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Senior-Level HR

	Authored By:
	Bill Boyce Senior HR Director		ST Microelectronics

To date there are 3 Arizona Chapters have initiated SR. HR programs. Following are the contacts for each chapter and a summary of some their activity to date:

EVHRA – Alice Conner, (480) 831-5179. Have started off their program analyzing and discussing a variety of HR and Management concepts put forth in the book “Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management.”

MPHRA - Al O'Connor (602) 508-4597. The Metro Phoenix HR Association has had an "Executive Liaison Committee" in place to make an effort to include and involve the participation of senior-level professionals in different capacities. Some of the efforts have been in providing a program at a regular monthly meeting showcasing an "executive" panel discussing strategic HR issues; a yearly dinner event with a speaker geared toward senior-level issues; and providing a yearly forum for Past Presidents of the organization to network and brainstorm. This year, the committee will also focus on a mentorship program (matching mentees with a senior-level HR professional) and assisting in the provision of senior-level programs for the annual State Conference.

SHRMGT – Bob Horton, (520) 818-6775. Tucson has an active HR Mentoring program utilizing Sr. HR professionals to mentor others in HR and providing areas of expertise that can be called upon.

A check of other Chapters within Area VI of SHRM and have also found no universal definition of a SR HR person. In some Chapters it is very non-restrictive and very open as to participants in their activities. In other Chapters, it is very restrictive and often limited to HR VP levels with larger companies. Incidently, even SHRM had attempted to restrict certain programs they designed to just the highest HR levels with certain companies, but found concerns from those not invited who believed they should have been, they dropped many of those programs and have open up most all of their programs, such as their “Management Series” to most all participants.

In AZ, we tend to favor not establishing just one universal definition to be applied across the board at both the State and Area VI levels. It is believed that each Chapter in the State has it’s own unique character, membership and needs and therefore should be allowed to establish their own SR HR program that meets their needs. Our job at the State level therefore will be an information exchange source to share contacts, best practices, etc. between the Chapters in Arizona and ideas that come out of Area VI.