Anchorage Society for HR Management upcoming events

(External) Payroll Study Group for Fall 2026 Testing - NLAC (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 01:30:00 GMT

Wearing all the Hats in HR?

Join the 2026 FPC & CPP Study Group
for 2026 Fall Testing

Hosted by: Northern Lights Alaska Chapter (NLAC) of the Payroll Org

Are you an HR Department of One?
Responsible for payroll and needing to upskill?

Join us for the 2026 Fall NLAC FPC & CPP Study Group delivered weekly via Zoom starting Thursday, May 28, 2026 and ending August 27, 2026 in preparation for testing. Participants must have their own copies of the Payroll Source, available from Payroll.org prior to attending the course. You will be well-prepared for the Fall testing!

Please note: This event is not hosted or organized by ASHRM. We are sharing it for informational purposes in support of our partner, NLAC. NLAC is the professional association for payroll and accounting practitioners within and external to HR.

SIG: AI & HR (June 2026) (Friday, June 12, 2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

AI & HR SIG

A New Special Interest Group for Curious, Thoughtful Practitioners

Join in for the launch of the AI in HR Special Interest Group (SIG), hosted by Cara Fox, ASHRM member.

Are you experimenting with AI in your HR work — or wondering where to start? This new, peer-led SIG* offers a practical, judgment-free space to learn alongside fellow professionals. This isn't a training session or a product pitch. It's a conversation among peers about what's working, what raises questions, and how to move forward responsibly.

What to Expect at this Session

Our first gathering will focus on shaping the direction of the group together — setting a shared agenda, establishing norms, and building a foundation for ongoing collaboration. Cara will kick things off by sharing her own experience with AI, including:

Ways AI has boosted her day-to-day productivity
How she thinks about data security and risk
Her approach to evaluating whether an AI tool is actually worth adopting

From there, the floor opens to you.

Bringing your computer/mobile is welcome - we may or may not use them at this sesion.

Host Site:

Resource Data - Anchorage
When you arrive, see the staff at the Front Desk for badging and escorting to the meeting room.

Why This SIG Matters

HR professionals are under growing pressure to increase efficiency — while also being expected to adopt new tools carefully and ethically. That tension is real, and it's easier to navigate with trusted peers by your side. Whether you're already using AI or just starting to explore, this group is a space to share honestly, learn together, and help shape how our profession engages with this rapidly evolving technology.

Come for the Conversation. Stay for the Community

Enjoy light bites while connecting in small group discussions with others who get it. And we appreciate your environmentally conscious willingness to bring a reusable water bottle or coffee mug.

"No matter the size of your department, HR professionals need to be highly organized and open to exploring resources that extend their efficiency and effectiveness. And we need to talk about it — with each other."

*A SIG is a special interest group within the ASHRM community for SHRM and ASHRM Dual Members. SIGs are a member benefit that bring together individuals with a shared interest or situation. Being small enough to enhance the experience of belonging requires that the gathering be limited to 15 members. You will be waitlisted if you miss the count.

SIG: New Members Meetup (June 2026) (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

SIG: New Members Meetup

Join your colleagues for the Special Interest Group (SIG): New Members Meetup, hosted by ASHRM Members, Melissa White and Tacy Caldwell.

Join us for an informal and energizing meet‑up designed to help new ASHRM members feel right at home in our HR community. This gathering is a chance to connect directly with ASHRM leadership and fellow members, build meaningful professional relationships, and discover the many ways you can get involved throughout the year.

We’ll share upcoming volunteer opportunities, highlight member benefits, and exchange valuable HR resources to support your work across Alaska’s diverse organizations. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned professional looking to expand your network, this meetup offers a relaxed space to learn, collaborate, and grow alongside other HR practitioners.

Notes

There is ample onsite parking in front of the entrance.
Register early to help us plan the space and refreshments!

There is ample onsite parking in front of the entrance.

TROUBLE REGISTERING? Contact ASHRM so that a volunteer can walk you through the steps!

By intentionally bringing together new members (and those who still feel like new members), the group fosters inclusion and belonging in your new professional organization.

Note: A SIG is a special interest group within the ASHRM community for dual SHRM and ASHRM Members. SIGs are a member benefit that bring together individuals with a shared interest or situation. Being small enough to enhance the experience of belonging requires that the gathering be limited. You will be waitlisted if you miss the count.

