Lake Washington Human Resource Association Employee Engagement Panel

Employee Engagement Panel

Featuring Northwest-based experts across employment law, DEI, conflict resolution, and benefits

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 | 11:50am - 1:00pm

Space is Limited

Learning Objectives:

• Help HR managers better understand issues currently impacting employee engagement

• Our diverse panel made up of Northwest-based experts across employment law, diversity/equity/inclusion, conflict resolution, and benefits will all offer attendees a unique approach and solutions to promote better employee engagement 

• HR managers will leave the meeting with attainable employee engagement goals and new tools/methods to solve employee engagement issues 

Meet the Panelists:

Clarence Belnavis is the regional managing partner of Fisher Phillips’ Portland office and a partner in the Seattle office. He is a trial attorney focusing on employment litigation, including disability, racial and gender discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and wrongful discharge. Clarence also represents employers in wage and hour claims, employment class actions, and traditional labor matters.

In addition to his litigation practice, Clarence proactively advises clients with respect to labor and employment matters, including disability and return to work issues, employee handbooks, termination procedures and litigation avoidance. Clarence also provides client trainings and educational presentations to industry groups and organizations regarding current and developing employment law issues.

In 2002 Carol Bowser founded Conflict Management Strategies Inc. Since then she has helped leaders and organizations become conflict competent. Work that she loves. When asked “what is it you like about your work?” Her answer is simple “I love creating spaces where people can talk about what is important and giving them the tools to have those conversations. It is powerful stuff.”

Carol trains personnel at all levels on the skills to address and navigate through workplace conflict. Her style is highly interactive, facilitative, and designed so that participants can put the skills to immediate use in the workplace. Clients have called her highly engaging, AND highly knowledgeable.

After several years of practicing Employment Law, Carol decided to become an entrepreneur and work with organizations to prevent costly workplace conflict and share the gospel of “Managing Conflict— Empowering People.” She knows the difference between what employees perceive to be unfair and what is illegal.

Stefani Coverson (she/her) is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM - SCP) with over 20 years of experience advocating for racial equity, social justice, and practicing human resources in the public, nonprofit, and higher education industries. She is also a Certified Facilitator in the Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations® Program. Additionally, she is a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI) and Intercultural Conflict Style® (ICS) assessment tools. She enjoys working with leaders and organizations to build inclusive leadership skills, develop intercultural competence, and facilitate authentic communication and dialogue around challenging topics.

Throughout her career, she has worked to embed equity and anti-racism practices into HR, leadership, and business strategies. By starting her HR journey in compliance and investigating, as well as facilitating resolutions to employment discrimination complaints, she brings a unique perspective as a DEI strategist and agent of change.

Her work in the DEI and HR space has also been featured in SHRM Magazine.

Keith Mayfield is President and “Chief 401(k) Advocate” at Planit 401(k). Keith believes in the importance of guiding sponsors and employees to more successful retirement plan and retirement income results. He brings over 25 years of 401k industry specific experience working with more than 1,000 qualified (401k/403b/457/DB/CB/etc.) plans to his firm, along with a genuine passion for providing exceptional qualified plan results for the plan sponsors and plan participants he serves.

Keith’s career experience spans most areas of qualified plan service, including roles at a Third-Party Administration firm, a sponsor support desk, a dedicated employee education specialist and a sponsor relationship manager. Keith spent nearly two decades wholesaling and directly coaching financial advisors on best practices of investment management, employee education, plan design and fiduciary consulting while helping those advisors better service their own 401k plans. He has been recognized 6 times for Presidents Club Level contributions to his teams.