Event Information:

• Thu

  21

  Nov

  2019

  Springfield, MA Conference

  Springfield Tower Square Hotel- Springfield, MA

  Join us on Thursday November 21, 2019 in Springfield, MA!

  Springfield Tower Square Hotel
  2 Boland Way
  Springfield, MA 01115

  Complimentary Parking is available in the Tower Square Hotel Parking Garage. Please bring your ticket to the NECA registration table for validation.

  Registration and Lunch Buffet 12pm-1pm
  Conference 1pm- 4:30pm

  Lunch buffet will include soup, salad, wraps, sandwiches, paninis, and a selection of desserts. We will have a mid-afternoon break with a light snack as well!

  A rate of $109/night +tax is available at the Springfield Tower Square Hotel. Please call the hotel directly at 1-844-656-8641.

  We are excited to welcome the following speakers:

  Janet L. LaBreck

  Title of Presentation: Role of Service Dogs in the Workforce
  

  About the presenter: In February of 2013, President Barack Obama announced some key administration posts, including his intent to nominate Janet L. LaBreck, known as a national thought leader and key note presenter as the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), within the United States Department of Education. In August of 2013, LaBreck was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Commissioner of RSA. RSA was established to provide leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies providing vocational rehabilitation services (VR) to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence, and integration into the community and workforce.

  Under her leadership, LaBreck was responsible for promulgating the most substantive regulation changes to the Vocational Rehabilitation program in over 15 years. She began her 27-year career with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) where she served as Commissioner during the last six years of her appointment by Governor Patrick until her transition to Washington, D.C. She is also the recipient of numerous awards and honors including an Honorary Doctoral Degree from New England College of Optometry (NECO) for her innovative partnership which resulted in the establishment of a mobile eye care clinic for individuals with low vision conditions. In 2017, NECO dedicated the Janet L. LaBreck Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation clinic in her honor in recognition of her commitment and dedication to the field of blindness. Most recently, LaBreck has established Janet L. LaBreck Consulting LLC in addition to becoming the Founder of Synergy Consulting Partners.

  Abigail O’Connell

  Title of Presentation: The Impact of Paid Family and Medical Leave laws on Disability Insurance

  About the Presenter: Abigail O’Connell is senior counsel at Sun Life Financial, advising Sun Life’s Group & Voluntary business on legal issues related to the Sun Life Absence & Disability Management Solutions offered to employer Clients. She frequently speaks at industry conferences about legal and compliance issues related to absence management. Some of Abigail’s recent speaking engagements have included:

  • 2015, 2016 and 2017 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference
  • 2017 Greater Philadelphia Association of Health Underwriters Conference
  • 2018 Annual Association of Corporate Counsel Conference
  • 2019 Human Resource Management Association (HRMA) Paid Family and Medical Leave Panel

  She is a graduate of Colgate University and Suffolk University Law School.

  PLEASE REGISTER BY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019. 

  REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. PLEASE CONTACT Danielle_Brennan@GLIC.COM FOR LATE REGISTRATION AVAILABILITY.