National Human Resources Association upcoming events

National - Speak Their Language: Mastering Communication Agility Across Generations and Cultures (21 Apr 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

In today’s workplace, success depends on more than what we say — it’s how we adapt, listen, and connect across lines of age, background, and experience. With five generations and increasing cultural diversity shaping our teams, even well-intentioned communication can miss the mark. In this interactive session, we’ll unpack the hidden assumptions that drive miscommunication, explore how culture and generation shape communication styles, and learn practical ways to flex our approach without losing authenticity.

Participants will discover how communication agility — the ability to adjust tone, pace, and style to different audiences — transforms tension into trust and difference into strength. Whether you lead meetings, coach employees, or manage global teams, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to build bridges where gaps once stood and lead through aloha- leading with empathy, presence, and intention rather than dominance or speed.

What We Will Cover:

Define communication agility and explain how adjusting tone, pace, and style can strengthen relationships across diverse audiences.
Identify sources of tension in communication and apply agility techniques to transform misunderstandings into opportunities for trust and connection.
And more!

OUR SPEAKER: COLEEN GOSE

Coleen Gose is a professional speaker, coach, consultant, and author known for dynamic keynotes and interactive workshops focused on effective communication and conflict resolution. With over 25 years of leadership and supplier-relations experience—including work with Fortune 500 companies—she has led high-performing teams, negotiated multimillion-dollar contracts, and built lasting partnerships. Coleen helps organizations identify communication breakdowns and replace tension with trust, understanding, and accountability. She holds a BA in Law and Justice and an MBA, blending real-world expertise with research-based insight. Through her HEART framework, she inspires meaningful conversations and lasting change.

St. Louis - Presence! Stepping into Leadership's Highest Calling (23 Apr 2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Presence: Stepping into Leadership’s Highest Calling

Dr. John Robert Miller

This fast-paced session will help attendees gain a new perspective on Leadership Presence and how one can learn to present themselves to various constituencies in their organization in a way that enhances their legitimacy, credibility and authenticity as a leader or influencer. Using timeless concepts introduced by Aristotle during the height of Athenian culture, attendees will be set to complete a high-level personal plan to get them started on the road to creating an Optimal Personal Presence.

Dr. John Robert Miller Bio:

Dr. John Miller is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Optimal Leadership Presence and host of the Presence! podcast. Dr. Miller holds a Doctorate in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Organizational Communication. He has earned certifications from the Center for Creative Leadership, Hogan Personality Assessments and the Myers Briggs Trait Indicator. Over the past 30 years, he has coached hundreds of leaders at all organizational levels across dozens of industries.

While staying true to his academic background and the most current research on leadership, interpersonal relationships and employee engagement, Dr. Miller is a practitioner at heart, having spent most of his career working in “the real world”. He served as Director of Leadership and Organizational Development at Charter Communications and Director of Cultural Transformation at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He also helped build a development/coaching consulting firm that serviced global clients, such as Philips Electronics, Nestle-Purina, CCL Label, and DRS Manufacturing.

Dr. Miller is also an Adjunct Professor for McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University, St. Louis.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Major Sponsor:

Major:

Contributing Sponsor:

WNY - HR Leaders Unplugged (23 Apr 2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:30:00 GMT

HR Leaders Unplugged: Career Stories, Challenges & Breakthroughs

April 23, 2026

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202

CLICK HERE For Registration Information

This CHRO‑level panel discussion - co‑hosted by BNHRA and WNY NHRA - is designed for HR professionals at every stage who want to learn, grow, and get inspired. Expect authentic insights, networking, and valuable takeaways.

(click logo for more info)

Corporate Sponsors

Rochester - Book Club (28 Apr 2026)

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Join us on April 28th from 4:30 - 6:00PM 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 April 28th at Butler/Till, from 4:30 - 6:00PM. There is parking in the Midtown Parking Garage, and we will meet on the first floor.

Our book selection for this session is The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher. 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.

Book Synopsis:

The Next Conversation

If you’ve ever wished tough conversations felt easier, or that you could stay calm, clear, and confident even when the pressure rises, this book club pick is for you.

In HR, communication isn’t just a skill—it’s the backbone of culture, trust, and organizational health.

In The Next Conversation, Jefferson Fisher, a New York Times bestselling communication expert, offers a practical, real world framework for transforming how we speak, listen, and connect. Fisher distills his widely followed communication tools into a simple three part system:

Say it with control. Say it with confidence. Say it to connect.

