He has regularly presented in BOLI's Annual Employment Law Conference since 2007. In the 2022 conference, he presented “How to track OFLA, FMLA, and Paid Leave Oregon in 2023." An Oregon employment law attorney wrote, “I watched your video yesterday from the Annual Conference and found your presentation on OFMLI/OFLA/FMLA imminently helpful and entertaining!".

Karlee Demos Employer Assistance, BOLI

Karlee Demos is an Operations and Policy Analyst with the State of Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. She works in a dual role with the Employer Assistance Team and the Apprenticeship and Training Division as a trainer and apprenticeship specialist.

She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in Public Health and currently resides in eastern Oregon where she can meet with individuals, employers, and organizations to discuss employment law best practices and apprenticeship maintenance or development. In her free time, she likes to run, read, and hike with her twin daughters, husband and dog Lola.

Session Description

Back by popular demand, this session will cover recent case law and legislative updates on the Oregon and national level that may have an impact on employers, and will offer key takeaways for how employers, managers, and human resources personnel can avoid potential compliance pitfalls.

Speakers

Anthony D. Kuchulis Dunn Carney LLP

Anthony D. Kuchulis is an attorney at Dunn Carney LLP where he focuses his practice on helping employers and management solve difficult employment questions and challenges. Anthony prides himself on being a partner to his business clients and an experienced legal consultant who examines all aspects of a challenge for the most expeditious solution. With over a decade of trial experience, Anthony has represented employers and businesses in the northwest and across the country of all sizes, on all matters, including trying cases to juries, arbitrators, and judges, as well as defending businesses and management from state and federal labor department complaints, including OSHA, BOLI, WISHA, DOL, EEOC (and more). Anthony is known for his creative litigation strategies and often unconventional advice work that includes an analysis of all legal and nonlegal options available to ensure the best possible outcome to the most complex problems.

Cristin Casey Littler Mendelson PC

Cristin Casey is an experienced attorney who focuses her practice on labor and employment law matters. Prior to joining Littler, Cristin was with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries as Chief Prosecutor and Civil Rights Division Administrator. Her experience includes:

Litigating employment discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing and retaliation, leave law, wage and hour, disability and reasonable accomodation cases in an adminstrative forum.
Managing and advising on workplace investigations.
Prevailing wage rate laws.

Previously, Cristin was an assistant district attorney at the Lane County District Attorney's Office.

During law school, she was the business editor for the Willamette Law Review.

Session Description

Speakers

Anthony D. Kuchulis Dunn Carney LLP

Cristin Casey Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP

Cristin has over 15 years experience litigating and advising on employment law issues including wage and hour, leave laws, employment discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing and retaliation, disability and reasonable accommodation. Cristin also has conducted workplace investigations and trainings. Cristin currently serves as the co-chair BOLI Oregon Employer Advisory Council.

Cristin joined the firm as Of Counsel in 2025. Before entering private practice in 2022 with the law firm Littler Mendelson, Cristin spent over a decade working for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), her last five years serving as BOLI’s chief prosecutor.

Session Description

This session will review strategies for conducting personnel investigations, covering all steps of an investigation, from choosing an investigator (internal or external), preparing for the interviews, the order of witness interviews, interviewing the complainant and accused, procedural rules, making findings and preparing a written report.

Speakers

Kjersten Turpen Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins

Kjersten Turpen represents domestic and international employers in all areas of employment law. She has extensive experience litigating claims of trade secret misappropriation, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. She represents clients in private arbitrations, federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and its state counterparts. Kjersten has obtained favorable verdicts and settlements for clients across a variety of industries and during all phases of litigation. She is licensed in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho. Prior to private practice, Kjersten twice clerked for federal judges in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, where she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service.

