2021 Human Resources & Accounting Conference

Schedule

• Day 1
• Day 2
• 10/27/2021
• 2:00pm Registration Opens2:00pm - 3:00pm

  Join us for the Early Bird Sessions! Come early for three great sessions, stick around for an evening of networking with peers and exhibitors.
• 3:00pm Field Follies & Crazy Claims3:00pm - 4:00pm

  They say, “Fact is stranger than fiction,” and that phrase is never more true than in the Construction industry. Join us as we kickoff the 2021 HR & Accounting Conference with a light-hearted look at the sometimes whacky world of “creative” field modifications and back-of-the-napkin engineering, as well as “inventive” claims and dog-ate-the-homework excuses. In each case, we might learn a thing or two from the bold efforts of others.

  Speakers: Josh Levy
• 3:00pm Best Practices for Data Privacy & Security3:00pm - 4:00pm

  More and more companies are being targeted for data breaches, phishing attacks, ransomware attacks and other cybersecurity incidents. At the same time, data privacy laws are driving increasing requirements and consumer expectations. In this session, we will discuss practical ways to best comply with the law and minimize risk. We will cover regulations you should be aware of, recent trends in cybersecurity attacks, and practical ways to protect your company and constituents.

  Speakers: Mindi S. Giftos
• 4:00pm Break with Exhibitors4:00pm - 4:30pm

  Meet exhibitors and chat with your colleagues during this networking break.
• 4:30pm Legal Update: Significant Cases & Developments in 20214:30pm - 6:00pm

  Staying current on all the new legal developments can be overwhelming. But, minimizing risk is something all employers want to do. Come find out about new laws, regulations, and significant court and administrative agency decisions from the past year so you can prepare for the future and keep yourself out of trouble.

  Speakers: Bob Sanders, Doug Witte, Josh Levy, Mark Johnson
• 6:00pm Social with Exhibitors6:00pm - 8:00pm

  Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and chat with exhibitors and colleagues during this evening social.
• 10/28/2021
• 7:30am Registration, Breakfast and Welcome7:30am - 8:30am

  Start the day off with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and check out our 12 human resources and eight accounting sessions.
• 8:30am Building Accountability into Remote Working Arrangements8:30am - 9:30am

  Hybrid or fully remote working arrangements are new for many organizations. The pandemic forced us to use these arrangements in an emergency fashion. For many workers it was less than ideal as they juggled home schooling and childcare with work. And for many employers it was less than ideal as well due to technology struggles and unfamiliarity with managing remote workers. After the pandemic, many workers and organizations plan to permanently utilize hybrid or fully remote working arrangements. In this presentation we will discuss: Common missteps and biases that will sabotage success. Establishing expectations for both employees, managers, and the company. Management skills needed to be successful in leading a hybrid or remote workforce.

  Speakers: Mary Jo Spiekerman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
• 8:30am HR Boot Camp: Welcome to HR8:30am - 9:30am

  This session will provide an overview of the Wisconsin and federal employment laws that all HR professionals need to know and dispel some misconceptions regarding laws that many think exist but do not. The discussion will include an overview of wage and hour law and dealing with harassment in the workplace. We will also discuss the nature of “at-will” employment and the best practices when interviewing candidates and extending employment offers.

  Speakers: Josh Levy, Robert Sanders
• 8:30am Legal Update: A Discussion of Significant Laws & Cases8:30am - 9:30am

  Successful contractors know how to avoid or minimize legal risk. In 2021 the president and his administration, Congress, the state Legislature, state and federal administrative agencies, and the courts all tried to make life more difficult and riskier for employers. Come find out about new laws, executive orders, regulations and decisions from the past year so that you can prepare for the future and lessen your risks. This session will update you on the latest court and agency actions and highlight other significant issues employers need to know about so they can continue to be successful in 2021 and beyond.

  Speakers: Doug Witte, Mark Johnson
• 8:30am Income Tax Update8:30am - 9:30am

  Income tax laws have been changing rapidly the past few years. Between COVID-19-related tax programs such as the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and significant changes in the political landscape in Congress, 2021 promises to be another year of substantial change – as well as opportunity! This session will highlight income tax law changes that you need to know, and it will provide information on opportunities and strategies that are available for minimizing your income tax burden. Learning objectives: Understand what income tax law changes are coming for 2021 and beyond. Planning opportunities and strategies available. Who is eligible for the Employee Retention Credit and how to claim it. The impact of recent tax law changes on choice of entity and succession planning. Q&A – bring your questions!

  Speakers: Dan Bergs, John Folsom
• 8:30am FRO (Financial Resource Optimization) – Double Your Profitable Cash Flow8:30am - 9:30am

  We are seeing abnormal inflation rates and employee shortages. As part of the FRO we will discuss how HR and Accounting teams can create a frame work so you can afford to pay your employees more and increase profitable cash flow.

