Events

April 15, 2026 | Member Luncheon

Join us on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 for our Member Luncheon!

About The Event: This is part of our Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series. The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker present on an HR topic of interest to our membership.

Agenda:

• 11:15am - Registration Opens
• 11:30am - Networking & Lunch
• 11:50am - Announcements
• 12:00pm - Presentation Begins

Session Title: Hidden in Plain Sight: Unlocking the Potential of Mid-Career Women

Session Description: Mid-career women are often the quiet engine of an organization: they stabilize teams, solve complex problems, and carry the invisible work that keeps everything moving. Yet their potential is frequently under-recognized, not because they lack capability, but because they’re leading inside unspoken rules, subtle dynamics, and systems that weren’t built with them in mind.

In this session, leadership coach and former banking/fintech executive Elizabeth Coluby will pull back the curtain on what’s really happening beneath the surface for mid-career women, especially those in people-leader roles. We’ll look at how invisible work, unclear expectations, and biased perceptions shape performance reviews, promotion decisions, and succession planning.

HR professionals will leave with a sharper lens for recognizing “hidden in plain sight” talent in their own organizations and practical strategies they can use immediately to better support, retain, and advance mid-career women without adding to already full plates.

Join us for an insightful session with Tooling U-SME Workforce Development Specialist, Denise Cowburn, as she explores practical, proven strategies to strengthen your workforce from the ground up.

What You'll Learn

• Identify the invisible work, unspoken expectations, and leadership behaviors that keep mid-career women over-functioning and under-recognized inside their organizations.
• Decode how organizational dynamics, informal power structures, and bias shape which women are seen as “strategic leaders” versus “reliable doers” in performance and promotion conversations.
• Apply practical strategies to rebalance workloads, clarify expectations, and increase strategic visibility for mid-career women in ways that support both well-being and business outcomes.
• Design at least one concrete change (a “clean move”) they can implement in their own HR practice or organization to better support, retain, and advance mid-career women with high leadership potential.

Speaker Bio: Elizabeth Coluby is the founder of Coluby Coaching & Consulting and the creator of a clarity-centered leadership approach that helps mid-career women move from over-functioning and invisible labor to visible, strategic influence.

Before launching her own practice, Elizabeth spent more than 25 years in senior roles across banking, fintech, product strategy, marketing, and digital transformation. She led multi-million-dollar growth initiatives, simplified complex product portfolios, and turned around declining businesses, all while noticing a consistent pattern: brilliant women doing work far above their titles and being recognized far below their contribution.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Six Degrees of Insight - Session 4/6 - May 7, 2026

Join us for Six Degrees of Insight - a webinar series brought to you by six local SHRM chapters.

Join us on Thursday, May 7, 2026 with Civility Unleashed: Turning Chaos into Collaboration presented by Dyann McDowell.

Session Description: Workplace culture is collapsing quietly, not through one big event, but through the normalization of disrespect, avoidance, and inconsistent accountability. HR professionals often become the “cleanup crew” when leaders fail to set and enforce a clear standard for how people treat each other while the work gets done.

This interactive session equips HR leaders and people managers with a practical, repeatable approach to disrupt incivility in real time and rebuild trust through systems, not slogans. Participants will learn a simple in-the-moment tool—L3: Lean-in, Listen, Learn—and how to connect it to leadership standards and follow-through using the AIMS™ Framework (Assess ? Implement ? Mobilize Leadership ? SPARK) and Civility OS™ (Ask ? Implement ? Support ? Enforce).

Attendees will leave with language they can use immediately, plus an implementation path that strengthens accountability without dehumanizing people.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify early warning signs of culture erosion and the organizational risks associated with normalized incivility.
• Apply L3 (Lean-in, Listen, Learn) as an in-the-moment disruption tool to de-escalate tension while maintaining accountability.
• Use the Civility OS™ response loop (Ask ? Implement ? Support ? Enforce) to ensure consistent follow-through after conflict or misconduct.
• Outline an HR-led action plan using the AIMS™ Framework to embed civility standards into leadership routines and workplace expectations.

