Speakers

Former Director of the DOT's Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and lead author of the DOT's final rule for oral fluid testing

Currently on temporary assignment from the US Department of Transportation as the Senior Policy Executive Advisor to the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association

Patrice Kelly has been with the US Department of Transportation since 1991.  She was the longest serving Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) in the Office of the Secretary.  She joined ODAPC in 2007, after sixteen years of service at the Federal Aviation Administration, as an attorney, manager and inspector.  Ms. Kelly was the longest serving member of the Department of Health and Human Service’s Federal Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB), where she served as an ex officio member.  In addition, she has participated in and contributed to Medical Review Officer training for more than a decade.

A graduate of Boston College, and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Ms. Kelly received her Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.  She has worked for Senator Ted Kennedy, the Supreme Court of the United States, in corporate bond trading on Wall Street, at the US Department of State, and in private legal practice in law firms in Washington, DC, before she began her career at the DOT.

Ms. Kelly was the first FAA attorney to revoke an air carrier’s certificate for failure to implement drug and alcohol testing.  She initiated the FAA’s first civil penalty cases enforcing the drug and alcohol testing regulations.  As the Deputy Director of the FAA’s Drug Abatement Division, she was second in charge of the FAA’s then 80-employee national program for more than a decade.  After moving to ODAPC, she worked closely on all regulations issued and has been the decision-maker on several Public Interest Exclusions against non-compliant service agents who posed a significant threat to safety.  She issued most of those PIE decisions against individuals who fraudulently held out as MROs.  Most recently, she was the lead author of the DOT’s oral fluid final rule, which became effective on June 1, 2023.

Rob finds practical solutions for clients facing litigation and various business challenges related to their workforce. He guides employers operating in New Jersey, New York, and nationally through the nuanced requirements for hiring, compensation, retention, and separation of workers in a variety of industries. A seasoned litigator, Rob is an ardent advocate both in and outside the courtroom.

Companies face multiple layers of requirements and obligations related to employees and contractors. Clients rely on Rob as an effective and efficient strategist to defend them in lawsuits, to devise action plans to avoid litigation, and to provide counsel on relevant legal developments to create policies and practices to ensure compliance. Rob partners with clients to craft an optimal solution for each unique circumstance, ranging from negotiating a pre-litigation resolution, to advancing the client’s interests through trial and appeal.

Rob advises clients on a wide range of issues under federal, state, and local laws, including background check and Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, "ban the box" issues, prevailing wage requirements, wage-and-hour and overtime compliance, whistleblower retaliation, family and medical leave compliance and interference/retaliation claims, paid sick leave, and a wide range of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation issues.

Drawing on a decade of litigation experience, Rob strives to attain practical and efficient solutions that fit the client and meet the particular needs of the business. He collaborates with clients to find technological solutions to streamline the disruptiveness of litigation. He also draws on his industry knowledge to anticipate issues and find pragmatic solutions.

Rob represents clients in a variety of industries, including entertainment, retail, background check services, food service and hospitality management, transportation, and public works contractors. As a skilled trial lawyer, Rob handles complex employment litigation, including class, collective, and multidistrict litigation, as well as single-plaintiff lawsuits. He has extensive experience in New Jersey and New York state and federal courts, as well as federal district courts across the country. He also represents clients before federal and state administrative agencies, such as the Department of Labor, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, New York State Division of Human Rights, and New York City Commission on Human Rights, among others. Rob also represents clients in arbitrations, mediations, and pre-litigation negotiations.

At Seyfarth, Rob enjoys working with a team of attorneys who possess world-class knowledge in areas directly relevant to clients' business needs, and who have a deep-rooted commitment to client service.

Adam Rosenthal is an employment attorney and Partner at Sheppard Mullin based in California. Adam represents a broad spectrum of companies before federal and state courts and arbitration forums. In addition to his single plaintiff and class action litigation practice, Adam advises clients throughout the country on compliance matters. Adam is one of the few attorneys on the SHRM Speakers Bureau. This is the third year in a row Adam has been invited to lecture at the SHRM Annual Conference.

Adam is also the author of Managing Employees Without Fear: How to Follow the Law, Build a Positive Work Culture, and Avoid Getting Sued. Adam received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from UC Davis.

For over 25 years now, Bryan has been directly involved in developing DOT truck and bus safety enforcement programs on a national level. Most notably, he led development and implementation of FMCSA’s performance-based safety measurement systems used to identify high-risk motor carriers and drivers for enforcement intervention. In addition, he led successful implementation of data system connections and partnerships between FMCSA and commercial truck license plate agencies in all 50 States making it more difficult for unsafe companies to remain licensed.

Between 2014 and 2021, Bryan served as Chief of the FMCSA’s North American Borders Division working with the Governments of Mexico and Canada on implementing the land transportation provisions of NAFTA and other cross-border truck and bus safety issues. In the Fall of 2021, he began his current position as Chief of FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Programs Division.

Brady Quarles has been in the employee screening industry since 2006 when he started with DISA Global Solutions. He has over 22 years of sales and sales management experience, including six years with Dell Computers. As Vice President of Industrial Sales, Brady oversees a customer-focused sales group that provides consultative solutions for organizations in need. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, BBQ, exercise, and watching sports.

Bill Current is the author of Why Drug Testing: Updated and Expanded for 2020 as well as 9 other books on substance-related issues. He founded the Current Consulting Group in 1998 and it has become the number one recognized brand name in compliance, business development, and operations consulting in the drug testing industry. Bill is a frequent speaker at webinars and conferences around the country.

Pamela Devata is a Labor and Employment Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, IL. Pam leads Seyfarth’s nationwide Background Screening, Litigation, and Compliance Team. She’s a national authority and firm go-to for all issues related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), background screening compliance, use of criminal and credit history, and Electronic Signature issues, as well as online and manual employment applications. A nationally recognized employment counselor, Pam has participated in numerous interviews, speeches, webinars, and training for employers on the subject of criminal history and credit checks. She has leveraged her niche area of expertise into a thriving class action practice.

She counsels both employers, resellers, and consumer reporting agencies on background information on compliance requirements under FCRA and related state laws, develops procedures for appropriately handling high-volume national hiring needs, and regularly litigates these issues on a single-plaintiff and class-wide basis, as in EEOC v. Kaplan Higher Education Corp., throughout the country.

Pam also testified before the EEOC at a Public Meeting regarding the use of credit checks in employment in Washington, D.C. Pam is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and was formerly an adjunct professor of Legal Writing at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Gary Wiese currently serves as the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at DISA Global Solutions. With a strong background in business and revenue strategy, Gary has consistently driven growth and profitability throughout his career and implements his strategies to align with DISA's business objectives.

Prior to his role at DISA Global Solutions, Gary held the position of Vice President, Strategic Clients at First Advantage from 2014 to 2023. During his tenure, he successfully developed and executed innovative solutions and growth strategies, establishing strategic partnerships and fostering key client relationships. His expertise in account management and B2B sales contributed to substantial revenue growth and enhanced market positioning for the organization.

Gary's commitment to excellence is rooted in his educational foundation. He earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business, where he gained a comprehensive understanding of business principles. He further honed his analytical skills during his 10-year tenure with the Economist Group. With a keen focus on delivering results, Gary possesses exceptional leadership qualities and a forward-thinking approach. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate dynamic market landscapes, adapting to emerging trends, and leveraging digital media to drive business success. His proficiency in forming strategic partnerships and overseeing cross-functional teams has been instrumental in achieving organizational objectives.