Hello GMA SHRM Members,

Happy spring! As we head into a busy season of professional development and networking, I’m looking forward to connecting with many of you at our upcoming events. Thank you for your continued involvement and support of our chapter. Your engagement helps make GMA SHRM a valuable resource for HR professionals across our community.

Last month, we hosted our GMA SHRM 101 event on April 22 at The Breakwater in Monona. It was a great opportunity to welcome new members, connect with current members, and share more about the benefits of chapter involvement. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success.

For those planning to pursue SHRM certification this year, we’re pleased to offer our Spring/Summer 2026 SHRM Certification Prep Sessions. These sessions are virtual, completely free, and open to anyone preparing to take the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exam during the May 1 – July 15 testing window. If certification is one of your goals this year, I encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource. Register today!

We’re also looking forward to our upcoming Human Capital Conference (HCC) on May 19 at the Alliant Energy Center. This signature event will feature keynote speaker Paul J. Long, a leadership and culture expert known for his engaging presentations on creating energized teams and strong workplace cultures. In addition to the keynote, attendees can look forward to a strong lineup of breakout sessions and speakers throughout the day. Register today – this is an event you won’t want to miss!

I’m also pleased to share that our 2026–2027 Board of Directors slate will soon be presented for formal vote and approval following HCC. These one-year terms reflect our commitment to thoughtful succession planning and continued leadership excellence. Please watch for an email with the slate later this month.

If you are interested in getting involved or serving in a volunteer leadership role with GMA SHRM, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to any of us on the Board of Directors.

Thank you again for being part of GMA SHRM. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.


Warm Regards,

Ashley Kowalchuk, SHRM-SCP, PHR
President, GMA SHRM
ashley.kowalchuk@iconicacreates.com

Legal Update: The EEOC Begins Enforcing “Reverse Discrimination”

Submitted by Storm Larson, Brian P. Goodman, and Emmerson Mirus, Attorneys at Boardman & Clark LLP, a Platinum Partner

Storm Larson Brian Goodman Emmerson Mirus

Compensation and Benefits

 

Why Conflict Conversations Matter More Than You Think

Submitted by Jen Emmons, Founder and CEO of Jen Emmons Coaching & Consulting
Jen is a presenter at the 2026 Human Capital Conference
 

Think about a conversation you knew you needed to have… but didn’t.

Not because it didn’t matter.

Not because you didn’t care.

Because you knew it might change the relationship.

That hesitation is more common, and more costly, than most organizations realize.

Managers spend a significant portion of their time navigating conflict. Yet many conversations are still delayed, avoided, or handled only after they escalate.

Most people have some idea of how to handle conflict. When it matters most, it can still feel uncomfortable to put into practice.

What’s often missing is not awareness, but a way to navigate the moment with clarity and intention.

Two simple tools can shift that:

• The Root Cause Filter
  Before addressing behavior, identify what is actually driving it. Is it a clarity gap, a skill gap, a behavior pattern, or a perceived threat response? When the root cause is misunderstood, conversations escalate because we solve the wrong problem.

 

• The Real-Time Reset
  Regulate → Clarify → Acknowledge → Align
  A simple structure to stay grounded, reduce defensiveness, and move the conversation toward clear expectations and next steps.

When tough conversations are avoided, they don’t disappear. They come back later as disengagement, frustration, turnover, and escalation. Addressed early, they become moments that build trust, accountability, and alignment.

 

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The 2026 GMA SHRM Human Capital Conference

Registation is open!

 

GMA SHRM is excited to bring leadership and culture expert Paul Long to the 2026 Human Capital Conference! 

Paul is a highly sought after national speaker and it's impossible to capture his energy in words. 

For a sample of Paul's energy and message, click the image to the right for an invitation from Paul!

Paul will deliver two great keynotes:

• Culture by Design
• The Unforgettable Leader

In addition to great keynotes, check out our breakout sessions from industry experts!

