A customer feedback survey conducted in July 2023 revealed that employers and employees expressed interest in learning new skills, and in learning more about what DWS can offer. Our agency has divided these topics up into FREE monthly virtual training opportunities to help better inform and educate our customers. Please view the schedule below and register for any that interest you.
General Resources
Schedule
| Date | Time | Title | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Social Media Marketing 101 | Learn more | Watch now Handout Slides |
| Feb 13 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Tools for Lean Leadership | Learn more | Watch now Handout Slides |
| Mar 12 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Securing Success: Mastering Workers’ Compensation with Strategic Risk Management | Learn more | Watch now Slides |
| Apr 9 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Workers’ Compensation 101 | Learn more | Watch now Slides FAQ |
| May 7 | 11 a.m. – Noon | The Charge Processing System – EEOC & the State of Wyoming | Learn more | Register now |
| Jun 11 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Recruitment and Retention Strategies | Learn more | Register now |
| Jul 17 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Mental Health in the Workplace | Learn more | Register now |
| Aug 6 | 11 a.m. – Noon | UI 101: Unemployment Insurance Benefits | Learn more | Register now |
| Aug 20 | 11 a.m. – Noon | UI 101: Unemployment Insurance Registration and Reporting | Learn more | Register now |
| Sep 10 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Talk Saves Lives | Learn more | Register now |
| Oct 15 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Typical Security Practices to Add to Your Employee Manual | Learn more | Register now |
| Nov 19 | 11 a.m. – Noon | Registered Apprenticeship Programs of Excellence | Learn more | Register now |
| Dec | 11 a.m. – Noon | Coming Soon | Coming soon | Coming soon |
May
May 7, 2024, 11 a.m.
The Charge Processing System – EEOC & the State of Wyoming
Join us on May 7 for an informative discussion on the charge processing system between the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) & the State of Wyoming. Learn how discrimination charges are filed, navigate the investigation process, and explore options for mediation. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of workplace rights and processes. This presentation is free to the public, though registration is required.
Please note: DWS is unable to record this presentation.
Speaker(s)
Jason Delo
Jason has worked for the State of Wyoming as a Probation and Parole Officer, tasked with completing Pre-Sentence Investigation Reports for the courts, as well as pre-parole placement investigations. He began working as a Compliance Officer for Labor Standards in 2005 and also served as the Wyoming Department of Employment Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer for two years. Jason became the Lead Compliance Officer for Labor Standards in Cheyenne in 2009; served as the interim Program Manager in 2016 and again in 2017; and in 2020, Jason became the Program Manager for the Cheyenne office.
Dana Maestas
Dana has worked with the Casper Labor Standards office for the past 24 years, beginning as an Administrative Assistant. She has also been a Compliance Officer and Lead Compliance Officer and became the Program Manager for the Casper Office in 2020.
Patricia McMahon, Outreach and Education Program Coordinator, EEOC
Ms. Patricia McMahon serves as the Outreach and Education Program Coordinator for the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – Denver Field Office. In this role she serves as a speaker and panelist on technical aspects of EEOC’s policies and procedures.
Ms. McMahon serves as the Public Affairs Officer for the Denver Field Office. In this role, she oversees and coordinates message development, communications planning, and media relations, including all social media, for the EEOC – Denver Field Office.
Ms. McMahon serves as a trainer with the EEOC National Training Institute with special certification to provide training for EEOC’s Respect in the Workplace, a training program focused on respect, acceptable workplace conduct, and the types of behaviors that contribute to a respectful and inclusive workplace.
Ms. McMahon serves as the congressional liaison for the Denver Field Office. In this role, she interacts with Congressional representatives to facilitate communication between congressional constituents and the Denver Field Office, provides guidance on navigating the EEOC process, and assists Congressional offices with constituent inquiries.
Ms. McMahon serves as the Language Assistance Officer (LAO) for the Denver Field Office under the Language Access Plan which is overseen by the EEOC-Office of Federal Programs and the Small Business Liaison. Employers who have questions about the laws enforced by EEOC or about compliance with those laws in specific workplace situations may contact an EEOC small business liaison.
In January 2023, Ms. McMahon concluded her detail as the Region VIII Lead for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She remains active in the Regional Network serving as a liaison for the EEOC – Denver Field Office.
