SCHEDULE​

Presentations from the 2022 Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum are available on the Archives Page. 
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
  • 8:00 AM – Registration Opens
  • 9:00 AM –  Forum Kickoff & Welcome
    • Will Bentley, President, Georgia Agribusiness Council
    • ​Beth Oleson, Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
  • 9:20 AM -  Update from OFLC
    • ​Brian Testa, Director of Policy & Regulation, Office of Foriegn Labor Certification, U.S. Department of Labor
    • Marcella Campbell, H2A Certifying Officer, Office of Forgien Certification, U.S. Department of Labor
  • 10:30 AM - Insights from US Department of Labor 
    • ​Daniel Chapman, Senior Policy Advisor, Division of Immigration, Farm Labor, and Trade,  US Department of Labor 
  • 11:15 AM - Break 
  • 11:25 AM - National Policy & Regulatroy Updates
    • Bob Redding, The Redding Firm, Washington, D.C.
  • 12:05 PM - Lunch & Welcome (Included in registration fee)​
    • Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator, Georgia Farm Bureau
  • 1:00 PM - OSHA Heat Initiative and Updates
    • ​Deanna Bolduc, Compliance Safety and Health Officer, OSHA - Savannah Area 
    • Chad Martin, Assistant Area Director, OSHA - Savannah Area  ​​
  • 1:50 PM - WPS and the Georgia Department of Agriculture
    • ​Nick Sumner, Pesticide Program Manager, Ag Inputs Division, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Tifton, GA
  • 2:30 PM - WPS and US Environmental Protection Agency
    • ​Jenny Wren, Chemical Safety Section, US EPA, Atlanta, GA
  • 3:10 PM - Break
  • 3:30 PM - Purdue University Software Solutions to Auomate Back Office Paperwork for Ag Labor
    • Scott Prince, Croft, Indianapolis, IN
    • Travis Douce, Croft, Indianapolis, IN 
  • 4:20 PM - Payroll Obligations
    • ​Ellen Hendley, AgWorks, Valdosta, GA
  • 5:15 PM - Wrap Up & Announcements 
  • 5:30 PM – Adjourn for the Day
    • Enjoy Dinner on Your Own

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 
  • 8:00 AM - Registration Opens 
  • 8:30 AM – Welcome
    • ​Chris Butts, Executive Vice President, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
  • 8:45 AM - Updates & Preparations for Future Changes in the H2A & H2B Guest Worker Programs 
    • ​Ellen Hedley, AgWorks H2, Valdosta, GA
  • 9:45 AM – GFVGA and Southeast Legal Foundation's H2A Lawsuit
    • ​Braden Boucek, VP of Litigation, Southeastern Legal Foundation 
    • Kimberly Hermann, Executive Director, Southeastern Legal Foundation
  • 10:15 AM - Break
  • 10:25 AM - Grower Panel Weighs In
    • ​Moderator: Chris Butts, Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
  • 11:00 AM - Know the Regulations, Take Care of Your People, Take Care of Yourself
    • ​Jennifer Dunn, Deputy Assistant Commisioner, Field Operations South, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
  • 11:50 PM - Lunch (Included in registration fee)
  • 12:40 PM - Georgia Housing Update from TCSG's Work Force Development 
    • ​Felipe Pacheo, State Monitor Advocate
    • Gabriela Munoz, Migrant Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) Program Manager
    • Carla Calderon-Bonilla, Manager of Forgein Labor Certification Program
    • Ofc of WorkSorce Georgia, Technical College Systems of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
  • 1:30 PM - Future Engagement of H2A Services in Agriculture 
    • Moderator: Chris Butts, Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
    • Karen Kirchler, Deputy Commissioner
    • Rossany Rios, Grants and Strategic Populations Director
    • WorkSource Georgia, Technical College Systems of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
  • 2:00 PM - Break
  • 2:20 PM - Litigation Trends and Wage/Hour Update
    • ​Marty Heller, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA
  • 3:10 PM - Summer is Heating Up - What To Do (and Not) to Do In response to OSHA's Proposed Heat Rule 
    • Micah Dickie, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA
  • 4:00 PM - Wrap Up & Final Announcements
  • 5:00 PM - Have a Safe Trip Home