2023 Helena SHRM DEI Conference
Conference Description:
Diversity is the presence of differences within a given setting. In the workplace, that can mean differences in race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and socioeconomic class. It can also refer to differences in physical ability, veteran status, whether or not you have kids — all are components of diversity.
Equity is the process of ensuring that practices and programs are impartial, fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual.
Inclusion is the practice of ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging in the workplace. This means that every employee feels comfortable and supported by the organization when it comes to being their authentic selves.
Combining these three elements, DE&I is an ethos that recognizes the value of diverse voices and emphasizes inclusivity and employee well-being as central facets of success. To bring those values to life, companies must implement programs and initiatives that actively make their offices more diverse, equitable and inclusive spaces.
Learning Objectives and Timeline
12:00pm - 1:00pm What is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
William B. Henry, D.E.I. Trainer, and Leadership Coach
1:00pm – 2:00pm Reviewing DEI legal case studies
Vicki Bignell, Associate Attorney at Christensen & Prezeau Law Firm
2:00pm-3:00pm How to start a DEI Committee
Jessica Pires, DIB Leader at Brown & Brown, Inc.
3:00pm – 3:15pm Break
3:15pm – 4:15pm Organizational Change
Chantel Schieffer, Owner and Principal of True North Leadership
4:15pm- 5:00pm Unconscious Biases: The Hidden Influences on Decision-Making
Dawn Lambert, HR Manager & Owner at The New Solutions Consulting, LLP
Presenter Line Up:
I Have an I.D.E.A (Identifying Diversity, Equity and Assumptions)
William B. Henry, MBA, specializes in having DEII conversations around leadership development, strategic planning, employee engagement, and culture building. He has more than 20 years of experience enhancing the performance of individual executives, teams, and organizations. His background encompasses a wide range of programs and initiatives for organization design, cultural change and personal development. His unique approach to leadership and organization development began during his 20 years in the blood banking industry where William served as Regional Director of Human Resources, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Region, Regional Director of Blood Operations, and Vice President of Production Planning. William is also the founder of Be Better World LLC, a self-empowerment movement geared toward developing professionals and youth to deal with the real time issues that stand in their way and how to take the next steps to success. His stance takes a different approach as he works directly with clients to implement strategies and teach skills that can be carried through every phase of life. Be Better World is gaining national attention and his motto is “We All Play A Role”.
William has assisted clients in a wide variety of industries including community corrections, Chambers of Commerce, blood banking, professional service organizations and school systems (grades K-12). In addition, William has worked one-on-one with leaders and future leaders to address issues ranging from communication styles, diversifying the work culture, and personal development.
When you hear the acronym D.E.I., many people have a notion based on preconceived ideas, media influences or secondhand information that may or may not be true. In this workshop, I have an I.D.E.A., we will break down some of the concepts and align thinking about what DEI is and what it is not. This fast pace 1-hour workshop will challenge participants to think outside of their personal lens and begin to see the world through a different lens. Buckle up and let's grow together!
Legal principles of dei programs
Vicki Bignell is an associate attorney at Christensen & Prezeau in Helena. She grew up in Bozeman and studied biology at Carroll College. Vicki attend law school in Missoula, graduating with high honors from the University of Montana law school. Her practice areas include employment law, administrative law, professional licensing, and civil litigation defense. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time outside in beautiful Montana with her husband, son, and their dogs, Butter and Biscuit.
This presentation will discuss the legal principles at play when it comes to DEI programs. We will first review the foundational legal principles and a few of the major cases. Then, we will discuss the Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action decision regarding college admissions, analyze how that decision may impact DEI programs, and brainstorm ways to keep encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace moving forward.
Diversity, Inclusion, and belonging journey
Jessica Pires, DIB Leader at Brown & Brown, Inc. will cover Brown & Brown’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging journey, sharing how the organization built a strategy that was authentic to their culture. She will share the ways in which Brown & Brown centered belongingness, engaged in teammate listening campaigns, and created resource groups. She will discuss lessons learned along the way, key pivots, and how accountability marks the next chapter in the organization’s DIB journey.
Jessica is the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leader for Brown & Brown, Inc. where she develops and executes the enterprise DIB strategy throughout all aspects of the culture, teammate life cycle and business practices.
Since 2020, the DIB team has launched a series of company-wide initiatives to build a strong foundation of inclusivity including Teammate Resource Groups, inclusive leadership training and Belonging Sessions. For more on Brown & Brown’s DIB strategy and progress visit: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/8bac909d/pKYs-P1h7hGvgITPW9GfSw?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbinsurance.com%2Fabout-us%2Fdiversity-inclusion-belonging%2F.
Jessica started her Brown & Brown career at Strategic Non-Medical Solutions, an office in our Retail Segment. Previously, Jessica worked with Accion International in fundraising and donor engagement.
Jessica is also Co-Founder and COO of Women with Purpose, a Boston-based organization that provides professional development and skill-building workshops for women of color. Passionate about quality services for elders, she volunteers with FriendshipWorks as a companion for isolated elders. Jessica holds a B.A. in International Studies and Anthropology from Colby College.
NAVIGATING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Chantel Schieffer is the owner and principal of True North Leadership, a Helena-based consulting firm providing leadership and organizational development services to elevate success and help teams work best together.
Organizational change refers to the process of making alterations to the structure, strategies, processes, or culture of an organization, implementing new ideas, technologies, or ways of doing things to improve the organization's performance, adapt to external factors, or address internal issues. In this interactive lesson, we will explore what change looks like for each of us and discuss strategies to set our organizations up for success while navigating change.
Unconscious Bias
Dawn Lambert, Helena SHRM President, Owner, she has been a Certified Four Lenses Trainer with Shipley Communication for over 6 years and has trained all over the state of Montana to small business, large conferences, non-profits and government agencies. She is from Helena, MT and has worked in various facets of HR. She has a BA Degree in Business Administration, and recently received the Department of Defense Seven Seals Award for assisting in Military Employment Law. Dawn is currently the President for the Helena Society of Human Resource Management Chapter (SHRM), the State Ombudsman Director for the Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR), and a volunteer Fire Fighter/EMT.
Unconscious biases are an integral part of human psychology, shaping our perceptions, judgments, and interactions. In this enlightening presentation, we delve into the world of unconscious biases, their origins, and their impact on our personal and professional lives. We'll explore how these hidden biases affect decision-making, and more importantly, what we can do to recognize, address, and mitigate their influence. Join us for an engaging discussion that promises to enhance our awareness and promote fairer, more inclusive environments. This presentation is a valuable resource for individuals and organizations committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
