August 2026 Meeting -
Civil Rights at Work
PRESENTER: Christina Teixeira, Attorney, California Civil Rights Division
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Gain valuable insight into workplace civil rights under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act in this timely and informative presentation from the State of California Civil Rights Department. Attendees will learn about recent legislative updates, key definitions of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and practical guidance on employer responsibilities and employee protections. The session will also provide an overview of important protections for individuals with criminal histories and people with disabilities, helping organizations foster compliant, inclusive, and respectful workplaces.
About Christina Teixeira
Christina Teixeira (she/her) grew up in California, as the daughter and granddaughter of Portuguese immigrants. Christina studied Political Science and Women’s Studies at San Francisco State University and received her law degree from the Dale E. Fowler School of Law. Thereafter, Christina worked with California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc as a legal services attorney before beginning state service as the California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Unit Manager. Christina joined the Civil Rights Department Community Conflict Resolution Team in October 2022, and the Outreach and Education Team in October 2024.
Lunch Menu Options:
Entrees:
- Croissant Sandwich
- Veggie Sandwich (Vegetarian)
Dessert:
- Banana Nut Cake
Meeting Location:
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 543-3000
Spotlight Speaker
Speaker: Spokes
Spokes is SLO County's nonprofit resource center. It provides education, consulting, and other resources to help local organizations thrive and grow their impact. During this presentation, Spokes will highlight current programs and explore how HR professionals can connect organizations with resources that strengthen leadership, workforce development, and long-term success. Spokes will also share the SLO County Nonprofits Get It Done campaign, a countywide effort celebrating the collective impact of local nonprofits.
Register: Click Here
September 2026 Meeting -
Building a Smarter Benefits Strategy for 2027
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Employee benefits remain one of the most meaningful investments employers make in their people, culture, and long-term business success. As the benefits landscape continues to evolve, HR leaders have an opportunity to make informed, strategic decisions that support both their workforce and their organization’s financial goals.
Join Morris & Garritano Sr. Benefit Advisors Ben Hoover and Dave Morgan for a forward-looking view of the trends shaping benefits planning for 2027, including medical and pharmacy trends, the impact of high-cost claims, legislative activity, provider dynamics, and compliance considerations. The discussion will also highlight practical strategies for strengthening benefits programs, such as contribution and plan design approaches, funding alternatives, trust-based solutions, and optimization of employer-sponsored and voluntary benefits.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the current benefits environment, the forces influencing future renewals, and actionable considerations for building a sustainable, competitive, and employee-centered benefits strategy.
Speaker Bios:
Ben Hoover, Sr. Benefits Advisor, Practice Leader
Ben Hoover takes great pride in designing programs that seamlessly and strategically work in line with the objectives, goals, and organizational culture of his clients. Since 2010, he has worked with Morris & Garritano playing a vital role leading agency strategy, promoting growth goals, and supporting new producers.
Leveraging his background in healthcare consulting, Ben is passionate about building meaningful relationships with clients and supporting them through the industry with service insight and advocacy.
A Central Coast native, Ben graduated Cum Laude earning his degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After a few years living and working in the Bay Area, he is happy to be back in SLO County where he operates his own 30-acre vineyard and enjoys winemaking projects at home.
Ben is heavily involved in the wine community partnering with prestigious charity auctions across the U.S. and localized organizations such as the Heritage Foundation with the California Mid-State Fair. Additionally, he volunteers with his kids’ local sports teams.
Outside the office, Ben enjoys fishing along with various outdoor, water, and snow sports with his wife and two kids. Together they like spending time out in the mountains or on the lake.
Dave Morgan, Sr. Benefits Advisor
Senior Employee Benefits Advisor Dave Morgan has been with Morris & Garritano for over 25 years. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with high honors and earned his master’s degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Dedicated to the insurance industry and his ongoing professional development, Dave is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists.
