NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!  

HR EMPLOYEE and EMPLOYER of the YEAR AWARDS  

Each year SHRM Nebraska state council honor the top professionals and companies who help make Human Resources a prominent, strategic partner. 

Nominate your company for its outstanding achievements today!  Speak up about your successes.  You deserve it and it's easy.  Don't forget to also nominate your favorite HR professional.  Get them noticed!  Nominate them for their outstanding efforts to advance the HR professional today!

The SHRM Nebraska State Council is ready to hear about all the accomplishments HR professionals and employers have completed during the past year.  

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 31, 2013 FOR BOTH AWARDS.

 HR Professional of the Year Nomination                   HR Employer of the Year Nomination

Past professional of the year winners, newest to older, include: Craig Garrett, Keli Royal, Dan Krick, Scott Messersmith, Becky Golden, Lee Elliott, Marsha Dreesen, John Dumonceaux, Ruth Jones, Steve Hodges, Jane Goertzen, Michael Mendenhall, Mary Crook, Nancy Conway, Ken Mattson, Doug McDaniel, Nancy Bleich, Cary Thorp, Vanessa Brown, Lee Lazure, Lovie Magruder, Marty Callaghan.  

Employers of the Year include: Cabela's, Kiewit, Madonna, Greater Omaha Chamber, Kenexa, Linweld, Olsson Associates, Ameritas, Lincoln Plating, First National Bank North Platte, Duncan Aviation, Union Pacific, City of Omaha, Mutual of Omaha, Call Interactive, Aliant Communications, Designer Blinds of Omaha, Lincoln General Hospital and Harris Laboratories.

"Being awarded the HR Professional of the Year was a huge honor and quite humbling," said Craig Garrett, the 2012 recipient.  "Being recognized in front of so many of my talented HR friends and colleagues has made a significant impact on me.  I've always believed in pushing myself, but earning this award has caused me to want to become even better."

LINCOLN -— The SHRM Nebraska State Council embraced their role as a leader for human resource professionals with a statewide educational effort focussed on small business.  

District Director West Ray Weinberg, SPHR, CCP, visited six locations across the state logging more than 600 miles to speak at every local chapter in the state.  More than 150 small business owners and employees were treated to a two-hour overview that included the top ten pitfalls and opportunities that come with employing people.

Weiberg, who helped author the HRCI Certification Guide, compiled HR information directly relating to small business. He cited a study that showed small IT firms who emphasized HR strategy from the outset had a 66 percent higher survival rate.

"We're living in a different culture as employers," Weinberg said.  "It's said that almost 50 percent of employees who quit their jobs in 2010 did not have another job at the ready.  HR people aren't just hiring and firing.  We impact culture as well." 
 
Even for small businesses, Weinberg emphasized strategic practices and the need to focus in on the HR task without becoming the do-everything newsletter editor, blood drive director and holiday party purchaser.

Weinberg provided information on HR audits, when to call a lawyer and insurance for employee-related issues.  The council is already discussing future small business events and additional support through its revamped website.

The council also worked with Nebraska State Governor Dave Heineman to declare Nebraska HR Professional Month during a ceremony March 13 at the Nebraska State Capitol Building.  

"Human Resource Professionals are a key component of any organization’s senior management team proving active involvement in shaping corporate policy," Heineman said in his proclamation.  "Thousands of HR Professionals throughout Nebraska provide employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth."

 

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS/PRESENTERS WANTED!  SHRM Nebraska is now accepting requests for proposal for speakers/presenters for SHRM Nebraska Conferences.  Click here for our request for proposal form.  Interested parties also can send inquiries to Terri Winfrey, Terri@broptical.com. 

WE'RE HONORED!  The Nebraska SHRM State Council is recognized nationally as an Honor Council.  By achieving this recognition, SHRM Nebraska State Council distinguishes itself as a national leader dedicated to the professional advancement of our members and the human resource management profession.  Selection as an Honor State Council indicates that Nebraska has achieved excellence in fulfilling its mission of:

• Serving as a conduit for communication between SHRM members and chapters.
• Coordinating chapter efforts at the state level.
• Facilitating services and programs for the collective interests of your state membership and chapter leaders and all SHRM members in the state.

• Laurie Pieper, PHR is featured on Page 84 of the December 2012 HR Magazine. Laurie is past president of HRAM and marketing director for the SHRM Nebraska State Conference.  Laurie is a one-person HR show for the Omaha Chamber of Commerce with 50 employees.  Thanks for all you do Laurie!