Sarah Hale Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins

Sarah Hale advises public and private employers throughout Oregon and Washington on a wide variety of workplace-related matters. She has extensive experience counseling clients on day-to-day employment and labor issues, including leave and disability law compliance, conducting workplace investigations, drafting workplace policies and employee handbooks, and representing clients in collective bargaining, union contract negotiations, and grievance and interest arbitrations. Sarah guides employers as they navigate complex and intricate employment law issues, empowering them with the decision-making tools to help workplaces run smoothly. Before private practice, Sarah served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Marsha J. Pechman in the U.S. District Court and the Honorable Marlin J. Appelwick in the Washington State Court of Appeals.

Session Description

As workplace investigations become more frequent and scrutinized, the stakes for getting them right have never been higher. In this session, seasoned panelists will share practical insights from the trenches, guiding attendees through critical decisions such as choosing the right investigator, determining when to bring in outside counsel or other third parties, and managing privilege and confidentiality.

Speakers

Brenda Baumgart Stoel Rives LLP

Brenda Baumgart has over 25 years of experience, is a partner at Stoel Rives and the practice group leader for the firm’s Labor & Employment group. She is known for and is sought after to handle sensitive workplace investigations and has significant experience as an independent investigator, in both the private and public sector, involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on race, gender, age, family medical leave, as well as sexual assault.

Melissa Healy Stoel Rives LLP

Melissa (Missy) Healy is a partner at Stoel Rives and serves as lead counsel in numerous complex labor and employment litigation matters and is frequently engaged to conduct high-stakes investigations for public and private sector clients, covering a breadth of topics.

Session Description

Did you know that over 19 million working-age individuals in the U.S. have a disability? It's time to embrace the power of inclusion. Join us for an enlightening session with Emily Purry as she sheds light on the profound impact from viewing the ADA through a lense of humanity instead of law. Statistics show that businesses that prioritize disability inclusion outperform their peers by 28%. Unlock easy and actionable insights to create a more inclusive workplace. Be part of the change! Take away tangible simple things you can do to create a more welcoming environment for people with disabilities. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and grow with Emily Purry on the journey to a more inclusive future.

Speaker

Emily Purry Owner of Purry Consultants

As a legally blind athlete, Emily brings her lived experience to her work with a lighthearted, relatable, and energetic message. With three biracial children including one on the autism spectrum, she is uniquely qualified to provide insightful and impactful guidance on topics of inclusion and belonging.

Emily Purry holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She founded Purry Consultants to advocate for disability rights and to normalize the conversation around disability. With a deeply personal perspective, her unique approach strives to improve employee recruitment and retention and to increase customer loyalty.

Session Description

This session will explore the evolving and increasingly complex landscape of Oregon’s leave laws, with a focus on the interplay between Paid Leave Oregon (PLO), the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Oregon’s Paid Sick Leave. In addition to unpacking eligibility and entitlement rules, we’ll dive into the operational side of leave management—specifically, the challenges of accurately tracking leave across multiple programs with differing rules and timelines. Participants will gain insights into how to manage non-concurrent leave, coordinate overlapping requests, and maintain compliance through effective tracking systems and practices. Whether you're navigating full-day increments, intermittent leave, or stacking scenarios, this session will equip you with the tools to track and calculate leave with confidence.

Employers need to understand leave calculations to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, avoid costly penalties, and maintain employee trust. Accurate calculations help determine how much leave an employee is entitled to, when it can be used, and how it interacts with other types of leave, especially under complex leave law frameworks. Missteps in leave tracking can lead to legal disputes, payroll errors, and operational disruptions, particularly when managing overlapping or intermittent leave. By mastering leave calculations, employers can create fair, consistent policies that support both business continuity and employee well-being.

Speakers

Lori Welty Senior Vice President, Product Compliance, FINEOS

Lori Welty, Esq., an industry expert in state, federal, and local paid and unpaid leave and disability laws, serves as Senior Vice President, Product Compliance at FINEOS. She is a frequent author and presenter on topics relating to leave of absence and disability. Ms. Welty has advised clients in employment law for over 20 years and has specialized in absence management and disability since 2012. Licensed to practice law in Colorado, she graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law as an Order of the Coif candidate, and she received her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Patricia Lauren Zuniga IDAM Compliance Manager, FINEOS

Patricia Lauren Zuniga is an IDAM Compliance Manager at FINEOS, providing compliance support to the IDAM (Integrated Disability and Absence Management) product. Trish serves as a subject matter expert for leave laws and regulations such as FMLA, USERRA and state PFML. She graduated with law degrees from The George Washington University Law School and the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and earned the professional leave management designation of CLMS from DMEC in 2018.

