Events

2025 - May 14- Beyond the Paycheck: Unlocking the Power of Total Rewards

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to: "Beyond the Paycheck: Unlocking the Power of Total Rewards," presented by Kathy Menditto

Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319
There is construction near/around Guy's Party Center. Attendees may want to allow for extra travel time.

Agenda:
7:30am - Registration Opens
8:00am - Networking & Breakfast
8:20am - Announcements
8:30am - Presentations Begin

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

Session Description: Beyond the Paycheck: Unlocking the Power of Total Rewards
Join us for an insightful presentation that delves into the transformative concept of Total Rewards. In today’s competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent goes beyond just offering a paycheck. This presentation will explore the comprehensive approach of Total Rewards, which includes compensation, benefits, work-life balance, recognition, and development opportunities.:


What You’ll Learn:

Understanding Total Rewards: Discover the key components and the importance of a holistic rewards strategy.

Components Breakdown: Gain insights into the various elements of Total Rewards, including compensation, benefits, work-life balance, recognition, and career development.

Implementation Strategies: Learn how to assess employee needs, design tailored rewards packages, communicate effectively, and measure the success of your Total Rewards strategy.

Speaker Bio:With over 15 years of experience in human resources, Kathy Menditto is a seasoned HR leader with a passion for strategic talent management, organizational development, and total rewards. Holding an MBA in Human Resources Management, Kathy has been recognized as a two-time finalist for Crain’s HR Excellence Award, highlighting their impact and innovation in the field.

An active leader in the HR community, Kathy serves on the Ohio SHRM Conference Planning Committee, the Akron Area SHRM Board, and the National Cannabis Industry Association HR Advisory Committee, where they contribute to shaping policies and best practices for the evolving workforce. Most recently, they brought their expertise into the classroom, teaching a course on Total Compensation and Rewards at the University of Akron, preparing the next generation of HR professionals.
With a dynamic background spanning corporate HR, compliance, and industry-specific workforce challenges, Kathy brings invaluable insights to discussions on the future of work, employee engagement, and innovative compensation strategies.

May Non Profit Spotlight:

2025 - July 9 - "Beyond the Invite: Earning Influence in Executive Spaces"

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to our next Chapter Event: "Beyond the Invite: Earning Influence in Executive Spaces," featuring speaker, Val Nash.

Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319
There is construction near/around Guy's Party Center. Attendees may want to allow for extra travel time.

Agenda:
7:30am - Registration Opens
8:00am - Networking & Breakfast
8:20am - Announcements
8:30am - Presentations Begin

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

Session Description: High-level decisions shape the future of an organization—yet too often, HR is brought in after the fact. It’s not enough to ask for a seat; HR leaders must demonstrate the strategic value that makes their presence essential in decision-making spaces.

In this dynamic session, we’ll explore how HR professionals can move from support staff to strategic advisor by shifting mindsets, building credibility, and speaking the language of business. You’ll leave with real-world strategies to elevate your influence, position HR as a critical driver of organizational success, and ensure you’re not just in the room—but truly heard when it matters most.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Recognize what executive leaders expect from strategic partners.
2. Identify opportunities to align HR initiatives with business goals.
3. Learn key communication shifts that build credibility and influence.
4. Apply simple strategies to elevate HR’s visibility and impact in leadership conversations.
Speaker Bio:

Click HERE For Bio

2025 - August 13 - Speaker: Ned Parks

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to our next Chapter Event featuring speaker, Ned Parks.

Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319
There is construction near/around Guy's Party Center. Attendees may want to allow for extra travel time.

Agenda:
7:30am - Registration Opens
8:00am - Networking & Breakfast
8:20am - Announcements
8:30am - Presentations Begin

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

Session Description: You get tasked to do some training. You whip around and go straight to PowerPoint. STOP NOW. Because with PowerPoint comes stand up and talk AT your participants.

Ned will share the power of simulations and better yet how to build training simulations. Ned will build a microsimulation on the spot.

Speaker Bio: Imagine blending the thrill-seeking spirit of a helicopter pilot and then tossing in the acumen of a seasoned entrepreneur. That's Ned Parks in a nutshell. He's been around the block—more like around the world—turning conventional wisdom on its head and transforming how organizations think about leadership and management. Ned doesn't do fluff. He's trekked to over 20 countries, engaging with 500+ organizations, not to hand out participation trophies but to get actual results. With over 1,700 presentations under his belt, he's not just talking the talk; he's been in the trenches, leading teams through the mess and magic of transformational growth.

Outside the boardroom, Ned's just as uncompromising. Whether it's mastering the skies as a flight instructor, watching his daughter grow and succeed, or checking off items on his bucket list, he lives life full throttle. And sure, he might help you find your "leadership voice" or "strategic vision," but he's more interested in cutting through the BS and forging leaders who can make a difference.

