National Human Resources Association upcoming events

St. Louis - 2026/2027 Mentoring Program (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Are you ready to take your HR career to the Next Level?

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Mentoring Program, designed to empower HR professionals through invaluable connections and insights.

Whether you're an experienced mentor or a driven mentee, this program offers a unique opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed together.

Who is eligible?

All active NHRA members are eligible to participate as a mentor or mentee at no additional cost.

Program Kick-off in October:

Meet your Match and other members
Monthly Engagement Activities
Commit 4 - 6 hours per month over the 6-month program (this includes monthly activities, but actual time commitment may vary by the mentor/mentee match)

Monthly meetings in The Bracket Room at the Holiday Inn.

Register now to become a mentor or mentee!

Once we receive your registration, we will send a quick survey to ensure that we match you with the perfect mentor.

WNY - Legal Update (22 Oct 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Annual Legal Update

Provide HR professionals and organizational leaders with an update on current employment law developments and emerging workplace issues. Attendees will gain practical insight into what these changes mean for HR practices and how organizations can prepare and respond.

Key Takeaways:

Current and emerging employment law trends
Recent legal developments impacting HR
Common workplace legal risks and how to mitigate them
Practical guidance for navigating complex employee relations matters
What HR professionals should be watching as we move into 2027

About our Speaker

Alison Roach,

Senior Associate/Labor

Alison K. Roach is an attorney with Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC who advises private and public sector employers on all aspects of labor and employment law. She regularly counsels clients on HR best practices and legal compliance relating to various employment matters, including hiring and terminations, employee leaves and accommodations, litigation risk management, wage and hour compliance, employee handbook policies, and workplace investigations. Alison represents management in grievance arbitrations, collective bargaining negotiations, and other issues involving unionized workforces. She also defends claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and other labor and employment-related disputes in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies.

(click logo for more info)

Corporate Sponsors

St. Louis - Beyond the Ladder: Rethink Career Growth, Talent Mobility, and Leadership Assumptions (22 Oct 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Fire Side Chat with Becki Feldmann and Holly Pyatt

Beyond the Ladder: Rethink Career Growth, Talent Mobility, and Leadership Assumptions

The importance of creating multiple paths for growth.

Challenge some of the assumptions that organizations and hiring managers make about career success.

This session will encourage HR professionals to help leaders look beyond titles, career ladders, and preconceived notions of success. Growth can happen through expanded expertise, broader influence, project leadership, mentoring, cross-functional experiences, and many other avenues that don't necessarily involve managing people.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Challenge traditional assumptions about career success and leadership by recognizing that advancement does not always require people management or upward movement.
Identify multiple pathways for employee growth and talent mobility, including expanded expertise, cross-functional experiences, project leadership, mentoring, stretch assignments, and broader organizational influence.
Apply a skills-based lens to talent decisions by recognizing transferable skills and non-linear career experiences when developing internal talent and evaluating external candidates.

Speaker Bios:

In her role as Assistant Vice President, Sr. Employee Experience and Brand Strategist for Commerce Bank, Becki Feldmann provides dynamic and engaging leadership in the attraction and retention of employees. She was recruited for her energy, enthusiasm, and passion for creating great places for people to work. She puts this into action working with team members and stakeholders across the bank with a focus on ensuring employees have the resources and relationships they need to succeed, the opportunity for their voice to be heard and most importantly feel that they belong. She also leads the employment brand efforts showcasing what makes Commerce a great place to work and ensuring alignment between employment brand and experience. She is a brand ambassador for Commerce internally and externally!

Outside of Commerce, Becki is involved with several local HR organizations and non-profits, she is a designer with jBloom as bloom with becki – life + style, she owns a brand management company, b-e-connected, llc. and she creates experiences to do good + give back through bloom for good.

She is a mom of two hilarious and handsome teenage boys who get it from her husband of almost 20 years. They live a very FULL life and take any opportunity they can to have fun and make a positive impact in the world.

What matters most to Becki in everything that she does is faith, family, relationships, community, and health and if she had to bottle all of this up, it would be making a difference.

Connect with Becki here: https://www.bloomwithbecki.com/

Holly Pyatt, Ed.S., PMP, is a speaker, facilitator, and organizational development professional with more than 20 years of experience helping people become stronger, more confident leaders and helping organizations build the capability to navigate growth and change.

Throughout her career, Holly has worked across healthcare, technology, energy, financial services, education, and consulting, developing leaders, strengthening teams, and creating people-centered solutions to complex organizational challenges. She brings that experience to the stage through relatable stories, practical strategies, and candid conversations about the human side of leadership.

