Opening Keynote: The Honorable Alexis M. Herman
"The Changing Global Workforce: Ways to Understand it and Leverage it" What will the workplace look like 20 years from now? How will hard-hit sectors impacted by the recent recession boost job creation in their efforts to reenergize the American and global economic engine? In her insightful keynote address, Alexis Herman will answer these questions and explore the three biggest challenges that employers must confront to stay competitive and productive. At the age of 29, Alexis Herman was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as director of the Women's Bureau, making her the youngest bureau director in the history of the Labor Department. In 1997, Herman was sworn in as America's 23rd Secretary of Labor—the first African-American ever to lead the United States Department of Labor. Born in Mobile, Ala., Alexis Herman began her career working for Catholic Charities, helping young out-of-school men and women find work in the Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. In addition to her work for the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Herman also served as a valued member of the National Economic Council. Currently she serves as chair and chief executive officer of New Ventures LLC. As Labor Secretary, Herman focused on a prepared workforce, a secure workforce and a quality workplace. With that mandate in mind, she consolidated the department's wide array of skills development programs into a simpler, more efficient system. She led the effort to institute a global child labor standard; moved people from welfare to work with dignity; and launched the most aggressive unemployed youth initiative since the 1970s. Under her tenure, U.S. unemployment reached a 30-year low, and the nation witnessed the safest workplace record in the history of the Department of Labor. Herman's actions as secretary reflected her understanding of the needs of America's workers and the challenges they faced as this nation approached the 21st century. Herman has continued to lend her expertise and talent to many corporate enterprises and nonprofit organizations. A recipient of more than 20 honorary doctorate degrees from major colleges and universities around the country, Herman is a trustee of the National Labor College George Meany Center. Presently, she chairs the Toyota Diversity Advisory Board and the Sodexho Business Advisory Board. She is a member of the boards of directors for Cummins Inc., Entergy Inc., MGM Mirage and The Coca-Cola Co., and is the former chairwoman of the Coca-Cola Co.'s Human Resources Task Force. Her nonprofit work includes serving as a trustee for the National Urban League and Social Action for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. |
