2018 eeo conference presenters - personnel portal conference presenters bios.pdftanya lawrence ky...
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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
[email protected]; [email protected]
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.