Human Resource Expert Witness

Overview

Expert is president and principal of a Consulting firm, Inc. is nationally certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources with a state-specific certification in California (SPHR-CA) by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and has been appointed to sit on the Employee Health, Safety, and Security Special Expertise Panel.  She is a certified mediator, UC Berkeley, Extension Program and has been appointed to the Amador County Superior Court Mediation Panel.  Expert is an expert in the HR aspects of employment regulation compliance, litigation and vocational rehabilitation.

Expert has extensive experience in developing and implementing HR programs and policies that relate to federal and state employment legislation, including:

-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
-Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
-Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
-California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
-California ADA
-Worker’s Compensation
-Sexual Harassment

With the unique advantage of being experienced in both vocational rehabilitation and human resource management, Expert  conducts vocational and HR assessments for use in job re-training, labor market assessments, employment litigation, personal injury, or divorce.

Expert  takes a holistic approach to HR matters, and has worked frequently on both the employee and employer side of sensitive personnel disputes.  Her in-depth knowledge of employment legislation makes her well suited to her work as a liaison between HR professionals and attorneys in the event of threatened or existing litigation.

Expert  is a frequent speaker on HR topics and offers training on a full range of employment management topics to clients on-site or in the beautiful setting of Murphy’s, California.

Professional Experience

A Consulting Company, Inc.
Founder and Principal
California
1993 to Present

Expert  founded A Consulting Company, Inc., a California-based human resource consulting firm, in 1993.  She has been assisting corporate, non-profit, and governmental clients with HR policy development and implementation for over 10 years.  She works on a national, statewide and local level.

Expert is an expert in HR areas relating to medical leave management and physical accommodation in the workplace.  She has worked closely with clients to establish and maintain compliance with federal and state employment legislation, including the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  Services include Return to Work (RTW) programs, modified / alternative work assessments, and development of essential function job analyses.  This specialized knowledge allows Expert to help organizations reduce potential liability due to employment litigation.

In the area of human resource policy development and implementation, Expert is highly experienced in a full range of employment matters, such as:

-Management Training
-Employee Policy Handbook Development
-Organizational Development
-Employee Life Cycle Management, Including Hiring And Termination Procedures
-Performance Management Systems
-Sexual Harassment Training
-Essential Function Job Descriptions

Expert  has special interests in the impact of computer ergonomics in the work place, workflow processes, and organizational communications.  She has applied this knowledge as a Business Analyst in corporate accounts by developing procedural guidelines, verifying job descriptions, and implementing performance management systems.

She also provides full vocational rehabilitation services through HRM Consulting, Inc., including vocational assessments, testing, evaluation, job analysis, and plan development. Expert is an experienced Qualified Rehabilitation Representative (QRR) and Federal Government Certified, Ticket to Work provider, including assisting employers, employees, and worker’s compensation and Social Security Disability recipients and claimants with modified/alternative work assessments and return to work services.

Her company clients include the state of California and the Federal government as well as both private and not-for-profit organizations.  These organizations range in size from employers with thousands of employees, to small business owners who rely on Expert to manage their HR department on an outsourced basis.

County Superior Court Civil Mediation panel
April 2008 to Current

Social Security Administration / Railroad Retirement Board
1993 to Current

Expert is an experienced vocational expert for Social Security / Railroad Retirement Disability claims. She participated in many cases involving “ability to work” issues and continues to provide expert testimony in the arena.  She is also certified by the Federal Government to provide Social Security Ticket to Work services.

Crawford and Company Healthcare Management
Vocational Consultant II
December 1, 1992 to October 8, 1993

Expert  provided comprehensive vocational rehabilitation return to work services to injured workers. Services included transferable skills assessment, skill and abilities testing, accommodation analysis, and return to work services. She was responsibility for the development and implementation of proactive placement services including an English/Spanish Job Club. She was able to increase placement statistics from 30% to 90% in the Central Sierra region during a period of 18.5% unemployment.

First Nationwide Bank
Systems Analyst, January 1992 to August 1992
Sacramento, California

Teaching Experience

Expert worked as an adjunct instructor teaching Business Essentials for the Columbia College in Sonora, California, January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2001 and Modesto Junior College, April, 2005 to November 2005. Expert continues to conduct short course seminars upon request.

Other teaching experience includes:
-Sacramento State University, Teaching Assistant, Spring/Fall 1991
-University of Arizona, Teaching Assistant, Fall 1989 to Spring 1990

Education

Master in Business Administration (MBA), 1992
Organization Behavior & Human Resource
Computer Technology Integration Emphasis
California State University, Sacramento

Masters Work in Organizational Communication, 1989
Bachelor of Science, 1988
Family & Consumer Resources
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Certifications

-Senior Professional in Human Resources with a state-specific certification in California (SPHR-CA), granted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), August 2010.

-Mediation and Conflict Resolution Certification, granted by University of California, Berkeley,
Extension Program, November 2007.

-Skill Path Seminars Certified National Trainer, Labor Law Compliance, FMLA, February 2005 to 2007

-Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), granted by the Society for Human Resource               Management (SHRM).  September 2002.

-Professional in Human Resources (PHR), granted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), September 2002.

-Experienced as a vocational expert with the Office of Hearing and Appeals, Social Security Administration, certified as a Ticket to Work provider.

Professional Affiliations

Expert is a member or past member of the following organizations:

-Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
-Selected to serve on the International Society for Human Resources (SHRM) Special Expertise, Employment Health, Safety & Security panel, 2006 to 2009
-California Association of Rehabilitation & Reemployment Professionals (CARRP)
-National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector (NARPPS)

Community Participation

Expert is active in the following civic and educational groups:

-Calaveras and Tuolumne County business networks
-Rotary International
-Prior – Board Member, Tuolumne/Calaveras Association for the Handicapped
-Alpha Sigma National Honor Society

Presentations

Expert  is a frequent public speaker on a range of HR topics. Listed below are highlights of her many public presentations, with some topics presented in multiple venues. Expert continues to provide management training on a national basis.

More on Presentations, Available Upon Request