Speaker Bio: Dyann McDowell is the President and HR Business Partner at Training Marbles, Inc., a workplace culture and leadership firm specializing in civility, accountability, and organizational realignment. With nearly three decades in the Drug-Free Workplace and HR training arena, Dyann is known for helping organizations confront culture breakdowns before they become costly crises. Her work equips HR leaders and managers with practical tools to disrupt disrespect, strengthen leadership follow-through, and build standards employees can trust.

Dyann is the creator of Civility Unleashed™, a framework-driven approach that combines her AIMS™ Framework (Assess ? Implement ? Mobilize Leadership ? SPARK) with Civility OS™ (Ask ? Implement ? Support ? Enforce). She partners with public-sector organizations, municipalities, and service-based companies to improve workplace climate, reduce conflict drag, and restore professionalism without sacrificing humanity. Dyann’s signature message is clear: civility isn’t “being nice”—it’s a standard, and leadership sets the tone.

May 14, 2026 | Member Breakfast

Join us on Thursday, May 14, 2026 for our Member Breakfast!

About The Event: This is part of our Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series. The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members as well as guests, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker present on an HR topic of interest to our membership.
Agenda:

• 7:15am - Registration Opens
• 7:30am - Networking & Lunch
• 7:50am - Announcements
• 8:00am - Presentation Begins

Pricing:

• $ 25 - Members
• $ 35 - Non-Members
• $ 20 - Students & Members-in-transition

Session Title: The Complex Intersection of FMLA, ADA & Workers' Compensation

What You'll Learn
The FMLA, the ADA, and Ohio's workers' compensation laws are all separate, but there can be situations where an employee's medical condition, injury and/or disability cross over from one law to another.
In this seminar, we will look at employee rights and employer responsibilities under each of these laws, including an employee's right to leave of absence.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize which laws apply to your company, when they apply, and when they may overlap
• Review differences between the laws on a) leave rights/limitations, b) required documentation, and c) return to work conditions
• Review how to evaluate leave requests for each of these laws

Speaker Bio: Jennifer Corso, Esq. is a Partner at Petronzio Schneier Co. LPA and has represented organizations in labor and employment law for almost 30 years. Jennifer offers employers a proactive approach to employment matters, innovative solutions and top-rate advocacy in defending employee claims. She is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in Labor and Employment Law and represents employers in federal, state and appellate courts. Jennifer also performs workplace investigations, employment practices audits, supervisory training and employment counseling. In addition she represents clients participating in mediation, arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution procedures involving employment matters.

She has written several articles and has spoken at numerous events on employment law topics. Jennifer has been named both a “Super Lawyer” (2015-2023) and a “Rising Star Super Lawyer” (2005) by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, which identifies outstanding Ohio lawyers who have demonstrated superior professional potential. Jennifer is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and earned her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

June 17, 2026 | Member Luncheon

Join us on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 for our Member Luncheon!

About The Event: This is part of our Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series. The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker present on an HR topic of interest to our membership.

Agenda:

• 11:15am - Registration Opens
• 11:30am - Networking & Lunch
• 11:50am - Announcements
• 12:00pm - Presentation Begins

Session Title: Beyond the Invite: Earning Influence in Executive Spaces

Session Description: HR professionals are increasingly invited into executive rooms — but an invitation alone does not guarantee influence. This session challenges participants to move beyond presence and into true strategic partnership.

Attendees will explore what it really takes to earn trust, credibility, and influence with senior leaders. Through real-world examples, practical frameworks, and reflective exercises, participants will learn how to communicate with executive impact, align HR priorities with business outcomes, and position themselves as indispensable advisors rather than functional support.

What You'll Learn

• Identify the difference between being invited and being influential in executive-level discussions.
• Apply executive-level communication strategies that align HR insights with business priorities and organizational risk.
• Strengthen credibility and trust with senior leaders by reframing HR contributions through a strategic and data-informed lens.
• Develop a personal action plan to intentionally build influence and presence in executive spaces.

Speaker Bio: Valarie A. Nash, SHRM-SCP, is the Founder and Principal Consultant of 821 Consulting LLC, a human resources consulting and leadership development firm serving public sector, nonprofit, and private organizations across Ohio and beyond. With over 20 years of progressive HR leadership experience, Valarie is known for her ability to bridge people strategy with business outcomes — especially in complex, highly regulated environments.