His approach aligns directly with the daily realities of HR: deescalating conflict, coaching leaders, supporting employees, and modeling communication that strengthens relationships rather than fractures them.

Book club will be hosted and facilitated by NHRA – Rochester member Sean D’Abreu! Reflection questions will be sent one week in advance.

Los Angeles - After the Reset: How People Leaders Navigate Backlash, Policy Shifts, and What Comes Next (30 Apr 2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:30:00 GMT

In recent years, many People and Culture leaders built meaningful DEI and belonging platforms, only to see the environment shift quickly under cultural backlash, policy change, and heightened political and legal scrutiny. For many organizations, this moment forced a reset: initiatives were constrained, restructured, paused, or absorbed into broader people and talent strategies.

This session offers a grounded, forward-looking conversation for senior HR leaders navigating what comes after the reset. Drawing on national strategy work across corporate and institutional settings, Dr. Damon A. Williams—Chief Catalyst of the Center for Strategic Leadership and Social Innovation and advisor to thousands of organizations—explores how leaders are recalibrating DEI and inclusion efforts, responding to immigration and workforce disruption, protecting organizational trust, and advancing core values without exhausting themselves or their teams. This is not a call to return to the past, but a practical guide to leading with clarity, care, and strategic readiness for what comes next.

Rochester - When Strategy Stalls: The People Capacity Problem HR Can’t Ignore (12 May 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:30:00 GMT

When Strategy Stalls: The People Capacity Problem HR Can’t Ignore

HR leaders have spent the last several years in constant response mode - navigating layoffs, policy shifts, burnout, and ongoing disruption. But many organizations are now facing a different challenge: strategy is stalling, even when the vision is clear.

The issue isn’t a lack of ideas - it’s a lack of capacity.

This session reframes HR’s role from crisis responder to capacity builder. Participants will explore the critical distinction between crisis leadership and change leadership and why confusing the two keeps teams reactive, erodes trust, and limits execution.

Grounded in the Resilient Paradigm Trifecta™ - steadiness, transparency, and care, this session offers a practical approach to leading in high-demand, uncertain environments. Participants will leave with tools to reduce reactivity, increase clarity, and support sustainable progress within their teams and organizations.

Please note: registration will begin at 7:30AM with breakfast and networking, event will begin at 8:00AM.

Recertification credits are pending for this event.

Learning Objectives

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

Differentiate between crisis response and change leadership, and recognize when each is needed
Identify signs of a capacity gap that is impacting execution, engagement, and trust
Apply practical strategies to build individual and team capacity in high-demand environments
Lead with steadiness, transparency, and care to create clarity, trust, and forward momentum

Participants will leave with:

A clear framework for understanding why strategy often stalls
A practical lens for assessing capacity - personally and organizationally
One or two immediately applicable tools to lead with greater clarity and steadiness

Meet Dr. Kate McCaffrey

Founder, Paradigm Twist Executive Coaching & Consulting

Dr. McCaffrey is a leadership strategist, executive coach, and former senior student affairs executive with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education. She works with leaders and organizations to close the gap between vision and execution by building capacity for sustainable change. Through her work, she helps leaders move from reactive overload to clear, confident, and intentional leadership.

Silicon Valley - Leading Through Change (12 May 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:30:00 GMT

JOIN US ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Leading Through Change

An important skill for HR professionals is helping their companies effectively move through change easily and efficiently while keeping productivity and efficiency high. Without this skill the chaos of change can decrease trust, cause chaos and wreck havoc on the culture of a company. Come learn important preparation skills and a model that will help you and your leaders understand change within your organization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

- Understand how to prepare for change and how to communicate change.

- Learn what employees need most when there is change.

- Understand the flow of resisting change and how to overcome this resistance.

- Learn a simple, yet effective, People Change Management model.

AGENDA

5:30 PM IN-PERSON NETWORKING (dinner included)

6:00 PM VIRTUAL SESSION BEGINS

6:05 PM LEGAL UPDATES

6:15 PM PROGRAM

7:15 PM Q&A

7:30 PM IN-PERSON NETWORKING

8:00 PM PROGRAM CLOSE

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Heather Ramsey

Practice Leader, Leadership, Talent & Organizational Development

Heather Ramsey serves as the Practice Leader for Leadership, Talent and Organizational Development at OneDigital. Heather firmly believes that empowered and engaged HR leaders, along with motivated leadership teams and employees, drives organizational success.

