MENDOTA - On Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 NCI Works will host its Annual Employer Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mendota Civic Center, 1901 Tom Merwin Drive, Mendota. This annual event offers area companies, human resource departments, upper and middle management, and front-line supervisors the opportunity to gain valuable information on workforce issues including an update on the most pressing issues facing today’s workforce.

Speaking at the conference this year will be attorney Jeffrey Risch, who will discuss what businesses need to know about Illinois’ new recreational marijuana law that will take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

In addition to Risch, the afternoon keynote speaker, Mark Sander, will offer insight into traumatic stress. The session will examine the five types of traumatic stress disorders common among employees, how to create a trauma informed company, how to minimize the impact of trauma at work, ways to address critical incidents in the workplace that can reactivate trauma, reasons employees who are not military veterans or returning citizens are vulnerable to traumatic stress, the supervisor-supervisee relationship as a source of trauma and trauma relief, and the role of leadership in addressing trauma. He will also discuss organizational wellness strategies as trauma relief including team building, increasing job satisfaction, creating a great place to work, promotion of laughter and strategies to prevent secondary trauma.

Companies are encouraged to send anyone within their organization that has direct responsibility for the supervision and management of their workforce. Registration material can be obtained at www.nciworks.org and should be e-mailed to dianna_schuler@best-inc.org or faxed to Dianna Schuler at (815) 433-6645. Registration for the event is $40 which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Inquiries can be made by calling Dianna at (815) 640-9406 or emailing dianna_schuler@best-inc.org.