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Rooted in Growth
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At this year's NIHRA Annual Conference, we are celebrating what keeps us grounded, growing, and passionate in our profession.
In this episode, Ed San Inocencio, Lisa Bresley & Sarah Henschen talk about what's in store for NIHRA's 20th Annual Conference.
Why This Conference Matters
SPEAKER_01Welcome back to Might, an HR podcast. And today's episode is going to be a little different because, well, my co-host Mike, he is not with me today, which means I actually get to run the show solo for once, and we're talking about some really exciting things today. The upcoming annual Naira Conference, which frankly has really become one of the largest HR conferences in Northeast Indiana. And uh one of the cool things about the episode is that we're going to be pulling back the curtain a little bit on what actually goes into uh putting together a conference like this. And so joining me today are two people who are deeply involved in making this conference happen. Uh Lisa, who she's serving as the conference director this year, and she's bringing some exciting energy to the event. And then uh Sarah Henshin, she's a part of the conference committee helping to shape everything from the speakers to the experience attendees, uh, have that day. So what here's what's surprising to me. What most people don't realize is that this conference, it just doesn't magically appear every May. I mean, there really is a team of volunteers behind the scenes that work essentially the entire year intentionally designing this experience for you. And it just keeps getting better every year. So welcome to the podcast, both of you. Thank you for joining us.
SPEAKER_02Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Let's start with the basics. For someone who may not be familiar with the conference yet, give us an overview.
SPEAKER_02Sure. So the conference is on May 14th this year, and we're holding it at the Cruise Plaza in Auburn, Indiana. We also have something pretty big to celebrate this year's. This is our 20th annual conference. So we're trying to do things a little bit different, have a little bit more engagement for our attendees. You know, it's one full day of learning and development, networking with hundreds of professionals. And we also have two keynotes this year, which is something just a little different. And then we have four breakout sessions that are filled with multiple speakers as well.
SPEAKER_01Well, the the reality is it's it's a full-day conference. It's here locally in Auburn. Hopefully, we were able to kind of draw from other geographic areas because that's really our hope. The the footprint of this HR conference, I think, goes further than some folks might realize. And it's not just a small workshop or it's not just a small lunch and learn. It's a full experience. And right here in in Auburn, Indiana, we were just talking pre-show, and we were talking ROI, and I'd mentioned to them, I've been to many different conferences, uh, different sorts of conferences, leadership, HR, and the ROI for attending our conference, it truly is unmatched. The the price is very, very well priced. What's the price for attending the conference?
SPEAKER_02For members, it's$140, and non-members is$160.
Theme And Breakout Topics
SPEAKER_01Okay, perfect. So$160 for non-members,$140 for members, and you get the full day experience. I mean, this we have keynotes, we have breakout sessions, which we'll get to, but you know, for for someone that truly is passionate about making their workplaces better, making themselves better as a leader, this is a great opportunity to do that. And oh, by the way, you might meet some good people network along the way. It I I always have fun at the conferences, but one every year the conference has a theme that kind of anchors everything. And this year's theme is rooted in growth, cultivating thriving workplaces. So, Lisa, tell us a little bit about how the committee landed on that theme.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so our afternoon keynote, Kara Saletto, she is with Magnet Culture. She's actually the inspiration behind the theme for this year. Her focus is also on an employee retention ecosystem. So just being able to piggyback off of that made the most sense. And the focus is really around how the workplace is a living, evolving ecosystem where people, culture, and strategy must adapt and grow together to thrive. So the day is going to center around this theme. We have topics ranging from mental health, psychological safety, anywhere to AI and leadership development. And then we also have our legal breakouts in there as well.
How Speakers Get Chosen
SPEAKER_01Great. You know, those are hot topics: mental health, AI, workplace safety. You know, the reality is things happen as a society that ultimately changes the behaviors of our workforce. And if we think that we can go about managing and moving our workforce the same way we did years ago, you're wrong, right? I mean, things change, and with those changes, we have to continue reflecting and changing and adapting. And these those breakout sessions in this conference, it it really is an opportunity for folks to dive into what can improve and what they should be doing, or perhaps just get new ideas and brainstorm and network. But but I love that concept because you know growth just doesn't happen by accident. It really takes intentional leadership, it takes strong culture, and and really organizations that invest in people. And this conference with the speakers, with the focus, that's our hope. So one of the biggest draws for any conference really is the speaker lineup. The the value received by the attendees is obviously a big draw for people attending. So so Sarah, tell me, how does the committee go about selecting the speakers every year?