Holly speaks on topics including empathy, self-advocacy, leadership, emotional intelligence, communication, and navigating change. Her signature programs include

Empathy Is Your Leadership Superpower, Leading with Empathy: A Project Manager’s Advantage, and You Are Your Own Best Advocate. Whether speaking to leaders, project managers, professional associations, or women navigating their careers and lives, Holly focuses on giving audiences ideas they can put into practice immediately.

Known for an engaging, warm, and practical style, Holly combines research and real-world experience with storytelling, humor, and reflection. Her goal is not simply for audiences to leave inspired, but to leave thinking differently about how they lead, communicate, advocate for themselves, and show up for others.

Holly holds an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University and an MBA from the University of Central Missouri. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma Green Belt, MBTI practitioner, and Crucial Conversations facilitator.

Outside of work, Holly enjoys traveling, working out, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family—including plenty of time supporting her daughter on the golf course.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Annual Sponsor:

Contributing Sponsor:

Rochester - Fall Connections (22 Oct 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Join us on October 22nd from 5:00 - 9:00 PM ET for our Fall Connections event!

Come join us at Radio Social!

Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for non-members.
Each ticket comes with 1 free drink ticket!

Registration is open until October 8th. We would love to see you!

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Thank you to our Social Champion Annual Sponsor, Metro Data

Thank you to our Social Connector Annual Sponsor, Seabreeze

St. Louis - NHRA PHR/SPHR Professional Certification Study Group 2026 (22 Oct 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

If you are ready to take the next step in advancing your HR career, join us as we prepare to take the PHR/SPHR exam.

To assist you in your preparation NHRA St. Louis offers a complimentary benefit for our members, the NHRA PHR/SPHR Study Group. Non-NHRA members may join for a fee.

This is a structured support system and educational setting for those members who are interested in pursuing PHR and SPHR certification. Exams can be taken any date of the year.

This group will meet once a week on Thursday evenings starting September 3, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST.

This is an excellent forum for HR certification exam prep support, learning and motivation - all facilitated by seasoned HR professionals.

Los Angeles - The Future-Ready Organization (22 Oct 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Today’s leaders face a constant barrage of forces reshaping how work gets done. i4cp is at the forefront of understanding what HR leaders need to do NOW to be ready for the future.

Future readiness is not a single initiative or a one-time transformation program. Nor is it primarily a technology problem. Organizations become future-ready when three capabilities operate together:

A culture that embraces change rather than resists it
A workforce whose skills evolve with strategy
An enterprise capable of harnessing AI responsibly and at scale

This integrated capability set is referred to as The Future-Ready Framework™. Join Tom Stone of i4cp, Cindy Ballard of Universal Music Group, and other special guests on October 22nd for a research-backed discussion on how organizations are building and evolving these capabilities to future-proof HR and their organizations.

National - The Human Edge: What AI Can’t Scale (27 Oct 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The Human Edge: What AI Can’t Scale

As AI transforms how we work, one question becomes increasingly important: Are we developing our human leadership capacity as quickly as we are developing our technological capability?

The Human Edge explores emotional fluency as a critical leadership capability for the future of work. Drawing from Claude Silver’s experience as Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and the ideas in her bestselling book, Be Yourself at Work, this session examines how self-awareness, emotional regulation, trust, and clear authority shape leadership under pressure.

Participants will explore how to lead with greater clarity and confidence, hold accountability without sacrificing humanity, and translate these distinctly human capabilities into the leaders and teams they develop.

Key Takeaways & Learning Objectives

Apply emotional fluency as a leadership capability under pressure, using Awareness → Regulation → Choice to strengthen clarity, communication, decision-making, and accountability.
Integrate authority and psychological safety in everyday leadership, identifying behaviors that unintentionally dilute impact and practicing approaches that combine clear expectations with trust, self-awareness, and humanity.
Translate emotional fluency into leadership development, identifying practical ways to reinforce these behaviors through coaching, feedback, manager development, and talent practices.

Featured Speakers

Claude Silver

Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX

The world’s first Chief Heart Officer, Claude Silver serves the people of VaynerX, and is the bestselling author of Be Yourself at Work. She believes optimism, bravery, and authenticity are essential drivers of performance.

Claude helps leaders see humanity as a strategic advantage. She shows that teams rooted in belonging, clarity, and emotional courage move faster, think better, and perform more sustainably. At VaynerX, she has helped scale the organization from 400 to over 2,000 employees across 11 countries, embedding trust, psychological safety, and accountability into how performance happens.

Her career spans founding an outdoor adventure and surf company in San Francisco to leadership roles at JWT San Francisco, JWT London, and Publicis London. She has been recognized by the Department of Defense as a Patriotic Employer, received Campaign US’s Female Frontier Award and Adweek’s Changing the Game Award, and was named Adweek’s 2025 Mother of the Year. A TEDx speaker, she has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and The Wall Street Journal.

