Bluegrass SHRM upcoming events

KEENELAND EVENT: Win-Place-Lead featuring Coach Colene Elridge (October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

KEENELAND EVENT: Win-Place-Lead

Title: Maybe It's Me: Self-Awareness at Work

Speakers: Colene Elridge, Coach Colene, CEO at Be More Consulting

Description:

The program will begin with an introduction to the topic and speaker. Participants will then explore the importance of self-awareness and its impact on leadership, communication, and workplace success.

Self-awareness is one of the strongest predictors of leadership effectiveness, emotional intelligence, and workplace success, yet most people overestimate how self-aware they actually are.

In this interactive and engaging session, participants will explore the habits, assumptions, and behaviors that influence how they show up at work. Through stories, reflection exercises, and practical tools, attendees will learn how to recognize blind spots, understand their impact on others, and strengthen communication and relationships.

Participants will leave with greater insight into their emotional intelligence, and actionable strategies for becoming more intentional, adaptable, and effective in the workplace. This session challenges individuals to stop asking, "What's wrong with everyone else?" and start asking, "What role am I playing, and what can I do differently?"

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

• Recognize how self-awareness influences communication, relationships, and workplace effectiveness.

• Identify common blind spots, assumptions, and behaviors that may impact others and organizational culture.

• Evaluate their own reactions, habits, and patterns to better understand how they show up at work.

• Apply practical strategies to increase emotional intelligence, improve communication, and strengthen professional relationships.

• Develop a personal action plan for becoming a more intentional, adaptable, and effective leader and teammate.

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

Schedule of Events:

10:00 am - 10:15 am: Registration & Networking

10:15 am: Business Meeting Update
10:30 am - 11:30 am: Presentation

11:30 am - 12:00pm: Silent Auction & Words from Our Sponsors

12:15 pm - Buffet Lunch and Cocktail Service

1:00 pm - Let the Races Begin!

Keeneland Ivy Room Dress Code: Business Casual

Gentlemen: Collared shirt and dress slacks. Dress shoes or loafers.
Ladies: Dress, dress top and skirt or pantsuits. One piece jumpsuits should fall below the knee. Dress shoes or dress sandals.
Not Permitted: Denim regardless of color or type, this includes denim jackets or pants designed to resemble jeans; shorts, including rompers; athletic attire, including athleisure leggings; visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist); flip-flops; clothing with offensive or explicit messaging.
Dress code rules do not apply to children 12 and under.

Registration Deadline: Due to venue catering requirements, registration for in-person attendance closes 7 days prior to the event date.

This Month's Presenting Sponsor:

Premier Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

A Friend of SHRM Bluegrass

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

If you wish to sponsor this event, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for details.

Transfer and Refund Policy

BGSHRM strives to provide quality events that are educational in content and rich in networking opportunities. We place emphasis on the humans in Human Resources and value the shared experience of our peers and comrades who are working to create safe and productive environments for their employees. We have designed chapter meeting fees to be as low as possible.

Because of rising costs in our community, your regular member registration fee covers the program related expenses and is not a fundraiser for the chapter. As such, all payments for registration to BGSHRM events are non-refundable. View full Transfer and Refund Policy.

The Workers Are Out There. Are You Ready to Hire Them? (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:15:00 GMT

Speakers: Barbara Aker, Cameron Sontag, and Nicki Stewart

Moderator: Alisher Burikhanov

Description:

You need workers. They need an opportunity.

As employers continue to struggle with recruiting and retaining talent, Fair Chance Employment and Veteran employment is no longer just a best practice. It is a practical workforce strategy.

Join local employers and workforce experts for a candid conversation about expanding your talent pipeline by considering qualified candidates who are often overlooked, including people in recovery, justice-involved individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and others facing barriers to employment.

Learn what works, what challenges employers encounter, and what your organization needs in place to hire differently, onboard effectively, and retain successfully. You'll leave with practical insights, real-world lessons, and strategies you can apply immediately.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify new talent groups to address workforce shortages.
Explain the business value of Fair Chance Employment and Veteran employment.
Implement hiring, onboarding, and retention practices that support employee success.
Prepare supervisors and workplace culture for successful workforce integration.
Recognize and translate veteran skills and military experience into workplace competencies.
Apply strategies to recruit, support, and retain veteran and Fair Chance talent.
Develop actionable steps to strengthen their organization's workforce pipeline and retention efforts.

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

Schedule of Events:

11:15 am - 11:45 am: Registration, Networking & Lunch
11:45 am - 12:00 pm: Business Meeting Update
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Presentation

Registration Deadline: Due to venue catering requirements, registration for in-person attendance closes 7 days prior to the event date. Virtual participation registration closes the day before the event.

