Blog Post: Highlights from the 2009 HR Southwest Conference

The 2009 HR Southwest Conference has been an exciting event this week with great keynote speakers and fantastic breakout sessions.  With this year’s theme, “HR Rocks!” our community of Texas HR Professionals are wrapping up the conference with not only new concepts and ideas to build upon but also with great solutions that can be implemented effectively in our workplaces.

The pre-conference sessions on Tuesday were jam packed with HRCI credits to get the conference rolling.  We had engaging breakout sessions from the “The ‘Cutting Edge’ Employment Law Update” and “A Slice of Life” with over 6 credits in the morning sessions, to “How to be Ready for the IRS” and “Why Did We Hire That Guy” in the afternoon.  And of course, they held the PHR/SPHR Study Crash Course along with two other full-day pre-conference sessions.  Tuesday evening was followed up with a celebration at the “Rockin’ Around the Jukebox” reception that encouraged attendees and exhibitors to network and enjoy yummy treats.

Kicking off the general conference on Wednesday was opening keynote, Victoria Labalme, with her entertaining presentation of “Crazy, Busy, Nuts: Getting off the Conveyor Belt of Life” that provided practical advice to help us to manage the many responsibilities, and sometimes bit chaotic, aspects of our lives.  The day continued with her book signing in the bookstore, the grand opening of the Exhibit Hall and many educational sessions throughout the day.  Wednesday evening attendees enjoyed a night out in Sundance Square and the restaurants and fun the area has to offer. 

Keynote Mike Rayburn sparked our Thursday with the engaging question of ‘What If and Why Not?” as he kicked off the second morning of the conference.  Thursday was a wrap up in the Exhibitor Hall with great vendors such as O.C. Tanner, Zerorisk HR, HRSmart, TrainUp.com, Jobing.com, TheMIGroup and Outplacing.com just to name a few of the many vendors that exhibited at this year’s conference.  The SHRM Shack was also located in the exhibit hall and a great place for HR Professionals to learn about the Texas State Council, SHRM and the 37 SHRM chapters across Texas. Check out the "rockin" time they had in the SHRM Shack and if you had your picture taken you can find it here. The day concluded with a fun and relaxing “Disco Fever” reception for all attendees to enjoy!

Closing out the HR Southwest Conference on Friday morning will be keynote “The Fonz”, a.k.a Henry Winkler as he provides insights from an expert on a life richly lived.  If you did not get an opportunity to join us this year at the HR Southwest  Conference, be sure to mark your calendar to attend next year’s 2010 conference, October 10th – 13th “ Super Heroes of HR”  for another great conference!