Ned's approach is no-nonsense. He believes that if you're looking for someone to coddle you, you're in the wrong place. But if you're ready to challenge every assumption you've ever had about leadership or business growth, Ned's your guy. Buckle up—it's going to be a wild ride.

2025 August 21 - DEI Webinar

2025 - August 21 - DEI Webinar

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to the next DEI Webinar, “Exploring Generational Diversity in the Workplace." The webinar will be facilitated by Evelyn S Williams, PhD, MEd, CA.

This is a FREE EVENT. Please register and we'll send you the zoom login information with your email/registration confirmation.

Session Description: Join us for a discussion on the most generationally diverse workforce in American History. We will explore the uniqueness of the Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zs. With a look at how we can work together to produce the most effective and efficient multi-generational workplace. We will look at generational communication styles, differences in attitudes about work-life balance, and motivators for each generation. We need YOU to make this a dynamic discussion- sign up today!

Speaker Bio: Dr Evelyn Williams, recently joined Global Ties Akron as Executive Director. She has a rich history of leadership experience with an emphasis on director and management roles in both the private and public sectors, managed community collaboration efforts, and oversight of cross-cultural and intergenerational projects on a local and international level. After founding and directing a local grassroot nonprofit that served youth and their families, locally and internationally, she obtained a Doctor of Public Health from Walden University and a Master of Education in Health Education and Promotion from Kent State University. Evelyn is credentialed at the Intermediate level with the National Advocate Credentialing Program and excelled as Director of Educational Services with the Victim Assistance Program, Summit County. She currently serves on the board of ATHENA Akron and the Society of Human Resources & Management of Akron, as DEI co-chair. She is a lifetime member of the Akron area, wife, and mother of nine. In her down time, she enjoys the outdoors and traveling.

2025 - September 10; with Sonya Weiland, Your Partner in HR

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to the September chapter event with presenter Sonya Weiland, Your Partner In HR.

Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319
There is construction near/around Guy's Party Center. Attendees may want to allow for extra travel time.

Agenda:
7:30am - Registration Opens
8:00am - Networking & Breakfast
8:20am - Announcements
8:30am - Presentations Begin

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

Session Description: TBD

Speaker Bio:
Click HERE For Bio

Thank you to our sponsor:

2025 - October 8 - Legislative Update Presented by KWW

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to: "Legislative Update Presented by KWW." Alexis Eichelberger will present the legislative update.

Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319
There is construction near/around Guy's Party Center. Attendees may want to allow for extra travel time.

Agenda:
7:30am - Registration Opens. Networking, and Announcements
8:00am - Presentations Begin

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

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.

2025 November 12 - DEI Panel

2025 - November 12 - DEI Panel Session

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to the November meeting which is a panel sesssion facilitated by Evelyn S Williams, PhD, MEd, CA.

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

Session Description: TBD

Speaker Bio: Dr Evelyn Williams, recently joined Global Ties Akron as Executive Director. She has a rich history of leadership experience with an emphasis on director and management roles in both the private and public sectors, managed community collaboration efforts, and oversight of cross-cultural and intergenerational projects on a local and international level. After founding and directing a local grassroot nonprofit that served youth and their families, locally and internationally, she obtained a Doctor of Public Health from Walden University and a Master of Education in Health Education and Promotion from Kent State University. Evelyn is credentialed at the Intermediate level with the National Advocate Credentialing Program and excelled as Director of Educational Services with the Victim Assistance Program, Summit County. She currently serves on the board of ATHENA Akron and the Society of Human Resources & Management of Akron, as DEI co-chair. She is a lifetime member of the Akron area, wife, and mother of nine. In her down time, she enjoys the outdoors and traveling.

2025 - December 10 - Speaker: Jamie Lewis Smith

Join us for the next AASHRM Chapter Event

Akron Area SHRM is inviting you to our December luncheon featuring Jamie Lewis Smith

Location: Guy’s Party Center / 500 E Waterloo Rd. / Akron, Oh 44319 Wine Room at House 330 / 532 W Market Street Akron OH 44303

Agenda:
11:30am - Registration Opens/Lunch
12:00 noon - Presentation Begins

Price:
$30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $15 Students, $15 Members-in-transition

Session Description: TBD

Speaker Bio: Jamie Lewis Smith, PhD is passionate about making managers suck less by helping them become empowering leaders! She is the founder and CEO of Pixel Leadership Group, a team of “nerdy, but fun” executive coaches, psychologists, and data analysts who are on a mission to bridge the gap between the science and practice of leadership. They offer a structured, data-driven methodology to coaching that can be applied at scale to drive exceptional employee and business outcomes. Jamie has spent her career as a human resources leader, coach, and advisor across private sector, nonprofit, and government agencies, with deep experience in the technology, education, and healthcare industries. She is a contributing member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a published author, and an international speaker on the topics of leadership, assessment, and employee retention.