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Conference Speaker Bios

    The Mid-Hudson Human Resource Association

    2009 Conference Speaker Bios

     

    Tom Minnick, Vice President, Human Resources

    Business Council of New YorkState

    Tom Minnick joined The Business Council in 1997, with over twenty years experience as an HR generalist and manager for several member companies. He received his bachelor's degree from Niagara University and his MBA from Sage Graduate School. Tom holds an SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) designation from The Society for Human Resource Management's Certification Institute.

     

    Joseph J. Lynett, Attorney at Law

    Jackson Lewis LLP

    Joseph J. Lynett is a senior associate at Jackson Lewis LLP, a member and regional coordinator of the Firm’s Disability, Leave and Health Management Practice Group, which assists employers in meeting the legal and practical challenges posed by federal and state laws protecting injured and ill employees. Joseph defends employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, including the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights and the U.S. Department of Labor involving claims of disability discrimination arising under federal, state and local law and alleged violations arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

    Maintaining an active counseling practice, Joseph provides imaginative and creative solutions to the complex array of workplace disability and health management issues faced by both large and small companies. Joseph counsels clients with the goal of either avoiding litigation entirely or improving outcomes before administrative agencies, courts and juries.

    A significant amount of Mr. Joseph’s counseling involves assisting clients in conducting an “individualized assessment” required by a growing number of federal and state laws. These efforts include helping employers effectively communicate with employees and medical providers in an effort to evaluate potential risks to health and safety posed by employee injuries or illnesses. In an area of law in which there often are few bright lines, Joseph attempts to develop practical and constructive solutions.

    Joseph is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School where he was Articles Editor of the Journal of Law & Policy and received a B.A. from The University of Chicago. He is admitted to practice law in New York and to the bars of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern of New York, the District of Connecticut and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

      

    Barry R. Manus, President

    BRAVO HR Services, Inc.

    Barry Manus is the founding principal of BRAVOHR Services. With over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Barry dealt with a broad range of issues including recruitment and retention, labor and employee relations, benefit and compensation plans, training and development, strategic planning, policy development and dissemination as well as regulatory and legal compliance.

    Barry earned a B.A from Queens College; a M.B.A. from Baruch College, City University of New York; and a M.A. in Human Resources Management and Development from the New School University. He has over 20 years of teaching experience as a member of the Faculty and/or Adjunct Faculty of Baruch College, CUNY; St. John’s University; Lehman College, CUNY; and Pace University’s Lubin School of Business at the Graduate Center 

    Barry is currently the State Director-Elect for NY State Society for Human Resource Management (NYS-SHRM). In April, 2006, he was appointed to NYS SHRM as Chair, “Best Companies to Work for in New York” initiative. He is currently a Sr. Advisor and a past President of the Human Resources Association of New York (HR/NY).

    Deb Grigson, Partner

    eConsulting Network

    Deb Grigson is a founding partner working with a team of compensation design and delivery experts at eConsultingNetwork. Deb provides full service compensation consulting for employers requiring strategic compensation initiatives.

    Deb has a great deal of experience in strategic compensation design and implementation, market assessment, incentive redesign, human resource audits and process redesign, executive compensation studies, and technology solution design and development. Her clients include for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in a variety of industries.

    Deb is currently a program committee member with PEBA, a local Human Resource Association. Over the last year Deb presented or facilitated the delivery of presentations on the following topics: FLSA, Market Pricing, Compensation Planning. In addition, Deb is currently a member of the WorldatWork. Deb co-authored an article in fall 2004 for Workspan titled “Market Pricing 101 – The Science and the Art”.

    Deb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Education from Juniata College and a Masters in Education, Psychology/Education from Bucknell University.

    David R. Wise, Attorney-at-Law

    Gellert & Klein

    David Wise is a graduate of Buffalo State College, and he received his law degree from Whittier College School of Law, where he also served as Research Editor of the Law Review.

    David is a partner with the law firm of Gellert & Klein, P.C. in Poughkeepsie, New York, and he has worked for that firm, and its predecessors, for twenty-two years. David concentrates his practice in labor and employment law. He has handled a variety of labor-related litigations, as well as investigations by and hearings before numerous administrative agencies. David represents several private employers and is special counsel for labor relations to a number of local municipalities. He also represents a variety of Water and Sewer Commissions.

    David is very active in the community and has served on numerous not-for-profit Boards of Directors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Dutchess County Community College Foundation, the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley and is a member of the Operational Oversight Committee of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation. David is married and has three children, and in his spare time he is an avid runner.

    Allison Davis: VP Coaching Market Leader – NE Region

    Right Management

    Allison Davis serves as VP Coaching Market Leader – NE Region for Right Management. She is an Executive Coach and Organization Consultant. Allison works on the premise that value can be brought to individuals, teams, and organizations; tailored to the industry, state of the organization and client goals. She has coached and consulted with Fortune rated, private equity and healthcare business executives. She possesses in-depth business experience facilitating organization and individual change and breakthrough leadership results.

    Allison has recently worked with global companies such as Diageo, PepsiCo, United Healthcare, HSBC, AXA Liabilities, CIT and Covidien.

     

    David W. Melby, Vice President, Employee Benefits Management Group

    Rose & Kiernan, Inc.

    Prior to merging with Rose & Kiernan, Inc., David was President of The Daniels Benefits Group, and a principal of The Daniels Agency. David has over 17 years experience in the insurance brokerage field, and is a regular guest speaker for many SHRM Chapters in New York and Connecticut.

    David specializes in working with larger employer groups in the Hudson Valley and downstate New York. He has particular expertise in the municipal and not-for-profit arenas, whereby collective bargaining is a strong suit. Clients entrust David’s expertise in all aspects of employee benefits and retirement planning.

    David serves as advisory board member to many insurance companies, assisting in the development of new products, pricing and marketing. David is active in the community, currently as Chairman of the Board for Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, NY, and a Trustee of Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY.

    Robert J. Ranieri, Vice President, Employee Benefits Management Group

    Rose and Kiernan, Inc.

    Rob began his insurance career in 1994 with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield working with companies within the tri-state region of New York City. In 1997 he joined the Employee Benefits Division of The Daniels Agency of New York, and now is a Vice President with Rose & Kiernan.

    Rob specializes in working with larger employer groups within the Hudson Valley and the Tri-State New York region. His strength is with organizations that have employees spread over multiple states. Rob’s clients admire his dedication to all of their insurance needs.

    Rob’s community involvement includes being the current Chair of the Board of Directors for the Council on Addiction, Prevention and Education. He is also a current board member of Abilities First, Inc. and the Hudson Valley Renegades Pitch for Kids Foundation. Rob is a Campaign leader for the Dutchess County United Way and is active with the Westchester and Mid-Hudson Societies of Human Resource Management.