John Hotz

JPH Law & Consulting
November 2011 – July 2013 | Washington D.C. Metro Area

Provided legal consultation and support services to attorneys, small businesses and non-profits in the area of employee benefits and related litigation. Represented modest-income individuals and families with employee benefits (disability and retirement), public benefits; wills, trusts, and family law matters.

Director, National Pension Assistance Resource Center; Deputy Director, Pension Rights Center
Pension Rights Center
October 1999 – October 2011 | Washington, DC

Helped lead a national consumer organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of participants and beneficiaries to their employee and retirement benefits. Managed the National Pension Assistance Resource Center (National PARC) – a legal training and backup center for legal aid and private pension attorneys. Represented and advised clients; supervised attorneys, interns and other staff. Convened annual conferences featuring recognized attorneys, policymakers, regulators and other thought leaders in employee benefits law and policy. Garnered more than $7.5 million in single- and multi-year grants from private foundations and the federal government. Program has returned $130 million to clients (a 7:1 return on funder investment).

Worked with government agency management and Congress to strengthen pension assistance programs under the Older Americans Act. Consulted to Congressional staff on employee benefit and tax legislation. Testified at Congressional and Administrative hearings. Commented on Labor and Treasury regulations.

Collaborated on plaintiffs’ amicus curiae briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal (Cigna v. Amara, Conkright v. Frommert, LaRue v. DeWolff, Hecker v. Deere, et. al.)

Delivered effective messaging throughout the national, regional, local and industry print and broadcast media (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Kiplinger’s, SmartMoney, Pensions & Investments, Pension & Benefits Reporter, AARP publications, etc.). Developed an Outreach Platform to promote the pension assistance projects nationally.

Created the PensionHelp.org referral service for consumers with issues arising under any domestic pension system. Developed the PensionCounseling.Net “shared learning” site to support the pension assistance network with archives of legal support materials. Developed case management and reporting software applications for the pension counseling network.

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
June 1997 – September 1999 | San Francisco, CA

Managed a multistate (CA/AZ/NV/HI) legal assistance clinic serving disadvantaged seniors, women, and minorities in employee benefit claims under private and public retirement systems. Supervised attorneys and interns. Harvested $300,000 in multi-year funding; returned over $2,000,000 in benefits to clients (a 6.6:1 return on investment). Delivered employee benefits trainings and presentations at local, state and regional events.

Employment Services Consulting
June 1996 – June 1997 (1 year 1 month) | San Francisco, CA

Managed a sole proprietorship offering training and consultation services to the non-profit, disability-services community. Areas of expertise included disability rights, recruitment and accommodation strategies, service marketing and outreach, program evaluation and improvement systems, and effective grant writing.

Regional Training Coordinator
University of San Francisco, McLaren Graduate School of Management
January 1992 – May 1996 | San Francisco, CA

Designed and delivered training programs and consultation services to community services agencies, private corporations, and government agencies, focusing on disability rights, recruitment and accommodation of people with disabilities in the workplace, community outreach, program evaluation, and quality improvement systems. Drafted and won more than $2.5 million in state and federal training grants. Lectured for the Masters in Rehabilitation Administration degree program. Presented the results of innovative “supported employment” models at numerous state and national conferences.

Security Pacific National Bank
September 1987 – December 1991 | Los Angeles, CA

Recruited for executive, managerial, technical and clerical positions for the fifth largest bank holding company in the nation. Worked closely with management to develop cost-effective and creative staffing strategies and related search parameters. Identified and analyzed employee relations matters, and counseled management on appropriate actions to optimize employee performance and minimize risk to the Bank. Managed special projects for the Human Resources Division, including: nationwide college recruiting; the “Management Associate” (fast-track) Program for high-potential employees (also participated in the program); developed recruitment strategies to attract and reasonable accommodation systems to retain employees with disabilities (received local, national and international recognition).