General Session: Advocacy in Action - How to responsibly recruit, employ and retain individuals with criminal backgrounds at your organization
With passage of the SHRM-supported First Step Act, Congress sent a clear signal that employment of individuals with criminal records is a nonpartisan issue. Nearly 700,000 people are released from prison each year and are often locked out of the job market. Those who have served their time should not be overlooked by employers, especially when businesses are experiencing a human capital crisis. SHRM is continuing the momentum of the legislation with a nationwide call for business leaders and individuals to pledge to consider all qualified candidates. Join this session where representatives from Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation, one of the first companies to commit to inclusive hiring, shares their calling to demystify employment of people with criminal backgrounds. After listening to their origin story, you’ll hear from a host of experts that demonstrate the power, possibility and practicality of embracing this employment philosophy.
In this session, you will:
- Hear from an expert bench - addressing common concerns and misconceptions around hiring people with criminal backgrounds.
- Learn what you need to know about insurance, employment law, background screening and more.
- Interact with panel participants and HR professionals to address your questions and concerns.
Genevieve Martin
As the Executive Director of the Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation, Genevieve drives creation and growth of national efforts to expand employment opportunities for people with criminal backgrounds. On a given day you’ll find her sharing expertise with a group of hiring professionals, meeting with government agencies to advocate for hiring people with criminal backgrounds or collaborating with Second Chance Employers around the country to recruit more businesses into the fold. In addition to producing multiple Second Chance Summits around the country, she’s participated in the Center for American Progress and Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives task forces, presented at the Inc 5000, SXSW Interactive Festiva, Sustainable Brands, International Corrections & Prisons Association, partnered with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) to launch the Getting Talent Back to Work Toolkit, and joined hundreds of other companies across America on the Fair Chance Business Pledge and at the White House in 2016 and 2019.
Pamela Mack
Pamela Mack is an owner of the employment screening company, Occuscreen, LLC. Occuscreen has been helping employers nationwide make informed hiring decisions with FCRA-compliant background checks, verifications, and drug testing services since 1991. Pam has served on the Portland Human Resource Management Association Board of Directors for more than nine years and was president in 2015. She also volunteers with the Dave’s Killer Bread Second Chance Foundation.
Heidi Mason, SHRM-CP
Heidi Mason represents public and private organizations in employment and labor law matters at Innova Legal Advisors PC. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Mason worked as a human resources professional for mid-sized and large corporations. She has hands-on experience in recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, employee and labor relations, occupational safety, leaves of absence, payroll, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. Ms. Mason earned her bachelor's degrees in human resource management and general management from Portland State University and her J.D., cum laude, from Lewis and Clark College, Northwestern School of Law. She serves as a Workforce Readiness Co-Director for the Portland Human Resource Management Association and oversees the organization’s Second Chance activities and outreach efforts.