Events

Before I update you on several important changes and upgrades at NOSSCR, I want to detail our packed schedule of events, providing something for everyone.

September 14-17, join me and other NOSSCR board members and staff in Las Vegas!  We are collaborating with SSLDR (Social Security Leadership for Disability Representatives) on their business networking event.  Many of you are aware that SSLDR provides award recognition to representatives and firms that help clients win—either in terms of helping more of them or with more of a percentage of wins.  You’ve seen the pictures on social media and proud award recipients picking up their awards at our conference in May.  This new networking event is another activity that NOSSCR strongly encourages—getting together with other practitioners, learning from one another in a casual environment, and having a great time in Las Vegas!  The event will be held at the Wynn Resort.  As you know, NOSSCR is now more engaged in government affairs, and this event features Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.  There will be discussions on best business practices, artificial intelligence, marketing & TCPA, federal district court, legislative activities, NOSSCR updates, and multiple networking opportunities.  For entertainment, don’t miss the performances by Penn & Teller and Bella Electric Strings.

Find out more, and register here.

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October 19-21 is our NextGen Retreat at the Sheraton New Orleans.  This event is limited to those who have been practicing Social Security law for less than ten years or those under 40.  The smaller event size of the NextGen Retreat is the perfect opportunity to build connections, learn about a new topic, ask questions, and find ways to be more involved in NOSSCR.  The event offers a slate of activities true to the city’s character, including a dinner riverboat cruise with live jazz music and private dining overlooking Jackson Square. And don’t forget to pack your costume for the New Orleans Halloween parade! The NextGen Retreat also offers 8 hours of CLE, featuring updates from the RCALJ and Dr. Timothy Saar, a psychologist, discussing mental health cases. Other CLE topics include Social Security fundamentals, ethics, federal court, and law firm marketing.  Member price for the event is just $75.

Find out more and register here.

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October 26-27 is our 8th Circuit Conference in St. Charles, Missouri (near St. Louis) at the Drury Inn & Suites.  8th Circuit practitioners have put together these events many times, but this is the first version where NOSSCR is providing support resources.  The CLE content should be better than ever, with insights from medical experts, tips on navigating vocational challenges, and a glimpse into agency operations.  Speakers include Meghan Gallo, Michael Downey, Ted Norwood, Wes Kappelman, Dominic Pontello, Kyle Sciolaro, The Honorable Duane Benton of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, Brandon Maxwell DC (spine injuries), Jamie Imhoff (former DDS SDM), Andrew Dawson DO and Divya Sivakumar DO (neurological conditions), and Fred Rottnek MD (ethics and wellness).

Find out more and register here.

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November 8-9 NOSSCR is hosting a Virtual Conference.  Speakers will include Tom Krause (mock hearing), George Piemonte (crossing vocational witnesses), Debora Wagner (VA benefits), Dennis Cummins (ethics), Ron Belluso (hearings), Anthony Craiker (AC briefing), Marissa O’Connor (overpayments), and Maria Bermudez (legal technology).

Find out more and register here.

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May 8-11, 2024, is our next Annual Conference, this time at the Omni Nashville Hotel.  The hotel itself is an amazing venue adjacent to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and a few blocks from Broadway Street.  Our team is already working on our CLE content, side events, and entertainment.  If you attended our recent DC conference, you noticed our upgrades.  We will build on those and provide a NOSSCR conference that should be our best ever.  We are adjusting our CLE track system, enhancing our check-in process, arranging to record our sessions for later online access, and (my favorite) making sure there is enough coffee!  Nashville is home to legendary country music venues, live music honky-tonks, and the Johnny Cash Museum.  With access to so much music, you can expect us to add that component throughout our conference plans.

Please save the dates, and we will open registration later.

Staffing Changes

NOSSCR is always working to provide our membership with expert service while serving a challenging mission on a limited budget.  Our staff work mostly in DC, occasionally remotely, and always as a close-knit team.  We’re excited about our recent changes and hope to continue growing.  NOSSCR posts job openings in a variety of ways, depending on the position.  We occasionally promote from within or recruit from our membership.  Often, we rely on staffing services and other resources in the Washington, DC, area.  If you are interested in employment with NOSSCR, you should contact me directly at david.camp@nosscr.org.  We welcome inquiries regarding all positions, especially from our members.