This program has been approved for 1 HR (General) recertification credit hour toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™, and SPHRi™ recertification through the HR Certification Institute.
Additionally, this program has been pre-approved for 1.0 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) by the Society of Human Resource Management.

Thank You to Our Valued Sponsor

ROC - HR Legal Lab (28 Oct 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Join the National Human Resources Association (NHRA), Rochester Affiliate, for our 2nd annual HR Legal Lab in partnership with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP!

This one-of-a-kind, interactive learning experience brings HR professionals together with top labor and employment attorneys for a series of dynamic, workshop-style sessions designed to strengthen real-world skills and legal awareness across critical HR functions.

Participants will rank their top two choices from four hands-on sessions, each led by legal experts and designed around real-world case studies, real-time simulations, and collaborative discussion. While we will do our best to accommodate your preferences, final session assignments will be based on availability.

The topics for 2026 are:

Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (and Politics and Religion) at Work
Investigator’s Workshop Part II: Advanced Workplace Investigations
Managing the Managers: Preventing Risk Through Better Leadership
Mental Health at Work: Navigating Accommodation and Leave Challenges

View the full session descriptions and our speakers below.

Whether you’re sharpening your compliance expertise, strengthening your investigation skills, or navigating complex legal issues in today’s volatile environment, this HR Legal Lab delivers high impact, practical training led by respected legal professionals - and gives you the chance to elevate your people operations playbook in a collaborative, real world setting.

This program has been pre-approved for 3.5 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) by the Society for Human Resource Management and HR (General) recertification credit hours through HR Certification Institute (HRCI)

Itinerary:

7:30 - 8:10AM: Registration / Breakfast
8:10 - 8:30AM: Kickoff & Legal Landscape Updates
8:30 - 10:00AM: Session One
10:00 - 10:15AM: Network with Sponsors / Break
10:15 - 11:45AM: Session Two
11:45 - 12:00PM: Wrap Up

Meet Our Speakers & Learn More About Their Sessions:

Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (and Politics and Religion) at Work

Today’s workplace is more complex than ever, with employee conduct issues often intersecting with personal beliefs, social media activity, substance use, political expression, and protected rights. Through real-world scenarios and group discussion, participants will explore where employers can draw the line, how to navigate competing workplace interests, and strategies for responding to sensitive situations consistently and legally. This interactive session will help HR professionals balance employee rights, workplace culture, and organizational risk in an increasingly polarized environment.

Speakers:

Luke P. Wright

Luke P. Wright is a Partner in Harter Secrest & Emery's Labor & Employment practice and regularly advises employers on complex workplace issues, including employee relations, accommodations, leaves of absence, and employment policies. He represents employers in labor and employment litigation and proceedings before state and federal agencies. Luke is recognized by Chambers USA for Labor & Employment and is a frequent speaker on workplace law topics.

Ciara W. Harrington

Ciara W. Harrington is an Associate in Harter Secrest & Emery's Labor & Employment practice. She advises employers on workplace matters, conducts legal research and analysis, and supports clients on a variety of employment-related issues. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Richard J. Arcara of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

Managing the Managers: Preventing Risk Through Better Leadership

Managers make countless employment decisions every day, and one poor decision can create significant legal and employee relations challenges...and make HR professionals’ lives miserable. In this interactive workshop, participants will examine common management missteps and how you, as an HR professional, can better train, coach, and support managers in making sound decisions that reduce risk, improve consistency, and strengthen workplace culture.

Speakers:

Amy L. Hemenway

Amy L. Hemenway is a Partner and Buffalo Office Leader at Harter Secrest & Emery. She counsels employers on labor and employment matters ranging from workplace investigations and employment policies to discrimination, wage and hour compliance, and labor relations. Amy regularly advises executives, managers, and HR professionals on mitigating workplace risk and achieving practical business solutions. She is recognized by Chambers USA in Labor & Employment and has been named Buffalo's "Lawyer of the Year" for Labor & Employment Litigation.

Matthew F. Meyers

Matthew F. Meyers is Counsel in Harter Secrest & Emery's Labor & Employment practice. He advises employers on workplace compliance, employment disputes, and litigation, helping organizations navigate evolving legal requirements while minimizing risk. Prior to joining the firm, Matt clerked in multiple state and federal courts, providing him with valuable insight into the judicial process and employment-related litigation.

Investigator’s Workshop Part II: Advanced Workplace Investigations

Ready to take your investigation skills to the next level? Building on the foundation of last years popular investigations workshop, this session will challenge participants with new and complex scenarios involving credibility determinations, conflicting witness accounts, anonymous complaints, and difficult documentation issues. Through guided exercises and collaborative problem-solving, attendees will sharpen their investigative instincts and gain practical tools for handling the gray areas that often arise in workplace investigations.

