Anchorage Society for HR Management upcoming events

ASHRM Fall 2026 Certification Prep Classes (October-November 2026) (Monday, October 05, 2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 01:30:00 GMT

ONLINE Certification Prep Classes

Over 85% passing rate!!

Earn the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP^®) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP^®) and prove your knowledge, competency, and value to colleagues and to employers looking for a competitive edge in today’s global economy. In fact, 92% of HR executives agree that it will be important to be SHRM-certified in the future.

This two-month study group is designed for individuals interested in preparing for the SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP exam, achieving professional advancement, and building confidence for addressing today’s HR challenges.

ASHRM is proud to provide the SHRM Learning System study group to expand your HR knowledge and competencies to prepare you for SHRM certification exams.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FALL 2026 ECPN SCHEDULE

(The schedule is subject to last-minute changes)

Study Group Tools: The SHRM Certification Prep System

This study group is based on the SHRM Certification Prep System which provides a roadmap to guide your studies through the entire SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (SHRM BASK™). Customize your studies even further by choosing to work through the content from start to finish, or follow a tailored path based on your personal pre-test results. Throughout your studies, you can quickly gauge your progress with a dashboard that highlights completed tasks, scores, and recommended next steps.

Whether you are a SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP candidate or a manager seeking training for your staff, our study group can help you accomplish your certification and professional development goals.

Please note: The SHRM Certification Prep System fees are non-refundable as the materials cannot be returned.

Continuing education credit approved: 36 PDCs

If you have any questions, please contact Erin Gregg at erin.gregg216@gmail.com
Copy your messages to ashrm@shrmalaska.org

SIG: HR Team of One (October 2026) How to Prepare for Benefits Renewal Season (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 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 light bites and drinks (it might be a pizza and beverage event!) while connecting in small group discussions with peers who understand your unique role. Sponsored by IMA Financial Group.

"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.

SIG: AI & HR (October 2026) (Friday, October 23, 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

AI & HR SIG

A Special Interest Group for Curious, Thoughtful Practitioners

Join in for the continuation 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

This gathering will focus on shaping the direction of the group together — setting a shared agenda, establishing norms, and building a foundation for ongoing collaboration. Attendees (you!) will be sharing successful AI experiences along with questions you hope someone in the room can answer.

Ways AI has boosted your day-to-day productivity
What HR tasks are you making more efficient with AI?
Hands-on time - let's explore!

From there, the floor opens to you.

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

For the October session, we are planning a hands-on, follow-the-leader session. You see it, you try it.

Host Site:

RSA Engineering, Inc. - Anchorage
When you arrive, see the staff at the Front Desk. Must be pre-registered through ASHRM.

Why This SIG Matters

HR professionals are under growing pressure to increase efficiency — while also being expected to adopt new tools carefully and ethically. 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 explore!

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: Allies in Alaska Native HR (November 2026) (Tuesday, November 03, 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 01:15:00 GMT

SIG: Allies in Alaska Native HR

Join colleagues for the Special Interest Group (SIG): Allies in Alaska Native HR, hosted by ASHRM Member, Tamrit Howell.

Mission:

Our mission is to unite HR professionals across Alaska in a shared effort to understand, honor, and integrate Alaska Native cultural values into modern workplaces. We believe all Alaskans, Native and non-Native, share a responsibility to preserve and strengthen Alaska’s living cultures. Through dialogue, mentorship, and collaboration, we aim to build bridges between organizations, communities, and people, ensuring that inclusivity and cultural awareness remain central to HR practice statewide.

Six-Month Goal Framework:

Allies in Alaska Native HR will operate in six-month cycles focusing on two achievable goals at a time. This approach keeps our work intentional, and results driven while allowing space for reflection and relationship building. Each goal will span approximately three meetings and conclude with a documented deliverable, a tangible resource, toolkit, or discussion guide that members can take back and apply in their own workplaces.

The title “Allies in Alaska Native HR” represents an inclusive and balanced network of HR professionals committed to shared learning, collaboration, and cultural stewardship. The group welcomes participation from:

HR professionals working in tribal-affiliated organizations (5 seats)
HR professionals not working in tribal-affiliated organizations (5 seats)
HR professionals who identify as Alaska Native (5 seats)
HR professionals who do not identify as Alaska Native (5 seats)

By intentionally bringing together voices across these categories, the group fosters diverse perspectives that reflect Alaska’s unique cultural landscape and interconnected communities.

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.

Ethics 2.0 (November 2026) (Tuesday, November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 20:30:00 GMT

DRAFT - approve image + bio
ETHICS 2.0

Organizational leaders set the ethical and moral tone for their companies. Beyond leading by example, they need the right characteristics, a supportive team, and the know-how to make it happen. In this presentation, Susan Russo will address a number of ethical and moral questions on the minds of contemporary organizational leaders and provide examples and current research on what it takes to build an ethical organization.

Human Resources expert Susan Russo, SHRM-SCP emphasizes that modern workplace integrity training shouldn't be just about passing policy tests. Instead, her philosophy on modern ethics—often termed "Ethics 2.0"—focuses on uncovering blind spots in communication, identifying hidden biases, and correcting flawed decision-making patterns to prevent workplace crises.

Objectives:

· 1. Differentiate between ethics and morals.

· 2. List what leaders must have for ethical leadership. 3. Determine approaches to

· workplace-based examples of ethical dilemmas. 4. Name at least 3 resources of

· research regarding the building of ethical organizations."

Date: November 17, 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

Susan Russo, PHR, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP

Keynote Speaker, Trainer & Facilitator, and active SHRM leader; Master of Human Resource Management degree from Rutgers University.

Website https://susanrussohr.com/about-me/
LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanvrusso/

Susan Russo spent over 15 years as a strategic HR leader for private and global Fortune 500 companies before pivoting to consulting and academia. Now she creates and delivers engaging leadership development programs for audiences of all sizes. Her work has been featured in multiple publications and she regularly speaks at conferences and associations. She is an Adjunct Professor of Leadership Development, Strategic Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior & Leadership and Ethical Decision Making at the Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business. Susan earned her Master of Human Resource Management degree from the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations. She is a certified Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) and certified Global Professional of Human Resources (GPHR) through the Human Resources Certification Institute. She is a certified Lominger 360 Review Feedback Coach through Korn Ferry. Susan is also certified as a SHRM-SCP through the Society for Human Resource Management and is an instructor for the SHRM certification test prep course. Susan currently serves as the President of North Jersey – Rockland Chapter SHRM.

She is an established speaker for SHRM and HRCI and has published Now a Manager, Next a Leader.

“new quote"

--Attendee at a previous presentation

Continuing education credit approved: 1 PDC