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.

Erica Rosasco, Rosasco Law Group
Jason Resnick, Western Growers
Relax, unwind, reconnect colleagues and engage with the industry experts at the iconic Madonna Inn. Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres, 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.

An evening of friends, networking, and goodwill with a pink twist you don't want to miss! Join us to kick off the 15th annual CFLCA Ag Labor Forum!

The market is tight, with FLCs experiencing pressure from all sides to do more, better, and all for cheaper. How do you stay out of the race to the bottom and separate yourself from the competition to be the lowest bidder? From contracts and indemnity clauses to commission rates, where can you be flexible, and when do you know to walk away? How do you communicate with Growers so they understand the value proposition (and the potential liabilities)? Join FLCs from diverse regions & commodities for panel discussion around how to set the foundation for a successful, mutually beneficial, partnership.

Greg Anderson, Acrisure
Carlos Castañena, SARC, Inc.
Sal Dominguez, Total Labor Force, Inc.
Francisco Nuñez, Nuñez Vineyard Management, LLC.

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.

Raul Calvo, Employer Services Consulting
Lourdes Gonzalez, Gowan Co.
La agricultura en California se está volviendo cada vez más litigiosa, con un código laboral tan complejo que puedes violarlo media docena de veces antes de desayunar. No asumas que nunca te pasará: prepárate y no les facilites el trabajo a los abogados de Los Ángeles que podrían amenazar tu sustento. Conoce las vulnerabilidades comunes, descubre estrategias útiles, y las mejores prácticas y medidas proactivas para proteger tu negocio. Invierte en tus procesos, procedimientos, y personal para evitar invertir tanto en la defensa contra litigios costosos.

Gerardo Hernandez, Littler
Emilio Rodriguez, Littler
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?

Bill Krycia, Cal/OSHA [retired]

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.

Ethan Aparicio, Northwestern Mutual
José Guerrero, Guerrero Mears LLP

El mercado está difícil, y los contratistas se ven presionados por todos lados para hacer más, con mejor calidad, y a menor costo. ¿Cómo evitar caer en la competencia por ser el más barato, y en cambio destacarse de los demás? Desde contratos y cláusulas de indemnización hasta tasas de comisión, ¿dónde puedes ser flexible y cuándo es mejor retirarse? ¿Cómo comunicarte con los rancheros para que comprendan tu propuesta de valor (y los posibles riesgos)? Acompaña a contratistas de distintas regiones y sectores en un panel de discusión sobre cómo sentar las bases para una relación exitosa y mutuamente beneficiosa.

Sergio Alfaro, Alfaro Farm Labor Contractor, Inc.
Javier Hernandez, Relation Insurance
Oscar Ramos, OFR, Inc.
Jesse Sandoval, AG1 Packing & Harvest Company

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. 

Gerardo Hernandez, Littler
Ruben Lugo, Impact Ag Labor
Juan Zaldivar, Triology Personnel and Land Management

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.

Sarah de la Cerda, MiSalud
Dr. Rupali Das, The Zenith
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.

Raul Calvo, Employer Services Consulting
Lourdes Gonzalez, Gowan Co.
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. 

Mike Blankenship, Rosasco Law Group
The shifting labor landscape, economic pressures, and immigration realities are reshaping workforce strategy across agriculture. In California H-2A has increased more than sixfold over the last decade, bringing more domestic crews working alongside H-2A. How can we maintain morale across diverse workforces while strengthening long-term labor stability amidst a minefield of potential conflicts, competing interests, and challenges? Join this discussion to learn how to stay ahead of compliance, communication, and cultural challenges and foster productivity and prosperity for your employees and your business.

Raul Calvo, Employer Services Consulting
Joe Martinez, CIERTO Global
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.

Isabel Bravo, The Zenith
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.

Darrell Smith, Daniel C. Salas Harvesting Inc. • Police Chief [retired]
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.

Lourdes Gonzalez, Gowan Co.

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.

Ethan Aparicio, Northwestern Mutual
José Guerrero, Guerrero Mears LLP

As we continue to navigate the tumultuous immigration climate and uncertain future, let’s take a step back from the headlines to learn from actual experiences in the field. We’ll address the impacts of shifting interpretations & application of policies, and which tactics to respond and adjust have been successful- or not. Participate in this moderated discussion to share insights from across the industry, looking beyond big city raids and sensational hot topics to focus on the day-to-day realities in the field. 
Presentado en inglés con interpretación simultánea al español

Goretti Calvo, AgSocio
Dax Deason, Deason Law
Kimberly Clark, CFLCA
Juvenal Magaña, Magaña Labor Services
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.

Ashli Sturgill, The Zenith
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.

Rebecca Hause-Schultz, Fisher Phillips
Emie George, Ganaz
Derek Sheldon, PickTrace
Hannah Tarrats, Datatech

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.

Gerardo Hernandez, Littler
Ruben Lugo, Impact Ag Labor
Juan Zaldivar, Trilogy Personnel and Land Management

 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.
Presentado en inglés con interpretación simultánea al español

Seth Mehrten, Littler
Blanca Wright, AgStaff Solutions

Ag Labor Forum Speakers

  • Greg Anderson
    Greg Anderson
    Vice President, Principal Acrisure (559)721-4711
    ALF Speaker
  • Ethan Aparicio
    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
    Rupali Das
    The Zenith Insurance Co. (925)416-5210
    ALF Speaker
  • Sarah De La Cerda
    Sarah De La Cerda
    Mi Salud
    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
    Emie George
    Ganaz, Inc. (831)200-3313
    ALF Speaker
  • Lourdes Gonzalez
    Lourdes Gonzalez
    Gowan Co.
    ALF Speaker
  • José A. Guerrero
    José 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
  • Ruben Lugo
    Ruben Lugo
    President Impact Ag Labor
    ALF Speaker
  • Joe Martinez
    Joe Martinez
    Cierto Global
    ALF Speaker
  • Seth Mehrten
    Seth Mehrten
    Littler Mendelson P.C.
    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
    Derek Sheldon
    PickTrace
    ALF Speaker
  • Darrell Smith
    Darrell Smith
    Daniel C. Salas Harvesting, Inc. (559)381-4005
    ALF Speaker
  • Ashli Sturgill
    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
    Juan Zaldivar
    Paragon Personnel (559)217-8794
    ALF Speaker