The Employment Law Playbook:
What Employers Need to Know Now
Save $10 with Early Bird Registration - Now through March 20!
Employment Law Conference
April 14, 2026
⏰ 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Employment law is constantly evolving—make sure you’re prepared.
Join us for a comprehensive Employment Law Conference covering key legal updates, emerging trends, and practical lessons from current case law that employers need to know!
This program is designed for HR professionals, executive leaders, and anyone responsible for managing risk and compliance in the workplace.
Speakers Include
Caleb Rowden of Strategic Capitol Consulting
Ogletree Deakins Attorneys:
Burt Garland Jr., Melanie Renken, Alex Hunstein, and Sean J. Oliveira
and our Emcee of the day:
Attorney Stephanie Bell (bringing her 93.9 "The Eagle" voice)
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Mark your calendar—we hope you’ll join us!
HRACMO Members: $65 Early Bird/ $75 Standard
Non-Members: $115 Early Bird/ $125 Standard
Coffee, continental breakfast, snacks, & lunch included in registration cost.
Caleb Rowden
Strategic Capitol Consulting, former Missouri State Senator
Caleb Rowden serves as SCC’s Director of Strategic Advocacy, bringing a rare mix of political experience, client strategy, and hands-on problem solving. He spent more than a decade in the Missouri Legislature, serving two terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2016. He later became Senate Majority Floor Leader and went on to serve as President Pro Tem, playing a central role in major policy negotiations and shaping the state’s legislative agenda. His work touched everything from K-12 and higher education to small-business growth, tort reform, and regulatory modernization.
What sets Caleb apart is his ability to pair high-level strategy with real-world execution. He has built and led coalitions, navigated complex political dynamics, and helped clients move difficult projects across the finish line. In addition to his public-sector experience, he is an entrepreneur and communicator at heart, owning a media and marketing firm and spending years in full-time ministry as a touring Christian singer/songwriter before entering public service.
Caleb lives in Columbia with his wife, Aubrey, co-owner of Love Tree Studios, and their three children. He remains deeply engaged in the mid-Missouri community and brings that same energy and perspective to his work helping SCC clients solve hard problems and build strong, lasting relationships with state and local leaders.
Melanie A. Renken
Of Counsel, Ogletree Deakins
Melanie is a seasoned employment litigator and business‑minded advisor with experience spanning the courtroom, the C‑suite, and high‑stakes crisis management. She defends employers nationwide in state and federal courts on claims involving Title VII, the ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, OSHA retaliation, AIR21, and various contract and tort disputes. A key member of Ogletree’s Aerospace, Drug Testing, and Whistleblower & Retaliation practice groups, she is one of the firm’s go‑to attorneys for AIR21 matters and frequently represents a global aerospace company in employment litigation.
Before joining Ogletree, Melanie served in multiple in‑house leadership roles—including Vice President and Global Employment Counsel—and managed global employment strategy, compliance, investigations, and litigation. Her earlier career in marketing and public relations also gives her a unique ability to navigate media‑sensitive legal issues and crises affecting workforce morale and brand reputation.
Melanie brings a practical, results‑driven approach to helping clients manage risk, respond to government inquiries, and resolve complex employment disputes with confidence.
Burton D. Garland, Jr.
Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins
Burt Garland is a Shareholder with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., where he focuses his practice on all aspects of labor and employment law, representing management in complex workplace matters. He advises employers on navigating legal risk while maintaining compliant, effective employment practices in an evolving regulatory environment.
Burt’s practice spans traditional labor relations and employment litigation, including wage and hour compliance, leave and accommodation issues, discrimination and retaliation claims, restrictive covenants, and workplace investigations. He has extensive experience representing employers before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, and regularly counsels' organizations on policy development, employee relations, and proactive risk management strategies.
Known for his practical, business‑focused approach, Burt helps HR professionals and organizational leaders translate legal requirements into actionable workplace solutions. His experience managing high‑stakes matters and advising employers across industries allows him to offer clear guidance on managing today’s most pressing employment challenges.
At this conference, Burt will provide timely insight into current employment law developments and best practices employers can implement to reduce risk and strengthen compliance.