Session Description

Non-competition agreements and other restrictive covenants have long served as critical tools for businesses looking to protect their employee base, competitive position, and confidential information. Over the last several years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), National Labor Relations Board, and state legislatures—including Oregon—have increased efforts to curb the legality of such agreements, leaving employers with more questions than answers. Most recently, the FTC’s Non-Compete Rule threatens to prohibit most non-competition agreements entirely, but is under considerable scrutiny by the courts. Join Lisa Shevlin and Christine Sargent for a timely discussion addressing important updates to the non-compete agreement landscape and recommended practices for employers to continue protecting themselves and their important data.

Speakers

Lisa P. Shevlin Littler Mendelson LLP

A skilled litigator, Lisa P. Shevlin has handled numberous multi-million dollar cases involving employment-related claims from the pre-claim investigation stage through trial. She also regularly conducts workplace investigations and advises clients on various matters that arise in the employer-employee relationship. Lisa's experience in complex litigation arises from her work in both the public and private sector. This broad foundation allows her to appreciate the unique facts and interests involved in each case.

Christine E. Sargent Littler Mendelson LLP

Christine E. Sargent assists employers in all aspects of employment law. As an up and coming litigator, Christine has significant experience defending her clients in civil litigation suits involving discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claims. After learning to litigate at a regional defense firm where she worked closely on matters involving construction defects, toxic torts, and catastrophic personal injuries, Christine sought to bring her experience to the employment law world. Christine’s personable yet deliberate and thoughtful demeanor is well-known in the Portland market. Growing up in a military family allowed Christine to develop a disciplined and competitive work ethic that she brings to her legal career in all that she does on a daily basis. As Christine continues to grow as a litigator at Littler, these qualities will only serve to accelerate her on a more national scale.

During law school, Christine externed for the Hon. Stacie F. Beckerman at the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Her tenure at the federal court provided her with valuable insight into federal claims in employment law and beyond, as well as the opportunity to get to know federal judges. She clerked for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office as a certified legal student, which required her to be in court every day for arraignments and pre-trial proceedings. Christine also clerked for a solo practitioner whose practice consisted primarily of ERISA long-term disability claims.

Christine takes pride in staying up to date on developing case law. In doing so, Christine regularly contributes to defense publications and also serves in numerous leadership positions, both locally and nationally.

Session Description

The evolving legal landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforcement has introduced substantial uncertainty for employers and challenges the legality and structure of many corporate DEI initiatives. This session will discuss how the method of delivery must now be filtered through a compliance-first lens and structured to withstand legal scrutiny.

Speaker

Brent Hamilton Stoel Rives LLP

Brent Hamilton represents employers in high-stakes employment disputes and counsels them regarding complex and emerging laws. He defends employers in litigation, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and breach of contract claims. He also defends employers in connection with audits and investigations by state and federal agencies, including the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI), Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Wage and Hour Division (WHD). Brent's clients include public and private employers in the healthcare, education, agriculture, retail, manufacturing, and technology sectors.

While attending law school, Brent was a law clerk with the Oregon Department of Justice, Trial Division. Brent previously practiced at regional and national firms, working with clients of all sizes in a broad range of industries.

Session Description

One of the toughest things an employer will ever have to do is to terminate one of its employees. This session will discuss potential problems and best practices on how to prepare for and carry out an involuntary discharge.

Speaker

Clarence Belnavis Fisher Phillips LLP

Clarence Belnavis is the regional managing partner of Fisher Phillips’ Portland office and a partner in the Seattle office. He is a trial attorney focusing on employment litigation, including disability, racial and gender discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and wrongful discharge. Clarence also represents employers in wage and hour claims, employment class actions, and traditional labor matters.

