Stories give people context on a journey – from hero stories, to romance, drama, adventure. This week we get to listen to the story of how Annmarie Lanesey started her career, then transitioned into the world of a special non-profit that’s blossoming with needs and calls from around the state and beyond. Learn about the CanCode communities, and how their impact has been felt from around the region – and in many cases, being a life changing path to career happiness.

Bio

Serial entrepreneur, front end developer, Agile project manager and artist, Founder Annmarie Lanesey operates on the conviction that industry, commerce, and human creativity thrive best where economic and cultural barriers to human development are addressed directly. In her capacity as CEO of custom software developer Greane Tree Technology, her successful hire of a fully self-taught Ruby on Rails developer inspired the vision of Albany Can Code. Annmarie is tireless in working to grow the region’s software sector, and to extend software and IT training opportunities to everyone who has aptitude for this work.  

If there were any specific organizations you thought of which need a little extra buzz, please let us know, but mostly our information will point back to CanCode - so maybe a list of the various locations would be nice to have in the show notes. 

Contact Info

Annmarie Lanesey, CanCode Communites 
[email protected] 
cancode.org

CanCode Communities:  

Albany: https://albanycancode.org/ 

Appalachia: https://cancode.org/appalachia/ 

Berkshires: https://cancode.org/berkshires/ 

Mohawk Valley: https://cancode.org/herkimer/ 

New Americans: https://cancode.org/new-americans/ 

NYC: https://cancode.org/new-york/ 

Saratoga: https://cancode.org/saratoga/ 

Western NY: https://cancode.org/jamestown/ 

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What was your first career? You’ll NEVER guess Joanmarie’s.  We were blown away and you will be too. Tune in as we talk about things going on in the employment law landscape, as well as what Joanmarie has experienced with her businesses (related to the HR community). Yes, we’re old pals who’ve seen a lot together, but we promise you’ll enjoy the stories we’re about to get into.

Bio

Joanmarie quickly learned that the most interesting legal work of all is employment law - and she’s never looked back. In starting her own practice in 2010, Joanmarie combined her passion for employment law with her enthusiasm for technology, efficiency, and collaboration. Dowling Law is (nearly) a paperless office.

Joanmarie advises and represents for-profit and not-for-profit employers of all sizes in a variety of labor and employment matters, including screening and hiring, discrimination and harassment, reasonable accommodations, leave management, unionization and labor relations, wage and hour, and discipline and discharge. 

Dowling Law focuses on being preventative: creating solid handbooks, policies, and procedures, training managers and supervisors, and strategizing on employee relations in a way to reduce the risk of legal liability.   

Joanmarie’s goal - whether presenting before an audience or speaking with a client - is to make employment law accessible. Not to brag, but she was once described as “making wage/hour presentations as tolerable as possible.” (Pretty high praise, right?)  She is a frequent presenter and writer on a variety of employment issues.  

In addition to proactive counseling, Joanmarie also conducts workplace investigations on a wide array of legal or policy violation allegations, including workplace discrimination and harassment, code of conduct or ethical violations, bullying, or other alleged misconduct. Joanmarie is a trained investigator and member of the Association of Workplace Investigators.

From the Podcast

Shari Harley is a great start for HR professionals looking to coach supervisors on providing just-in-time feedback. We're huge Shari Harley fans, so we recommend you visit her YouTube channel where she has videos that anyone can use to get started on better feedback discussions. 

And, we can't not include a Ted Lasso clip. In this scene, Ted is working with his assistant coach when Nate, the kit man, comes into the office to take out the trash. While this scene is accessible to anyone, you have to watch the series to really understand the complexities of the relationship between Ted and Nate! 

Contact Info

Joanmarie M. Dowling, Esq. 
Managing Member, Dowling Law, PLLC 

[email protected] 

Dowling Law, PLLC website  

Clarity HR Solutions LLC website

Sign up for legal updates from Dowling Law  

Sign up for "Moment of Clarity," Clarity HR Solutions' HR update 

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We’re joined this week by Jessie Zweigenthal.  She’s a prime example of what one can accomplish in their career with grit, drive, and determination. Jessie shares her story about how she got her start working with the Jahnels, and several of the roles they “invited” her to try out over her 14 years with them. We talk about some of the great initiatives Jahnel Group has going in the community, including connecting with local schools to expose students to new career possibilities in their backyard. 

