ACG Detroit | The Current Labor Shortage: A remedy on the horizon?

Frank focuses his practice on labor and employment law and is prepared to respond whenever clients face employment-related issues. He understands the importance of addressing these matters quickly as they affect business clients’ short- and long-term goals. Through more than four decades, Frank has counseled businesses, political groups, and governments on a variety of labor and employment matters, political issues, and legislative topics including contract negotiations, elections, labor arbitrations, unfair practice litigation, union avoidance, wage and hour matters, harassment suits, boycotts, OSHA-MIOSHA matters, mass picketing, and National Relations Board cases. In every situation, Frank prioritizes learning about a client’s concerns and goals in order to craft a strategy that best suits their needs.

Employer associations, nonprofit trade associations, and boards of directors regularly seek Frank’s counsel, and he is a regular speaker to trade groups about employment issues. Throughout his career Frank has also advised lawmakers including governors, congressmen, senators, and local executives, as well as political parties and campaigns. He served as special counsel to former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder concerning anti-mandatory PLA statue enforcement, and was special campaign counsel for Michigan to President Donald Trump.

Jason Grobbel is the President of EW Grobbel, whose mission is “To serve our customers with expertly crafted food products through continuous innovation and engaging people in a culture of respect.”  Throughout all levels of the organization, Jason has worked to instill not only a culture of respect, but a complete intolerance of disrespect. 

In his book Leading America Back to Work, Jason describes the systems and processes he developed that transformed the company from a small regional processor, established in 1883 by his Great Grandfather, to nationally distributed.  He discusses a new vision for business framework; the five pillars for success: recruitment, on-boarding, supervision, evaluation, and job re-design.  Going further, Jason identifies the key to unlocking the potential of today’s workforce through the ACE System. This drives performance focusing on three core areas: Attitude, Competency and Energy.

Jason is a father to five children. His interests range from engineering and architecture, to psychology and philosophy. His passion is helping others grow personally and professionally, while making America's greatest Corned Beef on the side.

Phil has over 37 years of experience in strategic business development, technology platforms, and management leadership at a variety of large and middle-market international and domestic companies. His specific areas of emphasis include strategy, innovation management, agile organizational systems, sustainability and business model execution.

At IOP, Phil has served as Chairman of Creative Foam (also CEO), GT Technologies (also CEO), Edelbrock Corporation (also CEO & President), Vita Non-wovens and Coldwater Veneer, and as a board member of Kuss Filtration, Monroe Truck Equipment, Alexandria Moulding and PolyVision.

Prior to joining IOP, Phil served in leadership roles at a variety of manufacturing and service-related companies serving Light duty, Heavy duty, Agricultural and Powersports markets.  Companies served in leadership positions include: The Woodbridge Group, Inc. (President – North America and Global Purchasing, Quality & Program Management); Enterprise Electronics, LLC (President & CEO); and Magneti Marelli Holding - North America (President, CEO, and Board Member), as well as other roles spanning transportation, healthcare/medical, and consumer products sectors, including twelve years at General Motors.

Phil holds a B.S. in manufacturing engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA in international business from Wayne State University (Detroit). He also completed an Advanced Executive Program in strategy and technology at M.I.T. Sloan School of Management and earned his Ph.D. with highest distinction in management strategy and innovation from Capella University School of Business & Technology and is a graduate Executive Scholar in Strategy and Innovation from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management. Phil is a fellow at the Institute of Chartered Marketing (CIM – London, U.K.) and a Fellow – International Scientific Research Organization for Science, Engineering and Technology (FISROSET).

Patty Seagram is the Vice President, Human Resources for Henry Ford Health’s North Market.  She joined Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and the North Market in January 2019. Prior to this, she worked at Henry Ford Allegiance Health beginning in 2004 as the Director of Human Resources and has served as the department’s executive leader since 2015.  Patty earned an MS in Human Resources Development from Villanova University and an MA in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University.

Forrest Wall, CAE, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan (HBA). HBA is a trade association representing home builders, remodelers, trade contractors, multifamily rental property owners and industry suppliers. Forrest leads the organization’s staff team and is responsible for all management functions and activities of the association as prescribed by its volunteer leadership.

Forrest was hired as CEO on March 31, 2022 after having served the HBA for over 20 years, primarily with oversight of the organization’s advocacy program and as COO of the Apartment Association of Michigan. Most recently, Forrest served as the Director of Regulatory and Legal Affairs for the Home Builders Association of Michigan.

Forrest holds a Bachelor of Arts in Financial Administration from Michigan State University and, in 2004, achieved the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation through the American Society of Association Executives.