District 3 Spotlight
By Nate Shannon, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, District 3 Director
HR Florida District 3 includes North Central Florida SHRM, Ocala Human Resources Management Association, and SHRM Jacksonville. These chapters are doing great work in their communities!
Based in Gainesville, Florida, and led by Mary Norman, human resource manager at CARC (Advocates for Citizens with Disabilities), North Central Florida SHRM (NCFSHRM) started 2024 with a few new board members, and a solid strategic planning session with emphasis on workforce readiness and community outreach to best serve human resource (HR) professionals in Gainesville and surrounding areas.
Since then, Norman featured NCFSHRM at the first quarter HR Florida State Council meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, and the chapter has experienced membership growth attributed to more intentional chapter meeting programming achieved through listening to member feedback. Featured speakers have included Leslie Mizerak, Leslie Bollman, Troy Clements, Ramiro Herrera, Rachel Waters, Dr. Renea Skelton and several others. On September 12th, Norman and NCFSHRM board will host their annual chapter Conference featuring six impactful speakers and five recertification credits.
As a chapter, NCFSHRM is giving back through volunteerism both as individuals and as groups when available. With their Q1 charity focus partner Peaceful Paths in mind, several members have packed lunches, and bags for school children, while others providing meals for the homeless. The chapter will be donating all the collected items to them in April.
Led by Ashley Shorb, SHRM-CP, director of human resources for Hospice of Marion County, the Ocala Human Resource Management Association (OHRMA) hit the ground running in 2024. Keeping the momentum going from the Leadership conference, OHRMA held a board planning meeting in January to solidify the objectives for the coming year. (We’re told the meeting involved mimosas.) The main objectives chosen for 2024 are: Adapting SHRM’s Dual Member Release (DMR), increased membership engagement, developing a local charity partner relationship, a successful annual conference, a certification prep course, quarterly socials, and increased attendance at the HR FL Conference.
After working closely with the SHRM DMR Team over the last several months, OHRMA is scheduled to “go live” as a DMR Chapter in April and are excited about this new level of partnership with SHRM and the opportunities for continued growth as a chapter.
OHRMA hosted its first quarterly social “HR After Hours” in February at The Black Sheep in downtown Ocala when they welcomed several new and many familiar faces. In addition to monthly chapter meetings, the OHRMA board believes it’s important to offer its members an additional opportunity to connect with local HR Professionals for networking and fellowship. They hope to double the attendance at their next event in May.
OHRMA’s annual conference co-hosted by CareerSource Citrus Marion Levy will take place in April at the World Equestrian Center – their third year at this iconic Ocala destination. In addition to a strong speaker lineup, the event also features Jon Petz returning as Emcee.
A new relationship for 2024, OHRMA has partnered with NAMI Marion County, and are excited to support this amazing organization that provides valuable mental health services to the local community.
Finally, OHRMA will host an 8-week SHRM Certification prep course starting in September, led by Tish Webber, SHRM-SCP. OHRMA has several members planning to test for their SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP in early 2025 and are excited to offer this course and help the local HR community grow as HR professionals.
Led by Suzanne Giddens, SHRM-CP, PHR, and Vice President, Chief People Officer at MoneySolver, SHRM Jacksonville has a highly dedicated Board of Directors. Their mission is Advancing the Human Resource Profession for the Northeast Florida business community. Their vision is to be recognized as the premier thought leader for impactful Human Resources in Northeast Florida.
The chapter continues to implement their strategic plan focusing on chapter programming, membership, volunteers, marketing and partnerships with other organizations/associations. The chapter’s commitment to their mission and vision has been recognized with receipt of the SHRM Platinum Excel Award, SHRM’s highest award for membership for a fifth consecutive year. SHRM Jacksonville was also the #3 Chapter in the nation for SHRM Foundation fundraising in 2023.
SHRM Jacksonville’s Non-Profit Spotlight this year is Blessings in a Backpack. The Blessings in a Backpack First Coast Chapter works to ensure local kids have full bellies over the weekend by sending them home on Fridays with backpacks full of satisfying and nutritious food. The chapter will host food and backpack drives as well as raising funds to support this worthy cause.
In 2023 the chapter began our “Who’s hiring” and “Service Member of the Month” segments at our chapter meetings, which offer the opportunity to highlight both job seekers and HR job openings. They anticipate these will continue through 2024 to continue to focus on helping our members to find their next career step.
The SHRM Jacksonville People Manager Training Fall 2023 edition was held in September featuring leading human resources professionals, business leaders, and experienced employment and labor law attorneys presenting managers and supervisors from small and mid-size businesses from all over Northeast Florida the HR basics including effective and safe management strategies for their business and employees. They will be holding two additional People Manager Training’s in 2024 – in May and again in September.
Finally, The chapter hosts it’s 15th Annual Conference and Expo in April at EverBank Stadium home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Jacksonville, FL. The event includes a fireside chat with Josh Scobee, the Jaguars all time leading scorer. The event also includes a technology panel discussion on “Unleashing the Power of Technology, Analytics and Innovation in Business and HR” along with four other sessions for six recertification credits with both SHRM and HRCI.
To round out the district, all three chapters will once again come together at the HR Florida State Conference for the “D3 @HRFL24 Happy Hour” in August.
Nate’s human resources experience began in 2001 with Levy Restaurants – a subsidiary of Compass Group and once the seventh largest employer in the world. With Levy, Nate served in progressively responsible corporate, location-based, and regional human resource roles.
Nate began offering consulting services in 2010 to organizations seeking HR and/or compliance solutions. Prior to his current role, Nate served in strategic roles with organizations such as ClubCorp, Miller’s Ale House restaurants, BBA Aviation, The Kessler Collection, and Wells Fargo. Nate currently serves as Director, People Operations for the iServ Management Group – a franchisee of Sonny’s BBQ and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, and operators of Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzerias – all spanning three states.
Nate is a certified HR professional holding both the Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credentials and is Past President of the Greater Orlando Society of Human Resource Management (GOSHRM).
Nate and his wife Karrie live in Ocala, Florida and have four children – Cameron (24), Ali (22), Kaelen (12) and Hudson (11).
Nate’s email is [email protected]