Ag Labor Forum Sessions & Speakers

View the schedule at a glance here.
Wednesday Nov. 19 at the Madonna Inn
Join us to kick off the 15th Annual Ag Labor Forum with Jason Resnick (Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Western Growers) and Erica Rosasco (Rosasco Law Group, Owner) to hear what's keeping them up at night, insights from reading between the lines of legalese, and to answer your questions! As the session concludes, debrief, relax, and connect with colleagues during the networking reception at the iconic Madonna Inn. 
Reconnect with colleagues and engage with the industry experts presenting throughout the forum during this reception with a raffle benefiting the Gabriel Gomez-Sandoval Farmworker Scholarship. Since 2016 CFLCA has supported the development and education of the next generation, distributing $355,000 to the children of farmworkers.
We spend time and resources training mayordomos and supervisors to listen to their crews to improve productivity, decrease safety incidents, identify opportunities and challenges early... But how can they listen if no one is talking? Workers can see many risks and reasons to not speak up, from not wanting to stand out, to respect for authority, or fear of retaliation. Join this session to explore methods to build an environment that fosters trust by understanding cultural & organizational barriers and explore field-tested strategies to build the foundation for more open communication. 
Many employers have interacted with Cal/OSHA’s newly hired inspectors and the Ag Enforcement Task Force, but the agency has been investing in even more resources in the name of enforcing workplace safety regulations. The Legal Unit & Bureau of Investigations expanded as legislators have called to end collaboration with employers in negotiating citations and push to see criminal charges against employers in serious cases. How is Cal/OSHA’s approach to publicizing cases impacting individual employers and the industry as a whole? Does this shift in approach change the best practices and recommendations for interacting with the agency?  What does this buildup mean for ag employers and what should they be doing – or not?

Now is the time to plan for the future- set yourself on the right track, whether you might look to sell your business, transfer ownership to family, or close up and retire. How do you value a farm labor contracting business, putting a price tag on goodwill and the relationships you have developed? What steps can you take to protect your business and personal assets when legal liabilities and demands can follow you, your partners and family members even after a business has shut down? Join us to learn about the foundations to build a strong succession plan, the unique challenges for FLCs, and what questions you should be asking.

Disciplinary actions, carpools, combining breaks to let crews off early - what might be putting your business at risk? Don't wait for DOL, DLSE, or a PAGA claim to shed light on what's happening out in the field. Whether it's supervisors not understanding regulations, getting lax on enforcing policies, or even the best of intentions - employers being unaware of issues doesn't protect the business or the workforce. 

Join a former DOL WHD investigator and labor & employment attorney for insights on what they’ve seen from the field, and how to set yourself up for a better defense than “well I don’t know, that’s not what I told them to do”. Or better yet- how to be proactive, know what to look for, ask the right questions, and address issues before they become a liability. 

