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F a l l 2 0 19 • forwardHR | 5 DIREC TOR 'S MESSAGE W elcome to our fall issue of ForwardHR! In this issue, we learn about the value of showing compassion, the impact of potential changes to workplace safety if marijuana is legalized in Wisconsin, the importance of creating a successful benefit strategy, the use of mood tracking apps to monitor employee engagement, the benefits of creativity on your organization, the value of the Wisconsin Technical College System to aid in attracting and retaining talent and the importance of appropriately classifying independent contracts. At WISHRM, we've had a busy start to the year with Day on the Hill (February) and the Student HR Games (March). In August, volunteer leaders from the State Council, State Conference and chapters around the state gathered in Manitowoc for the 2019 Leadership Conference — Light Up Your Leadership. is event offered leadership strategies to strengthen chapter, council and student group leaders by sharing ideas, presenting valuable networking opportunities and, of course, touring the famous Wisconsin Maritime Museum. In June, 18,000 of your closest HR friends descended on Las Vegas for the SHRM 2019 Annual Conference and Exposition. is year's conference focused on Creating Better Workplaces, which aligned with SHRM's new brand strategy of Better Workplaces, Better World. e conference offered more than 200 concurrent sessions along nine tracks and featured keynotes from Martha Stewart, author Brene Brown, Sampark Foundation founder Vineet Nayar and TOMS' founder and Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie. Looking ahead, San Diego is hosting next year's event from June 28 through July 1 at the San Diego Convention Center. Registration is open at store.shrm.org. I hope to see you there. Looking ahead, HR professionals throughout the state are clearing their calendars to attend this year's WISHRM state conference Oct. 16-18 at the Kalahari in the Wisconsin Dells. With a theme of "HR Trailblazers: Riding the Winds of Change," the conference will provide opportunities expand your HR knowledge, network with professionals and students (i.e., future employees) throughout the state and learn about new products and services in the exhibition hall. Wednesday night is Bike Night in the Exhibit Hall. Be sure to join us and collect your deck of cards to be entered to win one of our grand prizes! ursday morning will open with a keynote presentation on "e Solutions Oriented Leader" from Dr. Rick Goodman, CSP. ursday in the exhibit hall get your Sturgis map and get ready to have some fun! You will have the chance to learn more about our exhibitors, collect your stops along the way and enter to win the grand prize drawing. In the evening, enjoy some great music and get your dance shoes ready for Stetsin & Lace. Help support the SHRM Foundation and have your picture taken with the band! Friday's breakfast kicks off with a keynote presentation from Shirley Davis, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CSP. She will discuss "Inclusion 2030: Global Workforce Trends that are Redefining the Workplace, the Workers and the Work." Will Bowen will close the conference with his keynote titled "Complaint Free Business." To learn more and register for the conference, go to www.wishrm. org/2019-State-Conference. I'd like to thank all of our volunteer leaders who generously give of their time to the WISHRM State Conference Committee, Day on the Hill Committee, Leadership Conference Committee and the State Council. Without your dedication and support, these events would not be possible. If you'd like to learn more about being a volunteer, please contact me. ■ John Komosa is State Director for WISHRM. Letter from John Komosa, 2019 State Director, Wisconsin State Council SHRM HR Trailblazers: Riding the Winds of Change