Speakers

Annette Wholaver

Annette Wholaver, worked for the U.S. Army, serving as an intelligence analyst while holding a Top Security Clearance from 1975 to 1978. While stationed in West Berlin, she was responsible for coordinating intelligence information with allied forces in the European Theater.

In her current job, this military veteran serves as a Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) in the EDD Operation Welcome Home Program in which she works. In that capacity, she is an advocate on behalf of military veterans for employment, placement, and training opportunities. In effectively performing her duties, she provides proactive, comprehensive, and collaborative outreach services to California’s military veterans to help them to connect with, and access their important veteran benefits.

As an LVER, Ms. Wholaver directly connects with some 30,000 returning California military veterans annually, to ascertain their needs and connect them with the services that will help them transition successfully from life in the military…back to the civilian world. 

Jeff Burmeister

Jeff Burmeister, Assistant Director Client Relationships TALX Tax Management Services, started his career in the unemployment cost control industry in 1992. Initially Jeff's primary responsibilities were to represent clients in unemployment appeal hearings by identifying and preparing witnesses, directing testimony and presenting verbal and written argument. Additionally, Jeff had account management duties for accounts within Washington State.

As an account manager, Jeff was responsible for the overall success and satisfaction of client’s service delivery, presenting educational workshops and seminars and to analyze clients’ programs to reduce their claims and tax liabilities. By 1998, Jeff had been promoted to Vice President and had account responsibility for select key Fortune 500 accounts, as well as managed full service offices that included claims, hearing and account management staff throughout the West.

Today, Jeff is personally responsible for a select group of key accounts, while managing an experienced team of Client Relationship Managers.

Jeff is a graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations.

Patrick Moody

Patrick Moody is a shareholder with Barsamian and Moody, a law firm solely dedicated to representing employers. Mr. Moody provides the firms’ management clientele with solutions and advice for complying with the numerous statutes and regulations relating to labor and employment law, as well as the intricacies of handling union organizing campaigns and working within the confines of collective bargaining agreements. He has represented employers before most state and federal administrative agencies, in judicial and labor grievance arbitrations, as well as in both state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Mr. Moody earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the California Western School of Law, where he served as a Staff Writer and was on the Executive Board of the California Western Law Review and the California Western International Law Journal. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1991, and is also admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Mr. Moody frequently speaks on many different topics related to labor and employment law, regularly contributes articles to a wide variety of publications, and is the author of several regularly published columns on topics relevant to employers.

Jackie Ryle

Dr. Jacqueline L. "Jackie" Ryle owns Ryle Resources/Empowerment Strategies, offering individual and organizational facilitation and consultation. Known nationally for her training, facilitation, seminars and workshops, Dr. Ryle offers organizational intervention on a wide variety of topics, focusing on collaboration, communications, motivation, conflict resolution, and strategic planning. She is dedicated to assisting individuals to realize and fulfill their potential, and to assisting organizations in capacity building and strategic planning to effectively meet their goals and objectives.

Dr. Ryle hosts a weekly television interview program on community affairs, now in its 22nd year, and currently serves on the Advisory Council for CSUF American Humanics Program and the Boards of the Association for Conflict Resolution Fresno Chapter and Care Fresno. She is past President of the Marjaree Mason Center Board and the Fresno Metropolitan Rotary Club, and served as Charter President of the Central California Dispute Resolution Association and the Central California Division of the City Clerks Association of California. She is a graduate of the inaugural class of the San Joaquin Valley Civic Leadership Program, and Class One of Leadership Fresno.

Dr. Ryle has a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development, a Masters Degree in Human Resources and Organization Development, a Masters Degree in Human Development, and a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration. She holds a Lifetime Distinction with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Advanced Academy for Education, is a Certified Municipal Clerk, and holds certificates in facilitation, mediation, and managerial coaching.

Professionally, Dr. Ryle served as City Clerk for the City of Fresno for 28 of her 32 years with the City; coordinated the City's Human Resource and Organizational Development Program; and currently instructs courses for Alliant International University in the Masters in Organization Behavior and PsyD. Programs, and teaches in the American Humanics Program at California State University, Fresno. She has presented to delegations from Belarus, Kostromos and Vladivostok, Russia on behalf of the Community Connections Program, CSUF, and has facilitated nationally for the National Association for Community Mediation, and the Health Education Council.

Dr. Ryle's 40+ year span of community service is extensive, and includes service to dozens of non profit agencies and the Counties of Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings, Tulare, Stanislaus and Placer. For pleasure, Dr. Ryle enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth and grandson, Joseph, collecting memorabilia, running, and national and international travel.

Shirley Baker

Dr. Shirley Baker is the Director for the International Language, Education, and Cultural Center, Alliant University, Fresno Campus.

Dr. Baker has a background in training teachers for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA Program. Her area of expertise is in understanding the differences in processing styles, and multicultural communications. She also teaches at a Graduate level in the Organizational Psychology Doctorate Program for Alliant University.

Amber Anderson

Amber Anderson, Senior Client Consultant of Gallagher Benefit Services, joined Gallagher Benefit Services in 2005. Her experience is in the sales and consultative service of employee benefits plans including, but not limited to, employer sponsored medical, dental, vision, group life and AD&D plans. Amber spearheads business development and client service activities for Gallagher Benefit Services office of Central California located in Fresno, CA.

Amber has extensive experience in the design, financing and implementation of comprehensive health and welfare benefits programs. In particular, she has a strong background in developing employee education and wellness campaigns to assist mid-market employers to achieve the maximum return for their health and welfare dollars while developing solutions that employees understand and find of significant value.

Amber obtained her undergraduate degree in business administration with a minor in marketing and pre-law from the University of San Diego. She is a member of HRACC, services on the Northern California Broker Advisory Board for Kaiser Permanente, and is a Member of Assistance League of Fresno.

Dr. Rudy Sanchez

Rudy is an associate professor of management in the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno. He earned his Ph.D. at Portland State University in Systems Science: Industrial & Organizational Psychology.

Rudy is a highly rated instructor and trainer. He has provided leadership training to over 400 managers and executives from a variety of profit, not-for-profit, and governmental agencies including Pelco, Community Medical Centers, Comcast, Fresno County Superior Court, and the City of Fresno Airports Division. He has also delivered several invited speeches to professional organizations on leadership and motivation. He teaches a variety of courses in the Craig School of Business in the undergraduate, MBA, and Executive MBA programs. His teaching interests include leadership, motivation in the workplace, effective decision making, and human resource management.

He is a member of the Human Resources and Organizational Behavior divisions of the Academy of Management. Rudy is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). He has served as a symposium chair and presented over 20 papers at regional and national conferences sponsored by these and other professional organizations.

Rudy’s research interests include leadership, trust development in organizations, motivation, and fairness in human resource management processes. He has worked with several organizations to increase their effectiveness while conducting rigorous research. These partners include Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Ruiz Foods, the City of Louisville, the City of Riverside, and the New York State Unified Court System. His research has appeared in prestigious academic journals including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, and the International Journal of Selection and Assessment.

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