SPEAKER_03So I'm glad you asked that. So it is Naira's 20th annual conference. So the committee and Lisa they really wanted to be intentional on the selection that fits into our theme and it's relevant to today's workforce. So this was accomplished by feedback from surveys and members that want to see and have the conference grow. So the focus this year was on high energy and engaging speakers as well as speakers who provide takeaways for all the attendees and speakers who don't just talk to HR professionals and can provide meaningful insight for the workforce.
SPEAKER_01I love that. Can either of you think of maybe a speaker or a session that was memorable to you?
SPEAKER_03So for me, we had, I believe it was a breakout session. It very well could have been a keynote. I can't remember because I've seen them a few times, but Courageous Healing, Aaron and Janelle, they really got down to the human level and encouraged people to ask different questions and really focus on the empathy and being sympathetic to people and really just kind of understanding that, you know, we all might have an unconscious bias, but if we all treat people with respect and dignity, your workforce will definitely be better. The D and I is a very huge thing. So that was that was a great one.
SPEAKER_01Well, and I I think it roots us in perhaps no pun intended, but uh maybe roots us in the reasons why we got into HR in the first place. You know, I I think so many times we can get lost in the legislation and the paperwork and you know, the claims and all of the other logistics that well, sometimes it we can lose sight of maybe why we got into it in the first place. And that's why some of those sessions may remind us of why we got into HR. But no, I appreciate you sharing. All right. Lisa, what about you?
SPEAKER_02I would say for me, uh, you know, two come to mind, one of which has not been at conference yet. But the first one is Whitney Bandemere. She is just so loyal to Naira, first and foremost, but the topics that she brings to the table are always so insightful. And I feel everybody walks away with something to take back to their workforce immediately. And she's also going to be at conference this year as a breakout speaker. So super excited to have her again. And another one, Ms. Andre Young. He was at a luncheon this year, and I have invited him back to be our keynote in the morning at conference. So he is also just super high energy, super engaging, talking about you know, leadership and really focusing on that. So I think that is going to really hit home to more than just HR at conference, and I think that's super important as well.
Planning Work Starts Months Early
SPEAKER_01It is very important. And just because we as a group, the Northeast Indiana Human Resources Association, associate a lot of what we do towards human resources, reality is this isn't just an HR problem. This is a workforce problem. And bringing people that may not even touch HR to a conference like this really might actually be very beneficial for you. And that's something we do and highly encourage because of the opportunities to talk and listen about subjects and matters that they really extend past HR. I mean, HR is the champion of a lot of this. But you as the executive, the frontline manager, the employee, you're actually the one that's going to make all of that tangible. So the the the sorts of people, and we'll touch on that here in a little bit, but I I think could be this conference could be very well suited for quite a few different sorts of demographics. But uh, one thing that I do find very fascinating is just how much work goes into this conference. Lisa, give us a little bit of the behind-the-scenes look. So when does planning actually start?
SPEAKER_02Well, it's kind of a year-round planning process. I would say for this year, the committee and I really got started back in September of 2025. And I just have to give a huge shout out to my committee. I think that I have a kick-ass committee this year, and I'm just super excited. You know, some of them are new to a Naira committee, others are seasoned veterans, and some are stepping into new roles within the committee, or maybe they're stepping into something that they've done previously. So it's just been a really big honor to, you know, stand beside them and learn from them too, because this is all new to me as well, since this is my first year.
SPEAKER_01Um so Lisa stepped into this role as her first year running the conference. But like you said, the the team, I mean, it it really is a strong committee.
