Metro Milwaukee SHRM upcoming events

2026 Annual Meeting & Summer Social (July 30, 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT

2026 Annual Meeting & Summer Social

Join us from 4 - 7pm for a 1-hour educational session followed by networking, appetizers, and drinks!

Critical Connections: Creating Workplace Community, Connections, and Belonging

We are in a crisis of loneliness with declining social skills, community and wellbeing. But HR has a terrific opportunity to lead and influence toward organizations that nurture people and rebuild relationships. In this session we’ll discuss what belonging (really) means and how to create community within the work experience. We’ll talk about the ways that strong connections drive not only the best for people, but measurable results for organizations. From friendship to identity and from talent to performance, we’ll discuss the factors that make work the perfect place for rewarding relationships.

In this session you will:

-Understand the critical nature of connections, community and belonging.

-Build awareness of the business and people returns on belonging.

-Learn the pragmatic strategies for HR to build connections and belonging across the organization

Meet the Speaker!

Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying work-life fulfillment and happiness. She is the author of a new book, The Secrets to Happiness at Work as well as her previous book, Bring Work to Life. She is Vice President of Workplace Insights at Steelcase and a contributor to Forbes.com and Fast Company. Tracy is an award-winning speaker and has over 25 years of experience working with global clients to achieve business results. Tracy is an executive advisor to Like|Minded, Coda Societies and to the MSU Master Industrial Mathematics Program. She is a council member with CoDesign Collaborative and a committee member for her local United Way. Tracy’s work has been translated into 13 languages and it has been featured in TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Work-Life Balance in the 21st Century (book), Globe and Mail (Canada), InsideHR (Australia), HR Director (UK), T3N (Germany), Real Estate Review Journal, Fortune.com, Inc. Magazine, HBR (France) and more. Tracy holds a PhD in Sociology, a Master of Management in Organizational Culture, and a Master of Corporate Real Estate with a workplace specialization.

Thank you to our Host!

Parking Instructions:

August 2026 - Chapter Meeting (August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Building Resilience in Times of Transformation

Change is inevitable, but resilience determines how we move through it. In this high-energy, interactive session, participants will explore the science & strategy behind resilience, discover practical tools to build a resilient mindset, & leave with a personalized Resilience Action Plan to help themselves & their teams thrive through transformation.

Learning Objectives

Define Resilience & Debunk Common Misconceptions — Participants will understand the neuroscience behind why it's essential to "fill their resiliency tank" during stable times, & recognize how resilience directly impacts employee engagement, retention, & performance during high-pressure periods of change.
Apply the Thought Model for Mindset Management — Participants will learn to use this research-backed tool, rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Psychology, to intentionally choose a mindset that aligns with their goals — empowering a more resilient, adaptable approach in both life & work.
Create a Personalized Resilience Action Plan — Participants will develop a practical action plan rooted in the four key elements of resilience — Purpose, Mindset, Community, & Recharge — & leave equipped with strategies to build resilience in themselves & those they lead.

Meet the Speaker

Corie Hoffman is dedicated to transforming workplace experiences & empowering teams to reach new heights. Corie equips individuals to confidently tackle challenges & elevate their impact both personally & professionally. Corie’s mission is to help leaders & organizations prioritize their most valuable asset—their people—& to drive success through a culture of continuous learning & growth. Join her to explore how you can move from ordinary to extraordinary, & make a positive difference on your team & in your organization

All sessions are pending HRCI & SHRM Certification. Stay Tuned!

September 2026 - Chapter Meeting (September 22, 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Data Storytelling for HR Professionals: Turn your People Insights into Action!

HR teams collect a wealth of data—on engagement, retention, performance, DEI, and more—but numbers alone rarely spark change. What if your next presentation didn’t just share metrics, but inspired leaders to take action that improves workplace culture, improve retention, and strengthens the employee experience?

In this interactive session, Kaitlin Henze of storytelling with data will share her personal journey in the HR field and how the skill of analyzing, visualizing, and presenting data has helped her establish credibility with leaders and accelerate organizational change. Kaitlin currently works alongside Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, best selling author, CEO, and previous leader of the Google People Analytics team. In this session, you will learn five practical techniques to design clear, meaningful, and compelling graphs and communicate people insights that resonate with leaders and peers.

Mastering the superpower of data storytelling will set you apart from other HR professionals by helping you:

Establish credibility and strategic influence with business leaders
Turn analytics into action that shapes culture and employee experience
Stand out in a field where data expertise sets you apart

To wrap up, Kaitlin will share how we can help kids develop life long data skills through Daphne Draws Data, illustrating our broader mission of growing a future talent pipeline of data minded leaders. Check out the Data Detectives program to learn how your organization can participate in this amazing opportunity!

Learning Objectives

Transform HR Metrics into Stories: Learn how to convert complex HR data—engagement, turnover, DEI, and more—into narratives that inspire leaders to act. Discover practical techniques to create clear, impactful charts and dashboards that make trends and opportunities impossible to ignore.

Influence Company leadership: Build credibility and trust with executives by presenting data that connects directly to business priorities and culture goals.

Drive Organizational Change: Gain strategies to move beyond reporting to motivating action that improves employee experience and workplace culture.

Accelerate Your HR Career: Develop a critical skill set that sets you apart in the HR field and positions you as a strategic, data-savvy leader.

Meet the Speaker

Kaitlin brings over a decade of experience in the HR field across many industries. Kaitlin recently transitioned to the data communication space, helping adults and children learn powerful data visualization and presentation skills that inspire people to act. As the Education and Outreach Specialist at storytelling with data, she builds relationships with schools, community organizations, and businesses that are passionate about growing the future talent pipeline of data minded leaders. With a background in relationship development, workshop facilitation, and project management, Kaitlin cultivates relationships to help us fulfill our mission of developing data drawing superpowers in all kids.

All sessions are pending HRCI & SHRM Certification. Stay Tuned!