*Participation in last year’s session is not a pre-requisite.

Speakers:

Anna S. M. McCarthy

Anna S. M. McCarthy is a Partner in Harter Secrest & Emery's Labor & Employment practice. She advises employers on a wide range of workplace issues, including investigations, discrimination and harassment claims, employee relations, labor matters, and regulatory compliance. Anna is particularly experienced in conducting and advising on workplace investigations and representing employers before courts and administrative agencies.

Trini E. Ross

Trini E. Ross is a Partner at Harter Secrest & Emery and former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. With more than 30 years of experience, she advises organizations on internal and government investigations, regulatory matters, and complex workplace issues. Trini's extensive leadership experience within the Department of Justice provides a unique perspective on conducting sensitive investigations and managing high-stakes matters.

Mental Health at Work: Navigating Accommodation and Leave Challenges

As employers see increasing requests related to anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, and other mental health conditions, HR professionals must navigate complex legal obligations while supporting employee well-being. Using realistic workplace scenarios, this session will explore reasonable accommodations, the interactive process, leave considerations, performance concerns, and common compliance pitfalls under the ADA and other applicable laws. Participants will leave with practical strategies for addressing mental health issues confidently, compassionately, and in compliance with the law.

Speakers:

Lindsey N. Bober

Lindsey N. Bober is Counsel in Harter Secrest & Emery's Labor & Employment practice and a member of the firm's Higher Education team. She advises employers on leave management, accommodations, labor relations, workplace policies, and compliance matters. Lindsey is also a trained civil rights investigator and regularly assists clients with discrimination and harassment investigations.

Chloe J. MacDonald

Chloe J. MacDonald is a Senior Associate in Harter Secrest & Emery's Labor & Employment practice. She counsels employers on workplace policies, wage and hour compliance, employee discipline, discrimination and harassment issues, and employment disputes. Chloe also assists organizations in complying with federal, state, and local employment regulations and has experience supporting clients in administrative proceedings and litigation.

Thank you to our Diamond Sponsors: Brown & Brown and Edward Jones

Thank you to our Elite Sponsors: AP Professionals and Day Bright Financial

Thank you to our Impact Annual Sponsors: Bond Shoenick and King, Isolved, HR Works, and Summit Federal Credit Union

Thank you to our Breakfast Sponsors: WellNow and Paychex

Additional sponsorships available, to learn more reach out to Brandyn Jacob (bjacob@pridestaff.com) or Jeff Fazio (jfazio@daybright.com).

St. Louis - NHRA PHR/SPHR Professional Certification Study Group 2026 (29 Oct 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

If you are ready to take the next step in advancing your HR career, join us as we prepare to take the PHR/SPHR exam.

To assist you in your preparation NHRA St. Louis offers a complimentary benefit for our members, the NHRA PHR/SPHR Study Group. Non-NHRA members may join for a fee.

This is a structured support system and educational setting for those members who are interested in pursuing PHR and SPHR certification. Exams can be taken any date of the year.

This group will meet once a week on Thursday evenings starting September 3, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST.

This is an excellent forum for HR certification exam prep support, learning and motivation - all facilitated by seasoned HR professionals.

Rochester - Benefit Auction (5 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Join us for our 29th Annual Benefit Auction!

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:00PM at Midvale Country Club

The National Human Resources Association (NHRA) has been developing HR professionals for over 70 years. Our Rochester Affiliate supports local charities to improve employment opportunities in the region. Thanks to generous business leaders, we have raised thousands of dollars for these causes.

For the 29th Annual Benefit Auction, we are pleased to be partnering with RochesterWorks to support their employment and training services provided to area job seekers and businesses through their three local career centers and one specialized youth employment center.

RochesterWorks is dedicated to strengthening the Greater Rochester community by connecting people to opportunity and businesses to talent. Through free employment, career development, and training services, RochesterWorks supports every job seeker—the parent, caregiver, student, veteran, entrepreneur, career changer, and emerging professional. RochesterWorks also provides workforce development, employee retention, and talent recruitment solutions to businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and family-owned companies to nonprofits and major employers. By connecting qualified workers with employers and expanding access to career opportunities, RochesterWorks plays a vital role in reducing unemployment, expanding economic opportunity, and strengthening the Greater Rochester economy.

Are you interested in Sponsoring this fantastic event?

