Harvesting Success: Navigating the H-2A Program

Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Time: 02:00 PM ET / 01:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenter: Heather Bustle, Work Visa Specialist, GROWMARK, Inc
Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Director of Education, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
Learning Objectives:
1. How the H2A program has worked for GROWMARK, Inc. as a corporation/cooperative
2. Benefits and Challenges of the program
3. Understand complexities in the current regulatory environment
4. Impact of recent regulatory change to the program
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1.5 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.
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Course Description

Join us for an insightful 75-minute webinar on the H-2A program, designed to shed light on the complexities, benefits, and recent regulatory changes associated with this essential agricultural labor program. Explore the multitude of benefits that the H-2A program offers, such as access to a reliable workforce, increased productivity, and the ability to meet seasonal labor demands. Conversely, delve into the challenges that participants may encounter, including regulatory compliance and labor management issues. Heather Bustle, Work Visa Specialist for GROWMARK. will provide a firsthand account of how GROWMARK has successfully leveraged the H-2A program to address their labor needs and enhanced their agricultural operations. Gain valuable insights into the strategies and practices that have made this program a valuable asset for the organization.

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Heather Bustle, Work Visa Specialist, GROWMARK, Inc

Heather Bustle is the Work Visa Specialist for GROWMARK, Inc. She manages the foreign visa process for GROWMARK’s Retail Divisions and wholly owned subsidiaries by providing Division Managers and HR personnel with direction on administration, implementation, and compliance of the visa processes. Heather joined the GROWMARK System in 2008 and was a Compliance Analyst with MID-CO Commodities, Inc. before her current role. Heather has her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness, farm, and financial management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Series 3 certification. She and her husband have two children and reside in Normal, IL.

Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Director of Education, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives

Wayne Sine is an experienced and highly knowledgeable professional in the field of Tax. Wayne recently retired as Tax Director from his company, Southern States Cooperative. He has extensive experience working with agricultural cooperatives and has been a long-time member of the NSAC. He is extremely active in the NSAC, serving as both past Chapter President of the Atlantic Chapter, and past Chair of the Tax Committee, and is currently serving as the NSAC Director of Education. Wayne's career is marked by several accomplishments, and he has always been involved in many organizations, spreading his knowledge. Wayne is a member of the Legal, Tax, and Accounting (LTA) Committee for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. He is also Past Chair of both the Tax Committee of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association. Wayne also served on the Tax Policy Committee at the Virginia Society of CPAs and served as past Region Vice President for the Tax Executives Institute.

Cost
Free for NSAC Members / $56.00 for Non-Members

Delivery System

• All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
• Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
• Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
• All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
• There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

Registration

All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.

Refund Policy

NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.

Additional Information

Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.

For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.