David Anthony's national litigation practice represents companies in highly regulated industries, including consumer financial services companies. He has significant experience handling class action and complex individual lawsuits, and is a skilled litigator, having defended cases under the FCRA, the FDCPA, the TCPA, and numerous other federal and state consumer protection statutes.
Zoe M. Argento is co-chair of the Privacy and Data Security Practice at Littler Mendelson, P.C., the largest management-side labor and employment law firm in the world. She represents and counsels clients on all aspects of privacy and information security including: data breach response and regulatory investigations; HIPAA, health laws, and issues related to COVID-19; new technologies in the workplace including mobile applications, monitoring technologies, and social media; and compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other global data protection laws. She has written extensively and frequently presents on subjects related to privacy, data security, and internet law. Argento received the designation of Certified Information Privacy Professional, U.S. from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Prior to joining Littler, Argento taught privacy, torts, and intellectual property law full-time at Roger Williams University School of Law. She also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Argento received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University, magna cum laude, and her law degree from Boston College Law School, Order of the Coif.
Chad Ascar provides employee and client training on background screening. His primary area of responsibility is to keep abreast of the ever-changing landscape of the screening industry. Ascar has conducted numerous webinars tailored to volunteer organizations and employee screening trends.
Kevin is a Partner in IQubed Advisors and host of the podcast, Background Check Radio. With 20 years’ experience, Kevin's a thought leader providing strategic, financial and operational solutions that increase compliance, satisfaction and profit. He is frequently invited to write, speak and present by PBSA, SHRM, employers, screeners and vendors. Kevin is the Chair of the BSCC has served a number of years on the Industry Practices Committee.
Kerstin Bagus, the chief knowledge officer for NetForce Global, loves using her decades of screening experience helping clients make the most of their global background screening programs. She has held senior positions with several market leaders, and is privacy certified by IAPP (www.iapp.org). She holds certifications for Canada, the EU, and the US Private Sector. She also holds the PBSA Advanced Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) certification. Bagus is passionate about PBSA activities and has served on the PBSA Board of Directors and Committee leadership positions. She is a frequent presenter for PBSA and on behalf of clients.
After years as an entrepreneur working with Fortune 500 companies, Bruce Berg had extensive success while earning industry-wide respect building CIC (now First Advantage) from $190K in sales to over $13M. After selling the company in 1998, Berg remained CIC president until 2000. At the request of several industry business owners, he launched Berg Consulting Group, providing services exclusively to the screening industry. Services include mergers & acquisitions consulting, a Better Vendor Program, and a job board for the industry.
Leah Braukman is a partner in the Corporate & Finance practice at Arnall Golden Gregory LLP. Her practice focuses on representing private and public companies in transactional and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private and public offerings, SEC compliance issues, and corporate governance matters. Braukman’s experience positions her to provide targeted legal advice as a trusted outside general counsel resource. Clients appreciate her depth of knowledge and know-how in corporate contract review. Braukman understands the ins and outs of contracts, including master services agreements, non-disclosure agreements, employment agreements, and more.
Vince Brodt has been with InformData (formerly SJV Data Solutions) since 2007,and is directly responsible for developing and leading the company's annual growth strategies. An active member of PBSA, he served a four-year term as Chairman of the Provider Committee and as an Ambassador for PBSA Conferences. A frequent speaker at industry-sponsored events and conferences, Brodt has led educational sessions on automation, research processes, technology advancements in background screening, social media screening, public speaking coaching, and moderator of numerous panel discussions.
Krisy Bucher leads marketing for Equifax Workforce Solutions. She has over 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, marketing, business development, and operations across a broad range of industries. Over the past decade, she has led high-achieving marketing teams in product marketing, brand strategy, digital marketing, communications, thought leadership, and channel marketing in the tech industry.
Nancy Byrne is a client director at iCover. spending the last nine years in the screening industry building global screening programs for large, multinational clients based in the United States. Byrne joined PBSA's US Education Committee as a volunteer in 2020 and is looking forward to deepening relationships within the industry, learning from experienced mentors and participating in the globalization of PBSA.
Henry Chalmers co-chairs Arnall Golden Gregory's Background Screening Industry Team and is the former co-chair of the firm's Litigation Group. He is also an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and co-chair of the ABA Section of Litigation's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. Chalmers represents clients in general business and FCRA-related litigation and arbitrations around the country.
