2018 EEO Conference Presenters

Preconference Workshop

Carol Taylor-Shim, MSW

CTS Training and Consulting, LLC

Carol Taylor-Shim is a nationally known inclusion practitioner,

trainer, and consultant with more than 15 years of experience in the

arena of diversity and social justice work. Carol specializes in helping

organizations explore the ways in which they can strengthen their

commitment to inclusion and create a multicultural environment of

belonging for all identities. She has done this work within the

Kentucky child welfare system, institutions of higher education

across the state and the nation, and with a host of community and

advocacy organizations. Carol received her BS in Justice

Administration from the University of Louisville and her MSW from

the from the University of Kentucky.

Lesley Bilby KY Personnel Cabinet

Lesley Bilby is an attorney with a background in

employment law and civil litigation. Lesley is a graduate

of Centre College and the University of Kentucky College

of Law. She also holds an M.Phil. in International

Relations from the University of Cambridge. Prior to law

school, Lesley worked in Washington, D.C. in the office

of U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, handling energy,

environmental, labor, and education issues. After law

school, Lesley served as a law clerk on the U.S. District

Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and later as a

law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth

Circuit. She then worked in private practice in Louisville.

Matt Hall KY Personnel Cabinet

Matt is from Ashland and graduated from the University

of Kentucky with a degree in History. He brings 20 years

of experience in the operations and administration of

health benefits to his position. Matt has previously

served in state government in the Environmental and

Public Protection Cabinet, the Office of the Governor, and

the Personnel Cabinet.

Tanya Lawrence KY Personnel Cabinet

Tanya Lawrence is currently employed as an Assistant

Director of the Division Human Resources with the

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet. She has over 13 years of

state government experience handling various types of

personnel matters for the Commonwealth. In her current

role, Lawrence serves as an Appointing Authority for the

Cabinet and provides direct supervision and oversight of

employees in the Division of Human Resources with

respect to personnel management and payroll for the

Cabinet. She interpret statutes (KRS Chapter 18A) and

personnel regulations and provides technical assistance

to Executive leadership, managers, and staff in the areas of personnel administration, classification,

compensation, recruitment and employment procedures, personnel actions, evaluations, disciplinary

actions, and internal policies. In addition, Lawrence serves as a mediator for the Kentucky Employee

Mediation Program on Kentucky Personnel Board and personnel-related matters and provides conflict-

resolution strategies when needed. Lawrence is a graduate of Sullivan University where she earned a

degree as a paralegal in 1995 and has worked in the area of employment law her entire career.

Singer Buchanan KY Personnel Cabinet

Singer Buchanan began his state government career in 1992 with the Public Protection and Regulation Cabinet. He moved around state government working for the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Kentucky Housing Corporation before accepting the position of State EEO Coordinator in 1997. From 1998 to 2003 served as the Deputy Secretary for the Personnel Cabinet while also staying in the role of the State EEO Coordinator. In 2005, Singer transferred to the Kentucky Department of Education where he stayed until his triumphant return to the Personnel Cabinet in 2009, once

again in the role of the State EEO Coordinator. Singer is very active in his community serving on the Frankfort Human Rights Commission, the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Employees Credit Union, the President of the Grad Club, Inc. and as the Boys Varsity Tennis Coach at Frankfort High School.

Tammy Lou Wright KY Department of Corrections

Wright began her career with DOC in 2001. During her years of

service, she has moved up the ranks, holding positions in the Division

of Probation and Parole, at Northpoint Training Center, and at central

office with classification and home incarceration. She joined the

Victim Services Branch in 2006. In 2013 she was promoted to oversee

operation of Kentucky’s three automated Victim Information

Notification Everyday (VINE) services. She spent over 11 years

advocating on other’s behalf in Victim Services.

In August of 2017 she joined the Division of Personnel to head up the

Departments Recruiting efforts. In this role, she also took over as the

agency’s EEO Coordinator. Her advocate experience made her the

perfect person to assist staff who felt they’ve been discriminated against. Tammy Lou’s experience from

the various areas of the department provides a wonderful range of experience to depict the needs of

staff across the department.