SIG: HR Team of One Social Hour (June 2026) (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:00:00 GMT

HR Team of One SIG*

Join colleagues for the HR Team of One Special Interest Group (SIG) gathering hosted by Eric Thayer, ASHRM member. This limited-seating event is designed for HR professionals navigating the unique challenges and opportunities, of being a department of one. To foster a supportive and empowering community for HR professionals who serve as a team of one (or maybe two)—creating safe spaces for connection, candid conversation, and shared learning. We are dedicated to breaking the silence of isolation, nurturing resilience, and equipping each other with the tools, mindsets, and resources needed to thrive under the unique pressures and responsibilities of solo HR leadership. By uplifting one another, we illuminate our organizations with renewed morale, compassion, and positive change. Tonight's discussion is focuses on policies and procedures - and other issues facing participants.

Enjoy the sunshine with a beverage or beer while connecting in small group discussions with peers who understand your unique role! With registration, your first beverage at the event will be covered, in addition to light snacks.

"Solo HR professionals need to be highly organized and establish a solid foundation with resources that extend their efficiency and efficacy... And they (we) need to talk about it with our colleagues!"

*A SIG is a special interest group within the ASHRM community for SHRM and ASHRM Dual Members. SIGs are a member benefit that bring together individuals with a shared interest or situation. Being small enough to enhance the experience of belonging requires that the gathering be limited to 10 members. You will be waitlisted if you miss the count.

When Life Quakes: How to Lead Yourself & Your Team Through Seasons of Change, Stress, & Uncertainty (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:30:00 GMT

When Life Quakes:
How to Lead Yourself & Your Team
Through Seasons of Change, Stress, & Uncertainty

Managing others starts with managing yourself and remaining grounded no matter how uncertain the world around you. In this presentation, Angie Lion focuses on the skills and awareness often called resilience or personal leadership.

She introduces the concept of Transitional Intelligence™ (TQ): the ability to recognize, understand, and skillfully navigate periods of disruption and change while leading self and others.

Participants will explore how transitions influence workplace behavior, decision-making, communication, psychological safety, and team dynamics. Through practical workplace examples, guided reflection, interactive exercises, and actionable leadership tools, attendees will learn how to better support themselves and their teams during periods of uncertainty and organizational change.

This session blends leadership development, employee well-being, situational awareness, and organizational effectiveness to help leaders create more adaptive, compassionate, and resilient workplace cultures.

This program supports HR professionals in applying leadership, communication, change management, and employee engagement strategies aligned with HRCI’s HR Body of Knowledge and SHRM's BASK. Ideal for HR professionals, managers, executives, and organizational leaders seeking practical tools for leading through disruption, stress, and transition.

Objectives:

1. Recognize the six signals of transition and locate oneself in the picture (practice situational awareness)

2. Identify how personal and professional transitions can impact employee behavior, team interactions, communication, and engagement

3. Express personal transitional planning through tools and reflection, heightening communication and leadership skills

4. List the triple threats and apply techniques to regain personal power and psychological safety in uncertain times

5. Adopt TQ and emotional intelligence (EQ) skills tools to navigate transitions

Date: June 24, 2026

Location: VIRTUAL (The Zoom link will be distributed to registrants)

Zoom room opens and networking begins at 11:30 AM – Share announcements, opportunities, and insights with fellow professionals. Use the chat and microphone. Camera on, please!

Program begins at 11:45 AM – ASHRM updates and information.

Speaker presentation at 11:50 AM – Guest speaker will deliver a one-hour session, followed by closing remarks from the ASHRM President.

About the Speaker

Angie Lion

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angielion/

https://www.angielion.com/

Angie Lion is the Chief Soul Officer with Black River Performance Management and is a Certified Transitional Intelligence (TQ) Coach.

“Rise from the depths, realign your goals, and reclaim what matters.”

--Angie Lion

Continuing education credit approved: 1 PDC

The Courage to Lead: Navigating What’s Hard with Integrity (Thursday, July 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:30:00 GMT

The Courage to Lead:
Navigating What’s Hard with Integrity

In today’s complex and rapidly evolving workplace, HR professionals are increasingly called upon to demonstrate courage in situations that carry both personal and organizational risk. Whether advising senior leadership, advocating for employees, or establishing ethical boundaries around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, HR practitioners must navigate competing pressures while maintaining integrity and trust. Despite these demands, courage is rarely framed as a professional capability that can be intentionally developed and applied in practice.