I moved from the position of Chief Policy Officer to Interim CEO following the departure of Steve Gardner in July.  I oversee all aspects of NOSSCR’s work, with particular emphasis on government affairs, agency advocacy, media attention to our mission, development of litigation strategy (stay tuned for more on that), our conferences and events, newsletter, and referral service.  When I served on NOSSCR’s board of directors and as President, I focused on moving NOSSCR to Washington, DC, and increasing our membership.  Now, NOSSCR continues to modernize and upgrade.  These are systems changes, policy updates, and, in some places, converting informal arrangements to contracts.  We are attracting new donors and supporters, allowing NOSSCR to carefully engage in an expansion of our advocacy role.  I worked for decades advocating for individual claimants.  Now, I hope to deliver to you a more relevant and effective association.

Jennifer Cronenberg became our Senior Counsel and Director of Legal Information in July.  Previously an attorney with Doherty Cella Keane for almost 14 years, she is a graduate of Ithaca College and received her JD from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.  She is admitted to practice in Maryland and DC.  Jennifer is responsible for conducting NOSSCR’s advocacy work with the Administration, helping shape CLE content and programming, and serving as an expert advisor to NOSSCR members.  She is NOSSCR’s primary point of contact for fees and other legal issues where NOSSCR helps members interface with Social Security.

Laura Beth Waller joined NOSSCR’s staff in July as Chief Strategy Officer, giving us three experienced Social Security practitioners on staff.  Laura Beth was previously a member of NOSSCR’s Board of Directors, representing the Fourth Circuit and serving on the Executive Committee as Assistant Treasurer.  She was instrumental in many aspects of NOSSCR’s recent transition and growth.  She led NOSSCR’s NextGen committee, increasing the number of members participating and adding several successful events.  She is a frequent presenter on federal court advocacy and regularly attends meetings and social events with members of Congress in Washington, DC.  Before taking the role of NOSSCR’s CSO, Laura Beth practiced in district court work at Martin, Jones, and Piemonte. She earned her J.D. at NCCU School of Law and her LL.M. in taxation at the University of Washington. She is admitted to practice in North Carolina, Washington, and Georgia.

Code of Conduct

You will notice that registration for NOSSCR events now always includes a link to our updated code of conduct.  Please be sure to review it and let me know if you have concerns. The terms bind all registrants and attendees of NOSSCR conferences, outlining our refund policy and how NOSSCR uses any data it collects.

Terms and Conditions for Speakers, Exhibitors, and Sponsors

NOSSCR now requires all speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors to agree to terms and conditions in writing.

NOSSCR positions itself as the nation’s top provider of CLE in Social Security law and related areas.  To do that, we partner with experienced speakers.  Doing this effectively requires understanding NOSSCR’s audience and their needs, and we appreciate the value our speakers bring to our programs.  NOSSCR’s selection of a speaker involves both the promotion of NOSSCR and the promotion of the speaker, but the selection of a speaker must be consistent with NOSSCR’s mission to serve NOSSCR’s members, claimants before the Social Security Administration, and the wider community of disability advocacy.  We are upgrading the experience of receiving CLE credits from NOSSCR, and this requires that we have speakers who adhere to deadlines and materials criteria imposed on us by various states.  Together, we will make obtaining CLE from NOSSCR a preferred option—in terms of content and the attendee’s ease of reporting.

Exhibitors and sponsors are our partners, and they often make the difference between success and failure for our events.  As with speakers, exhibitors and sponsors enhance the value of NOSSCR membership.  NOSSCR reserves the right to select exhibitors and sponsors according to NOSSCR’s operating and financial decisions, the experience of our attendees, and NOSSCR’s image and mission.  We are grateful to NOSSCR’s many exhibitors and sponsors who have made our association what it is today and look forward to continuing relationships.  In the coming months, I expect to present formal royalties and other agreements to NOSSCR’s board of directors, securing our finances with a transparent process open to those who can satisfy our terms consistent with our mission.

If you would like to see a copy of our current terms and conditions for speakers, exhibitors, or sponsors, please contact us at nosscr@nosscr.org.