In addition to his litigation practice, Clarence proactively advises clients with respect to labor and employment matters, including disability and return to work issues, employee handbooks, termination procedures and litigation avoidance. Clarence also provides client trainings and educational presentations to industry groups and organizations regarding current and developing employment law issues.

Session Description

Speaker

Clarence Belnavis Fisher Phillips LLP

Session Description

Paid Leave Oregon has undergone multiple changes since passage, including major adjustments this summer with SB 1515. This panel discussion will feature top employment law and leave experts answering key questions about our new leave law landscape. How will employers navigate an employee's claim for sporadic, intermittent leave? Can employers require fitness for duty certifications upon return? What should an employer do if they believe the employee has fraudulently applied for leave or is abusing it? Join us for the conversation on this and other key Paid Leave topics.

Panelists

Melissa Healy Stoel Rives LLP

Melissa represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law. She advises on and serves as counsel in high-stakes labor and employment matters, including those related to employee leaves of absence, and conducts investigations for public and private sector clients. She has a strong traditional labor background and regularly represents employers in discharge and contract interpretation arbitrations, and in matters before the National Labor Relations Board. She frequently conducts training for employees and management, including training on harassment, discrimination, and protected leave laws.

Melissa is a frequent speaker and author on a variety of employment and labor law topics. Among other activities, Melissa is a contributing editor for The Developing Labor Law and serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel.

Josh Nasbe Legislative Director, BOLI

Josh has practiced law in all three branches of state government. His love of policy development and the legislative process brought him to BOLI where he now serves as the Bureau's Legislative Director and Administrative Rules Coordinator. These roles have afforded him a front row seat from which to view recent changes in the leave landscape.

Kaitlynn Chritton Policy Manager, Paid Leave Oregon

Kaitlynn has been with Paid Leave Oregon since March of 2020 and has worked on all areas of Paid Leave Oregon through the development and implementation of the program as both a Policy Analyst and Policy Manger. Kaitlynn and her team lead Paid Leave Oregon’s work in the areas of policy development, legislation, administrative rulemaking, and system development.

Panel Moderator

Charlie Burr Employer Assistance, BOLI

Charlie Burr works as a Learning and Development Specialist for BOLI's Employer Assistance Program, where he helps businesses large and small navigate frequently complex workplace requirements. Previously, Burr served as BOLI’s public information officer for five years, providing communications support for the agency’s legislative agenda and enforcement initiatives. Burr lives in northeast Portland with his wife Libby, daughters Marigny and Shelby, and dog Diamond.

Session Description

What are an employer's obligations when they receive notice of an I-9 audit? What should an employer do in advance of and during an ICE raid? How can employers meet federal work eligibility requirements without violating Oregon's anti-discrimination protections? What should employers know about the state's sanctuary promise law?

Join BOLI immigration law experts and compliance specialists for a panel discussion of what employers can do to prepare for – and respond to – increased immigration enforcement in Oregon.

Panelists

Jeff Burgess Employer Assistance, BOLI

Jeff received his undergraduate degrees in Business Economics and Law and Society from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he was a Scottish Rite scholar. He went on to law school at the University of Mississippi and practiced law in California and Colorado for 15 years, focusing on litigation. He joined the Bureau of Labor and Industries in 2002 where he was an agency prosecutor for 7 years, taking civil rights and wage and hour cases to administrative hearing. In 2009 he joined the Employer Assistance Division where he teaches seminars, edits handbooks and answers inquiries about employment law for business owners, managers, human resources professionals and attorneys. Jeff lives in McMinnville with his wife Tiffany and various critters.

Ari Alves Clear Clinic

Bio coming soon.