She especially enjoys working with and giving back to HR leaders to become their best selves in both their careers and lives because HR leaders have the special gift of holding the entire organization together while often having no formal authority and often without recognition.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from U.C. Davis and a master’s degree in Executive HR Management from Cornell University. She is a dedicated reader of business and leadership topics and enjoys being a mom, gardening and dancing on occasion.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Human Resource Management Certificate Program

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

Ventura County: Why Reactive HR Gets Feared — and Strategic HR Gets Trusted (13 May 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:20:00 GMT

Why Reactive HR Gets Feared — and Strategic HR Gets Trusted

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

Why Reactive HR Gets Feared — and Strategic HR Gets Trusted explores the credibility gap facing today’s HR leaders. Bukky unpacks why reactive, policy-first approaches often create friction, while strategic, business-aligned HR earns influence and trust. She examines the tension between compliance and courage, protection and partnership, and offers a clear lens for elevating HR’s impact. Attendees will leave with practical insight into building credibility without losing their people-centered foundation.

Learning Objectives (3-4 bullet points):

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

● Distinguish between reactive and strategic HR behaviors and understand how each impacts credibility, influence, and trust with business leaders.

● Assess where your current approach may unintentionally create friction and identify opportunities to shift from policy enforcer to strategic partner.

● Apply practical strategies to strengthen your executive presence and business alignment while remaining compliant, people-centered, and performance-driven.

Bukky Osifeso, Founder

Tag Team

Bukky Osifeso is a global People & Culture executive and Founder of TAG Team, a people-first strategy consultancy partnering with scaling and founder-led companies. With over 25 years of experience spanning Disney, Amgen, and Netflix, Bukky has led HR across complex, high-growth environments in the U.S. and internationally.

She is known for building cultures rooted in trust, clarity, and performance — where leaders are equipped, accountability is normalized, and people strategy drives real business outcomes.

Bukky challenges traditional HR narratives and advocates for a bold, strategic, and human-centered approach to the function. Her work sits at the intersection of courage, operational excellence, and culture transformation — helping organizations move from reactive HR to proactive people leadership.

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM Registration & Networking

7:30 AM Breakfast & Introductions

7:45 AM Legal Update

8:00 AM -9:00 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 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

Orange County - Mid-Year Economic Update (19 May 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

As organizations move into the second half of the year, HR leaders are under increasing pressure to make strategic workforce decisions amid economic uncertainty, shifting labor market conditions, evolving regulations, and changing employee expectations.

This Mid-Year Economic Update will provide HR professionals with a clear, data-driven perspective on current economic trends and what they mean for talent strategy, compensation planning, workforce structure, hiring demand, and organizational resilience. The session will translate macroeconomic signals into practical implications for HR leaders — helping them prepare their organizations for both potential risks and emerging opportunities in the months ahead.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how economic forces influence workforce planning and leave with actionable insights to help guide executive conversations, budget decisions, and talent strategies for the remainder of the year.

AGENDA

Annual Sponsors

Los Angeles - Evolving HR & Talent Practices to Be Future-Ready (19 May 2026)

Wed, 20 May 2026 00:30:00 GMT

The future workforce is already here—but many organizations are still figuring out how to effectively engage, develop, and support next-generation talent.

Join NHRA LA and leaders from Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica for a forward-looking conversation on how HR teams can better understand the needs and expectations of today’s teens and young adults—and what this means for your talent strategy.

This session will explore how partnerships with nonprofit organizations and volunteerism can become powerful drivers of early talent pipeline development, employee engagement, and long-term workforce readiness.

You’ll gain practical insights into how leading organizations are connecting community engagement with business strategy—while preparing for the workforce of tomorrow.

WNY - Building a Compensation Strategy That Drives Business Results (21 May 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Strategically Aligning Compensation with Organizational Success

A well-designed compensation philosophy and strategy helps organizations connect employee pay with broader business goals, market conditions, and stakeholder expectations. By taking a deliberate, business-driven approach to compensation, organizations can strengthen internal equity, remain competitive in the external market, and ensure regulatory compliance—while also promoting accountability, retention, and performance.

