Restart Vermont Technical Assistance (ReVTA) Webinar
Personnel Experts Provide Timely Advice for Employers
On December 22nd at 1pm the ReVTA program will provide a free webinar to help employers navigate pandemic-related personnel questions.
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The panel will feature two experts from the state's top HR and Benefits firm, Hickok Boardman; Managing Director, Meredith Spellman, J.D., LL.M, who specializes in the employment and personnel fields, and Karen Tierney, PHR, Director of strategic HR Services who regularly conducts trainings at organizations on leadership development topics. The event will also feature legal experts from Downs Rachlin Martin; Attorney Timothy E. Copeland Jr., Director, who focuses exclusively on the representation of employers in all aspects of their relationships with employees, and Attorney F. David Harlow, Director, a labor and employment litigator in DRM's Brattleboro office.
The webinar will last just over an hour, beginning with a legal update. Participants will receive an overview of the employment laws and regulations related to COVID-19 facing Vermont employers. This update will include the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, employee travel, disability-related issues, and vaccinations.
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The panelists will discuss and respond to questions from local business leaders who are adjusting to COVID-19 related impacts to the workplace
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This webinar wraps up the relief program administered by the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont (RDCs of VT) who were among five organizations selected to implement Vermont's Restart programming.
For more information on Restart Vermont visit the Agency of Commerce COVID-19 website
https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/business/restart
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Panelists
Timothy Copeland Jr.
Director of Downs Rachlin Martin
Reachable, responsive, resolute management-side labor and employment attorney.
Tim Copeland focuses his practice exclusively on the representation of employers in all aspects of their relationships with employees: from proactive management consulting, to complex labor negotiations, to resolving claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, unpaid wages and other employment disputes. He has a nationwide traditional labor law practice representing Fortune 500 and other leading companies in industries including manufacturing, construction, utilities, health care, retail and other industries devising and executing labor relations strategies. He has handled numerous organizing campaigns by unions including United Steelworkers of America, the Teamsters, the IAM and the IBEW, among others. He has litigated and handled numerous strikes across the United States.
Tim regularly represents employers in state and federal courts, in administrative proceedings and in arbitrations, whether defending claims brought by employees or their representatives, or pursuing legal action to protect employers’ interests. Readily accessible and responsive to his clients’ needs, Tim guides employers’ responses to pre-litigation complaints and provides counsel on sound H.R. and labor relations practices.
Karin Tierney, PHR
Director of Strategic HR Services
Karin Tierney joined Hickok & Boardman HR Intelligence in September of 2017 as the Director Strategic HR Services. Karin brings 20 years of experience in Human Resources as a specialist, generalist and strategic business partner, having worked in higher education, state government, and manufacturing. Most recently, in her role as head of HR at Vermont Smoke & Cure, she served as a member of the executive leadership team with a focus on providing strategic solutions to achieve business objectives through its employees. Through organizational design and workforce planning, Karin helped to implement initiatives to recruit, develop, engage and retain a dynamic team at a time of rapid growth.
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Karin regularly conducts trainings at organizations on leadership development topics, including Managing Difficult Conversations, Emotional Intelligence, and Coaching to Improve Employee Performance. Karin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (BA), a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA), and a Master’s degree in Education, Counseling (MEd) from the University of New Hampshire. She is also certified as a Professional of Human Resources (PHR).
F. David Harlow
Director of Downs Rachlin Martin
A hard working, powerful advocate for employers.
A native Vermonter, David Harlow is a labor and employment litigator in DRM’s Brattleboro office. Before joining DRM, David was an attorney at one of the largest labor and employment law firms in the country. He has litigated cases on behalf of companies in a variety of industries, including finance, aerospace, retail and health care. David has substantial experience defending employers from claims of discrimination and retaliation under federal and state civil rights statutes. He also regularly defends employers before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor. David has investigated and defended whistleblower claims arising under the Sarbanes Oxley Act, the Mine Safety and Health Act, and other federal and state laws. David also has substantial experience in ERISA benefits litigation.
David has been published and has spoken publicly on the topic of pre-employment background checks. He has developed employee handbooks and policies for large corporations and small and medium-sized businesses.