The Forum PagesThe FormatTestimonialsResearchRichmond EventsContact Us
Conference | Delegates | Suppliers | Confirmed Attendees | Post Forum Tools
Testimonials
"Amazing experience that ties together the needs of organizations around the world with services needed and offered from vendors. The HR Forum is the best event of the year for HR professionals worldwide!"

CEO
Knowledge Infusion

More Testimonials


Forum Features


More Richmond Events
The Human Resources Forum
16 - 19 June 2010
Southampton

The CLO Forum
12 - 14 September 2010
Arizona

The Human Resources Forum at Savoy Place
2nd November 2010
London

Full Forum Portfolio


Conference

We create The HR Forum conference program based on research and feedback from our delegates, senior level HR executives, who like you are dealing with critical issues on a daily basis.

Conference sessions are given by industry experts and HR practitioners who have a clear understanding of the business obstacles inherent to our industry and how they can be managed and resolved.

Through small workshops and roundtables you are able to share best practices, successful case studies, and receive opinions and suggestions from your peers.

The entire conference is built around helping you become a more effective executive and opening doors to new perspectives and points of view.

Conference Program


Leadership and Teamwork
Opening Keynote Address
Mark Messier - "The Captain" NHL Hockey Great & 6-time Stanley Cup Champion with New York Rangers & Edmonton Oilers
Mark will share his views on leadership and teamwork based on his experiences as a six-time Stanley Cup winning hockey player and now as a senior business executive with the New York Rangers.

Mark's Background - In 1994 Mark became the first player in the history of the National Hockey League to captain two teams to Stanley Cup Champions. He is a 6-time Stanley Cup Champion

Simply known as “The Captain”, Mark Messier has long been regarded as one of the greatest sports leaders of all time. On March 31st, 2004 Mark Messier played his last NHL game as a New York Ranger after achieving countless records, and accomplishments over the course of his legendary career. The New York Rangers and The Edmonton Oilers honored Mark’s contributions and achievements retiring his jersey, # 11, and raising it to their respective rafters. Then, in November, 2008 Mark took his rightful place, as a distinguished member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Mark is currently Special Assistant to the President of the New York Rangers.

Accomplishments / Awards
• Hockey Hall of Fame Member- 2008
• 6 Time Stanley Cup Champion
• 3 Time World Champion
• 16 Time NHL All Star
• 2 Time Hart Award Recipient (League MVP)
• 2 Time Lester B. Pearson Recipient (MVP as voted on by players)
• Conn Smythe Recipient (Play off MVP)
• Second all time with 1,887 points
• Top 5 position in all most every record category including: goals, assists, points, short handed goals, playoffs: games played, goals, assists, points, short handed goals

Effective Cost-Cutting Strategies to Keep Health Care Manageable
Health Care Mangement
Panel Discussion
While projected HMO rates continue to climb upwards of approximately 12% annually, companies that execute strategic cost-control programs have paid a lower average of 9%. In this session, hear from three industry leaders as they share best practices in keeping costs for benefits manageable at their respective organizations despite the expensive approach to health care reform by the new administration.


Aligning Rewards with Enterprise Compensation Policies
Compensation
Workshop
While rewards ensure organizational effectiveness within the workforce, transforming from the entitlement culture across multiple business units into the pay-for-performance mentality can wreak havoc on simple compensation management systems. But implementing some tried and true procedures can help organizations better manage cash flow affected by the benefits and compensation line item while keeping tabs on whether top performers are adequately rewarded and what strategic pay decisions need to be made.

Changes in Legislation and the Impact on HR
Legislation
Workshop
The Obama administration will have a significant impact on HR, specifically labor policies, for many years ahead. As businesses fear the wave of regulatory enforcement to come from the new administration, many corporations are creating employee and family-friendly policies to pre-emptively strike against the otherwise radical change that is expected from Obama’s key appointees in order to retain employees in what will become a competitive playing field.

Overcoming the Challenges of Talent Management in a Down Economy
Talent Management
Workshop
Attracting and developing the right talent to drive revenue during slow growth can prove to be a near impossible task if you lack some of the key components that motivate and retain frontline performers. If an organization’s training and management efforts are misaligned, employees will wander away from company strategies as they lack the knowledge of the business goals and objectives. But fully integrated talent management with performance mapping can prevent both employees and management from miscommunication. What is entailed in effective performance mapping and which of the practices have given companies remarkable results? Learn about the latest trends in performance mapping and how to keep your high-talent productive and out of the dark.

