I had the pleasure of attending the SHRM Howard County (formerly Howard County Human Resources Society) 2025 Conference last week, and it reminded me why spaces like these matter so much for HR professionals. The theme, “Workforce Reimagined: Find, Train, and Keep the Talent You Need,” couldn’t be more timely. In every session, one message stood out loud and clear: retention is the new recruitment. We can hire all the talent in the world, but if we don’t invest in culture, development, and recognition, our strategies will fall flat. I especially appreciated the focus on HR as more than compliance keepers; we are change agents and culture shapers. April Perry, SHRM-CP shared "workforce development architect" as a reframe I can appreciate. The conversations reinforced that while strategy sets the direction, it’s culture that keeps the workforce engaged enough to walk the path with us. What I valued most? The opportunity to connect with peers who are equally passionate about shaping the future of work. Sharing stories, challenges, and wins reminded me that we’re not in this alone as we are building it together. My biggest takeaway: When we reimagine the workforce, we’re not just solving today’s needs; we are laying the foundation for tomorrow’s success by looking at a "self-sustaining local workforce by focusing on what we each do best to create a dynamic workforce that meets business needs." I will end with a nugget from the conference: "Turnover is the enemy of momentum, and retention is everyone's responsibility".
So great meeting you in person - thank you for your insights!
So, so true! Thanks for sharing.
So glad to see you at the SHRM Howard County (formerly Howard County Human Resources Society) Workforce Reimagined conference, Dahlia Cole - MSc, SHRM-CP, CSM! And welcome to Howard County! So glad to learn and share about the many benefits of #WorkforceDevelopment - tapping into nontraditional talent pools, options for employers to develop their workforce via apprenticeship programs and customized training, and strategies for retaining employees.