Speakers and Program Information
Dr. Lowell Catlett | Dr. Robert Graboyes | David James | George Russell | Damian Mason
Dr. Lowell Catlett | Dr. Robert Graboyes | David James | George Russell | Damian Mason
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr. Lowell Catlett
What's in store for businesses down the road.
Dr. Lowell Catlett is a Regent's Professor/Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. An exciting futurist, his knowledge of technologies and their implications on the way we will live and work is addressed in his upbeat presentations.
Dr. Catlett received his doctorate in Economics from Iowa State University, and has twice received the Don C. Roush Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Burlington Foundation Faculty Achievement Award for Outstanding University Teaching. In 1994 he was one of two Western Regional recipients of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges "Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences Award." He recently received the College of Agriculture and Home Economics Advisor of the Year as well as Teacher of the Year at New Mexico State University. He was one of six senior faculty members to be named New Mexico State's first Regents Professors.
He is a consultant to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, Defense and Labor. He has also been a consultant to many Fortune 500 companies.
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SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Preident Obama's Healthcare Law Dr. Robert F. Graboyes Senior Healthcare Advisor - NFIB Healthcare Law's Impact on Small Business Dr. Graboyes, our favorite expert on healthcare, will lead this session on a topic that is sure to touch every Member's business in the coming year. |
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In the lead-up to PPACA's passage in 2010, it was often said by parties on all sides of the debate that reform had to address the health care problems faced by small business. With no human resources departments, small businesses have great difficulty dealing with the administrative side of health care. The laws governing small-group insurance create special obstacles to purchasing coverage for employees. But most importantly, insurance costs are at their worst – high and volatile – in the small business sector. In 2008, NFIB said, “When it's fixed for small business, it's fixed for America.” Unfortunately, PPACA did not fix the problems for either small business or for America. Since the challenges have not lessened for small business, it's time, once again, to address the issues. What could a new Congress do? Congress could start by repealing the health insurance tax and the employer mandate. Following those, there are some harmful taxes that discourage employers from hiring: the so-called Medicare wage and investment taxes, the medical device tax, the drug tax and so forth.Graboyes is Senior Healthcare Advisor at National Federation of Independent Business in Washington, DC. In this role, he analyzes federal and state healthcare legislation from the perspective of small business. Bob teaches health economics in master's and doctoral programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, and George Mason University. Previously, he was Chase Manhattan Bank's economist for sub-Saharan Africa, economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and associate professor at the University of Richmond. Bob has a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, master's degrees from the College of William and Mary, Columbia University and Virginia Commonwealth University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia. His recent writings can be found at NFIB.com/DrBob. |
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SATURDAY MORNING GENERAL SESSION
David James, Attorney
Nilan Johnson Lewis PA
Staying One Step Ahead
of Various Federal Initiatives
While our most of our members have benefited from several years of strong equipment sales, they have also felt the hand of over regulation reaching deep into their business and becoming an increasing threat to hard earned profits.
We are very please to have David James as the closing speaker for our Fall Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to authoring insightful articles that appear in our Ag Innovator magazine, David along with Joe Schmitt are the attorneys we count on to answer members questions involving HR issues.
This early morning session will focus on the actions of several Federal agencies that have been active in the last year, sounding alarms across the HR spectrum.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for example, has challenged ubiquitous hiring considerations, such as criminal history and educational background.
The National Labor Relations Board has planted a flag in social media, with implications for the union and non-union workplace alike.
The Department of Labor has identified enforcement targets ranging from unpaid internships to independent contractor classification.
This session will provide real take home value as it provides an overview various agencies initiatives in an effort to stay one step ahead of the next compliance audit.
David James, AttorneyNilan Johnson Lewis PA
Staying One Step Ahead
of Various Federal Initiatives
While our most of our members have benefited from several years of strong equipment sales, they have also felt the hand of over regulation reaching deep into their business and becoming an increasing threat to hard earned profits.
We are very please to have David James as the closing speaker for our Fall Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to authoring insightful articles that appear in our Ag Innovator magazine, David along with Joe Schmitt are the attorneys we count on to answer members questions involving HR issues.
This early morning session will focus on the actions of several Federal agencies that have been active in the last year, sounding alarms across the HR spectrum.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for example, has challenged ubiquitous hiring considerations, such as criminal history and educational background.
The National Labor Relations Board has planted a flag in social media, with implications for the union and non-union workplace alike.
The Department of Labor has identified enforcement targets ranging from unpaid internships to independent contractor classification.
This session will provide real take home value as it provides an overview various agencies initiatives in an effort to stay one step ahead of the next compliance audit.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON - SPECIAL INTEREST SESSION
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George Russell, Executive Partner
Currie Management Consultants
Distribution Risks & Opportunities:
How To Keep Full Line Dealers as
Your Partners & What are the Alternatives
The farm equipment distribution network in North America is changing quickly due to consolidation, globalization and adoption of game changing technology. In addition to these trends, shortline manufacturers and distributors risk increasing pressure from full line dealers to justify their value - both from competing products offered by the full liners, and as larger dealers consolidate their product offering.
This presentation will highlight the risks for short line manufacturers by showing how dealers determine the financial as well as marketing value of adding or dropping product lines they offer.
Because losing retail distribution channels is already a fact of life, the presentation will also discuss alternatives that manufacturers and distributors should consider. These alternatives will range from direct sales to finding distribution partners in other industries, and many alternatives in between.
George Russell, Executive PartnerCurrie Management Consultants
Distribution Risks & Opportunities:
How To Keep Full Line Dealers as
Your Partners & What are the Alternatives
The farm equipment distribution network in North America is changing quickly due to consolidation, globalization and adoption of game changing technology. In addition to these trends, shortline manufacturers and distributors risk increasing pressure from full line dealers to justify their value - both from competing products offered by the full liners, and as larger dealers consolidate their product offering.
This presentation will highlight the risks for short line manufacturers by showing how dealers determine the financial as well as marketing value of adding or dropping product lines they offer.
Because losing retail distribution channels is already a fact of life, the presentation will also discuss alternatives that manufacturers and distributors should consider. These alternatives will range from direct sales to finding distribution partners in other industries, and many alternatives in between.
THURSDAY'S JOINT SESSION EMDA has selected Damian Mason as our Joint Opening Breakfast Speaker this year.
You will love Damian's funny, farm-themed material, but will also appreciate his advocacy for the industry. He will address three important points: pride, professionalism, and passing on our agricultural legacy.
Damian knows agriculture. He was raised on a dairy farm, has a degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, and he and his wife own a beef, grain, and hay farm. More importantly, Damian understands the “heart” of agriculture - the people who produce our bounty of food, fiber, and fuel.
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