Developing a Diverse Workforce: Moving from Vision to Action

Developing a Diverse Workforce: Moving From Vision to Action

MARCH 15, 2024 SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE FRED ROGERS CENTER

On behalf of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, it is our pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you at our second annual conference, "Developing a Diverse Workforce." We are thrilled to have you join us for a transformative session as we transition from exploring the WHY to delving into the HOW of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Today's gathering marks a crucial step in moving from Vision to Action.

Our seminar is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of various workforce development challenges. Going beyond discussions on race, we will be addressing age differences, neurodiversity, and the significant role of mental health in shaping a resilient workforce. Our overarching goal is to guide you in embracing and including EVERYONE while celebrating the unique strengths that differences bring to your team.

This year's hands-on session is specifically crafted to offer practical solutions that can seamlessly integrate into your workforce development plan. A lineup of dynamic and expert speakers has been carefully selected to ensure that you leave with tangible insights and strategies that can be immediately applied in your professional endeavors.

Your participation in this important conversation is invaluable, as it not only benefits you and your business but also contributes to the growth and prosperity of our great county. Together, let us explore and implement the strategies that will shape a more inclusive, diverse, and thriving workforce.

Dan DeBone

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AGENDA 8:00-9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast 9:00 AM Welcome - Dan DeBone 9:15-10:00 AM Keynote Speaker - Aaron Allen 10:15-11:45 AM Breakout Session #1 11:45 AM Lunch Buffet Opens 12:15-1:00 PM Recovery-Friendly Hiring Panel Discussion 1:00-1:15 PM Break 1:15-2:45 PM Breakout Session #2 3:00 PM Closing Remarks

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MEET OUR

Keynote Speaker

Aaron J. Allen

Aaron J. Allen is a law enforcement officer, professor, and consultant, who values service and education to improve relationships within his community.

Aaron graduated from Chowan University in North Carolina with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Shortly after, he went on to earn his Masters Degree from Point Park University in Criminal Justice Administration and Management.

A native of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Aaron attended the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in 2015. Upon graduation, he worked in the patrol unit for approximately five years. Aaron has since served as a Firearms Instructor, Field Driving Instructor, Field Training Officer, Child Car Seat Technician, School Bus Inspector, PACIC Intelligence Officer, De-Escalation Instructor, Diversity and Inclusion Instructor, Alternate Community Service Officer, and Recruitment Coordinator.

Aaron was recently promoted to Corporal and is currently serving as a Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer with the Pennsylvania State Police, Office of Community Engagement. As a Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer, Aaron works with local, state, and federal agencies where he monitors, oversees, and responds to hate crimes, bias related incidents, and any incidents that deals with racial tension throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The goal of the Pennsylvania State Police, Heritage Affairs Office, is to improve community relations and build positive relationships between law enforcement and the community.

Using real-world examples and experience, Aaron brings a unique perspective to his role as adjunct professor at Westmoreland County Community College, University of Pittsburgh, and Saint Vincent College in the Criminal Justice Department. Aaron also teaches at the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Academy held at Robert Morris University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Aaron’s career has been a model of service recognized with several awards and recognition at the federal, state, and local level, including an NAACP Award, Department of Justice - United States Attorney Award, and 2020 Westmoreland County Community College Distinguished Alumnus Award.

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Morning Breakout

Dr. Michael J. Urick

MULTIGENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP Dr. Michael J. Urick is Dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College. Over the past several years, he has been quoted by the BBC, Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets.

Urick’s publications are related to improving intergenerational communication in the workplace, understanding conflict at work, and leveraging organizational culture to be an effective leader. In addition to dozens of articles, Urick has authored, coauthored, or edited eight books with two more in the works. He has presented his research on four continents. He is also the editor of the “Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture” book series from Emerald Publishing as well as an associate editor for two international academic journals.

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Morning

Breakout

Oscar Porras

CREATING INCLUSIVE PATHWAYS: PRACTICAL STEPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION Oscar Porras started his career in the credit union industry over 20 years ago. He has primarily worked with community members of modest needs, credit union professionals of diverse backgrounds, and immerging markets with a focus on the Hispanic community in Oregon and California. That experience has led Oscar to Humanidei as a Senior Consultant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Porras has experience in branch operations, lending, and community outreach. In each of his roles, he has helped create, develop, and implement products and services that have helped guide immigrant community members and those of modest means into mainstream financial services.

