2025 Annual Meeting & Conference (DEAMcon25)

May 21 – 23, 2025 • Scottsdale, AZ

Explore photos, videos, and highlights from DEAMcon25. Revisit key moments, discover top takeaways, and see what makes DEAMcon unforgettable.

Photos on Flickr

Presentations

DEAMcon25 Recap

Venue

Caesars Republic Scottsdale, a Hilton Hotel
4747 N Goldwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

DEAMcon25 took place at the Caesars Republic Scottsdale, a Hilton Hotel located adjacent to Scottsdale Fashion Square, Arizona’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination, the Caesars Republic is a new lifestyle hotel concept that perfectly complements the city’s unique energy, providing attendees with an unforgettable experience.

Program

Pre • Tuesday, May 20, 2025

12:00 pm • Board of Directors Meeting

4:00 pm • Early Check-in

4:00 pm • Underwriter Move-in

4:30 pm • Board of Directors Reception

Day 1 • Wednesday, May 21, 2025

7:00 am • Check-in

7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast

8:00 am • General Session
Welcome & Annual Meeting (G1)

8:15 am • General Session
Forging a New Path: The Future of Change in an Evolving Regulatory Environment (G2)

9:00 am • General Session
DE Talk Live: Aligning Compliance & Recruitment Efforts (G3)

10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

10:30 am • General Session
Overcoming Challenges of Integrating Video Marketing for Recruitment Teams (G4)

11:00 am • General Session
Federal Contractor Compliance Under Executive Order 14173 (G5)

12:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Lunch

1:00 pm • Concurrent Sessions

Unlocking Potential: Building a Business Case for Disability Hiring with Vocational Rehabilitation (C1A)
The Impact of AI on Today’s Selection Process (C1B)

2:00 pm • Concurrent Sessions

Engagement Toolkits for Talent Attraction: Creating Authentic Connections (C2A)
Driving Culturally Responsive Transformation in the Workplace Through ERGs (C2B)

3:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

3:30 pm • General Session
From Courtroom to Conference Room: DEI Legal Precedent, Trends & What’s Next (G6)

4:30 pm • General Session
KEYNOTE | Cultivating a Change-Proof Culture with AI: Preparing for a Future-Ready Workforce (G7)

6:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Evening Rooftop Social

Day 2 • Thursday, May 22, 2025

7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast

8:00 am • General Session
AI in the Workplace Has Arrived, Along With Many New Laws that Govern Its Use—Here’s What Employers Need to Know (and Do) Now (G8)

9:00 am • General Session
Compliance Update: Grappling with a New Affirmative Action & EEO Landscape (G9)

10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

10:30 am • Concurrent Sessions

Enhancing Hiring & Development Strategies for Veterans, Military Spouses, & 55+ Workforce (C3A)
Skills-Based Hiring Strategy: Building Effective & Inclusive Employee Referral Programs (C3B)

11:30 am • Concurrent Sessions

The Power of Mentorship: Unlocking Veteran Talent for Attraction & Retention (C4A)
Recruiting with AI: Embracing the Future of Talent Acquisition (C4B)

12:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Lunch

1:30 pm • Concurrent Sessions

The Evolving Landscape of AI in Recruiting: Practical Implications for a Modern Workforce (C5A)
From Service to Success: Strengthening Your Veteran Hiring Initiatives (C5B)

2:30 pm • Concurrent Sessions

Military Women Making the Transition & Beyond: Enhancing Outreach, Recruitment, & Retention of Women Veterans (C6A)
New Approaches to Aligning Recruitment Advertising with Hiring Goals (C6B)

3:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

4:00 pm • General Session
Partner Highlight: National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) (G10)

4:30 pm • General Session
KEYNOTE | Escape the Type A Trap: Three Steps to Beat Burnout & Sustain Peak Performance (G11)

5:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Underwriter Reception

Day 3 • Friday, May 23, 2025

7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast

8:00 am • General Session
Demystifying Neurodiversity: A Best Practice Model for Bridging Students & Companies (G12)