Nurturing Corporate Diversity Goals in Management
Diversity
Workshop
In the dawn of regulations, HR executives are beginning to see significant effects on diversity and as corporate policies and strategies are created, the training and development for managers to properly initiate the changes is more important than ever. So how do you best connect the vision with implementation? In this case study, hear how one company realized its mistakes in the disconnect between ideas and management and what steps they took to harmonize the two.


Social Media: The Necessary Evil in Integrated Talent Management
Social Media
Workshop
When a chief talent scout at a leading fashion house decided to implement social media tools into the company’s three-prong talent management plan, he realized the positive results almost immediately. Involving collaboration from attaining to retaining, hear how the social tools available today can help enhance efficient and effective talent management in both national and global organizations without compromise.



Highlights from past Conference Programs




Failure is not an Option - The Apollo 13 Story - Narratives from Earth and the Capsule
Opening Keynote Address
Gene Kranz & Captain James Lovell


GENE KRANZ
NASA Flight Control Director Apollo 13 and Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
 
Gene Kranz was the leader of the “Tiger Team” of NASA flight directors who guided the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth. His role in the crisis now legendary, Kranz was made famous by his oft-quoted phrase, “Failure is not an option.” In Ron Howard’s epic film, Apollo 13, he was portrayed by actor Ed Harris.
 
 
CAPTAIN JAMES LOVELL
Career Astronaut and Commander of Apollo 13
 
A great American hero, astronaut Jim Lovell is most famous for his role in the American space age, specifically for his calm and careful command of Apollo 13. Lovell stoically articulated the five-word message, “Houston, we have a problem,” which quickly became a part of the American lexicon.





America's Economic Future
Closing Keynote
Dr. Barry Asmus
Asmus identifies the “Six Unstoppable Trends” that are impacting America’s business and its economy. The current recession will temporarily slow these trends but not stop them. The de-leveraging and economic contraction begun in 2008 could last until 2010. But note this: we have had 13 economic recessions in the last 80 years followed by 13 expansions. Currently, 75 million Baby Boomers are in the high investment and most productive stages of their lives. Confidence will be restored. Asmus’ presents his “Six Unstoppable Trends” and asks you to decide.  





Conference Theme:
TRENDS AND BEST PRATICES IN HR STRATEGY FOR THRIVING IN AN UNSTABLE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Workshops, Roundtables, and Presenters

TALENT MANAGEMENT – TRACK 1

Best Practices and Innovative HR Strategies from Great Places to Work®:
Lessons from FORTUNE’s 100 Best

Dr. Michael Burchell, Senior Consultant, Great Place to Work® Institute


The Enthusiastic Employee Engagement
Bill Bertolet, Dale Carnegie
Gene Ritchie, Dale Carnegie


Measuring ROI in HR: A Mandate for HR Executives
Patty Phillips, Jack Phillips, The ROI Institute


Mobilizing Talent Through Uncertain Times
Jo Singel, Formerly VP of HR, JPMorgan Chase


Optimizing Your People Strategy: Ensuring Talent, Leadership, and Culture
Thrives in Tough Economic Times

Chris Dorr, Director HR, Microsoft


Innovation and Talent Management: Crucial Strategies for a Downturn Economy
Sandra Edwards, SVP Corporate Learning, American Management Association


HR LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES - TRACK 2

Structuring Effective Business Communications: Strategically
Conveying HR Value to Business Partners through Compelling Proposals

Mike Figliuolo, thoughtLEADERS


Lessons From a Combat Helicopter Pilot: Creating Your Own Leadership Identity
Ray Bender, Speaker, Author, Consultant, Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)


Performance Under Pressure: Leadership and Mental Toughness in Corporate America
Dr. Mark Lowry, Partner, Winning Mind
Marc Sagal, Managing Partner, Winning Mind


HR Related Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives Under the Obama Administration: What Every HR Executive Should Know
John Lewis, Sr. Managing Counsel, The Coca-Cola Company


Changes in Employment/I-9 and Immigration Law
Julie Pearl, Managing Attorney Pearl Law Group





Best Practices and Innovative HR Strategies from Great Places to Work®: Lessons from FORTUNE's 100 Best
Workshop: Talent Management
Dr. Michael Burchell, Senior Consultant, Great Places to Work® Institute

Each year the Great Place to Work® Institute, Inc. selects the “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” and publishes this list in Fortune Magazine. The Institute has amassed a sizable body of research on how the 100 Best create workplace environments that leverage the talent and skill of their workforces. Join us this year as we review best practices from the 100 Best and several new next generation practices for improving and sustaining great workplaces. The Great Place to Work® presentation will conclude with a number of next generation practices for improving and sustaining great workplaces.