SPEAKER_02It is, yeah. And I think without them, I we couldn't do it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02You know, I need everybody. So but yeah, it's been super great. I've been loving working with them. So again, you know, we've been working on it since heavily since September of last year. And, you know, we're ramping up. We're just a couple months out. So things are, you know, really picking up, which is great. But in the background, you know, we work on a number of things that I think people probably don't realize. And, you know, that's anywhere from, you know, choosing our speakers and those topics, making sure those align with our theme, our layout of our venue. You know, we're very intentional to make sure that the flow makes sense and that people can get from point A to point B without a lot of trouble. So we're changing that up a little bit this year. So super excited about that as well. You know, we also work closely with our partnership director, making sure that our, you know, partners are there and set up for success as well. You know, communications is a big piece of it, you know, coordinating our volunteers for the day of. We also, you know, are thinking about registration too and making sure we have good numbers and how that's gonna work the day of getting people in the door, decorations and then attendee engagement as well. So, what kind of things do we have going on that day that, you know, are really gonna draw a crowd? So I'll talk about that a little bit later too. But we've got some really fun things planned. And then I think probably most importantly for a lot of people is the food. So we're changing that up this year as well. I think a lot of people will be excited. So stay tuned for that. But yeah, just overall, it's just such a great opportunity. And I, you know, just kind of want to also plug that, you know, if somebody's interested in being on a Naira committee, you know, the conference committee is a great one to start with, I think. You know, I have a lot of subcommittees within that I just listed. And so there's really a good opportunity for skill building there, leadership opportunities. So, you know, if anyone's interested in being on that committee for next year, I'd love to talk to them.
SPEAKER_01Love it. I volunteering for many years, and one thing is true that if you really want to know what your people think, botch the food because you'll hear about it. Absolutely. You're you're gonna hear about uh so we're very intentional about a lot, and one of the things that Naira's very intentional about is the food. So hopefully, whole and by the way, the food that we provide compared to other conferences, I'm just gonna say it is superior. I know I'm a little biased, but I would agree though.
SPEAKER_03And there will be snacks provided as well. Oh, yes, we will have snacks.
Wellness Networking And Fun Extras
SPEAKER_01You know, it really is amazing the fact that you're able to accomplish what you're doing through a group of unpaid volunteers. And enough can't be said about it because when and for those listening, you may or may not remember the annual Naira conference way back when I've been coming to the conferences for many, many years, and it's just been an honor and a pleasure to see the conference grow, the the sophistication grow, the value continue to be increased, and really the investment back into all things value in the conference. I mean, you know, your membership to the chapter to Naira, it all goes back to making a better experience for you as a member. And it's so difficult planning such a big event with a lack of resources. And oh, by the way, if you have the resources, a lack of engaged resources, engaged volunteers. I mean, these people really care. They're not just showing up and and and and going about their work in in in a way that that is not indicative of a true passion. I mean, the amount of time that goes into this, I can't understate it, but it wouldn't be possible without them. So I do want to thank them as well. So, conference committee, thank you for everything. Wouldn't be here without you, but I do I am curious. I want to talk about some of the fun things that you mentioned. And, you know, obviously the content, it's a big part of the conference, but you know, this there's a lot of fun energy around the event, too. There's a lot of fun things that happen. So, what are some things people can expect this year beyond the sessions?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we have a lot of things planned. You know, again, the goal is really to, you know, keep this event high energy and really keep a momentum going for the entire day. So we do have Jennifer Sandman MCing the event. So I think she's gonna be a lot of fun and she's gonna bring that energy that we're looking for as well. You know, we are doing the massage in the salt room again. So I know that got yeah, got a lot of good feedback from that last year. So we are gonna do that again. One thing we are changing with it though, just so everybody's aware, we're not doing a sign-up ahead of time. It's gonna kind of be a first come, first serve. From feedback that we got, we just think that's gonna work a little bit better. So just something to keep in mind if that's something that you want to do.
SPEAKER_01So the salt room, I just I want to pause there real quick. It's it's what? What do you mean, salt room?
SPEAKER_02So it's like it's a room that you can shut the door, there's a couple of chairs in there, and there's like a bed of salt on the floor. And so you can kind of, I don't know, take your shoes off and put your feet in some salt and just relax for a little bit. So it's kind of a little like wellness retreat, if you will.
SPEAKER_01I I did that last year and it was great. It was really nice. It's a pink Himalayan salt room, and there's something about the tranquility in that room that, you know, I if you can't find me, you I might be in the salt room. I might be in the salt room, especially if it's uh first come, first serve. Don't wake me up if I'm napping, by the way. So, what else?