Ron Guerra Innova Legal Advisors

Ronald G. Guerra brings a unique and diverse background to representing clients in employment and labor relations matters. Ron is a frequent speaker, writer and trainer on employment and immigration reform and compliance issues. Ron represents clients in federal and state courts and before federal and state administrative agencies, including the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Prior to obtaining his legal education, Ron worked eleven years for the Whirlpool Corporation in various business management positions and was an Associate Professor of Management for Davenport University.

Leila Wall Civil Rights Division, BOLI

Leila Wall is a senior policy analyst in the Civil Rights Division at BOLI, which enforces laws related to discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, and vocational schools. Leila has worked for BOLI Civil Rights in various roles, including service as the Administrator, since 2016.

Leila received her juris doctorate from Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law. During law school, Leila studied employment law, spending her final year of law school as a law clerk with the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project and completing her capstone research project on whistleblower retaliation under ORS 659A.199.

Panel Moderator

Charlie Burr Employer Assistance, BOLI

Charlie Burr works as a Learning and Development Specialist for BOLI's Employer Assistance Division, where he helps businesses large and small navigate frequently complex workplace requirements. Previously, Burr served as BOLI’s public information officer for five years, providing communications support for the agency’s legislative agenda and enforcement initiatives. Burr lives in northeast Portland with his wife Libby, daughters Marigny and Shelby, and dog Diamond.

Session Description

Done right, hiring can be a fair and rewarding process that results in a promising new hire. Handled incorrectly, however, your hiring processes can open the door to discrimination claims. Come get practical guidance from a seasoned employment attorney on legally compliant hiring practices. Attendees will learn how to navigate anti-discrimination laws, structure job postings and interviews to avoid legal pitfalls, and implement fair screening and selection procedures. The session will cover federal and state requirements, including those related to background checks, immigration verification, and accommodations. Are you sure your job application is legally compliant? Are your managers avoiding asking candidates interview questions that violate the law? Are you administering pre-employment tests and running your background/reference checks the right way? Do you know how to close the deal and make an offer to your best candidate without running afoul of those pesky employment laws? If you aren’t sure, “yes” is the answer to all of those questions. Come brush up on legally compliant hiring practices.

Speaker

Joy Ellis Foster Garvey PC

Joy Ellis works with employers in all aspects of their employment-related legal needs, including answering day-to-day questions about discipline, discrimination, and harassment, leave laws, accommodations, hiring, and termination; developing and updating employee handbooks (whoo-hoo!); and drafting non-competition agreements, executive employment contracts, and severance agreements. She conducts on-site training for employees on how to prevent harassment and maintain a respectful workplace. Joy also conducts workplace investigations as an independent investigator. In addition to her advice practice, Joy is a litigator who defends employers; she has successfully handled hundreds of BOLI and EEOC complaints and regularly defends lawsuits in Oregon and Washington courts.

Session Description

How well do you know the legal obligations that affect Oregon employers when they field workplace accommodation requests? The significant changes to accommodation-related laws make issue spotting, compliance, and risk mitigation all worthy of a review.

Tune in to learn about the ins and outs of the following accommodation requirements:

Disability accommodation requests under the ADA, as amended;
Religious accommodation requests under the recent standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court;
Pregnancy and childbirth accommodation requests, per the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s recently issued regulations;
Safety accommodation requests under Oregon’s law protecting workers who are victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and stalking;

We will review employers’ legal obligations and best practices as they relate to reasonable accommodations in the workplace under various laws that apply to employees’ religion, disability, pregnancy, and domestic violence victim status.

Speaker

Joy Ellis Foster Garvey PC

Joy advises and represents employers while working under the premise that it is always in the employer’s best interest to proactively address workplace challenges before they become HR headaches or worse yet, lawsuits. Joy works with employers in all aspects of their employment-related legal needs, including advising employers on how to avoid being sued; answering day-to-day questions about discipline, discrimination, harassment, leave laws, accommodations, hiring, and termination; developing and updating employee handbooks; and drafting employment contracts and severance agreements. Joy’s practice also includes conducting independent workplace investigations. In addition to her advice practice, Joy is a litigator who defends employers. She has successfully handled hundreds of BOLI and EEOC complaints, and she regularly defends lawsuits in Oregon and Washington’s courts.