In 2014 Wright was elected to represent the nation’s VINE program managers on the national VINE

Advisory Committee (VAC) and that position concludes later this month. Wright served two terms as

state president for Kentucky Council on Crime & Delinquency (KCCD). She is a graduate of the 2013

Commissioner’s Executive Leadership Program and a recipient of a 2010 Commissioner’s Award.

Amanda Cloyd KY State Police

Amanda Cloyd is an Executive Advisor for the Kentucky State Police

where she provides executive level oversight of the agency’s Human

Resources operations, works with command staff on key HR issues,

and administers HR related training for Chapter 16 sworn officers as

well as Chapter 18A civilians – a combined workforce of nearly 2,000.

Mrs. Cloyd possesses a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master

of Public Administration degree with a specialty in Human Resources

Management as well as certifications as:

IPMA-HR Senior Certified Professional by the International

Public Management Association for Human Resources;

SHRM-Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM);

Professional in Human Resources by the HR Certification Institute;

Certified Public Manager; and

Employee mediator by the KY Employees Mediation Program (KEMP).

Mrs. Cloyd has over nineteen years of extensive human resources experience within Kentucky state

government in areas such as HR management; payroll and benefits; classification and compensation;

training and development; Workers Compensation; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Equal

Employment Opportunity (EEO). In addition, she has served on numerous committees and served two

years as a Kentucky Personnel Board Member, elected by merit employees of Kentucky state

government.

Mrs. Cloyd enjoys connecting with employees and working with individuals on all levels to help solve

problems, resolve issues, and improve processes. She firmly believes that improvements are always

possible, change is necessary to evolve, and diversity and inclusion are of utmost importance to our

future workforce.

Al Cornish Norton Healthcare

Alfonso N. Cornish serves as the System Vice President, Learning and

Organizational Development/Chief Learning Officer for Norton

Healthcare. He is also the head of a program known as “Norton

University” that is responsible for the staff, physician, and leadership

development programs at Norton Health Care.

Mr. Cornish has over thirty years of experience in administrative,

training, human resource and operations management. He has been in

senior leadership roles in some of the most well-known companies in

America including AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc., Central Parking

Systems Inc., 7-Eleven Food Stores Inc. and Hardee’s Food Systems.

Most recently, he had the honor of serving as the Deputy Chief

Administrative Officer for Prince George’s County, Maryland.

A graduate of Cambridge Senior High School in Maryland, Mr. Cornish is a Cum Laude graduate of the

University of Maryland and holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management (Summa Cum

Laude) from Lacrosse University. He has the distinct pleasure of holding membership in a variety of

professional and social organizations ranging from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to the Kentucky Branch

of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Proud board member of a

plethora of organizations from the University of Louisville Healthcare Leadership Advisory Board to the

Board of Visually Impaired Preschool Services one of Mr. Cornish’s highest honors is simply being a

father to his son Alfonso II.

Day 1: Session 1

Demetria Miles Decide Diversity

Demetria Miles-McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Decide Diversity, a company focused on increasing the presence and effectiveness of underrepresented groups in the workplace, specifically in leadership positions. Demetria specializes in bringing the experiences of people who identify with two or more marginalized groups to the forefront, to better understand and utilize the strengths they bring to the workplace. As a partner to many leaders around the country, Demetria

works side by side with teams to increase diversity and improve

inclusionary behavior. Demetria is currently the 2018 President

of the Association for Talent Development Kentuckiana Chapter; a role in which she leads board

members, volunteers, and talent development professionals from all over the state of Kentucky. She

was recently awarded the 2018 Member of the Year award from the National Association of Women

Business Owners Kentucky chapter and is a 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award Nominee as

well as a Trustees of Inclusion and Equity Nominee.

Demetria volunteers at various organizations but is most dedicated to the Urban League where she

leads a resume-writing workshop twice a month to help people from a traditionally underserved area

get back into the workforce. Demetria’s passion for demanding equality for the marginalized, oppressed,

and underrepresented is her life’s work.

