2030 Vision: Strategic Planning & Compliance Kickoff

Presentation Overview: 

Launch the year with a comprehensive overview of federal and state compliance changes affecting HR in 2025-2026. This session sets the strategic tone for the year while ensuring members are prepared for immediate compliance needs.

Learning Objectives:

About the Speakers:

Quentin Smith

Mr. Smith has over twenty years of experience in employment and labor law. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law and was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 2003. During law school, Mr. Smith was the Associate Symposium Editor on the New Mexico Law Review, and received many honors, including the Lewis Sutin Award for Excellence in Advocacy, Clinical Honors Award, and several awards for outstanding contribution to scholarship and achievement by a third-year student. Prior to entering private practice, he served as a law clerk for New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Pamela Minzner.

Mr. Smith has an AV® Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell; he was selected as a SuperLawyers® Rising Star (Employment Litigation: Defense) for eight straight years; he is a graduate of the Leadership New Mexico CONNECT Program; he is a former recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award from Albuquerque Business First; he has been the Legislative Director for the SHRM NM State Council since 2018; and he is a recent recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award from National Business Institute.

In his litigation practice, Mr. Smith has successfully defended employers, including a number of public and private entities, against a wide variety of charges and claims, including a class action lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), as well as individual discrimination and sexual harassment claims, retaliatory discharge claims, whistleblower claims, and breach-of-contract claims. Mr. Smith also has a robust non-litigation practice that includes providing counseling and advice on discipline and discharge matters, employee medical issues, personnel policies and procedures, and employment forms, as well as conducting supervisor and employee training, wage and hour audits, and internal investigations.

Jill Avey

Jill Avey, is the founder and owner of Southwestern HR Consulting, Inc. Jill has more than 25 years of business expertise in Human Resources (HR). Collectively, her team of 10 HR Professionals brings 225+ years of HR experience to the care and support of their clients throughout NM, in 24 states and 4 countries. SWHRC builds extraordinary employers to create extraordinary work environments. 

Jill is also the Owner of a local employment background screening company, Maximum Reports.  Maximum Reports has supported businesses nationwide for more than 23 years.  

Connect with Jill Avey and Quentin Smith on LinkedIn

Can't make it in-person? Attend the Meeting Virtually!

If you registered to attend in person, we will see you at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. In the event you are unable to attend in person, you will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting link after you register for the event. Please don't share this link with anyone. Join on your computer, mobile app or room device.

Be sure to join the meeting on a device (laptop/desktop, tablet) so that you can see the content being presented + hear the presentation. If you do not have Microsoft Teams installed, you have the option of joining via web. To do this, click the web link below and select “join on web instead” to join the meeting. We recommend joining 5-10 minutes prior to the meeting.

Please remember to mute yourself once you join. If you have a question for the speaker, we welcome you to unmute yourself and ask your question or put your question in the chat. We encourage you to turn your camera on to enhance the virtual experience.

NOTE:  Event registrations are not refundable.  If you are unable to attend the event in person, you have two options: