SHRM of Greater Kansas City upcoming events

HR Career Panel & Networking for Students (04/16/2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Join SHRM-KC for an interactive HR Career Panel designed for students interested in exploring paths within Human Resources. Hear from experienced professionals across specialties such as recruiting, benefits, employee relations, and talent development as they share insights, career advice, and real-world experiences. After the panel, participate in a roundtable networking session where you can connect directly with panelists, ask questions, and build valuable professional connections in the Kansas City HR community.

Hot Topics in Employment Law Webinar: Navigating the Patchwork: State Leave Laws and What Employers Need to Know in 2026 (04/21/2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

As more states enact and expand leave requirements, employers are navigating an increasingly complex compliance landscape. This webinar will provide a practical overview of current state leave laws, highlighting key differences in eligibility, benefits, and employer obligations. Join Erin Schilling and Shivani Bailey as they discuss effective approaches to managing these requirements, with a focus on what employers need to do in practice. Finally, the session will cover recent trends and anticipated developments, helping employers stay ahead in this rapidly evolving area of employment law.

Sponsored and presented by Polsinelli PC, these bi-monthly webinars provide timely insights to help employers and HR professionals stay ahead of evolving workplace regulations and compliance requirements.

This webinar is FREE for SHRM-KC members, $50 for non-members/guests.

*Zoom link will be provided in confirmation email.

Coffee Chat - Using "WAY TO GO" as a business continuity tool during the World Cup (04/28/2026)

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Take a break, grab a cup of coffee, and join an engaging conversation with the WAY TO GO program—an initiative of the Mid-America Regional Council that has supported commuter solutions across the Kansas City region for more than 40 years.

In this Coffee Chat, HR professionals will explore how transportation and commuting trends impact workforce reliability, employee satisfaction, and overall business continuity—especially as the region prepares for the upcoming World Cup. Learn how your organization can better understand employee commute patterns, access free carpool matching and trip planning resources, and proactively support your workforce.

This informal discussion offers practical insights you can take back to your organization, along with the opportunity to ask questions, share challenges, and connect with peers navigating similar workforce logistics.

No slides. No pressure. Just meaningful conversation, fresh ideas, and a better way to get your workforce where they need to go.

SHRM-KC Spring Social: Atlas9 - Members & Invited Guests (05/06/2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Join SHRM-KC for a one-of-a-kind Membership Social at Atlas9—an immersive art experience in Kansas City’s Legends District unlike anything else in the Midwest.

This exclusive event is designed for SHRM-KC members to connect, explore, and experience something truly different—members are invited to bring a guest to share in the experience.

Step into a mysterious world hidden inside a transformed 90s movie theater. Explore at your own pace as you discover immersive art, uncover hidden clues, and piece together a story unfolding around you. Live performers appear throughout the scenes, making each visit unique.

You don’t just visit Atlas9. You become part of the story.

Check out Atlas9 here

Not a member? Join now!

JOIN NOW!

HR Day of Service (05/07/2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Spend 3 hours. Change someone’s career trajectory.

Join us in celebrating Missouri HR Professional’s Day by participating in SHRM-KC’s annual HR Day of Service—led by the Workforce Readiness Committee.

This year, we are proud to partner with Great Jobs KC, an initiative focused on helping Kansas City students and adults access education, career pathways, and meaningful employment opportunities.

Many of these Scholars are doing everything right—earning credentials, gaining skills, showing up ready—but still struggling to break through in a competitive and often confusing hiring landscape. That’s where you come in.

