Event Details

"Beyond the Invite: Earning Influence in Executive Spaces"

ABOUT THE EVENT: About the Event: This is part of our bi-monthly Member Meeting Networking and Learning Series.  The purpose of the meeting is to welcome new and returning members, provide updates on SHRM Portage County activities, and listen to a speaker presentation on an HR topic of interest to our membership.

For this event, participants can learn and earn 1 SHRM PDC.

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION: HR shouldn’t just be invited to the table—we should be driving the conversation. For too long, HR professionals have been called in after the fact to manage crises, fix staffing shortages, or calm organizational chaos. But as Johnny C. Taylor says, “Where there is work—there is SHRM.” The truth is, HR is already at the center of every major issue that involves people—which means we’re already at the center of the business.

In this powerful and practical session, we’ll challenge outdated perceptions of HR and explore how to shift from support staff to strategic advisor. Whether you’re navigating policy, leading culture change, or developing talent pipelines, your ability to influence the business starts with understanding the business.

You’ll walk away with real-world strategies to position HR as mission-critical—no longer asking for a seat, but proving why the table doesn’t function without us.

Key Takeaways – You’ll Learn How To:

• Demonstrate HR’s value as a revenue enabler and risk mitigator—even if your department isn’t “profit-generating.”

• Develop financial fluency and business acumen specific to your industry and organization.

• Communicate in the language of outcomes—what executives listen to and act on.

• Align HR programs with organizational strategy, mission, and operational workflow.

• Increase visibility, credibility, and trust in executive spaces—before the crisis hits.

• Audit your current policies and practices to ensure they enable innovation, not hinder it.

• Lead not just in emergencies, but in strategy, planning, and change management.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:  Valarie A. Nash, SHRM-SCP is Principal & Chief Strategist for 821 Consulting LLC.  She is a seasoned HR executive, leadership strategist, and the driving force behind 821 Consulting LLC—a firm dedicated to elevating organizational performance through practical, people-centered HR solutions. With over 30 years of experience across both public and private sectors, Valarie brings unmatched expertise in workforce strategy, organizational culture, compliance, and leadership development.

She is a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional, Dare to Lead™ trained, and a sought-after speaker and trainer throughout Ohio. Valarie currently serves as President of the Stark County SHRM and is a mentor for SHRM’s national HR Talent Accelerator program. Her dynamic training sessions and consulting engagements are known for blending humor, heart, and hard truth—challenging leaders to think boldly and act with intention.

Valarie’s work has supported organizations through crisis, growth, and culture change—proving again and again that HR is not just a support function, but a strategic driver of success. When she’s not championing the profession, you’ll find her making memories with her family, cheering on her granddaughter Zoe, or paying forward the values her late father, a proud Navy veteran, instilled in her through the numerous non-profit boards she is an active member of in the Stark County area.

Thanks to our Sponsor

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