Demetria’s Social Media Handles:

Twitter: @Demetria_Leads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidediversity/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/decide-diversity/

Tony Belak 4Civility Institute

Tony Belak is the Ombuds at the University of Louisville,

Associate Director of the Center for Conflict Resolution

at La Sierra University, Riverside, California, associate

director of the International Center for Compassionate

Organizations www.compassionate.center and the

former Executive Director of the International Center

for Collaborative Solutions at Sullivan University,

Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also on the faculty of the Master of Science in Conflict Management

program. He is also a faculty member of the Department of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of

Louisville and associate editor of the online Journal of Conflict Management at Sullivan University. He

was the Senior Dispute Resolution Counsel for the Department of Veterans Affairs and is not only a

mediator and arbitrator but also a teacher in basic, advanced, and specialized conflict resolution. He is

most notably recognized for his innovation in designing conflict resolution programs within the

workplace.

He began his interest in ADR as an ombudsman in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in

1973. He is the first attorney graduate of the George Washington University Interagency Institute for

Federal Health Care Executives (1992) and was an original founder of the Louisville Bar Association ADR

Committee. Tony has traveled throughout both the United States and Europe lecturing and training in

mediation and dispute resolution and has published a multitude of articles in national magazines and

local newspapers regarding conflict resolution. Tony can be reached at 502.345.6763

tony.belak@yahoo.com; tony.belak@louisville.edu

J.R. Curtin 4Civility Institute

John-Robert Curtin, PhD is a Senior Fellow and Executive Director of the 4Civility Institute, Louisville, Kentucky and is the author of An Exploratory Study of Existing State Anti-Bullying Statutes, (2016), Lambert Academic Press and a contributing author to a two-volume set, “Workplace Bullying and Mobbing” ABC-CLIO, Inc., Santa Barbara, California, January 2018. 4Civility Institute provides mediation training, ombuds training, certifications, software reporting systems, restorative justice, and behavioral transition practice solutions to schools, businesses and organizations. He has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, restorative justice, education, training, and in anti-bullying efforts. He also the founder of the Connected Learning Network, an education-based company, which has provided online services to over 120 schools, colleges, businesses and

organizations worldwide. In that capacity, he has been a sub-contractor to 8 European Commission funded projects and numerous U.S. Funded projects. John-Robert is also known for his work in public television, as an Emmy award winning- producer and station president. He has over 200 local, national and international programs to his credit. His PhD is from University of Louisville in Alternative Dispute Resolution. He academic background also includes degrees in creative writing and oceanography. He describes himself as a “serial social entrepreneur with and over-commitment addiction”.

Mark Sipek KY Personnel Board

Mark Sipek is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Personnel

Board. He is a 1982 graduate of the Ohio State University College of

Law, and was admitted to practice in Kentucky in 1982. For seven

years he practiced law in Louisville with Miller, Mosley, Clare and

Townes. For ten years he was a staff attorney for the Kentucky

Department of Corrections. He then joined the staff of the Kentucky

Personnel Board as General Counsel in 2000, and was appointed

Executive Director of the Board in 2004. He is a Certified Kentucky

Employee Mediation Program (KEMP) Mediator. During his career, Mr. Sipek has argued six cases

before the Kentucky Supreme Court including Department of Corrections v. Furr, 23 SW3d 615 (Ky. 2000)

and Kentucky Department of Corrections v. McCullugh, 123 SW3d 130 (Ky. 2003). He has taught an

Employment Law course at Kentucky State University in 2012 and 2014.

Matthew W. Barszcz Dinsmore

Matt focuses his practice in the areas of labor and employment.

His practice includes all aspects of pre-litigation investigation,

evidence and witness preparation, trial and appellate work and

responding to and participating in agency investigations, including

the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National

Labor Relations Board and the Kentucky Commission on Human

Rights. Matt has experience handling issues involving Title VII of

the Civil Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the

Americans with Disabilities Act, the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the

Fair Labors Standards Act, the Kentucky Wage and Hour Act and

many other state and federal statutes and regulations governing employment disputes and wage issues.

In addition to labor and employment, Matt also has experience in the areas of premises liability and

insurance coverage litigation, where he has successfully litigated a case to a jury verdict in favor of his

client and has obtained favorable rulings concerning the scope of insurance coverage.