From working with youth, professionals, and board members, Oscar is driven by the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity. The credit union industry will serve as a catalyst for diversity, equity, and inclusion by purposely and intently providing opportunities for different ideas, opinions, and lived experiences. Credit unions will continue to grow and stay relevant by becoming a reflection of the communities they serve. Oscar is a certified International Credit Union Development Educator and has also received a certification from Georgetown University in Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace.

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Morning Breakout

Catherine Hughes

TECHNOLOGY RESPONSIVENESS TO EMPLOYEES AND CLIENTS WITH DISABILITIES Hailing from a small town southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, dubbed "the most boring town in Pennsylvania," Catherine Hughes is the daughter of two English professors. She is a passionate advocate, innovative storyteller, and community strategist.

For twenty years, she has provided comprehensive support and passionate advocacy to individuals and self-advocates, their families, and surrounding natural support throughout their communities. She considers herself a servant leader, one who cultivates, develops, and maintains relationships with grace and grit to create, enhance, and promote services and programs that transform lives. On a personal level, her calling (not a career) allows her to give back some of what has so graciously been given to her family. She proudly serves as the Director of Family Support and Community Engagement at Achieving True Self, supporting families across the Northeastern U.S. Catherine is an international best-selling author and/or editor of over twenty books. Her longawaited memoir, Imprisoned No More: A Mother and Son Embrace Autism and Journey to Freedom, was released in August 2020.

Catherine has also managed a blog and social media platforms as The Caffeinated Advocate since 2018.

Living with her in that "boring" (ok, it's not actually boring) town and very much not boring household are Mama Betty, Christian, and their pets Callie, Cookie, Candie, Hannah, Maddie, and Raven the Cats – yes, six cats.

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Recovery Friendly HIRING PANEL

Rob Hamilton is a person with lived experience and an active member of the recovery community. Rob's commitment to service includes efforts to end veteran homelessness.

Recognized with awards such as the Salute Our Heroes Recognition and the Dr. Cyril Wecht Western Pa Humanitarian Award, Rob brings a wealth of experience and empathy to his mission of bridging the gap between government and community service organizations in Westmoreland County.

Rob Hamilton

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES WESTMORELAND COUNTY Tim Phillips has been in the field of alcohol, tobacco and other drug treatment and prevention since 1988. He is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (C.A.D.C.) Certified Forensics Counselor, SBIRT (Screening & brief intervention to treatment) and a NAADAC Recovery Coach. Tim’s list of organizations and accolades are incredible.

To name a few, Tim presently serves as a board member of Commonwealth Prevention Alliance (CPA), Balance and Restorative Justice Committee (BARJ), and Professional Tim Phillips Recovery Organization Alliance (PRO A). He is the Chair of SWPA Harm Reduction DIRECTOR Coalition and a founding member of the DEPT OF COMMUNITY Young People in Recovery (YPR) Pittsburgh RELATIONS & PREVENTION Chapter. He spreads the message to local students, is a regular participant at WESTMORELAND COUNTY the Greensburg Reality Tour Drug Prevention program and a regular contributor/trainer to Sage’s Army.

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Moderated By A United States Force Veteran who served from 2009 to 2014, Carissa is currently pursuing her dual master’s in social work and business. She studied military culture and Appalachian culture while pursuing her bachelor of science in sociology. She is a certified recovery coach and has multiple certifications in veteran recovery training.

Carissa Snedden

PROGRAM COORDINATOR OF SOUTHWESTERN PA PARTNERS IN RECOVERY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, CARLOW UNIVERSITY

In 2011, Carmen Capozzi founded "Sage's Army," a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals struggling with addiction.

Named after his beloved son, Sage's Army became Carmen's lifeline to healing and a beacon of hope for countless others. Sage's Army set out on a mission to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, provide education on addiction prevention, and offer support to those seeking recovery. Through community outreach programs, Carmen and Carmen Capozzi his team worked tirelessly to combat the FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE stigma surrounding addiction and foster a compassionate environment where DIRECTOR individuals could seek help without judgment.

SAGE’S ARMY

Dan Giovannelli

VP OF ADMINISTRATION WESTMORELAND COMMUNITY ACTION

Prior to joining Westmoreland Community Action, Dan served as the Executive Director of Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity and The Global Switchboard. Dan holds a Masters of Public Administration and Juris Doctor both from the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Crabtree on a small hobby farm with his wife, two children, and a plethora of indoor and outdoor animals. In his free time he enjoys hunting, backpacking and generally just exploring new and amazing outdoor places.