This event is designed to:

Demystify the hiring process for Scholars
Provide real, unfiltered insight into what employers are actually looking for
Give candidates direct access to HR professionals who make hiring decisions every day

What You’ll Be Doing:

HR professionals will engage directly with GJKC Scholars through:

Panel Discussion: Real-world insights on resumes, interviews, and hiring trends
Interactive Roundtables: Small-group conversations, resume reviews, and mock interview feedback.
Career Coaching: Honest, practical guidance to help candidates stand out

Agenda:

12.00 – 12:30 PM Volunteers arrive/ Set-Up
12.30 – 1:00 PM Scholar Registration/Check in Open
1:00 – 1:55 PM | HR Panel Discussion
2:00 – 2:55 PM | Roundtables & Breakouts
3:00 – 4:00 PM | Best Practices for GJKC Career Coaches

We will focus on broad categories within Manufacturing/Trades, Healthcare & Technology.
No need to match perfectly by industry—career readiness skills translate everywhere.

The Capacity Gap: Why Today’s Workforce Struggles With Normal Stress And What HR Can Do About It (05/12/2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:15:00 GMT

Human Resource professionals today are being asked to manage emotional capacity more than ever before. Underexposure to stress in the incoming workforce is contributing to lower stress tolerance, which in turn increases what HR is expected to absorb and address.

This session begins by examining the characteristics of individuals who rarely develop stress-related impairment and often excel under pressure, and how those traits can be deliberately cultivated across a workforce. This talk introduces a performance-focused, non-clinical approach to building stress capacity before it becomes an HR issue.

Participants Will Learn:

Why underexposure to difficulty and challenge creates fragility over time
The trainable traits that protect individuals from breakdown under stress
How over-accommodation unintentionally lowers standards and erodes long-term confidence
How to reintroduce expectations without damaging morale
How to create a work culture where rising to the challenge and managing stress well is expected and supported

Participants will leave with a clearer lens for distinguishing between legitimate support needs and capacity-development opportunities, along with practical tools for building a workforce that meets modern pressures with competence rather than avoidance. The workforce isn’t doomed. But there is a capacity gap. But that gap is trainable, and HR is uniquely positioned to lead that shift.

About Our Speaker:

Dr. Jennifer Prohaska is a Police Psychologist who works alongside high-risk tactical teams at both the state and federal level and consults with public safety agencies across multiple states. She specializes in critical incident response and pre-incident performance optimization. In her consulting role, she draws from Sports Psychology and Organizational Psychology to build and sustain high-performance teams operating in high-stakes environments. Her work focuses on how stress changes thinking, behavior, and leadership and how to prepare individuals for optimal performance before those moments occur. In addition to her work in law enforcement, Dr. Prohaska advises large-scale industrial emergency management teams on business continuity leadership, helping organizations coordinate effectively and think clearly during high-consequence events. She is the founder of Tactical Longevity, a pre-incident anti-fragility training program designed to prepare professionals to withstand the stress of demanding roles and maintain performance over time.

Agenda:

11:15 - 11:30 am - Registration & Networking
11:30 am - Noon - Buffet Lunch
Noon - 1:00 pm - Program

This session has been pre-approved for 1.0 hour of SHRM recertification credit. This program has also been pre-approved for 1.0 hours of general credit toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through the HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).

A special THANK YOU to our sponsor:

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received within five business days of the event will be refunded. Late cancellations will not be refunded after food/beverage guarantees have been placed.

38th Annual Conference of the Heartland Labor and Employment Institute (05/28/2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Join us for the 38th Annual Conference of the Heartland Labor and Employment Institute on Wednesday, May 21st at the Overland Park Convention Center. This event is jointly co-sponsored by UMKC School of Law Continuing Education, SHRM of Greater Kansas City, and SHRM of Johnson County.

SHRM-KC members receive a discount to attend!

For more information visit https://www.heartlandlaborconference.org/

Hot Topics in Employment Law Webinar (06/17/2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This webinar is FREE for SHRM-KC members, $50 for non-members/guests.

*Zoom link will be provided in confirmation email.

What to Do When Engaging Outside Counsel (07/14/2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:15:00 GMT

A workplace complaint reaches your desk. The allegations are serious, the individuals involved are senior leaders, and the organizational risk is real. Should the matter be handled internally—or is it time to engage outside counsel?

