DEAMcon23: Chicago Conference Recap
April 12 – 14, 2023 • Chicago, IL
The DirectEmployers Association Annual Meeting & Conference (DEAMcon23) brought HR compliance and talent acquisition professionals together along Chicago’s riverfront for three days of learning and connection. Sessions explored OFCCP and EEOC developments, veteran recruitment, accessible hiring technology, and disability inclusion, with practical insights from government officials, industry experts, and fellow Members.
Keynotes from Shola Richards and Samantha Smith encouraged attendees to build resilience, embrace vulnerability, and find the courage to be heard. Beyond the sessions, an evening social at AceBounce sponsored by Recruit Rooster brought out attendees’ competitive sides, while conversations in the Demo Hall and the Underwriter Reception offered time to exchange ideas and strengthen relationships.
Explore the photos, video highlights, presentations, and daily recaps below to revisit the experience.
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Program
Pre • Tuesday, April 11, 2023
12:00 pm • Board of Directors Meeting
4:00 pm • Early Check-in
4:00 pm • Underwriter Move-in
Day 1 • Wednesday, April 12, 2023
7:00 am • Check-in
7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast
8:00 am • General Session
Welcome & Opening Ceremony (G1)
8:30 am • General Session
Annual Meeting: 2022 Accomplishments & Roadmap for 2023 (G2)
9:00 am • General Session
A Conversation With EEOC Commissioners (G3)
10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break
10:30 am • General Session
Recent Significant OFCCP Developments (G4)
11:30 am • General Session
Managing Outreach: Three Exemplary PRM Use-Cases, Straight from HR Pros (G5)
12:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Lunch
1:00 pm • Concurrent Sessions
- Workforce Accommodations: Supporting Veterans with PTSD & TBI (C1A)
- Back to the Basics with New & Improved TA Technology (C1B)
2:00 pm • Concurrent Sessions
- Leveraging Military Veterans to Win the War on Talent (C2A)
- How Innovators with Disabilities are Transforming the Hiring Process (C2B)
3:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break
3:30 pm • General Session
Building an Inclusive Workplace: Where Do You Truly Stand? (G6)
4:30 pm • General Session
KEYNOTE | Unstoppable Resilience: The Keys to Staying Strong During Any Challenge (G7)
6:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Offsite Event at AceBounce sponsored by Recruit Rooster
Day 2 • Thursday, April 13, 2023
7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast
8:00 am • General Session
Attract, Engage, & Nurture Top-Tier Job Seekers with the Power of Video (G8)
9:00 am • General Session
A Fireside Chat on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (G9)
10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break
10:30 am • Concurrent Sessions
- Changing the Narrative: AAPs that Drive Your Organization’s DEI Journey (C3A)
- Harnessing the Power of Your CRM: 5 Key Steps to Successful Candidate Relationship Management (C3B)
- Reach Out for Happy Hour Live (C3C)
11:30 am • Concurrent Sessions
- Partnering with HBCUs: Knowing the Lock and Understanding the Key in the George Floyd Era (C4A)
- Recruiting at Lightning Speed: How Reid Health Reduced Interview Time by 44% (C4B)
12:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Lunch
1:30 pm • Concurrent Sessions
- From Diversity Metrics to Analytics: A Creative & Analytical Approach to Driving Impactful DEI Outcomes (C5A)
- Innovative and Creative Business Solutions for Future-focused Hiring (C5B)
- Reach Out for Happy Hour Live (C5C)
2:30 pm • Concurrent Sessions
- The Newest Litigation Pitfalls in the Application Process (C6A)
- Early Talent Recruiting in 2023 & Beyond: An Important Strategy for Uncertain Times (C6B)
3:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break
4:00 pm • General Session
An Insider’s Guide to the Public Workforce System (G10)
14:30 pm • General Session
KEYNOTE | Be Vulnerable, Be Courageous, Be Heard (G11)
5:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Underwriter Reception
Day 3 • Friday, April 14, 2023
7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast
8:00 am • General Session
ADA Update: Fast-Breaking Developments on “Reasonable Accommodation” (G12)
9:00 am • General Session
A Conversation with ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Mackenzie Williams (G13)
10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break
10:15 am • General Session
Using the Ombuds to Assist with OFCCP Conflict (G14)
11:15 am • General Session
Increasing Applicants with Disabilities: How Career Pages Design Can Make a Difference (G15)
12:15 pm • Conference Adjourns
Presenters
Presenter titles and affiliations reflect the time of the conference.