SPEAKER_02So we are doing free head shots again. So that's also not going to be a sign-up anymore. That's gonna be a first come, first serve thing as well. So I'm working with Adam on that. We are doing something called planting new connections, and this is gonna be a little networking area that's kind of set off from you know all of the breakout sessions and the hangar and the ballroom. And it's just a place where people can go during a break and they can network with other people, you know, make new friends, that sort of thing. So I think that'll be really nice. Ed has also graciously offered to do the podcast the day of the conference. So just be careful. He might grab you to talk a little bit about it.
SPEAKER_01Don't make eye contact. Yeah. Don't make eye contact because I'll pull you right in.
SPEAKER_02Beware for that. But no, really excited to do the podcast that day as well. We're also gonna have a 360-degree photo booth in the marketplace. So I think that's gonna be really fun. Yeah, I've never done one, but I've heard really good things. So another thing we're doing is an audio guest book. So this is something where it's gonna, you can go in, you can pick up the phone, and you can record a message about conference, you know, kind of a testimonial on, you know, what you are enjoying about the day, maybe what keeps you coming back, what you look forward to in years to come and things like that. And we're gonna use those testimonials kind of in the future, you know, for advertisement for conference. Love it. We also have partner giveaways, which I think we're gonna talk about partners in a little bit, but we're also doing another 10 caps suite giveaway too, as kind of our major conference prize. So more to come on that as well. And then another thing I'm really excited about, I'm partnering with our community engagement team as well. And the DeKalb County Humane Society is coming in, and we are going to do a pet supply drive. So I'll send information out to everybody about that as well. But if you bring in something from their approved list, then you get like an additional raffle ticket for that tin cap suite. So love that. Yeah, I think that's gonna be a lot of fun. We were hoping to have some kittens available on site, but I don't think we're gonna be able to do that. So, but that's okay. And they'll also have a list of adoptable pets, too. So I think that's gonna be really beneficial. And we might have some other things in the works as well, but they haven't been finalized yet. So we got a lot going on.
Sponsors And The Partner Marketplace
SPEAKER_01Wow, you know, that that's a lot. This isn't just, hey, can you come speak? This is an experience, and I heard massage in there. I heard, you know, the the amazing part is the the environment is very energetic, very uplifting, but the people there are really people that you can truly network with. People that do different roles, have different involvement, different impacts, and the networking that you that is available at the conference, it really is a very unique opportunity. We we do value our partners a lot, and they're gonna be they're they're they're a huge component of this because of course we couldn't do what we do without our partners, but you know, this entire experience from from the start to the end is gonna be a true experience. I mean, it's gonna be your conference experience that you hope for when maybe you try you travel out of state. And oh, by the way, it's only 160 bucks. So, but talking about the partners a little bit, another that that piece in the sponsorships making this happen. Can you talk a little bit about the role that they make supporting the conference?
SPEAKER_03So the partners provide networking, professional development, educational opportunities for its members. So we're always grateful for our partners and their willingness to support Naira in various sponsorships and engagements. Without them, the conference would be impossible. They really do enhance the organization and its members. So if you're in an organization that would like to support future NIRA events andor the conference, you should, you know, check out the Naira website and see how you can become a partner and be a part of that.
SPEAKER_01Love that. So the partners typically all do something or provide something that you could have use for in your workplace as an HR professional, as a workforce leader. So as you're attending the conference, have some really good conversations with our partners because they actually do, they're there to help. And a lot of them will be able to offer you things that you may not have known was available every year at conference. I love having partnership discussions because it's a chance for me to get to know what they're doing from a technology side, from a benefit side, from a recruiting side that you know they're always ahead of the game somehow, in some way, shape, or form. And as a professional, it's always good for me to kind of learn without, you know, if you need a product or a service and you're an HR or you're a workforce leader, where's the first place? And let's say you don't know of anyone, right? What's the first place that most people, I mean, most people might look in their it, check with their network, but the last place you want to do is post something on LinkedIn, right? I mean, I'm I'm just gonna be honest. If you post something on LinkedIn that you and you say, Hey, I'm looking for an a new insurance provider, I'm looking for a new HR software, I'm looking for a new recruiter, you know, you're you're gonna really be you need to get prepared for a lot of messages, right? A lot. Lot of people reaching out. That's why a lot of people don't call out things like that to LinkedIn. But at a conference, it's kind of like a no-pressure opportunity to just have an open conversation with partners, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And I will say from my personal experience that a lot of the partners that I've talked to, I've met at conference. And so I've had like additional conversations after the fact with them, you know, because they were engaging and, you know, very friendly. And, you know, they had something that I was interested in. So it's really good to, you know, kind of if you're looking for something, really check out our marketplace because you'll probably find it there and you will find somebody who's going to be a good fit for you. So I highly encourage that.
