Home  |  Registration   |  Sessions  | Speakers | Sponsors 

Ruth Ann Daniels serves as Gray Reed’s Labor an Employment Practice Group Leader. With over 30 years of experience as both a trial lawyer and legal advisor for employers in Texas and across the country, Ruth Ann has handled every adversarial and operational matter that can arise in the employer-employee relationship. Her experience includes trying cases in state and federal courts, resolving disputes through arbitrations, conducting investigations and audits, providing workplace training and addressing day-to-day workplace problems. Her clients range from Fortune 500 companies to mid-size businesses across several industries, including automotive, retail, oil and gas, restaurants and many more.

Ruth Ann has achieved numerous successful outcomes in litigation and arbitrations involving all types of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wrongful termination, theft of trade secrets and disputes involving non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. She also has substantial experience in defending multi-party and class action litigation and resolving Department of Labor audits, primarily involving FLSA wage and hour claims.

Ruth Ann also represents employers with unionized workforces in arbitration proceedings involving a variety of issues that arise under collective bargaining agreements. She frequently handles litigation outside the employment context as well, including disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, DTPA claims and trusts and estates issues. Click here to read more. 

Rodney Klein has over sixteen years of experience as an EEO trainer and presenter as owner of Rodney Klein EEO Training and with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is a recognized authority in federal EEO law and is a sought-after speaker and trainer across Texas. He regularly educates groups on workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He also trains audiences on addressing workplace behavior, creating civil cultures, understanding and reducing microaggressions, and minimizing unconscious bias in decision making. He coaches organizational leaders on how to re-think EEO in ways that better equip them to navigate the challenges brought on by an ever-changing social landscape. Rodney believes that understanding EEO both legally and culturally is the key in creating productive, efficient and ultimately inspired workforces.

Adam Dougherty is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Adam counsels employers throughout Texas and the United States on a daily basis concerning a multitude of cutting-edge and high stakes employment advice matters including terminations, disciplinary actions, and leave and accommodation issues. Adam also regularly prepares handbooks, personnel policies, noncompete agreements, employment agreements, and complex separation agreements. In addition to litigating in state and federal courts and arbitration proceedings on various discrimination, FLSA, and noncompete matters, he also regularly appears before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and various state agencies. Adam also conducts anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training and workplace investigations.

In addition to representing companies all across the state of Texas, Adam also maintains a national and international practice, representing companies operating in each of the 50 states and across the globe. In light of his unique experience representing multi-state employers, he serves on the Steering Committee of the firm’s Multistate Advice and Counseling Practice Group.
Click here to learn more. 

Laura Bustamante holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences, with minors in Chemistry and Spanish, from the University of North Texas. She is currently the Vice President of Human Resources at Ag Resource Management (ARM) in downtown Fort Worth, a company dedicated to partnering with farmers nationwide to provide loans. Laura has also served as the President of the Fort Worth Human Resources Association.

Outside of her professional life, Laura enjoys cooking, reading, and spending quality time with her family and friends. A proud mom of three energetic boys—Landon, Asher, and Anderson—she stays busy attending their sporting events and staying actively involved in their school activities. 

Christina Cantu joined AUI Partners in September 2023 as the Human Resources Coordinator, where she focuses on recruiting top talent and ensuring new employees are set up for success in their roles.

A proud native of the North Side of Fort Worth, Christina is a first-generation graduate student currently completing her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of North Texas. Her commitment to community and education drives much of her professional and personal life.

Outside of work, Christina runs a photography and videography business, JTX Studios, alongside her husband. When they're not behind the camera, they enjoy spending time with their three beloved fur babies—Jimmy Choo, Chanel, and Winnie—while binge-watching true crime documentaries.

Christina is passionate about giving back to her community and alma mater, and she aims to make an even greater impact through service in the coming year. Being a board member of FWHR is both an honor and a milestone for her, and she looks forward to contributing to the warm and inclusive environment she first experienced at her initial event in December 2021.

Catherine Clifton is a partner in the law firm of Gannaway | Clifton, PLLC. Catherine has more than 20 years of experience working for local governmental entities in Texas specializing in employment law. She worked with multiple local governmental entities as an employment law attorney and also served as a legal advisor for public safety. She spent several years as an administrator in a municipality, where she was responsible for Human Resources, Risk Management, and Payroll. She has advised clients on recruitment, selection, discipline, wage and hour, policies, and grievance matters, including federal and state laws related to labor and employment. Catherine also has experience with general municipal law, utility matters, public information, open meetings, and general governance matters.

Catherine is a graduate of Southwestern University and obtained her J.D. from Texas Tech University. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Timothy Watson was appointed Regional Director of the NLRB’s Regional Office in Fort Worth, Texas (Region 16) in 2017. He began his career with the NLRB in 1988 as a Field Attorney in Region 16. In 1999, he was promoted to Deputy Regional Attorney in Region 16. In 2006, Mr. Watson was appointed the Regional Attorney in Region 16. In his capacity as Regional Attorney, Mr. Watson served as Region 16’s chief legal counsel.

A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Watson earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Spencer Mainka focuses her practice on defending employers in state and federal employment law proceedings. She also regularly handles charges of discrimination and retaliation filed with government agencies, mediates complex business disputes, and defends clients in arbitration. Spencer graduated in 2019 from Texas A&M University School of Law, where she served as a board member for the Employment and Labor Law Student Association and completed a concentration in Workplace Law. She served as a research assistant to Professor and Director of the Workplace Law Program, Michael Z. Green, and received top accolades for her article, Algorithm-Based Recruiting Technology in the Workplace. Before attending law school, Spencer worked for LegalZoom and managed a team of business formation specialists.

Caroline Harrison is a founding Partner of Pham Harrison LLP. As an attorney Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she represents employers in disputes with former employees, and guides them through the sometimes confusing arena of employment law. Her practice focuses on employment litigation and counseling.

Caroline assists employers in variety of areas, including anti-discrimination and retaliation

laws, drafting and enforcing covenants not to compete and non-solicitation agreements, and protection of trade secrets. She advises employers on the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Unemployment Compensation appeals, handling complex investigations into sensitive employment issues, Wage and Hour issues, and classification of employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). She provides counseling on complex issues including discipline, termination, harassment, investigations, effective employment practices, litigation avoidance and accommodation of disabilities, as well as training human resource professionals, managers, and supervisors in all areas of employment law.