Summit Logo

Transforming the American Workplace: A 21st Century Vision

Hosted by the Office of Disability Employment Policy,
United States Department of Labor
June 3 and 4, 2008

Workshop Quick Links
(Click on the links below to view the workshop materials and other information)

The New Workplace: Flexibility

Transforming the Workplace with New Technologies

The Intergenerational Workplace

Universal Design/Accessibility

Lunch Presentation

Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship

Mental Health: Workplace Supports and Solutions

Organizational Culture: Driving Results

Ensuring Employment Success for Returning Injured and Wounded Service Members



REGISTRATION &
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

PLENARY SESSION

Opening Remarks

Master of Ceremonies
Adrienne Thal, Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor

Presentation and Retirement of Colors
Armed Forces Color Guard
The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

National Anthem
Larry V. Norton, Sr., Proposal Manager, Federal Markets & Business Development, Deloitte Services LLP

Pledge of Allegiance
Adrienne Thal, Policy Advisor, ODEP

Welcome
Dr. Robert Davila, President, Gallaudet University

Remarks from
The Honorable Neil Romano,
Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy,
U.S. Department of Labor

Secretary Elaine L. Chao addresses the opening Plenary session
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, U.S. Secretary of Labor, makes her
Keynote Remarks during the
Opening Plenary Session
(Photo by Douglas Sonders)

Keynote Remarks from
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao,
U.S. Secretary of Labor

 [DOC]

Defining the Next Generation Workforce
Mark Bertolini,President, Aetna Inc.
  [PPT]

BREAK

WORKSHOPS
Each workshop focused on a current workforce trend and its connection with ODEP’s policy and research activities.

The New Workplace: Flexibility
Innovative and flexible employment strategies, including customized employment and telecommuting, address the needs of a varied and dynamic workforce. Participants listened to speakers describing how workplace flexibility contributes to work/life balance, and benefits employee productivity and employer profitability.

Moderator: Christopher Button, Supervisory Policy Advisor, Workforce Systems Policy Team, ODEP
Speakers:

Panelists Richard Luecking, Jane Anderson, and Malcolm Foo
Panelists Richard Luecking,
Jane Anderson,
and Malcolm Foo
(Photo by Neshan Naltchayan)

Malcolm Foo, Senior Manager and Talent Strategies Lead, Federal Human Capital Practice, Deloitte Consulting LLP
  [PDF]     [DOC]

Jane Anderson, Project Director, Midwest Institute for Telecommuting Education
  [PDF]     [DOC]

Richard Luecking, President, TransCen, Inc.
  [PDF]     [DOC]

Additional materials provided by:
Karen Stang, Human Resources Manager, Operation IMPACT Program, Northrop Grumman Corporation
  [PDF]     [DOC]

Transforming the Workplace with New Technologies
Demographic trends today support the business case for investing in accessible and interoperable technology. A discussion on how industry is building solutions to new challenges and, in the process, achieving accessibility, expanding markets, and reducing barriers to employment.

Moderator: Randy Cooper, Senior Policy Advisor, Employment-Related Supports Policy Team, ODEP

Speakers:

Speaker Debra Ruh, President and Founder, TecAccess LLC. Speaker Frances West, Director, Human Ability & Accessibility Center, IBM Speaker Thomas Wlodkowski, Director of Accessibility, AOL
Speakers Debra Ruh (left),
Frances West (center),
and Thomas Wlodkowski (right)
(Photos by Douglas Sonders)

Debra Ruh, President and Founder, TecAccess, LLC
  [PDF]     [PPT]

Frances West, Director, Human Ability & Accessibility Center, IBM
  [PDF]     [PPT]

Thomas Wlodkowski, Director of Accessibility, AOL

The Intergenerational Workplace
To address and capitalize on intergenerational workplace differences, employers utilize an increasing array of strategies to keep all workers motivated, productive, and engaged. Leading companies and organizations shared how they are responding to four generations of employees and how those same strategies can also facilitate the employment of youth and adults with disabilities.

