U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Open Forum

Sarah K. Peterson is the founder of SPS Immigration PLLC based in Minneapolis. Her employment-based practice focuses on physicians, high-tech, and academia. She has served as chair of AILA’s DOL Liaison Committee since 2017, and has been an active Elected Director on the AILA Board of Governors since 2012. Ms. Peterson was included in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers in Minnesota 2020, has been recognized since 2016 as one of 40 “Up and Comers in Employment Law” by HRE/Law Dragon, has been listed in the International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers since 2014, including selection since 2018 as a “Thought Leader,” and was one of Minnesota’s Lawyer’s “Up and Coming Attorneys” for 2010. She was a contributing author to  Business Immigration Law & Procedure (AILA 2^nd Ed.). She also is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Vincent W. Lau is the managing partner of Clark Lau LLC in Boston, and he counsels employers and employees on a range of temporary and permanent immigration options. He speaks regularly at immigration conferences across the country, serves fellow immigration attorneys as one of the Vice Chairs of AILA’s DOL Liaison Committee, and developed the curriculum for the business immigration course at New England Law Boston. Mr. Lau received his B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from Yale University, an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the Boston College School of Education, and his J.D. from the Boston College School of Law. Mr. Lau has been voted among “The Best Lawyers in America” since 2010, and has been listed with Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration since 2015.

Shawn M. Packer is Senior Counselor to the Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training, a position he has held since May 2018.  Prior to that time, he worked in the Office of the Solicitor as an Attorney-Advisor to the Solicitor of Labor.  Since coming to the Department of Labor in 2017, Mr. Packer has advised the Department on all policy issues regarding the foreign labor certification programs, including the Department’s regulatory agenda, IT modernization projects, congressional oversight and inquires, stakeholder outreach, and the implementation of the President’s Executive Order “Buy American, Hire American.”  He has also represented the United States Government in negotiations with Central American countries regarding labor recruitment agreements to help combat human trafficking.

Renata Jones Adjibodou the Center Director of the Department of Labor’s National Prevailing Wage Center.  She was appointed Center Director of the National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC) in September 2015.   As the Center Director, Ms. Adjibodou is responsible for administration of the prevailing wage determination program and for management and oversight of the Center’s case processing activities.  Ms. Adjibodou has over 30 years of federal service and has held numerous management positions within the Employment and Training Administration, which includes serving as the Center Director of the Atlanta National Processing Center and Director of the OFLC’s Division of Information Services.   Ms. Adjibodou has earned a Master’s Degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.  

Paul Gotte is a Supervisory Immigration Program Analyst at the National Prevailing Wage Center.  He started at the Department of Labor in 1993 and joined DFLC in 1995.  Mr. Gotte helped open the NPWC.  He was a submarine nuclear power planter operator and manufactured laser optics, among other things, prior to joining the federal government.  Mr. Gotte has a B.S. in Information Systems Management and a M.P.S. in GIS.

Brandt Carter is the Center Director of the Atlanta National Processing Center (ANPC) for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration – Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC).  As the Center Director, Mr. Carter provides leadership, management and direct oversight of the administering of the PERM Program.  In doing so, Mr. Carter develops the Operating Plan for the ANPC to include working directly with the OFLC Executive Leadership in developing OFLC Performance Goals and providing direct input into Information Technology developments.  Mr. Carter has over 10 years of experience as a supervisor and manager for the U.S. Department of Labor, which include several years as a Certifying Officer for OFLC.  Mr. Carter has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Morehouse College and several certifications in Project Management and IT Management.