This interactive session positions courage as a critical, learnable leadership competency grounded in self-mastery, ethical decision-making, and strategic influence. Participants will explore four distinct “faces of courage” relevant to HR practice—ethical, relational, strategic, and authentic—and examine how these manifest in real organizational scenarios, including high-stakes conversations, conflict navigation, and values-based decision-making.

Drawing on interdisciplinary research, including neuroscience and organizational justice studies, the session connects courageous leadership behaviors to measurable HR outcomes such as employee engagement, retention, risk mitigation, and ethical culture. Participants will apply this learning through guided self-assessment, case-based discussion, and peer accountability exercises designed to translate insight into action.

This program supports HR professionals in applying leadership, communication, ethics, and relationship management competencies aligned with HRCI’s HR Body of Knowledge and SHRM's BASK. Ideal for HR professionals, managers, executives, and organizational leaders seeking practical tools for leading through disruption, stress, and transition.

Objectives:

1. Articulate the business case for courageous leadership using current research on organizational trust, engagement, and the cost of avoidance — and connect it to measurable HR outcomes including retention, claims utilization, and ethical culture.

2. Apply a six-step grounding protocol to regulate their internal state before a high-stakes conversation or decision, using emotional awareness and intention-setting techniques drawn from self-mastery and contemplative practice.

3. Identify their default and avoided "face of courage" (ethical, relational, strategic, or authentic) using a self-assessment tool, and recognize the patterns that drive their professional avoidance behaviors.

4. Commit to one specific courageous action they will take within seven days, articulated to an accountability partner using a Both/And framework that holds compassion and integrity simultaneously.

Date: July 16, 2026

Location: LIVE at BPEC - pre-registration required)

The Birch room opens and networking begins at 11:30 AM – Share announcements, opportunities, and insights with fellow professionals. Sign in, select your lunch, sit with people you have not met, and learn about one another.

Program begins at 11:45 AM – ASHRM updates and information.

Speaker presentation at 11:50 AM – Guest speaker will deliver a one-hour session, followed by closing remarks from the ASHRM President.

About the Speaker

Cara Fox, CPTD, SPHR

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carafoxakwell/
https://zenfoxsolutions.com/

Cara Fox is a leadership development consultant, facilitator, and keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience helping leaders and organizations meet the evolving demands of modern work. As Founder and Principal Consultant of ZenFox Solutions, she partners with clients across sectors including transportation, healthcare, nonprofit, and government. Cara has also supported global leadership development initiatives, including subcontracted facilitation for a multinational beverage company’s emerging leader program spanning four continents. Her work integrates executive coaching, professional facilitation, performance consulting, fractional HR leadership, and conference keynotes grounded in practical, evidence-based approaches to human-centered leadership.

Cara is the creator of The Zen Leader Program, a framework that blends mindfulness-based practices with actionable leadership skills across inner development, relational effectiveness, and guiding principles. She has also collaborated with SimsolaAI to pioneer AI-powered leadership simulations, advancing new approaches that bridge reflective leadership with emerging technology. In 2026, she was a featured speaker at the Alaska State HR Conference, where she delivered two highly regarded sessions on human connection and attention in the digital age, and she continues to speak at local and regional events.

“Mindfulness is leadership's energy source. .”

--Cara Fox

Continuing education credit approved: 1 PDC

Anchorage Society for HR Management upcoming events

(External) Payroll Study Group for Fall 2026 Testing - NLAC (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Join the 2026 FPC & CPP Study Group for 2026 Fall Testing

SIG: AI & HR (June 2026) (Friday, June 12, 2026)

SIG: New Members Meetup (June 2026) (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)

SIG: HR Team of One Social Hour (June 2026) (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)

When Life Quakes: How to Lead Yourself & Your Team Through Seasons of Change, Stress, & Uncertainty (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

The Courage to Lead: Navigating What’s Hard with Integrity (Thursday, July 16, 2026)

Join the 2026 FPC & CPP Study Group
for 2026 Fall Testing