Diversity & Inclusion

Jo Anne Hill, Director of Diversity and Employee Engagement, Aflac (Columbus, GA) 

Tuesday | 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | Ballroom B

Diversity is a topic that many organizations are beginning to embrace as the dynamics are changing among their employees. Currently, most organizations are managing four generations of American workers. This presentation focuses on diversity at Aflac and the importance of obtaining the buy in from senior leadership in order to permeate the diversity message throughout the organization. Diversity is the core of an organizations success and with a diverse environment, people can benefit and learn from others’ ideas.  

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how Aflac obtained senior leadership’s support for diversity.
• Discover ways to utilize other’s capabilities to advance your diversity initiatives.
• Understand that Diversity is the core of an organization’s success. 

Jo Anne Hill is director of diversity and employee engagement at Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance at the work site in the United States. As director, Jo Anne is responsible for ensuring that Aflac’s employment strategies and actions are reflective of its diverse marketplace. She leads and manages the diversity and inclusion approach for the company, including the integration of diversity into core personnel and business processes, with a focus on developing, implementing and driving best practice programs, initiatives and processes to foster Aflac's corporate commitment to diversity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Georgia and is active in external organizations including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a social organization dedicated to serving, developing, supporting and educating children - boys and girls - to mature into self-sufficient and successful young men and women.

Stan Kimer, President, Total Engagement Consulting (Raleigh, NC)

Tuesday | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Room 103

With same-gender marriage now being the law of the land nationwide and available for the first time in Georgia, the discussion of LGBT diversity is much more front and center in the workplace. This workshop will lay the foundation of why sexual orientation and gender identity is an important element to consider in the workplace. The compelling rationale for executing LGBT diversity in the workplace will be covered as well as the wide range of program organizations can institute to progress in LGBT diversity.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to articulate both in words and financially the business rationale and business case for investing in LGBT diversity initiatives.
• Understand why it is critical to consider LGBT diversity in the workplace.
• Understand the wide range of tactical steps that can be included in executing an LGBT diversity initiative, including how to prioritize and scale to organizational size.

Stan C. Kimer is a nationally recognized consultant and speaker on all areas of workplace diversity with a deep expertise in LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) diversity. For four years, Stan served as IBM’s corporate global LGBT diversity manager, including establishing IBM’s procedures for supporting transgender employees and assisting with case management of employees undergoing gender transition while in the workplace. Since retiring from IBM, Stan has trained or spoken in over 30 venues reaching over 2,000 professionals. He is a certified Out and Equal Workplace Advocates Building Bridges Trainer and a certified Training Management Corp / Berlitz Cultural Competency Trainer / Practitioner. In addition to his diversity expertise, Stan also offers clients an innovative yet proven program for engaging employees in meaningful organization-specific career planning. With his Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia Tech and MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Stan is a SHRM National member as well as of two local chapters in the Raleigh – Durham area. And last year at the age of 59, Stan started training as an adult competitive figure skater.

Rebecca Ketts, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Nobis Works (Marietta, GA)

Wednesday | 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | Room 105

Non-profits assisting non-traditional employees to find work solve problems for businesses. Not a charitable act, but instead a way to improve your bottom line while also contributing to a social mission. Employers can expect these non-traditional employees to be motivated to show up every day and to be grateful for the opportunity given. The employer can expect qualified candidates that come with extra training and support before and after hire. People in this category can often eliminate the need for costly options, such as the long-term need for temporary help. Hiring people with disabilities and other barriers to employment is good for business. This social benefit is more and more important to customers and they are showing loyalty to companies with a social conscience.

Learning Objectives:

• Employers will learn how to find these employees with the proper supports in the community.
• Employers will learn how this can financially improve the bottom line of any organizations and create customer loyalty.
• Employers will learn the long-term benefits of participating in this profitable social mission.

Becky Ketts has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for over 20 years assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to get to work. She has worked in both the public and private sector and has most recently worked for Nobis Works. Nobis Works is a local, grass-roots non-profit that develops and provides job training, employment and vocational support for youth and adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Her focus has been to build relationships with businesses to mutually benefit both organizations and to decrease the unemployment rate. People want to work and need to be given a chance to show their abilities to employers and Nobis Works would like to show employers how this can benefit their bottom line

Brock Daniels, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Senior Director, HR Business Partner, ADP (Augusta, GA) & Ed Hurley-Wales, Vice President, Market Diversity, ADP (Marlboro, MA) 

Wednesday | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Room 103

ADP has transformed their diversity and engagement efforts through the development of business resource groups. ADP understands that its associates represent a unique tapestry of backgrounds and perspectives and that they are the cornerstone of its success. Learn how ADP's business resource groups evolved to become critical strategic partners helping ADP secure its reputation as a global leader in the human capital management industry. Learn about the value, impact and positive difference they are making in the business and their communities. In this interactive session, Ed Hurley-Wales and Brock Daniels will discuss their experience and how other organizations can advance their diversity & inclusion strategy with a Business Resource Group program. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Why diversity and inclusion matters.
• An overview of what business resource groups (BRGs) are.
• How BRGs improve engagement of your workforce.
• How effectiveness of BRGs can be assessed and quantified.
• Best practices for an effective BRG program.  

Brock Daniels is a seasoned HR leader in corporate America. He is currently senior director, HR business partner for ADP in Augusta, GA. Following eleven years as a personnel officer in the U.S. Army, he has been an HR leader in a variety of field settings including manufacturing, insurance, federal contractors and outsourced business services. At his site in Augusta, ADP has five active business resource groups (BRGs). Brock serves as executive sponsor to the Pride (LGBT) BRG. Brock is also on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute which supports programs and services that create an inclusive lifestyle for people with disabilities. 

Ed Hurley-Wales is the vice president of market diversity, ADP Human Capital Management. Ed helps grow and strengthen client relationships and improve ADP’s overall D&I competitiveness. Ed develops D&I initiatives, provides strategic diversity consultation to senior market leaders and works closely with ADP Corporate Diversity and HR teams, to ensure their alignment with the Company’s D&I business plan. Previously, Ed served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources of Workscape, Inc. that was acquired in 2010 by ADP. In addition, Ed has held HR positions of increasing responsibility in his career prior to ADP for companies such as Applix, Duracell and Digital. Ed currently serves as a Board member of New England HR Association (NEHRA) and Machine Science, a non-profit promoting technology and critical thinking for underprivileged youths. HR and philanthropy have been a constant throughout Ed’s career where he’s served on multiple boards related to the HR industry including: Human Resources Leadership Forum of New England (HRLF), Advisory Board for Perkins School for the Blind, WARM2Kids organization, and the U.S. Council of D&I Executives. Ed holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Cambridge College and proudly served in the United States Navy.