Business Advocacy Breakfast Series: Business in the Time of Covid

Join the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Business Advocacy Committee for the first in a series of Business Breakfasts: Business in the Time of COVID.

Area employers will hear helpful advice on dispelling misinformation, best practices for handling exemptions and tracking COVID vaccination cards, and business law related to mandates and vaccinations. In addition to updates on current  trends in infection, testing and vaccination.

The Business in the Time of COVID panel will feature: 

Dr. Muddasar N. Chaudry, MD, Infectious Disease Physician at LewisGale Medical Center
Dr.  Chaudry earned his medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He completed his both internship and residency at University Hospital at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Chaudry completed his fellowship at North Shore University Hospital in the Infection Disease division of New York University in Manhasset, NY.

Dr. Chaudry is board-certified in infection diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Prior to joining LewisGale Physicians, his experience includes his tenure as the medical director for an AIDS care facility in Newark, NJ, and the medical officer of the medical specialist unit at Services Hospital at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan.

Michael P. Gardner
Principal
Labor and Employment Practice Team
Mike Gardner has represented clients large and small, public and private in state and federal courts in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Mike has counseled employers on handling all aspects of employment claims, from internal management, proceedings with state and federal agencies such as the EEOC or DOL, and through litigation, trial and appeal. While litigation is sometimes unavoidable, Mike emphasizes a proactive and preventative approach to employment issues in an effort to minimize the costs and disruptions litigation can impose on a business.

R. Patrick Bolling
Principal
Labor and Employment Practice Team
Patrick Bolling helps his clients make day-to-day employment decisions, design and implement fair and effective employment policies, contracts and handbooks, conduct workplace investigations, and prevent disputes from becoming litigation. Patrick’s additional experience in transactional business matters allows him to offer depth and context to decision-makers beyond the employment setting. When necessary, Patrick aggressively defends employers, primarily in state and federal regulatory actions and civil litigation related to discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and retaliation under equal employment opportunity laws.

Ms. Katie Jones, Health Readiness Coordinator, Army Reserve
 
Ms. Jones has 12 years experience as a Department of Defense Civilian working in Human Resources, Administration, and Health Readiness for a local Army Reserve Unit. In addition, she is a Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserves and has served in a variety of positions from Human Resources, Equal Opportunity Advisor, and Drill Sergeant. Ms. Jones currently resides in Botetourt, but is originally from Roanoke County. She settled back home after her time in the Active Duty Army overseas in Germany.
 
Ms. Jones has been tackling the COVID mitigation processes and mandatory COVID vaccination order from the Department of Defense and is currently at 99% vaccination rate of eligible people. This did not come easy and hopes that her experiences can guide others.

Alex Watkins, Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health

The event will be held in the community room at Salem Civic Center. Space will be limited and current COVID safety guidelines will be followed.  Alex Watkins has worn a lot of hats but has always been motivated by leaving the world better than she found it. Before moving to Roanoke from Chicago, she founded a holistic care clinic, and still has a soft place in her heart for small businesses. She believes open, honest communication empowers folks so they can make the decisions that are right for them. She is excited to hear from the rest of the panel and wants the guests to walk away feeling confident they can weather this storm. 

Hosted by the Business Advocacy Committee:
Carey Harveycutter, Director of Tourism, City of Salem
April Woodward, VP of Oncology, Lewis Gale Hospital
Lisa Clause, Senior Director of Marketing and Philanthropy, Richfield Living, 
Denise King, Owner, Land Records Research
Jonathan Lee, Director of Alumni Engagement and Student Enrichment, Roanoke College

Sponsorships of this 6 series program are available. Call 540-387-0267 or email director@s-rcchamber.org to inquire on opportunities.