the shrm-atlanta connection · shrm-atlanta celebrates individual and collective success by...

Building Atlanta’s HR leaders is our business, one member at a time. September/October 2017

The SHRM-AtlantaConnection

A new season forSHRM-Atlanta

September/October 2017

The SHRM-AtlantaConnection

3SHRM-ATLANTA CONNECTION | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Note from Your President .....................................................................4

News + Updates .......................................................................................5

SHRM-Atlanta’s 2020 Vision .....................................................................6

Staying Out of The Headlines ..................................................................8

Why Certification Matters ......................................................................10

Member-Get-A-Member Campaign........................................................11

Ask Amanda Advice Column ..................................................................12

“I Owe a World of Thanks to SHRM-Atlanta” .........................................13

Member Benefit Spotlight: HR360 .........................................................14

Kudos & Congrats ..................................................................................14

New SHRM-Atlanta Members ................................................................15

Photos: Leadership at All Levels Symposium .......................................16

Photos: Courageous Leadership Chapter Meeting ...............................17

Photos: Open House ..............................................................................18

Photos: Team SHRM-Atlanta Volunteers at Junior Achievement .........19

2849 Paces Ferry Road, SEOverlook 1, Suite 205Atlanta, GA 30339404.442.7335www.shrmatlanta.org

2017 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIPPresidentLisa Hughes, M.S., SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR President ElectChristine Browning, SPHR EVP Member RelationsBarbara Bell-Dees, SHRM-SCP, PHR EVP Volunteer LeadershipKaren Hilton, SHRM-SCP, CPC, ELI-MP

EVP Professional DevelopmentDwight Thompson, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

EVP Signature InitiativesMark Myette, MBA

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORSKimberly Douglas (Board Chair) SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPFCamry Blaising, RHU, REBCDeRetta ColeRobert P. CollinsBarbara M. DondiegoVince Eugenio, PhD, HCS, CCMCJulie Goldberg, CPAVirginia Hughes Means, SHRM-SCP, SPHRTom SpahrDan Stotz, M.S.Lynne ZapponeBrad CummingsKeith D. Jackson

SHRM-ATLANTA STAFFChief Executive OfficerJeanne Artime

Member Relations DirectorJoanne Singletary

Business Development Director Jackie Choice

Education Program Director Heather Dufault

Marketing Director Caitlin Podaras

Member Operations Manager Amanda Abrenillo-Brown

4 SHRM-ATLANTA CONNECTION | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2017

A Note from Your PresidentLisa Hughes, M.S., SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR

A Sense of Pride …

SHRM-Atlanta is on a great trajectory! I beam with pride to serve as your volunteer President. 2017 has been a year of positive growth and transition. We are rethinking everything with the singular focus being you … our members. I hope you have experienced our enhanced focus on creating personal connections and a strong sense of community. Whether through our SOAHR conference held last spring, our Leadership at All Levels symposium held last month, volunteerism or one of our social gatherings

throughout the year, I hope you’ve connected with other HR professionals or Resource Partners that can truly support you as you face day-to-day opportunities and challenges.

The professional development SHRM-Atlanta offers is carefully crafted with the goal of helping you thrive in your career, and we know one size or format doesn’t work for all. We will continue to introduce innovative ways that meet you where you are in your professional journey and help you take the next steps you desire.

We, as the HR profession, are doing really good work for our businesses and our communities. You may have recently obtained your HR certification, received a promotion or volunteered for a great cause in the community … we celebrate you! You may have rolled out a new performance management system, fostered cultural change or played a key role in a new organizational initiative …we celebrate you! Through new venues such as this newsletter, SHRM-Atlanta wants to celebrate that excellence!

We always strive to be on the leading edge of HR thought leadership within the Atlanta community. Our goal is to build Atlanta HR leaders, one member at time! I am so proud SHRM-Atlanta is the premier HR association in Atlanta.

I hope you enjoy this inaugural edition of our newsletter. Please let us know what you think; we always welcome feedback. Last but certainly not least, get involved! I am confident the value you will receive through professional development, thought leadership, and chapter volunteerism will make you proud to say, “I am a SHRM-Atlanta member!”

Yours in Service,

Lisa Hughes2016 – 2017 President, SHRM-Atlanta

lead

ersh

ipDevote yourself to your community around you,

and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose & meaning. - Mitch Albom


lead

ersh

ipNews + Updates

SHRM Foundation Scholarships – Deadline October 10Are you working on your undergrad or graduate degree? Or plan to take the SHRM certification exam in the spring? Or know a SHRM member who is? The SHRM Foundation will award more than 300 scholarships to HR students and professionals in 2017. With each scholarship, a passionate HR student or professional receives direct financial support to advance their HR education.

More than 150 scholarships will be awarded this fall for undergraduate and graduate students and individuals seeking their SHRM certification.

Learn more at shrmfoundation.org/scholarships.

Hurry, the deadline is October 10!