Join Julia Culkin-Jacobia, Practice Leader of Compensation Consulting at Catapult, as she explores how an integrated compensation strategy can serve as a powerful tool to support organizational performance, culture, and long-term success.

This session will explore key elements of an effective compensation strategy, including:

Compensation Philosophy
Strategic Alignment
Compensation Design
Corporate Governance
Affordability
External Market Factors

Participants will learn how to:

Identify the core elements of a strategically aligned compensation philosophy
Analyze how compensation structures influence organizational performance, accountability, and employee retention
Evaluate internal equity and external market competitiveness when designing compensation programs
Apply best practices for aligning compensation with organizational culture and long-term strategic goals
Understand key regulatory considerations impacting compensation programs

About our Speaker

Julia Culkin-Jacobia,

Practice Leader of Compensation Consulting at Catapult

Julia Culkin-Jacobia is a seasoned human resources and compensation leader with more than two decades of experience advising boards, CEOs, and executive teams on aligning pay with strategy, performance, and long-term value creation. She currently serves as Practice Leader, Compensation Consulting at Catapult Executive Consulting, where she partners with organizations across industries to design and implement compensation strategies that attract, retain, and motivate top talent. Julia advises boards, compensation committees, and senior leadership on executive and director pay, incentive plan design, pay governance, and regulatory compliance, bringing deep expertise in both strategy and execution.

Julia’s career includes senior HR and compensation leadership positions in both corporate and consulting environments. Her experience spans publicly traded companies, health care, technology, manufacturing, and nonprofit sectors, giving her a uniquely broad perspective on workforce and compensation challenges. She has led compensation committee advisory work, supported multiple mergers and acquisitions, and developed high-potential leadership programs that build sustainable talent pipelines. Julia has been recognized as a Women of Influence honoree and Human Resource Executive of the Year for Mid-Size Companies.

Today, as a Practice Leader of our Compensation line of business and Executive Coach, Julia combines her deep technical expertise in executive pay and incentive design with her broad leadership background to help organizations align compensation with culture, purpose, and performance.

Julia has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Buffalo and obtained her executive education certification from Harvard Business School.

(click logo for more info)

Corporate Sponsors

St. Louis - Workplace Wellness Redefined (28 May 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Traditional wellness programs are often treated as a "checklist" of apps and insurance discounts. This session challenges HR leaders to move beyond the perk mentality and build a "Whole Health" ecosystem. By blending Dr. Farran’s Creative Living principles with strategic HR competencies, attendees will learn how to design a workplace where high performance and human fulfillment coexist.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Tania Farran, owner of Creative Living Ideas, LLC, is an inspiring and experienced professional. She is an expert in educational leadership and parenting. She has over 30 years of experience in education, leadership, parenting, is a business owner, author of 9 books, is talented in public speaking, and balances life professionally and personally. Tania is passionate about leadership, family, cooking, and self-care.

Dr. Farran hosts her own conferences each year with presenters from around the world. Her two largest conferences are The Professional: Work-Life Balance Summit and The Virtual Wellness Experience.

She has been the featured guest on numerous podcasts and audio events, including her own live stream called "The 2350 Effect" which can be found on Creative Living Ideas YouTube Channel.

Dr. Farran is co-creator of the 2350 Network, focusing on empowering professionals through wellness and leadership. Dr. Farran champions a culture of mutual respect and intentional collaboration, empowering professionals to laugh, dream big, and grow together, while guided by the belief that a few bad minutes shouldn't disrupt a whole day. This approach directly reflects the 2350 Network's mission to foster a warm and open environment for shared growth and intentional, positive interaction.

She is the author of 9 books. One of her most popular books is Raising The Well-Adjusted Child: A Parent’s Manual. She hosts live events weekly, facilitating conversations about leadership, education, parenting, and self-care.

Dr. Farran has presented at numerous conferences and is frequently invited to speak at events. Dr. Farran is active on all forms of social media channels, providing information to leaders, parents, and educators on self-care, parenting, cooking, and details about her books. Dr. Farran holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri St. Louis, a Masters in Administration from Lindenwood University, and a Doctorate of Education from Missouri Baptist University.

