PRESS RELEASE
Legal Alliance Further Strengthens THOMAS HOUSTON associates, inc.
April 15, 2014 - THOMAS HOUSTON associates, inc. is pleased to announce that Jo Bennett, a partner with Stevens & Lee in Philadelphia, has joined our THA Compliance Evaluation Team. Stevens & Lee is a full-service law firm whose Labor and Employment Department representation is restricted exclusively to management. By entering into an alliance with Ms. Bennett and her firm, THOMAS HOUSTON will now offer turn-key services to our clients during OFCCP Compliance Evaluations.
Mr. Thomas H. Nail, President and CEO of THOMAS HOUSTON noted that "this is a significant step in enhancing the capabilities of THOMAS HOUSTON. While we already represent our clients in OFCCP Compliance Evaluations, the addition of a legal presence enhances our ability to continue to exceed industry standards in the outcome of Compliance Evaluations."
"I am pleased to be a part of this new collaborative effort with the professionals at THOMAS HOUSTON", said Ms. Bennett, who has nearly 20 years' experience in equal employment opportunity and affirmative action law.
THOMAS HOUSTON has an impeccable reputation for providing high-quality services to its customer base, but as the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs takes increasingly aggressive approaches during compliance evaluations, Stevens & Lee will be able to provide additional perspective for THOMAS HOUSTON clients on a value-added basis.
Ms. Bennett's introduction to affirmative action began at a large law firm in Philadelphia, where, as a student law clerk, she was tasked with drafting the firm's affirmative action program. Throughout her professional career, Ms. Bennett has increased her work with federal contractors, and now represents clients nationwide in a broad range of industries -- from the life sciences and technology to manufacturing and health care.
In addition to her EEO/AA consulting practice, Ms. Bennett maintains an active litigation practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey defending employers in workplace disputes. Ms. Bennett is a member of the Board of Trustees at Arcadia University near Philadelphia, and previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Affirmative Action.
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PRESS RELEASE
Key Appointment Further Strengthens THOMAS HOUSTON associates, inc.
March 1, 2013 - THOMAS HOUSTON is pleased to announce a partnership with a Philadelphia law firm to better serve our federal contractor clients. THOMAS HOUSTON's newest partner is Jo Bennett, a shareholder with Stevens & Lee, who will be of counsel to THOMAS HOUSTON and a member of THOMAS HOUSTON’s compliance evaluation team. Ms. Bennett has more than 15 years’ experience working with federal contractors.
The new partnership builds on THOMAS HOUSTON’s service capabilities. Just last year, THOMAS HOUSTON entered into a partnership arrangement with Jude Sotherlund, a private consultant based on Merritt Island, Florida. The addition of Ms. Sotherlund to THOMAS HOUSTON expanded and strengthened the company’s already considerable ability to support client compliance needs, especially with regard to ongoing compensation issues and corporate management compliance evaluations - glass ceiling audits.
Now, the firm’s professional depth and versatility has been further increased with the partnership with Stevens & Lee. Ms. Bennett will be a part of THOMAS HOUSTON’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance evaluation team. Ms. Bennett will advise organizations from a broad range of industries across the United States on equal employment opportunity and affirmative action obligations. Her practice will include advising clients on federal and state affirmative action laws and regulations, conducting legal reviews of affirmative action plans, conducting equal employment opportunity/affirmative action training for hiring managers and human resources professionals, performing employment practices audits, and providing representation during compliance investigations by the OFCCP. She will also advise organizations on the legal aspects of diversity initiatives and succession planning issues and provide risk-management analysis of hiring, promotion and compensation practices.
Jo is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. She earned her Juris Doctorate at the James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple University. In addition to her professional pursuits, she is an active supporter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from which she received the coveted Leadership Award in 2003. THOMAS HOUSTON is delighted to have Jo as a member of its staff.
THOMAS HOUSTON was founded in 1978 and is a highly regarded affirmative action compliance consulting firm headquartered in metropolitan Washington, D.C. with an additional office in Fort Lauderdale, FL. THOMAS HOUSTON specializes in the design, writing and implementation of Affirmative Action Plans and the preparation/representation of clients during OFCCP compliance evaluations.
The THOMAS HOUSTON team of experts includes specialists in the fields of human resources, government compliance, investigative research, information technology, and compliance evaluation negotiation. The extensive and diverse experience of their staff provides reliable consultation services that exceed industry standards.
For further information, please contact Mary C. Franczak, National Sales & Contracts Director, 954.358.0208, Mary.Franczak@thomashouston.com
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THOMAS HOUSTON associates, inc. - JUDE SOTHERLUND
PARTNERSHIP TAKES ON NEW IMPORTANCE
November 21, 2012 - In 2011 THOMAS HOUSTON announced a new partnership arrangement with Jude Sotherlund, a private consultant whose principle office is located in Merritt Island, Florida. Both parties knew that this arrangement would further expand and strengthen the company’s ability to support their clients’ compliance needs, especially with regard to ongoing corporate management compliance evaluations, that is, glass ceiling audits. Ms. Sotherlund’s exceptional experience and breadth of knowledge have already proven their worth to THOMAS HOUSTON, but that value will become even greater in the future.
Historically, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has focused its attention on base pay issues. This will change in the near future as the Agency expands the scope of its compliance efforts in a strategy referred to by some as "new age compensation guidelines". Under the new guidelines, the OFCCP will seek to identify potential discriminatory practices in all forms of employer-provided programs including, but not limited to bonus and incentive plans; retirement plans; health and welfare plans and other forms of direct or indirect remuneration.
In the future then, Ms. Sotherlund will play a key role as she guides clients in their responses to OFCCP "new age" data requests. She will ensure that the information provided by clients is appropriate, measured and safeguarded. She will also have a critical role in equal pay and glass ceiling issues which surfaced as priorities to the electorate in the October 16, 2012 presidential debate between President Obama and Governor Romney.
Ms. Sotherlund is a graduate of Georgetown University. She began her career as Staff Assistant, Office of Public Affairs in the Reagan White House. Over the next 11 years her service to the nation continued as she filled key roles with the White House. Her Federal service culminated as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards (with oversight of OFCCP, OWCP, OLMS and Wage and Hour). In June 1994 she founded Sotherlund Consulting to provide analytic services in compliance, strategic planning, talent management, glass ceiling issues, training, and diversity and inclusion. She has authored books and articles on equal pay, diversity and inclusion. In addition, she was a primary author of the Department of Labor’s glass ceiling publications.
THOMAS HOUSTON was founded in 1978 and is a highly regarded affirmative action compliance consulting firm headquartered in metropolitan Washington, D.C. with an additional office in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. THOMAS HOUSTON specializes in the design, writing and implementation of Affirmative Action Plans and the preparation/representation of clients during OFCCP compliance evaluations.
The THOMAS HOUSTON team of experts includes specialists in the fields of human resources, government compliance, investigative research, information technology, and compliance evaluation negotiation. The extensive and diverse experience of their staff provides reliable consultation services that exceed industry standards.
For further information, please contact Mary C. Franczak, National Sales & Contracts Director, 954.358.0208, Mary.Franczak@thomashouston.com
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