Career Champion Sponsor $2,500

Exclusive opportunity to speak at the event – limited to one/industry
Dedicated social media post
Company name and logo on event materials and social media blasts
6 tickets to the auction

Pathway Sponsor $1,250

Company name and logo on event materials and social media blasts
4 tickets to the auction

Connection Sponsor $550

Company name and logo on event materials and social media blasts
2 tickets to the auction

Don’t forget about Tax Deductions! (check with your accounting professional)

To learn more or secure your sponsorship, contact Janine Corea (corea@hrworks-inc.com) or Jamie Frank (jfrank@hrworks-inc.com).

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Career Champion

Pathway

Connection

St. Louis - NHRA PHR/SPHR Professional Certification Study Group 2026 (5 Nov 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

If you are ready to take the next step in advancing your HR career, join us as we prepare to take the PHR/SPHR exam.

To assist you in your preparation NHRA St. Louis offers a complimentary benefit for our members, the NHRA PHR/SPHR Study Group. Non-NHRA members may join for a fee.

This is a structured support system and educational setting for those members who are interested in pursuing PHR and SPHR certification. Exams can be taken any date of the year.

This group will meet once a week on Thursday evenings starting September 3, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST.

This is an excellent forum for HR certification exam prep support, learning and motivation - all facilitated by seasoned HR professionals.

Los Angeles - What Does AI Mean for My Career? (5 Nov 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Now that AI has burst onto the scene, we are seeing very different, competing narratives for what AI is going to do to the labor market. The risk is particularly high for people who work in technical and supervisory roles, managing people, information and data. Which is leading most of us to wonder: What is AI going to do to my career and job prospects?

Alec Levenson is a labor economist who has spent the past 25+ years helping leading organizations understand the career and labor market challenges of aligning the work with shareholder objectives. He has a unique view into the tradeoffs leadership face when making the hard calls about investing in people, especially when a new technology changes how we structure work and the operating model.

During this webinar we will explore:

• What are the immediate and medium term risks of disruption to your job and career

• What does the transition phase look like, going from how we worked in 2022, before AI started disrupting jobs, to the uncertain future ahead of us?

• What kind of options should I be looking out for, to help protect and strengthen my skills and bargaining power?

National - The New First Impression: Recruitment Marketing for an AI-Assisted Job Search (10 Nov 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

The New First Impression: Recruitment Marketing for an AI-Assisted Job Search

Candidates are forming opinions about your organization long before they apply. They search online, scan job posts, read reviews, check social media, and increasingly use AI tools to decide which employers are worth their time.

Too often, companies focus on filling the role without checking what candidates see first. The result? Vague messaging, generic job postings, outdated online presence, and trust gaps that quietly push good-fit candidates away.

In this practical session, Terra L. Fletcher will show HR professionals how to evaluate recruitment marketing through a candidate’s eyes. Attendees will learn how AI is changing the job search, what today’s candidates need to find and trust an employer, and how to make their organization easier to understand, believe, and choose.

Participants will complete a simple recruitment marketing audit and leave with a one-page guide to improve job posts, employer brand messaging, digital presence, and candidate communication.

Key Takeaways & Learning Objectives

Understand how AI, search, and online reputation shape candidate decisions before they apply.
Identify trust gaps in job posts, employer brand messaging, reviews, social media, and website content.
Use a simple audit to make your organization easier for candidates to find, trust, and choose.

Featured Speakers

Terra L. Fletcher

Founder and Fractional CMO of Fletcher Consulting

Terra L. Fletcher is a fractional CMO, author, and professional speaker who helps organizations become easier to find, trust, and choose. With 19 years of marketing and communication experience, she works with leadership and HR teams to clarify messaging, strengthen employer brand, and improve how candidates, customers, and communities experience an organization before the first conversation.

Founder of Fletcher Consulting, Terra works with B2B, manufacturing, and service organizations on visibility, reputation, recruitment marketing, rebrands, and growth strategy. She is the author of Flex Your Communication, Flex the Freelance, and Flex Your Marketing, and has delivered more than 300 presentations for business, association, nonprofit, workforce, and industry audiences.

Terra’s sessions are energetic, interactive, and practical. She makes complex branding, recruitment, and communication concepts clear, relevant, and actionable, equipping attendees with tangible tools they can use immediately.

Thank You to Our Valued Sponsor

Rochester - Book Club (10 Nov 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Join us on November 10 from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM for our Book Club!

All participants will be mailed a FREE copy of the selected book upon registration. We will meet in-person to discuss our thoughts on the book on November 10th at the Pittsford Community Library, from 4:00 – 5:30PM. Starbucks will be available!

Our book selection for this session is Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness. This event is reserved for NHRA members only, and we ask that you provide your address at registration so that we can send you a copy of the book we'll be discussing.