Bio

Jessie serves as the Director of Employee Engagement at Jahnel Group, a Capital Region based software consulting firm, where she helps employees connect with each other and with the mission of the company. She is a wife and working mother who strives to set an example of what it means to live well and bring others along for the ride. As a Schenectady High School graduate who wandered into a decade-long career in software design and project management accidentally, she is on a mission to help other underprivileged students land in the software industry on purpose.

Contact Info

Jessie Zweigenthal 
Director of Employee Engagement, Jahnel Group 
[email protected] 
www.jahnelgroup.com
LinkedIn

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The first guest to bring props. We love it. You will too. Sit back and hear about her Roadside Assistance Kit and what’s in it to help save any given day – from the lens of an HR professional. Jennifer shares her stories from the trenches, some laughter, and fun having worked with so many businesses and supporting a number of non-profits throughout her career. 

Bio

Jennifer is the President and Co-Founder of Integra HR, LLC. After 30 years in leadership and executive roles, in a variety of industries across non-profit and for-profit sectors, Jennifer founded Integra HR. Why? Because she knows owners do not start companies and leaders do not join companies to understand the complexities of HR, and she does. Integra takes on the HR complexities, so owners and leaders can focus on their core business. Jennifer’s passion is working with clients to avoid costly HR mistakes, maximizing ROI in solid HR practices, and embracing “Aha” moments. When leaders excel employees say, “I love working here” and the organization moves mountains! Jennifer and the Integra team help clients achieve increased productivity and healthy work environments through a unique blend of services, a collaborative approach, and thinking outside the box.

Early in her career Jennifer built HR functions where HR did not exist. Throughout her career she has achieved valuable expertise in HR, training, cultural and organizational transformation, compliance, risk management, operations, and program development. Jennifer received her Business Management degree with a concentration in psychology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is passionate about learning, holds multiple HR certifications, is a certified Employee Assistance Coaching Specialist and also certified in Mental Health First Aid.

There is one last thing to know, and it goes beyond Jennifer’s love for HR and connecting people to the right resources. She has a mission-driven soul and found purpose by giving back and serving her community. In fact, she formed Integra’s Give Back & Impact program that benefits agencies and schools serving vulnerable populations. Lastly, Jennifer has served on numerous boards and was an elected Board of Education member for six years. 

Connect with her to learn how you can focus on your core business and ultimately shake things up in our community and the business world! 

Book: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins 

Some of the great organizations she mentioned who do great work: 
Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth https://www.berkshirefarm.org/ 

Jennifer L. Massey, SPHR, SHRM SCP, EA-CS™ 
Integra HR, LLC
President & Co-Founder 
Email
LinkedIn

 

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Our first visit with multiple guests this week. Join us as we have a great conversation with Beth Miller-Guthier and Marj Adams from the Women's Employment Resource Center (WERC) of Albany.  When you think about mission driven organizations, and people who eat, drink, and breath their mission, Beth and Marj are the poster-children. We'll give a small nod to the NY Football Giants, but spend most of our time talking about the efforts WERC puts into the community to help women return to the workforce. How they got through the pandemic, and the inspiring stories they share about the many women who've graduated from their program.

Bios

Elizabeth Miller Guthier, PHR, SHRM-CP, is the Executive Director of the Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center (WERC), one of 12 centers throughout New York State that help Displaced Homemakers find employment. Her passion for the Center started 26 years ago when she was hired as the Training Coordinator, developing the employment network still used today.  In her current position, she is responsible for all of WERC’s operations and ensuring the overall success of the agency. In addition to her accomplishments with WERC, Beth has more than 35 years of experience as an active community member and volunteer. She is also honored to have been recognized multiple times for her generosity, spirit and leadership for making a difference in the lives of women in our community. 