This session provides clear guidance for making that decision. Participants will learn when to retain an external attorney investigator, how to establish appropriate boundaries to preserve investigative integrity, and how to avoid common missteps that can escalate workplace issues into costly litigation. Attendees will leave with a practical, decision-making framework to help ensure the right approach is taken—before urgency limits available options.

About Our Speaker:

Dr. Dwayne Smith is a recognized authority in workplace investigation law and a nationally respected speaker and consultant. He is the founder of Workplace Law Solutions, where his practice focuses on workplace investigations, conflict resolution, organizational consulting, and collegiate athlete representation. Dr. Smith is also the host of Shifting the Power Balance, a podcast that examines real-world workplace conflict scenarios and provides practical guidance to help organizations resolve issues proactively and mitigate legal risk. In addition, Dr. Smith serves as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University’s School of Education, where he teaches Advanced School Law. He is licensed to practice law in both Missouri and Kansas. Dr. Smith has conducted more than 100 internal investigations for Liberty Public Schools, and through Workplace Law Solutions PC, he conducts investigations for both public‑ and private‑sector employers. He also delivers training programs for business owners, executives, and organizational leaders focused on legal compliance, risk management, and building productive, respectful workplaces. Outside of his professional work, Dr. Smith enjoys spending time with his family in Missouri, playing pickleball, and attending live music events.

Agenda:

11:15 - 11:30 am - Registration & Networking
11:30 am - Noon - Buffet Lunch
Noon - 1:00 pm - Program

This session has been submitted for 1.0 hour of SHRM recertification credit. This program has also been submitted for 1.0 hours of general credit toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through the HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received within five business days of the event will be refunded. Late cancellations will not be refunded after food/beverage guarantees have been placed.

HR Networking Happy Hour (07/16/2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Join our local HR organizations, EPNKC, SHRM of Johnson County, and SHRM of Kansas City, are coming together for a unique networking experience! All organization members are invited to join in the fun.

Hot Topics in Employment Law Webinar (08/19/2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This webinar is FREE for SHRM-KC members, $50 for non-members/guests.

*Zoom link will be provided in confirmation email.

Making Sense of the Employment Law Landscape (09/08/2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:15:00 GMT

Every year presents HR teams with new challenges and opportunities, driven by changes in the law and evolving workplace trends—and 2026 is no exception. This session will unpack the latest federal and state trends affecting employers across the greater Kansas City region, including new mandates, guidelines, and laws that are impacting everything from hiring and pay practices to workplace policies and daily HR operations. We’ll also explore emerging issues that are gaining national attention, from shifting enforcement priorities to evolving expectations around the use of technology in the workplace. As the landscape continues to change, this session will provide HR professionals with a forward‑looking perspective on the developments most likely to shape the months ahead.

Presented by Berkowitz Oliver, LLP. Berkowitz Oliver is a litigation boutique founded in 1997, comprising of approximately 30 experienced litigators, many with backgrounds in large law firms and judicial clerkships. Based in Kansas City, the firm represents clients across the Midwest and throughout the United States. As accomplished trial lawyers, the firm helps clients minimize litigation risks through counseling in areas such as workplace policies, employee discipline and discharge, reductions-in-force, severance agreements, noncompete agreements, and compliance with federal laws, including FMLA, Title VII, FLSA, and the ADA, as well as state and local employment laws. Berkowitz Oliver’s reputation for excellence in and out of the courtroom makes the firm a trusted partner in navigating today’s legal challenges.

Agenda:

11:15 - 11:30 am - Registration & Networking
11:30 am - Noon - Buffet Lunch
Noon - 1:00 pm - Program

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received within five business days of the event will be refunded. Late cancellations will not be refunded after food/beverage guarantees have been placed.

Hot Topics in Employment Law Webinar (10/21/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This webinar is FREE for SHRM-KC members, $50 for non-members/guests.

*Zoom link will be provided in confirmation email.

Hot Topics in Employment Law Webinar (12/09/2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This webinar is FREE for SHRM-KC members, $50 for non-members/guests.

*Zoom link will be provided in confirmation email.