Ms. McMahon began her career with EEOC after graduating with honors from Metropolitan State University of Denver and is active with the alumni association.
In her spare time, Ms. McMahon enjoys writing. She is the author of two books. One is detective fiction and the other humor fiction.
Robin Campbell
Robin Campbell serves as the State, Local and Tribal Program Manager (SLCPM) for the Phoenix District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). As the SLCPM she is responsible for the Phoenix District’s State, Local and Tribal Program and liaison for Fair and Employment Practices Agencies (FEPA) in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, as well as 13 Tribal Employment Rights Organizations (TERO). In her position, Ms. Campbell is responsible for coordinating, assisting and providing guidance to FEPA and TERO on all activities relating to the investigations of employment discrimination. Ms. Campbell ensures that cases are investigated in accordance with acceptable investigative techniques and settled in accordance with EEOC standards and applicable laws. Before serving in this position, Ms. Campbell was an Investigator in the Phoenix District Office. As an Investigator, Ms. Campbell investigated individual and class complaints of employment discrimination. Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Campbell served 21 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 2008. She graduated from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2010 and earned a Master of Arts in Management from Wayland Baptist University in 2013.
Justin Moore
Justin Moore has been an employee with the EEOC since March 2009. He worked as a bilingual investigator from his date of hire until he became the intake supervisor (CRTIU) of the Denver Field Office in June 2023.
Justin enjoys his work with the EEOC feels strongly about the mission of the agency.
June
June 11, 2024, 11 a.m.
Recruitment and Retention Strategies
Employers often question how to recruit and retain the right employees. We know that hiring the right people for your business is crucial to its success! This presentation will focus on ways to analyze the existing skills in your organization and identify the gaps that you need to fill. This session talks about the role of recruitment and talent acquisition as well as how to incorporate professional development to retain your employees.
Speaker(s)
Brenda Reedy, MHRM
Human Resources Manager
Wyoming Judicial Branch
Over her twenty+ year career, Brenda Reedy is a strong Human Resources professional with a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General, from Colorado State University. Now the Human Resources Manager with the Wyoming Judicial Branch, Brenda has also worked as the Recruiting Manager and then the Human Resources Manager for the Wyoming Department of Corrections. She is skilled in Employee Relations, Coaching, Government, Law Enforcement, Policy Development and Public Speaking.
July
July 17, 2024, 11 a.m.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Description
Speaker(s)
Name
Bio
August
August 6, 2024, 11 a.m.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Description coming soon.
Speaker(s)
Name
Bio
August 20, 2024, 11 a.m.
Unemployment Insurance Registration and Reporting
Description coming soon.
Speaker(s)
Name
Bio
September
September 10, 2024, 11 a.m.
Talk Saves Lives
Please note: Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, this presentation will not be recorded.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosts a presentation on Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention, a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide.
Developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Talk Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention Education for Workplace Settings is a 60-minute education presentation for organizational leadership, managers/supervisors, and employees that can be delivered in person or via webinar.
Talk Saves Lives provides participants with the scope of the problem of suicide, key research findings, including risk factors and warning signs for suicide, along with recommendations for the role we can all play in suicide prevention.
Topics covered include:
- Scope of the Problem: The latest data on suicide in the U.S. and worldwide.
- Research: Information from the latest suicide prevention research.
- Risk Factors and Warning Signs: Information on health, historical, and environmental factors that put individuals at risk for suicide along with suicide warning signs.
- Prevention: An understanding of the protective factors that lower suicide risk, and strategies for managing mental health and being proactive about self-care.
Speaker(s)
Tracy Rassley
Tracy Rassley is the Programs Manager for the Montana and Wyoming Chapters of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. After twenty-four years as a paralegal and volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for almost seven years she has now been in her current position over a year. She has presented countless trainings for AFSP that include Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention, Supporting Those at Risk, It’s Real: Teens and Mental Health, and It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health. In addition, she is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer.
While Tracy strives to provide education and awareness to as many individuals as possible in whatever setting is available; her passion for education is particularly strong for teens and college students as she believes that the change in attitude we need regarding mental health will come from our youth.
