EEOC Announces Featured Speakers at Annual EXCEL Conference on Employment Discrimination Law

AARP CEO and EEOC Acting Chair to Discuss Persistent Problem of Age Bias

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that several nationally known authorities on equal employment opportunity law and policy will speak at the agency's 20th annual EXCEL training conference in Chicago on June 27-29. EXCEL stands for Examining Conflicts in Employment Laws.

The theme of this year's EXCEL conference is Embracing the Future: People, Purpose, Passion. EXCEL provides the employer community, in both the federal and private sectors, with tools and strategies to address emerging issues in equal employment opportunity (EEO) and foster model workplaces nationwide. EXCEL includes separate agendas for the federal and private sectors, which includes state and local governments. The comprehensive training workshops and events are geared toward EEO managers, supervisors, practitioners, HR professionals, attorneys, ADR specialists and other interested parties.

"EXCEL is the EEOC's premier annual training event," said EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic. "EXCEL attendees will get cutting-edge information and the latest updates on EEO law and policy issues. This conference is a key EEOC tool in promoting best practices in the workplace."

As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the agency is pleased to announce that Jo Ann Jenkins, chief executive officer (CEO) of AARP, will join EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic for a candid conversation about age discrimination. Jenkins has been described as a visionary "thought leader" and a catalyst for breakthrough results at the nation's largest social welfare organization with nearly 38 million members.

Other speakers include:

• Kathleen McGettigan, acting director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), who has an extensive understanding of both the private and public sectors. She has spent over 25 years in federal service at OPM and 20 years in private sector financial management.
• Steve Pemberton, senior executive at Walgreens Boots Alliance, the first global pharmacy-led health and well-being enterprise in the world. He is a subject matter expert on diversity, inclusion and related issues.
• Haben Girma, a civil rights attorney and leader in global inclusion efforts.  She is the first deaf and blind graduate of Harvard Law School.
• Shelton Goode, director of diversity and inclusion for Oshkosh Corporation, a global company that is the leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty vehicles.

In addition, EXCEL 2017 offers three plenary sessions, two specialty tracks and over 50 open workshops. The plenary sessions and workshops provide participants with knowledge and skills to address the emerging issues in EEO, enhance their performance and meet the evolving demands of today's workplace - from harassment and retaliation to disability and accommodation. A sampling of the workshop topics includes:

• You Measure What You Treasure: Diversity Metrics
• Tricky HR Situations: Harassment and Retaliation Edition
• MD-715: Addressing Opportunities for Hispanics in the Federal Workforce
• Accommodation Outside the Office - Issues and Answers
• Get It Right the First Time: Investigative Interview Techniques
• Islamophobia 2.0
• The ADEA at 50: Observe the Golden Anniversary by Avoiding the Golden Handshake

The EXCEL conference will take place June 27-29 at the Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60605. Additional information about EXCEL -- including the agenda, pricing information and online registration -- is available online at https://eeotraining.eeoc.gov/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x2547b105&varPage=location. Registrants are responsible for their own travel and hotel arrangements. Follow EXCEL 2017 on twitter at @EEOC_EXCEL.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.