Register in advance to secure your spot where Dr. Tania Farran will be presenting.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Major Sponsor:

Major:

Contributing Sponsor:

Silicon Valley - JUNE EVENT - SAVE THE DATE (9 Jun 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:30:00 GMT

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

Ventura County: The "HR Agile Mindset" in Times of Crisis and Disruption (10 Jun 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:20:00 GMT

The "HR Agile Mindset" in Times of Crisis and Disruption

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

C-suite priority surveys consistently value agility, flexibility, and change readiness as a key priority in all senior leaders. In 2026, HR isn't just a support function: it’s the engine room for organizational resilience. What began during the pandemic—leading through crisis and disruption while managing compound volatility—has now led HR to sit atop the mountain of AI adoption, the return-to-work-dilemma, and complex talent planning strategies in light of massive demographic shifts.

Learning Objectives (3-4 bullet points):

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

· Move beyond a rigid annual performance cycle to continuous feedback loops and employee professional development discussions.

· Balance the demands of AI implementation with the return-to-work dilemma.

· Master “Agile HR” (versus “Legacy HR”) as agility, adaptability, and change readiness drive the new HR frontier as well as your own future career blueprint.

Paul Falcone

Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC

Paul Falcone (PaulFalconeHR.com) is the principal of Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC, specializing in leadership and management training, executive coaching, keynote speaking, and facilitating corporate offsite retreats. Paul is the former CHRO of Nickelodeon Animation Studios and has held senior HR leadership positions in healthcare, biotech, and financial services. He’s a long-term columnist for SHRM’s HR Magazine, and he sits on the board of the American Management Association. Paul is a bestselling author of 17 books with HarperCollins Leadership, including the five-book Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Series; 101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees; 101 Sample Write-Ups for Documenting Employee Performance Problems; The First-Time Manager: HR; The First-Time Manager: Leading Through Crisis; 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire; and 2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Reviews.

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM Registration & Networking

7:30 AM Breakfast & Introductions

7:45 AM Legal Update

8:00 AM -9:00 AM Program and Q&A

Cancellation & Credit Policy:

This event is pending for 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

Orange County - HR Executives of The Year Honoree Panel (16 Jun 2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

As organizations navigate constant change, HR leaders are being called to do more than manage policies and programs — they are shaping cultures, guiding people through uncertainty, and influencing the future of work in meaningful ways. The HR EOY Honoree Fire Chat brings together one of Orange County’s most respected HR leaders for an engaging and candid conversation focused on leadership, humanity, and impact.

Grounded in the theme “Connecting Humanity. Shaping What Matters.”, this session will explore the human side of HR leadership — how today’s leaders balance business performance with empathy, build resilient cultures, and make decisions that truly move organizations and people forward.

Through real-world stories, lessons learned, and honest reflections from the honoree’s career journey, attendees will gain insight into what it takes to lead with purpose while driving measurable results. The conversation will highlight both strategic wins and difficult challenges — offering practical takeaways HR professionals can apply immediately within their own organizations.

AGENDA

Annual Sponsors

Rochester - Pro-ROC, Talent Collective (18 Jun 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Professional Recruiters of Rochester (Pro-ROC)

The Talent Collective

On June 18th, Pro-ROC is bringing together our community for The Talent Collective, a dynamic, half-day experience designed for connection, learning, and growth.

This event will feature rotating, facilitated sessions focused on today’s most pressing talent challenges, including talent acquisition and retention. Attendees will select from multiple facilitated sessions throughout the morning, moving between sessions to gain insights from a variety of speakers while building meaningful relationships along the way. Expect high-impact conversations, real takeaways, and plenty of opportunities to connect.

Whether you're navigating tough conversations with hiring managers, trying to improve placement quality, building a retention strategy, or exploring smarter ways to source local talent, this morning is built for you. Four expert speakers. Four focused sessions. Tools you can put to work immediately.

This is your morning to invest in yourself, and bring back tools your team will feel on Monday.

*Please note: your personal rotation will be emailed to you after your registration.

Interested in Sponsoring?

The Talent Collective is intentionally designed with significant networking time and dedicated opportunities to engage with sponsors throughout the morning. Sponsors will also be highlighted through 1-minute sponsor spotlight videos shared on LinkedIn leading up to the event.