Location: Mane on Main, 201 E Main St #1500, Lexington, KY 40507 (Validated parking is reserved in the Chase Tower Parking Garage) Mane on Main Parking Map. Details for virtual attendance will be sent to all attendees prior to the meeting, up to 24 hours in advance.

This month's meeting is sponsored by:

PREMIER SPONSOR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPONSORS

If you wish to sponsor this meeting or future events, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for a 2026 Sponsorship Packet.or

Transfer and Refund Policy

Beyond the Paycheck: Financial Security; Employee Wellbeing in the Holiday Season (December 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 16:15:00 GMT

Speakers:

Lisa Stinson, CUHRCP, SHRM-SCP, CPSP, Chief People Officer, Commonwealth Credit Union

Lauren Combs, Business Development Mgr., Commonwealth Credit Union

Description:

As employees navigate the added demands of the holiday season and prepare for the year ahead, financial wellness remains a key factor in workplace engagement and retention. In this interactive session, Commonwealth Credit Union will share practical insights and actionable strategies to help organizations support employee wellbeing ,strengthen workplace culture, and create an environment where employees can thrive.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the impact of financial stress on employee performance and retention
Learn practical financial wellness initiatives employers can implement
Explore leadership strategies that foster engagement, trust, and support
Discover how community partnerships can strengthen employee wellbeing programs

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

Schedule of Events:

This month's meeting is sponsored by:

PREMIER SPONSOR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPONSOR

If you wish to sponsor this meeting or future events, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for a 2026 Sponsorship Packet.or

Transfer and Refund Policy

Be More You: The Power of Authenticity in the Workplace (January 12, 2027)

Tue, 12 Jan 2027 16:15:00 GMT

Speaker: Joel Katte, Author/Speaker at Sole Proprietor

Description:

The program will begin with an introduction to the topic and speaker. From there, participants will be invited to reflect on the power of authenticity and the impact it can have on individuals, teams, and workplace culture.

What if every leader, manager, and supervisor said to their employees, "I just need you to be you. In fact, I need you to be more you." What would that feel like? What would it look like? And what kind of impact could people, teams, and organizations have in an environment where individuals felt empowered to bring their authentic strengths, perspectives, and talents to work every day?

During this engaging and inspiring session, Joel shares excerpts from his children's story written for all ages, Finding You at the Zoo, while providing humor, inspiration, and practical tools that guide participants on a powerful journey of self-reflection, discovery, and affirmation. Attendees will explore how embracing authenticity can strengthen workplace relationships, increase engagement, enhance well-being, and unlock greater individual and team performance.

Building on these ideas, this presentation is designed specifically for HR professionals, people leaders, and workplace champions, highlighting the critical role organizations play in creating cultures where employees feel seen, valued, and encouraged to contribute their unique gifts. Participants will discover how to apply these concepts to themselves by gaining greater self-awareness and confidence, to their teams by fostering trust, connection, and belonging, and to their leaders by encouraging authentic leadership that inspires engagement and growth. As workplaces continue to navigate change, burnout, retention challenges, and evolving employee expectations, the ability to help people become more fully themselves at work has never been more important.

By the end of the session, Joel's simple yet profound strategies will leave attendees with tools they can instantly put to use in their work and personal lives to foster greater work-life harmony, build stronger relationships, increase resilience, and bring a more passionate, purpose-driven, and solution-focused energy to every interaction, team, and workplace culture they influence.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will leave inspired to create environments where people don't feel pressured to fit a mold—but instead are empowered to thrive by becoming more of who they were created to be.

Whether applied personally, within a team, or across an entire organization, these insights will help attendees cultivate workplaces where authenticity fuels connection, performance, and lasting impact.

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

Schedule of Events:

If you wish to sponsor this meeting or future events, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for a 2026 Sponsorship Packet.or

Transfer and Refund Policy

Legal Update: What Employers Should Expect in 2027 (February 09, 2027)

Tue, 09 Feb 2027 16:15:00 GMT

Speaker: Cindy Effinger, Member McBrayer PLLC

Cindy Effinger is a Member of McBrayer PLLC and her practice involves finding long-term solutions to complex problems. Cindy advises employers on various issues from anything related to employment law, including equal employment opportunity, benefits, unemployment, and employment contracts and has successfully defended employers in cases with the Commission on Human Rights and the EEOC.

Description: This session will provide employers with information related to proposed legislative changes in employment laws and anticipated court decisions affecting the employment relationship.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn what employers should expect from the Kentucky Legislature in 2027.

2. Help employers adjust to the changing laws.

3. Provide insight into proposed legislative changes in employment laws as well as anticipated court decisions affecting the employment relationship.

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

Schedule of Events:

If you wish to sponsor this meeting or future events, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for a 2026 Sponsorship Packet.or

Transfer and Refund Policy