Panelists Larry Cohen, Keith Gall, Barbara Haight and Steve Wing
Speakers Larry Cohen, Keith Gall,
Barbara Haight and Steve Wing
(Photo by Douglas Sonders)

Panelist Steve Wing meets Becca Hare
Speaker Stephen Wing
greets Rebecca Hare
(Photo by Douglas Sonders)

Moderator: Rhonda Basha, Team Leader, Workforce Systems Policy Team, ODEP

Speakers:

Larry Cohen, Manager, Workforce Issues, AARP
  [PPT]

Keith Gall, Vice President, Capstone Programs, Junior Achievement Worldwide
  [PDF]   [DOC]

Barbara Haight, Senior Manager, Community Relations, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.

Stephen M. Wing, Director, Government Programs, CVS/Caremark
  [PDF]   [PPT]   [PDF]

Universal Design/Accessibility
Universal design enhances physical, programmatic, and virtual environments, including the products, services and communications used by people with disabilities, without the need for further adaptation or specialization. Speakers from the Universal Design Institute and two corporations who have implemented universal design discussed the many ways accessibility benefits businesses.

Moderator: Michael Reardon, Team Leader, Employment-Related Supports Policy Team, ODEP

Speakers:
Leslie C. Young, Housing Works-Universal Design Institute

Susan K. Mazrui, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, AT&T
  [PDF]

Deb Russell, Career Outreach Manager, Walgreens

LUNCH

Introduction:
The Honorable Neil Romano,
Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

Speaker:
Cpt. (Ret.) Dawn Halfaker, Chief Executive Officer, Halfaker and Associates.
Entrepreneur and decorated disabled veteran Dawn Halfaker discussed her transition from the combat zone to civilian life, and the importance of meaningful employment for people with disabilities, including severely injured service men and women. Captain Halfaker also showed a clip from the documentary Alive Day Memories and shared her experiences as the CEO of a small business.

  [ PDF ]   [ DOC ]

BREAK

WORKSHOPS

Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship

Moderator Jennifer Kemp
Moderator Jennifer Kemp
(Photo by Douglas Sonders)
Self-employment and entrepreneurship are increasingly popular employment alternatives for individuals with disabilities striving to fulfill their career aspirations and financial goals. Panelists discussed the advantages and challenges of self-employment and provided information on two ODEP-funded self-employment projects.

Moderator: Jennifer Kemp, Senior Policy Advisor, Workforce Systems Policy Team, ODEP

Speakers:

Panelists Jamey Young Mike Haynie and Joyce Bender
Panelists Jamey Young,
Mike Haynie, and Joyce Bender
(Photo by Douglas Sonders)

Joyce Bender, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bender Consulting Services, Inc.

Mike Haynie, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University

James M. Young, Vice-President and Senior Relationship Manager, Juneau Business Banking Group, Wells Fargo Bank

Mental Health: Workplace Supports and Solutions
Mental health in the workplace is a key concern for employers today. Our panel of experts shared field-tested strategies that employers can use to ensure the productivity and retention of employees with mental health needs.

Moderator: Susan Parker, Director, Division of Policy Development, ODEP

Speakers:
Shirley Davis, Director of Diversity Initiatives, Society for Human Resource Management

Lisa Cuozzo Stern Clare Miller Shirley Davis and Moderator Susan Parker listen to Dr. Hyong Un
Panelists Lisa Cuozzo Stern, Clare Miller, Shirley Davis, and Moderator Susan Parker listen to Dr. Hyong Un
(Photo by Douglas Sonders)

Dr. Hyong Un, National Medical Director, Behavioral Health, Aetna Inc.
  [ PDF ]   [ PPT ]

Clare Miller, Director, Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, American Psychiatric Association
  [ PDF ]   [ PPT ]

Lisa Cuozzo Stern, Director of Operations, MontgomeryWorks!
  [ PDF ]   [ PPT ]

Organizational Culture: Driving Results
Attendees of this workshop learned about a groundbreaking ODEP-funded research study, investigating how organizational structures, values, policies, and day-to-day practices affect all aspects of the employment of people with disabilities. The panelists represented the lead research institution for the study and some of the companies identified as having exemplary practices.