SPEAKER_01Lisa, I I am curious. Do you do you have any partners you want to highlight?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we have a lot of partners, and we still have more signing up too. And like Sarah said, you know, if anybody's interested, we'd love to talk to you a little bit more about get getting you in for conference. But, you know, just to name a few, we do have Gibson, who is one of our sponsors, Barrett McNagny, Krieg DeVault, PNC, the Marsh McClennan Agency, Marathon Health, McGowan Braybender is also one, the De Haze Group, UKG, Junior Achievement. I mean, there are just so many. I don't have time to list them all here. But if you're if you want to know who's going to be there, just check out our conference page on Naira.org because everything is listed there and it will be updated as well as we get more partners in.
SPEAKER_01I love it. It really just shows how many organizations in our area and region really care about investing in people and leadership development. But you know, when you hear when people hear the phrase HR conference, they automatically assume it's it's only for HR professionals, but but really that's not the case. Who should actually be attending the conference?
Who Should Attend And Why
SPEAKER_02I would say, you know, business leaders, if you're a CEO, you know, owner of a company, um, if you're just a front-level manager or frontline manager, you know, if you're an entrepreneur, that's really important. Nonprofit too. I mean, really, it's it's just open to anybody. So uh we try to hit upon the point that it's not just for HR and we truly mean that.
SPEAKER_01Love that. So I am curious from your perspective, what makes the Naira conference unique compared to perhaps other conferences?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think, you know, we always try to outdo the year before. You know, we're always looking at trends, you know, just to keep things relevant. We really try to listen to our people and what they want to see. And then, you know, we've talked about the ROI and how, you know, the value of conference that you get compared to what you pay for. It is really a no-brainer to sign up. It's just, it's a great day.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, there's literally something for everyone from frontline managers to HR to CEOs to the executives, you know, that make those decisions and how they shape their conference is the care and creativity that goes into making this conference is just it's outstanding. And the members that, you know, we just want to see them succeed in every in every way possible. So by supporting Naira, you're really helping shape somebody's future and growth.
SPEAKER_01Love that. And thanks for sharing. I I I think the intentional approach, the the ROI, and by the way, all of these sessions are CEU accredited. So if you have your SHERM CP or SCP uh certification, all of the sessions will count towards those continuing educational credits, which if you're in the market to continue renewing, the value for that again is going to be there. But the I am I am curious. So hypothetically, uh let's say someone listening right now, they're on the fence about attending. What would you say to them?
SPEAKER_03So this is a chance, you know, to take a break from the office and really reinvest in yourself and your growth and your profession, whatever profession that may be, and you have the opportunity to learn something new in a supportive environment where we all want to succeed.
CEUs Registration Deadline And Closing
SPEAKER_01Yep. Which by the way, the 360-degree camera, I'm really excited about. I think that's going to be a big hit. The free headshots, lots of great things to look forward to. But if you're interested in attending the Naira conference, you can learn more and you can register at Naira.org. The conference takes place May 14th at Cruz Plaza in Fort Wayne. And it's shaping up to be another fantastic event. You don't want to miss it. Lisa, when should people register by?
SPEAKER_02Cutoff for registration for conference this year is going to be April 20th.
SPEAKER_01Great. Well, make sure you get your registrations in. Lisa, Sarah, thank you both for the time today. Thank you for the work that you're doing and the entire committee for putting in the work to make this happen. I'm excited to see everyone. And by the way, if you're at conference, I will be there. I will be pulling you into the podcast booth. And yeah, I'll just be asking you some questions about your experience and what you hope to get out of it and and your take on all things conference. But hey, until next time, thanks for tuning in.
SPEAKER_00I'd like to thank all of our guests that we had today. That's all the time we have. See you next time on Mike.