ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) and employer committees from the northwest Georgia area will co-sponsor a Business and Employer Summit Wednesday, May 7, in Cartersville. The summit will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Bartow-Cartersville Chamber of Commerce, 122 W. Main Street.

The summit is designed to help business leaders meet, understand, and conquer compliance challenges in the workplace. Northwest Georgia area business owners, managers, hiring professionals and supervisors will hear State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler and other experts discuss three of the top 10 issues facing the business community in today’s economic climate. Topics include the emerging workforce, unemployment insurance regulations, and healthcare compliance. Commissioner Butler will also provide updates on new legislation that could impact businesses in the upcoming year, as well as new GDOL initiatives.

“We took a look at the feedback from last year’s summits, and have put together an agenda that addresses the needs, concerns and questions of Georgia’s business professionals,” said Commissioner Butler. “These summits are designed not only to provide business professionals with expert advice on issues that have a major impact on them now, but they also provide a chance to network with employers and business owners from the nearby area.”

GDOL Employment and Training Consultant Cherry Rizer, who assists employers statewide in resolving unemployment insurance (UI) issues, will provide advice on best practices in UI claims and appeals representation. April Husted, of the Northwest Benefit Corporation, will discuss the impact of the Affordable Healthcare Act on employers in 2014 and beyond.

The northwest Georgia summit is one of several summits planned throughout Georgia over the next few months. For more information about the summit, or to register, contact Cathy Toles at 404-274-8687 or email cathy.toles@gaol.ga.gov.

Registration includes lunch provided by Chick-fil-A. If pre-registered, the cost to attend is $35 per person. If more than one person from an organization attends, the cost is $30 each. The cost at the door is $40 per person. Recertification credits (3.75) are pending through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).

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