Tracy is a loss survivor through the loss of her 19-year-old son, Patrick, in 2015. She is dedicated to helping others and is a certified support group facilitator and has facilitated a Parents of Suicide Support Group since 2017.
October
October 15, 2024, 11 a.m.
Typical Security Practices to Add to Your Employee Manual
With artificial intelligence tools, account takeover threats, in addition to protecting your company’s information, what do you need to put in your employee manual and how do you make it meaningful? Join us in looking at a fake HVAC company and take home ideas for your own employee manual, regardless of your industry. This presentation is free to the public; please register to participate.
Speaker(s)
Laura Baker, MBA, ARM, CISM
Co-Founder and Executive Director of CyberWyoming
President Emerita, CyberWyoming Alliance
Laura Baker runs two nonprofits, CyberWyoming and the CyberWyoming Alliance, which comprise multiple programs designed to help average citizens and Wyoming companies manage their security risks. Some of the business side programs include Wyoming’s Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses and an apprenticeship program for tech professions. Other citizen programs include a weekly publication called the Hacker’s Brief, Senior Fraud Alert Flyers, the annual cybersecurity conference, the Teens Exploring Careers Camp, and a school cyber safety video challenge.
November
November 19, 2024, 11 a.m.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs of Excellence
Description
Speaker(s)
Name
Bio
Archive
January 23, 2024
Social Media Marketing 101
DWS kicks off its new Virtual Training Series on Jan. 23 with a presentation on Social Media 101. This course is designed to provide an introduction to social media marketing for those who are new to the field. Attendees will learn the basics of setting goals and objectives, building a strong brand, understanding their target audience, and analyzing data to make informed decisions. The course will also cover important topics such as accessibility and monitoring current trends in the industry. Each topic is free to the public, though registration is required.
Speaker(s)
Erin Turbitt
Erin Turbitt is a marketing and communications professional living and working in Wyoming. Sure, it’s where the buffalo roam, and more often than not, the locals causing traffic jams are four-legged rather than four-wheeled, but that doesn’t mean it’s the middle of nowhere. Home to rolling prairie, stark deserts, mountains, rivers, and streams, Wyoming’s landscape is as varied as its people.
Erin’s focus areas lie in the public and private sectors, demonstrating a long history of success collaborating with multitudes of personalities. Now the Communications Lead with Wyoming’s Department of Workforce Services, Erin writes. A lot.
Tricia Mansfield
As a Senior Public Relations Specialist at the Department of Workforce Services, Tricia Mansfield brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to the table with her experience and educational background in communications and visual arts as well as a Master of Business Administration degree. In her role, Tricia is tasked with developing social media strategies, managing content creation, and fostering brand awareness. She has successfully launched outstanding social media campaigns and increased the department’s online presence. When she isn’t busy crafting campaigns, Tricia enjoys indulging in creative projects, exploring the natural beauty of her home state, and cherishing quality time with family and friends.
February 13, 2024
Tools for Lean Leadership
The second DWS Virtual Training Series offers “Tools for Lean Leadership” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13. This presentation will introduce participants to foundational concepts of Lean Thinking and Lean Leadership. Topics covered will include value vs. waste, the three roles of a Lean Leader, and the use of Lean Daily Management as a tool for change management and creating a culture of continuous improvement. While Lean Thinking was developed to improve manufacturing processes, the concepts apply to all business enterprises and can even be easily applied to daily personal activities. This presentation is free to the public, though registration is required.
Speaker(s)
Hans Ritschard
Hans Ritschard graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Chemistry degree, and then worked as a Polymer Chemist at General Electric for three years before completing his PhD in clinical psychology at Fuller Seminary. After graduate school, he joined the Air Force, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, along with two more master’s degrees in military leadership. He served for 23 years in Germany, England, Japan, Afghanistan, and all over the United States in various clinical and healthcare leadership positions. After three years as the Commander/CEO of the Medical Group here at FE Warren Air Force Base, he retired from the Air Force to join the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (CMRC) team. He is now the Director of Performance Improvement for CRMC, where he applies Lean thinking and methods to improve healthcare leadership, systems, and outcomes. He enjoys downhill skiing, backpacking, hiking, and the great Wyoming outdoors, along with his wife Carolyn, their six kids, and their families.