Vanessa N. Rogers Dinsmore

Vanessa handles all varieties of employment challenges for

clients, ranging from discrimination and retaliation issues to on-

the-job injuries.

She is experienced handling and counseling clients on complex

issues involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans

with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,

Family and Medical Leave Act, Kentucky Civil Rights Act, and

other state and federal employment statutes. She also defends

employers in administrative proceedings before the Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, the Kentucky

Division of Unemployment Insurance, in state and federal litigation, and has argued before the Kentucky

Court of Appeals. Vanessa’s counsel includes drafting and updating employee handbooks, overseeing

on-site investigations into issues such as discrimination and retaliation, and advising clients regarding

employee job terminations and compliance with state and federal employment laws.

Vanessa’s practice also includes defending employers in workers' compensation matters. She is adept at

reviewing and evaluating workers’ compensation claims and medical records while counseling clients on

the law. She represents clients on issues ranging from minimal injuries to permanent total disability

Day 1: Session 2

Marietta Watts University of Kentucky

Marietta Watts recently became the Executive Diversity Liaison for

the Office of Institutional Diversity after serving for 15 years as is a

senior training specialist and performance consultant at the

University of Kentucky.

Marietta leads the new Unconscious Bias Initiative for UK which

touches all members of the UK community. Faculty, staff and

students participate in workshops and presentations designed to

mitigate unconscious thoughts that impact the ultimate goal of

maintaining a culture where every individual is recognized and

valued. She also provides invigorating programs in leadership

development, team effectiveness, diversity, and personal and professional development. Her inspiring

facilitation style helps clients and participants to maintain enthusiasm and to effectively apply their

learning to meet the personal and practical challenges they face every day. She is also the creator and

facilitator for UK’s outstanding Humanity Academy.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Marietta is a graduate of Paul Brown Business School and the University of

Missouri-St. Louis. She is a certified mediator, facilitator and speaker.

Justin Walker University of Louisville School of Law

Justin Walker was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. After

graduating from Duke University and Harvard Law School, he

practiced appellate law in Washington, D.C., and clerked for Judge

Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Anthony Kennedy. He joined the

faculty at the University of Louisville in 2015.

Bob Swisher KY Labor Cabinet, Dept. of Workers Claims

Robert L. Swisher was raised in Lexington, Kentucky, and is a

graduate of the University of Notre Dame (Class of 1976, A.B. in

English with High Honors) and the University of Kentucky College

of Law (Class of 1979, Juris Doctor). From 1979 through 1990 he

was engaged in the general civil practice of law in Versailles,

Kentucky and from 1991 through 2009 he practiced in Lexington

concentrating in civil litigation and workers’ compensation,

representing both claimants and employers. He was appointed

an Administrative Law Judge in January 2010. In January 2013

Swisher was one of two Administrative Law Judges assigned

exclusively to the Medical Dispute Docket, a pilot project

initiated by the Department of Workers’ Claims to improve the process by which post-award medical

disputes are resolved. On December 1, 2014 he was appointed Chief Administrative Law Judge. On April

1, 2017 he was appointed Acting Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims and was

appointed Commissioner on July 1. 2017. Commissioner Swisher is a member of the National

Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary, the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation

Administrators and is a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.

Day 2: Session 1

Zack Culver KY Personnel Cabinet

Zack Culver received his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from

Murray State University and is licensed to practice by the Kentucky

State Board of Psychologists. He has worked as a therapist with the

community mental health organization Centerstone in Louisville

treating adults suffering from severe mental illness, and as a

Behavioral Consultant at a dual diagnosis residential facility before

joining the Kentucky Employee Assistance Program. Zack is going on

his tenth year with state government and as a counselor with KEAP

he assists other state employees with issues that are impacting their

work performance and personal lives by assessing their difficulties

and helping them connect to the resources that facilitate positive

change. His role at KEAP requires him to present workshops and webinars on a multitude of topics as

varied as Secondary Trauma and Time Management. Zack resides in Louisville where he maintains a

small private practice treating a wide range of mental health issues.