Valarie has served as an HR executive, interim agency director, and trusted advisor to county leadership, boards, and executive teams. Her work focuses on leadership development, organizational culture, succession planning, workforce strategy, and building HR functions that are both compliant and influential. She is especially passionate about helping HR professionals move from transactional support roles into confident, strategic advisors.

A frequent speaker and facilitator, Valarie delivers engaging, high-impact sessions that blend research, practical tools, and real-world experience. She is recognized for her candid approach, relatable storytelling, and ability to challenge leaders to think differently about accountability, influence, and leadership presence.

Valarie currently serves in leadership roles within the HR professional community and is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of HR leaders. Her work is grounded in the belief that strong organizations are built when courageous conversations, strategic thinking, and people-centered leadership come together.

Six Degrees of Insight - Session 6/6 - July 2, 2026

Join us for Six Degrees of Insight - a webinar series brought to you by six local SHRM chapters.

Join us on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026 with The Transformation of HR: Leading Human Work in the Age of AI presented by Tamra Moroski.

Session Description: As AI accelerates productivity, a quieter shift is happening inside the workforce. Employees are questioning their relevance, their value, and even their identity. Burnout is rising, focus is fractured, and many leaders are sensing a deeper crisis of meaning beneath the metrics.

This moment is not simply technological. It’s transformational. AI is acting as a mirror, forcing individuals and organizations to confront what work is for, who we are without our output, and what kind of future we are designing. In this session, Tamra Moroski reframes the role of HR from managing resources to stewarding human transformation. Drawing on research in intrinsic motivation, psychological safety, and flow states, she explores how alignment, autonomy, and purpose directly influence performance and retention.

Learning Objectives:

• Reposition AI as a system optimizer rather than a speed amplifier
• Design for sustainable performance instead of chronic burnout
• Introduce regenerative work models that build innovation, resilience, and meaning
• Equip leaders with nervous system literacy as a modern leadership competency

Speaker Bio: Tamra Moroski is a transformation strategist and AI revenue leader helping organizations stay human in the age of artificial intelligence. With over 15 years navigating change across marketing and tech, she blends business strategy, mindfulness, and intentional AI frameworks to help leaders preserve agency, prevent burnout, and design a future where technology amplifies — not replaces — human potential.

August 19, 2026 | Member Luncheon

Join us on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 for our Member Luncheon!

About The Event: This is part of our Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series. The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker present on an HR topic of interest to our membership.

Agenda:

• 11:15am - Registration Opens
• 11:30am - Networking & Lunch
• 11:50am - Announcements
• 12:00pm - Presentation Begins

Session Title: Energy, Focus, and Cognitive Well-Being at Work

Session Description: By the age of 35, nearly 95% of who we are is driven by subconscious programs—habits and patterns that operate automatically. At the same time, the average person spends close to 70% of their time in a state of survival mode. In this state, the brain is not optimized for learning, creativity, or high performance; it is only focused on: fight, flight, or freeze.

This presentation is designed to help participants understand and optimize how the brain works for peak performance in the workplace. We explore the fundamentals of brain function and cognitive processes, examine the role of different brainwave states in focus, creativity, and decision-making, and demonstrate how neuroplasticity can be leveraged to strengthen resilience and learning.

Through science-based strategies, participants will learn how to enter and sustain high-performance mental states, develop personalized routines that enhance clarity and efficiency, and apply these insights to improve teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving in professional settings.

What You'll Learn

• Understanding the difference between true rest and digital distraction
• Recognizing personal energy drains, triggers, and patterns
• Applying practical strategies to restore, protect, and sustain mental energy

Speaker Bio: Tracy Clayman is a dynamic trainer, keynote speaker, and author dedicated to helping individuals and organizations thrive through mindset, resilience, and intentional leadership. With a background in Psychology and certifications in Positive Psychology and Happiness Studies, she specializes in translating research-based strategies into practical tools that drive performance, wellbeing, and impact.

As Corporate Training Director for SHINE in Kent, Ohio, Tracy has spent more than a decade equipping teams and leaders with skills to boost energy, reframe challenges, and cultivate optimism. Her own journey of resilience and reinvention informs her work, making her message both relatable and transformative

October 21, 2026 | Member Luncheon

Join us on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 for our Member Luncheon!

