CBIA 2026 Human Resources Conference

Get ready for CBIA’s annual Human Resources Conference—the essential event for HR professionals managing today’s complex workplaces—featuring timely legal updates, practical guidance, and expert insights to help employers stay compliant, reduce risk, and lead confidently. 

The dynamic Suzanne Lucas brings a healthy dose of humor as she explains how to navigate the tension between advocating for employees and following directives from company leadership.

Mercer’s Meg Galistinos and Vlad Gogish will take you inside employees’ minds to help you drive talent retention by building a stronger workforce culture.

Connecticut Department of Labor attorneys Jennifer Devine and Heidi Lane will offer a clear breakdown of Connecticut FMLA and the expanded paid sick leave law, explaining how the laws overlap, where they differ, and how to handle documentation, discipline, and attendance programs without increasing legal risk. 

Littler partners Paula Anthony and Nicole Mulé will address the rising volume of ADA accommodation requests, sharing practical strategies for managing extended leave, mental health accommodations, and remote work requests. 

CBIA senior policy director Paul Amarone reviews the 2026 General Assembly session and new mandates affecting Connecticut employers. 

Former National Labor Relations Board chair Marvin Kaplan, now with Jackson Lewis, will outline what a newly constituted board may mean for workplace rules, discipline, and employee conduct.  

The conference wraps up with Carmody Torrance attorneys Johanna Bachmair and Lauren Hopwood reviewing immigration compliance, including I‑9 requirements and responding to ICE actions. 

This event is designed for real‑world applications—equipping HR leaders with the clarity, tools, and foresight needed to manage risk and support their organizations effectively. 

Agenda

7:30 am | Networking Breakfast 

8:30 am | Opening Remarks 

• Diane Mokriski, HR Counsel, CBIA 

8:40 am | Unlocking Employee Insights: The Key to Retaining Top Talent

• Meg Galistinos, Partner, Connecticut Market Leader, Mercer
• Vlad Gogish, Senior Principal, Mercer

9:25 am | A Distinction with a Difference: Connecticut FMLA & Paid Sick Leave 

• Jennifer Devine, Staff Attorney, Connecticut Department of Labor 
• Heidi Lane, Legal Director, Connecticut Department of Labor 

10:25 am | Networking Break 

10:45 am | The ADA Dilemma: Balancing Compliance with Operational Realities 

• Paula Anthony, Partner, Littler 
• Nicole Mulé, Partner, Littler 

11:30 am | Connecticut Legislative Update 

• Paul Amarone, Senior Policy Director, CBIA 

12 pm | Networking Lunch 

1 pm | Credibility First: How to Lead When Everyone Is Mad at You

• Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady 

1:45 pm | Workplace Rules: What to Expect from the New NLRB 

• Marvin Kaplan, Principal, Jackson Lewis 

2:30 pm | The New Reality of Immigration Enforcement: Strategic Solutions for Employers 

• Johanna Bachmair, Associate, Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey 
• Lauren Hopwood, Partner, Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey 

3:15 pm | Adjourn