Asa James Swan Chief of Staff, Transportation Cabinet

Asa James Swan serves as the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s

Chief of Staff. He previously worked in the Cabinet as a legislative

liaison from 2004-2007. Asa spent eight years as an assistant

professor of history at Lindsey Wilson College. His career has also

included service on the staffs of former Kentucky 2nd District U.S.

Congressman Ron Lewis, for whom he was a legislative assistant,

and the U.S. Senate Republican Conference, where he was

Interim Deputy Director of Coalitions.

Mr. Swan is a 1999 graduate of Huntington University in Indiana

where he was a Rhodes Scholar candidate. He received his

Master of Arts degree in History from Western Kentucky University in 2002 and is currently pursuing a

doctorate in history at the University of Kentucky. Asa is a native of Campbellsville, Kentucky and is

married to Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball.

Courtney Samford Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs

Courtney Samford is a member of the Firm's Litigation and

Dispute Resolution Service Team. She concentrates her

practice in commercial litigation, labor & employment and

higher education.

Day 2: Session 2

Beth Kuhn KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services

Beth Kuhn is Executive Adviser at the Kentucky Cabinet of Health

and Family Services, focusing on cross-cabinet implementation of

Kentucky’s Medicaid Community Engagement requirement and

leading policy and operational efforts to better integrate

workforce, health and human service programs. She was until

recently Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Workforce

Investment, collaborating with many partners in a system of

Kentucky Career Centers providing employment, vocational

rehabilitation, veterans, and other workforce services to employer

and individual customers. Prior to her appointment as

Commissioner in December of 2014, Beth served as Sector

Strategies Director, assisting with the design and implementation

of industry sector-based approaches to workforce and economic development.

Beth has over 30 years of experience creating and implementing innovative workforce programs. She

previously served as Director of Workforce Development at the Vermont Department of Labor, as

Project Director at the United Way of Chittenden County (VT) where she developed employer

partnerships to improve retention and advancement of entry-level workers, and as Vice President of

WFD, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in work and family benefits, women’s advancement, and public-

private partnerships to increase the availability and quality of child and elder care programs nationwide.

Beth has a BA in Public Policy from the James Madison College of Michigan State University, and a

Master’s in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Vestena Robbins KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services

Dr. Robbins is employed by Eastern Kentucky University as an

Executive Advisor for the Kentucky Department for Behavioral

Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities where she

leads behavioral health system transformation efforts,

including evidence-based and best practices planning,

implementation, and scaling-up efforts. She has worked in the

behavioral health services field as a system of care services

researcher, program evaluator, and program administrator

for over 25 years and has direct care experience in early care

and education and as an elementary school counselor. She is

Co-Principal Investigator of Kentucky’s State Opioid Response

Grant; Opioid State Targeted Response Grant; Principal Investigator of Kentucky's CSAT-funded State

Youth Treatment Implementation grant; and coordinates the substance use treatment expansion

funding to CMHCs and NAS providers on behalf of the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy. Dr.

Robbins has been lead writer for many of Kentucky's federal grant applications, including the state's

MAT-PDOA, SYT-I, SAT-ED, and Opioid SOR and STR grants.

Dr. Robbins serves as the behavioral health designee on the Kentucky State Interagency Council for

Services to Children, Adolescents and Transition-Age Youth; serves as a member of the Kentucky Positive

Behavior Intervention & Supports Network State Leadership Team; and Kentucky's Project AWARE State

Implementation Team. She is a long-standing board member of the Kentucky Council for Children with

Behavior Disorders; the Kentucky Center for School Safety; Red Bird Mission, Inc.; and GLSEN Bluegrass.

Dr. Robbins is a member of the Global Implementation Society, serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for the

Journal of Child and Family Studies and Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, and has

taught courses in implementation science, psychology, behavior disorders, research design, and

quantitative analysis.

