Stark County Human Resource Association

☕ WE’RE BACK!

Stark County SHRM is back from summer break, and we’re kicking off our fall programming with our September Coffee & Chat!

Last week at DisruptHR Columbus, Valarie Nash, SHRM-SCP gave us a five-minute introduction to a topic that deserves a MUCH bigger conversation:

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY: More Than Just Being Nice

So on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:30 AM, we’re continuing the conversation!

We hear psychological safety everywhere—but somewhere along the way, we started confusing safety with comfort.
Psychological safety doesn’t mean everyone agrees. It doesn’t mean avoiding difficult conversations. And it certainly doesn’t mean eliminating accountability.

In fact, sometimes speaking up doesn’t feel safe at all.

Join Valarie, President of 821 Consulting LLC, for an interactive 45-minute conversation about what psychological safety really looks like at work, including:

☕ Why comfort and psychological safety aren’t the same thing
☕ What happens after someone takes the risk to speak up
☕ How leaders unintentionally teach employees to stay quiet
☕ Why accountability and psychological safety belong together
☕ What we can do differently to build cultures of trust, candor and courage

And this is Coffee & Chat—not Coffee & Listen! We want your experiences, questions, ideas and perspectives in the conversation.

A special thank-you to our Coffee & Chat co-hosts Brenda S. Basso, ChHC® and Jill Windelspecht for kicking off fall with a bang!

📅 Tuesday, September 1, 2026
⏰ 7:30 AM
💻 Virtual
💙 FREE to attend!
➡️ Register at SCHRA.ohioshrm.org

If five minutes at DisruptHR got the conversation started, imagine what we can do with 45. ☕💬

💚 August is Child Support Awareness Month—and Stark County SHRM is proud to support the Stark County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the important work it does for local families, employees and employers.

Join us for:
Empowering Employers: Navigating Child Support with Confidence

📅 August 26
⏰ 11:30 a.m.
💻 Virtual session

Presenter Ann Durkin McGill, MBA, Deputy Director of Child Support, will help employers better understand:

• Income withholding requirements
• Ohio new-hire reporting and employee terminations
• Lump-sum reporting
• Electronic child support payments
• Medical support notices
• Frequently asked HR questions
• Strategies for sensitive employee conversations
• Resources and contacts for additional assistance

Gain practical guidance to help your organization meet its responsibilities and navigate child support matters confidently.

Register at schra.ohioshrm.org

Ready to earn your SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® certification?

Cleveland SHRM is offering a 10-week virtual study group using the 2026 SHRM Learning System—and Stark County SHRM members are eligible for the discounted member rate!

This intensive program includes experienced facilitation, SHRM BaSK®-based learning modules, interactive study tools, books and comprehensive exam preparation.

📅 Wednesdays, September 9–November 11, 2026
⏰ 6:00–9:00 p.m.
💻 Virtual
💲 $1,050 for members | $1,250 for nonmembers
📚 SHRM Learning System and books included

Stark County SHRM members should email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) to request the discount code.

Registration closes August 14, 2026, and at least five registrants are required for the study group to proceed.

Take the lead. Invest in your professional growth. Become SHRM-certified!

📣 Thinking about earning your PHR or SPHR certification?

Stark County SHRM is happy to share an upcoming opportunity from HR Professionals Magazine for HR professionals ready to take that next step in their professional development!

The Online HRCI PHR | SPHR Certification Prep Class begins August 19, 2026 and includes:

📚 8 weeks of online instruction
💻 Classes Monday & Wednesday, 6:00–7:00 PM
📖 HRCP: Human Resource Certification Preparation 2026 study materials included
✅ Practice exams and hundreds of flashcards
🎯 Reported 90% pass rate
💰 $950 + $25 shipping

The program also offers a class-retake guarantee for participants who meet the attendance and practice-quiz requirements but do not pass the exam.

📅 Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

If earning your PHR or SPHR has been on your professional goals list, this could be a great opportunity to get structured preparation and support as you work toward certification.

See the flyer for registration and contact information.

Just a reminder that all Stark County SHRM monthly in person meetings are certified!!!

📣 Have you been thinking about earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP?

SHRM certification is one of the best investments you can make in your HR career, and this free informational webinar is a great place to start. Learn about eligibility, the exam process, preparation resources, and the value of becoming SHRM-certified.

👉 Register for the webinar here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2017744737641/WN_xFdUC5Y3Szq1MnREw3jgSg

As a Stark County SHRM member, you’ll enjoy opportunities to continue your professional development long after certification. Our chapter offers engaging monthly in-person meetings, networking with fellow HR professionals, and virtual programs that offer SHRM recertification credits, making it easy to maintain your credential while staying current on HR trends and best practices.

Whether you’re preparing for your first certification or maintaining your existing credential, Stark County SHRM is here to support you every step of the way.

We hope you’ll join us—both for this webinar and at an upcoming chapter meeting!

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: HREN HR Certification Prep Course Information Session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. HR certification can help you with your professional development. Join us to learn more about a fabulous prep course by HR Education Network that can help you prepare in record time and boasts a 95% pass rate! In this webinar we will share details of the course and address any questions you might ha...

You don't have to navigate HR alone.

Whether you're an experienced HR leader, a department of one, a people manager, or someone looking to grow your leadership skills, Stark County SHRM provides the connections, resources, and professional development opportunities to help you succeed.

As a member, you'll gain access to:
✔ Educational programs featuring expert speakers
✔ SHRM and HRCI recertification credits
✔ Networking with HR professionals and business leaders
✔ Free Coffee & Chat sessions and HR Roundtables
✔ Leadership and volunteer opportunities
✔ A local community committed to supporting your growth and success

And through SHRM, you'll have access to industry-leading research, compliance updates, HR templates, benchmarking data, employment law resources, and expert guidance to help you lead with confidence.

