Saturday January 28, 2006
Career Transition Conference Details

Topics and Speakers Subject to Change

Program Overview

Synopsis:
30-Year HR veteran Richard Katz will provide an overview of the day's events and present a look into the future of the labor market and its impact on the Seasoned Professional.

Richard Katz Bio:
Following a successful corporate career as Director of Human Resources for Bullock’s Department Stores, and management consultant with Ernst & Young, Mr. Katz founded Human Resource Marketing Services, Inc. Under his leadership, HRMS created many innovative, technology-driven employment services. In the late 80’s, HRMS created the first half-hour, regularly scheduled employment TV program, Meet Your Next Employer. In 1993, HRMS launched its government services division, designing and managing job training and placement programs. In 2000, HRMS created Dot.com Job Search, an online and classroom course on Internet job searching. More recently, HRMS launched, www.seasonedpro.com, a new service dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of educated, Seasoned Professionals facing career development and transition challenges. Mr. Katz holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UCLA and an M.A. in Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota.

9:30 – 10:30 am

Keynote Speaker: Map Your Road To Stardom Larry Thompson, Author of SHINE: A Powerful 4-Step Plan For Becoming A Star In Anything You Do

Synopsis:
Are you following your bliss or are you following your opportunities? Are you growing or just growing older? Do your regrets outnumber your dreams? Are you in transition? Are you a Star at what you do? Why do some people always seem to grab the limelight, land the best jobs, and "Shine" in everything they do? Is it something that anyone can do? Yes, says Larry Thompson, a leading Hollywood film producer and personal manager to over 200 Stars. Stars aren’t simply born – they explode into existence. And you don’t have to be in the movies to be a Star. No matter who you are or what you do, you have unique Talents, a special "Star Quality," and opportunities for success. But to unlock your Star potential, you need to shine a light on yourself and your dreams—using methods that have worked for countless celebrities. The inspiring examples and true Hollywood stories in this life-changing speech illuminate the four essential and attainable elements you need to become a Star in any area of your life. In Mapping Your Road To Stardom, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify Your Talent: Stars must unlock their natural born gifts, and then match them with their opportunities.
• Summon Your Rage: Stars have an absolute, tunnel vision, maniacal focus on fulfillment and success.
• Assemble a Team: Every Star has a Team of supporters including mentors, professionals, role models, motivators, and reality checkers.
• Learn To Be Lucky: Stars must create the elements of Luck they can control, and identify and act quickly on “chance occurrences” they cannot control.

Based on his best-selling book SHINE: A Powerful 4-Step Plan For Becoming A Star In Anything You Do, Larry helps you find the stardust within you and inspires you to reach your personal stardom.

Larry Thompson Bio:
Larry Thompson is an acclaimed Hollywood Film Producer and Personal Manager to over 200 Stars. As a motivational speaker and author, Thompson consistently appears on National and International Television shows such as Dr. Phil, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Insider, E! Entertainment, Fox News Live, as well as Good Morning TV London. Thompson’s best-selling book, SHINE: A Powerful 4-Step Plan For Becoming A Star In Anything You Do, served as the catalyst for Project RISE and SHINE, an organization he founded whereby successful stars use their power of celebrity to uplift and motivate others to become stars in their own lives www.ProjectRiseandShine.com.

"You don’t have to be in the movies to be a Star," says Thompson. "To be fulfilled and Star in anything you do in life is a skill you can learn. I believe there is a beauty and uniqueness in each individual, and I have always wanted to help people from all walks of life find the Stardust in themselves. It is always there. That's the purpose of my book and motivational speaking."

Thompson clients have included Drew Barrymore, Cindy Crawford, William Shatner, Barry White, Shannen Doherty, Mariska Hargitay, Iman, and Cher. Voted "Showman Of The Year" in 1998 by the U.S. Television Fan Association, Thompson has produced 17 movies for television, including the highly acclaimed ABC world premiere movie, "And The Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story," 5 motion pictures, 2 television series, 3 television specials, and various series pilots. Thompson received the industry’s prestigious Vision Award and his productions have received nominations for 8 Emmys, 2 Prism Awards, and a Golden Globe. He is perennially listed in Who's Who In America and Who's Who In The World. Thompson, his wife, Kelly, their daughter, Taylor, and son, Trevor, live in Beverly Hills, California. For more information visit: www.LarryThompsonOrg.com.

Synopsis:
Your skills, aptitudes and work experience: all valuable attributes that make you unique. We pay premiums for quality brands everyday… you too can be worth a premium to your current or future employer if positioned correctly. Learn why and how to brand yourself - for success in your professional life. Lead by Sasha Strauss, awarded university lecturer on branding and a brand strategy consultant for companies like Yahoo! and Adobe.