In the past, Dr. Robbins served as a member of Kentucky's NGA Learning Lab for Overdose Prevention

team; Project Director for Kentucky's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Planning Grant; Co-

Principal Investigator of the Kentucky Initiative for Collaborative Change, a children's behavioral health

system of care expansion implementation cooperative agreement funded by CMHS; Principal

Investigator of the CSAT-funded Kentucky Adolescent Treatment-Enhancement and Dissemination Grant

designed to implement evidence-based screening, assessment, and treatment for youth at risk of

juvenile justice involvement who have substance use and/or co-occurring mental health problems; Co-

Principal Investigator and Evaluation Director for Kentucky’s System to Enhance Early Development, a

CMHS-funded system of care cooperative agreement aimed at improving the service delivery system for

young children (birth to 5) who have serious social, emotional, or behavioral challenges and their

families; Evaluation Director of Kentucky’s second CMHS-funded system of care cooperative agreement

serving youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders; Co-Director for Kentucky's

NIMH-funded state EBP Planning Grant; and Evaluation Director of Kentucky’s first CMHS-funded system

of care cooperative agreement focused on the implementation and evaluation of a school-based mental

health service delivery model.

Dr. Robbins received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Berea College, a Master’s Degree in

Counselor Education from the University of South Florida, and a doctorate in Child and Family Policy

from the University of South Florida. She completed a Graduate Certificate in Children’s Mental Health

through the University of South Florida in 2008.

Cynthia Knapek Leadership Louisville Center

Cynthia Knapek has been an active civic leader in Louisville for 20

years. In 2012, she was named President of the Leadership

Louisville Center, only the fifth director the organization has had

since its founding in 1979.

Before joining Leadership Louisville, she was Executive Director of

Brightside, an innovative public private partnership that works to

build civic pride in the community and keep Louisville clean and

green. Cynthia was named to Business First’s Top 40 Leaders

Under 40 in 2001 and received the Citizen Laureate award in 2013

from the Younger Women’s Club. Cynthia was a founding member

and the first President the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL). She is a graduate of the

Bingham Fellows Class of 2009 and of Leadership Network in 2006.

Cynthia is active in several community organizations and serves on the boards of Greater Louisville Inc.,

Metro Parks Foundation and the advisory board for the Young Professionals Association of Louisville.

She’s also served on the boards of the University of Louisville Alumni Association, the Mayor’s

Commission on Public Art and the Catholic Education Foundation.

She has a Master’s degree from the University of Louisville. Cynthia married her college sweetheart

Mark and they have two boys.

Katie Gabhart Executive Director, Executive Branch Ethics Commission

Ms. Gabhart became the Executive Director of the Executive

Branch Ethics Commission in August of 2015 after serving as its

General Counsel since 2011. She has represented the Commission

in over 200 investigations and approximately 80 administrative

proceedings. She works closely with other law enforcement

agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the Attorney

General’s Office, the Auditor of Public Accounts, various Offices of

Inspector General, and the Personnel Board on matters that the

Commission refers to these agencies. Ms. Gabhart is a certified

hearing officer, has served as an ethics officer for three state

agencies, and has served as a Federal Civil Rights Act Compliance

Coordinator. Ms. Gabhart has over 15 years of experience in state service.

Prior to coming to the Commission, Ms. Gabhart represented the Kentucky State Board of Elections as

General Counsel for six years. Ms. Gabhart also served as interim counsel for the Secretary of State in

litigation concerning candidate filing matters. Ms. Gabhart served as the counsel for the Kentucky

Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission and began her legal career in the Criminal Appellate

Division of the Office of the Attorney General in 1999.

Ms. Gabhart is a graduate of Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, and the University

of Kentucky. Ms. Gabhart lives with her husband and five children in Georgetown. She and her husband

coach the Scott County Special Olympics Track and Field Team.

Carmine Iaccaino Public Protection Cabinet

Appointed by Governor Matthew G. Bevin, Carmine G. Iaccarino serves as

Executive Director of the Public Protection Cabinet’s Office of Legal

Services. As Executive Director of the Office of Legal Services, Carmine is

the Cabinet’s chief legal officer charged with the oversight of the

Cabinet’s legal team and the delivery of legal services to the Cabinet and

nine diverse regulatory agencies. Since his initial appointment in January

2016, Carmine has served as the Cabinet’s ethics officer—acting as a

liaison between the Executive Branch Ethics Commission and Cabinet

employees.

