Events

2026 - October 14 - Legislative Update Presented by KWW

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Join us for our Legal Update Part 2.
Location: Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319

Agenda:

7:30am - Registration Opens

8:00am - Networking & Breakfast

8:20am - Announcements

8:30am - Presentations Begin

Speaker Bio:
Alexis Eichelberger is an attorney at Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC, a management-side labor and employment law firm located in Akron. She also serves as Legislative Chair of Akron Area SHRM. Alexis earned her law degree at the University of Akron School of Law in 2023 and has been assisting employers with a variety of workplace challenges since. Much of her practice focuses on public sector labor relations, multistate compliance, and defending employers in litigation and administrative proceedings.

Thank you to our sponsor, KWW!

Save the Date! 2026 October 22nd - Happy Hour / Networking Event

Join us for the next AASHRM Happy Hour / Networking Event!

Location: TBD

No need to register - just come out and network with your AASHRM Colleagues.

AASHRM Happy Hour; Guests are encouraged to come/go as they wish anytime.

Thank you to our Sponsor:

2026 - November 11- Chapter Meeting

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

"WHEN AN IEP BECOMES AN I-9…..Bridging the Gap for a better work environment," presented by Shari Warman.
Location: Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319
Agenda:

7:30am - Registration Opens

8:00am - Networking & Breakfast

8:20am - Announcements

8:30am - Presentations Begin

Session Description: In the state of Ohio, approximately one in six students have an IEP (Individual Education Plans) at some point of their school careers. IEP’s can be implemented for a variety of educational concerns, delays, assistance, and accommodations. When an employee has had advocates and teams to give them a successful path, let’s talk through some ways they can also be successful in the workplace too while keeping Human Resources in compliance.

Speaker Bio: Shari Warman, MBA, SPHR, is an accomplished HR professional who currently serves as the Human Resources Manager at GED Integrated Solutions. Her extensive background spans over 20 years across diverse industries—including hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, and education—enabling her to navigate a wide variety of organizational cultures and learning styles. Over her career, she has also been on the student advocate side of the desk representing her child in IEP meetings. Bringing a perspective of not only a Human Resources professional but also has a person who has watched as her son as made the transition from student to graduate and now is an employee.

Thank you to our Sponsor:

Thank you to our Non-Profit Spotlight Sponsor:

2026 - December 9 - Chapter Meeting (LUNCHEON)

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

"HR’s Gone Wild: Business Lessons from the Animal Kingdom, " presented by John Bernatovicz.

Location: Firestone Country Club / 452 East Warner Road / Akron, Oh 44319

Agenda:

• 11:30am - Registration Opens/Lunch
• 12:20pm - 1:20pm - Presentation

Session Description: What can butterflies, dolphins, and elephants teach us about business and life? More than you might think! This unique session blends nature’s instincts with business insights, offering ten (plus a very special bonus idea) powerful lessons from the animal kingdom that can be applied to leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and resilience at work. Join us for a fresh, fun, and thought-provoking talk that will inspire you to approach challenges with new perspective and maybe even a little wild wisdom.

Learning Objectives:
- Identify and apply ten animal-inspired lessons to strengthen leadership, teamwork, and adaptability at work.
- Explore how instincts from nature can improve precision, problem-solving, and decision-making in the business community.
- Develop strategies to approach real-life business challenges with creativity, resilience, and a renewed perspective drawn from the animal kingdom.

Speaker Bio: John Bernatovicz is a family first, business leader, balancing roles as a husband, father, brother, coach, and competitive amateur golfer. In addition to being an entrepreneur, podcast host, keynote speaker, author, and HR and payroll expert, John is on a mission to empower leaders to transform how people feel at work while making a positive impact. With a rich entrepreneurial history spanning 25 years, John has been at the helm of six business ventures. Currently serving as the president of Willory, a boutique professional services firm empowering the HR tech, payroll, and HR communities, John's passion lies in elevating purpose-driven organizations to their full potential. At Willory, he is dedicated to attracting, developing, and empowering top talent. John's leadership has propelled Willory to remarkable achievements, including recognition in prestigious lists such as NorthCoast 99, Weatherhead 100, Crain’s 52, and Inc. 5000. In addition, John’s book, HR Like a Boss, is the first SHRM-published book to reach #1 New Release on Amazon, and his co-authored book, Payroll Like a Boss, was released on April 28, 2026.