Agenda

Welcome to our "Day with DISA" conference, an immersive experience designed to provide invaluable insights into the most pressing topics in the industry today. Tailor your day according to your interests and professional needs!


Event Schedule:
    » 8 AM - 10 AM Registration & Networking
    » 10 AM - 5 PM 24 Educational Sessions
    » 5 PM - 8 PM Networking & Entertainment


AGENDA


time iconJanuary 16, 2025 10:00 am
Ballroom EF

This session will focus on recent trends and developments for end users as it relates to background screening laws and compliance obligations, ban the box, clean slate and other nuances that apply when screening employees and applicants.


Key Learnings:

» Overview of applicable laws

» Changes and new laws that have occurred

» Best practices for staying in compliance with laws and regulations

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Pam Devata
Seyfarth Shaw LLC

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 11:15 am
Ballroom BC

Have you ever wondered why a certain record did not return.  There are many factors that come into play to determine if a record can be reported.  Federal/State law, lack of identifiers on records, and other legislative trends all impact if a record can be returned.


Key Learnings:

» Learn why every public record may not be returned in a background check. 

» Learn what legislative trends that impact what records can be reported.

» Learn the impact of lack of identifiers on public records has on the ability to match a possible record to a person.

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Chad Ascar
DISA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 12:30 pm
Ballroom EF

Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of hiring for many employers, property management companies and the background screening industry.  This presentation will discuss the opinions and guidance issued by the White House and various federal agencies, active and pending legislation in various states and localities, and the early litigation trends that provide insights on the legal theories being advanced relating to employers and anyone connected to the hiring or screening process.  


Key Learnings:

» Obtain an overview of various laws and requirements addressing the use of artificial intelligence in making decisions about employment, housing, and other areas. 


» Learn about trends in the ways that legislators and regulators are seeking to address the use of artificial intelligence. 


» Learn strategies for staying on the forefront of potential legal issues arising from the use of artificial intelligence in hiring and other screening. 

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John W. Drury
Seyfarth Shaw LLC

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Robert T. Szyba
Seyfarth Shaw LLC

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 01:45 pm
Ballroom BC

Discover the top compliance issues that keep Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) awake at night, worrying about their clients’ practices. This session will address critical topics such as disclosure and authorization requirements, fair chance policies, adverse action procedures, and other pressing concerns. Learn from a leading CRA’s experience and gain practical strategies to help your clients navigate these challenges and ensure robust compliance.

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Morgan​​​​ Reynolds
DISA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 03:00 pm
Ballroom EF

As businesses increasingly expand their operations globally, transitioning from a domestic to an international background screening program is more important than ever. In this session, we’ll explore the key trends expected to shape the global screening landscape in 2025 and 2026, with insights into significant developments across regions like EMEA, APAC, and South America. We'll also provide practical advice on the top 5 considerations for launching a global program, from navigating regional regulations to operational challenges. Finally, we’ll cover the top 3 pitfalls to avoid, helping you mitigate risks and ensure compliance as you scale internationally.


Key Takeaways:

» Understand emerging trends in global screening for 2025 and 2026

» Learn the top 5 considerations for transitioning your program from domestic to global

» Identify the top 3 pitfalls and how to avoid them when screening internationally

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Harm Voogt
Validata Group (A DISA Company)

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Suzie Rurode
DISA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 04:15 pm
Ballroom BC

Over 35 years of representing employers, Joe Beachboard has seen common (and avoidable) mistakes lead to liability. In this engaging and interactive session, you will learn not only what not to do but what you can do to achieve your desired result. Topics will reflect the latest issues of the day but will include AI, handbooks, noncompete agreements, leaves of absence, religion and disability accommodation, and much more!


Key Learnings:

» Awareness of common mistakes that create employer liability.

» Legal principles regarding multiple key employment law issues.

» Tips employers can implement to achieve their desired result.

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Joe Beachboard
Beachboard Consulting Group

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 10:00 am
Ballroom BC

The safety of a workplace is paramount. In this session, we'll delve into specific industry threats and challenges related to drug use. Explore actionable solutions, understand common challenges, and navigate through essential drug-related policy considerations for a safer work environment.


Key Learnings:

» Insight into industry-specific threats.

» Actionable solutions to common challenges.

» Framework for drug-related policies.

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Colin Woods
DISA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 11:15 am
Ballroom EF

This session will focus on policy, products and technology that will form the way drug testing is performed in the future. A culmination of trends and technology provides forward thinking organizations with a glimpse into workplace testing in 1-5-10 years allowing them to examine what will influence testing today and prepare for tomorrow. We will discuss oral fluid, breath testing, point of care, drug legalization, credentialing and drug use trends and plot a course for the future as we examine these interwoven concepts and their impact to safety and HR professionals.


Key Learnings:

» How to implement new technology solutions in different business segments.

» A vision into program evolution and integration into broader safety and HR goals.