Session Description

This session will help you understand the difference between using market data to stay competitive and ensuring your internal pay practices align with state law. We’ll focus on practical steps to evaluate your organization’s internal compensation practices, make informed adjustments, and maintain consistency over time. Participants will learn how to assess jobs using compensable factors, explain pay decisions clearly, and avoid common pitfalls that can lead to inequities. Whether you’re new to compensation or refining your current practices, this session offers real-world strategies to help you apply the law while still navigating the realities of recruitment and retention.

Speaker

Laurie Grenya President, HR Answers

Laurie Grenya is President of HR Answers, Inc. and a trusted expert in human resources with more than 20 years of experience. She leads a consulting team focused on classification, compensation, compliance, and practical HR support. Known for her no-nonsense, human-first approach, Laurie brings clarity and humor to even the most complex HR topics.

Session Description

An injured employee can be a nerve-wracking and often confusing journey. This presentation will describe the “typical” path of a workers’ compensation claim, the detours that can happen along the way, and how you as an employer can best navigate the path to arrive at a favorable landing spot.

Speaker

Vincci Lam Reinisch Wilson

Vincci Lam’s practice is focused on all aspects of workers’ compensation defense and litigation. Growing up in an immigrant family who greatly benefited from public systems, she is acutely aware of the tremendous impact these systems, such as workers’ compensation, have on the stability and prosperity of a community. Vincci focused on Political Science at the University of Washington and emphasized Employment and Administrative Law in her legal studies at the University of Oregon. Vincci is a lead instructor for the Firm’s Oregon Workers’ Compensation Certification Course. She also serves on the Oregon State Bar’s Workers’ Compensation Section, as Chair of the Bench-Bar Forum. Vincci was elected a shareholder in 2017.

Session Description

As disability-related claims continue to increase, employers face growing pressure to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This session will examine nuanced accommodation scenarios, offering clarity on how “disability” is interpreted under the law and what constitutes a reasonable accommodation. We will cover actionable best practices to ensure compliance with the ADA and minimize the risk of litigation.

Speakers

Laura Rosenbaum Stoel Rives LLP

Laura Rosenbaum is a partner at Stoel Rives. She is a highly experienced labor and employment law attorney who is particularly well versed in handling complex ADA matters.

Megan Bradford Stoel Rives LLP

Megan Bradford is a trial lawyer at Stoel Rives who focuses her practice on employment disputes and litigation.

Together, Laura and Megan have significant experience counseling clients on disability accommodations and fit-for-duty matters.

Session Description

This session will cover an in-depth inside look at the BOLI Civil Rights Division complaint process. We’ll offer tips and tricks for communicating with investigators, drafting positions statements, navigating investigations, and handling the “dreaded” finding of substantial evidence of a violation.

Speakers

Michael Wood Civil Rights Division, BOLI

Michael Wood is an experienced leader and regulator, with four decades of experience in both Washington and Oregon state government in a range of capacities. His career includes more than 25 years as a safety and health regulator, including 16 years as the Administrator of Oregon OSHA. After leaving Oregon OSHA in the fall of 2021, he returned to Washington to work as the chief deputy to the elected Washington Insurance Commissioner for nearly three years before joining BOLI Civil Rights, where he now serves as the Administrator, in July of 2024. A native of Southwest Washington, he graduated from Spokane’s Gonzaga University long enough ago that only a few people had heard of its basketball team!

Leila Wall Civil Rights Division, BOLI

Session Description

Effective documentation is key for discouraging and defending against employee claims. But what kind of documentation stands up best in court or before a government agency? How do you prioritize what to capture, and—most importantly—how on earth can you find the time to fit it in? This session will cover these topics and more, including practical tips on how to efficiently make case-winning documentation part of your management routine.