Francis M. Conlon is a senior associate in Hudson Cook’s DC office. Conlon represents clients in investigation and enforcement proceedings involving the FTC and CFPB. He also advises businesses on compliance with consumer financial and privacy laws. Prior to joining Hudson Cook, Conlon was an attorney in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Financial Practices. Here, he led investigations and worked on enforcement actions concerning a range of consumer protection issues, from auto financing and advertising to fintech companies’ use of deceptive user-interface design. Prior to that, Conlon worked in the FTC’s Office of General Counsel.
Dan Copeland is a Senior Platform Safety Manager at Uber. His primary focus is on improving the operational quality of Uber’s global background check processes, including third party, implied in licensing, and document-based screenings. Prior to joining Uber, Copeland worked in international development consulting, evaluating the effectiveness of US development programs in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Liberia, Colombia, and Senegal. He received his BS and MA in international politics and security from Georgetown University.
Kevin Coy is a partner in the Washington DC office of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and co‐chair of the firm’s privacy practice. Coy’s practice focuses on advising privacy‐sensitive organizations on U.S. and international privacy law and policy matters. He also represents clients in proceedings before the FTC and other agencies, and advises clients on compliance with FCRA, GLBA, DPPA, and other federal and state privacy and data security laws. Internationally, Coy advises clients on transborder data flow issues and other matters in connection with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other international privacy laws and regulations.
Bill Current is the author of “Why Drug Testing: Updated and Expanded for 2020,” as well as nine other books on substance-related issues. He founded the Current Consulting Group in 1998, leading it to become one of the most recognized brand names in compliance, business development, and operations consulting in the drug testing industry. Current also created Current Compliance, the only comprehensive online subscription database on all state laws related to workplace drug testing, including marijuana and workers’ compensation laws.
John Davidson is senior vice president of the Cisive’s Research Division. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of investigation, case analysis, and quality control within the division. Davidson’s efforts enhance Cisive’s performance and increase efficiency throughout the company. Within the financial realm, he participates in the budget planning process and oversees short- and long-term financial and operational goals for the division. In addition, Davidson assists with sales and marketing and serves as an executive sponsor for some of Cisive’s largest clients.
Pamela Devata is a Labor and Employment partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago. Devata leads Seyfarth’s nationwide Background Screening, Litigation and Compliance Team. She has leveraged her niche area of expertise into a thriving class action practice. Devata is a national authority and the firm’s “go-to” for all issues related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, background screening compliance, use of criminal and credit history, and electronic signature issues, as well online and manual employment applications. A nationally recognized employment counselor, Devata has participated in numerous interviews, speeches, webinars, and trainings to employers on criminal history and credit checks.
John Drury is a partner at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. Drury is the co-chair of PBSA’s Litigation Avoidance Committee. His practice focuses on the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state laws addressing background screening. Drury has significant experience representing consumer reporting agencies and employers in single-plaintiff and class action claims brought under the FCRA. In addition, he frequently counsels employers and providers on compliance requirements under the FCRA and related state laws.
A 20-year industry veteran, Fishman co-founded EmployeeScreenIQ, He served as its CMO and EVP until 2015, at which time, Goldman Sachs’-backed, Sterling purchased the company and he served as SVP of Partners and Alliances. Here, he oversaw sales and marketing strategy. A pioneer in establishing EmployeeScreen University, the industry’s first on-demand knowledge base, Fishman created a mix of multi-media learning tools, best practices, compliance updates, and industry trends. Seen as the “voice of the industry,” Fishman became a public speaker at HR events, a media contact for national publications, and an advocate lobbying on behalf of PBSA.
Melissa Foiles, Director of Privacy and Compliance, at ISB Global Services, has over ten years of experience in the background screening industry. She has served in various leadership roles within PBSA and is currently the Chair of the US Council. Aside from PBSA, Melissa is a member of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Melissa holds several master’s degrees as well as the Advanced FCRA Certification.
Cindy Hanson focuses her practice on class action defense. She has handled more than a thousand matters under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), including hundreds of class actions. Her practice includes the representation of consumer reporting agencies, entities who furnish information to consumer reporting agencies, and employers who use background check information for employment purposes. In addition, Hanson has significant experience representing companies defending class actions under consumer protection statutes and state common law.
