Anchorage Society for HR Management upcoming events

COMPLIMENTARY Lead.Learn.Inspire. Becoming a Volunteer Leader with ASHRM (Thursday, July 30, 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Lead. Learn. Inspire.

Becoming a Volunteer Leader with Anchorage SHRM

Ready to take the next step in your HR journey?

Whether you're considering a board position, a co-chair role, or an internship with Anchorage SHRM, this interactive session will show you what volunteer leadership is really like—and why so many people say it was one of the best professional decisions they ever made.

Led by Patty Hickok and President-Elect Nicole Culbertson, alongside current and former ASHRM board members, you'll hear authentic stories from volunteers who started out uncertain, wondering if they had enough experience or confidence to serve. Through mentorship, training, and the support of fellow volunteers, they discovered new strengths, developed leadership skills, expanded their professional networks, and found meaningful ways to give back to both the HR profession and the community.

You'll learn:

What board, co-chair, and intern opportunities are available.
What the time commitment really looks like.
How volunteers are supported every step of the way.
How board service can strengthen your leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.
The professional development opportunities available

If you've ever thought, "Maybe someday..." this session may convince you that someday is now.

Come with questions. Leave with a clearer understanding of how you can make an impact while investing in your own professional growth. Uncover the value of networking in managing HR and your HRM career!

Continuing education credit: 1.5 PDCs

Remote Worker Realities - August 11, 2026 (Tuesday, August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Remote Worker Realities:
Leading from a Distance

What is the #1 job characteristic sought by candidates for remote positions?

If you said "flexible schedules", you may have known this is the desire of 57% of remote workers. Do you know the top four things this workforce seeks - and are they built into your workplace culture?

Join author Jill Christensen and your Alaska-based colleagues for an insightful seminar designed to enhance the effectiveness of managers and HR professionals in navigating the challenges of remote work.

In Alaska, where remote work has been the norm since the days of pipeline construction, understanding how to effectively engage virtual employees is crucial for organizational success. Drawing inspiration from Jill Christensen's acclaimed book, "Remote 101: The Secret to Engaging Virtual Workers," this seminar will equip you with practical strategies to foster high engagement and productivity among your remote teams - whether working away from home or at home.

You will learn:

Engagement Strategies: Discover actionable techniques to enhance employee engagement, ensuring your remote workers feel valued and connected.

Productivity Insights: Understand how engaged employees can improve productivity and reduce the need for constant oversight.

Leadership Skills: Develop leadership skills tailored to managing remote individuals and teams effectively.

Key Areas to Address: Jill will explore four critical areas that must be addressed to create an inspiring remote working environment, including the one thing you must now to keep employees inspired and engaged. You will explore a proven strategy to retain employees - and you can apply this immediately! You will also discover the single question to instantly reveal your employee engagement score.

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

Objectives:

1. Analyze the top factors sought by remote employees and assess whether those factors are reflected in their organization's workplace culture, identifying at least two opportunities for improvement.

2. Apply at least three employee engagement strategies from the seminar to develop a plan for increasing connection, inclusion, and engagement among remote or distributed workers.

3. Name three or more effective leadership practices for managing remote employees by selecting and implementing communication, accountability, and support techniques appropriate for virtual teams.

4. Develop recommendations that address the four critical areas of an inspiring remote work environment, with the goal of improving employee engagement, productivity, and organizational effectiveness.

Outcome:

Explosive productivity. Higher retention. Raving customers. Profitable growth. Not incremental improvement… Transformation.

Date: August 11, 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

Jill Christensen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillchristensen/
https://jillchristensenintl.com/

A former Fortune 500 business executive with a Six Sigma Green Belt, Jill understands what employees want in the workplace, and what managers need to do differently to ignite exceptional effort from people.

In Corporate America, Jill had her finger on the pulse of employee’s needs thanks to her role leading Global Internal Communications. Jill launched her business in 2009. Since then, she has married her corporate knowledge with enormous amounts of data about what employees say they need in a workplace to be inspired to work hard. The result are the proven strategies that Jill shares in her keynotes today.