Speaker

Kurt Barker Best Best & Krieger LLP

Kurt Barker is a partner at Best Best & Krieger in Bend, Oregon, and serves as Chair of the firm’s multi-state Labor & Employment law team. He is the current Legislative Affairs Chair of SHRM-Central Oregon and a past President of its board; he also serves on the boards of the Central Oregon Employers Council and Saving Grace. Kurt has been representing employers in all aspects of the employment relationship for 23 years, including counseling regarding terminations and accommodations, drafting handbooks and contracts, conducting anti-harassment and other trainings, helping employers avoid claims, and defending them before agencies and in state and federal courts. Since 2012, peers repeatedly have selected Kurt for listing in Best Lawyers in America for both (1) Management-side Employment Law and (2) Labor and Employment Litigation, and he was recently recognized by Super Lawyers for his work in Employment & Labor, as well.

Session Description

This session, led by an experienced employment attorney, provides employers with practical guidance on managing and documenting employee performance and behavior in a constructive and legally defensible manner. Attendees will learn best practices for issuing discipline while minimizing legal risk. The session emphasizes the importance of consistency, objectivity, and clear communication throughout the employment relationship. Employers will come away with actionable tools to strengthen their internal processes and protect their organization. Specific issues that will be covered in this workshop include:

Why you want to act like you’re a “just cause” employer even when you are an “at-will” employer
When to utilize progressive discipline
Mastering the art of documentation – why, when, and how
How to correct poor performance or problematic behavior and get the improvement you want, not just paper the file

Speaker

Joy Ellis Foster Garvey PC

Joy Ellis works with employers in all aspects of their employment-related legal needs, including answering day-to-day questions about discipline, discrimination and harassment, leave laws, accommodations, hiring, and termination; developing and updating employee handbooks (whoo-hoo!); and drafting non-competition agreements, executive employment contracts, and severance agreements. She conducts on-site training for employees on how to prevent harassment and maintain a respectful workplace. Joy also conducts workplace investigations as an independent investigator. In addition to her advice practice, Joy is a litigator who defends employers; she has successfully handled hundreds of BOLI and EEOC complaints, and she regularly defends lawsuits in Oregon and Washington courts.

Session Description

With 1 in 6 people currently struggling with mental health issues and a working population that is increasingly neurodiverse, effectively navigating the accommodations needs of today’s workforce is more prevalent and complex than ever. This discussion will review current guidance on disability accommodations related to mental health, including:

• the interplay between leaves and remote work accommodations;

• practical strategies for managing and properly documenting the interactive process; and

• how to maintain performance management standards without overstepping disability protections.

Speakers

Amy Robinson Miller Nash LLP

Amy Robinson is a partner with Miller Nash LLP and the chair of the firm’s employment law & labor relations team. She represents public and private employers throughout Oregon, Washington, and Alaska and advises on a broad range of workplace-related issues. Amy provides experienced counsel on compliance challenges and disputes covering the entire employment life cycle from hiring to separation, including employee classification, wage and hour issues, employee leaves and protected activities, disability and accommodation, and discrimination, retaliation, and harassment prevention. Before becoming an attorney, Amy was in the trenches as an HR professional, so she knows first-hand how workplaces function and the daily pressures and many responsibilities that fall to HR.

Stacie Damazo Miller Nash LLP

Stacie Damazo is a member of Miller Nash LLP’s employment law & labor relations team. She defends employers in a variety of employment matters, while serving as proactive counsel to ensure compliance and identify legal issues before they arise. Stacie advises employers from diverse industry groups on disability and accommodation; employee terminations and separations; compliance with wage and hour law, including meal and rest periods; final paychecks; employee classifications and garnishment; negotiating and preparing severance and settlements; and developing and reviewing policies and procedures in compliance with local, state, and federal law.

Session Description

Following the 2023 US Supreme Court ruling in Groff v. DeJoy, the landscape changed for employers evaluating religious accommodation requests. The de minimis standard is gone, and employers must accommodate requests unless they would create a substantial burden for the employer, judged in the context of the employer's operations. This change is especially important, given the public's increased understanding of and willingness to make religious accommodation claims, post-COVID. The courts are currently full of such cases related to COVID era vaccine mandates, and the case law is newly developing. We will review these issues and offer guidance for employers navigating the changing landscape.

