Meet BLR’s in-house team of HR experts
MEET BLR’S HR EXPERTS
BLR’s HR and training software and resources are powered by our team of employment law experts. Our in-house team keeps subscribers in the know about what’s affecting HR regulations as they happen. Using their combined experience of 100+ years, our team of HR industry experts answer your questions, develop resources and guidance documents, and make real-time updates as laws and regulations change.
Celeste Duke, SPHR, Managing Editor
Celeste Duke, SPHR, oversees BLR’s HR content team. Celeste understands the existing and emerging needs and challenges of human resources professionals thanks to several years of experience managing, writing, and editing key publications for BLR. Her areas of concentration include diversity & inclusion, workplace trends, and employee training. Before coming to BLR, she was the business editor for The Daily Herald in Columbia, Tennessee. Celeste earned her bachelor’s degree from David Lipscomb University and a master’s from Middle Tennessee State University, where she also taught writing.
Areas of expertise–Diversity, training.
Articles–Recruiting and hiring strategies to support your diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, Conflict resolution in the workplace
Jeanna E. Crocker, J.D., SHRM-SCP, Senior Legal Editor
Jeanna E. Crocker, J.D., SHRM-SCP, is a Senior Legal Editor with more than 15 years of experience in legal publishing and legal research and writing. She currently edits the Family and Medical Leave Handbook and the Leave and Disability Coordination Handbook. Ms. Crocker is also responsible for researching, updating, and maintaining information concerning the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), paid sick leave, maternity and pregnancy, military service (USERRA), and layoffs. Ms. Crocker received her B.A. in Communications & Information Sciences and M.A. in American Studies from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and her law degree (with an academic concentration in criminal law) from the State University of New York – University at Buffalo Law School.
Areas of expertise–Leave (jury duty/court appearance, leave of absence (FMLA), sick leave, vacations, voting leave, personal leave), maternity & pregnancy, military service (USERRA), and layoffs.
Articles–How to spot and stop FMLA abuse, Essential elements of workplace violence prevention plans, An employer’s role in preventing and responding to domestic violence, USERRA: Returning veteran employees to work
Colette Labate, J.D., M.B.A., PHR, Senior Legal Editor
Colette has worked in legal publishing for over 20 years, since graduating from Drake Law School with high honors in 1999. She later obtained an M.B.A. in Management and Marketing from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs while managing large legal content development teams. She currently writes and edits in the areas of employee handbooks, hiring, telecommuting, background checks, references, and preemployment inquiries, among others. She also manages the BLR Employee Handbook Builder, a completely browser-based system that allows users to build, access, and update state-specific employee handbooks.
Areas of expertise–Hiring, HR administration, performance management (background checks, discipline, employee handbooks, hiring, job description, performance appraisal, pre-employment inquiries, references/reference checks, telecommuting, turnover).
Articles–Five steps for creating inclusive job descriptions, Considerations when crafting multi-state employee handbooks, Employee handbook telework policies, Performance evaluation do’s and don’ts for employers, Progressive discipline in the workplace
Nancy McDermott, J.D., Senior Legal Editor
Nancy has over 24 years of experience in legal writing and editing, legal publishing, and HR webinars. She has written articles on evolving employment law issues, HR newsletters, immigration, and has created packets of forms and notices for all 50 states that employers can use when onboarding new hires and for employee terminations. She also served as the managing editor and writer for The Personnel Advisor, a human resources employment law reference manual, for over 20 years. Nancy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her law degree from Vermont Law School.
Areas of expertise–Documentation and recordkeeping, immigration, employment contracts, employment notices and posters, and employment records.
Articles–Employment contracts: Will Noncompete agreements soon be obsolete?, Managing mandatory workplace posters and notices, Best practices for maintaining Form I-9 compliance
Jennifer Brown, J.D., Senior Legal Editor
Jennifer Brown, J.D., is a Senior Legal Editor for BLR’s human resources and employment law publications, focusing on wage and hour topics. Prior to joining BLR, Jennifer worked as a commercial litigator in private practice and served as an attorney-advisor for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, where she advised senior management on various human resources and employment law issues. Jennifer earned her B.A. in Peace, War, and Defense at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her law degree from Elon University.
Areas of expertise–Wages, hours of work, and compensation (bonus payments, callback/report-in pay, child labor, contingent workers, deductions from pay, exempt personnel, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), hours of work, independent contractors, minimum wage, overtime, paychecks, payroll administration, rest periods, severance pay, time-keeping, travel time).
Articles–Independent contractors vs. contingent workers, Shift changes and predictive scheduling laws
Kelly Ryan, J.D., Senior Legal Content Specialist
Kelly Ryan, J.D., is a Senior Legal Content Specialist, focusing on providing, editing, and updating content related to employee benefits compliance, including the Benefits Reference Guides. Before coming to BLR, he worked as in-house legal counsel for various retirement service providers and the Colorado health insurance exchange. Mr. Ryan received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Colorado Bar.
Areas of expertise–Employee benefits (Affordable Care Act, benefits recordkeeping and disclosures, disability insurance, ERISA, flexible benefits/cafeteria plans, fringe benefits, health care insurance, health information privacy (HIPAA), health insurance continuation/cobra, retirement, retirement savings and pension plans, social security/Medicare, unemployment compensation, withholding).
Articles–State of the states 2024: Keeping up with state-sponsored retirement programs, Why employee benefits matter: Key considerations for employers
Cristina Fahrbach-Connors, J.D., PHR, Senior Legal Editor
Cristina Fahrbach-Connors, J.D., PHR, is a Senior Legal Editor/Content Specialist for BLR’s human resources and employment law publications, focusing on providing information and assistance to BLR subscribers via the HR Hotline. Before joining BLR, she represented employers, employees, and unions in employment law matters. She also worked as a human resources management professional for several nonprofits. Ms. Fahrbach-Connors earned her law degree from the Fordham University School of Law and her B.A. English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Rutgers College. She is a member of the New York State Bar.
Areas of expertise–HR Hotline, violence in the workplace, privacy, workers’ compensation.
Articles–Workplace violence: Laws to know and signs to watch for, AI in the workplace: Addressing employee privacy concerns, AI in the workplace: Balancing efficiency with employee privacy
Jasmin Mize, J.D., Senior Legal Editor
Jasmin Mize, J.D., is a Senior Legal Editor for BLR’s human resources and employment law publications. Ms. Mize is a former civil rights and criminal defense practitioner and has also taught first year law school courses in criminal law, civil procedure, and civil trial practice. Ms. Mize is a former managing attorney for a legal services organization where she represented plaintiffs in discrimination and class action cases across the U.S. Prior to that position, Ms. Mize spent eight years as a public defender on the state and federal levels.
Areas of expertise–Anti-discrimination laws, workplace harassment, equal pay, alcohol & drug testing in the workplace, complaints & investigations, union organizing.
Articles–Pay range disclosure laws trending in the direction of greater transparency
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