(April 24, 2009) Afternoon breakout sessions at the California Chamber of Commerce Business Summit on May 18-19 in Sacramento will give attendees the option to learn about best practices or hear information updates to enhance their political or human resources activities.
“Leading the State and the Nation Through Challenging Times” is the theme for the day-long event in Sacramento, which is expected to attract business leaders from throughout the state. This is the 22nd anniversary for the Summit.
Featured speakers will include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, CalChamber Chair Frederick R. Ruiz, NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd and gubernatorial candidates Steve Poizner, California insurance commissioner, and Tom Campbell, former state director of finance, now visiting presidential fellow at Chapman University School of Law.
Breakout Sessions
• Legislative Advocacy Boot Camp 101: Bryan Merica, founder and partner of ID Media, will discuss how to use technology in building a grassroots network to gain access, influence and clout with legislators.
Merica founded ID Media, a political Internet agency, in 2004. ID Media delivers a wide range of technology solutions, including: Internet strategy, rapid website deployment and fully managed Internet outreach programs (outreach programs include online advertising, web video production, social media campaigns and large-scale outbound e-mail programs).
Over the last five years, as company president, Merica grew ID Media’s full-time team to seven associate consultants and built a list of top-tier clients that includes leading political consultants, elected officials, candidates, ballot measure campaigns and political action committees.
In 2006, Merica and ID Media were awarded the American Association of Political Consultants Pollie award for ID Media’s work on the Yes on Proposition 78 / No on Proposition 79 campaign (sending more than 60 million e-mails over 30 days to voters in California). In 2008, Merica co-founded Fox and Hounds Daily, a blog covering business and politics.
• Political Action 101: Brian T. Hildreth, partner with Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk LLP, will present legal basics on how to organize and manage a political action committee.
Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk specializes in campaign, election and administrative law and litigation at all levels of government. Hildreth maintains a nationwide practice advising corporations, candidates, political action committees (PACs), major campaign donors and ballot measure committees in the areas of political and election law. He specializes in campaign, initiative and constitutional law and related litigation in federal, state and local jurisdictions.
Hildreth previously served in the administration of Governor Pete Wilson as a special assistant in the Governor’s State Capitol office in Sacramento. He also worked as government relations counsel for the Northrop Grumman Corporation at its headquarters in Los Angeles. More recently, Hildreth was an associate with Jackson Lewis LLP, a national law firm representing management in employment and labor litigation matters.
Panelists for the session include:
- Nick Ortiz, government affairs manager, Greater Bakersfield Chamber;
- Kristen Amyx, president/chief executive officer, Goleta Valley Chamber; and
- Randy Gordon, president/chief executive officer, Long Beach Area Chamber.
• HR 101: Helping alert attendees to employment law issues in California will be Jessica Hawthorne, CalChamber employment law counsel, and Susan Kemp, CalChamber senior labor law counsel.
Hawthorne joined the CalChamber in 2006 and serves as employment law counsel and Helpline consultant. She is the editor of a number of CalChamber publications and writes the biweekly newsletter HRCalifornia Extra. For more than seven years, Hawthorne has been involved in training employers throughout California on legal issues and best practices.
Kemp joined the CalChamber in 1992 and is currently the CalChamber’s Helpline manager. She is past editor of several CalChamber publications and a former HR and training manager. In addition, Kemp has provided training to employers on a variety of topics and conducted sexual harassment investigations.
• Protecting Your Customers’ Credit Card Data: Jay Cline, president of Minnesota Privacy Consultants, discusses how to protect the information your customers trust you with the most.
Minnesota Privacy Consultants provides privacy assessment, training and breach-response services. Cline formerly served as the chief privacy officer of Carlson Companies, the parent company of Radisson Hotels, T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. He also has been a privacy columnist for Computerworld since 2002.
• Protecting Your Business from ADA Lawsuits: David W. Peters, chief executive officer and general counsel of Lawyers Against Lawsuit Abuse, APC, will demonstrate how to make sure your company meets all the requirements necessary under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Peters has served as a consultant in more than 500 ADA/accessibility lawsuits throughout the United States.
Registration
The two-day registration package, including Summit with lunch, the Host Reception and Host Breakfast, will rise from $220 to $275 after April 17. Other registration options are available.
Online registration and more information are available at www.calchamber.com/summit09.
Staff Contact: Alicia Smith
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