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13th Annual Native American Human Resources Conference

13th Annual Native American Human Resources Conference

January 23-24, 2023

The Palms Casino Resort – Las Vegas, NV

Event Details

The 13th Annual Native American Human Resources Conference will be held January 23-24, 2023, at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

There is no better Tribal HR professional development and networking opportunity than with Native Nation Events, and the 13th annual conference will not disappoint. Whether you’re new to HR or a seasoned professional, you’ll gain new skills and connect with peers and pros who will help you achieve your goals and solve your workplace challenges.

At Native Nation Events, we believe networking is at the heart of every conference and ensure that all attendees have ample time to connect and engage. We provide riveting sessions that inspire conversation, breaks built for mingling, to gathering the best sponsors that provide actionable solutions to help you reach your goals faster!


HRCI Approved Program

We are thrilled to announce Native Nation Events is an approved HRCI program provider, with attendees receiving 9.75 credit hours upon conference completion towards aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ designations.

“The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®)  criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.”

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

  • Tribal Government HR Department Professionals
  • Compensation and Benefits Professionals
  • Tribal-Owned Enterprise HR Managers
  • Leadership
  • Talent Acquisition and Retention Professionals
  • Organizational Development and Training Personnel
  • Benefits and Recognition Personnel
  • Legal and Compliance

At Native Nation Events, we pride ourselves on offering best-in-class networking events in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. No need for suits and ties; business casual is the preferred dress code for our conferences. 


Thank you to our Co-Chairs and Platinum sponsors for their continued support, dedication to knowledge, and drive to enhance the Native American community.

Corprate Traditions Logo Alt TextSegal Logo Alt TextUSI Consulting Group Alt TextParadigm Shift Logo Alt TExt

Register Now To Attend

For Tribal or Tribal Enterprise Representatives

Super Early Bird

$795

Early Bird

$895

Standard Rate

$995

Group Rate (Must have four or more registered)

Super Early Bird

$695

Early Bird

$795

Standard Rate

$895

Industry Professionals

Super Early Bird

$895

Early Bird

$995

Standard Rate

$1095

HOTEL INFORMATION

THE PALMS CASINO HOTEL

4321 West Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89103

Room Rate: $139

Cut-Off Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2022

To reserve your room: 702- 942-7777

You must mention Native Nation Events or the Native American Human Resources Conference to receive the discounted rate.

13th Annual Native American Human Resources Conference

January 23-24, 2023

Agenda at a Glance

Monday, January 23, 2023

7:30-8:30 AM

Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:30-8:45 AM

Welcoming Remarks & Conference Co-Chair Remarks

Dan O'Connor

Sponsorship Sales Manager | Native Nation Events

Scott D. Nost

Vice President & Senior Consultant | Segal

Jaylon Jackson

Head of Client Success | Corporate Traditions

8:45-9:30 am

Keynote "Retention is Dead. What now?"

Jerrod Murr

CEO & Founder | Paradigm Shift

  • Learn the 3 attributes of QPR
  • Discuss succession planning in the 21st Century
  • Identify best engagement practices right now

9:30-10:30 am

The Importance of a Comprehensive Recruiting Plan with Todays Workforce

Brad Porter

Senior Sales Executive | Healthcare Management Administrators

Elise Campbell

Executive Director of Human Resources | Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

Le Trozzo

Member | Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Charles Walters

Senior Director of Human Resources | Isleta Casino & Resort

Christine Winn

Chief Executive Officer | Quinault Indian Nation

  • Staff shortages are plaguing America, what effect is it having on business operations?
  • What mediums have proven successful when advertising job openings? Especially given the very adverse employee makeup many tribal enterprises have.
  • What job platforms seem to work vs others?
  • When do you recognize it’s time to hire an outside recruiter and what is your enterprise’s policy on that?
  • Do job fairs work?
  • Selection Process- How do you determine the best person for the job?
  • The Pros vs. Cons of Tribal First policies
  • How do you attract top talent? What tools, strategies, and metrics should be used in the competitive market?