Agenda:

8:00 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Networking
8:30 – 8:45 AM: Welcome & Introduction
8:45 – 8:50 AM: Transition to Breakout Rooms

Breakout Round 1: 8:50 – 9:30 AM (40 min)

4 concurrent sessions, 25 attendees each
Break from 9:30 AM – 9:35 AM

Breakout Round 2: 9:35 – 10:15 AM (40 min)

4 concurrent sessions, 25 attendees each
Mid-morning break from 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM

Breakout Round 3: 10:30 – 11:10 AM (40 min)

4 concurrent sessions, 25 attendees each
Break from 11:10 AM – 11:15 AM

Breakout Round 4: 11:15 – 11:55 AM (40 min)

4 concurrent sessions, 25 attendees each
Transition to main room from 11:55 AM – 12:00 PM

12:00 – 12:30 PM: Panel Discussion – All 4 Speakers

Meet our Speakers

Zoe Koulouris
Founder, Transform with Irini

Session Title: Mastering Honest Conversations

Difficult conversations with hiring managers are one of the most common — and most avoided — challenges in talent acquisition. The question isn't whether they'll happen, it's whether your people are equipped to handle them well. When they are, organizations move faster, resolve conflict sooner, and build stronger cultures where honest dialogue becomes the norm.

In this 40-minute interactive breakout session, Zoe guides participants through a practical path to mastery — from understanding why these conversations break down, to building the skills and discipline to navigate them with confidence and purpose. That includes giving and receiving feedback effectively and creating the psychological safety that makes honest dialogue possible in the first place.

Audience Takeaways:

Identify the root causes that make workplace conversations with hiring managers difficult
Learn the practices and disciplines that separate skilled communicators from the rest
Practice frameworks through role-play to move from concept to real-world application
Understand the broader organizational impact when leaders commit to mastering honest dialogue

About Zoe:

Zoe Koulouris is an entrepreneur who founded, scaled, and successfully exited a software agency before turning her focus to the human systems that make or break organizational growth. Today, through Transform with Irini, she coaches and consults leaders on building the communication, trust, and organizational dynamics needed to lead adaptive, cohesive teams through change.

Andrew Biernat
Strategic Business Consultant, Keynote Speaker, & Author

Session Title: The Three Factors that Make Placements Stick

You know the cost of a bad hire — but what about the hidden cost of disengaged talent? Across recruiting, professionals face the same challenge: placements that look perfect on paper but flame out in 90 days, candidates who accept offers then ghost, and teams that can't retain top performers despite competitive compensation.

This interactive workshop introduces the Performance Enhancing Vitamins (PEVs) model — a research-backed framework that reveals what truly drives placement longevity and employee engagement. Through a personal assessment, teaching segments, and breakout discussions, you'll gain immediately applicable tools for both external recruiters and internal talent professionals. Many of your stakeholders see you as a recruiter. Leverage the PEVs and become their strategic advisor.

About Andrew:

Andrew Biernat is a strategic business consultant and team dynamics specialist who equips leadership teams and managers with practical frameworks to transform workplace engagement and enable cross-functional collaboration. Drawing on his diverse business background across sales, marketing, account management, and project management, he helps teams identify hidden talent patterns and redesign work processes to align with natural strengths. He is the author of The Team That Loves Mondays.

Alyssa Klimuszka

Session Title: From Burnout to Buy-In: Creating the Virtuous Cycle of Retention and Engagement

Employee retention is often approached as a strategic or operational challenge — yet the psychological experience of work plays a critical role in whether employees stay, disengage, or leave. This session explores how workplace wellness, engagement, and organizational psychology interact with retention strategies to shape what can become either a virtuous or vicious cycle of employment.

When wellness and engagement are intentionally supported, organizations can create a virtuous cycle in which employees feel valued, perform at higher levels, and remain committed. Participants will learn how aligning retention strategy with psychological drivers — such as meaningful work, supportive leadership, and a culture of wellbeing — can strengthen workforce stability and performance.

Sean Anderson
Co-Founder, Employer Tax Credit Services

Session Title: Building a Smarter Workforce: Incentives, Inclusion & the Rochester Talent Pipeline

PRO-ROC members are facing a shared challenge: open roles, rising labor costs, and fewer candidates coming through traditional channels. The solution may already be here — in the form of untapped local talent and the financial incentives designed to support hiring it.

This session reframes workforce strategy around opportunity. Young people, justice-impacted individuals, and other underrepresented candidates represent a significant and overlooked pipeline — and programs like WOTC and New York State youth hiring credits can meaningfully offset the cost of bringing them on board. This isn't about charity. It's about building a more resilient, sustainable hiring model rooted right here in Rochester.