Help SHRM-AtlantaHave you already blown past your 60 PDCs needed for recertification or are you “almost there?” Help your SHRM-Atlanta chapter and state council by recertifying in 2017!

Our SHRM-Atlanta chapter will receive credit for any member who renews their SHRM certification by December 31, 2017, so be sure to complete your recertification by the end of the year.

Visit your recertification portal at http://portal.shrm.org.

Do you want to get your brand in front of thousands of HR professionals? Now is the time to start planning for 2018! Here are three ways you can partner with SHRM-Atlanta in the new year:

• Sponsor or exhibit at SOAHR 2018 - brand new sponsorship opportunities are available!

• Become a Strategic Partner - gain maximum exposure throughout the year.• Take advantage of our marketing and advertising opportunities - promote your

products and services to our community. Contact Jackie Choice, Business Development Director at [email protected] to schedule a time to discuss today. There’s no better time than now to begin planning for the new year!

You don't want to miss SOAHR 2018: Be the Catalyst!Are you tasked with driving change at your organization? Do you have the skills you need to be a change agent?

Join your peers and save the date for SOAHR 2018, SHRM-Atlanta's 28th annual conference, which will feature two days of engaging presenters, in-depth learning sessions and workshops, and fantastic networking opportunities.

This is the event for Atlanta HR professionals like you to participate in cutting-edge educational content while creating meaningful relationships with your peers. Mark your calendars today and look for coming information! The conference will be held March 27-28, 2018 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

New HQ officially open!Did you miss our Open House on September 26? It’s not too late to stop by and visit YOUR SHRM-Atlanta headquarters.

Our office is located in the Overlook 1 building at 2849 Paces Ferry Rd, SE, Suite 205, Atlanta, 30339. Office hours are typically 9am-5pm, but if you’d like to meet with someone specific it’s best to schedule a time.

We’d also like to give a special thank you to our strategic partners that helped get us set up in our new home! IT Solutions: Abel SolutionsHR Solutions: HR StrategiesFurniture: Nowak Office SolutionsLegal Counsel: Taylor English

Be a Site Host for a SHRM-Atlanta ProgramIn an effort to bring together the HR and business community, SHRM-Atlanta is looking for business partners that have meeting space for learning opportunities such as presentations, panel discussions or full or half-day workshops. If your company would like to connect with and support the Atlanta HR community, we'd love to talk with you about being a site host. Learn more at www.shrmatlanta.org/sitehost.


SHRM-Atlanta’s 2020 VisionBy Jeanne Artime, SHRM-Atlanta Chief Executive Officer

Continued on next page

In 2015, the SHRM-Atlanta Board of Directors embarked on a quest to take our association – or more accurately, our community – to the next level. Already 2,000+ members strong, and one of the largest single-city Chapter affiliates of the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM National), the Board’s challenge to the staff and Volunteer Leadership Team was clear: how do we deliver more value to our members and continue to grow as the premier HR community in the Greater Atlanta area?

With much reflection and data gathering throughout 2016, we created

Rethink everything. To some it might sound ominous, but for those of us at SHRM-Atlanta, our new motto is exciting and creative – and full of upside potential.

SHRM-Atlanta’s 2020 Vision, one that fully delivers on our mission of empowering Atlanta’s HR professionals to enhance their skills, business acumen and leadership capacity, so they can create best-in-class workforces and workplaces in the Greater Atlanta area. While creating this Vision, we recognized that in order to stay relevant, we would need to disrupt ourselves – e.g., become the “Airbnb” of Associations – and thus adopted our philosophy to literally “rethink everything.”

In 2017 we’ve taken deliberate steps to enable our transformation toward our 2020 Vision, some of which are behind the scenes. As we rethink everything,

including our staffing model, organizational structure, member benefits, onboarding process, how we approach professional development, what it means to be an engaged SHRM-Atlanta member (and more!), our goal is not change for change’s sake, but change for the sake of delivering more value for our member and to remain relevant in today’s changing world. We’re excited about where we’re headed, and look forward to making the journey with you – so hold onto your seat as we gain momentum in 2018 and beyond!


Fostering CommunityThe first Pillar is about fostering community and connections – creating a place where you, as HR practitioners and affiliate members, can be a part of something bigger. We are implementing a number of initiatives to welcome new and future members into our family and connect them immediately with other professionals, provide ample opportunities for relationship building and networking, facilitate mentor/mentee connections as well as meaningful dialogue among our members, and offer opportunities to engage with other HR colleagues in volunteerism and community service. Our strength is with the collective brainpower of our membership, and our goal is to foster relationships that will last a lifetime.

Promoting Professional Development One of the biggest changes we will make in support of our 2020 Vision is to redesign our professional development offerings to better deliver on our promise to help you take your career to the next level. No matter where you are in your HR career – from early career to senior executive – SHRM-Atlanta is committed to further developing your HR skills and competencies, business acumen and leadership capacity. What had previously been offered as a set of events with interesting topics in the form of Chapter Meetings, Power Breakfast panels, Regional Development Community programs and conferences, will now evolve into intentional development tracks and conference themes designed specifically for your career level learning – early, mid, and senior (or as we like to call them, Aspiring, Emerging, and Accomplished HR Leaders). You’ll see more in-depth formats (e.g. workshops, seminar series, or mentorship programs), online options, and a focus on specific learning objectives and actionable takeaways. We won’t change overnight, but keep an eye on our program offerings for 2018, as there will be many new and different learning opportunities.