  Speakers: Aaron Mills
• 9:30am Break with Exhibitors9:30am - 10:00am

  Enjoy refreshments and visit with exhibitors in the trade show.
• 10:00am Benefit Compliance Updates: ACA, ARPA and Other Recent Hot Topics10:00am - 11:00am

  In this session you will hear the latest compliance updates as it relates to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), ACA, deadline extensions and other hot topics within the ever-changing landscape of benefits compliance.

  Speakers: Karen Breitnauer, J.D.
• 10:00am Advanced HR Boot Camp: Being a Pro10:00am - 11:00am

  This session will cover effective discipline policies and practices as well as how to handle harassment investigations and EEOC/ERD processes. We will also discuss the interplay between the ADA, FMLA/ WFMLA, and Worker’s Compensation. Finally, we will examine the best practices for disciplining an employee.

  Speakers: Bob Sanders, Josh Levy
• 10:00am Building High Performance Teams Through Competence, Character & Cultural Fit10:00am - 11:00am

  You hire the heart of your organization. Your team is your direct connection to the clients you serve. You entrust your team with the precious responsibility of carrying your vision from paper to practice every day. This session will review a process that gives you peace of mind that your organizational vision will be carried out in good hands. PEOPLE FIRST - FOCUS POINTS: 1. Are you stuck in hiring psychology of “we need bodies or candidates who show up”? Are you infected or affected by an attitude of lowering employee standards of performance? 2. Are you currently challenged with increasing turnover ratios? 3. Finding quality people and having a tough time filling an opening is not going away soon. How are some companies having better success? Are you seeking a more impactful way to hiring high potentials? 4. Do you have an intentional approach to people selection, people development and people multiplication?

  Speakers: Ken Collins
• 10:00am Accounting Toolbox 10110:00am - 11:00am

  In today’s economy, being excellent operationally is required to survive in business. Don’t just survive; your business needs to thrive. Accounting and finance hold the keys to thriving. Learn how to help your business thrive using budgets, managing cash flow, understanding job costing and profitability, and reviewing contract terms.

  Speakers: Denita Schreier
• 10:00am R&D Tax Credit for Construction10:00am - 11:00am

  The R&D tax credit is one of the most beneficial and most misunderstood tax credits available today – and this is all due in part to the name “research and development.” Many contractors are unaware that portions of their work related to solving technical problems may enable them to claim tax incentives. This session will explain what activities qualify for the tax credit, detail the appropriate methods to document qualified activity, and recommend ways to avoid contractual pitfalls that exclude expenses from qualifying for the credit.

  Speakers: Chris Sioco, Uche Okoroha
• 11:00am Break with Exhibitors11:00am - 11:30am

  Enjoy refreshments and visit with exhibitors in the trade show.
• 11:30am Keynote Luncheon: Armed Intruder/Active Shooter – Controls That All Construction Companies Must Have In Place11:30am - 12:30pm

  Your employees work on a variety of construction sites, both indoors and outdoors. This program will review the key components that all construction employees must understand to reduce the chance of becoming a victim to workplace violence. Topics that will be addressed include: The importance of understanding the mass notification protocols of the construction site. How to create your plan of action – ‘mental action scripts’. How to identify and access safe rooms during a crisis. How to evacuate during a crisis. Understanding how your OODA loop may save your life. How to fight as a last resort. Security Concerns When Terminating a Potentially Violent Employee Violence as a part of employee discipline and termination is on the rise. This program will address the key security concerns that human resource personnel must address before, during, and after the termination process.

  Speakers: Ted Hayes
• 12:30pm Social, Political and Legal Considerations in Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Employees12:30pm - 1:30pm

  There is universal agreement that increasing diversity in the workplace leads to positive outcomes for a company’s culture and its bottom line. But recruiting and retaining qualified diverse employees can be challenging, especially in these tumultuous times. Join Husch Blackwell for a presentation that will provide practical and strategic advice on how to best recruit and retain diverse employees, as well as legal advice on how to achieve those goals without running afoul of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

  Speakers: Erik K. Eisenmann, Skye P. Parr
• 12:30pm Auditing and Updating Your Employee Handbook Relative to New Developments in Legislation & Case Law12:30pm - 1:30pm

  Recent developments at the federal and state level mandate that we give a serious reading to the policies contained in our existing employee handbooks – e.g. remote work, safety protocols, and other pandemic-related developments. In some instances, the language of your current policies may invite issues, such that they should be modified. In other instances, a policy should be added (or deleted). And then how to message these changes to your employees? We will also examine your most frequently referenced policies – e.g. progressive discipline; social media; workplace violence and searches, etc. Although not mandatory, attendees are encouraged to bring their own employee handbooks.