Unseen forces threaten your workforce and increase costs to your business with lower productivity, more frequent incidents, and greater workers’ comp claims. Diabetes, heart disease, chronic & acute stress and depression have negative impacts for individuals and are linked to more frequent workplace accidents, increased severity, and more complicated treatment. Join us to better understand how to improve the health of your company by supporting the wellbeing of your employees.
Invertimos tiempo y recursos a capacitar a mayordomos y supervisores para que escuchen a sus cuadrillas con el fin de mejorar la productividad, reducir los incidentes de seguridad, e identificar oportunidades y desafíos con anticipación. Pero ¿cómo pueden escuchar si nadie habla? Los trabajadores pueden percibir muchos riesgos y razones para no expresarse, desde no querer llamar la atención, hasta el respeto a la autoridad o el temor a represalias. Únase a esta sesión para explorar métodos que ayuden a crear un entorno de confianza al comprender las barreras culturales y organizacionales, y conocer estrategias probadas en el campo para sentar las bases de una comunicación más abierta.
Last summer reforms were enacted to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) which expanded provisions to cure and remediate asserted violations. But what does that actually mean? And what do employers need to do to take advantage of this to protect their businesses? New PAGA gives employers some much needed relief, but only if employers take proactive steps to verify compliance with California law before a lawsuit is filed. Join us for a deep dive into New PAGA’s requirement to conduct regular audits with step-by-step instructions on how to audit your time and payroll records like a lawyer. 
La regulación de Cal/OSHA más citada por infracciones en la agricultura es la §3395 - Prevención de Enfermedades por Calor; pero ¿refleja realmente los mayores riesgos que enfrentan los empleados o cómo se lesionan las personas en el trabajo? En esta sesión, analizaremos los datos para descubrir qué cuestiones de seguridad están sobre -o subre- representados en las citaciones y dónde la aplicación de la ley podría estar equivocado. Aprenda a ir más allá de las casillas regulatorias para crear un programa de seguridad que aborde los riesgos reales y genere un impacto duradero para sus operaciones y sus empleados. 
We’ve all voiced our complaints and opinions on policies and regulations to our colleagues over coffee -or something stronger- but nothing will change if we just complain amongst ourselves. Join Sacramento & D.C. veterans for an update on the state of the capitol and a discussion on how to navigate the legislative & regulatory processes, craft powerful personal stories and shape the conversations around farm labor. Politics is a team sport- join us to learn how to stop riding the bench and get on the field to be an advocate for ag. 
Succession planning is often ignored until it's too late - don't wait till your key team members announce their retirement to consider the people, resources, and institutional knowledge that keeps your operations running smoothly. Learn how to foster internal talent (without nipping at anyone’s heels!), empower current leaders (maintaining a practical dose of humility), and address common transition challenges. This workshop will get you on the path to developing your company’s own positive proactive succession process for your frontline supervisors and middle management. 

Ahora es el momento de planificar el futuro: tome el camino correcto, ya sea que busque vender su negocio, transferir la propiedad a su familia o cerrarlo y jubilarse. ¿Están adecuadamente estructurados sus bienes comerciales y privados para apoyar y proteger a su familia? ¿Ha desarrollado su negocio hasta el punto de que está superando a sus proveedores de servicios profesionales y debería buscar llevarlo al siguiente nivel? ¿Qué medidas puede tomar para proteger su negocio y sus bienes personales cuando las responsabilidades y demandas legales pueden perseguirlo a usted, a sus socios y a sus familiares, incluso después del cierre de un negocio? Acompáñenos para conocer las bases para construir un plan de sucesión sólido, los retos únicos para los contratistas y las preguntas que debería hacerse. 

The most frequently cited Cal/OSHA regulation for violations in ag is §3395- Heat Illness Prevention; but does this truly reflect the greatest hazards employees face or how people are getting injured at work? In this session we’ll examine the data to uncover which safety issues are over -or under- represented in citations and where enforcement may be missing the mark. Learn how to look beyond regulatory checkboxes to build a safety program that addresses real risks and delivers lasting impact for your operations and your employees. 
What can employers do in the face of increasingly complex wage and hour regulations and the ever-present threat in this litigious environment? Don’t just cross your fingers and hope to fly under the radar- learn about tools & resources, their pros and cons, and most importantly proper implementation to help keep your operations compliant. Join an attorney with deep roots in ag and experience defending employers in Class/PAGA and single plaintiff litigation for a discussion with leading technology providers dedicated to serving the ag labor industry. Learn about software solutions to enhance compliance, accuracy, and efficiency in managing labor records to help safeguard your operations from potential legal challenges.

Acciones disciplinarias, viajes compartidos, combinar descansos para dejar salir a las cuadrillas temprano: ¿qué podría poner en riesgo su empresa? No espere a que el DOL, la DLSE, o una demanda de PAGA saquen a la luz lo que está ocurriendo en el campo. Ya sea que los supervisores no comprendan las regulaciones, sean negligentes en la aplicación de las políticas, o incluso tengan las mejores intenciones, el hecho de que los empleadores desconozcan los problemas no protege ni a la empresa ni a la fuerza laboral. 

