Frances M. Laskey has been with Berkeley Policy Associates (BPA), a small, 100 percent employee-owned, majority woman-owned business, since 1991. BPA conducts social policy research, program evaluation, and technical assistance services to programs designed to assist individuals in overcoming barriers due to poverty, lack of education, limited English proficiency, disability, welfare participation, and other factors that may impact full participation in the workforce and in mainstream American life. Ms. Laskey wears a number of hats at BPA, including fulfilling both the Human Resources and Information Technology management functions, as well as serving as Corporate Secretary and chair of the Board of Trustees for the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Ms. Laskey also participates in the company’s business as a proofreader/editor of reports and other deliverables, as well as participating in sales activities by developing cost proposals and proofreading/editing technical proposals.

In addition to her activities at BPA, Ms. Laskey is currently serving her second term as elected president of the California Employer Advisory Council (CEAC), a non-profit organization with 49 local chapters throughout the state. The CEAC/EACs provide seminars to employers, chiefly on employment law and HR practice, as well as working in partnership with the state Employment Development Department (EDD) to provide information to, and obtain feedback from, employers regarding EDD programs. Ms. Laskey is also on the board and serves as Secretary to Small Business California. She fills the same function for the Novell Oakland/Bayarea User Group (NOBUG). She also serves on the Business and Industry Special Committee of the California Workforce Investment Board, and is involved informally with several other boards and advisory committees, representing small business in state-wide policy discussions.

www.berkeleypolicyassociates.com

www.ceac.org

www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org

www.nobug.us

www.calwia.org