Event Calendar

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Starting the Conversation - Setting the Stage for a Neuro-Inclusive Organization

Start Date: 11/13/2024 7:45 AM EST
End Date: 11/13/2024 10:00 AM EST

Venue Name: Westwood Country Club

Location:
800 Maple Ave East
Vienna, VA  United States  22180

Organization Name: HR Alliance DC

Contact:
Amy Steinbicker
Email: staff@hralliancedc.org
Phone: (703) 433-9576


Networking: 7:45 - 8:15 AM
Arrive early for an opportunity to meet new people!

Program Description
Hear from a panel of neurodiversity experts and business leaders who will guide our audience through best practices for creating neuro-inclusive teams and organizations and its impact on supporting business growth. Each of our three panelists will touch on their unique perspective as it pertains to neurodiversity in the workplace. The panel will educate the audience on who is included in the broad spectrum of neurodiversity, how policies, procedures, and benefits can best support a neurodiverse workforce, propose key metrics for achieving greater overall accessibility, and highlight the importance of leadership in supporting neuro-inclusion.

By attending this discussion, you will:

  • Learn how to start the conversation to establish a more neuro-inclusive workplace – What tools do you need and who can start the conversation?
  • Become familiar with how inclusive policies & procedures (PIPs, accommodations, performance reviews and feedback, etc.) and benefits packages can support neurodivergent employees
  • Understand the importance of leadership in supporting neuro-inclusion and strategies to lead with empathy.

Panelists:
  • Mike Marston - VP, Environmental, Social and Governance, Serco
  • Dominique Cytryn - Benefits Specialist, Venable LLP
  • Carolyn Jeppsen - Co-Founder/CEO/President, BroadFutures

Moderator - Laurie Price, Senior Client Employee Benefit Advisor, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Panelists:

Mike Marston is Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance at Serco North America. In 2023 he helped to stand up and serves as Executive Sponsor of the Serco Unlimited Employee Resource Group (ERG) for people with visible and non-visible disabilities, and their supporters.
As a neurodivergent leader and mental health advocate, Mike is dedicated to using his platform to encourage other leaders to educate themselves on disability and the benefit of diverse teams, with a focus on embracing neurodivergent colleagues and empowering them to thrive and contribute fully using their fresh perspectives.

Mike graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and has 25 years of experience in the Government and Federal Civilian Service sectors providing ESG and Risk Management leadership.

Dominique Cytryn, MRHM, has recently assumed a new position as a Benefits Specialist at Venable, LLP.  Prior to that, Dominique was a Benefits Analyst at Serco where she specialized in disability services and holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management. As an Autistic and multiply Neurodivergent individual, Dominique was a leader in SercoUnlimited, a disabilities resource group at Serco. In her masters thesis, “The Future of Neurodiversity: How to Successfully Integrate Neurodiversity Into Any Corporation,” Dominique spoke at length on the importance of inclusion and belonging for Neurodivergent individuals, as well as provided insight for all corporate functions on how to create a more Neurodivergent-friendly work environment and provide successful professional development and growth for Neurodivergent employees. Her training series includes an overview of Neurodiversity and how to fix broken corporate systems that block professional growth or employment, and how to provide proper professional development feedback for Neurodivergent employees.

Carolyn Jeppsen is the Co-Founder/CEO/President of BroadFutures.  Carolyn is passionate about creating innovative solutions to empower young people with disabilities to succeed in education and the workforce and ensuring that a diverse workplace is inclusive of disability. Carolyn co-founded BroadFutures in 2013 and has served as its CEO and President since that time. She oversees the creation, planning and implementation of BroadFutures’ strategic direction, as well as the overall administration, program development and fiscal health. She has led BroadFutures to grow at a rate of over 30% a year, growing from 5 interns and 3 employers in 2013 to over 300 interns served individually and hundreds more through outreach, as well as partnering with over 60 employers. She has helped to raise close to 5 million in revenue and donations to date.

Carolyn speaks nationally on the benefits of a diverse workforce that includes individuals with disabilities, as well as the value proposition of internships for young neurodivergent people. She has devoted over 20 years serving on Nonprofit Boards and Advisory Boards that are committed to enriching the lives of individuals with disabilities, including: Lesley University, The Arc of D.C., Disability:In (DC chapter) Camp Launcher, The River School, The Massachusetts General Hospital Aspire Program, and The Kingsbury Center. Carolyn is also an experienced litigator with a career focused in the areas of insurance defense, medical malpractice, professional liability and financial institutions. She has authored several articles and publications within her diversified areas of legal, workforce equity. and disability expertise. Carolyn received her B.A. with honors from Colby College, in Philosophy and French, her J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center, and her Certificate of Non-Profit Executive Management from Georgetown University.

Moderator:

Laurie Price serves as the Senior Client Employee Benefit Advisor at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.  Laurie spent most of her career as an HR professional, working exclusively in employee benefits since 2011. During her nearly 10 years at DAI, Laurie developed her passion and expertise in employee benefits.  In February 2024, Laurie left the HR world and joined law firm, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, working in the firm’s Employee Benefits Practice Group. She works with clients on matters relating to their employee benefit plans and programs, reviewing statutory, regulatory, and governmental pronouncements to assess the impact on clients’ employee benefit plans.  She also prepares and amends plan documents and other employee communications to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements and to implement plan design changes.

Laurie earned her MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and her BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) credential as well as the PHR and retirement plan audit and SHRM-CP certification.  

Professional Development:
This program has been pre-approved for 1.5 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).



HR Alliance DC is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. This program is valid for 1.50 PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit shrmcertification.org.


Staff Note:
  • On-line registration for this event closes at 4:00 PM on Monday, November 11, 2024.  Thereafter, those who want to attend will need to contact staff@hralliancedc.org to be manually added to the registration list.

Pricing for this Program:
  • Members:
    • Individual and Organizational Members - Free; Guests - $40
    • Annual Sponsors - Free; Guests - $40
  • Org. Member Substitutes - Free (promo code must be entered)
  • Public - $75


HR Alliance

Timely, valuable programs packed with business and HR-relevant content.  Comprehensive data and policy and practice information in our annual compensation survey.  Networking opportunities with HR leaders and professionals from across the area.  We are HR Alliance – DC Metro’s premier HR association.