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2nd Annual HR & Employment Law Conference

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On Friday, October 10, the Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) will hold its second annual HR & Employment Law Conference at the MBA’s Conference Center in Erie. To learn more about plans for this highly anticipated event and the benefits of attending, the Business Magazine recently sat down with the Association’s own in-house HR specialist Stacey Bruce, director of HR Services for the MBA.

HR professionals play a very important role for most organizations, from hiring and firing, to keeping employers and employees up to date on the most current workplace policies and legislation. What other duties does HR perform and how critical is education and training to this role?
While some HR professionals may oversee organizations and strategy, others get the benefit of person-to-person interaction, helping employees directly. HR managers coordinate and plan HR activities, then manage them once executed. This may involve guiding employees through the hiring process, benefits programs, training, labor disputes, and other administrative needs important to workers within a company. HR managers have a direct influence and positive impact on the people in a company.

HR training and development programs benefit not only the company, but also their employees. By learning new skills, abilities to use new methods and materials and knowledge, HR managers become a more valuable asset to the organization in carrying out their critical HR duties. Why should someone in the HR field want to attend?
For anyone who has earned his or her PHR/SPHR credentials, this conference will award five HR Certification Institute (HRCI) credits for attending. Not to mention, it is a great networking and educational event. We will have updates on employment law including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), social media and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). There are also some exciting prize giveaways, including an iPad Mini donated by the Manufacturer & Business Association.

This year’s HR & Employment Law Conference promises to deliver highly interactive sessions, educational opportunities and networking. What are some of the highlights?
This year, we have a daylong event chock-full of interactive sessions, including some highly sought-after educational and networking opportunities. Alice Pescuric from the University of Pittsburgh will be with us to discuss some key issues that affect every work force, including leadership challenges. She is a widely respected expert in her field, and her presentation “Leading in Uncertain Times” should be very insightful. We’re also excited to announce that Mike Byam, author of The WOW! Workplace and managing partner of the international firm Terryberry, will be joining us as well. He is a frequent speaker on practical ways that managers can change workplace culture and effectively use employee recognition to engage people, improve communications and retain top talent. Finally, Barbara Glanz, a certified speaking professional and author of 11 bestselling “how-to” books, including 180 Ways to Spread Contagious Enthusiasm, will be here to share her tips for improving morale, retention and service.

What are you most looking forward to and why?
We just look forward to the entire event, seeing it all come together at the Association’s Conference Center in Erie. It is such a beautiful facility with a great staff and everyone works together well to make it all happen. We also have some phenomenal speakers planned, which we couldn’t have without the help of our wonderful sponsors. In fact, the conference was such a huge success last year, we had a lot of the same companies back wanting to sponsor it again, plus several new ones.

What else can you share about the conference?
There is limited seating again this year and it is filling up fast, so I would recommend getting your reservations in early. We also are looking for a few more sponsors, so if you are interested, please contact me at 814/833-3200 or email sbruce@mbausa.org.

What is the cost? And, where can you register?
Cost is $275 for MBA members, $350 for nonmembers. Participants can register at www.mbausa.org or call Terry Nunez at the MBA at 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.