Previously, Sasha was a Senior Brand Strategy Consultant at Siegel & Gale, where he developed and managed international strategic branding programs. He was the client partner on all global Yahoo! brand programs while also leading initiatives for TiVo, BMC Software, Microsoft and Adobe Systems.

Before joining Siegel & Gale, Sasha worked at RiechesBaird Advertising as a Brand Planner, responsible for authoring strategic marketing and communications business plans for a varied clientele like Edwards Life Sciences and Toyota Industrial.

Synopsis:
Interested in putting your hard-earned skills to use to help other people or to advance the public good? If you want to learn about working or volunteering in the nonprofit sector, then this breakout session is for you. A senior executive from a major Los Angeles civic organization will provide an overview of this industry, the culture of the non profit / philanthropic sector, where your corporate skills will fit, compensation trade-offs, and how to find the right opportunity.

Linda Fowells Bio:
Linda Fowells herself made the career transition from corporate to community, and hasn't looked back. She is currently Vice President, Programs and Public Affairs at Community Partners®, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating ideas into action for the public good. In this capacity, Linda oversees Community Partners' programmatic work, directs Community Partners' communications efforts, builds strategic partnerships and fosters the sustainable growth of community initiatives. She also writes and speaks publicly about civic engagement, organizational effectiveness and technology in community settings. Linda has many years of nonprofit management and consulting experience, in areas such as organizational capacity, program development and planning, leadership development, financial oversight, and resource development. Before taking the leap, Linda worked in the banking industry, and has an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School. She has served as a board member and advisor to many organizations, helping to build her vision of a greater civil society.

10:45 – 11:45 am	Breakout Session #1, Topic 3
	How to Communicate Effectively to Succeed in Your Career and in Your Life Speaker: Ronald A. Kaufman, Master Certification in NLP

Synopsis:
One of the most important skills that determine the quality of our lives, whether we succeed or fail, is the ability to communicate effectively. In this interactive presentation, you’ll gain proven, easy-to-use tools and techniques on how to communicate effectively, that you can put to use immediately. You’ll learn how to: eliminate miscommunication, set goals, reframe rejection into reality, replace negative forms of expression with positive alternatives, and increase your persuasiveness. Whether it’s a job interview, promoting a product, or making a speech, these methods will improve the results that you can produce, now!

Ronald A. Kaufman Bio:
Ronald A. Kaufman is a seminar leader, executive coach, and author specializing in communication skills and goal setting. Since 1987, he has been conducting workshops on public speaking, selling skills, negotiation, media skills, job interviewing, motivation, time management, team building, and stress management. He works with clients such as Texas Instruments, Nissan, Dole Foods, News Corp., Sheraton Hotels, Nestle, Xerox, IBM, Baxter International, and Microsoft. Prior to becoming a consultant, Ron was a stockbroker and then became involved in various aspects of the entertainment industry. Ron graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Marketing. In addition, he has a Master Certification in NLP, is a certified trainer in Presentation Skills, and the author of Anatomy of Success.

The process is unlike what you’ve been taught to do. It is about finding your way through a maze of new options and staying ahead of the revolutionary impacts of technology, the globalization of the workforce shifts in the economy or other dramatic realities of marketplace change. It is not about resumes and endless networking. It is not about knocking on doors that, once open, are now closed because of changes in the marketplace.

Whether you are employed, or unemployed, today… chances are that, like the average professional, you will be faced with the challenge of managing your work life in a future that includes a much longer life span and many more changes than your experience suggests.

Carleen MacKay Bio:
Carleen has contributed to the development and delivery of numerous career transition and career management services on behalf of Spherion and, previously, for another internationally recognized career management firm. She has configured services for employers seeking customized programs to meet their unique business needs, authored career-related training materials for worldwide clients for use on 5 continents and in over 200 locations, and served global clients where her fluency in conversational Spanish proved to be an asset to various stages of service delivery. Her earlier career, as an executive in the technology and manufacturing sectors, as well as her business ownership of an early Human Resources outsourcing company, prepared her to contribute to small or mid-sized companies as well as to an array of Spherion clients in Fortune 100 to Fortune 1000 firms.

Brad Taft Bio:
Brad has over 25 years experience in the recruiting and outplacement fields and is president of the Taft Resource Group, which provides career management services to executives and professionals. His early career was in executive recruiting with firms including Korn/Ferry International, and in the outplacement industry he held senior level consulting, management and marketing positions with three national firms and his own company, Career Transition Group, Inc. He has written numerous articles and has been quoted in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Money, Los Angeles Times and the Employment Law Letter. He has co-authored Boom or Bust!: Career Management Guide for Baby Boomers and Beyond, which is being published in the fall of 2005. Brad received a B.A. in Communications and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Synopsis:
As the commander of the largest Sheriff’s Department in the United States, as well as Director of Homeland Security for California Region I, serving 13 million people, Sheriff Baca will share how pro-active and progressive problem solving skills can help Seasoned Professionals make more effective career and work/life decisions and inspire us to move forward with a positive attitude.