Jill is highly in-demand as a speakers in the world thanks to her ability to take audiences on a journey and inspire them to act. Her status as a Top 200 Global Thought Leader to Watch has enabled Jill to present her proven strategies to 500,000 people globally in the past eight years.

Her books sold out at the 2026 Alaska SHRM State Conference , and her popular blog was named a Top 100 Corporate Blog alongside Apple and Microsoft. Her second book about engaging remote workers debuted during the COVID pandemic and is the backdrop to today's presentation.

“Work as we know it has changed forever. Are you making the most of remote work culture?”

--Jill Christensen

Today's Sponsor
Our speaker's presentation is brought to you by Buzztag, providers of epic swag for fearless brands.

https://www.buzztag.co/
Meet Buzztag

Continuing education credit approved: 1 PDC

SIG: AI & HR (August 2026) (Friday, August 14, 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 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

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.

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. 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: HR Team of One (August 2026) (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 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.

(External) NHRMA 2026 Conference & Tradeshow AND GRANTS (Wednesday, September 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Have you applied for an ASHRM grant for conference registration?
Deadline is July 24th!

88th ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Advantage: Leading and Humanizing the Future of Work

The NHRMA 2026 Conference & Tradeshow takes place in person at the Spokane Convention Center in Spokane, Washington, September 9-11, 2026, hosted by the Northwest Human Resource Management Association. Hear excellent speakers including several who are ASHRM members representing southcentral Alaska. Register now!

ASHRM members, consider volunteering at the conference and save on registration fees with networking.

ASHRM members may apply for a grant covering the conference registration fee. Applications accepted to July 24th.

Please note: This event is not hosted or organized by ASHRM. We partner with NHRMA, the Northwest Human Resource Management Association. Learn more about NHRMA at NHRMA.net.

What Employees Are Missing: The Leadership Behavior HR Can Influence (Thursday, September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:30:00 GMT

What Employees Are Missing:
The Leadership Behavior HR Can Influence

Engagement isn’t a perk problem. It’s a leadership problem. Why DO good people check out?

In this fast-moving session, you’ll uncover what employees are missing from their leaders, why they’re disengaging, and how HR can influence the leadership behaviors that change everything. Expect practical tools to diagnose issues, assess leadership practices, and implement targeted interventions that boost engagement and retention. If you want real results—not another “engagement initiative” that fades—this is the session to attend.

Michael's mantra: "When leaders connect with their presence and core values, engagement and performance follow."

Objectives:

1. Diagnose the root causes of employee disengagement by identifying gaps between employee needs and leadership behaviors.

2. Assess leadership practices that impact engagement and evaluate how communication, recognition, and trust influence employee commitment.

3. Design targeted HR strategies that influence leaders to adopt behaviors that improve engagement and retention.

4. Implement actionable interventions that align leadership actions with employee expectations to strengthen engagement and organizational performance.

5. Select at least one suggested intervention for workplace application in the next four weeks to improve retention and reduce turnover risk.

Date: September 24, 2026

Location: BPEC

Program begins at 11:30 AM – Networking Over Lunch, followed by 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

Michael Allwright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-c-allwright-mcc-928294321/

Michael Allwright has called Alaska home since 1995, raising a family in Eagle River and at their remote cabin in McCarthy. Before becoming a coach, he spent more than 20 years leading in Alaska's consulting industry, rising to Associate Vice President of an international architecture and engineering firm, where he led large multi-disciplinary teams on multi-million dollar environmental and regulatory projects.

Michael is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and since 2012 has worked with over 1,600 leaders across 80+ companies, from front-line supervisors to C-suite executives in Fortune 500 and Global 100 organizations. His work helps leaders move beyond reactive patterns to lead from their core values — building trust, engagement, and high-performing teams. Having led at senior levels himself, he brings first-hand perspective to the leadership challenges HR professionals see every day: developing new leaders, navigating hard conversations, and sustaining performance without burning people out.

“Michael uses practical frameworks to diagnose disengagement, assess leadership behaviors, and implement HR-driven interventions that improve employee engagement and organizational performance.”

--Attendee at a previous presentation