11:00-12:00 PM

Round Table Discussion: Retaining Your Current Employees as Well as Your New Hires

Jerrod Murr

CEO & Founder | Paradigm Shift

Gary Murrey

Chief Operating Officer | La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians

Paula Allen

Director of Leadership Development & Guest Services | 7 Cedars Resort Properties

Alicia Finley

Human Resources Service Director | Blue Stone Strategy Group

  • Creating a compensation strategy that keeps employees and how to know if it;s competitive and sustainable.
  • How creating an employee incentive and career development program can increase overall morale.
  • How important is it to have employees who are both engaged and motivated? How do you achieve this?
  • Why a successful onboarding experience helps to retain new employees.
  • Identifying and creating a healthy culture within the workforce, and how empathy is the new norm.
  • How an engaged employee with great morale reduces employee apprehension and what that means in terms of money.
  • How an ongoing training program improves morale.
  • Recognizing burnout and what tools are available to prevent it.

12:00-1:00 PM

Networking Lunch

Networking Lunch

1:00-1:45 PM

Track A Generating a Comprehensive Benefits Strategy that Catches the Eye of Today's Diverse Workforce

Christopher Goldsmith

Vice President & Senior Consultant | Segal

Lena McQuary

Director of Human Resources | Downstream Casino

Randy Karli

Case Manager | GITW Benefits

  • How important is “Benefits vs Compensation” in keeping employees?
  • What products are out there that cater to the diversity within the workplace?
  • Is long-term care a benefit tribes usually offer? If not, why? IS this a benefit many workers even look for especially for the younger generations?
  • What are some “unique” benefit features in the market designed to attract and maintain staff?

 

1:00-1:45

Track B Product Demonstration: Solutions to Tackle Your Complicated Payroll, HR and Tax

Jonathon Stone

HCM/Payroll Software Consultant | Greenshades Software

  • Streamline recruiting , onboarding, benefits administration, certification and license tracking. Empower your employees with an employee self-service portal, learning management and more all in one system.
  • How to simplify complex payroll needs, like garnishments, blended overtime, shift differentials.
  • Learn compliance-based software helps save time & costly errors by maintaining pre and post payroll needs, like garnishments, blended overtime, shift differentials.
  • Learn compliance-based software helps save time & costly errors by maintaining pre and post payroll tax compliance and simplifies year-end forms.
  • Support complex scheduling needs and empower employees to track labor hours by punching in and out from any location and any device.
  • How investing in payroll and HR technologies can streamline the complicated tedious work that goes into managing employees and benefits of moving payroll to the cloud.

1:45-2:30 PM

Track A- Are Your Tribal Members/Employees Ready for Retirement

Crystal Hill

National Director of Tribal Services | USI Consulting Group, Tennessee

Nick Trella

Senior Vice President | Segal Marco Advisors

  • How do you educate your employees and tribal members on the importance of being proactive and planning for their retirement?
  • Is there a need to separate Tribal vs Enterprise retirement plans?
  • What are new regulatory changes you need to be aware of?
  • How do you choose a provider/plan administrator?
  • Understanding how competitiveness factors into the cost of your plan.
  • What options are available for cannabis employees? How, if at all ,does it differ from other Tribal Enterprise Employees?

 

1:45 -2:30 PM

Track B - The Ever-Evolving World of Health Insurance

Jeremy Ramsland

Vice President of Sales | Provider Network of America

Luke Szymanski

Executive Vice President/Sales and Client Experience | BeneCard PBF

Sandra Johnson

Director of Employment Services & Human Resources | Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

Mindi Kee

Human Resources Director | Pawnee Tribal Development Corporation

  • What are the newest trends when it comes to medical insurance and what can tribal organizations do to help keep reasonable costs for members and employees?
  • Becoming familiar with community health issues that may plague your employees/members and how to find health benefit plans prepared to cover high-risk members.
  • What are the different generational wants and needs as it relates to health insurance? How to make sure your plan appeals to all employees.
  • Updates on COVID mandates and vaccination protocol and how they are affecting the workplace and hiring pool.
  • The rise of telemedicine and virtual care is an important aspect of modern medicine , does your chosen health insurance plan think so? The pros and cons of virtual healthcare.

 

2:30-3:00 PM

Afternoon Networking Break

3:00-4:00 PM

The Workforce of the Future

Scott D. Nostaja

Senior Vice President & National Organizational Effectiveness Practice Leader | Segal Consulting

Celeste Adame

Assistant Human Resources Director | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Lynn Faraca-Bond

Vice President of Human Resources | San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Sarah Harvey

Human Resources Director | Spirit Mountain Casino

  • Post-Pandemic workforce has presented significant challenges and opportunities to every organization.
  • What’s preventing you from having that high productive and performing workforce?
  • This panel will explore recent trends impacting the downfall within the industry we are all currently in and offer tangible and practical advice for addressing your organizations most pressing workforce challenges.