Sheriff Leroy Baca Bio:
Sheriff Baca commands the largest Sheriff’s Department in the United States. He supervises over 15,000 sworn and professional staff. The Sheriff’s Department is the law enforcement provider to 41 incorporated cities, 90 unincorporated communities, 9 community colleges, and hundreds of thousands of daily commuters of the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Rapid Rail Transit District.

The Sheriff’s Department also protects 58 Superior Courts and 600 bench officers. Moreover, the Department manages the Nation’s largest local jail system housing over 20,000 prisoners. Sheriff Baca is the Director of Homeland Security-Mutual Aid for California Region I, which includes the County of Orange. Region I serves 13 million people.

Sheriff Baca earned his Doctorate of Public Administration Degree from the University of Southern California. He is a life member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, USC Chapter. A strong advocate of education, he developed the LASD University in conjunction with five universities where over 900 members of the Department are enrolled in Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programs. Sheriff Baca was re-elected in March, 2002 with over 72 percent of the vote. He entered the Sheriff’s Department on August 23, 1965. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.

Synopsis:
The first step in planning a successful career transition is gaining an understanding of the skills you possess which have contributed to your success and satisfaction as well as those that create burnout. Ideally, you want to select a future path that capitalizes on your “Motivated Skills” while minimizing your “Burnout Skills.” Having competency in something isn’t enough. If your responsibilities encompass too many skills that you excel at but don’t enjoy, it is unlikely that you will experience satisfaction.

Richard Knowdell Bio:
During a thirty year career, Dick Knowdell established one of North America's first successful corporate career development programs, instituted an internal employee assistance program, directed a Silicon Valley corporate training and employee development department, established an executive outplacement consulting firm and served as an executive coach. Dick is the President of Career Research & Testing, Inc., author of Building a Career Development Program: Nine Steps for Effective Implementation (1996) and co-author of From Downsizing to Recovery: Strategic Transition Options for Organizations and Individuals (1994). Knowdell teaches courses in Career Assessment Techniques at the University of California, San Diego and Employee Career Development Techniques to human resource professionals at San Jose State University. He is a member of the Board of Examiners of the United States Foreign Service. He has developed four popular career assessment instruments that have been translated into Russian, Spanish, German, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish, French, Vietnamese and Islandic. In 1979 he founded the Career Planning & Adult Development Network and has edited their Newsletter and Journal. Dick is a past president of both the California Career Development Association (CACD) and the Silicon Valley Chapter of the International Association of Career Management Professionals (IACMP).

Synopsis:
When, how, and why should you work with a headhunter? Learn what a search consultant can and cannot do for you, how to locate and select the best recruiter to help you achieve your particular career goals, and how to maximize that relationship. Two experienced headhunters will present specific strategies for getting the most out of working with a search consultant at every step of the job search process.

Valerie Fontaine Bio:
Valerie is a partner in Seltzer Fontaine Beckwith, a legal search firm based in Los Angeles, placing attorneys with law firms, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and corporate law departments. She consults regarding career and practice development and the elimination of bias in the workplace. Valerie has been a search consultant since 1981, after two years in the litigation department of a major Los Angeles law firm. Valerie earned her JD from Hastings College of the Law in 1979 and her undergraduate degree from UCLA magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in 1976. She has published numerous articles including a monthly employment column which appeared in the Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal. Her first book, The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers, will be published in December 2005 by the National Association of Law Placement.

Roberta Kass Bio:
Roberta is a search consultant with Seltzer Fontaine Beckwith and has over 20 years of recruiting experience on behalf of corporations, law firms and non-profits. She received her BA, Phi Beta Kappa, from UCLA in 1975 and is a 1979 graduate of the JD/MBA program at UCLA School of Law/Anderson. She practiced corporate law with a Los Angeles law firm and in-house with a corporation, and served as the assistant to the president/chairman of the board of a publicly held company. Roberta currently serves on the Alumni Board of the UCLA Anderson School of Management and is active with the UCLA School of Law, where she is a former chair of the Dean’s Annual Fund.

Both Valerie and Roberta speak regularly before audiences such as students, alumni associations, and professional organizations regarding job search and career development issues and have participated in UCLA Career Services programs at the undergraduate, law school and business school levels.

Synopsis:
Staying career fit means recognizing the signals of change and being well prepared to move in new directions. These are basic survival skills for today’s work world. We will explore the changing work environment, and how to effectively manage career progression and transitions. This includes discovering what really goes on in an organization or department so you can determine fit, and getting a running start in a new position.

