Join us April 15th & 16th at the Pendleton Convention Center for the 2nd Annual Eastern Oregon Employer Conference, built for employers who want real answers, not more buzzwords.

If you’ve ever thought:

“I don’t have time to figure out all these new workplace laws.”
“Good employees are so hard to find.”
“I’d love to train my staff, but where do I even start?”

Then this day is for you.

You’ll walk away with practical tools and connections that make your job easier, not just another to-do list. Choose from breakout sessions packed with useful tips, meet local experts who actually understand rural business challenges, and network with other employers who get what it’s like to run a business in Eastern Oregon.

Take this time to invest in your business — and leave with the connections and resources to make a lasting impact.

Pre-Conference Workshops

Want to go even deeper? Join the pre-conference workshops with the Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI) and Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) training on April 15th with sessions that are eligible for SHRM credits. Join for a crash course in compliance, employee wellness, and retention that can save you time, stress, and money down the road.

Support this conference as a sponsor and gain early visibility with hundreds of employers and leaders across Eastern Oregon.

By becoming a sponsor, you are investing in the connections, resources, and innovations that keep rural Oregon’s economy strong and its future workforce thriving. This year we’re expanding the resources available to attendees. Some of this year's sessions are eligible for SHRM credits, including both pre-conference workshops.

High turnover, burnout, and disengagement inflict substantial costs, even for the smallest firms.

Introducing our Keynote Speaker: Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

This session explores the business case for addressing these challenges, focusing on organizational fixes rather than individual ones.

We will examine what modern workers, especially Gen Z and Millennials, truly value, including purpose, alignment, and work-life balance. Discover practical, flexible strategies that succeed in on-site environments like manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, such as stable scheduling and cross-training.

We will also analyze why Eastern Oregon's unique demographics and prevalence of microemployers demand a tailored approach to talent retention distinct from statewide policies.

Tractors and Terabytes: AI's Role on the Farm, in the Data Center, and for Our Community

Introducing Eric Magidson for our General Session

AI isn't just an abstract buzzword; it's a new industrial tool being powered in our own backyard. This seminar moves beyond the hype and connects the dots between the massive data centers rising in Eastern Oregon and the traditional farms that are our foundation.

We will explore how AI is already optimizing agriculture, what's really happening inside those "terabyte" facilities, and what this all means for our community's jobs. This is a practical, must-see session for understanding how to position our workforce for the future.

What's in store

This event will include breakout sessions to choose from full of resources to help you succeed as an employer. Some of this year's sessions are eligible for SHRM credits, including both pre-conference workshops.

*NEON workshop is eligible for 4 Continuing Education Units through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

*BOLI workshop SHRM and HRCI recertification approval pending.

There will be plenty of opportunities to network with other employers and the resource representatives throughout the day as well.

Early Bird Pricing ends on January 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific

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Wage and Hour Law: Scenarios, Top Tips, and Compliance Best Practice

This fast-paced seminar will cover the top wage and hour concerns Oregon employers encounter. Do final paychecks, rest and meal periods, and unauthorized overtime come to mind? Come ready to consider real workplace scenarios, discuss best practices, and ask BOLI's Employer Assistance trainers your specific wage and hour questions.

Strategies for Successfully Managing Accommodation Requests

This session will focus on practical and actionable strategies for handling accommodation requests. We will delve into critical and common accommodation scenarios so you can approach requests with confidence and minimize legal risks. Strategies will consider

Best practice when navigating disability accommodations
Supporting pregnant employees through workplace transitions
How to implement religious accommodation requests

SHRM and HRCI recertification approval pending.

BOLI also has sessions and Employer Assistance Office Hour on April 16th.

Save my spot!

Pre-Conference Workshops April 15th

Recruitment, Hiring, and Onboarding That Works For Oregon's Rural Workforce

Wednesday, April 15th

Recruitment, hiring, and onboarding can be one of the most time consuming and frustrating elements of running a business, especially when the new hires don't "stick".

In this four hour session come and learn about how to build effective recruiting pipelines for your business. Construct and implement interviewing processes that assess what it is you really need to know about your candidates. Engage in effective onboarding that teaches new staff the skills you need them to know and keeps them engaged with your organization for the long haul.

This four-hour learning session will address the following learning objectives in an interactive session:

Build attractive job descriptions aligned with your values and the values of your potential workforce, including older adults looking at encore careers and youth just launching in the workforce.
Identify evidence-based recruitment strategies for rural areas.
Develop an inventory of effective interview questions and practices that will assess candidates for the skills you really need, including soft skills.
Implement an orientation process that will increase your chances of retaining qualified workers.
Construct and deliver a six-to-nine-month onboarding process that will effectively train to all the skills you need, including soft skills, and launch your new employees into a successful long-term placement in your organization.

This workshop is eligible for 4 Continuing Education Units through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

NEON also has a session on April 16th, Recognizing and Valuing Your Organization's Most Important Asset: Your Employees.

Save my spot!

Pre-Conference Workshops

Thank you to our 2026 SponsorS

High turnover, burnout, and disengagement inflict substantial costs, even for the smallest firms.

Tractors and Terabytes: AI's Role on the Farm, in the Data Center, and for Our Community

What's in store

Pre-Conference Workshops April 15th

2026 Employment Law Roadshow with BOLI

Pre-Conference Workshops April 15th

Recruitment, Hiring, and Onboarding That Works For Oregon's Rural Workforce

Resource Area

Join as a resource table

Photos of conference 2025, provided by DDRC Marketing

Pre-Conference Workshops

Thank you to our 2026 SponsorS

High turnover, burnout, and disengagement inflict substantial costs, even for the smallest firms.

Tractors and Terabytes: AI's Role on the Farm, in the Data Center, and for Our Community

What's in store

Pre-Conference Workshops April 15th

2026 Employment Law Roadshow with BOLI

Pre-Conference Workshops April 15th

Recruitment, Hiring, and Onboarding That Works For Oregon's Rural Workforce

Resource Area

Join as a resource table

Photos of conference 2025, provided by DDRC Marketing

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