MMC Newsletter's Author Profile 

Michele O'Donnell, M.S. Human Resources Management. joined the team in January 2007 and currently leads MMC's elite team of HR Consultants. Ms. O'Donnell has been involved in the Human Resources industry for more than 14 years, bringing vast training and management experience to the MMC leadership ranks. Her experience spans the broad scope of labor law, regulatory compliance and HR Best Practices, drawn from her rich experience as Director of HR for several firms throughout her career. She currently works to ensure that MMC's consultants forge long lasting relationships with our clients, fostered in exceptional service and unsurpassed HR expertise.  Ms. O'Donnell earned her baccalaureate degree in Business Administration from Auburn University before receiving her Masters degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University.

Kristy Kwan, Benefit and Retirement Plan Administrator joined MMC in 2005. She has 7 years of experience in the insurance industry and supervises the Benefit Representatives in the daily administration of our client’s healthcare and benefit plans. Prior to joining MMC, she worked with AXA Advisors, and brings with her the knowledge of both the brokerage and administrative side of benefits.

Crystal M. O’Brien, Esq. serves as MMC’s Labor & Employment Law Manager.  She also sits on the company’s panel of HRCI/MCLE trainers which provides ongoing training to H.R. professionals through its onsite MMC University.  Ms. O’Brien’s legal practice experiences focus on providing labor and employment law counseling advice to MMC’s 400 clients.  She also mediates private disputes for the Los Angeles County Superior Courts as well as represents employers in litigated labor and employment law matters.  Prior to joining MMC, Ms. O’Brien practiced law with national and boutique law firms on the west coast.  Before entering law school, she served as a workers’ compensation insurance hearing representative for several years.  Collectively, Ms. O’Brien has 20 years of litigation experience. 

After receiving a double-degree in psychology and sociology from Oberlin College in 1988, Ms. O’Brien earned a workers’ compensation insurance claims adjusting license in 1991.  She completed post-graduate studies in Human Resources Management at Portland State University’s Graduate School of Urban & Public Affairs from 1996-1998 and earned a Juris Doctorate and Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Willamette University College of Law in 2001.  Immediately following law school, Ms. O’Brien served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Faith Ireland (ret.) of the Washington State Supreme Court.  She is licensed to practice law in California and Washington, as well as before U.S. District Courts in each state. 

Speaking Engagements and Articles

• Medical Group Management Association, “Labor & Employment Law Update – 2009”, January 2009, Orange County, CA.
• Medical Group Management Association, “Disciplining ‘Bad Apples’,” September 2008, San Diego, CA.
• Access Network, Webinar Guest Speaker, “What You Need To Know About U.S. Labor Laws,” June 2008, Los Angeles, CA.
• Business Law Trainer, RBZ, LLP, “Labor & Employment Law for Accounting Professionals”, January 2008, Los Angeles, CA.
• Guest Speaker, Access Executive Network, “Labor & Employment Law Update: 2008,” January 2008, Costa Mesa,  CA.
• Speaker/Trainer, Alliance Business Centers International Symposium, “U.S. Labor & Employment Laws: Are You In Compliance?” October 3, 2007, Chicago, IL.
• Speaker/Trainer, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, “Protecting Your Assets,” June 13, 2007, Orange, CA.
• Featured, Willamette Lawyer, “Women of Willamette: Pioneers to Trailblazers,” Spring 2007.
• Speaker/Trainer, Employment Law Series, Methodist Hospital, Jan. – March, 2007, Arcadia, CA.
• Speaker/Trainer, Orange Co. Medical Group Association, 2007 Employment Law Update, January 17, 2007, Orange, CA.
• Speaker/Trainer, Allergy & Asthma College, “Embezzlement & How To Prevent It From Happening To You,” November 10, 2006, Philadelphia, PA.
• Speaker/Trainer, MMC University, “Best Practices for H.R. Professionals,” ongoing courses, Los Angeles, CA. 
• Author, MMC Client Newsletter/Employment Law Update, January 2006 through Present, Los Angeles, CA.
• Speaker/Trainer, Robie & Matthai, “Workers’ Compensation 101: The Basics of Workers’ Compensation Law,” May 12, 2004, Los Angeles, CA.
• Author/Editor-in-Chief, Inner Cosmetics.Com, “Legal Eagle” Business and Employment Law Column, June through November, 2003, Los Angeles, CA.
• Presenter, Washington State Bar Association, Access to Justice Conference, December, 2001, Seattle, WA.
• Featured, Willamette Lawyer, “Lawyer Briefs,”  Spring 2001.
• Editor-in-Chief, Willamette Law Online, Online Legal Case Newsletter, April, 2000 through April, 2001.
• Editor, JAMS Dispute Resolution Alert Newsletter, “Cases of Interest,” March, 2001.
• Author, “Connections,” Oregon State Bar Association Newsletter, Winter 1999 & Spring 2000.
• Interviewed, The Oregonian Newspaper, Topic: “Mediation Gaining Legal Presence,” November 18, 2000, Portland, OR.
• Presenter, Willamette University College of Law, Choice of Law Symposium, March, 2001, Salem, OR.
• Speaker/Panelist, Affirmative Action Committee of the Oregon State Bar Association, Diversity Forum, August, 1999 and 2000, Newport, OR.
• Author, Stoel Rives, LLP, Client E-Newsletter, “Labor & Employment Law Update,” August, 1999, Portland, OR.
• Speaker/Presenter, Wausau Insurance Company, “Management of Complex Liability Insurance Risks,” January, 1998, Portland, OR.
• Speaker/Presenter, Nike Headquarters, “Management of Construction Site Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Liability Risks,” February, 1996, Beaverton, OR.
• Speaker/Trainer, Argonaut Insurance Company, “Best Practices For Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Claims Investigations,” June, 1992, Los Angeles, CA.
• Presenter, Howard University, Center for The Study of Handicapped Adults, “Employability of Disabled Adults Forum,” October, 1988, Washington, DC.