Speakers

Sarah Benedict Davis Wright Tremaine

Sarah Benedict is an employment litigation partner at Davis Wright Tremaine with over 15 years of experience defending employers. Sarah maintains a busy trial court practice in Oregon, Washington, and California. She thrives in the courtroom and has first-chaired jury trials in both state and federal court.

Olivia Munson Davis Wright Tremaine

Olivia Munson is an attorney specializing in employment law issues including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. She has experience litigating both single-plaintiff cases and large class action-style enforcement actions involving the EEOC and state agencies. Olivia has also advised clients on state and federal compliance when it comes to employee handbooks, workplace policies, and training materials.

Sarah and Olivia have worked together on over a dozen religious discrimination cases.

Session Description

This insightful presentation guides attendees through the HR auditing processes to combat unconscious bias and inequities. Discover how subtle biases can influence critical employment decisions in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, development, performance evaluations, compensation, promotions, and retention. The presentation will dive into practical, impactful strategies employers can implement to identify and address these biases at every stage. Gain the knowledge and tools needed to cultivate a more equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Speaker

Jean Back Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt PC

Jean Back is a management-sided employment lawyer with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt and has practiced in the areas of Labor and Employment and General Litigation in Oregon, Washington since 1991. Ms. Back’s practice is split between providing employment advice to company owners, managers, and Human Resources professionals, performing internal investigations, providing employee and manager training, and in representing companies in lawsuits involving all aspects of employment grievances, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, wage claims, and lawsuits related to non -competition agreements and protection of trade secrets.

Ms. Back is on the Boards for the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (“OMEP”) and the SW WA SHRM chapter and has been a regular speaker to Oregon and Washington employers on a variety of employment topics.

Session Description

This session will cover the following: What is HR records management? Benefits of creating an HR record management system. Setting up an HR management system. What are the different types of HR records?

Speaker

Anna Lee Senior Consultant, HR Answers

Anna Lee is a Senior Consultant with HR Answers, Inc. and has over 20 years of human resources experience in leadership roles with governmental, profit and non-profit agencies. Her previous experience in a variety of disciplines and work environments provides her with a global HR perspective. Anna is a Senior Certified Human Resource Professional with Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) as well as Senior Certified Human Resource Professional with International Public Management for Human Resources (PSHRA-SCP). She has served for five years on the PSHRA Oregon Chapter Board including a term as President and Vice President. She serves as a volunteer for Oregon Child Development Coalition and other community organizations.

* Agenda and topics subject to change.

Annual Conference

2024 Legislative & Regulatory Update

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From Paychecks to Paid Leave and Strict Liability for Your Subcontractor’s Wage Violations: A Legislative Update on Oregon’s 2025 Employment Law Overhaul

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RIP PIP: Laying the Performance Improvement Plan to Rest

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Engaging With Respect: The Importance of Civil Conversations

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Paid and Protected Leave

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The Reality of Protected Leave in the Workplace

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Case Law Update 2024

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Case Law Update 2025

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Conducting Effective Employment Investigations

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Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations: From Allegation to Resolution

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The Humanity of the ADA

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Leave Math 101: Eligibility, Entitlement, and Everything In Between

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Will They, Won't They?: A Dramatic Pause on Restrictive Covenants

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Navigating DEI Uncertainty in Today’s World

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Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Termination

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Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: Termination

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Navigating Paid Leave Oregon: A Panel Discussion

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Navigating Discrimination and Immigration Enforcement: A Panel Discussion

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Legal Hiring

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Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace: Disability, Religion, Pregnancy/Childbirth, and Domestic Violence Victim Protection

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Oregon Pay Equity is Not Market Equity

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Roadmap of a Work Injury Claim

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Managing Risk and Response in Disability Accommodations

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The Secret Life of a BOLI Civil Rights Complaint

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Strategic Documentation

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Defensible Discipline & Documentation

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