The following is a guest blog post written by Simone Murray, VP of Member Services.
Employers Connect kicked off its first 2012 meeting in Columbus, OH. Hosted by DirectEmployers (DE) Member companies American Electric Power (AEP) and Cardinal Health, the event included presentations about recruiting with the new Internet, developing an efficient and effective disability-related business and employment strategy, and social media.
One of my personal highlights was an intriguing discussion from a panel comprised of Members who have been recognized for diversity program achievements, and other industry experts knowledgeable on creating inclusive corporate cultures for people with disabilities. In fact, after the event, one of the attendees also commented on how helpful the discussion was for her in considering the proposed regulations from the OFCCP.
We also included an optional session for Members called “Owning Your Membership.” This session, which is offered at all Employers Connect events, provides an in-depth review of the products and services included with a DirectEmployers membership.
Check out our slide show from the event:
If you’re not familiar with Employers Connect, they’re regional meetings for HR professionals (open to both Members and non-members) to share or learn about innovative methods in recruiting and technology, as well as reviewing traditional best practices. Despite being launched just last year, so far the events have proven to be worthwhile to attendees for a great way to network with their peers face-to-face, and walk away with content that is timely, informative and relevant.
Steven Eller, VP of Human Resources at Robert Bosch said, “Attending the Employers Connect is very strategic because we’ve been trying to build our brand in North America. This is an opportunity to benchmark other companies, learn from their strategies in terms of personnel branding, marketing and assist us in our talent acquisition strategies.”
From the beginning, DirectEmployers has been committed having Employers Connect be a FREE and valuable ongoing education opportunity for recruiting and compliance experts that touch on the current issues faced by small and large companies. Fortunately this is largely possible due to our Members being able to provide space for the event and volunteer to present.
There will be six other Employers Connect meetings this year, including the next one on Wednesday, March 7 in San Ramon, CA, hosted by 24 Hour Fitness. If you are interested in learning more or hosting an event, please email me at simone@directemployers.org.
For those of you who have not attended before, I strongly encourage you to attend an Employers Connect meeting in your region, expand your knowledge, and network with other industry professionals. For those of you who never miss an Employers Connect meeting, we’ll see you there!
For more information about the 2012 Employers Connect meetings and to access the resources from past meetings, please visit: connect.directemployers.org
