EVENTS FOR THE FULL ARTS COMMUNITY

Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom

In this training, you will hear from an experienced HR professional about recommended practices and procedures related to onboarding new staff members. Based on the 2025 ArtsPay NJ survey findings, a significant number of workers report that they don’t know the details of their benefits, including PTO and health insurance, and are unclear on important details of their organization, such as budget size or funding structure. This training aims to give practical, manageable suggestions for how to ensure that new staff have a clear understanding of the organization, their benefits, and their job responsibilities.

Facilitator:  Diane L. Parker is a proven leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and Human Resource Management with over two decades of experience in media and the financial services industry. Diane most recently served as Vice President and Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at PGIM Fixed Income, the investment management firm for Prudential, headquartered in Newark, NJ. Prior to joining Prudential, she held senior DEI roles with the Associated Press and Dotdash Meredith, the number one magazine publisher in the US with iconic brands such as PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, and Food & Wine. Diane developed strategies and solutions for talent acquisition, learning and development, retention, succession planning, and the employee experience. Diane received her master’s degree in HR management and a B.A. in mass communication from Lindenwood University. She completed the DEI certification program at Cornell University and is a proud alumna of the Stella Adler/Billie Holiday Theatre Black Arts Institute. Diane is an experienced actress, director, and the winner of the 2017 NY Strawberry One Act Festival.  With her passion for the arts, she co-founded and serves as the executive director of the New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative (NJCAC). She serves on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and American Theater Group.

Tuesday, January 21, 2027 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom

Join a legal expert in employment law to learn about the importance of and steps to developing employee handbooks as a way to protect your organization, communicate your values to employees, and provide clarity about company culture and policy. Based on the results of the 2025 ArtsPay NJ survey, a significant number of organizations report not having a handbook, and many employees report a lack of understanding about company policies and benefits. This session will offer practical and actionable steps to creating or updating employee handbooks where that information is consolidated and clearly communicated to all employees. Additionally, our facilitator will speak to employee classification (exempt, non-exempt, and independent contractors) and how to ensure that your handbook provides clarity around different categories of employment.

Facilitator: Brigitte Gladis has more than a decade of experience litigating complex employment and commercial matters in New Jersey federal and state courts, from the outset of the litigation process through trial. Her practice currently focuses on representing public and private employers in all aspects of employment litigation, including defending claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Prior to joining the firm, Brigitte served as a law clerk for the Honorable Marie P. Simonelli of the Superior Court of New Jersey – Appellate Division. During law school, she served as a judicial intern for Justice Barry T. Albin of the New Jersey Supreme Court, then-Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and Judge Frederick P. DeVesa of the Superior Court of New Jersey – Middlesex County vicinage. Brigitte graduated summa cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law. While in law school, she participated in the Seton Hall University Center for Social Justice Civil Litigation Clinic and was a Comments Editor on the Seton Hall Law Review.