Celebrating Excellence in Human ResourcesAs a community of HR professionals, we want to help you be celebrated, enhance your professional brand, and continue to elevate the perception of the profession. In addition to highlighting and creating visibility for initiatives that have further enhanced the HR profession while positively impacting business results, we want to inspire best practices in others. SHRM-Atlanta celebrates individual and collective success by promoting various award recognition programs – including SHRM-Atlanta’s IMPACT Awards, the When Work

Works Awards, and other awards programs – while also recognizing individual member achievements,

including promotions, HR Certification attainment, new positions and other successes.

Advancing Thought LeadershipFinally, SHRM-Atlanta is committed to connecting you to local and national thought

leaders offering valuable insights that will propel your thinking and empower you to be a

thought leader within your own organization. To keep you abreast of current trends, we provide ample

opportunities to learn about new and innovative HR products and services, and continue to enhance our robust members-only tools and resources. These resources include HR360 (a comprehensive online HR library that provides information, tools and forms to help you stay compliant), our Assessment Resource Center (an industry-leading assessment portal with 500+ of the world’s best assessments at your fingertips), the eHuman Resources Newsletter with timely and relevant legal and industry updates, and more.

We’ve only just begun.As we continue on our journey towards our 2020 Vision, we know that we’ll need to be agile, we’ll need to listen closely to our members and future members to ensure we are delivering on our value proposition, and we’ll need to remain committed to rethinking everything if we hope to stay fresh and relevant. Our future is bright, and we hope you’ll enjoy the journey with us!

The Four PillarsOver the past few months you may have heard us talk about our Four Pillars – the “how” of delivering on our value proposition and the “what’s in it for me?” for our members. These four pillars provide the basis of our commitment to our members, as well as the guiding star for all that we do.

“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”

-Gail Sheehy

Fostering Community

Promoting Professional Development

Celebrating Excellence in HR

Advancing Thought Leadership


In 2016 two of the largest scandals of ethical proportions involved Wells Fargo and the creation of fake accounts in the names of real customers to hit sales quotas and Mylan’s 400% price increase of the EpiPen, and 2017 continues to see similar headlines.* We shake our heads, silently admonish the company culture that allowed this to happen, and think to ourselves, “that would never happen where I work,” – but is that true?

While not all situations are avoidable, how does any company understand when there might be ethical dilemmas on the horizon with their employees? The SHRM-Atlanta 2017 Symposium offered a well received session, “Ethical Self-Awareness: Why Do You Need This?” so Heather Dufault, SHRM-Atlanta Education Director, sat down with attendee Holly Bail, Talent Manager at ONESPRING and asked her what she thought.

Holly, you attended the SHRM-Atlanta 2017 Symposium session “Ethical Self-Awareness: Why Do You Need This?” - why did you choose this session?Initially, I was intrigued by the title, with all the news today about workplace behaviors and failing leadership it caught my attention.

Ethics training – who really wants to attend a session on this? Was this session what you thought it would be?Actually, the title is deceiving. Perry Tomlinson (the facilitator) raised awareness about the “unwritten” code in organizations and how it impacts the overall business. Professionals in Human Resources spend a lot of time and energy solving problems (while considering key stakeholders perspectives) and must lead with solutions. Perry provided a clear roadmap on identifying your personal ethical lens, while learning how to be impactful and meaningful throughout your company.

What surprised you most about the content?When Perry asked, “Is your culture the one you want?” this made me stop and think deeply about our company’s culture, how it rolls down throughout our organization, and how to identify problem managers, employees, and even leaders. I then asked myself, “What is my role and how can I positively influence and impact a better culture?” I also enjoyed the exercise of learning about different styles and the identification in a role play. It made me listen and learn, and I liked it!

What did you learn more about that you didn’t expect to?With the Ethical Lens Inventory (ELI), I learned more about what I value and how I make decisions. Perry spoke about four ethical lenses and how these drive our decision-making process (Relationship Lens, Reputation Lens, Results Lens, and Rights/Responsibility Lens). Then I learned how to identify the lenses of other stakeholders. I assumed the presentation was going to be a talk, but instead I learned through exercise and video role play. Perry talked about using a case study for the workshop that would really challenge our thinking – I can’t wait to hear more about that.

It seems like every time we turn on the TV or visit our favorite social media channel another big company is facing the repercussions of poor decision making from their employees.

