This blog post of NILG 2013 Conference activities will be updated daily, with the most current activity listed at the top. Please enjoy the conference highlights as seen through the eyes and ears of the BCG staff in attendance.

August 2, 2013
(Day 4: Friday’s Keynote Speaker)

Friday’s Keynote Speaker, Donna Brazile

August 1, 2013
(Day 3: Final Exhibit Hall Networking Day)

We bid you adieu from the exhibit hall. There’s one more day of conference sessions tomorrow, and then we’ll work on sending out a more in-depth recap report of the valuable sessions we attended.

Jena Vue, Nancy Owen Tipton, Heather Patchell, and Sa Lam thank everyone for stopping by the Biddle booth! See you next year.

(Day 3: Sessions)

EEOC Enforcement: Recent Trends
presenters: Cara Crotty and Sylvia Smith, Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP

Fiscal Year 2012 Statistics

• Record $365.4 mil through administrative enforcement
• $44.2 mil through litigation
• 99,412 charges filed
• 111,139 charges resolved
• Backlog reduced to 70,312
• 122 lawsuits filed

Tests, Tests, and More Tests?
panelists: John Arnold, Wayne State University; Dr. Dan Biddle, Biddle Consulting; Dr. Richard Tonowski, EEOC

Dan Biddle, Ph.D. (BCG; speaking), flanked on either side by John Arnold (Wayne State University) and Dr. Richard Tonowski (EEOC)

Welcome Address
presenter: Victoria Lipnic, EEOC Commissioner

Thursday’s Welcome Address Speaker, Victoria Lipnic, EEOC Commissioner

July 31, 2013
(Day 2: Sessions)

The OFCCP Panel
contributors: Marika Litras, Deputy Director, Division of Program Operations; Michele Hodge, Regional Director – Mid Atlantic; Bradley Anderson, Regional Director – Midwest; and Lauren Hicks, District Director – Indianapolis

Session Recap (stay tuned for a more in-depth review of some of the 2013 ILG Conference sessions)

Topics covered:

• Best Practices
• Compensation
• CSALs
• Negative Trends
• Record Retention

News Flash!

OFCCP Midwest Regional Director, Bradley Anderson, announced the completion of the new Federal Contract Compliance Manual (FCCM) to be released “in the next few months.”

Experts Talk about Real Audits: The Bad & the Ugly
presented by: Jon Geier, Paul Hastings LLP and Valerie Hoffman, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Session Recap (stay tuned for a more in-depth review of some of the 2013 ILG Conference sessions)

How to engage with the OFCCP:

• Show RESPECT
• Build relationship with ILG to get to know regional directors and COs
• It is critical to maintain communication with the district, set reasonable timerframe, and show progress.
• Meet expectations; don’t over-promise and under-deliver

How to get audit-ready:

• Biggest audit mistakes are made in prepping and scrubbing data; go in as complete as possible
• Maintain good records
• Contact a qualified vendor (consultant, attorney, etc.) as soon as you receive an audit letter, don’t wait!

(Day 2: Opening Ceremony / Opening Day)

The 2013 ILG National Conference is off to an exciting start. The Opening Ceremony featured OFCCP Director, Pat Shiu, and there’s a full day of sessions and exhibit hall activity slated.

Pat Shiu at the 2013 ILG National Conference Opening Ceremony

Keynote speaker, Josh Bleill

July 30, 2013
(Day 1: Networking)

The exhibit hall is open at the NILG 2013 Conference in Indianapolis. Drop by, if you’re at the conference, and say, “Hi!,” to the team.

Nancy Owen Tipton, Heather Patchell, Sa Lam, and Jena Vue connecting with attendees at Biddle’s NILG booth during the evening reception.

(Day 1: All Work, Then Play!)

After Patrick’s morning EEO Bootcamp session, the BCG crew decides to take in the full Indianapolis experience by going cart racing with some fellow adrenaline junkies.

Bev Freeman (Consultant), Patrick Nooren (BCG), Cindy Reeves (Oldcastle), and Jeff Davies (BCG) hit the track in Indy with a little cart racing. Results: Jeff took the crown by a mere 0.3 seconds.

(Day 1: Pre-Conference Sessions)

The Building Blocks of Affirmative Action in Construction
presenters: Naomi Hackenberg and Jill Smith, Workplace HR

Session Recap (stay tuned for a more in-depth review of this and other 2013 ILG Conference sessions)

An introduction to the 16 Affirmative Action Steps for construction contractors, including practical tips for compliance in the field and in the office.

Biddle Consulting Group’s own Patrick Nooren, Ph.D., and Dan Biddle, Ph.D., presented their EEO Analysis Bootcamp to a standing-room-only audience Tuesday morning at the 2013 NILG conference in Indiana.

Patrick Nooren, Ph.D. (BCG) presenting his EEO Bootcamp Session 1. Topics covered included: Incumbency vs. Availability and Conducting Adverse Impact Analyses

Dan Biddle, Ph.D. (BCG) presenting EEO Bootcamp Session 2

July 29, 2013
(behind the scenes)

A lot of work goes into the preparation of the ILG National Conference. Volunteers are working hard, behind the scenes, before attendees start arriving in Indianapolis, Indiana this week.

The bags that attendees receive at the NILG Conference are packed full of useful information. Open it up. See what’s inside. (Hint: the new issue of EEO Insight)

Also happening before the conference…a little visiting amidst all the work.

Jena Vue (BCG and NILG Speaker Handler Committee Team Lead), Hwei Jen (Cummins), and Martha Heady-Messman (Cummins) find a little time to visit before the ILG National Conference begins on Tuesday, July 30.