Springfield Area Human Resources Association upcoming events

Employer Webinar (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:30:00 GMT

SAHRA Coffee Chat (Thursday, September 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

September Membership Meeting - Legislative Update (Thursday, September 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Join us for our September Membership Meeting!

Topic: Legislative Update

Brief Synopsis of Program:

Employment law continues to evolve at a rapid pace. This fast-paced, one-hour program will provide a practical update on the most significant Missouri and federal legislative developments, agency actions, and court decisions impacting employers. The session will cover new and pending legislation, enforcement trends, and key decisions from agencies.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will receive practical guidance on compliance strategies, policy updates, and emerging issues to help reduce legal risk and prepare for what's ahead. Designed for human resources professionals, this program delivers a concise, practical overview of the developments employers need to know.

Meet Our Speaker:

Kristen O'Neal, Spencer Fane

Kristen is an experienced litigator who represents employers in a wide range of employment matters, including discrimination, retaliation, employment contract disputes, workplace investigations, and employee separations. She also advises clients on employment-related risk management and represents employers before administrative agencies, including the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In addition to her employment practice, Kristen handles complex commercial and civil litigation for businesses, insurers, health care providers, and other professionals. She has extensive experience defending personal injury, wrongful death, professional negligence, and transportation-related claims. Her background in medical malpractice litigation gives her a strong command of complex medical evidence and causation issues, particularly in catastrophic injury cases.

Kristen prepares every case with trial in mind, positioning clients for successful resolutions through negotiation or litigation. She is known for delivering practical, business-focused legal strategies tailored to each client's goals and operations.

Lead with Impact; Ollis/Akers/Arney Leadership Training (Thursday, September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Driving Culture Change Roundtable (Thursday, September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Professional Development (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Join us for our October Professional Development Seminar!

Summary of Workshop:

In this engaging and interactive workshop, John Bernatovicz inspires the audience to embrace a CEO's viewpoint on HR by emphasizing two vital qualities: passion and ownership. From there, this dynamic session explores how strategic HR can drive business success by fostering a culture of engaged employees focused on bottom line business results while making a positive impact on their community. With real-world examples and actionable insights, John will challenge attendees to view HR as more than a function but as a strategic partner essential to achieving organizational goals.

Discover how “amazingly awesome HR” can empower teams, elevate workplace culture, and position HR professionals as trusted advisors to executives and stakeholders. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to redefine HR's role, inspire employees to thrive, and lead with impact. This is a must-attend workshop for those ready to take the next step in their HR career and truly transform how people feel at work through the power of human resources.

Workshop Activities:

Attendees will develop an actionable plan to implement the HR Like a Boss principles, ensuring practical application and positive outcomes in the workplace. The activities in this workshop will be based on John’s SHRM-published book, HR Like a Boss, which achieved #1 New Release on Amazon in the HR category. Attendees will establish a foundational rating for their organization’s business strategy and build their very own HR Like a Boss business plan which will focus on the following principals:

Purposeful Commitment
People Centric
Process Continuity
Produce Consistently
Profitable Characteristics

Learning Objectives:

Adopt a CEO Perspective: Gain the ability to view HR through the lens of a CEO, understanding the strategic importance of passion and ownership in driving organizational success.
Strategic Insights: Acquire valuable insights and strategies to leverage the power of human resources, transforming the workplace to enhance employee engagement and overall productivity.
Keys to Exceptional HR: Embrace the essential personal and professional skills that contribute to amazingly awesome HR, focusing on making a lasting impact on employees, the organization, and the broader community.

Meet Our Speaker

John Bernatovicz is a husband, father, coach, competitive amateur golfer, entrepreneur, podcast host, keynote speaker, author, and passionate HR and payroll advocate. His purpose is to make an impact by transforming how people feel at work. With 30 years of experience spanning a Fortune 100 company and six entrepreneurial ventures, John is the founder and president of Willory, a professional services firm empowering the HR community by helping their clients leverage their HR technology while ensuring payroll excellence. He is also the author of HR Like a Boss, which became SHRM Books first ever #1 New Release on Amazon in the Human Resources category, and is co-writing Payroll Like a Boss which launched on April 28, 2026.

John lives in Bath, OH with his wife, Emily, and two children, Will and Mallory. John loves to golf, exercise, and coach sports.