FWHR Newsletter 
Issue 11


    

FWHR Monthly News, Events, and Updates

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December Holiday Luncheon

Happy Thanksgiving!


If you haven't seen it by now, the December Holiday Luncheon will surely sell out. That's because the kids you've supported all year long, Diamond HIll Elementary, will be there to sing for us. When you bring a gift and purchase tickets at the event, we raffle those gifts off to each other with all proceeds going to DHE. Not only will you be delighted by our MCs, Brad and Jesse, you'll witness the installation of the 2020 board and have the opportunity to take a quality portrait with our photographer, Taryn. Arguably we've saved the best for last. Be there!


Jon Evans

President, FWHR

HR Professional of the Month:

Meredith Stasko, PHR

#FWHR sat down with Meredith Stasko of BNSF Railway for November's Member Spotlight! Learn more about Meredith and involvement with FWHR over the last several years!

Q: Can you tell us more about your job role at BNSF Railway?

A: I am currently a Human Resources Manager at BNSF. I've been here almost a year and it's been an incredible journey so far. My role is very much a generalist role. I touch most areas of HR, which is what I like! There are some specialized departments within Human Resources, so if I don't know the answer to something or just want to learn more about it for my own development, there are plenty of SMEs to reach out to. My background is in hospitality so it's been challenging and rewarding to learn a new industry and a new HR team.

Q: What values and aspects of the company culture do you most appreciate?

A: I value the transparency of the company. Everything from compensation, to financials, to performance. We aren't afraid to say what we're doing really well, and we aren't afraid to communicate the areas where we need improvement. I also really like that the company encourages its employees to challenge the status quo. We don't want to remain stagnant. We want to continue to evolve and grow. Every idea may not be put into practice, but every idea is encouraged and listened to.

Q: How did you first get involved in Fort Worth HR?

A: I got involved with Fort Worth HR about four years ago when I first moved to Texas. I was interested in getting my PHR and came across the prep class that FWHR offered at TCU. I also wanted to get more involved in the local HR community and network with fellow DFW professionals.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about being a member of Fort Worth HR?

A: I enjoy the opportunity to meet other industry professionals and brainstorm best practices with them. Unfortunately, I haven't been as involved as I would've liked this past year since I was new to my role and a little further away from the monthly luncheons and PEG groups, but I've tried to stay engaged. I hope to be able to get more involved in 2020.

Q: When you recruit and train professionals for a career in HR, what lessons do you feel are most important to instill in a person?

A: My hope for all HR professionals is that we never lose sight of the 'human' in Human Resources. Yes, we want to be strategic partners in the organization and protect the company from risk, but at the end of the day, the employees are the company's most valuable asset. Our job in HR is to figure out how to engage, develop, and grow our employees while still meeting business objectives. It can often be a delicate balance, but one that needs to be met. Along the same lines, I try to instill the importance of maintaining the dignity of the person you're dealing with. It may be your most challenging employee that is being terminated due to their own decisions, but they're still losing their job and potentially the source of income for their entire family. Just another day in the office for us could also be the worst day in one of our employee's lives. I try to always keep that perspective. I think how we handle people at their worst speaks volumes about us and about our industry.

Q: Who is your hero?

A: My mother is the strongest woman I know. She grew up in the Army and married into the Army, so she's had to be adaptable her entire life. She was always so supportive of me and my three siblings growing up and would do anything she could for us. She always encouraged us to dream big and to chase those dreams. She is steadfast in her love for my dad and our family, and rarely ever complains. I've always said if I could be half the wife and mother that my mom is, I'd consider myself lucky.

Q: What hobbies or interests do you have outside of work? 

A: Right now, my toddler takes up the vast majority of my time! And that's totally okay with me! It's simply the best to be able to experience things through his eyes and watch him learn new things daily. When I have more free time, I'd like to try to learn how to bake and get into photography.

Q: What's your favorite holiday, and why?

A: I love everything about Christmas! Celebrating the birth of Jesus, the decorations, the music, the smells, time with loved ones. Absolutely everything! It's the best time of the year.

Q: Speaking of holidays, what is your most and least favorite food at Thanksgiving?