Session 1:

• From Courtroom to Conference Room: Thinking Like Counsel, Acting Like HR, Leading with Integrity 
      Hope Broadus, JD, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
• The 4 C’s: A Transformative Framework for Benefits Success
      Laura Bermudo & Charlie Parker, Hausmann Group 
• Black Mirror: The Ethics of AI in HR
      Dr. Shari Simpson, Paylocity

Session 2:

• Is Resilience Enough? When Trauma Shows Up to Work, 
      April Scott, University Wisconsin Madison
• From Search to Success: Elevating Talent Discovery at Your Organization
      Sarah Marshall & Rebecca Swanson, humanworks8
• Employment Law Update,
      Brian Goodman and Storm Larson, Boardman Clark

Session 3:

• Why Conflict Conversations Matter More Than We Think
      Jen Emmons, Jen Emmons Consulting
• AI and Automation Impact on Total Rewards
      Summer Rector, HCSC
• Employment Law Update,
      Brian Goodman and Storm Larson, Boardman Clark

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2026 Member Roundtables Open for Registration!

Join us for these virtual discussions facilitated by members!

During Roundtables, members discuss their emerging HR challenges and when possible, others offer possible solutions, support, and resources. Come with those questions top of mind for your organization, offer your own experience and best practices, or simply join to network with others by using the registration links below.

Roundtables are designed for human resource professionals who are interested in sharing their ideas and experiences in a confidential environment. It is expected that what members share in these roundtables will stay within the roundtable. We encourage members to exchange contact information and reach out to each other outside of these meetings to expand on the discussions.

Roundtables are held 3 times per month!

• First Thursday
• Second Tuesday
• Last Wednesday

Roundtables are a member only benefit so if you're not a member, join us or reach out to learn more!

More Information and Registration

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SHRM Certification Prep Sessions - Spring Summer
 

GMA SHRM is excited to announce our Spring/Summer 2026 SHRM Certification Prep Sessions designed to support those preparing for the upcoming SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exam during the May 1, 2026 – July 15, 2026 test window

These virtual prep sessions are free and open to all exam candidates—whether you are a GMA SHRM member or not.

Who should attend?

• Individuals actively preparing for their SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exam
• Those enrolled in the UW Small Business Development Center’s study class
• Self-studiers using the SHRM Learning System or other exam prep tools

What to expect:

• All sessions are held on Zoom
• Connection with peers who are also preparing for the exam
• Opportunities to share knowledge, study strategies, and lessons learned

• Tips, tricks, and practice questions covering both multiple-choice and situational judgment questions

More Information and Registration

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May and June Observances
Submitted by Stephanie Hoeksema, HR Director at Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company and Member of the DEI Committee

We encourage you to use observances we post monthly on our LinkedIn page. Let’s use this as an engagement tool to connect with others and practice inclusion!
 

Community Spotlight: Transitional Employment Program at Yahara House
Yahara House is a Madison community organization with a mission to transform the lives of people living with mental illness by replacing despair, stigma, and isolation with hope, dignity, and community. They operate many programs within different branches of their clubhouse model.

Transitional Employment Placement (TEP) is an arrangement between Yahara House and local businesses to employ members. Members who work a TEP do not need to interview with the employer or submit a resume. TEP employees are chosen by the staff who are placement managers for the TEP. Transitional Employment Placements are at the employer’s place of business, are part-time (4-20 hours per week), and include on-the-job and off-site support from Clubhouse colleagues for as long as they need help.

According to the Yahara House website, “[e]ighty-two percent of people living with a serious mental illness are unemployed. Our goal is to empower members to develop and regain the ability to participate successfully in meaningful, paid employment and to move out of poverty.”

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream is proud to have hosted two successful TEP placements simultaneously. We have members working in our warehouse as well as one of our retail stores. Upon completion of their placement, members have shared that the program helped them build confidence in returning to the workforce.

The program could not be easier to work with. Employers are matched with members at the clubhouse interested in the opportunity, and the job coaches do a wonderful job of providing support for the employee, including learning the job tasks themselves so they’re ready to step in at a moment’s notice to guarantee coverage for the employer.

The Transitional Employment Program seeks to diversify employment opportunities for their members and connect with more local employers. Please contact Friendsofyaharahouse@gmail.com to learn more about TEP!

Sources used: https://www.yaharahouse.org/employment-support and https://www.yaharahouse.org/about-us

 

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