  Speakers: Mark J. Goldstein
• 12:30pm Attracting Tomorrow's Talent with Today's Leaders12:30pm - 1:30pm

  This session will offer the perspective of each generation and engage everyone in the discussion by building understanding of who we are, how we were raised, and how we view “work” as a part of our identity. Learn management strategies to overcome generational differences by building a culture that leverages the strengths of each generation and attracts millennial and Gen Z employees and customers and keeps them from leaving! This session explains what young professionals want from our job, our manager and our employer. Adulthood has changed, and depending on my life stage, I might prioritize my lifestyle over my career … So, how do you manage and motivate someone who may not be as committed to their job as previous generations? How do you engage your next generation of customers? This breakout session will give you the answers!

  Speakers: Steve Bench
• 12:30pm Accounting Toolbox 20112:30pm - 1:30pm

  Who uses your financial statements and what are they looking for? There are internal and external users, and their needs are different. Learn how to manage your financial statement ratios and what your financial statement disclosures are really saying to improve decision making and maximize their impact for the benefit of your business.

  Speakers: Adam Mueller
• 12:30pm Sales and Use Tax – Opportunities & Pitfalls12:30pm - 1:30pm

  Sales and use tax for contractors is extremely complex. More concerning is that audits are on the rise. This session will discuss areas that contractors may not be aware of which they could benefit from. We will also discuss areas that contractors need to watch out for and be prepared in case of audit.

  Speakers: Sarah Evans
• 1:30pm Break with Exhibitors1:30pm - 2:00pm

  Includes prize giveaways and an ice cream social!
• 2:00pm Cyber Threats to the Construction Industry2:00pm - 3:00pm

  Each industry has a different and unique set of exposures relating to cyber liability. We will explore the topic from the perspective of the construction industry. The focus will be cyber crime and ransomware with loss details, coverage explanations and controls that can help alleviate some basic exposures to these attacks. Upon completion of our presentation, attendees will better understand their direct exposures to cyber-attacks and what the insurance industry is doing to partner with businesses to help protect them. In this presentation you will learn about: Five different insurance coverage types that may respond to a cyber attack. A review of actual loss examples. Requirements that insurance carriers are putting in place to protect themselves and you as the insured.

  Speakers: Kenneth LaBelle
• 2:00pm Deadlines & Distress: Suicide Prevention Strategies for Builders2:00pm - 3:00pm

  In this session, we will discuss why the elevated risk of suicide among construction trades and the reasons that increase those risks. You will learn, what to look for - signs/symptoms of suicidal thought and behaviors and Mental Health First Aid training for construction / job site supervisors.

  Speakers: Dan Muxfeld, Mimi Millen
• 2:00pm Safety Roundtable: Another Hat You Wear – Your Tough Questions, Real Answers2:00pm - 3:00pm

  This interactive roundtable discussion will offer attendees the ability to ask those tough safety related questions you as the HR person or HR/Safety Person have…to a roundtable of construction HR and safety professionals. What are the best practices in safety for particular construction trades, “How can I make my jobsite safer?” Our panel will share real world answers to your questions.

  Speakers: Angela Wilcox, Don Moen, Eric Bauer
• 2:00pm Business Transition2:00pm - 3:00pm

  The construction industry is, at heart, a family industry. The vast majority of businesses in the U.S. could be described as family businesses — but the fact of the matter is, those businesses are approaching a transition crisis. According to the Family Business Institute, approximately 40% of family businesses expect the leadership of their companies to change hands within the next five years. Over half expect a leadership change within 10 years, and more than four out of five businesses are still controlled by their founders. With baby boomers retiring at an ever-increasing rate, the situation is simply unsustainable. Yet few are doing anything about it. Only about 20% of owners we work with have a transition plan in place. Transition planning involves long-term and short-term strategies that will allow you to perpetuate your business at a price and time of your choosing while protecting you in the interim against an unforeseen event, such as death, disability or incapacitation. That sounds easy enough, but why aren’t more owners putting these strategies in place? How do we solve a problem that is not going away and is detrimental to preserving the vision and legacy many business owners have worked a lifetime to create? We begin by realizing that transition planning is not a subject unto itself but rather part of corporate planning strategy. And like any other strategy, we first need to examine the options.

  Speakers: Brian Goodhart
• 2:00pm The Art of Strategy Implementation2:00pm - 3:00pm

  Designing strategy is hard. Executing strategy to achieve the desired results is even harder. In any business, our success is predicated on designing and executing strategy to sustain and thrive. Our employees, customers, communities and other stake holders count on us for this and it’s up to us to deliver. This session will assist you in: 1. Designing the right strategy for your construction company. 2. Building engagement at all levels (employees need to carry the change – leaders can’t). 3. Incorporating a deliberate change management approach to increase your success. 4. Developing an implementation structure to increase odds of achieving your desired results.

  Speakers: Tina Nazier
• 3:00pm End of the Conference3:00pm - 3:00pm

  Thanks for coming! Have a safe trip home.