A graduate of The George Washington University and The Catholic University of America, Columbus

School of Law, Carmine began his legal career at the United States Social Security Administration in

Washington, D.C. as an attorney in the Office of Appellate Operations. Upon moving to Kentucky,

Carmine began his litigation career at a mid-size law firm in Lexington. A resident of Woodford county,

Carmine resides with his wife and two children on a small farm.

Day 2: Session 3

Donna Shelton KY Personnel Cabinet

Donna Shelton began her career with state government in 1994 as

the first Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for the Department of

Personnel, Workers’ Compensation Branch. She became the

Branch Manager in 2001.

Currently, Donna is serving as Deputy Executive Director for the

Office of Employee Relations and as the State’s ADA Coordinator.

She and her staff oversee the workers’ compensation program for

state agencies, conduct ergonomic evaluations and works with

agencies regarding Family and Medical Leave, Sick Leave Sharing,

Annual Leave Sharing, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She

is also a Certified Mediator with the Kentucky Employees’

Mediation Program.

Donna is a graduate of the University of Kentucky receiving a Bachelors’ Degree in Education and a

Masters’ Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and holds a Case Management Certification.

Heather Howell Brown-Forman

Heather Howell is Brown Forman’s Director of New Product

Development in the Unites States and Canada. Howell developed

the Emerging Brands Department within Brown Forman and is also

the Brand Director of Coopers’ Craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Whiskey, Brown Forman’s first new bourbon released in over

twenty years. In this role, she is responsible for innovating new to

world brands, while driving growth across the premium global

whiskey portfolio.

Howell joined Brown-Forman in May from Rooibee Red Tea, where

she served as Chief Tea Officer, CEO, and board member since

2010, helping take an organic tea brand from local farmers’ markets to the national stage. She has been

recognized numerous times on a local, regional, and national scale, including Ernst & Young’s 2013

E.D.G.E. award, naming her as an emerging entrepreneur delivering, growing, and executing new and

innovative products and services. Business First of Louisville honored Howell with the 2014 Enterprising

Woman to Watch award and named her a 2013 finalist for the Business Leader of the Year award,

recognizing her leadership and impact of Rooibee Red Tea’s success on the community.

Previously, Howell gained a wealth of HR experience serving in roles as Human Resources Manager,

Diversity and Talent Outreach for Humana and as Vice President, U.S. Operations with Trillium Talent

Resource. Prior to that, she held a variety of workforce development, employee benefits, and corporate

recruiter positions.

Howell holds a Master of Business Administration degree, Executive Program, from Bellarmine

University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and human resources from Eastern

Kentucky University where she played Division I volleyball on a full athletic scholarship. She is President

Emeritus of the National Association of Women MBAs and serves on the board of Republic Bank and the

Greater Louisville Project.

Michael Hornback Littler Mendelson

Michael D. Hornback represents employers and companies in all aspects of litigation, in both state and federal courts in Kentucky and Tennessee. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of employment-related matters, including claims of discrimination, retaliation, issues involving non-compete agreements, and handling claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Michael was selected as a Rising Star by Kentucky Super Lawyers in both 2016 and 2017.

Jay Inman Littler Mendelson

Jay Inman is Attorney at Law in Littler Mendelson’s Kentucky

office. He advises, counsels, and defends clients in all

aspects of labor and employment law, including

employee/manager training, compliance audits, complaint

investigation, and defense of charges and complaints of

discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour

violations, and safety violations. Jay is licensed to practice

law in Kentucky and Tennessee, and he regularly works with

clients across the Commonwealth, from Appalachian

mountains to Mississippi River. Jay specializes in complex

litigation, including trials and appeals, and he focuses on the healthcare and manufacturing industries.

Sarah Laren Littler Mendelson

Sarah T. Laren advises and represents clients in labor and

employment law matters.

Prior to joining Littler, she served for four years as a law clerk to

the Hon. David L. Bunning, U.S. District Court for the Eastern

District of Kentucky, Covington Division and the Hon. Joseph M.

Hood, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky,

Lexington Division.

During law school, she was a staff member of the Kentucky Law

Journal, was a Moot Court board member and a Women's Law

Caucus member.