Human resources professionals from throughout the Wiregrass area converged on Troy University’s Dothan Campus last week to expand their knowledge base and network with one another.
The Wiregrass Human Resource Management Association held its 17th annual Forum and Vendor Fair inside Sony Hall, drawing dozens of attendees who received information about the latest laws and best practices in the field.
“We come together once a year for this all-day one-day seminar,” said Marsha Cannon, chapter president of WHRMA. “We have different speakers from throughout the local area as well as the state to come in and deliver educational material to other HR professionals from within the community just to grow our knowledge within the profession.”
One of those speakers was Troy University employee Sharleen Smith, director of professional development for Troy University Continuing Education.
“One of the things that I see is a lot of times HR doesn’t think either they’re worthy of being at the corporate board room table or they have an organization that doesn’t call in HR, and one of the things is they’ve got to start believing in themselves,” Smith said. “Secondly, they have to look at how the world is changing, the technology requirements of the organization, to get them to the point where they are actually part of the bottom line results.”
Those who attended the forum also received credits toward recertification.
Cannon said WHRMA’s partnership with TROY has paid dividends.
“We are able to utilize the space here. Being able to use Sony Hall, it provides enough seating and the lecture style room helps with us being able to have the speakers come in be able to use what electronic resources they need for their presentations,” Cannon said. “It works out really well for us.”
Likewise, Smith said the forum serves a vital function for the community.
“In HR, the one-day conference WHRMA puts on is very important,” she said. “HR needs some really good up-to-date (training) kind of taking a look at where they need to go. Seminars and training like that are great.”
WHRMA hopes to continue the forum at TROY in the future.
“When you look at the cost of being able to have a one-day full-day seminar that local people can come to vs. traveling to another city or even state for the same thing, you’re not having to pay for lodging or travel to get same quality of content,” Cannon said.
