GEA’s 2018 Fall Conference

Claire F. Cronin, Attorney, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Claire graduated from Florida State University (B.A., 2001) and Mercer University School of Law (J.D. 2006).  She is a member of the Labor and Employment section and the Workers’ Compensation sections of the State Board of Georgia.

Claire represents employers and insurers in all aspects of workers’ compensation litigation, including mediation, subrogation and appeals.  Claire has tried numerous workers’ compensation cases involving various legal issues, including occupational disease claims, catastrophic designation, psychological injuries and claims involving Medicare’s right to recovery.  Claire has devoted her practice to the representation of Employers and Insurers across the state of Georgia.

W. Melvin Haas, III, Partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Mel is an equity partner of Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP and head of the Macon office. Constangy Brooks & Smith has over 100 labor and employment lawyers nationwide.  Mel has practiced management labor law for over 40 years, including 2 years as a trial attorney with the National Labor Relations Board and 2 years as in-house counsel for a major corporation.

Some of Mel’s noted accomplishments include: Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow of the American Bar Association, AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated By Martindale-Hubbell, Vice-Chair of the Labor Relations Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Boards of Directors for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Employers’ Association, and the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce.  He is also a Past President of the Georgia Defense Lawyers’ Association.

Mel is a Georgia Super Lawyer, has been recognized in the publication Best Lawyers in America, and has been recognized  by Labor Relations Institute and the Human Resources Executive Magazine several times as one of the “Top 10 Most Powerful Labor Attorneys” in the United States.  He is also a former Chapter Editor to the Developing Labor Law, BNA.

Keiko Humphries, President, Humphries Consulting, Inc.

As the President of Humphries Consulting, Keiko Humphries has over 25 years Human Resource experience in private industry and consulting environments.  She holds a Masters Degree in Employee Relations and certifications as a (SPHR) Senior Professional of Human Resources, Career Transition Counselor; and Trainer.   As an HR Professional, Ms. Humphries has focused on individual and organizational development.  Her work in management assessment, development, training, team facilitation, and coaching receive outstanding reviews by clients as she partners with them to achieve their objectives.  Keiko and her team work regularly with the Georgia Employers’ Association and member companies providing Leadership Training, PHR/SPHR Certification Preparation Classes, and Organizational Coaching and Consultation.

Jason C. Logan, Partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Jason represents employers and insurers in all aspects of workers’ compensation litigation, including mediation, subrogation and appeals.  Jason has tried numerous workers’ compensation cases involving various legal issues, such as the idiopathic defense, catastrophic designation, WC-240 (Return to Work), medical benefits, psychological injuries, and diligent job search cases. After many years of representing large, self-insured employers and hospitals, Jason fully understands the intangible costs of workers compensation claims, as well as the importance of sending the right message to the workforce.

Jason also defends employers against EEOC charges of sex, race and disability discrimination, which often times overlap with workers’ compensation claims. Jason also represents employers in garnishment litigation. Jason has presented at countless seminars and training sessions for employers and insurers across Georgia on workers’ compensation, ADA, FMLA, unemployment claims and garnishment matters.

Jason practices out of Constangy’s Macon office and serves numerous Middle and South Georgia clients. Jason is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Macon Bar Association.

W. Jonathan Martin, II, Partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Jonathan focuses his practice in employment discrimination litigation for management, defending corporations in law suits arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as related state laws. He also represents management in traditional labor law issues under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and in wage & hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Prior to being in private practice, Jonathan who is also a Reserve Air Force officer, served as a military lawyer in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Department. While in the Air Force, he held an appointment as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, representing the United States in United States Magistrate Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Alyssa K. Peters, Partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Alyssa works in Constangy’s Macon, Georgia office. A graduate of University of Georgia (B.A., magna cum laude), and a graduate of Georgia State University College of Law, (J.D., magna cum laude), she has served as a member of the Young Lawyers Division and a Board Member of the Leadership Academy; member of the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia; member of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; member Supreme Court of the United States.

Alyssa practices in all areas of employment and labor law with an emphasis in employment litigation and management training.  Alyssa has represented a broad range of clients in employment and traditional labor matters, specializing in single plaintiff cases, class action litigation and Wage and Hour Compliance litigation. Alyssa also advises employers on a wide topic of practical management and employer issues such as EEO policies, attendance and leave policies and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.

William K. Principe, Partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Bill focuses his practice on occupational safety and health regulatory issues. He works with companies on compliance with both federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and state safety and health regulations.

Bill has been recognized among the Best Lawyers in America^® and as a Georgia Super Lawyer^®. Before joining Constangy, Bill was an attorney with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission in Washington, D.C.

Jeffery L. Thompson, Partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Jeff is a partner with the Macon office of Constangy. His practice focuses on representing management in employment, litigation, labor matters, providing general advice to clients as well as training clients on preventative measures to avoid litigation. Jeff has represented firm clients in both State and Federal Court as well as before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board.

Jeff is also Labor Counsel to the Georgia Employers’ Association and serves on the Board of Directors for multiple professional and community organizations, including the Macon Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Navicent Health Foundation, and Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia.

Prior to joining Constangy, Jeff clerked for the Honorable James R. Tuten of the Superior Court of Brunswick in the Brunswick Georgia Judicial Circuit.

Pete Tosh, Founder, The Focus Group

Pete Tosh, Founder of The Focus Group, has provided consulting and training services to manufacturing and service organizations across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. He has worked closely with the leadership teams of organizations such as Exxon, Brink’s, EMC, State Farm, Marriott, N.C.I., Cracker Barrel, Freddie Mac, and YKK Pete is also the co – author of Leading Your Organization to the Next Level.

Prior to founding The Focus Group over 20 years ago, Pete had 15 years of extensive experience — at the plant, divisional, and corporate levels — in the Human Resource and Customer Satisfaction fields. Pete held leadership positions — to include the V.P. of Human Resources and Quality — with Allied Signal, Imperial Chemical Industries, Reynolds Metals and Charter Medical.

Pete also frequently creates and facilitates a wide variety of leadership development programs for organizations such as the American Management Association — “Strategic Planning”, “Moving from an Operational Manager to a Strategic Thinker”, “Managing Organizational Change”, “Profiting from Total Service Leadership”, “Talent Management” and “Utilizing H.R. Metrics.” Employees from over 4,000 organizations have benefited from Pete’s experience and insightful perspectives.

Pete holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from Emory and Henry College and Masters Degrees in both Business Administration and Industrial Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Patricia-Anne Upson, Attorney, Constangy, Brooks, Smith, and Prophete, LLP

Patricia-Anne represents employers in a wide variety of labor and employment matters. She counsels and defends employers, in actions brought under state common law and federal law, including Title VII, the ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and FMLA. She advises clients on a range of practical management and employer issues such as hiring and termination, disability and leave issues, employment policies and practices, employment agreements and separation agreements. Patricia-Anne is also a contributing co-author to the Mercer Law Review, publishing an annual article on Labor and Employment Law for the Eleventh Circuit Survey.

Patricia-Anne received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mercer University where she was a four year letter winner for the Mercer Women’s Soccer team. She attended Mercer Law School and graduated in the top ten percent of her class. While in law school, Patricia-Anne was a member of the Mercer Law Review and she served as Coach of Mercer’s Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team.