Bloomington-Normal Human Resource Council upcoming events

Member Networking Event (October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Ready to step away from your desk, enjoy some great food, and catch up with fellow HR professionals? Join us for our next Member Networking Event at Biaggi’s!

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, 3010 E Empire St, Bloomington

Come hungry and ready to connect! Lunch is on BNHRC, and we’ll have plenty of time to mingle, meet new people, and reconnect with familiar faces.

Guests are welcome, so feel free to invite a colleague or HR friend to join you!

Please register by Wednesday, October 7 so we know how many seats to save at the table.

Questions? Reach out to hello@bnhrc.org.

We can’t wait to see you there!

ILSHRM Employment Law & Workplace Policy Conference (October 14, 2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The ILSHRM Employment Law & Workplace Policy Conference will be offered virtually. Hear from legal experts and HR professionals and explore the latest workplace regulations, compliance updates, and best practices. Gain invaluable knowledge and actionable strategies, whether you're navigating complex employment laws or seeking insights to protect your organization.

Learn more and register.

Fall 2026 HR Professional Book Club (October 16, 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We’re excited to announce our Fall 2026 HR Professional Book Club! We’ll be reading Crucial Accountability by Joseph Grenny et. al.—a practical guide for having clear, constructive conversations that build trust, address disappointment, and produce results.

Book Club Details

Book: Crucial Accountability: Proven Skills to Build Trust, Address Disappointment, & Get Results, 3rd Edition

Author: Joseph Grenny et. al.

Session Dates: Every 2 weeks on Fridays from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm:

Session 1: September 18
Session 2: October 2
Session 3: October 16

Location: Hybrid via Teams and in-person (Illinois Soybean Association)

Illinois Soybean Association - 1108 Trinity Lane Bloomington, IL 61704

Book Options: Hardback, e-book, or audiobook (please select via registration)

Reading: Approximately 65+ pages per session

What’s in it for you?

Free copies of the book will be provided to BNHRC members. Non-members are welcome to join but will need to purchase their own copy.
Earn HR certification credits: Participate and earn valuable HR certification credits
Engaging discussions: Explore meaningful topics with peers in a supportive environment
Flexible format: Participate in a hybrid format—join in person or virtually, depending on your preference and schedule
Professional networking and development: Connect with fellow HR professionals and grow your skills

Can’t make every meeting? We understand life happens—if you miss a session, no worries! You’ll still benefit from reading the book and can catch up with the group.

Interested in joining?

Register by August 20th to reserve your spot, get your free copy of Crucial Accountability, and start earning HR certification credits!

Let’s go on this inspiring journey together!

October Chapter Meeting - The Midwest Nice Paradox: How Leaders Build High-Performance Cultures, Not Just Harmony (October 27, 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:50:00 GMT

October Chapter Meeting

Topic: The Midwest Nice Paradox: How Leaders Build High-Performance Cultures, Not Just Harmony

Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Time: 11:50 am - 1:00 pm

Format:

Virtual: Presentation streamed via Microsoft Teams

Featured Speaker

Laura Janusik, PhD, MBA

Listening to Change, LLC

What You'll Learn

Are your most well-meaning employees quietly undermining productivity? In the pursuit of "Midwest Nice," many companies unknowingly allow conflict to fester, leading to passive aggression, unresolved tension, and higher turnover. Go beyond surface-level niceties to uncover the behavioral science behind this unique cultural dynamic. Learn to differentiate between performative "nice" and genuinely effective "kindness" to unlock a more transparent, high-trust workplace.

Leave with two immediately actionable strategies to elevate your conflict resolution from a perfunctory process to a powerful business driver. By transforming a potential weakness into a source of competitive advantage, you will not only foster psychological safety but also prove your value as a strategic HR leader.

This session breaks down:

Diagnosing the root cause of why traditional conflict management programs fail to gain traction in Midwest corporate cultures

Strategically leveraging the critical distinction between being "nice" and being "kind" to build a more resilient workforce

Agenda

11:50 AM – Virtual attendees join the Microsoft Teams meeting
11:55 AM – Chapter announcements + speaker introduction
12:00 PM – Presentation + Q&A

Recertification Credits

Attendees will receive one SHRM professional development credit (PDC) and/or one HRCI credit.