*Source: fortune.com/2016/12/28/biggest-corporate-scandals-2016

Staying Out of the Headlines:

Continued on next page

How creating the right culture can

help you avoid negative news


What is the big deal about ethical culture and ethical leadership? Why is this so important?Have you watched the news lately? Every day you hear about companies in legal trouble because of harassment claims, unethical policies, and compliance issues all resulting in ethics. Managing a changing workforce is difficult combined with new labor and employment laws. We live in a fast paced, and often chaotic environment. Continuing to learn, educate, and practical application is the best solution to staying out of trouble.

What questions did this content raise at it relates to your own professional experiences?As a Human Resource practitioner, I understand the stigma surrounding Ethics Training (it’s not usually the most requested training!) and not much time and training goes into Ethics, especially across a company. We think everyone knows the difference between right and wrong; however, I’m experiencing more and more instances where I’m spending my time educating managers and employees on policies, rules, and more importantly coaching on behaviors. It made me think... decisions under the policies, rules and regulations are black & white; what happens in the gray area? The self-awareness aspect of the discussion made me personally cognizant and I left feeling refreshed and more intentional about being an impactful servant leader.

Is this content applicable to your professional role? How?Absolutely! Being in Human Resources you are often viewed as the “role model” of behavior and standards. Keeping up to date on learning and training are invaluable to being most effective and credible in my role.

We are excited to have the opportunity to continue learning with Perry in our upcoming workshop on October 27, “Understanding the Slippery Slope of Ethics: How Do You Know if Your Business is at Risk?” What is the one thing you’d tell people who are considering this workshop? Is your culture consistent with company values? If you find yourself in a culture where unethical behavior exists, and you’re HR – what are you doing about it? This is an ideal workshop for a manager to attend, and even better yet, a team or group for real hands on instruction. The behavior of a culture matters!

What pair of ethical lenses are you wearing?

Continue learning with Perry at our upcoming workshop on October 27, 2017! “Understanding the Slippery Slope of Ethics: How Do You Know if Your Business is at Risk?”

Sign up now and SAVE! Take $30 off your registration with the promo code CULTURE

This in-depth, hands on workshop includes a case study to help you better understand your own Ethical Lens and how it effects your decision making, as well as an Ethical Lens Inventory assessment ($45 value!). During the case study participants will work together to solve the dilemma of who will receive a limited supply of medicine on a stranded ship. Is it children, the elderly, those sailing the ship? Who would you pick?

For more information and to register visit: shrmatlanta.org/fall2017ethicalworkshop


Why Certification MATTERSBy Joanne SingletarySHRM-Atlanta Member Relations Director & Future CAE

Autumn is almost here, the sun rises a little later and sets a little earlier, the mornings are cooler, and all things pumpkin flavored are hitting store shelves. I don’t know about you but I tend to get a little antsy this time of the year – it’s as if I’m supposed to be doing something a little different than the normal day-to-day of home, work, home. Recently it occurred to me why; as the end of another year starts to become a reality, now is a good time to take stock of my overall goals for the year, where I am, and what still needs to be done.

Focusing on my path to certification was one of my career goals for the year. I’ll be honest, it took me a long time to be convinced that seeking certification in my chosen career was even necessary. Why spend all that time and money to get a few letters behind my name? I’ve been a part of my industry for over 10 years and know as much, or more, than some of the people who have this designation. What finally convinced me that I shouldn’t dismiss the importance of certification was a webinar where one of the speakers remarked that those who have the designation “took more pride, and were more serious about the profession, than those who did not.” It was such a causally made statement, as if this were a known truth, and it made

me reconsider all the reasons why I should get my certification, not just the couple of reasons of why I shouldn’t. After doing a little research here’s the top five reasons that resonated most with me:

Certification demonstrates commitment. As I mentioned previously, this was a big one for me. I love what

I do, and want to show others how proud I am of my profession and my continued commitment to professional excellence.

Enhances the image of the profession. The more people who obtain certification lends credence and

clout to the standard being set by the credential. You’ve spent years in your career learning to be the best – why not take the next step with your professional certification and share your expert status far and wide?

Celebrate your Achievements. Obtaining your professional certification demonstrates you have the knowledge and

experience necessary to be a leader in your profession. We think celebrating your accomplishments is so important, it’s one of our guiding principles here at SHRM-Atlanta. Don’t be shy – share your wins, both small and large, with your community.

Improves career and advancement opportunities. How many times have you been perusing the job

openings at your dream company and one of the preferred requirements is your profession’s designation? Don’t get left out of the potential candidate pool because you haven’t gotten your certification – stand out because of your accomplishments!

Greater earnings potential. According to a 2014 USA Today article, obtaining a certification can have a

potential earnings increase of $5,000 to $20,000 annually compared to non-certified peers*. Take this and multiply by the years you’ll be in the work force and the potential earnings far exceed your initial investment.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of reasons why to become certified, but I hope it does get you to start thinking about why you should become certified and how it can benefit you on your career path. I recently came across a quote: “Opportunities don’t happen. You create them,” said by Chris Grosser. One way to start creating your future opportunities is by investing in your career and obtaining your certification.

For more information about the SHRM certifications and to learn more about 2018 Certification Review courses, visit shrmatlanta.org/certification.