The workplace continues to evolve. Make sure you have a community that evolves with it.

Join SHRM today and select **Stark County SHRM** as your primary chapter designation.

🌐 [www.shrm.org/membership](http://www.shrm.org/membership)

Learn more about our chapter and upcoming events:
🌐 schra.ohioshrm.org

✨ Curious About SHRM Membership? Discover the Value of BOTH National & Local Connections! ✨

Whether you’re brand new to HR, an experienced professional, a people leader, or someone looking to grow your network and career — SHRM membership provides resources, education, advocacy, and connections that support you at every stage of your professional journey.

📅 Join the FREE SHRM Membership Benefits Webinar
🗓 June 9, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT

During this session, you’ll learn about:
✅ SHRM national member benefits and resources
✅ Professional development opportunities
✅ HR tools, templates, and certification support
✅ Networking and leadership opportunities
✅ Ways to stay informed on workplace trends and legislation

And locally… 👏

As an affiliate chapter of SHRM, provides members with incredible opportunities to connect right here in our community through:
⭐ Monthly professional development meetings
⭐ SHRM & HRCI certification credits
⭐ Dynamic speakers and timely HR topics
⭐ Networking with HR and business professionals
⭐ Access to local sponsors, partners, and resources
⭐ Leadership and volunteer opportunities
⭐ A welcoming HR community focused on learning and growth

At Stark County SHRM, we believe the combination of national SHRM resources and strong local chapter engagement creates an even more valuable membership experience.

📣 Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues, HR professionals, emerging leaders, students, and anyone interested in growing their career in Human Resources.

☕⚖️ HR professionals — make plans to join us for an important legislative and compliance update!

Stark County SHRM’s next **Coffee & Chat** will take place on **Tuesday, June 2 from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.** featuring Kallen Boyer presenting a timely **Legislative Update** focused on today’s evolving employment and labor law landscape.

💻 Virtual Meeting
🎟️ FREE to all attendees
📌 Registration is required to receive the Zoom link

Topics include:
✔️ Recent developments in wage & hour investigations by the DOL
✔️ EEOC enforcement priorities
✔️ OSHA investigations
✔️ Emerging legislation impacting workplace policies and compliance obligations

Attendees will gain practical insight into evolving legal risks and regulatory trends relevant to HR professionals and organizational leaders — helping you stay informed, proactive, and prepared. ☕💬

⚡ ONE WEEK FROM TODAY ⚡

We’re flipping HR upside down with one of the most powerful and energizing conversations HR professionals need RIGHT NOW. 🙌

Join Stark County SHRM on Tuesday, May 19 for:

🎤 John Bernatovicz
💡 Upside Down HR: A Completely New Vantage Point Where HR Leads the Future of Work

If you’re exhausted from constantly taking care of everyone else…
If you’re trying to lead through stress, burnout, and nonstop change…
If you’re ready for a fresh perspective on what HR leadership can look like…

THIS 👏 IS 👏 YOUR 👏 SESSION.

📍 Courtyard by Marriott Belden Village
⏰ 11:15 AM – 1:00 PM

✨ Expect:
🔥 Real conversations
🔥 Practical strategies
🔥 Big energy
🔥 Great networking
🔥 Ideas you can immediately apply

📚 Plus, CEUs pending for both SHRM and HRCI Organizational Certification !

👏 Huge thank you to our sponsor Willory as well as our 2026 Platinum Sponsor Krugliak Wilkins Griffiths & Dougherty Co LPA for their ongoing support!

⏳ Registration closes Friday at 5 PM — don’t miss it!
www.schra.OHIOSHRM.org

What a week for the Stark County SHRM volunteer board leadership team! 🚀🌟

Earlier this week, we headed to Columbus for the Volunteer Leader Business Meeting with the Ohio SHRM State Council, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and fellow SHRM chapters from across the state.

There’s something incredibly energizing about being in a room full of HR leaders who are all working toward the same goal — building stronger workplaces, stronger leaders, and stronger professional communities. 💼❤️

These meetings are always a powerful reminder that great local chapters don’t happen by accident. They happen because passionate volunteers are willing to collaborate, share ideas, challenge one another, and stay focused on delivering meaningful value for members.

We learned.
We laughed.
We shared ideas.
We talked strategy, programming, membership engagement, and the future of HR.

Most importantly, we made sure Stark County SHRM continues to stay on top of innovative programming, strong chapter leadership, and the evolving needs of HR professionals right here in Stark County. 🙌

A huge thank you to Heather Merrick, MBA, SHRM-SCP and Michael Aitken from SHRM for spending time with us and sharing insight, encouragement, and perspective.

And yes…we fully embraced the theme of the week:
✨ Monday: May the Fourth Be With You
🌮 Tuesday: Cinco de Mayo

Because if you know SHRM volunteer leaders…you know we can balance strategy meetings and fun better than just about anyone. 😂

Honestly, there’s nothing better than spending time with this incredible Stark County team. So proud of the passion, commitment, creativity, and heart they bring to our chapter every single day.

Thank you to our volunteer leaders who were able to attend: Valarie Nash, SHRM-SCP, Terri Fullmer, Stacey Fallot, SHRM-SCP, Freda Martin, PHR, SHRM-CP, Shantel Bradley, MBA, Kylee Stevens, Dustin Schlimm, Melissa Laskovski, and Jami Swain!

We definitely missed Stella Tsirelis, Abby Deligiannides, and Kallen Boyer this trip — but your presence was absolutely felt! ❤️

Here’s to continuing to grow, innovate, collaborate, and serve the HR community together. The future is bright for Stark County SHRM! ✨