Alexandra "Alex" Hunstein
Of Counsel, Ogletree Deakins
Alexandra represents private and public sector employers nationwide before arbitrators, administrative agencies, and state and federal courts at all levels. She has successfully defended employers in labor and employment litigation, unfair labor practice proceedings, arbitration hearings, and collective bargaining across numerous states. With experience in both litigation and in‑house labor relations, she quickly assesses legal risk and provides pragmatic, preventative guidance in complex situations.
Her traditional labor practice encompasses all aspects of management–labor relations, including collective bargaining, unfair labor practice charges, strikes and picketing, matters before the National Labor Relations Board, and arbitration proceedings. She regularly counsels clients on their rights and obligations under the National Labor Relations Act.
Alexandra has conducted comprehensive labor relations training for national and regional employers; worked closely with company leadership to develop and implement labor relations strategies; represented employers in representation proceedings; negotiated collective bargaining agreements; assisted companies in responding to strikes, picketing, and other concerted activity; and represented employers in a wide range of unfair labor practice cases, representation matters, arbitration hearings, and related federal court actions.
Sean J. Oliveira
Associate, Ogletree Deakins
Sean J. Oliveira brings a rare depth of experience to employment law, shaped by 15 years as a Federal Investigator with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before entering private practice. During his tenure at the EEOC, he handled every stage of the administrative process, including systemic and class investigations and the negotiation of complex conciliations across all major discrimination statutes. Sean also provided nationwide training on anti‑discrimination laws and served on an EEOC committee dedicated to developing Quality Practices for Effective Investigations and Conciliations.
Sean now leverages his extensive agency background to conduct workplace investigations and to advise and defend employers before numerous local, state, and federal agencies. His deep knowledge of agency procedure and investigative standards makes him a sought‑after resource for employers navigating administrative inquiries and combating agency overreach. He continues to deliver training to a wide range of audiences—including HR professionals, supervisors, general counsel, and executive leadership—on a variety of employment‑law topics.
As an attorney, Sean has successfully defended both public and private employers in state and federal courts across multiple jurisdictions. He has secured dismissals, summary judgments, favorable settlements, and has collaborated with appellate teams to craft winning briefs. Known for his balanced perspective and strategic approach, Sean is committed to understanding each client’s legal and practical needs and pursuing the best possible outcome in every matter.
Stephanie Bell
Attorney, Ellinger Bell
Co-Host of Wake-Up Missouri (93.9 the Eagle)
After graduating from Truman State University with a degree in Political Science, Stephanie Bell earned a Juris Doctor and a Master of Public Administration from Mizzou.
She then entered private practice as an attorney with her practice focusing on state and local government matters including election, regulatory, utility, gaming, tax and other governmental disputes. Stephanie’s litigation practice includes representing clients before government agencies, the Administrative Hearing Commission, the Public Service Commission, circuit courts, and Missouri Appellate courts.
In 2018, Stephanie co-founded a boutique law firm - Ellinger and Associates, LLC. Her practice has grown to include representation of statewide elected officials, proponents of statewide ballot measures, and Fortune 100 companies. The firm was renamed “Ellinger Bell” in 2023.
In 2020, Stephanie was appointed to the Board of Aldermen in Ashland, Missouri and was elected to that position in 2021. She was appointed Mayor Pro Tem and served in that position until 2025.
In 2021, Stephanie joined “Wake Up Missouri” a weekday morning radio program as a co-host which airs on 93.9 the Eagle in Columbia, Missouri, 104.1 KWOS News Radio in Jefferson City, and KWTO 93.3 FM - 560 AM Radio in Springfield. Stephanie continues her full-time law practice in addition to the morning radio program.
In 2025, Stephanie was selected for the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America® Gaming Law, Administrative / Regulatory Law, and Utilities Law. She was also recognized at the Women’s Justice Awards by Missouri Lawyers Media. Ellinger Bell was recognized for excellence in the 2026 edition of the Best Law Firms rankings in four areas: Administrative/Regulatory Law; Commercial Litigation; Gaming Law; and Government Relations Practice.
What’s on your mind?
Submit your employment‑law questions before the event so our panelists can address the real challenges you’re facing in the workplace.
No question is too big or too small—if it’s important to you, it’s important to us.