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*Source: http://bit.ly/earningscertification


Save the

date!

How did you learn about SHRM-Atlanta? Chances are it was from a friend or colleague who found it to be a worthwhile experience and wanted to share it with you! Continue the trend and share your positive SHRM-Atlanta experiences with your network.

As an active member, you know first-hand the value your membership provides. Member-Get-A-Member is the ideal opportunity to share your success by encouraging your non-member colleagues to join. You will earn two additional months of SHRM-Atlanta membership for each new HR practitioner member you recruit (up to 6 members), giving you the potential to earn one full year of membership!

Any current SHRM-Atlanta member is eligible to participate - just tell the HR professionals you recruit to include your name on the application. Once they’ve completed the membership application, and become a new SHRM-Atlanta member, your 2 months of membership will be added!

Growing SHRM-Atlanta means greater recognition for the HR profession in Atlanta, more contacts and a larger potential network to draw from, and more resources and support for members.

Learn more and get your recruitment toolkit at shrmatlanta.org/m2m


Q: Dear Amanda, I am interested in transitioning into the HR world. I have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and am currently enrolled in a Human Resources class at a

local university, but have no direct HR experience. I was hoping to acquire an internship to boost my career potential, but have found even this requires some level of HR competence. How would someone in my position find and secure an internship, and what steps should I take next to move into the HR industry? - Tiki

A: Dear Tiki,Thank you so much for writing to SHRM-Atlanta. We are lucky to have access to a wide range of HR

experts, so I have asked my good friend, Tom Darrow, to help me answer this excellent question. This is what Tom had to say…

Ask AmandaIn each issue Amanda Abrenillo, our Members Operations Manager, will be providing answers to YOUR questions. Do you have something you’d like to ask? Submit your question to [email protected] and you might just see it in an future issue of The SHRM-Atlanta Connection!

ADVICE COLUMN

QUESTION

ANSWER

Hello Tiki! We always look forward to welcoming newcomers into the Atlanta HR Community! Here are some recommendations to help you launch your HR career:

First - make a target list of organizations that interest you. Make a LONG list; include several hundred companies, get that list into the hands of your network, one by one, and ask for connections and recommendations. Next, have a few people in your network reach out to their contacts on your behalf. Give them a jump-start by teeing up an email that they can forward. In the email, share what you are seeking (e.g., intern role, type of work, timing/availability, compensation requirements, etc.) as well as some accomplishments that relate to typical HR duties. Don’t forget to add a link to your LinkedIn profile and attach a current, polished resume.

Be LinkedIn, not Linked-out! Start by reaching out to HR leaders in your target companies. Once they accept your LinkedIn connection request, send each of them an email expressing your interest in an obtaining an internship. I suggest targeting larger companies, as they have more HR staff and bigger budgets, which means they can often create an internship role if one does not exist already. If you are willing to work for less to get the experience, aim for nonprofits. These organizations need the help but often don’t have the budget for a “full” internship. Making connections is key. Atlanta is the biggest small town in America and sometimes it seems that everyone knows everyone here. So, professional social media is a great tool to get into the mix.

Last, but not least, you must actively network. Show up at SHRM-Atlanta meetings! Participate in all types of HR and business networking events – this is where you can have conversations and exchange business cards. Follow these steps and you’ll be off to a fantastic start as you make the transition into Human Resources. Good luck and remember that SHRM-Atlanta is here to help as you advance your career in HR!

Tom Darrow, SHRM-SCP, SPHRTalent Connections, LLC and Career Spa, LLC

ABOUT TOM DARROW: Tom is the Founder and Principal of Talent Connections, LLC and Career Spa, LLC. He has served as President of SHRM-Atlanta, is the Immediate Past Chair of the SHRM Foundation Board of Directors, and is currently Board President of the Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAP). Tom is also a Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient and a SHRM-Atlanta Lifetime Member.


SHRM-Atlanta and SHRM National Professional Development Partnership

This fall, SHRM National is offering 100+ competency-based HR education seminars in 13 U.S. cities, including

Atlanta, as well as online.

SHRM-Atlanta members enjoy $200 off any fall program* when you use our special promo code: 17SEMSHRMATL

Register now at shrm.org/seminars

*Excludes Virtual SHRM Certification Preparation Review

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Do you want to tap into a local audience that’s aligned with your business objectives and target audience?

Advertise in a future issue of The SHRM-Atlanta Connection.

Contact Jackie Choice, Business Development Director, to discuss

options at [email protected].

I owe a world of thanks to SHRM-Atlanta. My membership began in 1998 and, in years past, I have had the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Gwinnett GEM, Chair of the Mentoring Committee, and the former Editor of our Human Resource Magazine (back when it was a hard copy mailed out to members).

As a long-time member of SHRM-Atlanta, I am grateful for the many benefits I continue to receive, for the volunteer opportunities I have so thoroughly enjoyed, and for the many wonderful friendships I have developed over the years – but most of all, I am grateful to this organization because, believe it or not, SHRM-Atlanta helped to save my life.

