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#NEHRA2014 — A Tipping Point

Like any conference, it started with a lot of planning. The staff and committee members worked diligently in the days, weeks and months leading up to the conference to build a strong foundation with quality programming and an attention to detail designed to make sure everyone has a great experience. Equally as important are the attendees who engaged with us over the two days. For the first time since 2007, more than 500 people participated in the annual conference. The energy and buzz created by our participants, speakers, sponsors and volunteers on Oct. 8-9 was palpable. It was great to watch people reunite with old friends and make new connections; discuss new ideas and swap stories; discover new ways to approach a challenge; and to think differently about their work. You could literally feel people connect, grow and thrive within the walls of the DCU Center.

Day One kicked off with "blue collar millionaire" Nick Sarillo, founder of Nick’s Pizza & Pub, who shared an inspiring story about how he built a "big" little business based on a foundation of purpose and values. As a CEO, Nick definitely "gets it" — we have officially dubbed him "an HR professional’s dream." The rest of the day was filled with breakout sessions, along with time to mingle and explore what great new products and services our sponsors have to offer. We held a special session with our Millenial Group, where we heard about the unique challenges they face as the newest and largest generation in our workforce (so much potential in one room!).

Day One wrapped up with an emotional presentation by anti-bullying evangelists Teen Truth, who challenged us to proactively combat workplace bullying and to "stand up" in our own lives. Attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception, photo booth, tarot card readings and lots of laughs before breaking for the evening. More than any time in recent years, most people stayed overnight, extending conversations and sharing stories over dinner.

On Thursday morning, "master story" teller and UCLA professor Iris Firstenberg captured our attention with a detailed account of how a small construction company pulled off a miracle. Dr. Firstenberg wove a compelling account of how they leveraged innovation, creativity and strong relationships to successfully rebuild the earthquake ravaged Santa Monica freeway in less than six months (a task that was projected to take six to ten years!).

A highpoint of Day Two was the Annual Awards Luncheon, where, each year, we honor those in our community who are doing exceptional work in the field of Human Resources, offering awards and scholarships to a few select individuals. Our "pinnacle" award, which is named after NEHRA’s founder, John D. Erdlen, went to Dana Farber’s CHRO, Deb Hicks. This year was made even more poignant, as John Erdlen’s niece, Beth Dean (who happens to work for Deb Hicks), presented the award and paid a very special and deserving tribute to her late uncle.

During the rest of Day Two, several attendees made the most of their time by getting free coaching from our friends at the International Coaching Federation, while a few brave souls got flu shots from our partners at Rite Aid. Business Performance guru Ryan Estis wrapped up the conference with an enthusiastic keynote performance, really driving home the messages of the event, and challenging us to use what we learned and really think differently about our work. Ryan’s captivating style really resonated with the audience — and how could we help but to fall in love with "Lily at Starbucks in Terminal D"?

So, why do I think we will be talking about this conference for years to come? I predict we’ve hit a tipping point at NEHRA, where the intersection of changing demands on the HR profession and a fast paced work environment, combined with a need for people to make real and meaningful connections has resulted in a stronger and more vibrant HR community. We promise to harness this energy and to bring you more opportunities to connect, grow and thrive in the days, weeks and months ahead.

In the meantime, don’t forget to register for #NEHRA2015, as space will be limited at the Sea Crest Hotel in Falmouth!

We look forward to seeing you "Down the Cape" on Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2015!

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