Speakers

Lisa Blanton, MBA, SHRM-SCP

As the owner of the Austin Alliance Group, Lisa Blanton possesses a diverse business background that includes over 30 years in corporate positions such as COO, CFO, and CHRO, including 13+ years as a business owner. She has a proven track record of helping leaders drive for high-achieving results through strategy, integration, and people relationships with a focus on financial, people service, and enterprising aspects of a business.

Lisa's career is filled with success stories of assisting entrepreneurs build the business functions of operations, finance, accounting, and human resources while they concentrate on the development of their product or service. She is passionate about guiding leadership teams to successfully build their organizations and provide the best environment and culture for their employees.

As a top-notch facilitator, Lisa teaches leadership teams to get what they want from their businesses. She does this by providing a complete system with simple tools – such as Everything DiSC, 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, and PXT Select – to help teams achieve alignment in their vision, get traction to execute to achieve every part of their vision and to help the leaders become a healthy, functional, cohesive leadership team.

Always wanting to help others, Lisa is an active member of the Austin Human Resource Management Association (Austin SHRM) and has served on the Board of Directors of the 800+ member association since 2014 in the roles of Treasurer, VP of Conference, President, and Executive Committee to provide advisory guidance to other volunteer leaders. Lisa also currently serves as Co-Director of Legal & Legislative Affairs for Texas Society of Human Resource Management (Texas SHRM), holds a certification as a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and has an MBA in Organizational Studies.

Speakers

Lara C. de Leon

Lara is an experienced trial lawyer and client advocate. Her extensive career has involved representing companies of all sizes, across many industries, in all aspects of employment law. Lara has successfully defended clients in the courtroom, before administrative agencies, and on appeal.

In addition to litigation, Lara has spent her two-plus decades of experience partnering with clients to counsel them through complex issues involving discrimination, retaliation, accommodation, and wage and hour compliance. Lara has also developed a passion for guiding clients through high-stakes matters involving pay equity, harassment, leave of absence and accommodations. Lara has had the distinct experience of working as in-house counsel for two large, multi-national corporations, which gives her a unique perspective on how to address the intricate issues facing organizations and their employees.

Lara is an accomplished speaker and presenter, having presented on cutting edge employment law topics at local and national events, as well as many online forums. Lara is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Mike C. Manoloff, CPA

Mike Manoloff has over 25 years of experience providing business advisory services to small businesses and individuals. Mike earned a BS in Accounting at Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Mike is a Certified Tax Coach (CTC) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Texas Society of CPA’s (TSCPA). Prior to opening his own CPA practice, Mike worked for a large international CPA Firm.

Published author: Mike helped co-author ‘Writeoffs to the Rescue!

Jim Nash, MHA, CVPM

Like many managers, Jim started his leadership career a long way from veterinary medicine. He served as a Warrant Officer and Aviator during Desert Storm where he flew OH-58 Scout helicopters in an armored cavalry squadron. Jim believes that being a good leader is about being a great team member first. He also feels that the loyalty, dedication, and commitment that he learned in the military are the fundamental transferable skills that lead to success.

After completing his military service, he attended the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration. After working in human healthcare, Jim transitioned to Veterinary Medicine in 2004 when became the Hospital Administrator of a five-DVM general practice in Colorado. Over the next four years, he helped grow and develop this Hospital into a ten-DVM, 24-hour, three-location, general, and emergency hospital. It was during this time that Jim was afforded the opportunity of practice ownership. He has also worked as a practice consultant and international speaker.

Jim returned to Florida from Colorado in 2011, where he purchased and developed two general practices. After the sale of these practices, he became the COO of a 15-DVM General, Emergency & Specialty Referral Center. In 2017, Jim founded AscendVets, which has become a multi-practice organization focused on developing people to achieve their dreams by caring for people and pets. Jim believes that we have a responsibility as leaders and managers to advocate for our team members, practices and industry. Jim has been a VHMA member since 2004 and earned the CVPM designation in 2008. He has had the privilege to serve on the VHMA Board of Directors for 13 years in the role of Director, Treasurer, Vice President, President and Past President.