Welcome from William Keep, Dean Tammy Dieterich, TCNJ School of Business.
Keynote: Sam Levine, former Director of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Session 1: FTC Processes and Updates
John & Sam discuss the NPRM on Business Opportunity Rule; NPRM on MLM Earnings Claims; and ANPRM on MLM disclosures to prohibit misleading earnings claims and related deceptive conduct and changes at the FTC
Douglas Brooks – moderator and Q&A
John Breyault, National Consumer League
Sam Levine, former Director of Consumer Protection, FTC
Session 2: Session 2: The Legislative Process
The legislative process, Congressional Review Act Resolutions, expected MLM industry legislative initiatives and past industry efforts (e.g., HR 3409)
John Breyault, National Consumer League - moderator and Q&A
Peter Vander Nat, PhD, Senior Economist, FTC, retired
Bonnie Patten, TINA.org
Session 3: Law Enforcement Updates
FTC, State of Washington AG; State statutes; and Google Trends to detect pyramid scheme activity
Jason Jones, Assistant Attorney General, Washington D.C. - moderator and Q&A
Douglas Brookes, Attorney
Stacie Bosley, Ph.D., Hamline University
Tait Nelson, Legal Associate at TINA.org
Ben Brysacz, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Joe Kanada, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Kati Daffan, Assistant Director, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC
Session 4: Do MLMs contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)?
Elizabeth Villagomez, Ph.D., researcher
Louisa Andrews, researcher, United Nations University (UNU) system
Session 5: Little Bosses Everywhere
Bridget discusses her new book- a “gripping” (The Washington Post) work of history and reportage that unveils the stranger-than-fiction world of multilevel marketing
Bridget Read, author
Session 6: Tina.org update
Bonnie Patten, TINA.org
Session 7: Academic and Legal Research
Máire O Sullivan, Ph.D. – moderator and Q&A
Stacie Bosley, Ph.D., Hamline University
Benjamin Waterhouse, Ph.D., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alexandra Roberts, AM, JD, Northeastern University
Claudia Gross, Ph.D., Radboud University
Session 8: MLM Targeting
Máire O Sullivan, Ph.D., Munster Technological University
Alanda Carter, social media activist
Session 9: MLM and Coaching
Douglas Brooks – moderator and Q&A
Máire O Sullivan, Ph.D., Munster Technological University
SaraEllen Hutchison, Consumer Rights Lawyer
Session 10: Social Media Activists
Roberta Blevins, Social Media Activist
Brandie Hadfield, Social Media Activist
Megan Williams, Social Media Activist
Meredith Adams, Social Media Activist
Session 10: Advice to Social Media Activists
Douglas Brooks – moderator and Q&A
Jason Jones, Assistant Attorney General, Washington D.C.
Joe Mullen, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Final Remarks