Moderator: Richard Horne, Director, Division of Policy Planning & Research, ODEP

Speakers:

Panelists Peter Blanck,Tammie McNaughton,Lori Golder
Speakers Peter Blanck, Tammie McNaughton, and Lori Golden
(Photo by Neshan Naltchayan)

Tammie McNaughton, Director, Corporate Diversity & Work Life, Highmark
  [ PDF ]   [ PPT ] (*Not Recommended for dial-up connections)

Lori Golden, AccessABILITIES Leader, Ernst and Young
  [ PDF  [ DOC ]

Peter Blanck, University Professor & Chairman, Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University
  [ PDF ]   [ PPT ]

BREAK

PLENARY SESSION

Ensuring Employment Success for Returning Injured and Wounded Service Members

Employment plays a critical role in the road to recovery for wounded and injured service members. Participants discussed how ODEP and its partners equip employers and the workforce system with valuable information on supports and strategies for returning service members in their transition to civilian life and employment, with a particular focus on those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Introduction: Charles Sabatier, Senior Policy Advisor, Employment-Related Supports Policy Team, ODEP

Moderator: The Honorable Charles (Chick) Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor
  [PDF]   [DOC]

Speakers:
Alex Belous, Manager, Education & Health Strategy, Cisco Foundation, Cisco Public Benefit Investment

Sgt. (Ret.) Gary Boggs, Quality Assurance Engineer, Northrop-Grumman Corporation and National Spokesperson for Coalition to Salute America's Heroes

John Lawson, Executive Director & Manager of Leadership Programs, The Home Depot

RECEPTION

The Reception, held in the majestic Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian Institution's Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, provided hundreds of guests with an opportunity to network and featured a brief program. Guests were also treated to the unveiling of a photographic exhibit on disability history and employment entitled

History, Progress, Transformation: Vision of the Future

Master of Ceremonies

Mario Damiani, Policy Advisor, ODEP

Speakers:
Ken Stein, featured exhibit photographer and Program Administrator, San Francisco Mayor's Office on Disability

Dr. Bertha Madras, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, White House Office on National Drug Control Policy

Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO, American Association for People with Disabilities

The Honorable Neil Romano, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

DAY 2 – June 4, 2008

BREAKFAST PLENARY
Two trailblazers in the corporate and disability sectors provided opening remarks for Day 2 of the Summit: Randy Lewis shared how he is transforming corporate culture, policies, programs, and day-to-day employment practices to fully include employees with cognitive and physical disabilities, and John Kemp shared his enlightening personal experiences navigating the business and media communities as an executive and advocate with a significant disability.

Master of Ceremonies

Rachel Dorman, Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

Will History and Hope Rhyme?
Randy Lewis, Senior Vice President of Distribution and Logistics, Walgreens

So, What Happened to You?
John Kemp, President, U.S. Business Leadership Network

BREAK

FUTURE DIRECTIONS: STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS
Employers, Federal partners, interest groups, and academics met with others within their stakeholder group to discuss what needs to happen to expand access to the talent pool of workers with disabilities.

Employers

Facilitator John Kemp Facilitator David Mank Facilitator Michael Morris
Facilitators John Kemp (left),
David Mank(center),
and Michael Morris(right)
(Photos by Douglas Sonders)

Facilitator:John Kemp, Principal, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC and President, U.S. Business Leadership Network

Federal Partners

Facilitator: David Mank, Director, Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University

Interest Groups

Facilitator: Michael Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University

Academics

Facilitator Susanne Bruyere
Facilitator Susanne Bruyere

Facilitator: Susanne Bruyère,Director, Employment and Disability Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Associate Dean of Outreach, Cornell University



BREAK

WORKSHOP REPORTS AND CLOSING REMARKS

Reports on Day 1 and Day 2 Workshops

image of The Honorable Neil Romano's making his closing remarks
The Honorable Neil Romano makes his closing remarks

Closing Remarks


The Honorable Neil Romano, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

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