Events

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!

2025 December 9 | Chapter Social

Join us for our Chapter Social on December 9th, 2025!
Meet us at The Grand Resort in Warren, OH at 5pm. This event is FREE but registration is required.

Thank you to our sponsor!

2026 January 13 | Total Rewards

Join us for Total Rewards on January 13, 2026!

Agenda:

• 8am | Registration, Breakfast, Networking
• 8:30am - 9:30am | Program

Session Description coming soon!
Speaker: Joe Roberts
Speaker Bio: Joe Roberts is a Senior Area Vice President of Gallagher for the Ohio branch. With over 15 years in the employee benefits industry, Joe leads a team that specializes in working with employers throughout the country by providing strategic employee benefit and HR consulting services. His focus is on bringing emerging strategies, innovation, and cost-effective healthcare strategies to his clients. Joe’s outside the box thinking brings a fresh perspective to every meeting.
Joe grew up in northeast Ohio and attended Kent State University, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Joe currently resides in Hudson, Ohio with his wife Nicole and his three children, Emily, Elliot & Everly.

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