A: Can I say everything? I love Thanksgiving food. My favorite would probably be the stuffing or pecan pie. I'm really not a fan of cranberries or cranberry sauce.


Q: What will you be most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

A: My growing family! I have been married to my incredible husband, John, for a little over two and a half years and we have the most amazing 15-month old son, Charlie. And we're also expecting new little one to join our family in April, 2020. We are so blessed and have lots to be thankful for.

Emerging HR Professional of the Month: Alex Derr

Alex is an Account Executive at AtlasHR and FWHR's November Emerging HR Professional of the Month! She's been involved in FWHR since moving to town in April of 2019. "Initially I played college softball at Western Texas and then moved back home to Lubbock to finish earning my Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University. Both of my parents graduated from Texas Tech, so red and black is in my genetic make up! GO Red Raiders!"

After spending four years as a teacher, Alex made a transition into the HR world. "I was looking to get involved with an organization full of like-minded people in order to grow my network. I've developed some lifelong friendships and I feel that the exceptional people I've met are helping me grow as an HR professional."

We asked what Alex is passionate about, and through her involvement in the HCM technology world, she's found that relationships and people are everything. "I love getting to know my clients so that I can meet them where they are. Every client is different and so are their needs, so I enjoy the process of digging in and finding the best solution and processes for them."

Alex will be continuing her involvement in FWHR as the 2020 Events Director. When she's not spoiling her Golden Retriever, Duke, she can be found surrounded by friends and family.

Thanks Alex for your involvement in FWHR!

Isaac Stolar

Newsletter Director, FWHR

Free Certification

SHRM is offering a free certification exam (either SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP).

The free offer is for taking the exam during the December 1 – February 15, 2020 window only.

This offer is only valid if there is no application on file; it cannot be used as a reimbursement for current applications.

If you are eligible to sit for the exam and interested in taking it during this time frame, please contact info@fwhr.org


Get Your Tickets Now

Avoid the lines and buy your raffle tickets today! All sales benefit Diamond Hill Elementary. We have select groupings of raffle tickets available for pre-order. Order your raffle tickets and pick them up with your name badge the day of the party. Click here to buy.

Member Feedback

Visit our new Member Feedback section. Be heard, influence the chapter, and possibly win a membership for participating!

FWHR Awards Night

Fort Worth HR hosted its first ever FWHR Annual Awards Night Dinner! Several leaders in the Human Resources community were recognized and honored through an evening of dinner, drinks, and entertainment delivered by one DFW's most premier creative leader and influencer, Shawn Storer.

The awards dinner was held at the River Crest Country Club Ballroom in Fort Worth. Guests enjoyed a beautiful view of the course and Fort Worth from the balcony, and enjoyed a wonderfully prepared three course meal.

Congratulations to our 2019 awards winners:

HR Southwest Student Scholarship - Michaela Bradshaw

FWHR HR Excellence Award - Alexandra Conner

Emerging HR Professional of the Year Award - Courtney Rector

HR Professional of the Year Award - Leann Day

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, Alliance Awards, and Taryn Heck Photography! A special thanks to our emcee, Shawn Storer, and to our FWHR planning team.

Spring 2020 S/PHR Prep Classes

The last Fall 2019 S/PHR prep class has ended and we are already getting ready for the Spring 2020 session! Be sure to sign up ASAP because spots are limited to the first 30 registrants!

Which certification is right for you? What materials do the courses use? How do I apply for a scholarship? For the answers to all of your questions and to hear testimonials from past students, click here.

Danielle Snailer, PHR

Certification Director

Welcome to FWHR!

Please welcome our new members for November. If you see them at our Holiday Luncheon in December, say hi!


Desiree Alvarez

Daniel Brock

Candace Evans

Heather Evans

Cheryl Gray-Grote

Theron Holmes

Emily Jernigan

Jahaira Orozco

Mike Reisinger

Tamera Torrez


Visit FWHR.org and view our Member Directory as well! It's the best way to network with your peers in FWHR. Be sure to update your profile picture while you're logged in! Instructions on how to update your photo can be found here.

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Contact email: info@fwhr.org

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