Learning Outcomes include:

  • Understand the essential ingredients of a great place to work®
  • Examine the business case for developing a great workplace
  • Learn best practices of the 100 Best companies
  • Identify opportunities for change in organization





Enthusiastic Employee Engagement
Workshop: Talent Management
Bill Bertolet and Eugene Ritchie, Dale Carnegie

Consultants Watson-Wyatt finds that companies with engaged employees outperform others by 47% to 202%.

Our Workshop cites these and other data as backdrop to series of exercises designed to engage employees more effectively.






Measuring ROI in HR: A Mandate for HR Executives
Workshop: Talent Management
Patty Phillips, Jack Phillips, ROI Institute

In these turbulent times, it is imperative to show the value of HR function, and in particular major HR initiatives and projects. This session will explore a proven methodology to show the monetary impact of key HR programs using a systematic step-by-step process. Used in over 2,000 organizations, the ROI Methodology has been accepted as most credible, CFO-friendly process for showing the impact of HR. After attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the rationale for the use of ROI in today’s climate

• Identify the key steps and principles involved in ROI Methodology

• Explain the challenges and benefits of using ROI

• Explore the next step options to build capability with this process
Patty Phillips, Jack Phillips, The ROI Institute
 






Mobilizing Talent Through Uncertain Times
Roundtable: Talent Management
Jo Singel, Formerly VP of HR, JPMorgan Chase

Nothing strains an organization more than times of extreme uncertainty. People fear losing their jobs, causing them to second guess decisions and focus undue attention on political correctness. The creation, implementation and execution of new ideas and viable solutions suffer as a result. This roundtable discussion is focused upon participants coming away with valuable insights, actionable ideas, tactics and strategies for addressing today’s pressing business needs. The prescription for tough times calls for mental toughness, clear-headedness, and effective crises management. Unfortunately, during those times leaders often find that their staffs become even more cautious and risk aversive. These behaviors are a recipe for failure.

In this session, Jo Singel, an experienced business professional and executive at such companies as JPMorgan Chase, will provide a roundtable discussion for implementing a talent management strategy that will:

• Successfully combat corporate combat fatigue
• Build the courage muscles of staff
• Inspire trust, motivation and creativity at all levels especially at the front line of the organization
• Assist employees in understanding the importance and value of their contribution
• Grow new skills that will build client and customer loyalty

In the long run, it is the competency and strength of leadership that will help people succeed. Leaders at all levels of an organization need a strategy and plan of action to help mobilize talent and maintain focus on creating a business environment that promotes the right mix of tactics, messages and strategies to help it survive through uncertainty.
 






Optimizing Your People Strategy: Ensuring Talent, Leadership, and Culture Thrives in Tough Economic Times
Workshop: Talent Management
Chris Dorr, Director HR, Microsoft
Can you clearly articulate what skills, competencies and disciplines are THE MOST important to your business (and why)? If not, this session may be for you. Lessons from a current work stream at Microsoft help you analyze your current talent, benchmark against internal and external perspectives, and ultimately build/commit to an all-up talent strategy. During this analysis, potential solutions are evaluated against your current culture and aspire-to culture. Discussion points also include: discipline mix, org shape, span of control, career road mapping, and incentive plans.





Cultivating Resilient Corporate Cultures: High Performance in a Roller Coaster Economy
Workshop: Talent Management
Sandra Edwards, SVP Corporate Learning, American Management Association
It’s not just about survival! It’s about agility in the face of continuous change.

With the backdrop of unprecedented global and economic volatility, this workshop will explore ways to help mold corporate cultures to become more powerful drivers of high performance. What is required to foster innovation, customer focus, adaptability to change, employee loyalty and engagement now and into the future will be the focus of discussion.

Sandra Edwards, Senior Vice President of the American Management Association will facilitate an exploration of:
• The role of the senior executive in assessing and influencing corporate culture
• State-of-the art practices for managing corporate culture to help ensure business success
• Why more organizations will work to create healthy corporate cultures

The American Management Association has 86 years of experience working with corporate leaders to enhance business performance. They commissioned the Institute for Corporate Productivity to research both the external and internal factors that influence culture and thus, corporate productivity. This global research is titled: Cultivating Effective Corporate Cultures, Current Trends and Future Possibilities 2008-2018. Each attendee will receive a copy.