Registration Policy

Registration deadline is Friday, October 23 at 12:00 pm
Anyone may attend in place of an active BNHRC member
Guests welcome ($25 guest fee due by registration deadline)
First-time guests and potential new members attend free!
Review our event payment policies

Questions?

Email us at hello@bnhrc.org

November Chapter Meeting - Developing Equitable and Transparent Compensation Programs (November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT

November Chapter Meeting

Topic:

Developing Equitable and Transparent Compensation Programs

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Format: Hybrid meeting - choose from in-person or virtual options:

In-person: Join our speaker at Bloomington Public Library with lunch and networking provided
Virtual: Presentation streamed via Microsoft Teams

Featured Speaker

Tom Wardrip

Managing Director, Gallagher

What You'll Learn

Learn how to develop a compensation philosophy and translate it into an effective compensation program. Explore current trends in pay equity and pay transparency, with practical guidance for organizations that are beginning or refining their compensation strategies. Learn the fundamentals of compensation program design, identify approaches to reduce pay equity risks, and prepare your organization for evolving pay transparency requirements.

Agenda

11:30 AM – In-person attendees join for networking + boxed lunch
11:50 AM – Virtual attendees join the Microsoft Teams meeting
11:55 AM – Chapter announcements + speaker introduction
12:00 PM – Presentation + Q&A

Lunch Options (In-Person Only)

Choose from the following lunch options from Jason's Deli:

Turkey Deluxe – Roasted turkey breast, leafy lettuce, tomato, on an Ancient Grain bun and assorted cheeses. Includes chips, pickle, and chocolate chip cookie.
Ham Deluxe - Ham, leafy lettuce, tomato, on an All-butter Croissant and assorted cheeses. Includes chips, pickle, and chocolate chip cookie.
Nutty-Mixed Up Salad - Grilled, 100% antibiotic-free chicken breast, grapes, strawberries, cranberry-walnut mix, organic field greens, and feta with balsamic vinaigrette and chocolate chip cookie.
Veggie Sandwich – Organic spinach, guacamole, hummus, Roma tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, on an Ancient Grain bun with Fresh fruit and chocolate chip cookie.

Recertification Credits

Pending

Registration Policy

Registration deadline is Friday, November 13 at 12:00 pm
Anyone may attend in place of an active BNHRC member
Guests welcome ($25 guest fee due by registration deadline)
First-time guests and potential new members attend free!
Review our event payment policies

Questions?

Email us at hello@bnhrc.org

HR Roundtable: Hybrid Work, Remote work, in office- how do you balance it all? (December 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

December HR Roundtable

Join BNHRC for our next HR Roundtable on Thursday, December 10, 2026 from 12 - 1 PM!

About our Roundtables:

LEARN: Roundtables are designed for BNHRC members to have an open discussion and a safe space to share and learn from each other.
NETWORK: A guest may attend in place of a BNHRC member and will be asked to include the BNHRC member's name on their registration.
IN-PERSON: This roundtable will be held in person. A boxed lunch will be provided.

Featured Topic: Hybrid Work, Remote work, in office- how do you balance it all?

Location: RoomReady, 2200 Enterprise Dr. Bloomington, IL 61705

Lunch Options

Choose from the following lunch options from Panera:

Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad - Mixed greens and crisp romaine topped with grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, fresh avocado, applewood smoked bacon, and a hard-boiled egg with green goddess dressing on the side. Served with a piece of French Baguette and a cookie.
Mediterranean Veggie - Zesty sweet peppers, feta, sliced cucumbers, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, hummus, with salt and pepper on a Tomato Basil Miche. Served with chips and a cookie.
Bacon Turkey Bravo® - Oven roasted turkey breast, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, with salt and pepper, and drizzled with Signature Bravo sauce on our Tomato Basil Miche. Served with chips and a cookie.
Grilled Chicken & Avo BLT - Grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh sliced avocado, garlic aioli, salt and pepper on our Country Rustic Sourdough. Served with chips and a cookie.

Recertification Credits: Pending

Registration deadline: Monday, December 7, 2026

Questions?

Email us at hello@bnhrc.org