 

4:00-5:00 PM

HR Executive Roundtable

Ron Vargas

Vice President of Human Resources | Cache Creek Casino Resort

Ruth Zaldivar

Director of Human Resources | Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos

Peter Hixon

Human Resources Director | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Charles Farmer

Director of Human Resources | Eagle Mountain Casino

John Mooers

President | Blue Stone Strategy Partners

  • Understanding the importance of training and coming up with the money for it.
  • What plans are in place in case COVID returns or we see a new pandemic?
  • Handling the shift to remote working – How do you keep employees engaged and managed? What are the pros vs. cons?
  • Over the last two years there was a sudden shift to remote working. Do you still have a remote workforce and how do you keep them engaged and managed? What are the pros and cons?
  • What is the definition of a successful hybrid remote workforce and how has it impacted company policies and legalities?

 

5:00PM

Day 1 Concludes

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

7:30-8:30 AM

Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:30-9:30 AM

Employment Law Update

Scott Wilson

Attorney | Law Offices of Scott A. Wilson

Little Fawn Boland

Partner | Ceiba Legal, PC

Andrea Hall

Associate | Dentons

  • Best practices for qualified medical leave (FMLA) approved leave for employees with newborns or adoption.
  • What are evolving guidelines HR representatives need to be aware of?
  • Understanding obligations and responsibilities when it comes to accommodating employee requests due to mental health, alcohol, and substance abuse.

9:30-10:15 AM

Track A Mental Health Matters: Understanding the Needs of Your Workforce

Elise Campbell

Executive Director of Human Resources | Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

Peter Freeburg

Behavioral Clinical Strategist | Cigna

Annika Roseen

Community Resource Specialist | NAMI Southern Nevada | Teen Text Operator | NAMI Western Nevada

- Understand the impact mental health has within the workplace -Learn about the employer's role in employee and mental health -Understand opportunities to empower employees to utilize their behavioral health resources

9:30-10:15 AM

Track B - Establishing Organizational Policies and Procedures as well as Work Roles and Enforcement of Them

Sheila Olson

Human Resources Director | Apache Casino Hotel

Loralee Gunter

Director of Human Resources | Santa Ynez of Chumash Indians

Sandy McCandless

Partner | Dentons

  • How to conduct an independent workplace investigation legally.
  • How to document, inform and reprimand workplace violations and rules.
  • What are effective strategies for HR professionals when disciplining, separating, or laying off employees?
  • Avoiding wrongful termination lawsuits.
  • Gain an understanding of legal, practical, and ethical considerations HR professionals need to take into account when investigating workplace complaints.

10:15-10:45 AM

Morning Networking Break

10:45-11:30 AM

Safety in the Workplace

Brandon Jones

Vice President, Department of Public Safety | San Manuel Casino

Brigitte Saria

GPHR Chief of People and Infrastructure | San Manuel Casino

Crystal Hill

USI Consulting Group, Tennessee | National Director of Tribal Services

Fred Bennett

Director of Security | Palms Casino Resort

  • Identifying threats within the workplace.
  • Creating an effective crisis management plan
  • What methods/technology exists to help keep the workplace safe?
  • Combatting bullying in the workplace.
  • Creating strict policies on conflict resolution and social media guidelines
  • Training management and staff on company policies as well as identifying conflicts and providing a resolution before a conflict.
  • How to de-escalate if a conflict occurs and understand structural awareness.

 

11:30-12:30 PM

Leadership Development and Preparing for New Upcoming Leaders

Elise Campbell

Executive Director of Human Resources | Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

Shirley Blackbear

Executive Director of Human Resources | Kalispel Tribe of Indians & Northern Quest Resort & Casino

Kim Hayes

Vice President of Human Resources | Grand Casino Hinckley

Chris Province

  • Do mentor programs work in helping prepare tomorrow’s leaders? What is a model to follow?
  • Understanding that even high-performing employees are not always ready to manage others. Managers need to be taught to manage.
  • What tools and skills are available or even required to be a successful leader?
  • How leading through to change and crisis takes a different kind of leader.
  • Understanding the dimensions of emotional intelligence and how it is a critical skill for leaders to build trust and create inclusive cultures.