Structuring Effective Business Communications: Strategically Conveying HR Value to Business Partners
Workshop: HR Leadership Strategies
Mike Figliuolo
While HR may have a seat at the table as a business partner, their recommendations to the business are often “lost in translation.” Many times this occurs because the recommendation is created and delivered in a manner that, while it makes sense to HR, it lacks a compelling story from the business’ perspective. 
 
The objective of this session is to provide you a new thought process and methodology that helps you cut through the clutter. You will see how to deliver clear and compelling recommendations that will be readily implemented by the business.

During this session you will learn how to:
  • Craft a compelling “core idea” that resonates with key stakeholders
  • Build a solid, logical “architecture” to support your ideas
  • Draft a clear and effective story that articulates your recommendation and it’s rationale
  • Syndicate your story with a broad set of key stakeholders (versus the narrow set that is the norm)
  • Choose and perform the “right” set of analyses required to convince your business partners





Creating Your Own Leadership Identity: Lessons From a Combat Helicopter Pilot
Workshop: HR Leadership Strategies
Ray Bender
This session examines the parallels of leading Army helicopter units in combat and leading your organization under challenging conditions. The session will address actions of personal leadership such as developing a reputation, being visible, sharing hardships, and being approachable. The session will cover the importance of building a leadership brand.
 
In addition we will discuss how to lead professionals in complex and stressful situations by building trust and organizational cohesiveness.
 
One of the most important parallels between Army helicopter units and today’s business environment is the shortage of skilled people and that they are all volunteers. They must be led rather than managed.





Performance Under Pressure: Leadership & Mental Toughness in Corporate America
Workshop: HR Leadership Strategies
Mark Lowry & Marc Sagal
We find ourselves in challenging times. In no place is this challenge more pronounced than in technology. Now more than ever, leaders must stay focused and composed despite the increasing difficulty in doing so.

High levels of stress and pressure bring out the best in some and the worst in others. Getting things done, keeping teams motivated, working effectively with business partners and keeping clients happy is challenging in even the best of times. How then do leaders succeed under the toughest of conditions?
 
Winning Mind. LLC works with leaders and performers who must be at their best under pressure. Borrowing from their work with Fortune 500 Executives, Military Leaders and Elite Athletes, this presentation will help you improve your mental toughness and leadership capacity. You will learn how increasing levels of stress impact your ability to perform; you will get first-hand exposure to techniques for keeping yourself and your team focused on what matters most; and you will walk away with practical approaches for keeping your head in the game no matter how crazy things get.





HR Related Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives Under the Obama Administration: What Every HR Executive Should Know
Workshop: HR Leadership
John Lewis, Sr. Managing Counsel, The Coca-Cola Company
In November, change came to America. Now, as a result, change is coming to your company, your HR function and to the businesses you support. Changes in the legislative and regulatory landscape ranging from labor relations, executive compensation and gender fairness to name a few will dramatically impact how you and your HR organization will deliver solutions-based advice and counsel. In this session, learn what the Obama administration has on tap that will impact HR professionals and how you ensure that you and your company are ready to leverage "change."





The Law Changes in Three Weeks: Are You Ready? Instant Tools for New Employment/I-9 and Immigration Laws
Workshop: HR Leadership
Julie Pearl, Managing Attorney Pearl Law Group
The final countdown begins for many U.S. employers to start using the E-Verify system as mandated by new rules (federal contractor rule slated for May 21, 2009). What steps should your company take now to ensure a smooth implementation? Have you moved from paper to electronic files yet?

Meanwhile, global companies are juggling compliance realities for roving employees in the Americas, Asia Pacific and EMEA regions. How are you onboarding and tracking the visa status and expirations of your employees? What tools and guides are available for employers who don’t know where to begin?

Julie Pearl, the immigration attorney who pioneered technological solutions to I-9 and immigration compliance, will discuss the practical aspects of the new E-Verify federal contractor requirements and provide guidance on how your organization can best adapt. She will also cover updates for U.S. and global employee mobility rules.

During this discussion, you will learn how to:

• Prepare your company for the Obama era of I-9s and Immigration
• Convert (fairly) easily from paper to electronic I-9 systems
• Achieve 100% compliance with the latest Form I-9 and E-Verify rules
• Adapt to immigration law changes worldwide



Confirmed Delegates
VP & Chief Learning Officer
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta  

VP, Human Resources
GTSI Corp.  

VP, Executive Staffing
SunTrust Banks, Inc.  

VP, Human Resources Global Operations
Nuance Communications  

VP, Human Resources
Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation  

More Delegates