Sessions
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025
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Welcome, State of SWACC
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Join us for a look at SWACC’s accomplishments and a preview of its exciting future providing best practices and resources to California community colleges.
Ann-Marie Gabel, Vice Chancellor of Business Services at South Orange County Community College District (SWACC President)
Colleen Bjerknes, SWACC JPA Manager at Keenan
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Legislative Update
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
During this session we will discuss new laws going into effect in 2025 and how California community colleges can prepare. Additionally, the presenters will provide some insight on the newly elected legislature and what they may be focused on in the coming year.
Amy Brandt, Partner at Liebert Cassidy and Whitmore
Andrew Martinez, Senior Director of Government Relations at Community College League of California
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Break
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Humans Say the Darndest Things! But…Is It Protected Speech or Unlawful Conduct?
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This session will discuss the difficult dilemmas districts consistently face when assessing whether statements (and complaints based on statements) constitute lawful protected speech or should be pursued as a violation of district policy and/or law. When the rhetoric ramps up, districts must be both thoughtful and diligent in making lawful determinations. Attorney Mark Bresee will discuss what the law says and how districts should be examining these matters prior to taking any action.
Cindy Vyskocil, Vice Chancellor, Human Resources at South Orange County Community College District
Mark R. Bresee, Partner at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
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Lunch
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Cyber Threat Landscape
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
The cyber threat landscape is shifting rapidly as generative AI and other emerging risks pose a significant threat to public education institutions. The FBI warns that criminals are actively utilizing GenAI to facilitate financial fraud across a variety of methods, and OpenAI recently published reports showcasing how nation-state threat actors are actively exploiting platforms like ChatGPT to advance malicious campaigns.
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In this session, we’ll go behind the curtain to explore how cyber-criminal syndicates, nation-states and hacktivists are utilizing the dark web, artificial intelligence, native speakers and open-source platforms to increase the stakes and maximize their nefarious potential.
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Jessica Blushi, Vice President of Property & Casualty Marketing at Keenan
Israel Class, Chief Technology Officer at Palo Verde College
Tim Femister, Managing Principal at Firestorm Global LLC
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Risk Happens: Contract Smarter, Not Harder
2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This presentation will explore key concepts of risk transfer via contracts focusing on using these tools to protect colleges from potential liabilities. It will highlight the critical roles of indemnification and insurance tailored for colleges. Attendees will gain insights into aligning risk management practices with legal contract language in an effort to maintain safety on campus and limit financial exposures.
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Meredith E. Brown, Partner at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
Nicole Fayaz, Director of Account Management at Keenan
Randy Parent, Of Counsel at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
Jaime Ruggles, Associate Vice Chancellor, Finance at Los Rios Community College District
Kaitlyn Sherer, Confidential Administrative Assistant at Los Rios Community College District
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Break
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Supporting Supervisors in Their Role in Workplace Violence Prevention
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Most colleges are aware of the requirements of SB-553 and have provided general workplace violence prevention training to their employees. However, there’s a key element between these two core components in a District’s overall efforts to prevent and respond to workplace violence – the role of the supervisor. This session will help connect the dots between the roles and responsibilities that supervisors have in preventing workplace violence, the support and resources they need to be effective in that role, and the nuances we need to be cognizant of regarding protecting them from workplace violence as well.
Duetta Wasson, Director of Safety and Risk Management Administrative Services at Mt. San Antonio College
Eric Preston, Senior Vice President of Property & Casualty at Keenan
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Adjourn
5:00 p.m.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025
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Employment Practice Liability (EPL)…Were Talking About This Again!
(Workshop)
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Employment Practices Liability (EPL) claims and lawsuits against SWACC members have seen an increase over the years, positioning them as the leading cost driver in areas such as Performance Management, Supervisory Investigations, and Wrongful Termination. SWACC is committed to supporting its members in effectively preventing and mitigating these claims.
This workshop will focus on the latest resources provided by SWACC to help address these growing concerns. We will also explore the common obstacles that colleges face in managing EPL risks and engage in discussions to identify potential solutions for enhancing the prevention and mitigation of these claims.
Colleen Bjerknes, SWACC JPA Manager at Keenan
Dennis Walsh, Esq., Attorney at Walsh & Associates, APC
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General Wrap-Up & Adjourn
12:00 p.m.
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