In 2008, I attended a SHRM-Atlanta Conference that became one of my most memorable experiences yet! One of the many exhibitors featured that day was offering free ultrasound scans of the carotid artery and I decided to try it out – why not? Never in a million years did I think it would have such a significant impact on my life. The booth technician ran the little, lighted machine over my neck, then leaned down and said, “Your carotid artery is just fine and we will give you a report for your physician. However, you have nodes on your thyroid gland and should see a doctor immediately.”

I did not hesitate to do just that and was quickly scheduled for surgery, which went off successfully. My lab report later revealed the nodes on both sides of my thyroid to be malignant. My life had been in danger and I never had a single symptom! The reason I am thriving today is because of a super early discovery – the result of that simple scan at a conference table. I have sent up many thank you prayers these last few years and have always been grateful that I signed up for that SHRM-Atlanta event.

You never can know where or when blessings will find you. Thank you SHRM-Atlanta for being my blessing!

Cherie Pritchard, SHRM-SCP, SPHRSr. VP Human Resources OperationsFlex HR, Inc.

I owe a world of thanks to SHRM-Atlanta.


Did you know your membership includes complimentary access to HR360? HR360, is an award-winning online HR library that provides comprehensive, easy-to-navigate, and easy-to-understand human resources and benefits guidelines, news, tools, and information on both federal and state laws. A popular feature is the ability for subscribers to personalize their HR library by selecting to receive news alerts on changing federal laws, state labor laws, and Affordable Care Act regulations. In many respects, HR360 acts like your very own online HR department, delivering the guidance, tools, and forms your company needs to stay compliant.

HR360’s dynamic online HR library includes: Step-by-step guidance on COBRA, FMLA, hiring, new employee orientation, disciplining, termination, and performance reviews; The most current information on Health Care Reform; Hundreds of downloadable HR forms; Online micro video training modules; Downloadable federal and state-required posters and much more.

Sign up for your complimentary subscription today! Visit shrmatlanta.org/hr360

SPOTLIGHT ON: HR360

Welcome to your member benefit spotlight! Your SHRM-Atlanta membership comes with some fantastic benefits and in each issue of the newsletter one will be highlighted. Be sure not to skip this section, and learn more about how your SHRM-Atlanta membership works for you!

Kudos and Congrats!SHRM-Atlanta would like to thank Marilyn Santiago, Director of the Graduate Career

Advancement Center @ GSU, for her 10+ years of volunteer service as part of the SHRM-Atlanta Volunteer Leadership Team and recent Chair of HR Helping HR teams. We’ve been fortunate to have had Marilyn’s service. Thank you Marilyn!

Akilah Charlemagne, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, FPC, HCS, was recently promoted to

Manager, HR Business Partner with ADP National Account Services. Congratulations!

We want to celebrate you, too!Do you have good news to share? Promotion? Certification? Other celebrations? If you’d like your good news to be included in a future issue of our newsletter (or if you’d like to recognize someone else), please fill out the submission form at shrmatlanta.org/celebrate.

Congratulations to these winners of our recent giveaways!

Cathy Knott of Porsche Consulting, Inc. Winner of $50 Amex Gift Card at the SHRM-Atlanta Open House

Bruce Buchanan of Sebelist Buchanan Law PLLC

Patty Dietz-Selke of Troutman Sanders LLP

David Rast of Dustex Holdings LLC

Winners of $50 Professional Development Credit for updating their SHRM-Atlanta Member Profile


New SHRM-Atlanta MembersKathy Anemogiannis, Principal, Regions Executive Recruiting LLC

Joey Asher, President, Speechworks

Heather Bailey, Director, Human Resources, Coca- Cola Company

Daniel Barron, HR Operations Manager, RentPath

Lindsey Beno, HR Manager, 501 Auctions

Robbie Berthelot, Director Change and Communications, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Brenda Bonilla, Student, Georgia Gwinnett College

Melanie Bowers, The Coca-Cola Company

Lucy Bradley

Denise Brinson, Corporate HR Manager, Price Industries Inc

Eva Brooks, Vice President of Human Resources, Colonial Pipeline Company

Claire Carson, Account Executive, Zenefits

Megan Castallo, Human Resources Business Partner, General Electric

Matt Cheek, VP of Talent, Focal Point Data Risk

Tamesha Coleman, Director of Human Resources, The Benoit Group

Laura Cunningham, HRIS Analyst, Novelis

Belinda DeLisser, Commdex Consulting

Angelique Denius, Senior Executive Coach, Novateur Partners, LLC

Natasha Ferguson, HR Business Partner, EPIC

Andrea Flanagan, HR Generalist, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta

Travis Foy

Trevyn Garland

Ablavi Gbenyon-Little, HR Coordinator, Tech Data

Rob Gee, HR Director, System Transformation, The Coca-Cola Company

Cynthia Germscheid, Human Resources Business Partner, The Coca-Cola Company

Joseph Giesy, Producer, TEGNA

Derek Gilliam, Coca-Cola Refereshments

Katie Goldberg, VP, Product Management, Ascentis

Cristelle Gonzalez, Accounting/HR Coordinator, Sentry Roof Services, LLC

Recharda Graydon, Sr. Benefits and Compensation Analyst, Coca-Cola

Anissa Groves, Physician Liason, Buckhead Medicine

Keisha Hairston, HR Generalist, TJFACT LLC

Charles Hedeen, HR Business Partner, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Carlton Henderson, Talent Sourcing Specialist, ABM

Kelsey Henry, Human Resources Manager, Sports Warehouse, Inc.

