For the month of October, we will be holding a special diversity, equity, and inclusion panel event with three fantastic guest speakers - we hope you'll be able to join us!
Wednesday, October 13th from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
14545 Bay Oaks Blvd, Houston, TX 77059
We will be meeting at Bay Oaks Country Club and lunch will be served.
There will also be a virtual presentation option (via Zoom) that will begin just before 12:00 pm for those of you who are unable to join us at Bay Oaks that day.
Registration
Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings, both in person and online!
For on-site luncheon, networking, and presentation at Bay Oaks:
- $60 Non-Member / Guest
- $50 TXBA SHRM Member
- $40 Student
Virtual event attendance through Zoom:
- $40 - Non-Member / Guest
- $35 - TXBA SHRM Member
Meeting Agenda
- 11:30-12:00pm - Lunch and Networking
- 12:00-12:30 - Leah Mouton Truscott, Sr. Manager, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion - McKesson
- 12:30-1:00pm - Benigno Aceves, TWC - Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- 1:00-1:30pm - Trisha Barita, Managing Attorney- Barita Law Firm
- 1:30-2:00pm - Panel discussion
SHRM & HRCI re-certification credits will be available for this event and will be shared with attendees after the meeting.
Topics
"Building a Meaningful DEI Program from the Corporate Perspective" with Leah Mouton Truscott
"Navigating The Workplace for People with Disabilities" with Benigno Aceves
"Racial/Gender Discrimination and Emerging Issues" with Trisha Barita
About the Speakers
Leah Mouton Truscott, Sr. Manager, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion - McKesson
Leah has held several roles in HR, Talent Management and DEI with McKesson Corporation, and is located in the Woodlands. She acts an internal consultant working to support business leaders, HR Business Partners and internal employee groups on all aspects of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the enterprise. She has spent the last 25+ years in Talent Management Employee and Organization Development including leading roles in Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership and Organizational Development, Performance Management, Employee Engagement, Succession Planning, Compensation and International mobility.
Leah sees her primary role as helping employees bring their best selves to work, and helping leaders effectively develop their own sills and the capabilities of their teams. She has a personal mission to help employees understand alignment with corporate goals, and reaching their highest potential. In particular, she has worked extensively to help women and people of color accelerate to leadership positions through training and development, has created mentoring and coaching programs, and created specific programs for high potential leaders.
Her previous work history has taken her from City Government, to Oil and Gas, Commercial Aviation, High Tech Software, Food Service, and Chemicals industries before joining McKesson. She has worked with employees at every level of the organization on various change and other organization-wide initiatives. She holds bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Organizational Communication and Behavior from Texas A&M University and a post-Graduate certification in Organizational Development from Georgetown University.
Outside of work, Leah is the Associate Chair with the Humble-Kingwood Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., secretary for her neighborhood HOA, and volunteers in and around the city of Houston. Leah enjoys time with friends, running 10k and half marathon races, is an award-winning baker and creative cook of Creole food. She and her husband John enjoy sharing time with their adult children and spoiling 2 young grandchildren.
Benigno Aceves, TWC - Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Benigno Aceves currently serves as Business Relations Coordinator for Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Gulf Coast Region. Benigno is responsible for assisting employers with the recruitment of qualified applicants with disabilities, conducting worksite assessments, job retention services and providing disability inclusion and awareness presentations. Benigno partners with businesses to develop work-based learning opportunities and customized training programming.
Benigno holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Houston-Downtown and has over 20 years’ experience in training and preparing individuals of all ages and disabilities for competitive employment.
Mr. Aceves is actively involved in the community serving as Vice Chair for the Houston Commission on Disabilities and Chair for its Employment Committee. Benigno has partnered on various employment focused projects and program initiatives with two Houston Mayors and six Directors/Interims for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. As a result, he was presented with the Mayor’s Disability Advocate of the Year Award and featured in Voyage Houston Magazine for his work and community involvement.
Trisha Barita, Managing Attorney - Barita Law Firm
Trisha Barita is a 16 year licensed practicing attorney in the area of Labor and Employment Law on the management side and Business law for entrepreneurs. She is the managing attorney of the Barita Law Firm with locations in downtown Houston and League City.
She works with her Clients to be their legal solutions partner by forming a long term relationship on matters in both consultation on business matters, policy development, handbook creation, audits of current employment practices from discipline through terminations, defense of workplace employee claims with government agencies as well as any litigation strategy.
Ms. Barita is also the podcast host of Legal Skinny and founder of LegalSkinny.com which provides solutions for Entrepreneurs and Company leadership. Her most recent popular podcast episodes which can be found on Apple podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Google podcasts include “Who doesn't love a Prankster,” “Beer, Guns & Trucks for Shots” and “Is work burnout real?”
In 2020, Ms. Barita and her legal skinny podcast were featured in Texas Lawyer, Business.com, Business News Daily and Authority Magazine.
When she is not working with Entrepreneurs, HR Professionals and Company Leaders, she enjoys participating in BBQ or Gumbo contests around Texas with her husband and spending time baking with her twin daughters.
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