Tiff Sink
Tiff Sink is proud to be part of the Cheyenne community. She graduated from NC State University with two chemistry degrees before going on to get a Master of Science and a Master of Public Health in Nutrition from the University of North Carolina. Throughout graduate school she worked as an intellectual property analyst, mapping patent landscapes. Following graduation, she served as a food safety and sanitation consultant in over 30 food production plants in central California. In 2012, she moved to Cheyenne to work at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center as a clinical dietitian and has since moved into their Performance Improvement Department, where she is currently an analyst.
Tiff and her husband travel extensively throughout the US and have published travel guidebooks to the National Parks and Forests, and a road trip guide to America. They believe in the “happiness of pursuit” and are continually seeking new experiences. As they say, while they haven’t been everywhere, it is on their list!
March 12, 2024
Securing Success: Mastering Workers’ Compensation with Strategic Risk Management
During this presentation, you’ll discover the collaborative commitment of the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Workers’ Compensation Risk Management team as they strive to forge a strong partnership with your business. Gain insights into discount programs, base rates, Experience Modification Ratings (EMR), and an array of initiatives tailored for employers registered and in good standing with Workers’ Compensation. This informative presentation is your key to unlocking the full spectrum of benefits and resources available to safeguard your business and foster a thriving work environment. This presentation is free to the public, though registration is required.
Speaker(s)
Lauren White
Lauren, a Cheyenne native and graduate of Central High School, holds an Associate’s Degree in Health Sciences and a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology & Health Promotion from the University of Wyoming. Since 2014, she has been an integral part of the Department of Workforce Services, initially serving as a Claims Analyst for Workers’ Compensation. In November 2016, she earned a promotion to Risk Manager. In 2020, Lauren attained the Certified Risk Manager designation through the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Taking on the role of leading the Risk Management team in December 2021, her impact extends beyond her team as she actively contributes to various divisions within DWS. With a wealth of experience, Lauren stands as a valuable resource for employers in Wyoming, offering comprehensive insights and expertise in risk management and workplace safety.
Ricardo Lind-Gonzalez
Ricardo grew up in Casper, but he found his home and career in Cheyenne. Ricardo became a first-generation college graduate when he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming. He began with the Department of Workforce Services as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Analyst in March 2020 until he was promoted to Risk Manager in July 2022. As part of the Risk Management team, Ricardo manages the Deductible Program and the Student Learner Agreements. He is working toward becoming a Certified Risk Manager.
Mathieu Emerson
Mathieu, a Cheyenne native, has always had a passion to develop his education. He graduated from South High School in 2013 where he went on to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Wyoming in 2018. Mathieu’s journey with the Department of Workforce Services began in October 2022 as a Claims Analyst with Workers’ Compensation. In pursuit of finding his place with DWS, he was promoted in September 2023 to Risk Manager. His continued drive to learn and excellent aptitude for helping others, makes him a valuable asset to the Risk Management team and employers across Wyoming.
April 9, 2024
Workers’ Compensation 101
Workers’ Compensation 101 is a presentation every employer or business owner will want to see! The first half-hour covers Workers’ Compensation, including employer registration, when to report an injury, the injury reporting process including how to file a claim, compensability review, Temporary Total Disability, and light duty.
The second half-hour is an introduction to Workers’ Compensation Employer Services, and covers when and how to register your business, out-of-state employer information, extraterritorial coverage, how to report and pay premiums, and certificates of good standing. This presentation is open to the public, though registration is required.
Speaker(s)
Erica Pascoe
Erica is the Customer Service Advocate for Workers’ Compensation and has been with the Department of Workforce Services for 12 years. Starting as a claims analyst, Erica moved to her position as the Customer Service Advocate in 2021. Erica has lived in Wyoming since 2001 and has worked for the State since 2012.
Maria Barker
Maria has been with the Department of Workforce Services for almost 26 years, starting in the intake unit, moving to Provider Services, and then to Employer Services as an accounts receivable specialist. She became the Employer Services Manager in May of 2022. She was born in Colorado but has lived in Wyoming since 1981. She is married and has two children, one granddaughter, and two dogs.