Ron Elsdon Bio:
Ron Elsdon brings a wealth of experience to organizational consulting and individual career counseling and coaching. Ron is a founder of Elsdon Organizational Renewal, which focuses on enhancing organizational performance, productivity and effectiveness through revitalized workforce relationships, and New Beginnings Career and College Guidance, which provides caring and personalized help to individuals and families in career guidance, coaching and college planning. Ron led practices for major human resource consulting firms in supporting organizations in improving workforce and leadership effectiveness and senior executives in transition, and has held senior leadership positions in various sectors. Ron and his co-author were awarded the Walker prize by the Human Resource Planning Society for the paper that best advances state-of-the-art thinking or practices in human resources. Ron recently completed the book “Affiliation in the Workplace: Value Creation in the New Organization” published by Greenwood (2003). Ron is an adjunct faculty member at John F. Kennedy University and has been on the adjunct faculty of Santa Clara University and affiliated with Vanderbilt University. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University, a Master’s degree in Career Development from John F. Kennedy University, and a first class honors degree in Chemical Engineering from Leeds University.

Synopsis:
Learn from experts as they discuss the most effective methods for buying and/or starting up entrepreneurial ventures. The discussion will include how to decide if entrepreneurship is right for you, identifying and choosing a franchise, selecting and doing the best due diligence when buying an existing business and achieving an effective business start-up.

Paul Casey Bio:
Author and successful entrepreneur, Paul E. Casey, is the CEO of Casey Communications, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Seattle, Washington. He has recently published the critically-acclaimed, forward-thinking new book, "Is Self-Employment for You?" which has been featured in such top-tier media as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Newsday. He has also appeared in interviews on ABC News, CBS Radio, First Business, and WGN Chicago discussing the un-conventional business wisdom presented in "Is Self-Employment for You?" Prior to founding Casey Communications, Casey worked in state government office as community affairs director for a commission that reported directly to the governor. He later served as an account executive at a mid-sized public relations firm before going on to becoming the public affairs manager for a transit project which eventually led to the construction of the tunnel that runs under downtown Seattle. In 1985 Casey became the first executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western Washington, where he increased revenues by more than $490,000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Washington State University.

Synopsis:
Several Seasoned Professionals will discuss their transition career successes. Audience members will relate to the panelists stories as they describe how they navigated their transitions, including approaches, strategies and techniques.

Susan Dearing Bio:
Susan joined UCLA Anderson in July 2004, assuming the new position of Associate Director, EMBA and Alumni Career Services. In her role, she is creating a range of new career services and resources for both the Executive MBA students and UCLA Anderson Alumni, and is part of the Parker Career Management Center counseling staff. Prior to joining UCLA Anderson, Susan was a consultant for 14 years in the Los Angeles office of Drake Beam Morin, an international executive outplacement firm, where she worked extensively with individual executives in career transition from Fortune 500 companies. Susan began her career as a student dean at Pomona College, where she worked in Career Planning and Placement and was Director of the Student Business Internship Program. Additional positions include work at Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. as Manager of Training and Development, and Glendale Federal Bank, where she created and implemented a company-wide career development program.

Susan received her Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education Administration from Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, CA, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA.

Success Panelist

Barbara Voigt Bio:
Barbara spent 22 years on the fast track in sales and held senior management positions for several high tech companies. She left the corporate world in 2003 and searched for a new life in the 'second half'. In March of 2005, she started her own business based on her core competency building winning teams. Voigt & Associates, Inc. has developed a number of clients and created a reliable network of business associates, all referral based. Within a few short months of start up, several high level sales people were placed in five different client companies and the prospects are overwhelming!

Success Panelist

Jutta Ruehl Bio:
Jutta Ruehl has extensive background as an Executive Assistant in the Corporate Banking industry. For 17 years she has worked for several Executive Managing Directors and Branch Managers of leading German Banks in Los Angeles. Prior to this she managed her own automobile import/export business and is now employed by a leading real estate investment banking affiliate, supporting three Senior Managing Directors in their effort to raise equity.

Irene Wood Bio:
Irene has recently joined Wescom Credit Union as the Manager, Wescom University. Irene is leading the Training and Development function for over 800 employees in a growing organization. In her new role Irene is serving, teaching, leading and coaching with great energy and enthusiasm. Irene has a degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and has successfully transitioned several times in her career. Irene has held roles including; Account Executive, Sales Manager, Training Manager, and Career Transition Consultant. She has worked for General Motors, Southern California Gas Company, DBM and as an independent consultant. Irene is also proud of supporting her husband in launching his new businesses, the Fine Artist Factory in Pasadena.