This program has been pre-approved for 1.5 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) by the Society for Human Resource Management and 1.5 HR (General) recertification credit hours through HR Certification Institute (HRCI)

If you've ever wondered what top performers — Olympic athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, and executives — actually have in common, this book club pick is for you.

In Peak Performance, Brad Stulberg (a former McKinsey consultant turned writer on health and human performance) and Steve Magness (a performance scientist and coach to Olympic athletes) draw on both research and real-world coaching experience to show how great performance across athletic, intellectual, and artistic fields follows the same underlying principles. Rather than glorifying constant grind, the book makes the case that sustainable success comes from deliberately balancing stress with recovery — building in meditation, rest, focused attention, and manageable challenges rather than chasing burnout as a badge of honor.

For HR professionals navigating high-pressure environments and coaching others through their own, this book offers a science-backed framework for thriving without burning out.

Silicon Valley - NOVEMBER EVENT - SAVE THE DATE (10 Nov 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 01:30:00 GMT

Join our mailing list to stay informed about National Human Resources Association events and programs.

St. Louis - NHRA PHR/SPHR Professional Certification Study Group 2026 (12 Nov 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

If you are ready to take the next step in advancing your HR career, join us as we prepare to take the PHR/SPHR exam.

To assist you in your preparation NHRA St. Louis offers a complimentary benefit for our members, the NHRA PHR/SPHR Study Group. Non-NHRA members may join for a fee.

This is a structured support system and educational setting for those members who are interested in pursuing PHR and SPHR certification. Exams can be taken any date of the year.

This group will meet once a week on Thursday evenings starting September 3, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST.

This is an excellent forum for HR certification exam prep support, learning and motivation - all facilitated by seasoned HR professionals.

Los Angeles - Blueprint 2028 - HCM in the AI and Skills Era (12 Nov 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:30:00 GMT

As organizations move from job-based structures to skills-based operating models and begin integrating AI agents ("digital team members") into the workforce, HR leaders have an opportunity to rethink how work gets done. In this interactive session, we'll explore how work is being deconstructed into tasks and skills, enabled by internal talent marketplaces, and enhanced by agentic AI across recruiting, learning and development, workforce planning, performance management, and more.

Through practical examples and peer discussion, participants will examine why many AI initiatives fail to deliver measurable business impact and learn a proven framework for scaling AI successfully—from assisting employees to orchestrating human and digital workforces.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

•	Understand why most agentic AI pilots fail to produce measurable P&L impact and how the Assist → Augment → Redesign → Orchestrate framework helps organizations avoid common implementation pitfalls.
•	Assess their organization's readiness to scale AI agents by identifying the people systems—including role design, levels, hiring, performance management, and governance—that must evolve to support a hybrid workforce.
•	Build a compelling business case for AI by demonstrating how to reinvest AI-enabled capacity, measure redeployment rates, and translate productivity gains into meaningful financial outcomes.

This is an exclusive event for Executives only — please contact nhralosangeles@gmail.com to request the registration code.

Register Here

Ventura County: Legal Update (13 Nov 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 15:20:00 GMT

Employment Law Update 2027: What California Employers Need to Know

(NOTE: This event will be offered both in-person and online. Please select the ticket type that reflects how you will attend.)

California employment laws continue to evolve, bringing new requirements and compliance considerations for employers. Join us for an overview of key new laws and legal developments taking effect in 2027.

Ryan Haws of EmployLaw Group and Laura Withrow of Withrow Employment Law, PC will highlight what California employers need to know, including important changes affecting workplace policies and practices, and practical steps employers can take to prepare for the year ahead.

The seminar will cover:

· 2027 new legislation

· 2026 cases and administrative guidance

· Handbook updates for 2027

· Critical arbitration updates (AB 2155)

· PAGA updates

· Critical AI guidance

· Meal period waiver compliance

· DLSE/DOL & CRD/EEOC guidance

· Minimum wage increases (local and state)

· IRS mileage rates for 2026 & 2027

· And much, much more!

Ryan Haws

EmployLaw Group LLP

Laura Withrow

Withrow Employment Law, P.C.

Ryan is the co-founder of EmployLaw Group LLP. For over fifteen years, Ryan has helped California businesses confidently navigate workplace compliance and employee issues—first as a litigator, now as a

trusted advisor. He has partnered with hundreds of organizations, from startups to established enterprises, to craft clear policies, minimize risk, and resolve complex employment matters efficiently. Ryan’s approach is rooted in strategy, transparency, and practical solutions, keeping clients informed and aligned with their business goals. His legal commentary has been featured in business publications, and he’s been recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times and Los Angeles Business Journal. A Ventura County native, Ryan earned his law degree from Loyola Law School and regularly speaks at HR and employer events across California. Outside of work, he enjoys surfing, coaching youth sports, and volunteering in his community. Oh yeah and you’ll hear him cheering for the Dodgers for a while now, Go Blue!

