Keynote Speaker Michelle Bedoya Barnett.  Partner in the Alexander DeGance Barnett (ABD) presenting “There Is No Such Thing As Free Labor”

Alexander DeGance Barnett (ABD) is a law firm that represents management in litigation and trial practice, focusing in labor, employment, civil rights, and the prosecution and defense of other business interests.

Michelle Bedoya Barnett, Managing Partner, assists clients with day-to-day advice and counsel on matters such as employee hiring, employee discipline and terminations, reductions in force, non-compete agreements, executive employment issues, wage and hour issues, employment handbooks, policies and training. She conducts workplace investigations including the investigation of claims of harassment and discrimination as well as claims of employee theft.

In her practice with ABD, she provides advice and counsel to clients regarding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other federal and state wrongful discharge, tort and contract laws.

Michelle is experienced with health care clients in all aspects of employment, human resources, and labor relations. Fluent in Spanish, she is also well versed in international labor relations through Latin America and the Caribbean.

When outside of the office, Michelle and her husband, Richard, keep busy raising their three children. Born and raised in Lake City, Florida, she enjoys traveling, boating, and spending time with family and friends.

A true entrepreneur, her first foray into business was opening An Ultimate Event - this was Jacksonville's premier event production company. Producing special events for corporate clients. Ten years later Zelda sold her company and joined her family's 100-year-old wholesale food distribution firm. They supplied grocery stores, military commissary, and over 200 local restaurants with fresh produce. Under her leadership the firm grew from 1.2 million to 6 million in revenue. 

The company warehouse was directly hit by a tornado. Through the difficulties of rebuilding the company and raising her teenaged children she began speaking about resilience and overcoming obstacles. During the restoration, her first book was published, The Art of Bouncing Back.

Zelda was the recipient of both the State of Florida and a 9-state region as the Family Owned Business of the Year awarded by the United States SBA.

Her next venture was with her son as they founded Legacy Realty Group North Florida, Inc.  This is a full service real estate firm specializing in the greater Jacksonville and St. Johns communities. She is a top listing agent and wrote her second book, “14 Days To Sold”  a 7-step strategy to getting her customers 100% or more of the homes listed price. She is a Podcast Host of “Real Estate Talk with Zelda” where each week a new episode is released.

Zelda is the Immediate Past-President of Jacksonville Women's Network, a 300-member organization of by invitation only members. She is a Past President of Women Business Owners. She is a member of Florida Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, & Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. She is a graduate of the University of North Florida.

She has a son, daughter, & wonderful son-in-law, 2 grandsons and a granddaughter due June 2019…. and 2 spoiled dogs, Bruiser & Daisy.