Events

2025 - September 25 - Regional Talent Summit

WRC SHRM invites you to attend the Regional Talent Summit

Join regional leaders, employers, educators, and workforce partners for a full-day summit focused on solving talent challenges, aligning training, and building a stronger workforce for Eastern Ohio.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Meghan Grace – generational researcher, speaker, and author.
Dr. Grace will provide a data-informed look at multiple generations in the workplace, with a focus on Generation Z: who they are, what motivates them, and how to attract and retain them in meaningful ways.

Event Highlights Include:

• State, regional, and local talent initiatives and incentives
• Breakout discussions on talent attraction and retention, program resources and services, building a talent pipeline and more
• Business networking
• Breakfast & Lunch provided

Register Here

2025 - October 8 - Joint Social with YSU Student SHRM

Western Reserve SHRM Chapter is inviting you to the Joint Social with YSU Student SHRM!
Tuesday, October 8, 2025, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

Location: MVR | 410 Walnut St. Youngstown, OH 44505
Pricing: FREE but registration required!

Appetizers provided!

2025 - November 6 - Chapter Meeting (IN PERSON)

Western Reserve SHRM Chapter is inviting you to "HR Strategy" - presented by Heather Merrick, SHRM Director.
Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.

Location: La Casa Mexicana, 7334 Market Street, Boardman, OH 44512
Pricing: Members $21.00 / Non -Members $25.00 / Student - $11.00

Speaker Name: Heather Merrick
Session Description:
Our world continues to move very fast. Stay up to date with key strategies about how the future of work looks and what HR needs to do to lead our business forward.
Learning Objectives:

• Considerations for the future of work
• Workplace and workforce priorities
• Leading and managing change
• HR practice implications

Speaker Bio:
An empathetic and strategic creator of connections, Heather has over 15 years of experience in HR related roles with a strong background in talent acquisition, organizational & workforce development, employee engagement, HR policy development, & HR strategy. Finding great people for companies, building and optimizing teams, and creating healthy work cultures is her passion, and she is committed to making the community she lives in a better place for everyone.
Heather joined SHRM as a Members and Community Director in August 2024 after spending the majority of her career in talent strategy. In her prior experience, she partnered with client companies in providing HR solutions for recruiting and retaining top-notch talent. Heather also provided consultation on HR policy development; best practices for employee engagement, organizational development, talent acquisition, & succession management; Veteran hiring, onboarding, & retention initiatives; and HR strategy for business success.
In addition to her private sector work, Heather served 7 years in the U.S. Army and she is a certified SHRM Foundation Inclusion Captain for Veteran Hiring, Onboarding, & Retention initiatives. Her education includes a BBA with majors in HR management & marketing and MBA with a concentration in human resources. In addition she is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and holds the SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential.
Heather is an active volunteer in the community, having served as a SHRM volunteer at both the Chapter and State Council level from 2012 to 2024; serving on a board committee for Family Promise of West Michigan 2020 to 2024; and serving on the South Kent Chamber Board of Directors in 2024.

This event has been submitted for recertification credits which are currently pending.

Thank you to our sponsor!