Meeting of July 26, 2011 – EEOC to Examine Arrest and Conviction Records as a Hiring Barrier

Victoria Kane
Area Director
Labor Relations & Integration, Portfolio Hotels & Resorts

Victoria Kane is the Area Director of Labor Relations and Integration for Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, located in Los Angeles. She is responsible for labor relations, training, benefits programs, human resources, and the integration of labor and technological resources.

Ms. Kane has been a speaker, featured writer or contributor for the following:

• Panelist on the U.S. DOL’s Roundtable Discussion on “Back on the Job Market: Workforce Development and Employment Strategies Targeting the Formerly Incarcerated” (June 2011)
• IMN's 2nd Distressed Hotel Symposium on 8-9 November 2010 in Los Angeles (2010)
• Advisory Board Member, AP Workplace Media (2010 to present)
• Southwest Texas Women and Minority Owned Business Conference Speaker (2006)
• Guest Speaker for the Southwest Texas Insurance Underwriters Association (2006)
• National Automobile Dealers Association Speaker (2005 Annual Conference)
• Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (2004-2005)
• CILS, International Business Transactions Delegate, Salzburg, Austria (2004)
• National Restaurant Association (2003-2005)
• Lorman Education Seminar Speaker (Texas, D.C and Virginia) (2001-2006)
• American & Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association Contributing Writer (2000-2004)
• American Bar Association, International Hospitality Section Speaker, 2001 Annual Conference
• Writer and quoted expert for articles in Lawyers Weekly, Workforce Magazine, and HRWire
• Pro Bono Attorney for Four Maryland Chapters of ARC (2001-2004)
• Pro Bono Attorney for Washington Lawyers for the Arts - Outstanding Service Award (2001)

Ms. Kane has served as a creator and leader for responsible business programs at full-service Hotels to benefit employees, guests, community, business growth and the environment. She has served as an innovative, hospitality training partnership with the Los Angeles Community College District, UNITE HERE labor union, Jewish Vocational Services, and the City of Los Angeles. She is also a current member of the City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board. She has served on committee positions with Women's Foodservice Forum and the Southwest Texas Women and Minority Business Organization. She has provided pro bono counseling services to a variety of non-profit organizations such as: CAN, a hospitality-based, workforce training program with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's Workforce Investment programs; Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) a leading court appointed special advocates for children organization; and has won an award for her services with the Washington D.C. Lawyers for the Arts.

As an attorney, Victoria Kane has represented employers, management, Board of directors and owners in the United States and around the world, providing advice and consulting related to labor relations and negotiations; employment law, business immigration, pre- and post-litigation strategy, mediations and settlements; and human resources policies, procedures, and administrative systems; and training and career development programs; and delivery and analysis of effective programs. With over twenty-five years of business management experience in human resources and operations, Ms. Kane provides workable solutions to employment issues in compliance with the myriad of federal, state and local workplace regulations.

Examples of client industries served include:

• Hotels, resorts, bed-and-breakfast inns, and casinos in almost every state in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as well as in Mexico, Canada, Australia, Japan, France and the U.K.
• Golf course management companies, country clubs and private dining clubs
• Auto and truck dealerships and service centers
• Restaurants, franchises, chains, catering and privately held foodservice groups
• Multi-state quick service retail and food service companies
• Fortune 500 Companies
• Small business start-ups, expansions, mergers and acquisitions
• Family-owned businesses, such as restaurants, book stores, consulting firms and retailing
• Government contractors
• General contractors and related service providers
• Benefits consulting firms and third-party insurance administrators
• Financial institutions and brokerage firms
• Multi-national manufacturing companies
• Professional service companies operating around the world
• E-commerce and software development companies
• Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare organizations
• Non-profit organizations and associations