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Afternoon Breakout Maria A. LaVelle

INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP Maria is is the Chief Executive Officer of Pheple Federal Credit Union in Greensburg. She has been the Chief Executive Officer of the credit union for the past twenty-two years. The credit union currently serves over 16,000 members with $120 million in assets.

Maria serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Credit Union National Association and the National Credit Union Foundation. In addition, she has served on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Credit Union Advisory Council, Chair of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, and Chair of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation.

Maria received her master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in science in business management, both from Point Park University.

Maria resides in Murrysville with her partner, Keith. She has two beautiful daughters, Ciara and Selena, and a five-year-old grandson, R.J.

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Afternoon Breakout Trent Collins

INCLUSIVE HIRING POLICIES & BEST PRACTICES Trent Collins currently serves as a Senior Diversity Recruiter at Duquesne University. He works with the strategical planning on developing best diversity practices to recruit faculty and staff.

His responsibility also includes teaching diversity classes, employee relations and anti discrimination work. Trent holds a Diversity, Equity, & inclusion certificate from Cornell University and is also pursing an MBA.

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Afternoon Breakout Angela D. Kiger

UNDERSTANDING AUTISM & HIRING NEURODIVERGENT INDIVIDUALS Angela is an organizational development leader with 15 years of professional experience supporting industries ranging from social service to manufacturing. Her passion is creating effective workplaces based on psychological safety, which help organizations fulfill their mission. She has spent the last 5 years focusing on DEI initiatives to increase employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals.

Angela is a Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She is also a Predictive Index Certified Practitioner and holds a Certificate in Strategic HR Management from Cornell University.

Angela enjoys spending time exploring Disney parks with her husband Bryan and their two kids. She also loves to read and is always looking for the next great book.

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Afternoon Breakout Michel Keller

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE Michel Marie Keller is proud mother of four children (3-daughters/1-son) and a ‘Mimi’ of 4 granddaughters.

She graduated from Penn Trafford High School and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

She was hired as the Vice President of Education & Workforce Development for the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC) in 2020. She is responsible for the oversite of PIC Youth Programs, IT Department, DADS MATTER Program, Youth Re-Entry Program, adult education in the Westmoreland County Prison and EARN Program, as well as the Title 1 staff at the PA CareerLink® in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties.

Michel is a current American Red Cross certified CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor, a National Council Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and Pennsylvania Mandated Reporter Instructor.

She is so honored to be the Pitt Greensburg Alumni President for the 2023-2025 term and part of the Pittsburgh Job Corp Community Relations Board.

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2024 CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE Allison Womer & McCrae Martino Community Foundation of Westmoreland County

Carlotta Paige Westmoreland Diversity Coalition

Carol Palcic YWCA Westmoreland County

Dorsey Cox Educated Athletes First

Dr. Anthony Kane & Dr. Jeff Mallory Saint Vincent College

Judy DeWitt Westmoreland County Community College

Heather Gibas, Mandy Zalich & Toni Antonucci Westmoreland Community Action

Maria LaVelle PHEPLE Federal Credit Union

Michel Keller Private Industry Council

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COPPER SPONSORS The YWCA Racial Justice Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. The Challenge works to foster personal reflection, encourage social responsibility, and motivate participants to identify and act on ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE? This year’s campaign will take place throughout the entire month of April, with the YWCA Racial Justice Challenge, a critical component of the campaign, running April 1–29. Join us all month long as we highlight YWCA Local Association events and initiatives to inspire and engage our network of activists, advocates, and allies and advance racial justice — together.

Scan the QR code or visit ywcawestmoreland.org to learn more about this movement and sign-up to take the pledge.

Westmoreland County

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COPPER SPONSORS

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SILVER SPONSOR

TOGETHER, WE RISE.

hen you’re here, you’ll do more than learn: you’ll listen, seek, create, and serve, laying the foundation for a successful, meaningful life. Rooted in our Benedictine heritage, we guide our students through the values inherent in the liberal approach to life and learning, in turn allowing Saint Vincent College students to emerge grounded and ready to live enriched, purposeful lives.

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Saint Vincent College is proud to sponsor the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce 2024 DEI Conference.

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LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA | 800-782-5549 | www.stvincent.edu 3098

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GOLD SPONSOR

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TOGETHER WE THRIVE

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