Laura is the founder of Withrow Employment Law. With 28 years of litigation experience, Laura helps business owners and managers navigate the complexities of California employment law encompassing all aspects of employment law, including litigation defense, representation of employers in hearings before administrative agencies, management training, and counseling employers on compliance issues relating to employment agreements, commission plans, hiring, firings and other personnel matters. She’s been named a Super Lawyer for eight consecutive years and is known for her practical, cost-effective approach. Laura earned her law degree from USC where she was a 3-year recipient of the Douglas Simon Memorial Scholarship. She’s a frequent speaker for several HR and business organizations, a published author in Citations magazine which is a publication of the Ventura County Bar Association, and a volunteer Settlement Officer for Resolve Law Los Angeles. Outside of work, Laura and her daughters actively serve local philanthropies through the National Charity League.

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM Registration & Networking

7:30 - 11:00 AM Program and Q&A

Cancellation & Credit Policy:

Please note that all program registrations are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend, we are happy to offer a credit toward a future program of equal or lesser value, provided that the request is submitted prior to the scheduled event date. Credit requests made after the program date will not be honored.

This event is pending for 3.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

WNY - Navigating Medicare/ Retirement Resources - Understanding and Preparing your Employees (19 Nov 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

NAVIGATING MEDICARE

Navigating Medicare can be complex — especially for employees approaching Medicare eligibility or preparing for retirement. This session is designed to give HR professionals the knowledge, practical guidance, and “how-to” tools they need to confidently support employees through the Medicare transition. We’ll cover Medicare enrollment timelines, coverage options, coordination with employer-sponsored health plans, and common misconceptions. By the end of the session, HR professionals will be better equipped to provide clear, accurate, and strategic support as employees navigate this important milestone in their healthcare and retirement planning.

**This is a Virtual Event ONLY.
Meeting details will be shared after Registration**

8a-8:30am NETWORKING | 8:30a-10a SEMINAR

Learning Objectives

Understand Medicare Basics:
Build a solid understanding of Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D — including what each part covers, when enrollment is required, and how Medicare decisions can affect an employee’s overall healthcare strategy.

Be a Strategic HR Partner:
Learn how Medicare education can complement employee wellness, benefits communication, and retirement-readiness efforts, helping HR teams provide meaningful support throughout the employee lifecycle.

Know the Timelines:
Identify key Medicare enrollment periods, deadlines, and important considerations so employees can make timely decisions, avoid potential late-enrollment penalties, and experience a smoother transition to Medicare.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:

For over 8 years, Kayleigh Bystrak has educated Highmark members through crucial healthcare milestones. She specializes in helping people transition from employer group plans to Medicare policies, ensuring they understand their options and feel supported along the way.

(click logo for more info)

Corporate Sponsors

St. Louis - (VIRTUAL) Successful Habits of Work: Driving Productivity and Profitability During Uncertain Times (19 Nov 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Successful Habits of Work: Driving Productivity and Profitability During Uncertain Times

In today’s unpredictable business environment, organizations are being asked to do more with less—while maintaining employee engagement, productivity, and results. Yet many teams struggle not because of a lack of talent, but because inconsistent habits, low confidence, and unclear ownership quietly limit performance.

This dynamic and practical session equips HR leaders and people managers with a proven framework for building the habits that drive consistent performance, accountability, and business results.

Drawing from performance psychology, leadership development, and real-world business experience, Amy Lemire introduces the core success habits that help employees move from hesitation and overwhelm to clarity, confidence, and action. Attendees will learn how small, intentional shifts in behavior and leadership approach can significantly improve team productivity and overall profitability—even in times of uncertainty.

Participants will gain insight into why employees get stuck, how self-doubt and competing priorities impact execution, and what leaders can do to create an environment where individuals take ownership and perform at a higher level.

This session is highly actionable and designed for immediate implementation. HR professionals will walk away with practical tools they can use to coach managers, support teams, and reinforce a culture of accountability and results.

Key Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify the hidden habits and behaviors that negatively impact employee productivity and performance
Implement a simple framework to build success habits that drive consistency, accountability, and results
Coach employees and managers to overcome self-doubt, hesitation, and competing priorities
Strengthen team ownership and improve follow-through in uncertain or changing environments
Apply practical strategies that enhance both employee engagement and business profitability

Deliverables / Takeaways

Participants will leave with:

A 5-step Success Habits framework to improve individual and team performance
Practical coaching questions and conversation tools for managers
A self-assessment tool to identify productivity gaps and habit breakdowns
Actionable strategies to increase accountability, focus, and execution immediately
A simple plan to reinforce success habits within their teams and organizations

Our Speaker: Amy Lemire, CSP, President & CEO of AIM Training & Consulting

Amy Lemire collaborates with leaders and teams who want to accelerate sales, elevate performance, and amplify success so they can increase team productivity and profitability. Amy has a passion for simplifying the sometimes crazy, complicated, and complex world of sales. Amy has trained thousands of sales and business professionals on how to sell more with confidence and momentum through the mastery of best practices and success habits without being ‘salesy.’