About Pro-ROC

Professional Recruiters of Rochester (Pro-ROC) is a special interest group of the National Human Resources Association – Rochester Affiliate. Pro-ROC’s collaborative leadership team assists recruitment professionals in refining and enhancing the craft of talent acquisition.

Ventura County: Today's Landscape of HR moderated by Paul Butler (8 Jul 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:20:00 GMT

Today's Landscape of HR

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

Executive Panel moderated by Paul Butler.

Panelists to be announced soon!

Paul Butler, client Partner

Newleaf Training & Development

Additional Event Details

7:20 AM Registration & Networking

7:30 AM Breakfast & Introductions

7:45 AM Legal Update

8:00 AM -9:00 AM Program and Q&A

Cancellation & Credit Policy:

This event is pending for 1.25 credit hours for both HRCI & SHRM credits.

ROC - HR Exec Sponsorship Opportunities (5 Aug 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In preparation for the 2026 HR Executive and Rising Star Luncheon, we have opened sponsorship opportunities! Please read the descriptions below on the different sponsorship opportunities that we offer. This year’s luncheon will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Monroe Golf Club.

Questions on sponsorship opportunities? Please contact Gina Sullivan (Gsullivan@mindex.com), Michele Ebenhoch (Mebenhoch@hotmail.com), or Tony Palmeri (Apalmeri@aerotek.com).

~~Presenting - $4,500 (1) - Sold Out~~

~~Reserved seating in prime location at event (2 tables of 8).~~
~~Pre Packaged Sponsorship Kit (4 LinkedIn Images, Web Copy, Social Media Copy & Email Header).~~
~~Event program recognition, strategic placement of full-page color ad in program booklet (inside cover or back page).~~
~~Your organization’s signage at the event.~~
~~A few moments to speak during the event.~~
~~Your logo and the NHRA logo will appear on table signs.~~
~~Recognition of your sponsorship in event presentation and on NHRA’s website.~~
~~Inclusion in pre-event and post event publicity.~~

~~Giveaway - $4,000 - Sold Out~~

~~Reserved seating in prime location at event (1 table of 8).~~
~~Pre Packaged Sponsorship Kit (Web Copy, Social Media Copy).~~
~~Event program recognition, full-page color ad in program booklet (other than inside cover or back page).~~
~~Your logo and sponsorship call out on NHRA’s social media and on event table signs.~~
~~Recognition of your sponsorship in event presentation.~~
~~Co-branded event giveaway item with your logo and NHRA’s logo.~~
~~Inclusion in pre-event and post event publicity.~~

Platinum - $2,500

Reserved seating in prime location at event (1 table of 8).
Pre Packaged Sponsorship Kit (Web Copy, Social Media Copy).
Event program recognition, full-page color ad in program booklet (other than inside cover or back page).
Your logo and sponsorship call out on NHRA’s social media and on event table signs.
Recognition of your sponsorship in event presentation.
Inclusion in pre-event and post event publicity

Gold - $2,000

Reserved seating (4 tickets to event).
Inclusion in pre-event and post event publicity
Recognition in event program with a 1/2 page color ad.
Recognition of your sponsorship in event presentation.

Video - $1,750 (1)

Open seating (2 tickets to event).
Logo featured prominently in promotional video featuring HR Executive of the Year & Rising Star honorees.
Recognition in event program with your logo.

Dessert - $1,250 (1)

Open seating (2 tickets to event).
Your logo printed on sugar cookies at each table.

Photography - $1,000 (1)

Open seating (2 tickets to event).
Recognition of your sponsorship in event presentation.
Recognition in event program with your logo.

Meet & Greet-Dinner - $1,000 (1)

Taking place on June 9, 2026 at the Monroe's.
2 tickets to Meet & Greet.
A few moments to speak during opening remarks.
Display table at the event.

Meet & Greet-Network - $800 (1)

Taking place on June 9, 2026 at the Monroe's.
2 tickets to Meet & Greet.
A few moments to speak during opening remarks.
Display table at the event.

Flowers - $800 (1)

Open seating (2 tickets to event).
Logo displayed with floral arrangements.

Program - $800

Open seating (2 tickets to event).
Recognition in event program with your logo and a 1/2 page color ad.

Supporter - $350

Open seating (1 ticket to event).
Recognition in event program with your logo.