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SHELLY L. FREEMAN is the president of HROI, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the law firm of Lathrop & Gage LLP. HROI counsels and consults with employers on the full range of human resource issues, conducts independent investigations and provides dispute resolution services for harassment, discrimination and other serious employee complaints, and develops and conducts management and supervisory training on HR-related topics for companies throughout the country. Prior to launching HROI, Ms. Freeman was the director of Corporate and Field Human Resources for Payless Cashways, Inc., where she directed and supervised a full range of human resource functions for the manufacturing, distribution and retailing components of a 10,000+ employee workforce. Ms. Freeman practiced as a labor and employment lawyer for 11 years before taking the human resource director position. She now combines her 20 years of legal background and a practitioner's experience to assist companies with their HR challenges. She is a past president of the Human Resource Management Association of Greater Kansas City (SHRM-KC), an SHRM affiliate and Superior HR Merit Chapter. Ms. Freeman is a frequent speaker and trainer for several organizations, including the American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Missouri Bar, the Heartland Labor and Employment Law Institute, the University of Kansas School of Law, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and many private companies. PATRICK M. GAVIN is a partner in the Kansas City law firm of Husch Blackwell LLP, where he has more than 15 years experience successfully representing employers in administrative proceedings, litigation, jury trials, collective actions, arbitration, mediation, and appeals of matters involving discrimination, harassment or retaliation based on sex, race, religion, national origin, age, disability, military status, and claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-compete, and other employment agreements. Mr. Gavin also proactively counsels clients regarding a variety of employment issues ranging from hiring to discharge, including employment policies and handbooks; wage, hour and overtime exemptions and compliance; drug testing, non-solicitation and severance agreements; executive employment contracts; employee privacy, workplace violence; the FMLA; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act; the Warn Act; the National Labor Relations Act; union avoidance; and state laws across the country. He is certified as a mediator and meets the requirements under Missouri Rule 17. Frequently, Mr. Gavin has been asked to speak at local, regional, and national educational conferences for attorneys and human resource professionals. He has published numerous articles on a variety of employment issues. He also was voted as a 2007 Missouri & Kansas "Super Lawyer®" in the area of employment and labor. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Mr. Gavin earned his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He is a member of the American Bar Association, The Missouri Bar, the Kansas Bar Association, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (Chair, Labor & Employment Law Committee, 2009), and Defense Research Institute. NANCY M. LEONARD is a partner in the law firm of Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, where she represents management in cases involving claims of sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, disability, age, race, and sex discrimination and equal pay violations. She represents employers in state and federal courts, as well as before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and local administrative agencies. Ms. Leonard assists employers in problem prevention and legal analysis of complex employment issues. She frequently presents seminars and lectures on employment law issues. Ms. Leonard is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Illinois and Missouri. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia and her J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law. Ms. Leonard is a member of the American Bar Association (Employment Section), the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the Rotary Club. MEGAN WALAWENDER is an associate with Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, where her practice is devoted to representing employers in workplace matters. Ms. Walawender represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and in federal and state court. She has counseled employers on a variety of employment law and traditional labor subjects, including the FMLA, Title VII, NLRA, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and OSHA, as well as state and local employment laws. Ms. Walawender advises clients on how to avoid problems before they occur, proactively addressing issues to avoid litigation. This portion of her practice includes developing workplace policies and procedures and providing training for management, supervisors and employees. Ms. Walawender is a frequent presenter in Missouri and Kansas. She is a member of the Kansas and American bar associations, and The Missouri Bar. Ms. Walawender is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas. She earned her B.A. degree from Truman State University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Washburn University School of Law.
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