Test EventOn

The next American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) luncheon will be held on Wednesday, March 13th. Listen to a panel of powerful women in the HR World sharing experiences and offering their expertise in a world ever changing “Let’s Talk People: Growing and Protecting Your Company, Your People and Yourself!

Panel Questions:

1. I have employees, now what? Or, I only have independent contractors – no biggie right?
2. What should really be in a handbook?
3. What are cost effective ways to source and secure talent?
4. Out of the box benefits – what can I do?
5. Is there really such a thing as work/life balance?

Speakers include:

• Julie Graham
• Monique Doucette
• Amy Bakay
• Amy Landry
• Patti Pannell

Julie Graham joined Ursuline Academy in the Business Office in April, 2018.  Julie has a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of California and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.  Before joining Ursuline, Julie spent the last decade in Human Resources professional roles in training & development, compensation, performance management, succession planning, and HR generalist roles with Fortune 500 companies. While living overseas in Saudi Arabia for four years, Julie started her own HR / Career Consulting business.  She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt Project Leader.

Monique Doucette joined Ogletree Deakins in 2009 and is a shareholder in New Orleans, Louisiana. She practices primarily in the area of employment litigation and represents management in claims arising under various federal and state employment laws. Ms. Doucette has significant experience litigating employment matters in a variety of business sectors such as construction, energy, banking and hospitality. She also has expertise in workplace misconduct and sexual harassment issues. Ms. Doucette regularly conducts customized workplace respect and anti-harassment training for employers.

Ms. Doucette is a frequent speaker on various employment law topics and contributing author to publications such as the Louisiana Bar Journal, New Orleans CityBusiness and HR Magazine. She is also an avid supporter of the local arts and education in New Orleans by serving on the executive board of directors for the New Orleans Ballet Association and the Arts Council of New Orleans, as well as the board of directors for Urban League of Louisiana and the advisory board for the New Orleans Opera Association. She is a member of the A.P. Tureaud Chapter of the American Inns of Court and serves as a co-chair on the ABA Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee’s Diversity Initiative Task Force. In 2018, Ms. Doucette was appointed to the board of directors of the New Orleans chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) as the board attorney.

Amy Bakay, SHRM-SCP, is a self-proclaimed “HR-Geek” and founder of HR NOLA, a New Orleans-based HR Consulting and Outsourcing firm. She started HR NOLA after identifying a necessity for tailored Human Resources solutions for small businesses.

6 Significant Things You Should Know About Amy:

She’s an Adjunct Professor for Labor and Employment Law at Tulane.
She serves as President-Elect for NOLA SHRM, a 500+ nonprofit for HR professionals.
She is a Senior Certified Professional from the Society of Human Resources Management.
She holds a Business Degree from Mississippi College School of Business.
She was nominated in the 2018 class of New Orleans Woman of the Year.
She loves hanging with her favorite people, enjoying a fine whiskey and dreaming about her toes in the sand.

Amy Landry has 15+ years’ experience in human resources. She is a Certified Human Resources Professional through the Society of Human Resources and a Meyers Briggs (MBTI) Certified Practitioner.

Landry is Founder and CEO of corporate training company, Fuel Success Academy, LLC, and creator of Diapers to Desk, maternity reintegration training for women and companies. She is also part-time Instructor for Loyola’s inaugural Women Leadership Academy launching on April 16th.

Landry is a charter member of American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) Crescent City Connections Express Network, and has served in multiple leadership roles and currently running for National Office as a District Vice President. Amy created two events annual Women Driving Business and Equal Pay Day event. In 2018 Amy was awarded the prestigious honor of the league’s Woman of The Year and in 2019  was awarded nationally as a Top Ten Business Women of the year.

Landry serves on the board for the New Orleans Society of Human Resources Management as the Director of Professional Development. She is a 2016 YLC Leadership Development Series graduate, 2017 alumni of Emerging Philanthropist of New Orleans, a 2017 inaugural Economic Ambassador through NOLA Business Alliance, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce Member, POW of Women Business member, Fidelity P.O.W.E.R. member.

Locally, Amy is a 2018 City Business Woman of the Year, 2018 GNO Inc. Millennial Award Winner in Business, and was honored by the Baby Cakes as an All Star Women in Business in 2018.

Patricia Pannell is a Human Resources consultant, attorney, and mediator. In 2013, Patti and her long-time colleague Stefanie Allweiss founded Gotcha Covered HR to provide human resources support and outsourcing to small and mid-sized businesses.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, Patti has been actively engaged in the practice of labor and employment law in the Greater New Orleans area for more than 25 years. She has represented clients before regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Patti has lectured at seminars both for individual businesses and for fellow attorneys on topics such as sexual harassment, family and medical leave, and wage and hour law. She works extensively with HR professionals and business owners in proactive problem solving, including developing and implementing drug testing protocols; working with managers in dealing with employees in difficult situations, providing advice, guidance and coaching as needed; negotiating severance agreements; formulating general workplace policies and strategies; and conducting independent investigations into allegations of sexual harassment and other forms of workplace discrimination.