Andy Hellman is a published author and frequent presenter on all things related to global background screening, ranging from GDPR compliance to artificial intelligence. He has over 25years of experience working in organizations ranging from venture capital- backed startups to Fortune 100s, including over 20 years in background screening. Hellman’s international experience includes study abroad in Japan, working for an Italian technology company in Milan, and running global screening businesses in London, Canada, the US, and Singapore. He also holds CIPP/E and CIPM certifications, as well as a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP).
Kevin Horval has been in the background screening industry over 15 years, managing everything from automation to vendor networks. He has been heavily involved with PBSA, currently serving with the Government Relations Committee, and previously serving as the co-chair of the Access Subcommittee. Horval frequently presents at educational events, both in-person and virtually. He holds professional certifications in Lean Six Sigma, PBSA Basic and Advanced FCRA Training, and Foundations of Leadership Excellence from the Harvard School of Business Publishing.
Chad Kaldor is a core member of the Littler Mendelson background check team where he works with employers and CRAs on compliance with the wide array of laws governing the use of employment background checks. These laws include the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), state and local “ban the box” laws, state FCRAs, Title VII, and state and local anti-discrimination laws. Kaldor has served as lead or co-lead counsel in numerous putative class action cases against employers and consumer reporting agencies for alleged violations of the FCRA.
Marc Kirkland is a shareholder and a member of Quilling’s Consumer Financial Litigation team. Marc's practice is primarily focused on defending financial institutions, consumer reporting agencies, background check companies, creditors, debt collectors, and other companies against claims under the FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, TILA, ECOA, RESPA, and other federal and state statutes. He counsels companies on corporate compliance issues related to various consumer finance laws.
John Kloos is president and co-founder of BackChecked LLC, a technology platform provider to the background screening industry. He has over 45 years’ experience in information technology, having held senior management positions with both large companies and start-up enterprises. Kloos has extensive experience with computer hardware, high availability systems, software development, reengineering, and cyber-security and the internet.
Jeff Korzenik is Chief Investment Strategist for one of the nation’s largest banks, where he is responsible for the investment strategy and the allocation of over $40 billion in assets. For more than 30 years, Korzenik has been recognized in the investment management industry for the clarity and originality he brings to challenges. His insights into the economy, markets, manufacturing, and the workforce are frequently cited in the financial and business press. He is also the author of “Untapped Talent,” a book on the business case for hiring people with criminal records.
John Koufos helps companies optimize fair chance hiring and mitigate risk. His work has helped thousands of people with criminal records secure jobs. He is a nationally recognized criminal justice advocate with deep experience building and leading criminal justice organizations and campaigns. Koufos was certified as a criminal trial attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court. He has a lived experience in the New Jersey state prison system after a successful career as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer. His first-hand experience as someone with a criminal record has been invaluable to furthering the fair chance hiring movement.
Erica focuses her practice on advising a wide variety of consumer financial services companies, on regulatory compliance with consumer financial laws and prohibitions against unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practices. She frequently counsels clients on regulatory compliance matters related to the Military Lending Act (MLA), the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Kramer received her law degree, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Strategic Communications from the University of Kentucky.
Kym Kurey, Strategic Account Manager for Vital4 Data, has been serving the background screening community for over 24 years. After falling in love with the industry as a research provider, she obtained her private investigator’s license and has since helped roll out two CRA's, led the sales and compliance teams for three others, provided executive coaching and training curriculum to several of her CRA colleagues, and is now extremely proud to be a part of the Vital4 Data Team. Kym has served the PBSA membership since its inception as a committee co-chair, Board Member, Advocacy Day team member, and is a frequent speaker and panelist. Kym is certified in Change Management, retains her FCRA Advanced and Research Provider Certifications, is a published children’s author, and is the founder of ANEW Life International, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides global education and critical services for survivors of human trafficking.
Kristin Marker is a litigator who represents a wide variety of clients including financial institutions, a national consumer reporting agency, and background check companies in state and federal court in Fair Credit Reporting Act cases. She regularly evaluates and provides guidance to clients regarding the FCRA and various state consumer protection laws. She represents background check companies in various jurisdictions throughout the country.
Brian Matthews is senior vice president and general manager of Insights, an Equifax company. Insights is a division of Workforce Solutions, Equifax's largest and fastest-growing business unit. Matthews is responsible for developing and executing growth strategy, with an overall focus on reducing people-based risk, mitigating fraud and meeting compliance mandates. He speaks regularly on the topic of fair chance hiring with national media outlets.
