Morning Keynote

This keynote would review the ways that HR professionals can create unique value for their organizations.  We will do so by focusing on three questions:

1. What is the major challenge of your job?  This session will highlight the ways that HR starts with the business. 
2. What are the outcomes of HR?  Lets talk about talent, leadership, and culture as HR outcomes. 
3. What is the process of HR transformation?  We will talk about HR department, practices, competencies, and analytics

Breakout Session 1

1-A The Changing Face of Human Capital: Is Your HR Strategy Generational Friendly, Sara Ritter, Willis Towers Watson 

Attracting, engaging, and retaining a multi-generational workforce is challenging, and most organizations are not prepared to adapt to the changing needs of their workforce. Wise, successful organizations know that if they’re going to attract and keep the best talent, they need to craft an employee value proposition that addresses their goals today, as well as to continuously review it as the workforce changes over time. In this session, participants will learn about:

• Generational traits present in today’s workforce and how these factors influence the employee’s perspective
• Trends and projections for each generation and how they might affect your recruiting and retention efforts
• How to identify and maximize the potential of all generations to drive your organization to greater success
• How to integrate career development and successor strategies to build a deeper pipeline of critical skills and talent for maximum effectiveness
• Why and how to develop your total rewards strategy to drive specific employee behaviors necessary to achieve your business strategy 

 

1-B  Curiosity Based Communication,   Sarah Young, Zing Collaborative

Great leaders are great communicators, and most communication happens through everyday exchanges and interactions. During this session, we are going to explore how leaders and HR professionals can increase theirpositive impact and build even stronger relationships by implementing curiosity-based communication.

Attendees will learn:

• Common communication challenges we face as leaders and HR professionals
• The curiosity-based communication model and how to apply it
• Communicating effectively and powerfully in challenging situations (and with challenging people)
• Specific strategies and techniques to apply in everyday situations

1-C Develop Your Strategic Thinking Mindset – or Else!,    Jeff Russell, Russell Consulting

It’s time to earn your seat at the table. Increasing your influence as an HR professional depends upon the quality of your strategic insight and your skills at articulating that insight at the C-suite level. In this session you’ll learn what strategic thinking is, how it differs from strategic planning, the role that strategic thinking plays in leveraging HR influence in your organization, and the qualities that enable you to become a strategic thinker. You’ll examine the discipline of strategic thinking and build on its principles to leverage your strategic insight into strengthening your organization’s overarching strategy.

Those attending this session will be able to:

1.  Analyze internal and external information and their implications on HR decisions

2.  Examine the levels of HR thinking, planning, and acting and assess at which levels participants are currently spending their time.

3. Applying a strategic thinking framework to two situations that call for both tactical and strategic responses.
 

Afternoon Keynote

Dave Ulrich -  Opportunities in Managing Culture

This keynote would go more deeply into the ways HR can help shape and create a new organization.  We will talk about definitions of organization (e.g., capability, culture, processes) with evolving views of culture (event to pattern to identity) and explore ways to help make culture a reality in the organization.  

Attendees will learn a blueprint for culture change that includes:

1. Defining culture
2. Shaping an intellectual, behavioral, and process agenda
3. Defining leadership. 

Breakout Session 2

2-A Positivity in the Workplace, The Benefits and How to Get More, Tina Hallis, PhD, The Positive Edge

Studies show that increasing positivity in our workplaces improves morale, productivity and overall performance.  This program shows you how to do just that, including shifting your own mindset.

Attendees will learn:

1. Research showing the many benefits of increasing positivity in their workplaces, including improved morale, productivity and retention.
2. Strategies for creating a work environment that promotes a positive culture.
3. Simple, science based tips they can use to increase their own positivity and share with others.

2-B  Successful HR Strategies for Building an Ethical Workplace Culture, Shelly Trent, SHRM-SCP, CAE, SHRM Regional Director

2-C Employment Law Update, Jennifer Mirus and Andrew DeClercq 

• Wage and hour update
• Same sex marriage impacts on the workplace
• ACA update
• Key cases under federal and state law
• Key legislative developments

• What the latest laws and court decisions are telling us about our workplaces
• Key HR information managers must know to protect your organization

Breakout Session 3

3-A   Town Hall with Dave Ulrich - Customized Presentation,  Dave Ulrich

We asked a group of Senior HR Leaders in the Madison area, "What's on your mind in the world of HR?"  In this session Dave will discuss current HR hot topics and likely give a glimpse into its future.

 

3-B Mental Health Awareness and Accommodations, Lori Duzan, Clinical Director Community Partnerships, Vicki Brueggeman, Director of HR, Zimbrick, Inc.

This session will provide participants with a greater understanding of mental health in the workplace and how we can accommodate all individuals to feel welcome and safe.  We will review what mental illness is, both situational and long-term, how it may present itself in the workplace and how to recognize it and how you can provide support to those suffering from an illness or situation.

Attendees of this program will learn:
1. How to implement an awareness program to make everyone feel welcome, safe and included;
2. How to raise awareness for mental illness or situational instances of mental health
3. What terminology to avoid and how to address it when other’s use it

3-C Employment Law Update, Jennifer Mirus and Andrew DeClercq 

• Wage and hour issues that can lead to liability
• Key unemployment compensation law changes 
• The evolving legal world of background checks
• Key cases under federal and state law
• Key legislative developments
• ACA update

• How technology continues to pose legal risks to employers
• What the latest laws and court decisions are telling us about our workplaces
• Key HR information managers must know to protect your organization