Jared Herbst, Benefits, Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

Jamie Hicks, President & Chairman, Board of Directors, Continuon Services, LLC

Tara Hudson, Tennis Pro Shop Manager and Buyer, Dunwoody Country Club

Mary Hughes, Senior Consultant, Georgia Center for Nonprofits

Sulaiman Ibrahim, HR Officer, Blue Ivy Resources

Catherine Jefferson, The Krystal Company

Leslynn Johnson, HR & Benefit Spec., NAAAHR

Jennifer Jones, Regional Administrator, Randstad Engineering

Mona Kelly, VP Change and Communications, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Colin Kershey, HR Manager, McLane Foodservice

Julia Key, Human Resources Generalist, Payroll Specialist, MJCCA

Lorri Kissell, VP Marketing and Business Development, UC Alternative, Inc

Linda Krueger, Talent Portfolio Director, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Carla LeCompte, Operations Manager, AmWINS Brokerage of Georgia

Gabriella Lewis, PhD Candidate, New Mexico State University

Candra Long, HR Analyst, Southern Company Services

Maria Luquin-Cooper, Human Resources Director, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Jennifer Martz

Ashlie McCartney, Total Rewards Manager, The Coca-Cola Company

Delisa Mccrady, Payroll Support Specialist, ADP

Doug McCranie, President, CorpGetaway

Heather McGinnis, Manager of Culture and Employee Engagement, Capstone Logistics

Timothy Miller, President/ Owner, TP Corporate Lodging

Porscha Minor, Student, Georgia State University

Vanessa Monteiro, Human Resources & Accounting Manager, HDH Advisors, LLC

Brian Morgan, Director, Emory Executive Education

Andrae Morgan, Senior Manager, HR, Bounce Media, LLC and Katz Broadcasting

Rebecca Morse, HRD, Perimeter Healthcare

Larrica Mosley, Management Analyst, City of Atlanta Dept of Aviation

Andy Moxley, Regional HR Manager, Reddy Ice

Gustav Mueller, Managing Director, InterKon Associates LLC

Brenda Panno

Kimberly Patterson, HR Coordinator, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Jamie Petter, Director Learning and Development, Coca-Cola Refereshments

McKell Pinder, The Coca-Cola Company

Brooke Ramsey

Michelle Reccord, HR Manager, Archer Western Contractors, LLC

Lisa Repella, Coca Cola Refreshments

Sherri Reynolds, VP, Compensation, Coca-Cola Refreshments

George Rhone, Enrollment Services Assistant, Georgia State University

Tanya Roberts, Human Resources Manager, Four Seasons Environmental

Julia Robison-Schultze, Sr. HR Leader, Cox Automotive Inc

Christine Rosch, HR, Coastal Construction Products

Zavi Russell, HR Manager, CMES Inc

Poonam Sahotra, VP of Business Consulting, Right Management Consultants Inc.

Leena Sandgren, Kemira Chemical, Inc.

Julia Schmidt, Manager, Change Management, Coca-Cola Refereshments

Marsha Schrage

Dipali Shah, HR Generalist, IG Design Group Americas Inc

Kathleen Sheehan, The Coca Cola Company

Martinique Smith, Sr Compensation & Benefits Analyst, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Brienne Smith, Student, The University of Georgia

Beth Speigner, HR Manager, The Coca-Cola Company

Jan Stepp, President/Owner, Pizazzz Promotions, Inc.

Jennifer Stevens, Senior Manager, Change Management, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Laurie Tacik, INFOR

Lisa Thompson, Senior Director, Human Resources, Comcast

Perry Tomlinson, Owner, R. Perry Tomlinson, Leadership Consulting

Wendy Valdez, Intuitive Staffing

Vivian Vasquez, HR Manager, Syntec Industries, LLC

Sarah Wardlaw, Human Resource Generalist, Interfor Corporation

Phillip Williams, HR Consultant

Chiquita Wright, HRSC Call Center Associate, The Home Depot

Jade Wyatt, HR Manager, Readypac Foods

*New members from Aug 1 - Sept 27, 2017.


