The Greater Pensacola Chapter, led by President Randy Ardis and a strong Board of Directors, has presented excellent programming this year, ensuring all curriculums were certified for SHRM and HRCI credits. Being strong champions of SHRM initiatives, in March they presented the first in a series of panel discussions focused on “Getting Talent Back to Work”. The panel consisted of three local organizations that serve people seeking to return to the workplace after incarceration. The panel provided an excellent gateway for GPSHRM members to better understand and connect with this underutilized and underserved population.
Randy Ardis further supports SHRM Certification by conducting SHRM Certification classes through Pensacola State College. He is also exploring the possibility of conducting specialty certification classes later in the year.
Looking to expand the chapter’s membership, they have proactively reached out to and are currently interacting with the Spring Entrepreneur Hub, a small business mentoring organization, and the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce to attract smaller business owners to join.
Responding to the Covid-19 Crisis, they have quickly transitioned to virtual meetings, and provided the first of these meetings at no charge. They rescheduled their Legal Conference for July 15 at the University of West Florida. They are fully prepared to utilize an alternative format if need be based on the fluidity of current events. The chapter is also planning a virtual happy hour in May as a social event.
GPSHRM continues to support their HR Florida Student Games Case Competition winning student chapter at the University of West Florida and is currently working with Pensacola State College in hopes of establishing a second student chapter on that campus.
The SHRM Emerald Coast Chapter is aptly steered by President Shari Bruns and a highly active Board of Directors. They have also presented outstanding programming this year, ensuring that all sessions were certified for SHRM and HRCI credits.
Reacting to the Covid-19 pandemic, they have also transitioned to virtual meetings, and moved their full day conference to February 2021. They swiftly partnered with attorneys Sarah Kuenel and Karen Smeda of Ogletree Deakins to present a free in-depth and comprehensive Covid-19 Community Business Webinar explaining the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act. This event was virtually attended by 40 local businesses. The Chapter also created a Covid-19 resource area on the public portion of their web site and continues to populate it with the latest vetted guidance/information as it becomes available. Sensitive to potential financial stress on their members, they are currently considering a temporary suspension fees for their monthly meetings.
The SHRM ECC board members are known for being active throughout the community.The following are just a few examples:
- The President Elect, Immediate Past President, and Treasurer also serve on the Board of the Panhandle Job Fair Foundation.
- The Immediate Past President sits on the Career Source Okaloosa Walton Career and Youth Committee and the Business Competitiveness Committee and is a previous Board Member
- The President sits on the Board of Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers
- The Workforce Development Chair developed and presented a seminar on how to prepare and leverage a LinkedIn profile to support employment and branding goals to 47 transitioning service members, veterans and spouses at Northwest Florida State College.
- The Certification Chair participated in a Covid-19 and the FFCRA virtual Q & A for over 50 members of the Destin and Niceville Area Chambers of Commerce.
The SHRM ECC Chapter also has an on-going partnership with Career Source Okaloosa Walton to collect and provide suitable interview clothing at no charge to job seekers to aid in their job search. Last year, 222 candidates were served utilizing the Suit Up to Move Up lending closet.
Keenly interested in supporting the future of Human Resources, the chapter has created the SHRM ECC endowed scholarship at Northwest Florida State College. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student attending Northwest Florida State College pursuing a degree in Human Resources.
Both chapters are continuing to do great things unfettered by the current challenges we are all facing. It is my profound honor to represent Greater Pensacola SHRM and SHRM Emerald Coast Chapter as their District Director.