» A roadmap for integrating many of the topics discussed during Day with DISA into your hiring and retention programs, with an eye on the future.

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Nina French
Neopharma Technologies, LLC

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 12:30 pm
Ballroom BC

The presentation will provide brief history of opium abuse leading to the Opium Wars in the 1800's and opium widespread use in the United States during the Civil War. The traditional abused opioids of oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin have been replaced by the fentanyl epidemic. A review of the testing rates in urine and oral fluids at CRL will be presented.


Key Learnings:

» Understanding the origin of the first opioid addiction.

» Review of fentanyl's origin and effects on the body.

» Prevalence of fentanyl in the workplace population along with co-administrated drugs.

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Dr. David Kuntz
Clinical Reference Laboratory

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 01:45 pm
Ballroom EF

Workplace drug testing has been popular for more than three decades, but during that time the world has changed in dramatic ways while drug testing practices have remained mostly the same. Going forward, who will buy drug testing and how they will buy it, conduct it and manage results will change significantly to align with cultural trends and emerging technologies. Legalized drugs, challenging economies, and ever-tightening job markets will move employers from drug use detection to fitness for duty identification. While drug testing is here to stay, the who, what, and how of employee screening is already heading for the future.


Key Learnings:

1.  What current trends portend changes in how employers will address workplace drug abuse and rely on drug testing?

2. What employers should know about impairment and how to identify it.

3. Which new and emerging technologies should employers look for and which ones won’t last?

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Bill Current
Current Consulting Group LLC

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 03:00 pm
Ballroom BC

Discussion on trends of dugs positivity in the US workforce for both Federally-mandated and private employer policy testing.


Key Learnings:

» Drug positivity trends in the workforce

» Understanding the impact of societal trends on drug positivity and safety

» Understanding that this substance use, while required in many legal uses, is part of an individual's wellness journey

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Suhash Harwani
Quest Diagnostics

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 04:15 pm
Ballroom EF

Jo McGuire will provide updates on best policy practices for those who operate in legal marijuana states. Learn the top do’s and don’ts of the industry and how employers are finding balance between civil laws and safety cultures.


Key Learnings:

» Learn what is trending in employee marijuana use and drug testing technology.

» Understand policy options that are compatible with state laws.

» Recognize the value of maintaining a safety-first culture.

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Jo McGuire
NDASA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 10:00 am
Ballroom A

Patrice Kelly and Jo McGuire will provide updates on what changed with the oral fluid final rule in 2023, where we are on DOT-regulated oral fluid testing, what the rescheduling of marijuana would mean for DOT testing, and what the outright legalization of marijuana at the Federal level could mean. Be aware, be informed and learn how and when your input can have the greatest impact.


Key Learnings:

» A solid understanding of the DOT's oral fluid final rule

» Update on the implementation status of DOT-regulated oral fluid testing

» What rescheduling and legalization of marijuana federally means

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Patrice M. Kelly, JD
USDOT

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Jo McGuire
NDASA

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Maria Costello
DOT Independent Consultant

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 12:30 pm
Ballroom D

The transportation and logistics industry continues to face significant challenges in attracting, retaining, and leading qualified truck drivers. As the demand for drivers rises and competition intensifies, Human Resource (HR) professionals in this space must adopt innovative and strategic approaches to manage a critical and often high-turnover workforce.


This session is designed to provide HR professionals with practical insights and proven strategies to enhance recruitment efforts, improve driver retention rates, and foster strong leadership that resonates with truck drivers.


Key Learnings:

» Gain actionable insights into recruiting the right drivers by crafting targeted and compelling hiring strategies.

» Learn effective retention methods tailored to the needs of truck drivers, focusing on engagement, motivation, and well-being.

» Understand how to lead and manage a geographically dispersed workforce, creating an environment where drivers feel valued and supported.

» Walk away with practical tools to improve communication, build trust, and foster long-term loyalty within their driver workforce.

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Maria Costello
DOT Independent Consultant

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Rachel Anevski
Matters Of Management, LLC

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 01:45 pm
Ballroom A

Join ATA for the latest regulatory safety and advocacy update covering a wide variety of topics from the Department of Transportation as well as a look into pending legislation as we move into 2025. We'll talk about the latest rulemakings emerging from DOT, and what the new administration will bring to the trucking industry. We'll also talk about ATA's Strategic Priorities and Advocacy on topics important to our entire industry.


Key Learnings:

» What rulemakings are likely to emerge in 2025.

» The impacts of the 2024 election. 

» ATA's top advocacy priorities.

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Dan Horvath
American Trucking Association

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 03:00 pm
Ballroom D

With DOT fines on the rise and compliance requirements growing more complex, trucking companies face increasing pressure to stay on the right side of the law. In this engaging session, we’ll explore the top 10 DOT compliance mistakes that can lead to non-compliance and hefty penalties. Perhaps most importantly, we’ll also discuss how to prevent them!