Joseph Messer provides comprehensive legal representation to businesses of all sizes. He leads his firm’s commercial transactions and real estate practice groups, providing his clients with the benefit of his substantial experience in complex transactional matters. Messer also brings decades of experience in litigation of complex and high-stakes commercial matters, providing his clients with a depth of knowledge few firms can offer.
Montserrat is a partner at Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and co-chair of the Data Privacy practice, as well as co-chair of the Background Screening industry team. She is a trusted adviser to companies, providing counsel related to the collection and use of personal information, including criminal history and other public record details, credit history, student data, and employee and tenant data. Miller has developed a national practice advising consumer reporting agencies, software providers, providers of data, and employers regarding compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and state consumer reporting laws.
Rich Millisor is a partner in the Cleveland office of Fisher Phillips and co-chair of the FCRA and Background Screening Practice. He focuses on representing employers and consumer reporting agencies in complex litigation, including individual and class claims asserted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other federal and state employment laws. Millisor frequently speaks before attorneys and management groups on topical labor, FCRA and employment law matters.
Jennifer L. Mora is a Labor and Employment Senior Counsel at Seyfarth Shaw in San Francisco. Jennifer has deep expertise in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and state and local ban-the-box, marijuana, drug testing, and employment laws. She has been regularly advising both employers and consumer reporting agencies on the intersection of these complex and highly technical laws for more than a decade. Mora regularly presents on these issues both nationally and locally. She is also a prolific author in cutting-edge issues impacting employers and the background screening industry.
For the past decade Stephanie Morgan has advised consumer reporting agencies on compliance and risk mitigation, managed consumer reporting lawsuits and investigations, and negotiated settlements of claims large and small. She is vice president and deputy general counsel at HireRight, and formerly with General Information Services and Backgroundchecks.com. Before her life became consumed by the FCRA, Morgan specialized in complex commercial litigation and products liability law at the international law firm, Baker Botts.
Jason Morris founded Cleveland-based EmployeeScreenIQ in 1999 and served as the company’s president and COO until November of 2015. He served as Sterling’s SVP of Client Success and was a member of their M&A team until October 2017. Morris is a former co-chairman of PBSA. As a long-time background screening and risk management expert, Morris serves as a consultant to the screening industry on issues related to business strategy and growth, the latest trends in background screening, mergers and acquisitions and recruiting. He is a highly sought-after expert witness on litigation concerning screening, particularly regarding FCRA and EEOC.
Erin is Senior Counsel for the Safety Legal team at Uber. Her day-to-day involves working with the business on global screening and identity issues, standards, communications, and policies. Prior to working with Uber, Novak was active in the FCRA and screenings space, first as a lawyer suing consumer reporting agencies and users of consumer reports, and then defending and advising companies subject to the FCRA and other consumer statutes.
Shawn O’Neil is a proven executive leader with a strong focus on compliance and privacy that delivers results through regulatory comprehension, strategic planning, data-driven decision making, process redesign and employee development. He holds over 25 years of experience in the commercial transportation and employment screening industries with a focus on consumer privacy, regulatory and legal compliance, driver safety and recruiting, customer operations, training, data analysis, and process design to deliver more effective customer and operational solutions. O’Neil’s regulatory experience includes, but is not limited to: FCRA, HIPAA, OSHA, ADA, DOT (along with all modes of transit), PCI-DSS, GDPR, CCPA and 42 CFR Subpart 2.
Scott Paler is a partner at DeWitt LLP. He serves as chair of the Firm’s Background Screening Practice Group. Over his career, Paler has advised more than 100 background screening companies on compliance, litigation, and business issues. He previously served as co-chair of the Litigation Avoidance Committee for PBSA, led PBSA’s Insurance Task Force, and participated in PBSA’s Best Practice Steering Committee. Paler regularly presents on industry trends and best practices at national background screening conferences.
John G. Papianou is vice-chairman of Montgomery McCracken and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He concentrates his practice in complex civil litigation, with particular emphasis on consumer class actions involving claims under federal and state consumer protection statutes.
Jim Patrick is a partner in the Cleveland office of Fisher Phillips and has developed a multi-faceted legal practice. In addition to defending employers in a wide range of complex labor and employment matters – including representing employers in state and federal courts, before various administrative agencies and in labor arbitrations – Patrick has developed unique practice niches. He has developed strong experience in the rapidly evolving Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) industry, both advising employers and consumer reporting agencies with FCRA compliance and litigating class actions and single plaintiff lawsuits asserting FCRA claims.