9:00 am • General Session
Charting the Course: Actionable Takeaways & Forward Focus for Federal Contractors (G13)

10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

10:15 am • General Session
Be An Influencer: Your Role in a Disability Inclusive Culture, No Matter Your Title (G14)

11:15 am • General Session
Foundations in Pay Equity: Developing Consistent Practices for Sustained Success (G15)

12:15 pm • Conference Adjourns

Presenters

Keynote Speakers

Adam Markel, Co-Founder/Chief Researcher at WORKWELL
Erin Stafford, Burnout & Peak Performance Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Hyper-Growth Business Leader

Featured Speakers

Meredith Gregston, Senior Attorney at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Alissa A. Horvitz, Member Attorney at Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Jeremy Mancheski, Founder & CEO at OutSolve
Ginger Miller, President & CEO at Women Veterans Interactive
Joshua S. Roffman, Managing Attorney at Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Mickey Silberman, Founder & Shareholder at Silberman Law PC

Member Speakers

Mike Bazinet, Director, Talent Acquisition at Affordable Care Inc
Taneka Carey, Org Development Consultant, VP – Global Human Resources at MUFG
Ramon Cervantes, Safety Manager at PRIDE Industries
Glen Gleesing, Regional Operations Director at PRIDE Industries
Diego Gonzales, Senior Director, HR Compliance at RTX Corporation
Shelia D. Gray, Former VP of Global Talent Acquisition
Anne C. Jackson, Head, Talent Acquisition at Graham Packaging
Bart Kelly, Chief Human Resources Officer at Amergis Healthcare Staffing
Adrienne Lawson, Senior Director, Human Resources at PRIDE Industries
Ronald Lewandowski, Sort Tech Support Engineering at Amazon
Chris Liakos, Fair Employment Practices Compliance at EY
Natasha Long, TA Digital Outreach Manager at ATI
Kim McDowell, Corporate Training Manager at PRIDE Industries
Julie O’Hara-Harvey, Senior EEO Program Manager at Principal Financial
Brian Pier, Former Director of Compliance (Retired)
Melanie Shawber, Director of Talent Acquisition at Amergis Healthcare Staffing
Paul White, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Gentiva

Guest Speakers

Scott Bonomo, Director – Issue Management at Western Alliance Bank
Andy Boom, Director of Business Development at JobElephant
Leslie Coffey, Vice President of Military Engagement at American Corporate Partners (ACP)
Joanna Colosimo, Vice President of DCI Consulting Group, Inc.
Neil Dickinson, VP, Compensation at OutSolve
Kendra Evans, Director, Spectrum Support Program & Neurodiverse Hiring Initiative, Rochester Institute of Technology
Allyson Kelley, Head of Global Talent Attraction at Dexcom
Stefanie Legge, Sales Consultant at OutSolve
Denise Lewis, Director of Outreach & Community Engagement at Military Spouse Jobs & VetJobs
Margaret Ling, Senior Manager, Partnerships at National Organization on Disability
Amy Rossi, Director of Training, Co-Founder at VetJobs
Scott B. Sanders, President & CEO at National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
Dr. Jayashri Sarkar, CEO at ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence
Jeff Sidders, Business Outreach Specialist at State of CO Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Andy Traub, Director – Corporate Disability Inclusion at Center for Disability Inclusion
Lt Col (Ret) Harry “Chip” Trosclair Jr., Chief of Staff at VetJobs & Military Spouse Jobs
Meaghan Walls, CEO at Center for Disability Inclusion
Krystal Welland, Lead Statistician at Silberman Law, PC

Staff Speakers

Tom Eckhart, Acting Executive Director at DirectEmployers Association
Seth Flater, VP, Client Success & Implementation at Recruit Rooster
Michelle Krefft, Disability & Community Outreach Specialist at DirectEmployers Association
Kim Lott, Community & State Outreach Administrator at DirectEmployers Association
Shannon Offord, VP of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances at DirectEmployers Association
Jeff Ringgenberg, Product Manager at Recruit Rooster
Ruth Toombs, Sales Manager at Recruit Rooster