Local cause - Twin Rivers Council (Scouts – welcoming boys and girls) https://trcscouting.org

Elizabeth Miller Guthier, PHR, SHRM-CP
Executive Director
Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center (WERC)
(518) 225-3131
www.cdwerc.org 

Marjorie Adams, PHR, SHRM-CP is the Employment & Training Coordinator at the Capital District Women’s Employment and Resource Center (WERC) in Albany, NY. Marj has over 20 years of experience in training and development and facilitates career readiness and computer training workshops to assist women who are seeking employment. She is an active member of the Capital Region Human Resource Association and the Workforce Readiness Committee. She partners with an extensive network of employers to help women succeed in their careers. Marj has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources and is a certified Professional in Human Resources. 

Local cause – CRHRA (www.crhra.org) 

Marjorie A. Adams, PHR, SHRM-CP  
Employment & Training Coordinator  
Capital District Women's Employment & Resource Center (WERC)  
(518) 242-8250
[email protected]
www.cdwerc.org

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Miriam and Tom are co-hosts of HR in the Car. We don't like to tout or own horns, but we're the fun bunch (as you've heard from previous episodes). Our combined experience in HR, along with our general sunshine, rainbow, and unicorn approach to things sometimes gets us into trouble.  All kidding aside, one of the main reasons we started this podcast was to be a resource and highlight our many guests on the show. We love being matchmakers - that's what recruiting is all about!  You can learn lots about us in this episode, but also on Alaant.com, LinkedIn, and the great beyond. Enjoy the show and share with your friends!

 

Connect with Miriam:

Miriam Dushane, PHR, SHRM-CP

Managing Partner

Alaant Workforce Solutions 

LinkedIn | Alaant.com

Connect with Tom:

Tom Schin

Director, Talent Acquisition Partnerships & Recruitment Consulting Services

Alaant Workforce Solutions

LinkedIn | Alaant.com

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This week's episode welcomes longtime Alaant friend Mario Pecoraro to the show. We all got into this space around the same time, so if it sounds like we’ve known each other for a long time, that’s why. Mario shares some stories of how he was born into the investigative industry, how he had to teach court clerks about what he could have access to, and more. 

Bio

Mario Pecoraro is an entrepreneur, corporate visionary, author, and founder of Alliance Risk Group Inc. The company specializes in background screening, insurance fraud investigations, process service, and property/casualty adjusting services. Prior to founding the company in 2005, Mario worked for fifteen years as a private investigator in his parent’s family-owned firm where his passion for investigations began. Mario published, “The Claim Game: Twenty Best Practices When Managing and Investigating Workers’ Comp Claims” which provides readers with best practices on how best to reduce overall risk related to fraudulent workers’ compensation claims. His second book, “Avoiding Costly Hiring Mistakes,” provides all the tips, best practices, and warning signs HR Professionals should look for when making hiring decisions. He is a sought-after industry expert who is invited to speak at national conferences on risk mitigation, a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Recertification Provider who conducts accredited webinars for HR professionals, and a Florida Licensed Education Instructor providing webinars for Florida Insurance Adjuster CE Credit. He has been featured on many local and national media outlets including ABC’s 20/20 as the “gold standard for those who want to screen out the fakes.” 

Information & Links

Charity: CAPTAIN Community Human Services – Mario is a former board member and heads the company effort to support their annual Thanksgiving Drive and other giving opportunities.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected] 
LinkedIn
Twitter
Website

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You hear a lot about people who are self-made, and Trent fits that bill. Our episode features his description of how he got where he is today (yes, by car is part of it). You’ll be inspired to hear about what he includes in his figurative Roadside Assistance Kit (Thanks Jen Massey!).  He’s a shining example of being open to the possibilities of what people can do for you if you just give them a chance.  Buckle up and enjoy! 

Bio

Trent Griffin-Braaf is the founder & President of GB Logistics which has a partnership for Amazon's last-mile delivery for XL packages and service-related delivery, & Tech Valley Shuttle whose mission is to combat poverty through transportation solutions. Our catalyst program “Driven to Work” helps organizations utilize commuter benefits to take away the dreaded question “do you have reliable transportation from the job application.”  Trent is distinguished by his ability to identify, leverage, and develop businesses. Throughout his career, he has helped managers, and owners increase company morale and bottom line by addressing team issues, offering leadership, team development, marketing, and budgeting. He has a contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in people that inspires them to become prouder, stronger, and more valuable contributors to their organizations.  