Alice Quinones is the General Counsel for iCover, starting in 2018, and the PBSA Europe Council’s Industry Practice Committee Leader since 2020. She holds a Master of Law from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, and received a Bachelor in International Law from the Sorbonne School of Law in Paris, France. Quinones joined the New York bar in 2016 and the Paris bar in 2017.
Ron Raether leads the Cybersecurity, Information Governance and Privacy practice and is a partner in the Financial Services Litigation practice group at Troutman Pepper. He is known as the interpreter between businesses and information technology and has assisted companies in navigating federal and state privacy laws for over twenty years, Raether’s understanding of technology led him to be involved in legal issues that cross normal law firm boundaries, including experience with data security, data privacy, patent, antitrust, and licensing and contracts.
Jennifer L. Sarvadi is a partner in Hudson Cook’s DC office. Her practice focuses on consumer financial products and services. Sarvadi represents clients in government investigations and enforcement actions and litigation before state agencies. Jennifer also counsels businesses on compliance with federal and state regulations and consumer protection laws including, among others, the FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, and prohibitions against unfair, deceptive acts and practices. Prior to joining Hudson Cook, Sarvadi served as outside regulatory counsel to data and analytics companies and consumer reporting agencies, focusing on compliance with federal and state privacy and consumer protection laws.
Bobby Shank is an owner and director of operations for Roundstone, Inc., a criminal research provider based out of Florida since 2009. He is currently co-chair to the PBSA Provider Advisory Group, as well as a member of the PBSA US Council Leadership. Shank has also contributed to the review and revision of the PBSA Criminal Research Provider Certificate program.
Tim St. George’s practice includes the representation of clients in federal and state courts, at both the trial and appellate levels. St. George focuses his practice in the areas of complex litigation and business disputes, financial services litigation, and consumer litigation. He is a nationally recognized expert on issues relating to the Fair Credit Reporting Act and employment background screening, as well as class action litigation. St. George also serves as outside general counsel for several background screening companies.
Mark Sward is the vice president and Global Head of Privacy for Sterling, a global leader in background screening and identity services. He oversees Sterling’s privacy program and provides information and best practice guidance to Sterling’s clients through webinars, white papers, and other documentation. Sward holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from McGill University and a certificate in law from the Université de Montréal. He is also recognized by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a Certified Information Privacy Professional (Canada and Europe) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager.
Rob Szyba is a partner at Seyfarth Shaw in New York City. He advises clients on a wide range of issues under federal, state, and local laws including background check and Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, "ban the box" issues, and a wide range of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation issues. Syzba handles complex employment litigation, including class, collective, and multi-district litigation, as well as single-plaintiff lawsuits.
Julia K. Whitelock is a partner in Hudson Cook’s DC office. Her practice focuses on representing businesses in the consumer financial services industry that are facing individual and class action litigation and arbitration arising under federal and state consumer protection laws. This includes the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, and laws prohibiting unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices, among others. Prior to joining Hudson Cook, Whitelock was a partner in a national firm, representing businesses in consumer, commercial, and intellectual property litigation and advising, e-commerce clients on advertising law compliance.
Chief Operating Officer Bill Wilder leads the development of InformData's Verifications Suite. This product line leverages world-class call center technologies, processes, and best practices, to provide customizable verification capabilities to InformData's clients. Before joining InformData, Wilder served as the COO for SJV, Verifications, Inc. and as EVP of Operations for First Advantage. In these roles, he brought his deep Six Sigma and high transaction volume experience to aid the evolution of both organizations.
Chris Willis is the co-leader of the Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice at Troutman Pepper. He advises financial services institutions facing state and federal government investigations and examinations, counseling them on compliance issues including UDAP/UDAAP, credit reporting, debt collection, and fair lending, and defending them in individual and class action lawsuits brought by consumers and enforcement actions brought by government agencies. Willis also leverages insights from his litigation and enforcement experience to help clients design new products and processes, including machine learning marketing, fraud prevention and underwriting models, product structure, advertising, online application flows, underwriting, and collection and loss mitigation strategies.
Dailey Wilson is a senior associate in Hudson Cook LLP's Tennessee office. She focuses her practice on federal and state regulatory compliance matters for a range of financial institutions and third-party service providers, including the federal Safeguards Rule, third-party service provider oversight, and compliance management processes. Wilson also advises financial institutions, service providers, and others in the development and maintenance of consumer mortgage, automobile finance, installment lending, rent-to-own, and other financial programs.