Leadership at All Levels Symposium | August 22

Premier Sponsor: SAP SuccessFactors Lunch Keynote Sponsor: Ogletree Deakins Track Sponsors: Northwestern Benefit Corporation; Zenefits; The Joint Chiropractic; Healthcare Trade Faire & Regional Conference

Fitness Break Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente

SHRM-Atlanta broke the mold this year at our 2017 Symposium, Leadership At All Levels! Fresh ideas fueled our theme and a captivating lineup of presenters, combined with valuable resource partners, brought this conference to life. The one-day symposium on August 22nd provided an exceptional experience for over 250 attendees with an ideal blend of professional connection opportunities, education, and entertainment.


Courageous Leadership Chapter Meeting | September 13

Gold Sponsor: Kasier PermanenteHost Sponsor: Georgia Aquarium

SHRM-Atlanta enjoyed another successful Chapter Meeting on Septemeber 13th amid the wonders of an underwater world, thanks to our gracious hosts at The Georgia Aquarium. After a high-energy networking hour, Executive Coach Keith Hicks offered an engaging presentation on Courageous Leadership to an audience of more than 150 eager learners, who explored the virtue of bold and innovative action in organizational leadership.


SHRM-Atlanta Open House Meet & Greet/Networking | September 26On September 26th SHRM-Atlanta celebrated the official opening of our new office space in Vinings with over 100 guests, including current members and those interested in learning more about SHRM-Atlanta. We are excited about our new headquarters, as it marks a milestone for the chapter as it continues to grow.“The energy and the excitement at SHRM-Atlanta’s Open House was amazing! I was especially delighted to see so many connections being made – between our long-term members and our future members. It was a great evening for everyone!” - Kimberly Douglas, Board Chair & President

Special thank you to Ogletree Deakins for our lovely flowers!


Team SHRM-Atlanta Volunteers Junior Achievement Discovery Center | October 2A SHRM-Atlanta member may have just mentored the next Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, or Oprah Winfrey! On October 2nd, SHRM-Atlanta member volunteers helped kick off our new partnership with Junior Achievement of Georgia by volunteering at the JA Discovery Center, an immersive learning experience. Our team assisted in the efforts of guiding over 150 middle school students through a business simulation which helps students better understand the dynamics of the business world. A special thank you to activity leaders Karan Ferrell-Rhodes and Lee Hendrickson for coordinating this superb experience!

Tuesday, October 10 | 1 - 4 pm: 3rd Annual YP Leadership Forum: Becoming a Better Leader Wednesday, October 18 | 11 am - 1 pm: Intown RDC: Basics of Financial Management for the Non-Financial Manager

Wednesday, October 25 | 12 - 1pm: Webinar: Power UP Your Talent Development with the Energy of Creativity

Thursday, October 26 | 11am - 1pm: North Perimeter RDC: Workplace Conflict - Trick or Treat?

Friday, October 27 | 8:30am - 12pm: Understanding the Slippery Slope of Ethics: How Do You Know if Your Business is at Risk?

Thursday, November 2 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Gwinnett RDC: Culture Strategies that Drive High Performance & Business Results

Tuesday, November 14 | 5:30 - 7:30pm: Cobb RDC: When Mentoring Works! Apron Tales: An Innovative Mentoring Program at The Home Depot

Tuesday, December 12 | 11am - 1:30pm: Chapter Meeting: The Gift of Gratitude – Tis the Season for the Little Things

Do you want to learn or improve your leadership abilities?

Are there skills you want to develop that could help in your career? SHRM-Atlanta empowers our members through a variety of volunteer opportunities that encourage leadership and personal growth.

If you’re committed to helping the HR community grow and develop, we want to talk to you!

Learn more at shrmatlanta.org/volunteer

Calendar of Events: shrmatlanta.org/calendar

HR360: shrmatlanta.org/hr360

Assessment Resource Center: shrmatlanta.org/ARC

Career Center: shrmatlanta.org/careercenter

e-Human Resource Archives: shrmatlanta.org/ehr

Partner with Us: shrmatlanta.org/sponsorship

www.shrmatlanta.org | [email protected] | 404.422.7335

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The gorgeous red, orange, and yellow pigments in fall foliage are actually there all year, just under the surface. Sunlight helps fuel plant cells containing a chemical called chlorophyll, which gives leaves its vivid green color while working to turn light into energy. When sunlight diminishes in fall, chlorophyll breaks down, letting the plant’s hidden red, yellow, and orange hues shine.

Pumpkins, perhaps the most iconic image of autumn, are grown on six of the seven continents (sorry, Antarctica). Their name comes from the Greek word pepon, roughly meaning “large melon.” The word traded hands from French (pompon) to British (pumpion) before colonial Americans dubbed it pumpkin.

JUST FOR FUN

During the gray squirrel’s fall caching season (when the critters bury nuts and seeds in hundreds of scattered caches to serve as emergency winter food), a typical squirrel shows a 15 percent increase in the size of its hippocampus—the memory and emotion center of the brain—compared to the rest of the year.

Did you know...?

Source: rd.com/culture/autumn-facts-fall-facts/

Here are some fun and weird facts to share at your next dinner party or networking event!

the shrm-atlanta connection · shrm-atlanta celebrates individual and collective success by...

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