After spending over 2 decades in business-to-business and medical sales and training, Amy founded AIM Training and Consulting. She is a certified “Habitfinder” Leadership Coach. Amy is the author of 2 books: “From Zero to Sales Hero,” and “From Zero to Speaker Hero.”

Amy was designated as a Certified Speaking Professional, in 2023, by the National Speakers Association. She is a VISTAGE-certified speaker and a VISTAGE Trusted Advisor. Amy is a Distinguished Toastmaster, and a Member of the National Speakers Association. AIM Training and Consulting was recognized in 2024 as a “Fast 50” Business in St. Louis.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Annual Sponsor:

Contributing Sponsor:

Los Angeles - Legal Update (1 Dec 2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 15:00:00 GMT

NHRA LA is pleased to present its annual Employment Law & Benefits Update for Employers, featuring Nicole Kamm and Hannah Sweiss, Partners at Fisher Phillips, along with Jason Lacey, Associate General Counsel at IMA Financial Group.

Nicole and Hannah will provide an overview of California's new employment laws for 2027 and discuss significant legal developments from 2026, along with their anticipated impact on employers. Jason will share insights on emerging employee benefits trends, compliance considerations, and key developments affecting employer-sponsored health and welfare plans.

California continues to be one of the most complex states in which to operate as an employer. With new legislation, evolving regulatory requirements, and ongoing workplace challenges, staying informed is more important than ever. This session will provide attendees with valuable updates on employment law and employee benefits, helping organizations navigate compliance obligations, understand potential areas of risk, and identify proactive strategies to support their employees and business objectives.

Attendees will leave with practical takeaways and actionable guidance to help prepare for the year ahead.

St. Louis - NHRA PHR/SPHR Professional Certification Study Group 2026 (3 Dec 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

If you are ready to take the next step in advancing your HR career, join us as we prepare to take the PHR/SPHR exam.

To assist you in your preparation NHRA St. Louis offers a complimentary benefit for our members, the NHRA PHR/SPHR Study Group. Non-NHRA members may join for a fee.

This is a structured support system and educational setting for those members who are interested in pursuing PHR and SPHR certification. Exams can be taken any date of the year.

This group will meet once a week on Thursday evenings starting September 3, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST.

This is an excellent forum for HR certification exam prep support, learning and motivation - all facilitated by seasoned HR professionals.

Silicon Valley - DECEMBER HOLIDAY PARTY - SAVE THE DATE (8 Dec 2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 01:30:00 GMT

Annual Holiday Party

Join our mailing list to stay informed about National Human Resources Association events and programs.

ROC - Pro-ROC 2026 Job Fair (16 Dec 2026)

Wed, 16 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Pro-ROC & RochesterWorks Launch the 2026 Annual Job Fair

Rochester, NY – The Professional Recruiters of Rochester (Pro-ROC), in partnership with RochesterWorks and the Rochester chapter of the National Human Resources Association (NHRA), is excited to host the Annual Job Fair on Wednesday, December 16th, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave, Rochester, NY 14607).

In 2025, this event welcomed over 300 job seekers across a wide variety of industries; from production, customer support, and patient care to engineering, administration, nursing, and management. The 2026 fair will build on that success, offering even more ways for employers and job seekers to connect.

Why Employers Should Participate

High Visibility: Limited tables are available, secure yours now to highlight your brand and showcase your career opportunities.
Diverse Candidate Pool: Meet job seekers with skills and backgrounds across industries and levels.

On-Site Extras (Free for All Attendees!)

Professional Headshots: Complimentary headshots for both job seekers and employer representatives.
Freecycle Boutique: Advancing sustainable fashion through professional attire, $1,000+ in boutique workwear available for job seekers and vendors to free-shop during the event!
Career Coaching Corner: Personalized resume reviews, interview practice, and career guidance with experienced talent acquisition professionals.
Free admission to the Art Gallery: Free entry after 11:00 AM on 12/16!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship includes brand exposure across multiple channels; event materials, email blasts, the NHRA website, and Pro-ROC & NHRA social media.

Interested in sponsoring? Contact Brandyn Jacob bjacob@pridestaff.com or Jeff Fazio jfazio@daybright.com

Event Questions? Reach out to prorocnhra@gmail.com.