Acompáñenos junto a un exinvestigador de DOL WHD y un abogado laboral para conocer las experiencias que han visto en el campo y cómo prepararse para una mejor defensa que simplemente decir: "bueno, no sé, eso no es lo que les dije que hicieran". O mejor aún: cómo ser proactivo, saber qué buscar, hacer las preguntas correctas, y abordar los problemas antes de que se conviertan en una responsabilidad legal.

 What’s on the horizon for 2026? Join us for the legal outlook together with an agricultural compliance consultant to break down the complex legal language and translate it into policies your team can realistically implement. We’ll address laws and regulations set to take effect in the new year, guidance from regulatory agencies, interpretations from the courts, along with practical insights and proactive steps to stay compliant. Walk away equipped with the knowledge to navigate these changes smoothly and keep your business ahead of the curve in California’s ever evolving regulatory landscape.

Ag Labor Forum Speakers

  • Greg Anderson
    Greg Anderson
    Vice President, Principal Acrisure (559)721-4711
    ALF Speaker
  • Ethan Aparicio
    Northwestern Mutual (559)359-5042
    ALF Speaker
  • Mike Blankinship
    Mike Blankinship
    Rosasco Law Group
    ALF Speaker
  • Isabel Bravo
    Isabel Bravo
    The Zenith Insurance Co.
    ALF Speaker
  • Raul Calvo
    Raul Calvo
    Employer Services Consulting
    ALF Speaker
  • Goretti Calvo
    Goretti Calvo
    Director - Human Resources, Safety & Training AgSocio
    ALF Speaker
  • Carlos Castaneda
    Carlos Castaneda
    SARC, Inc.
    ALF Speaker
  • Rupali Das
    The Zenith Insurance Co. (925)416-5210
    ALF Speaker
  • Sarah De La Cerda
    ALF Speaker
  • Dax Deason
    Dax Deason
    Deason Law (713)471-6082
    ALF Speaker
  • Salvador Dominguez
    Salvador Dominguez
    Total Labor Force Inc.
    ALF Speaker
  • Emie George
    Ganaz, Inc. (831)200-3313
    ALF Speaker
  • Lourdes Gonzalez
    Lourdes Gonzalez
    Gowan Co.
    ALF Speaker
  • Jose A. Guerrero
    Law Office Of Jose A. Guerrero (661)215-4990
    ALF Speaker
  • Javier Hernandez
    Javier Hernandez
    Relation Insurance
    ALF Speaker
  • Gerardo Hernandez
    Gerardo Hernandez
    Littler Mendelson P.C.
    ALF Speaker
  • Bill Krycia
    Bill Krycia
    ALF Speaker
  • Bryan Little
    Bryan Little
    Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS)
    ALF Speaker
  • Ruben Lugo
    Ruben Lugo
    President Impact Ag Labor
    ALF Speaker
  • Seth Mehrten
    Seth Mehrten
    Littler Mendelson P.C.
    ALF Speaker
  • Michael Miiller
    Michael Miiller
    California Association Of Winegrape Growers (916)379-8995
    ALF Speaker
  • Oscar Ramos
    Oscar Ramos
    OFR, Inc. (559)930-4874
    ALF Speaker
  • Jason Resnick
    Jason Resnick
    Western Growers H-2A Services
    ALF Speaker
  • Emilio A. Rodriguez
    Emilio A. Rodriguez
    Littler Mendelson P.C.
    ALF Speaker
  • Erica Rosasco
    Erica Rosasco
    Rosasco Law Group
    ALF Speaker
  • Jesse Sandoval
    Jesse Sandoval
    AG1 Packing & Harvest Company (209)988-8149
    ALF Speaker
  • Derek Sheldon
    PickTrace
    ALF Speaker
  • Ashli Sturgill
    The Zenith Insurance Co. (831)406-7448
    ALF Speaker
  • Hannah Tarrats
    Hannah Tarrats
    Datatech
    ALF Speaker
  • Blanca Wright
    Blanca Wright
    AgStaff Solutions, LLC
    ALF Speaker
  • Juan Zaldivar
    Paragon Personnel (559)217-8794
    ALF Speaker