 

Learn how to avoid common pitfalls, from incomplete driver qualification files to inadequate drug and alcohol testing protocols, all while keeping your operations efficient and compliant. This session is essential for anyone looking to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape confidently. Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to protect your business and stay compliant in 2025 and beyond!

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Chris Eichenberg
DISA

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Steven Spencer
DISA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 11:15 am
Ballroom A

In this session, you will obtain an understanding of the importance of credentialing and the impact it has on patient safety. We will take a deep dive into credentialing best practices that many healthcare organizations utilize to evaluate the credentials, experience, and background of practitioners. Credentialing is not simply a background check; it covers critical elements like education, training, and clinical privileges. However, other screenings such as criminal background checks or drug testing can add valuable layers to the vetting process. This session will explore how these combined practices work to ensure competent, safe patient care.


Key Learnings:

» Understand the importance of credentialing and background screening and how they impact patient safety.

» Explain how credentialing differs from background checks and why both are important.

» Share real-life credentialing cases gone awry.

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Melissa Walters
Prisma Health

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 03:00 pm
Ballroom A

In today’s fast-paced work environments, mental health plays a critical role in overall employee well-being, productivity, and workplace harmony. This session will explore the impact of mental health on workplace dynamics, learn to identify signs of stress, anxiety, and burnout, and how to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.  Participants will gain insights on the legal and ethical responsibilities of employers, as well as actionable evidence-based strategies for supporting the employee’s well-being and creating a culture of openness and inclusivity.  


Key Learnings:

» Explore the importance of mental health and wellbeing in occupational settings.

» Identify common mental health issues that affect employees.

» Review evidence-based strategies for implementing mental health programs to support mental well-being.

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Kim Olszewski
DISA

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 10:00 am
Ballroom D

Onboarding is vital to a successful transition into the organization. A well-designed onboarding plan increases retention rates and productivity. Unfortunately, too many organizations fall short of the necessary components to properly acclimate a new employee into the organization and their role. Statistically, only 12% of employees feel their company do a good job onboarding new team members. Learn how to build an onboarding program that puts you in this small subset of employers.


Key Learnings:

» Learn what content to include in your new hire's onboarding plan

» Identify who should be involved during onboarding

» Outline the role of the hiring manager during onboarding

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Ciera Parks MHRD, SHRM-CP
CWC HR Solutions & Training

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 12:30 pm
Ballroom A

It’s hard to find and acquire talent, and it’s expensive to lose it. Employee retention has become a critical people strategy for employers everywhere. But how can you retain your top talent while managing the different wants and needs of your workforce?


In this session, participants will learn the importance of developing an effective retention strategy that compliments talent acquisition strategies, key initiatives to implement in each phase of the employee life cycle, tips to develop effective total rewards strategies, how to balance the needs and wants of different generations in the workforce, and how to leverage the employee experience for talent retention.


Key Learnings:

» The importance of developing an effective retention strategy for organizational success

» Key retention initiatives to implement in each phase of the employee life cycle

» Tips on balancing the needs and wants of different generations in the workforce


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Mallory Herrin
HerrinHR

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 01:45 pm
Ballroom D

In this session, Kendra Deaton (Head, Talent Acquisition, Phillips 66) shares insights on how her team began their AI journey - including vendor selection, compliance, and AI adoption strategies - to drive transformative shifts and measurable outcomes in recruiter productivity and hiring manager empowerment. P66’s journey with AI has led to measurable outcomes in talent acquisition, such as a 13-day reduction in time to screen and a 66% interview rate for candidates sourced with AI.


Key Learnings:

» Fundamentals of AI and how to begin your AI journey

» How to prioritize business challenges and outcomes for AI to solve

» Best practices for AI vendor selection, internal buy-in, and adoption

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Kendra Deaton
Phillips 66

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Kara Augone
Workday

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 04:15 pm
Ballroom D

There is no doubt AI enables us to find information, make decisions, and even automate work faster and more efficiently than ever.  But as we continue to outsource knowledge to AI, what will become most crucial for leaders is the true HUMAN connections forged and built through emotional intelligence.  EI is no longer a nice to have, but rather a core competency for all employees of the future.  In this session we will discuss essential EI skills for workforce development and how these skills are impacted by AI initiatives.


Session Learning Objectives:

1. Identify essential EI skills needed for workforce development.

2. Explore how AI is impacting the development of EI skills in leaders and teams.

3. Recommend strategies for developing EI in leaders and teams.

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Bethany J. Adams MA, SHRM-SCP
Villanova University

time iconJanuary 16, 2025 04:15 pm
Ballroom A

From employee screening to compliance, DISA is your holistic solution. Join us as we walk you through our extensive service line, showcasing our expertise and explaining why DISA stands out as your one-stop shop for all your needs.


Key Learnings: 

» Comprehensive understanding of DISA's services.

» Exploring the breadth and depth of solutions offered.

» The unique value proposition of DISA.

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Gary Wiese
DISA