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]  
Website
LinkedIn
Facebook

Noteworthy Podcasts 

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/entrepreneur-trent-griffin-braaf-ceo-of-g-b/id1421238104?i=1000496426558 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7yq1J-ZtlU 

https://www.trucknhustle.com/last-mile-delivery/ 

https://crucibleleadership.com/2020/04/trent-griffin-braaf-dealing-drugs-cost-him-his-freedom-prison-taught-him-humility-and-the-rewards-of-serving-others-17/ 

 

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Denise Horan, the founder and principal of Integrated Management & Sales Consulting, provides solutions to help organizations grow revenues, find new marketing opportunities and develop effective sales and management leaders.  Denise spends her time coaching entrepreneurs, training sales leaders and teaching business development skills to attorneys and other non-sales professionals. 

Most recently, Denise has launched her first book, Stories From The Sales Field, a collection of 60+ interviews from great sales performers.  Her book is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chapters Indigo. 

Bio

Denise Horan is a graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology; she also earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University at Albany. She has served as an adjunct professor at The Sage Colleges, trained entrepreneurs for the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program at The Capital Region Chamber of Commerce and for The Smart- Up Program at The Rensselaer Development Center of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce.  In addition, Denise Horan teaches Marketing & Ethics for The Albany County Bar Association and Marketing Your Practice for The New York State Bar Association. 

Denise Horan is a member of The Consulting Alliance, facilitator of The Circle Leadership Group and the founder of the Sales Performer’s Club of the Capital Region.   Denise Horan serves on the board of the Women’s Employment & Resource Center. Horan is a member of The Executive Women’s Golf Association/ LPGA Amateurs and has served on their board for most of her 20 year membership.  

Horan has been recognized by the YWCA for advancing the empowerment of women, by the Stakeholders as Volunteer of the Year, The Women’s Employment & Resource Center as a pearl of wisdom and empowerment and by The Capital Region Chamber of Commerce as a Women of Excellence.  

Contact Information

Denise F. Horan
Principal, Integrated Management and Sales Consulting - Sales Coach - Sales Consultant - Sales Trainer - Leadership Coach - Public Speaker - Author - Business Development Strategist

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn

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We’ve known Suzanne O’Connor for a long time and have always enjoyed hearing her thoughts about the next generation of great employees. This bridges college students/grads and employers from all around the region. Her stories from working with students coming into the professional world will make you laugh and appreciate where today’s younger generation is coming from, in addition to uncovering their passions. Seatbelts on folks, listen in, and learn a little more about what Growth Mindset is. 

Bio

As Associate Director at the Siena College Career and Internship Center, I have many responsibilities including program planning, creating class presentations, and teaching the Exploring Careers class. However, my FAVORITE role is having career conversations with students in one-on-one coaching sessions.  It is a gift to serve students as a guide in decision-making at this very important time in their lives. I have learned to listen more and talk less. Providing a safe space for all students to explore their identities as they impact career development is so rewarding.  Before I moved into counseling in higher education, I spent many years in the business world.  I am living proof that one can study liberal arts, in my case English, and follow a path from business to higher education.  Remember, choosing a major is not the same as choosing a career. 

I enjoy gathering with my very large and extended family. Pool parties and holiday dinners provide plenty of opportunities for teasing and laughter. My 6-year-old grand-niece continues to delight me with her incredible life observations - and love of all things cats. Also, I am in a daily Wordle competition with two siblings and one niece. Competition is the operative word! 

I am an ordained interfaith minister and enjoy guiding people to whatever spirituality looks like for them.  This is a very important part of my life. 

I live in Colonie with my husband and very large dog, Bear. 

Advice to students: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is the wrong question. College is a time to explore your interests and understand your career options. Your path will not be a straight line and trust that you will figure it out. There will be many steps along the way and seeking guidance from career counselors, professors, internship supervisors,  summer jobs and community service colleagues will all impact your decision-making. Stay with it and see where your career will take you! 

The National Association of Colleges and Employers  

Contact Information

Suzanne O'Connor, M.S.Ed. 
Associate Director
Career and Internship Center | Siena College 
[email protected] 
LinkedIn Profile
518-783-2339 

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