 

12:30 PM

Conference Concludes

Celeste Adame

Assistant Director | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
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Paula Allen

Director of Leadership Development & Guest Services | 7 Cedars Resort Properties
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Fred Bennett

Director of Security | Palms Casino Resort
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Shirley Blackbear

Executive Director Human Resources | Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Northern Quest Resort and Casino
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Little Fawn Boland

Partner | Ceiba Legal, PC
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Elise Campbell

Executive Director of Human Resources | Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
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Lynn Faraca-Bond

Senior Vice President of Human Resources | San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
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Charles Farmer

Director of Human Resources | Eagle Mountain Casino
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Alicia Finley

Human Resources Service Director | Blue Stone Strategy Partners
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Peter Freeburg

Behavioral Clinical Strategist | Cigna
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Christopher Goldsmith

Vice President & Senior Consultant | Segal
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Loralee Gunter

Director of Human Resources | Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Read More

Andrea Hall

Associate | Dentons
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Sarah Harvey

Human Resources Director | Spirit Mountain Casino
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Kim Hayes

Vice President of Human Resources | Grand Casino Hinckley
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Crystal Hill

National Director of Tribal Services | USI Consulting Group
Read More

Peter Hixon

Human Resources Director | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
Read More

Jaylon Jackson

Head of Client Success | Corporate Traditions
Read More

Brandon Jones

Director of Security | San Manuel Casino
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Sandra Johnson

Director of Employment Services & Human Resources | Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Read More

Randy Karli

Case Manager | GITW Benefits
Read More

Mindi Kee

Director of Human Resources | Pawnee Tribal Development Corporation
Read More

Sandy McCandless

Partner | Dentons
Read More

Lena McQuary

Director of Human Resources | Downstream Casino Resort
Read More

John Mooers

President | Blue Stone Strategy Partners
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Gary Murrey

Chief Operating Officer | La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians
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Jerrod Murr

Founder & Chief Visionary Officer | Paradigm Shift 
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Scott D. Nostaja

Senior Vice President and National Organizational Effectiveness Practice Practice Leader | Segal
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Sheila Olson

Human Resources Director | Apache Casino Hotel
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Brad Porter

Senior Sales Executive | Health Care Management Administrators
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Chris Province

Principle | Purpose & Performance Group
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Jeremy Ramsland

Vice President of Sales | Provider Network of America
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Annika Roseen

Community Resource Specialist | NAMI Southern Nevada | Teen Text Line Operator | NAMI Western…
Read More

Brigitte Saria

Chief People & Infrastructure Officer | San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Read More

Jonathan Stone

HCM/Payroll Software Consultant | Greenshades Software
Read More

Luke Szymanski

Executive Vice President - Sales and Client Experience | BeneCard PBF
Read More

Nick Trella

Senior Vice President | Segal Marco Advisors
Read More

Le Trozzo

CEO, RecruitingWebb | Member, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Read More

Ronald Vargas

Vice President of Human Resources | Cache Creek Casino Resort
Read More

Charles Walters

Senior Director of Human Resources | Isleta Resort & Casino
Read More

Scott Wilson

Attorney | Law Offices of Scott A. Wilson
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Christine Winn

CEO | Quinault Indian Nation
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Ruth Zaldivar

Director of Human Resources | Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises
Read More

Conference Co-Chair

Corporate Tradirions Logo Alt text
Segal Logo Alt Text

Platinum Sponsors

Paradigm Shift Logo Alt TExt
USI Consulting Group Alt Text

Product Demonstration

Gold Sponsors

Bene Card Logo Alt Text
Blue Stone Logo Alt Text
Gitw Benefit Logo Alt Text
Law Office of Scott Logo Alt Text
Purpose and Performance Group Alt Text

Exhibitors

Healthsmart Logo Alt Text
Tribal First Logo Alt Text

HR Professionals, Tribal Leaders & Enterprise Representatives

Sponsors and Industry Professionals

The 13th Annual Native American Human Resources Conference was a success! Great sessions with timely information, terrific networking, and industry partners with phenomenal solutions.