Keynote Speakers
- Shola Richards, Best-Selling Author & Founder and CEO of Go Together Global
- Samantha Smith, Award-Winning Speaker, Best-Selling Author & First Responder
Featured Speakers
- Errin Braddock, VP & Chief Diversity Officer at Enterprise Holdings
- Torin Ellis, Diversity strategist at t ellis brand
- David Fram, ADA Speaker, Director of ADA Services at National Employment Law Institute (NELI)
- The Honorable Jocelyn Samuels, Vice Chair at U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Keith E. Sonderling, Commissioner at U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Taryn Mackenzie Williams, Assistant Secretary at U.S. Department of Labor Office for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Member Speakers
- Timothy Branner, Associate Director, Affirmative Action Programs at Raytheon Technologies
- Carolyn Broderick, Sr. Business Intelligence and Compliance Analyst at The Mount Sinai Health System
- Dana Deason, Senior Manager, People Compliance at J.B. Hunt
- Heather Fountaine, HR Compliance Specialist at Progress Rail
- Diego Gonzales, Sr. Director, HR Compliance at Raytheon Technologies
- Mark Jostad, Senior Director, Compliance at J.B. Hunt
- Francene Taylor, Director Talent Acquisition, The Honey Baked Ham Company LLC
- Denise Wydra, Sr. HR Compliance Manager at Reyes Holdings
Guest Speakers
- Lori Adams, Director, Veterans Policy and Senior Advisor, National Labor Exchange at NASWA
- Rob Arndt, CEO + Founder at BufferSprings
- Sarah Bernard, Co-founder and COO at Inclusively
- Jessica Burton, HR Generalist at Reid Health
- John C. Fox, Esq., Partner at Fox, Wang, Morgan P.C.
- Amber Gaither, Director, National Labor Exchange at NASWA
- Tara Gunderson, Rehabilitation Counselor/Business Services Representative at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Zaigen Halcomb, HR Generalist at Reid Health
- Alexa Huth, Director of Communications at PEAT
- Jonathan Paul Katz, Policy Advisor at Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
- Michelle Krefft, Business and Community Engagement Manager at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Stephen Lewis, General Manager Diversity & Inclusion at Toyota North America
- Aaron Makkar, Senior Recruiter at NANA & NMS
- Darrian Mikell, CEO, Co-Founder at Qualifi
- Sandra Mosqueira Caminada, Research Support Specialist at Yang-Tan Institute on Employment
- David Muir, Jr., SVP, Veteran Staffing Network at Easterseals DC MD VA
- Chris Powell, CEO, Talmetrix
- Stephanie Renno, Sr. Director, Clinical Practice and Training at Cohen Veterans Network
- Jason Rubel, Rehabilitation Supervisor at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Vickie Sible, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Matt Small, President & CEO at Symplicity
- Marcus Stergio, Ombuds at Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
- Jay Wang, Partner at Fox, Wang & Morgan
Staff Speakers
- Candee Chambers, Executive Director at DirectEmployers Association
- Seth Flater, Director of Sales Engineering at Recruit Rooster
- Kate Larrabee, Manager of Member Engagement at DirectEmployers Association
- Tyler Poling, Sr Director, Product Development at RocketBuild
- Jeff Ringgenberg, Product Manager at RocketBuild
Present at a Future DEAMcon
We are always seeking knowledgeable and energetic speakers to help us build outstanding DEAMcon programs with sessions centered on recruitment and compliance strategies.
Underwriters
Thank you to our DEAMcon23 underwriters for supporting three days of learning, connection, and collaboration in Chicago.
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Venue
Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
1 W Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
DEAMcon23 took place at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel located in the Theater District near many famous attractions. Guests enjoyed a first-class stay in the Windy City at this contemporary hotel and conference venue, with fantastic amenities and panoramic views of the Chicago River and the surrounding downtown cityscape.