About The Event: This is part of our Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series. The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker present on an HR topic of interest to our membership.

Agenda:

• 11:15am - Registration Opens
• 11:30am - Networking & Lunch
• 11:50am - Announcements
• 12:00pm - Presentation Begins

Session Title: Civility Unleashed: Turning Chaos into Collaboration

Session Description: Workplace culture is collapsing quietly, not through one big event, but through the normalization of disrespect, avoidance, and inconsistent accountability. HR professionals often become the “cleanup crew” when leaders fail to set and enforce a clear standard for how people treat each other while the work gets done.

This interactive session equips HR leaders and people managers with a practical, repeatable approach to disrupt incivility in real time and rebuild trust through systems, not slogans. Participants will learn a simple in-the-moment tool—L3: Lean-in, Listen, Learn—and how to connect it to leadership standards and follow-through using the AIMS™ Framework (Assess ? Implement ? Mobilize Leadership ? SPARK) and Civility OS™ (Ask ? Implement ? Support ? Enforce). Attendees will leave with language they can use immediately, plus an implementation path that strengthens accountability without dehumanizing people.

What You'll Learn

• Identify early warning signs of culture erosion and the organizational risks associated with normalized incivility.
• Apply L3 (Lean-in, Listen, Learn) as an in-the-moment disruption tool to de-escalate tension while maintaining accountability.
• Use the Civility OS™ response loop (Ask ? Implement ? Support ? Enforce) to ensure consistent follow-through after conflict or misconduct.
• Outline an HR-led action plan using the AIMS™ Framework to embed civility standards into leadership routines and workplace expectations.

Speaker Bio: Dyann McDowell is the President and HR Business Partner at Training Marbles, Inc., a workplace culture and leadership firm specializing in civility, accountability, and organizational realignment. With nearly three decades in the Drug-Free Workplace and HR training arena, Dyann is known for helping organizations confront culture breakdowns before they become costly crises. Her work equips HR leaders and managers with practical tools to disrupt disrespect, strengthen leadership follow-through, and build standards employees can trust.

Dyann is the creator of Civility Unleashed™, a framework-driven approach that combines her AIMS™ Framework (Assess ? Implement ? Mobilize Leadership ? SPARK) with Civility OS™ (Ask ? Implement ? Support ? Enforce). She partners with public-sector organizations, municipalities, and service-based companies to improve workplace climate, reduce conflict drag, and restore professionalism without sacrificing humanity. Dyann’s signature message is clear: civility isn’t “being nice”—it’s a standard, and leadership sets the tone.

November 18th, 2026 | Member Breakfast

Join us on Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 for our Member Breakfast!

About The Event: This is part of our Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series. The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker present on an HR topic of interest to our membership.

Agenda:

• 11:15am - Registration Opens
• 11:30am - Networking & Lunch
• 11:50am - Announcements
• 12:00pm - Presentation Begins

Session Title: Form I-9 and E-Verify: Best Practices for Employer Compliance

Session Description:Several important changes to the form I-9 and e-Verify requirements were introduced in 2024 and 2025; with some taking effect during those calendar years and others going into effect in 2026. Understanding these changes and implementing them accordingly can help you protect your organization, stay compliant and avoid penalties.

In this session, we will discuss how to maintain accurate I-9 forms and properly use the E-Verify system. Our guest speaker will walk you through best practices, legal requirements, and the most common compliance pitfalls employers face.

What You'll Learn

• What employers can and cannot do during the I-9 process
• Acceptable documents for non-citizen employees
• Reverification, correcting errors, and storage and retention
• E-Verify and E-Verify+
• Violations for non-compliance

Speaker Bio: Ashley Barbone is a Senior Assistant Attorney General/Immigration Counsel with the Education Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s office. Ms. Barbone represents Ohio’s public colleges, universities, and the Ohio Department of Education in federal and state court and in administrative hearings. She also advises Ohio’s public colleges and universities and other state clients on federal immigration matters. She provides immigration training to clients, and she has also organized conferences on International Students and Workforce and monthly webinars on immigration topics.

Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Ms. Barbone was in private practice with an employment-based immigration firm in Maryland focusing on nonimmigrant visas. Ms. Barbone is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Ms. Barbone earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.