In-depth collaborative learning sessions designed to build knowledge and stimulate discussions on trending industry topics

What is USFNgage?

How it Works

USFN is reinventing the traditional webinar with our new complimentary virtual learning series USFNgage. In these 90-minute in-depth sessions, we aim to expand and enrich learning by increasing participation and dedicating more time to each topic. Unlike traditional webinars, USFNgage sessions are designed to be collaborative with speakers and participants engaging face-to-face on camera. By participating in USFNgage sessions, you'll:

Gain enhanced knowledge of important topics impacting the mortgage servicing industry
Explore best practices and leverage the expertise of other participants
Find practical tools to implement in your business and share with your team
Expand your professional network

USFNgage sessions will utilize a Zoom meeting format where speakers will engage directly with participants face-to-face. Participants should come prepared to enable their video, unmute themselves, and engage with both speakers and fellow participants. Participation in USFNgage sessions will include:

Non-verbal communication via Zoom (reactions, written comments/questions via chat); and,
Verbal communication (answering questions and sharing experiences aloud).

In addition, USFNgage sessions will use breakout rooms to facilitate smaller group discussions and collaboration. Participants will spend time working in smaller groups on an assigned topic and will develop a brief group report that will be presented to all participants during the session.

Who Should Attend USFNgage

Sessions are open to all USFN members and client organizations including mortgage servicers, government-sponsored enterprises, banks, lenders, and other financial institutions involved in the servicing of defaulted loans. While educational content is appropriate for servicers of all experience levels, those with 5-10 years of experience, including mid-level managers, will find these sessions most beneficial. USFN members of all experience levels will also find these sessions beneficial.

Upcoming USFNgage Sessions

Date
May 22

Time
1-2:30 p.m. CT

Moderator
Laura O'Sullivan
McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC

Panelists
Greg Campbell
Aldridge Pite, LLP

Victor Kang
Rubin Lublin, LLC

Thank you to our USFN Leadership Circle Sponsor
SGP Advisors
for supporting this USFNgage session.

Navigating the Impact of DEI Laws

Session Overview

The evolving landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) laws and policies presents significant challenges for both public and private-sector employers. The Jan. 20, 2025, Executive Order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” marks a pivotal shift in the federal government's approach to DEI initiatives. This order targets government programs that prioritize protected characteristics over individual qualifications, potentially setting a precedent for private-sector employers to reassess their own DEI strategies.

The Executive Order emphasizes eliminating programs that may be perceived as prioritizing protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender, ethnicity) over individual merit. This could lead to increased scrutiny of DEI programs in both public and private sectors. Employers should review their DEI policies to ensure they align with the principles outlined in the order, particularly to avoid any perception of reverse discrimination, which could now be deemed non-compliant.

The Eleventh Circuit’s March 2024 ruling striking down part of Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act” highlights the tension between DEI initiatives and constitutional protections, such as the First Amendment. This ruling underscores the importance of ensuring that DEI training programs do not infringe on employees' rights to free speech. The Jan. 25, 2019, amendment to the New York State Human Rights Law, which explicitly includes “gender identity or expression” as a protected class, reflects a broader trend toward expanding protections for marginalized groups. Employers must balance these protections with the new federal emphasis on merit-based criteria.

Agenda

Welcome, orientation, logistics, sponsor remarks, and panelist introductions
Short content presentations to introduce each of the five breakout topics
Breakout room collaboration - Participants will choose the topic they most want to explore further, then work with other participants to share ideas and resources, ask questions, brainstorm solutions, and explore best practices
Group reports - Each breakout group will present a brief report on their assigned topic to all participants highlighting key takeaways
Wrap up, next steps, and announcements

Breakouts

Breakout 1: The Impact of Executive Orders on Private Employers' DEI Initiatives

Key Focus: Analysis of the Jan. 20, 2025, executive order entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”
Discussion Points:
- Explore the impact of the executive order on private-sector employers.
- Should HR Departments conduct a thorough review of existing DEI policies and training programs to ensure compliance with the latest government standards and avoid any perception of bias or reverse discrimination.
- What risks are posed by changing DEI initiatives within a company?
- How company compliance should maintain clear documentation of DEI initiatives and decision-making processes to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements and organizational goals.

Breakout 2: The 11th Circuit's Ruling on the "Stop WOKE Act" and its Broader Implications

Key Focus: The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on March 4 that the state's Individual Freedom Act — known as the "Stop WOKE" Act — violates the First Amendment. The law attempted to restrict employers' ability to implement mandatory workplace training programs that discuss race, gender, and discrimination.
Discussion Points:
- What does the ruling mean for future state laws regulating employment practices related to race and identity?
- Balancing freedom of speech, individual rights, and government intervention in shaping workplace environments.

Breakout 3: Gender Identity, Expression, and the New York State Human Rights Law -- Private Sector Compliance and Employer Impact

Key Focus: Exploring the growing influence of gender identity and expression on workplace policies, focusing on New York State Human Rights Law.
Discussion Points:
- The challenges of private sector employers face in managing diverse gender identities, expressions, and accommodations.
- Examining potential legal pitfalls and best practices for fostering a respectful, inclusive work environment while addressing gender-related issues.

Breakout 4: State Laws Affecting Private Sector Employers — Navigating the Intersection of Local, State, and Federal Regulations

Key Focus: A comprehensive discussion of how evolving state laws, like those around gender identity and expression, impact private sector employers in different states.
Discussion Points:
- Exploring variations in state laws and their implications for employers operating across multiple jurisdictions.
- Strategies for creating inclusive workplace policies that balance state-specific legal requirements with federal regulations.

Technology Requirements

Zoom Functionality

To maximize the functionality of Zoom during USFNgage sessions, including the ability for you to place yourself into your preferred Breakout Room, it is essential you have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. To verify your version, click on zoom.us, then Check for updates.

equipment

It is recommended that you log into the Zoom meeting link via a laptop/computer, instead of a tablet, smartphone, or other electronic device, for an optimal learning and networking experience.

accessibility

Captions will be enabled for all USFNgage sessions, but should you require any additional accommodations to fully participate, please email us at [email protected] with as much advance notice as possible.