The Becker Forum takes place next week on January 14 in Geneva, NY, just a day before the New York State Vegetable Growers Association’s Empire State Expo at the same location. Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Richard Ball, will open the Becker Forum.
BECKER FORUM AGENDA
8:30 Registration
8:50 Welcome and Introductions
Richard Stup, Director, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD)
8:55 Opening Remarks from NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball
9:00 Overview of the NYS Secure Choice Savings Program
Malissa Pilette-McClenon, Outreach Manager, Secure Choice Savings Program
9:30 Avoiding Fraud and Scams for Employees and Your Business
Kimberly Maercklein, Consumer Education Community Liaison, NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection
10:15 Break
10:25 Sponsor Spotlight: Jamaica Central Labour Organization
10:30 Union Organizing Update
Josh Viau, Partner, Fisher Phillips
11:30 Health Insurance Updates
Juan Saldana, Mobile Medical Program Coordinator, Finger Lakes Community Health
Hannia Vasquez, Finger Lakes Community Health
NYS Department of Health
12:15 Lunch
12:50 Fundraiser Presentation to Jamaica Central Labour Organization
1:00 H-2A Session 1: How NYS is Handling the Changes to H-2A
Melissa Buckley, NYSDOL Foreign Labor Certification Unit Supervisor
1:40 H-2A Session 2: National Insights and Updates on H-2A
Chris Schulte, Partner, Fisher Phillips
2:30 Break
2:45 Alternative Visas for Working in U.S. Agriculture
Alberto Peña Nava, Ph.D, CEO, Worldwide Workforce Procurement
Jill Gould, HaR-Go Farms
3:30 NYS Refundable Tax Credits for Farmers
Tim Pezzolesi, Director of Agricultural Development, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
Sara Carlson, Community Engagement Director and Manager of the Office of Professional Responsibility, NYS Department of Tax & Finance
Anna Shuknecht, Senior Loan Officer, Farm Credit East
4:15 Wrap Up and Evaluations
Richard Stup, Director, CAWD
Location: Jordan Hall, Geneva AgriTech
Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Registration remains open and right now, you can receive our special advanced registration rate of $90/person. The walk-in fee is $120 for day-of registrations.
The Becker Forum is brought to you by the NYS Vegetable Growers Association and the Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development team.
Learn more about the NYS Empire Expo here