Dave’s extensive list of achievements includes the Chartered Healthcare Consultant (ChHC™) and Registered Health Underwriter (RHU®) designations from The American College, the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation through The Wharton School and the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, the Group Benefits Disability Specialist (GBDS) designation from National Underwriter, multiple certifications in Self-Funding and Wellness from the National Association of Health Underwriters, and The American College’s Certificate in Healthcare Reform Studies.
Throughout his career, Dave has been engaged in the local community, contributing his time and leadership to organizations such as Rotary, the Mission College Preparatory Board of Regents, the Human Resources Association of the Central Coast, and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Business Council. He is also a graduate of Leadership SLO Class XII.
Outside of work, Dave enjoys spending time with his family, surfing, camping, and watching Cal football. He is also a longtime member of the Este.ro Bay Surf Club
Lunch Menu Options:
Entrees:
- Thyme & Basil Chicken
- Grilled Portabella Mushroom (Vegetarian)
Dessert:
- Peach Cobbler
Meeting Location:
Madonna Inn - Garden Room
100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 543-3000
Spotlight Speaker
Speaker: Joel Diringer, JD, MPH, Founder and Principal, Diringer & Associates
Join Joel Diringer for a discussion exploring the history, demographics, and socioeconomic characteristics of San Luis Obispo County's immigrant population. Building on the The Fabric of SLO County report's findings, Joel will share additional research, updated data, and insights that can help HR professionals better understand the evolving communities and workforce that shape our region.
About Joel:
Joel Diringer, JD, MPH is a San Luis Obispo-based consultant specializing in immigration, community, and farmworker data, policy, and research. He is the author of The Fabric of SLO County: Understanding the Diversity and Contributions of Our Immigrant Community (2025) and served as project director for the San Luis Obispo Mexican Indigenous Community Study (2024).
Over the course of his career, Joel has participated in several statewide farmworker health surveys and authored numerous community data reports, including How Are We Doing? A Summary of Community Data on San Luis Obispo County(2018) and Paradox in Paradise: Hidden Health Inequities on California's Central Coast (2006).
Joel is a co-founder of SLO County UndocuSupport, which evolved into the One Community Fund at the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. He also serves on the Board of Directors of CenCal Health and volunteers as an attorney with the SLO Legal Aid Foundation.
Additional information is available at DiringerAssociates.com.
Register: Click Here
October 2026 Meeting -
HR Leadership Live: AMA Edition
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
No slides. No script. Just your questions.
Join us for a dynamic, live Ask Me Anything (AMA) featuring a panel of experienced HR leaders and employment law experts who will answer your toughest workplace questions in real time.
Meet the Panel
- Angela Toomey – Director of Human Resources, Morris & Garritano
- Erin Culp – Director of Talent Management, ZoomInfo
- Kathy Marcove – President, Marcove Executive Training
- Michaela Cotton – Attorney, Andre, Morris & Buttery
Moderator
- Dr. Allison Ellis – Associate Professor of Management and Human Resources, Cal Poly
Whether you're navigating employee relations, recruiting, leadership, talent development, compliance, organizational development, performance management, AI in HR, or California employment law, this interactive discussion is driven by what matters most to you.
To encourage candid conversation, attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions anonymously both before the event and throughout the live session. Ask what's on your mind, hear how a panel of experts approaches today's most pressing workplace challenges, and gain practical insights you can apply immediately.
Whether you're an HR professional, business owner, manager, or supervisor, you'll leave with actionable ideas, fresh perspectives, and solutions you can put to work right away.
Lunch Menu Options:
Entrees:
- Mandarin Chicken Salad
- Farmer's Market Salad (Vegetarian)
Dessert:
- Pink Champagne Cake
Meeting Location:
Madonna Inn - Venetian Room (Downstairs)
100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 543-3000
Register: Click Here
November 2026 Meeting -
Save the Date! More Information Coming Soon
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Register: Click Here
December 2026 Meeting -
Save the Date! More Information Coming Soon
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Register: Click Here